Shuttle Launch Countdown Begins

What asteroid? Where did you get that from?

It would seem to me with an asteroid of that desciption we wouldn't need the shuttle up there to get a good look at it.

Here's a little more on the foam safety and the FOIA rejections.

Foam Flaws

The external tank document is one of many presentations made during the readiness review at the Kennedy Space Center on June 16 and 17. At the meeting, NASA engineers and managers talked over safety issues and then decided to fly in July rather than waiting to redesign the ice-frost ramps.

NASA's top safety official and chief engineer recommended delaying the flight until the ramps were redesigned. They were overruled by NASA Administrator Mike Griffin and others.

NASA on Thursday declined separate requests from FLORIDA TODAY and The Associated Press to release the flight readiness review documents under the Freedom of Information Act. FLORIDA TODAY obtained the external tank document from a separate source.

I wonder where this "separate source" came from.

Originally posted by governmentslave
The Real reason y they want the shuttle up is beacuse of a asteriod the size of half a mile will be passing earth about the distance of our moon on July 4th, they want the best seat in the house.

Uh, no it's not. The shuttle won't be able to get a look at that asteroid. It's going to be TWICE the distance to the moon when it passes by us.

[edit on 7/2/2006 by Zaphod58]

scrubbed again for 48 hours...
crap.

after watching all the launch procedures, im confident that NASAs decision to commission a the CEV and the cargo launch rocket is a step in the right direction... even though the CEV may be a letdown, im truely exited about the new cargo abilities! And launching bigger modules will hopefully be easyer and less costly...

Anyone well versed on what the plan is if the bird get's damaged on the way up again? My first guess is that they'd crash (sorry, poor choice of words), they'd stay at the ISS. I haven't heard much on if they've prepared a repair process, either.

Well they brought up some repair equipment that they were going to test on one of the EVA's. If there is any damage they will definately try to repair it. If it's just minor then all the astronauts will most likely land with the shuttle. If it's fairly serious, then with the autopilot system they just installed on this mission. They will try to land the shuttle with no crew on it. The shuttle crew will have to wait at the ISS for the rescue shuttle.

Got up at 5:48 am to see the launch, and they scrubbed it. NH

I can't believe this. They now have damaged foam just from sitting on the launch pad, but they are going ahead with this anyway today.

4th of July Launch

The launch attempt came after meetings Monday where NASA managers pondered whether a 5-inch long crack in the external fuel tank's foam, which caused a 3-inch piece of foam to pop out on the launch pad, posed a threat to the shuttle during liftoff.

The external tank expanded when the super-cold fuel was drained after Sunday's launch was canceled because of the weather. The ice that formed "pinched" some of that foam, causing the quarter-inch-wide crack and the piece of foam to drop off, officials said.

But the two agency officials said the foam loss will not threaten the crew because NASA has a plan for the astronauts to move into the international space station if in-orbit inspections find serious damage to the spacecraft. The crew would await rescue 81 days later by a second space shuttle.

I can't believe we are still even using this stuff since they still obviously never got it working right after 3 years since we lost a shuttle. I wouldn't want to be on this flight.

Take a look at the news channels now then, technicians investigating a blown circuit breaker on the shuttle!

As i said in another thread, i reckon they are just so desperate for an Independance Day launch, they'll risk anything for it.

NASA says it's a very minor incident though and should'nt hinder the launch today.

Excellent, everythings rosey then!

CX.

I will be surprised if it dosnt blow up.
Still have know clue why they are going to
launch if there is broken foam. At least I would
think that if another peice broke off and damaged
the shuttle like it did previously, then what ?

Good to see a successful launch. Im just watching a BBC video if it and I'm amazed by it! 5000mph is it's current speed!!! The power of the thing is absolutely incredible. Watch the video, and look at the booster thingies (I'm not too good with rocket terminology )

Click here (the main story on that page) to watch video.

Edit to add: The best bit is at around 38 seconds!
Edit to add again: HOLY POO! It's travelling at more than 4 miles a second!

[edit on 5-7-2006 by xeroxed88]

[edit on 5-7-2006 by xeroxed88]

While I agree the shuttle is in grave need of a replacement, it's still an amazing thing to see launch. All that power..

Got up at 4am to watch it, definetly worth it but I still say, bring on the CEV. The shuttle is of a flawed design and NASA needs a more affective, safer design to bring them into the future.