STS-118: Omnibus Thread

4:18PM EDT com checks AOK on all loops AG-1, 2, VHF and UHF. OTC and NTD are discussing some logging channels... there is some "stuff" we can't hear over the web... no problems. Gettin' ready for hatch closure procedure. Crew's all buttoned-in and look happy and are smiling. I am guilty of envy. 2 hours 46 minutes to nominal launch.

Cheers,

Vic

[edit on 8-8-2007 by V Kaminski]

Originally posted by V Kaminski
I am guilty of envy.

lol, roger that! i am getting excited... looks like a beautiful day down there... gah, i wish i could be there...

The firing room is state of the art... a NASA link.

ISS and Shuttle will be visible from most of North America tonight the shuttle from about orbit 2... ISS flyover is 9:42PM and 11:118PM EDT. The shuttle ephemeris I don't have yet.

NTD has commanded hatch closure...

Vic

4:38PM EDT... there may be a slight problem that is being discussed on a non-public loop. An item that should have read 2 Ohms reads as open. More as it develops... the count is continuing...

Vic

Hatch closure switch is playing up and they are opening and closing the hatch again. No biggie... Range safety checks comin' up...

Vic

[edit on 8-8-2007 by V Kaminski]

4:52 p.m. - The Closeout Crew members have run into a problem with "micro" switches associated with the crew hatch. They're going to start over by re-opening and closing the hatch once again in an effort to get a good latch and seal.

Originally posted by V Kaminski
Hatch closure switch is playing up and they are opening and closing the hatch again. No biggie... Range safety checks comin' up...

they've done that like 3 times now, wtf is going on? i have been up all nite and all day just so i can watch this... i hope it's not scrubbed for something simple... gah!

[edit on 8 8Aug 07 by m3rlz]

From earlier reports: " A new wire has been installed and tested
successfully permitting ordnance operations to be conducted tomorrow
as scheduled. Also, the problem with the crew hatch micro-switch
indicator has been resolved by replacing a seal on the hatch. Final
testing was successful."

Columbia and Challenger had similar problems. It could just be a faulty switch. Excitment time! If it's a seal well then they could change it but that would mean... well, a bunch.

Vic

Thery're gonna put two techs inside Endeavour and close the hatch... and see that it is latching... oh, I hope this works out...

Vic

Hatch is fixed. Yippie! Just in time for the built in hold. Whew! 1 hour 23 minutes to launch. Leak checks time.

Cheers,

Vic

I'm watchin' , with ya Vic.

Sorry I haven' t contributed much today , as I got
blindsided last nite with a, call to duty, as you may notice.

I've had NASA TV on all day in the background , though,
and have been reading your thread to keep up.

Nice details , as usual.

Looks like a go, eh?

I'll try to chime in when I have something interesting.

yes they got the hatch fixed, which is cool...

T minus 20 minutes and counting... (probably a bit less than that now tho)

[edit on 8 8Aug 07 by m3rlz]

Looks good so far Jbird'... Return To Launch Site weather is a "GO!" from Houston. Weather is good at the TAL sites. Just gotta run the clock... the hatch thing was a bother and the crack in the bracket for the Oh-Two line isn't nominal but no show stoppers! Fingers-crossed! Less than an hour! Pull them belts tight one more time and give 'em an extra tug to make sure'... time to fly! To the good luck of Endeavour and her crew! "GO FLIGHT!"

Cheers,

Vic

[edit on 8-8-2007 by V Kaminski]

T minus 9 minutes and holding...

this is the final stretch... as VK says, GO FLIGHT!

Here's a direct link to Nasa TV, in case someone wants to watch. I didn't see a link on this page. I'm gonna watch it launch and head outside to try and catch it. Has anyone found the flightpath?

Nasa TV

Edit: fixed link

[edit on 8-8-2007 by Quasar]

There was mention of a Class 3 error which I believe is a type of compressed data error. CDR Kelly is awesome! Thanks for posting the the NASA-TV link!

Cheers,

Vic

Comin' off hold in 20 seconds... 9 minutes to launch.

Originally posted by Quasar
Here's a direct link to Nasa TV, in case someone wants to watch. I didn't see a link on this page. I'm gonna watch it launch and head outside to try and catch it. Has anyone found the flightpath?

Nasa TV

i posted a direct link on page one...

T minus 6 minutes and counting... here we go!

[edit on 8 8Aug 07 by m3rlz]

God Speed! Endeavour!

Beautiful Launch! Wish it wasn't so hazy. I never get tired of launches.

beatifull weather and great launch good luck to coming hours so hope no damage on external systems , so far I could see no big pieces came of the external tank so hope is good there is no damage on the thermal protection system.
still watching Nasa Tv

Allright! Picture perfect.

I'm always holding my breath at "Throttle Up" .

I never realized the NASA feed has, what appears to be,
a 30 second delay, from the live shots on tv.

I didn't notice any foam , or other debris coming off on liftoff, anybody else?