NASA's Most Dangerous Mission Ever, set for tomorrow 5/11/09- being stranded in space possible

reply to post by mrwupy


Ah, see don't turn the T.V on anymore except for moments in the morning to listen to the spin of the day. So, I missed MSM mentioning it, though I do go to all the various MSM websites to see what they have there. Thanks for letting me know it has been mentioned, it was such a surprise for me personally when I found this article.

I will be watching the NASA t.v station here -www.nasa.gov...

to watch the action.

I will say right now - my thoughts and prayers are with this crew - I do not want any drama regarding the shuttle mission - the only drama I hope will be their success and nail biting successful moments of accomplishing their mission!!

Here is all kinds of information on it:
www.nasa.gov...

Shuttle Weather Officer Kathy Winters improved on the forecast, now giving the team a 90-percent chance to launch Atlantis at 2:01 p.m. EDT tomorrow without weather interfering.

Also this morning, STS-125 Commander Scott Altman and Pilot Gregory C. Johnson once again practiced landings in the Shuttle Training Aircraft as the entire crew readies for their mission to service NASA's Hubble Space Telescope.

Live countdown and launch coverage begins tomorrow morning at 8:30 a.m. on NASA TV and on the Web at www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/shuttle/launch/launch_blog.html.

crewmembers:

[atsimg]http://files.abovetopsecret.com/images/member/95587ed1b55f.jpg[/atsimg]

At the Shuttle Landing Facility at NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida, the STS-125 crew poses for a group portrait. From left are Mission Specialists Megan McArthur and Michael Good, Pilot Gregory C. Johnson, Commander Scott Altman, and Mission Specialists John Grunsfeld, Mike Massimino and Andrew Feustel. Image credit: NASA/Jim Grossman

adding the abover to the OP. so will see this info twice now. will add more info too as I get it.

reply to post by mrwupy


Thanks for posting the link !
I just hope the link will work on my iphone so I can watch lift off while at work

There brave people, but I really hope if they do get stranded that NASA has a back up plan, that would be the most awful feeling in the universe, I was going to say earth but, they've left that!

I also hope that nothing happens because, If they die, well outrage will be cast upon NASA, and if they shut that down. Well you know.

Wonder whats wrong with the telescope....

reply to post by mrwupy


Thank you, I was forming my post when you posted the link already. Thank you for that.

I will be be keeping my Nasa TV on this week. Last launch I connected an S cable to the computer and watched it on the big screen tv I have - it was really awesome doing it that way. So if anyone else wants a really cool show - just S cable the computer to the TV.

Originally posted by Republican08
There brave people, but I really hope if they do get stranded that NASA has a back up plan,

They have a second shuttle on the launchpad should something go wrong. They have a very small window for rescue though.

I personally hope this is the most boring mission ever. No excitement, everything goes as planned, The Hubble is fixed and they land on a warm sunny day in Florida.

And no tool bags float away.

reply to post by mrwupy


If a tool does float away, they should think of bringing this man up there to solve those problems, and retrieve lost items.




I hope it is boring, but I have a bad feeling about it, but I did just NOW here about it, and my feelings are usually 99.99 percent wrong.

Mr. Wupy was right, the Hubble is very old and soon will be replaced by "James Webb Space Telescope"

The James Webb Space Telescope (JWST) is intended to replace the ageing Hubble telescope.

It will be larger than its predecessor, sit farther from Earth and have a giant mirror to enable it to see more.

Officials said the JWST - named after a former Nasa administrator - was on course for launch in June 2013.

news.bbc.co.uk...

Here is a news story in reference to the aging batteries...

On Monday May 11, 2009 at 1:30 p.m. EDT - 12:30 p.m. CDT there will be a live event on the Discovery Science Channel. Hubble Live 2009 will show NASA astronauts in the Shuttle Atlantis as they launch from the Kennedy Space Center at Cape Canaveral, FL on their final upgrade mission to the Hubble Space Telescope.

This 11 day mission has the ambitious goal of replacing Hubble's current primary camera, as well as replacing the batteries, replacing one of its stabilizing sensors, installing some gyros, and installing some spiffy new equipment. This mission known as Servicing Mission 4, (SM4), will be the last Shuttle mission bound for the Hubble Space Telescope. Hubble is expected to serve for at least an additional five years with these replacement parts and upgrades in place.

www.scienceray.com...

So there probably is no conspiracy behind it, although you never know,lol.

reply to post by questioningall


I didn't bother reading anyone elses post, but Nasa has been planning this mission for awhile. I've always been interested in the Hubble after seeing the ultra deep space field, so when I heard they were going to go up and fix it, I was excited as to what improvements they would provide.

It was canceled several times for different reason, I don't know the details but they have had this on their to-do list for a long time so I don't think they are rushing this, but you can never be ready for such a dangerous mission.

Anyone interested in this mission may also be interested in this Twitter account. twitter.com...

It's the personal account of one of the astronauts, Mike Massimino. He's been posting for quite some time, describing the process of getting himself ready for launch day. He also promises to tweet from space.

reply to post by mrwupy


My understanding of the situation is the second Shuttle is being prepped in the event there is significant damage to the thermal tiles that precludes a safe re-entry. Even at the 350-mile high orbit of the HST the OMS engines can be used to alter the Shuttle's orbit sufficiently to accomplished a de-orbit burn. So being 'stranded' in the sense of being unable to return isn't quite correct.

Previous repair missions to the HST were conducted prior to the Columbia disaster. Far more attention is now paid to the main tank insulation and its potential impact hazard.

reply to post by questioningall

They are risking lives with this mission.

They risk their lives with EVERY mission. Please don't forget that, or assume that it's routine and perfectly safe.

my sister was in florida just a week or 2 ago. she visited nasa and the launch site and everything.

she has pictures of the shuttle waiting and ready. (from 15 miles away or w/e the distance is by law) she said that "they" said they were going to launch in the next 2 weeks. so, i knew about this for id say 2-3 weeks haha.

i just didnt know anything about the mission, just knew they were launching a shuttle

reply to post by weedwhacker


I was going off the article, it says :

If Atlantis suffers damage, the crew would be marooned.

So, I obviously I did not use the exact word they used - but stranded is another word for marooned, so the title is appropriate.

Hope you feel well soon Hubble and please don't eat any astronauts

Originally posted by Max_TO
I guess it goes without saying that this trip to Hubble will not be on T.V like the last time ?

Actually I am pretty sure I have been seeing adverts on National Geographic saying they will be covering the mission live... Now I don't know for sure but I think they are referring to the Hubble repairs, as opposed to the launch.

I will do some digging and edit here.

Great find! S+F for you.

lot of info on wiki bout it (sorry if already posted) Link

The launch will be Live on the Discovery channel from 18.30 GMT, as you can see on my signature, I can take that down now.

Gives everyone a chance to record it live, I think its live also in the Science network also, but I would rather watch on Discovery.

reply to post by azzllin



Ah ha... discovery is it? - I was thinking nat geo... Well since I can't afford to goto the pub (or even the supermarket for a couple of days!) I reckon I have my night planned.

I am not sure I totally understand the push for this, unless it is a pure PR event or one designed around nostalgia for a much loved piece of...dare I say, junk... Beleive me, I enjoy the pictures very much, but a camera, is not worth Killing anyone over. If it is that risky of a mission, then it needs to be scrapped.

Also, I believe their have been several replacements in the cookbook for years now. Some tandem satellites that were to make the Hubble's pictures look like 8 bit Nintendo graphics. Did those missions get scrubbed? I know they had at least 2 separate programs running to replace the Hubble.

You guys talk about the rush to repair Hubble! The fact that hubble is not only a telescope but a spy satellite as well, doesn't come into the equation? Maybe the lasers or nukes on board it need repairing and the excuse is they have to change the batteries!!!!!

lol NASA have come out with so many excuses over the years I don't know what to believe.