3- Watch Launch and Mission Live Of Space Shuttle Endeavour STS-127
* Saturday’s Launch Scrubbed *
* Next Launch Attempt:
Sunday Evening
7:13pm EDT *
Careful Testing Under Way After Lightning Strikes
Saturday, July 11, 2009
Posted at 11:00am CDT
About above image: A lightning strike at Launch Pad 39A during Friday's thunderstorm.
Image credit: NASA TV
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The launch of Space Shuttle Endeavour was postponed until Sunday evening so engineers could evaluate the spacecraft's myriad systems following 11 lightning strikes in the Launch Complex 39A area.
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None of the strikes hit the shuttle or its external tank and solid rocket boosters, but there were strikes to the lightning mast and water tower. The launch pad is equipped with a lightning protection system of wires that is intended to steer bolts away from the shuttle.
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"We've seen nothing so far that shows anything affected any of the systems," said Mike Moses, chairman of the pre-launch Mission Management Team.
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Two of the strikes were strong enough to trigger an evaluation by engineers just to make sure all of Endeavour's systems are ready for flight. Although early evaluations showed no problems, engineers wanted more time to make sure they have checked everything correctly.
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"We need to be 100 percent confident that we have a good system across the board," Moses said.
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Next Launch Attempt: Sunday at 7:13pm EDT
Weather forecast calls for a 60 percent chance of acceptable conditions
Info taken from the NASA.gov website
Click HERE to view
ENJOY!!!
AubreyJ.........
Labels: ENDEAVOUR, Landing, Launch, NASA Television, Science, Space Shuttle, Space Station, Spacewalk, STS-127, Technology














File photo by IAF























