Tuesday, August 25, 2009

2- Watch Launch and Mission Live Of Space Shuttle Discovery STS-128

Note: This post moved from its original post date - Scroll below for latest updates on this post - Scroll below this post for latest news postings
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Watch Launch and Mission Live
Of Space Shuttle Discovery STS-128
On NASA TELEVISION
Post Date: Monday, August 24, 2009
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Tuesday’s Early Morning Launch looks like a GO!
* Launch Time: 1:36am EDT *
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About Photo: Space Shuttle Discovery is poised for liftoff
Photo credit: NASA/Troy Cryder
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Space Shuttle Discovery Ready for Flight
Monday, August 24, 2009
8:54am CDT

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Space Shuttle Discovery is in the final stages of preparation before its flight to the International Space Station from NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida.
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Fueling of Discovery's external tank with 500,000 gallons of super-cold liquid oxygen and hydrogen is scheduled to begin at 4:11 p.m. EDT, depending on weather conditions at the time.
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The "topping off" of propellants into the tank will continue until Discovery's liftoff. All systems aboard the shuttle are functioning normally and no issues are being reported.
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Weather continues to be 80 percent acceptable for a 1:36 a.m. Tuesday launch.
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Coverage of Discovery's liftoff on the STS-128 mission begins Monday at 8:30 p.m. Follow the countdown with NASA's launch blog and live commentary broadcast on NASA TV.
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POST UPDATE:
Poor Weather Scrubs Tuesday Launch Try
Tuesday, August 25, 2009
1:28am EDT
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The launch attempt for Space Shuttle Discovery was called off early Tuesday morning because of poor weather in the area.
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Next Launch attempt will be...
Wednesday morning at 1:10am EDT

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Poor Weather Delayed Tuesday's Launch Attempt
Tuesday, August 25, 2009
9:45am EDT
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The mission management team will meet at 3pm EDT today to give the “go- no go” for fueling Discovery. Weather for tanking and launch is currently at 70 percent acceptable for a 1:10 a.m. Wednesday morning launch.Tanking coverage of Discovery will begin at 3:30pm and launch commentary at 8:00pm on NASA TV.

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Discovery Gets the "Go" for Tanking
3:25pm EDT
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The "Go" was given to load space shuttle Discovery’s external fuel tank. Discovery’s launch was postponed early Tuesday morning due to lingering thunderstorms in the vicinity of the launch pad.
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The current weather forecast is 70 percent favorable conditions for launch. The primary concern is cumulus clouds and showers within 20 nautical miles of the shuttle landing facility at the time of launch.
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Tanking commentary on NASA TV will begin at 3:30pm and fueling operations will start at approximately 3:45pm EDT.
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Launch commentary will begin tonight at 8 p.m.
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Weather permitting... launch is scheduled for 1:10am EDT.

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SORRY GANG! Wednesday Morning Launch Has Been Scrubbed
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NASA Scrubs Wednesday Morning Launch Attempt Due To A Liquid Hydrogen Fill-And-Drain Valve Problem
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Shuttle Managers to Discuss Valve Problem
Tuesday, August 25, 2009
7:09pm EDT
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Shuttle managers will hold a standard post-scrub meeting at 7:15pm EDT regarding the launch attempt of Discovery that was called off earlier today after a problem developed with a liquid hydrogen fill-and-drain valve in the aft compartment of the shuttle. A news briefing will be held after that meeting concludes and will air on NASA TV.
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Regarding the valve, when launch controllers commanded it to close, they did not receive the "closed" indication. There is a concern that the valve is either open or partially open, but that needs to be evaluated for confirmation.
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A new launch date and time for Discovery's STS-128 mission has not been set at this time.
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(I’ll let you know just as soon as NASA posts this info up)
Also -- I’ll be keeping this post open and on TOP for the next few days so check back...
AJF
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POST UPDATE:
Wednesday, August 26, 2009
Next Launch Attempt will be this Friday Morning
Launch Time: 12:22am
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Friday Morning Forecast: 70 Percent "Go"
11:47am EDT
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The weather outlook for Friday morning's targeted launch of Discovery calls for a 70 percent chance of acceptable conditions at NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida. Liftoff would be at 12:22 a.m. Meteorologists will watch the conditions carefully throughout the countdown, with the greatest expected concern being for anvil clouds and thunderstorms within 20 nautical miles of the Shuttle Landing Facility. The mission management team will evaluate analysis of a fill-and-drain valve problem before Discovery's massive external tank is loaded with propellant. The valve issue developed during Tuesday's countdown and forced a postponement of the launch of the STS-128 mission.
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* THIS POST NOW CLOSED *
I will start a new post Thursday Afternoon to get us up-to-date on Friday morning’s early morning launch. Be sure to check back then!
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But for now -- Keep up with the latest at links below...
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Read Latest News and Updates +
Countdown/Mission Elapsed Time Clock
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Watch Launch and Mission LIVE
At NASA TV
Click HERE to view
ENJOY!!!
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SPACE SHUTTLE DISCOVERY STS-128 MISSION SUMMARY
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Discovery's flight will deliver supplies and equipment to the International Space Station. Inside the shuttle’s cargo bay is the Leonardo Multi-Purpose Logistics Module (MPLM), a pressurized "moving van" that will be temporarily installed to the station. The module will deliver science and storage racks, a freezer to store research samples, a new sleeping compartment and the COLBERT treadmill. The 13-day mission will include three spacewalks to replace experiments outside the European Space Agency’s Columbus laboratory, and install a new ammonia storage tank and return the used one. Ammonia is used to move excess heat from inside the station to the radiators located outside. Discovery also will deliver a new crew member and bring back another after almost two months aboard the Space Station.
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SPACE SHUTTLE DISCOVERY STS-128 is the 128th Space Shuttle Flight, the 30th to the International Space Station, the 37th for Discovery and the fourth Shuttle flight this year. Only SIX more flights to the International Space Station remain after the STS-128 mission. NASA will permanently retire the Space Shuttle Fleet in 2010.
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Above info and images from the NASA.gov website
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AubreyJ.........

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