Saturday, April 30, 2011

Photo for the Day - April 30, 2011

* Photo for the Day *
Passing Storm
Space Shuttle Endeavour is seen on Launch Pad 39A as a storm passes by prior to rollback of the rotating service structure. Taken April 28, 2011
Image credit: NASA/Bill Ingalls
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Next possible launch attempt no earlier than Monday, May 2nd at 1:33pm CDT
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AubreyJ.........
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Friday, April 29, 2011

Watch Launch of Space Shuttle Endeavour STS-134 LIVE

Watch Launch/Mission Live
Space Shuttle Endeavour STS-134
Friday, April 29, 2011
Post Time 11:26am CDT
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Image above: The sun breaks through the morning clouds as Shuttle Endeavour awaits liftoff on Launch Pad 39A at NASA's Kennedy Space Center.
Photo credit: NASA/KSC
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Launch Date: TODAY - April 29th
Launch Vehicle:
Space Shuttle Endeavour
- LAST MISSION -
Launch Site: Kennedy Space Center - Launch Pad 39A
Launch Time: 2:47pm CDT
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STS-134 Mission Description: Space Shuttle Endeavour will deliver the Express Logistics Carrier-3 (ELC-3) and the Alpha Magnetic Spectrometer (AMS) to the International Space Station. This is the LAST FLIGHT EVER of Space Shuttle Endeavour...
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Endeavour's Launch on Target for 2:47pm CDT
Friday, April 29, 2011
09:32am CDT
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Space Shuttle Endeavour's external tank is fully loaded with more than 500,000 gallons of liquid hydrogen and liquid oxygen in preparation for today's 2:47pm CDT launch. Tanking operations began at 5:22am and concluded at 8:24am.
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Forecasters continue to predict a 70 percent chance of favorable weather for today's launch. The only concerns are low cloud ceilings and high crosswinds at the Shuttle Landing Facility at time of liftoff.
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Again... Endeavour is still on target for a 2:47pm CDT Launch.
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Post UPDATE:
12:01pm CDT
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Sorry Gang...
* Launch Postponed *
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Engineers and Managers to Assess APU Issue
12:14pm CDT
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Shuttle launch director Mike Leinbach stated that Endeavour's launch will be no earlier than Monday at 1:33pm CDT. Engineers need that time to troubleshoot an issue that resulted in today’s launch scrub.
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During today’s countdown, engineers detected a failure in one of two heater circuits associated with Auxiliary Power Unit (APU) 1. Heaters are required to keep the APUs’ hydrazine from freezing on orbit. Attempts to activate the heater were not successful and engineers now believe the problem might be associated with a Load Control Assembly, which is a switchbox, located in the aft end of Endeavour, or an electrical short in the wires leading into or out of the switchbox.
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Endeavour’s external tank will be drained, technicians will enter Endeavour’s aft compartment overnight and by tomorrow afternoon, will put in a platform to gain access to the avionics bay where the Load Control Assembly is located. Once there, they will assess whether they need to remove and replace the switchbox, or fix an electrical wiring short.
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Because of this, Leinbach said there will be a minimum 72-hour scrub turnaround.
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Engineers and managers will meet this afternoon to further refine their troubleshooting plan. NASA has scheduled a news conference at 4 p.m. to discuss today’s scrub and the plan.
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.Keep up with the
Latest News and Updates
at
NASA.gov
And at
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Watch Launch/Mission
LIVE on NASA TV
Click HERE
Or on above image to view
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STS-134 Image Gallery
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STS-130: Interactive Mission Timeline
Click HERE or on above image to view
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Safe Flight to the Crew of Space Shuttle Endeavour STS-134...
And God Speed to NASA in getting them all up there and back... safe and sound.
AubreyJ.........
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Tuesday, April 26, 2011

Update on Upcoming Space Shuttle Endeavour STS-134 Mission

Space Shuttle Endeavour STS-134
Tuesday, April 26, 2011
7:10pm CDT
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- STS-134 Crew Portrait -
About above image: Pictured clockwise in the STS-134 crew portrait are NASA astronauts Mark Kelly (bottom center), commander; Gregory H. Johnson, pilot; Michael Fincke, Greg Chamitoff, Andrew Feustel and European Space Agency’s Roberto Vittori, all mission specialists.
Image credit: NASA
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The STS-134 crew members are Commander Mark Kelly, Pilot Gregory H. Johnson and Mission Specialists Michael Fincke, Greg Chamitoff, Andrew Feustel and European Space Agency astronaut Roberto Vittori.
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During the 14-day mission, Endeavour will deliver the Alpha Magnetic Spectrometer (AMS) and spare parts including two S-band communications antennas, a high-pressure gas tank and additional spare parts for Dextre and micrometeoroid debris shields. This will be the 36th Shuttle Mission to the International Space Station. [And its last.]
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- Read more, with photos and Crew Profiles, HERE
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- Mission info as of April 26th -
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Mission: STS-134
Launch Date: THIS Friday - April 29th
Launch Vehicle:
Space Shuttle Endeavour
- LAST MISSION -Launch Site: Kennedy Space Center - Launch Pad 39ALaunch Time: 2:47pm CDT
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STS-134 Mission Description: Space Shuttle Endeavour will deliver the Express Logistics Carrier-3 (ELC-3) and the Alpha Magnetic Spectrometer (AMS) to the International Space Station. This is the LAST FLIGHT EVER of Space Shuttle Endeavour.
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STS-134 Prelaunch Update
Tuesday, April 26, 2011
09:49am CDT
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At today's pre-launch countdown status briefing held at NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida, managers reported Space Shuttle Endeavour, its payload and crew are ready for launch at 3:47pm EDT Friday.
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NASA Test Director Jeremy Graeber reported everything is progressing on schedule for the 25th and final launch of Space Shuttle Endeavour.
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"Our teams here at Kennedy Space Center, and at NASA centers around the country, have been working for over a year to get Endeavour ready for the STS-134 mission," said Graeber. "We're not working any issues at this time … and over the past ten days have completed some major milestones."
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Joe Delai, STS-134 payload manager gave a brief overview of the payload and will have more details during Thursday's launch countdown briefing. "The payloads are closed for flight, we're not working any issues and ready to support launch," said Delai.
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Shuttle Weather Officer Kathy Winters reported weather is looking good for launch day and for the loading of propellants into Endeavour's external fuel tank although there may be possibility for a storm during the rollback of the rotating service structure, or RSS, scheduled for 7pm Thursday.
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At this time there's only a 20 percent chance of weather hindering a successful launch on Friday, due to possible windy conditions, reported Winters.
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Endeavour's six astronauts departed Ellington Field, Texas, shortly before 10am EDT. They are expected to arrive in their T-38 jets at NASA Kennedy Space Center's Shuttle Landing Facility at approximately 12:50pm. Their arrival will be aired on NASA TV.
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Today at 2pm NASA's official launch countdown clock begins counting backward toward Friday's liftoff.
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Tomorrow's pre-launch news conference will be aired at 11am on NASA TV.

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Countdown to Launch Begins Today at Kennedy
Tuesday, April 26, 2011
07:50am CDT
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Countdown preparations for Space Shuttle Endeavour's launch on Friday at 3:47pm EDT are in process throughout NASA's Kennedy Space Center today.
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Technicians at Launch Pad 39A will close Endeavour's payload bay doors today and workers at Kennedy's Shuttle Landing Facility (SLF) prepare for the STS-134 crew's arrival this afternoon.
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Teams in the Launch Control Center's Firing 4 will officially begin the countdown at 2pm.
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Endeavour's six astronauts are expected to arrive at the SLF at approximately 12:15pm in T-38 training jets. The arrival will be shown live on NASA TV.
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About above image: In the first light of day, Space Shuttle Endeavour stands ready for processing at Launch Pad 39A at NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida.
Photo credit: NASA/Jack Pfaller
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****************************
.Keep up with the
Latest News and Updates
at
NASA.gov
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Watch NASA TV LIVE
Click HERE
Or on above image to view
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STS-134 Image Gallery
* View Gallery *
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My Take: I guess by now everyone knows that this will be the final Mission/Space Flight ever for Space Shuttle Endeavour.
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Sadly... this will leave us with just one more flight, ever... for the Space Shuttle Program and then... that’s it!
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Manned Space Flight will END, as we know it, after the upcoming STS-135 Mission later this year. And YES... it is all going to end with the HELP of President Obama and the likes of other non visionaries like he.
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My heart truly breaks from the thought that we have let our Space Program go down the tubes and without any kind of outcry from the American People. NONE!
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In a nutshell... sad days are ahead my friends if our future goals for Manned Space Flight do not change at the top and rapidly, SOON!
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For now, I would like everyone reading this to look around them and see all the things we have and know today all because our Space Program was pushing the limits, at all ends of Manned Space Flight.
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This pushing the limit of Manned Space Flight... is ending, for good, this year. GOOD JOB OBAMA!
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With that said...
Safe Flight to the Crew of Space Shuttle Endeavour STS-134...
And God Speed to NASA in getting them all up there and back... safe and sound.
AubreyJ.........
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Sunday, April 24, 2011

He Is Risen... Worship Him - Happy Easter


He Is Risen... Worship Him
* HAPPY EASTER EVERYONE *
AubreyJ.........
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To all my Christian friends out there... today I wish you all a Happy EASTER. And to all my Jewish faith friends... may you all have a very blessed Passover this year.

Wednesday, April 20, 2011

BP’s Deepwater Horizon Gulf Oil Disaster - One Year Later

BP’s Deepwater Horizon Gulf Oil Disaster
- One Year Later -
BP’s Semisubmersible Drilling Rig ‘Deepwater Horizon’ Exploded, (and later sank,) One Year Ago - The Rig Was In The Gulf of Mexico, In Mississippi Canyon Block 252, Around 41 Miles Offshore Off The Louisiana Coast
Wednesday, April 20, 2011
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Transocean Deepwater Horizon drilling platform sinks during Gulf Oil Disaster
File photo by DoE
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I would post all about this event, one year later... But sadly, you know the drill.
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 If reading anything out there on the web, from an author of the Left persuasion... you’ll read that everything is still going to hell in a hand basket.
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 If reading from and author on the Right, you’ll read that all is well, pretty much and that it has been one of the fastest recoveries ever.
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I find that the true, as always, is riding somewhere in the middle of the two. With that said... Today is not and should not be about the politics brought on by this tragic event one year ago but should be about the lives we lost that day.
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May god bless all 11 men that we lost that tragic day and also, Lord... Please be with all their families, friends and loved ones who have soooo suffered from their losses...
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Our thoughts and prayers still go out to all those affected by this tragic accident from one year ago.
In memory of...
AubreyJ.........
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