Friday, July 08, 2011

Watch Launch and Mission Live Of Space Shuttle Atlantis STS-135

Watch Launch and Mission Live
Of Space Shuttle Atlantis STS-135
On NASA TELEVISION

POST DATE:
Thursday, July 07, 2011
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Friday’s Launch looks like bad weather
And a 70% NO-GO for Launch
Weather Permitting though... We still might get her up!
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Launch: July 8th (Targeted for)
Launch Time: ~10:26am CDT
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 About Photo: Space Shuttle Atlantis at Launch Pad 39A
Photo credit: NASA/Frank Michaux
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Launch Weather Forecast...
Remains 30 Percent "Go" for Friday
As of Wednesday, July 06, 2011
04:07pm CDT
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At 5 p.m. EDT, the countdown entered a planned hold at the T-19 hour mark and will resume at 9 p.m.
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Following a meeting of the Mission Management Team this morning, STS-135 countdown and weather updates were provided at prelaunch news conference. Panelists included Mike Moses, Mission Management Team chair and space shuttle launch integration manager, Mike Leinbach, shuttle launch director, and Kathy Winters, shuttle weather officer.
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"We had a really smooth Mission Management Team meeting today," said Moses. "The vehicle is in fantastic shape." In regard to the launch-day weather forecast, he added, "Before we go load the propellants into the tank we'll take a look at the weather and make sure it's really a good day to try that, and so at that point we'll be making a decision."
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"The countdown so far is going extremely well," reported Leinbach. "We're not tracking anything at all that would prevent an on-time liftoff Friday morning."
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"We have a tropical wave that's out in the Caribbean," explained Winters. "That wave is actually going to come into Florida along with a lot of tropical moisture that's down to the south, and it's all going to roll into Florida in the next couple of days." Based on these conditions, Winters predicted an 80 percent chance of weather preventing tanking operations, with a 70 percent chance of it standing in the way of launch at 11:26 a.m. EDT on Friday. The forecast for the following days improves to 60 percent no-go on Saturday and 40 percent on Sunday.


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POST UPDATE:
- Tanking Begins On Time -
Weather Remains 30 Percent Chance of Favorable Weather
Friday, July 08, 2011
01:19am CDT
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Fueling of Space Shuttle Atlantis’s external fuel tank with more than 500,000 gallons of liquid hydrogen and liquid oxygen began on time at NASA Kennedy Space Center’s Launch Pad 39A at 2:01 a.m. EDT. The launch team will closely monitor the weather throughout the process. Weather remains at a 30 percent chance of favorable weather for liftoff at 11:26 a.m. Teams are not working any issues that would delay the launch...
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.Fingers crossed!!!


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- Atlantis Hatch is Closed for Flight -
Friday, July 08, 2011
08:49am CDT
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With all four astronauts aboard space shuttle Atlantis, the Close Out Crew sealed the hatch for flight and is verifying the integrity of the seal before breaking down the White Room and departing the launch pad.
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Weather still is 30 percent "go" and while weather remains dynamic, Launch Director Mike Leinbach told the launch team earlier, "We do have a shot at this today."
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There are no major technical issues and launch remains on schedule for 10:26am CDT for the final flight of the Space Shuttle Program...
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Again... Fingers crossed!!!
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Special Note:
9:48am CDT
* Weather Currently Observed 'Go' for Launch *

Weather across Kennedy Space Center is observed "go," and hopefully conditions will remain that way for the next 40 minutes or so -- long enough for space shuttle Atlantis and a crew of four astronauts to launch on the STS-135 mission.
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"We are cautiously optimistic we will be 'go' for launch at 11:26am," [EDT] said NASA Launch Commentator George Diller. 
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YAHOOOOO!
Just might get her up there this morning........

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10:15am CDT
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NASA now says...
WE ARE GO FOR LAUNCH!
She’s going up folks!
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10:26am CDT
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LIFTOFF!!!


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10:45am CDT
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Atlantis Soars...
Into Space for last time!
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Atlantis and its four astronauts leave Earth on the final space shuttle mission, capping off an amazing 30-year program of exploration, which launched great observatories, built an International Space Station, and taught us more about how humans can live and work in space...
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Final thought this morning... WHAT a beautiful, final launch it was... It was as if god was watching over the crew and mission, keeping them safe and all on GO, for such a wonderful, final Launch.

Please keep up with the latest from Space and NASA at links below.
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Read Latest News and Updates
at
NASA.gov
And at
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Watch Launch and Mission LIVE
At NASA TV
Click HERE to view
ENJOY!!!
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STS-132: Interactive
Mission Timeline
Click HERE
Or on above image to view
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NOTE: I’ll be updating on the mission and spacewalk over the next so many days so check back!
Photo credit: NASA/Bill Ingalls
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GOD SPEED to the Crew of STS-135 Atlantis...
AubreyJ.........
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All Images, Videos, Info taken from the NASA.gov website
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