Space Shuttle To Launch TONITE 7:55EST

[Gerard]

Just found this out that STS-126 Endeavour is set to launch tonite at 7:55PM EST!!

http://www.nasa.gov

[flyboy 28]

If you don't get the NASA network, here's the link for the live stream.

http://www.nasa.gov/multimedia/nasatv/index.html

Night launches rock.

[Jetinder]

Currently in the UK its 12.12am on 15 Nov 2008.

How far behind is EST from GMT ?

Is EST the same as time in New York ?

[flyboy 28]

Currently in the UK its 12.12am on 15 Nov 2008.

How far behind is EST from GMT ?

Is EST the same as time in New York ?

Yes sir. Five hours behind GMT.

[Jetinder]

That means the shuttle hasn't lifted off yet, great news :)

So in UK time it will take off at 12.55am :)

I'm watching that nasa link now :) and its got the moon shine-ing outside.

I can see the moon outside my window now :)

************

Just saw the take off...... wow that was brilliant :) and they reached 1000mph within a few seconds after take off thats awsome :)

On Concorde it took me 30 mins reach mach 2.

[MarkLawrence]

Just stood up on the 2nd floor of my house in West Palm - 150 miles away from the Cape - a perfectly clear night - and there she rose into the sky. I was amazed how big the plume was - I could see SRB separation and then the final climb into the atmosphere! First time I've even seen it live, not on TV - a long way away - but Live!

[LGA777]

Gerard, thanks for the link and reminder we had fun watching it at work, night launches are way cool.

Mark glad you got to experiance one of the many perks of being a Floridian. As a kid growing up NE of Tampa, a similar distance from the Cape I watched many a Gemini and Apollo launch on TV, at a certain point in the ascent I knew when to run out in the yard and there it was, will never forget the thrill. Ironically one I did not get to view in this manner was the very famous Apollo 13, ironically the launch Mom and Dad decided we should drive over to the Cape and we viewed (and heard) that launch from a beach less than 10 miles away, Unforgettable !

Regards

LGA777

[Gerard]

>Gerard, thanks for the link and reminder we had fun watching it at work, night launches are way cool.<

You are most welcome. I wish I had known sooner so I could have posted earlier. Just found out when I got home from work.
I never get tired of watching these launches and the remote camera on the external tank showing the seperation of the
tank from the space shuttle is just TOO COOL!!
Also a friend tipped me off that Mission Specialist Lt. Colonel Robert Kimbrough(US Army) was an AH-64 Apache pilot in Desert
Storm and then was assigned to Fort Bragg where he commanded an Apache helicopter company AND a Regimental quarters
company. Nice.
AND speaking of helicopters, while watching the CNN coverage of the liftoff after the departure you can very clearly hear a Huey
landing in the background from where the reporters were sitting and just before they signed off you can hear it cranking up to head
out again. Most likely this was one of the NASA UH-1Hs that are used for security at the Space Center. I remember on one other
launch while watching on CNN the reporters actually had to stop talking until the engines wound down because it was so loud. That
was pretty neat. :lol:

[Jetinder]

I've never been to see a shuttle take off.

Are there many places from which you can see it ?

If you go to in to Kennedy Space Center and to the official viewing area, with a big 400mm zoom lens how big does the shuttle look on the pad ?

Does it it fill half the frame or does it fill the whole frame ?

Can you see pads 39A and 39B from there ?

Can the public see it in the VAB while its being lifted up and bolted to the External tank and SRBs ?

[eric8669]

I've never been to see a shuttle take off.

Are there many places from which you can see it ?

If you go to in to Kennedy Space Center and to the official viewing area, with a big 400mm zoom lens how big does the shuttle look on the pad ?

Does it it fill half the frame or does it fill the whole frame ?

Can you see pads 39A and 39B from there ?

Can the public see it in the VAB while its being lifted up and bolted to the External tank and SRBs ?

Here are some of my shots from the March Launch. NASA does let you buy passes to the causeway which is 6 miles away. Tickets sell out within minutes of going on sale. But the experience is worth it.

http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y95/southpaw8669/ShuttleLaunch_031108_3a.jpg
http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y95/southpaw8669/ShuttleLaunch_031108_5a.jpg
http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y95/southpaw8669/ShuttleLaunch_031108_colorcorrectio.jpg

[Jetinder]

eric8669

Thanks mate they are brilliant :)

Thats exactly the photos i want to take :)

What exposure did you use ?

I will have to start saving up to come to America to see a Shuttle launch.

[Gerard]

>I will have to start saving up to come to America to see a Shuttle launch.[/quote]<

Better come soon because the shutle missions will be discontinued in a few years I believe.

[MarkLawrence]

2010 is when the fleet is due to be retired.

[pgengler]

Just stood up on the 2nd floor of my house in West Palm - 150 miles away from the Cape - a perfectly clear night - and there she rose into the sky. I was amazed how big the plume was - I could see SRB separation and then the final climb into the atmosphere! First time I've even seen it live, not on TV - a long way away - but Live!

I had almost the same view, since I was down in West Palm over the weekend. We were just coming back from dinner and pulled off into the parking lot off Lake Ave just in time to see the orange streak of the launch. We kept watching, saw the SRB separation and then watched the small spot in the sky until it was gone behind a building.

I definitely want to get down to watch a day launch from closer to the Cape; it's something I've always wanted to do but haven't had the chance so far.

[Gerard]

Endeavour is due to land Sunday at 1:19PM at the Kennedy Space center.

[MarkLawrence]

WX might be a little tricky - she might have to go to Edwards.

[Gerard]

WX might be a little tricky - she might have to go to Edwards.

Yup they changed the landing to Edwards 4:25PM EST

[G-BOAD]

Nice landing, but I am surprised at how late they put the gear down?
Welcome Home!

[MarkLawrence]

Now the game....what's the route back to Florida - when will it happen - you know airports all over the country will be checked by spotters!..LOL

[Gerard]

Nice landing, but I am surprised at how late they put the gear down?
Welcome Home!

Got caught up in football and totally forgot to tune in. Oh well.

[Gerard]

Now the game....what's the route back to Florida - when will it happen - you know airports all over the country will be checked by spotters!..LOL

They dont fly directly to Kennedy?

[PhilDernerJr]

Anyone have video of the landing?

[moose135]

They dont fly directly to Kennedy?
No, due to the weight and drag of the shuttle, as well as the lower altitudes they fly (the SCA has a ceiling of 15K ft with the shuttle aboard), they can't make it non-stop. With the shuttle aboard, they only have a range of about 1,000 miles.

[Matt Molnar]

FnduCffnT4w

[MarkLawrence]

Usually it's a 3 stop trip if I remember right - I know that normally Amarillo and/or Barksdale AFB are in there maybe PHX - Shannon who used to be pretty active here (if not still - haven't seen a post or a pic in quite a while) used to get it at AMA - AMA runway 4/22 is 13,502' - perfect for the long roll out. But - if weather/winds don't allow a routing - it might be delayed/re-routed.

[Derf]

After it stops, why is there so much heat rising from just in front of the vertical stab???

[moose135]

After it stops, why is there so much heat rising from just in front of the vertical stab???
It's not heat. They are venting toxic gases (http://spaceflight.nasa.gov/shuttle/reference/shutref/purge/) from the RCS and OMS systems.

[njgtr82]

Weather also factors into the routing back to Florida. Senga caught it last time so I'm sure he can chime in with routing information.

[Derf]

so they release the unused maneuvering fuel? Isint that contain Nitrogen pestroxide? sorry about spelling, do not want to look that up

[Matt Molnar]

so they release the unused maneuvering fuel? Isint that contain Nitrogen pestroxide? sorry about spelling, do not want to look that up
Yep. That's why no one goes near it for awhile after it lands.

[Gerard]

They dont fly directly to Kennedy?
No, due to the weight and drag of the shuttle, as well as the lower altitudes they fly (the SCA has a ceiling of 15K ft with the shuttle aboard), they can't make it non-stop. With the shuttle aboard, they only have a range of about 1,000 miles.

Cool thanks.