Space Shuttle Discovery Launch Live Thread (11:59 EDT 8/28/09)

08/27/09 | Kevin Davis

[KevinDavis]

This is the live thread of the Space Shuttle Discovery Launch... I figure I do it now..

[KevinDavis]

"Lord Please Don't Let Me Frell Up!!"

[KevinDavis]

For other space news go to: http://www.spacetoday.net

[JerseyJohn61]

Come again Al Shepard?..

We got hot mikes all over...

[AGreatPer]

Thanks for the reminder.

Should be good on my new HD TV with a surround sound system.

[KevinDavis]

Let’s burn this candle!!!!

[KevinDavis]

Mind if I come on over???

[JerseyJohn61]

Just watch the coffee intake. We don’t need to be prying the
the hatch open for a hold.

[al baby]

Go a head and wet your diaper yes do it in the suit

[RaceBannon]

we got 24 hours, you know it got postponed until 11:55 or so FRIDAY night??

[iowamark]

Remember all:

The launch is scheduled for late Friday night, not tonight, Thursday.

[markman46]

third time is the charm.. I hope

[SierraWasp]

When's is scheduled to lift off???

I drove down to Canaveral in May to watch the one blast off that fixed the Hubbel. What a fantastic thing!!! Only the Saturn V would give me a bigger "charge!"

God bless our astronauts and the team that supports their missions! We've got one from Stockton, CA goin up on this one, I think. He may be the first hispanic in space...

[txroadkill]

With all the scrubs lately I keep thinking about that scene in Airplane! II where they are jump starting the shuttle with a 57 Chevy.

[KevinDavis]

The reason why I posted it early cause I’ll be at work and I’m usually not on the computer Friday...

[Ladysmith]

Sweet! I’ll be able to stay up and see it tomorrow night. :o)

[JerseyJohn61]

“Well, I’m a wetback now”

[TomGuy]

MS Player linkto NASA TV

[SierraWasp]

Never mind. I see it’s tamarrah...

[KoRn]

Thanks for posting.

I can’t wait to watch it! I’d love to ride on one of those things, or something like it someday. I think it would be incredibly fascinating to lift off for the sky, pass through the atmosphere, and look back to the planet from space. I could imagine the view of the stars is incredible from space too. Much better than from a country road in the middle of a Moonless night.

[Daniel II]

Gordo ... I have to urinate.

[NormsRevenge]

Latest spider pics..

banana spider

A banana spider is suspended by its web as the space shuttle Discovery sits atop Launch Pad 39A during final launch preparations at the Kennedy Space Center in Cape Canaveral, Florida August 24, 2009. Discovery is scheduled for launch later in the day on a mission to the International Space Station. REUTERS/Pierre Ducharme (UNITED STATES SCI TECH)

[TXnMA]

"He may be the first hispanic in space..."

~~~~~~~~~~~~

Maybe you missed this video:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cM_WYZEo-r0...

'-)

[mojo114]

Thanks Kevin for the ping.
I appreciate the reminder for Friday Night’s Launch.
Fox is already saying storms could be an issue.
Enjoy your day tomorrow.

[JerseyJohn61]

Hold tight good buddy. We’ll be stopping at the nearest
service station.

[UnbelievingScumOnTheOtherSide]

Gordo...Gordo...GORDO! We hate to disturb you buddy, but we’ve got a launch here.

[thecraw]

Now THERE'S a rocket (heading to a fake moon landing no doubt (LOL)):

[SouthTexas]

If that spider works all night, the shuttle may have problems with liftoff.

[AGreatPer]

They shouold put some dogs and sausage on that pad and have a party after the lift-off.

[RaceBannon]

thats valid

:)

[Pyro7480]

Go hot dog, GO!!

[SierraWasp]

Itsy bitsy spider crawls up the solid rocket... oop boop beep peep woosh!!! Up she goes!!!

[SierraWasp]

By George! I think you’ve gotit!! Thank you!!!

[Liberty Valance]

^

[indiana_gop]

I sure hope that Banana Spider isn't on the Endangered Species List. You know the animal rights crows would sue to shut down the launch pad protect it.

[happinesswithoutpeace]

/bkmark

[Bushbacker1]

Maybe tonight! 30% chance of rain at launch time. Cameras are on ready...but they’ve been that way for several days.

[Sparko]

Thanks for the ping, KD.

Third time is charm.

Looks like small cells moving towards the cape right now.

Link to Weather Underground near Cape
http://tinyurl.com/nlr8ee

[UnbelievingScumOnTheOtherSide]

Who’s the greatest pilot I ever saw?
You’re looking at him.

[robertwalker62]

IIRC there was a Mexican (country AND nationality) astronaut before STS-51L

[robertwalker62]

Yep, found it - Rodolfo Neri Vela, on STS-61-B

[True Republican Patriot]

How come Alan Shepard wasn’t billed as the First White Guy in Space? or the First English American? r the First French/English/Spanish American In Space? It stinks that Us Caucasians aren’t counted for anything with this ffirmative Action Minority Branding Jazz!

[True Republican Patriot]

Just be Happy that Banana Spyder isn’t a Muslim Terrorist or OBOZO would have his Justice Department Indicting You for Torturing a HERO!

[airborne]

DirecTV has a live NASA feed.

All systems GO at this time...

[KevinDavis]

A gorgeous sunset here in Florida as everything continues to go smoothly in the countdown for launch at 11:59 p.m. EDT. There remains optimism that the weather will be cooperative as clocks tick closer to liftoff time.

[KevinDavis]

The crew of commander Rick Sturckow, pilot Kevin Ford, mission specialists Pat Forrester, Jose Hernandez, Danny Olivas, Christer Fuglesang and station-bound astronaut Nicole Stott just emerged their quarters to board the AstroVan for the ride from the Kennedy Space Center Industrial Area to launch pad 39A on the edge of the Atlantic Ocean.

[KevinDavis]

The AstroVan is passing the 52-story Vehicle Assembly Building where Discovery was attached to its external tank and solid rocket boosters and the adjacent Launch Control Center.

The Press Site is located across the street, and reporters went outside to watch the passing convoy. This is a launch day tradition to say farewell and good luck to the astronaut crews.

[KevinDavis]

Discovery’s crew has arrived at launch pad 39A. The AstroVan came to a stop on the pad surface near the Fixed Service Structure tower elevator that will take the seven-man crew to the 195-foot level to begin boarding the shuttle.

[KevinDavis]

For other space news go to: http://www.spacetoday.net

[GeronL]

“Launch Thread, Take Three?”

[KevinDavis]

Shuttle commander Rick Sturckow, a 48-year-old Marine colonel who grew up on a ranch outside of San Diego, California, leads this voyage of Discovery. It will be his fourth spaceflight to the International Space Station, having been a pilot on STS-88 and -105 and commander on STS-117.

He is the first astronaut to board the shuttle this evening, taking the forward-left seat on the flight deck.