Author Topic: Shuttle Luanch STS-118 (Read 293 times)

RAIDER14 · « **on:** August 08, 2007, 05:26:50 PM »

Today
NASA TV

Fox News is also covering the luanch

USRanger · « **Reply #1 on:** August 08, 2007, 06:41:54 PM »

Good launch. No problems. First teacher in space in 22 years.

VooWho · « **Reply #2 on:** August 08, 2007, 09:57:31 PM »

Didn't really hear about this mission, but what is the mission objective? International Space Station? Launching of a Satalite? Beat the Russians to Mars? (Last one was a joke)

OOZ662 · « **Reply #3 on:** August 08, 2007, 10:22:30 PM »

The STS-118 mission will deliver and assemble the starboard S5 truss segment to the International Space Station, as well as External Stowage Platform 3, and a replacement Control Moment Gyroscope (CMG). The mission also will carry the Spacehab (Logistics Single Module).

STS-118 will be the final flight to include the Spacehab module, a pressurized aluminum habitat that is carried inside the cargo bay. The Spacehab has a capacity of 6,000 pounds, and will carry a variety of cargo and research projects, including supply materials for the ISS. The Spacehab will return with approximately 3,000 pounds of cargo, including the MISSE PEC, a Department of Defense payload that had been installed on the ISS. Launched in July 2006, the MISSE PEC contains over 850 materials specimens that will be studied after long-term exposure to the environment of space.

Taken from Wiki.

AquaShrimp · « **Reply #4 on:** August 09, 2007, 05:25:27 AM »

Lets not forget, these are the last few missions the shuttle will be flying. It will soon be retired.

I was born in '83, not long after the shuttle first entered service. I remember as a kid being inundated with shuttle information. There was all kinds of books, tv programs, school programs, museum programs, and anything else you could imagine related to the shuttle. The shuttle astronauts on tv seemed so personable and friendly. It was almost like the people of my generation had their own space race. Not against the Russians, but a race for science.

I just hope that NASA continues to get the funding it deserves. I'm sure there are alot of fascinating and mind-boggling discoveries waiting to be uncovered.

CyranoAH · « **Reply #5 on:** August 09, 2007, 05:32:53 AM »

Also, and worth mentioning, Barbara Morgan, the teacher who was the reserve mission specialist for Christa Mcauliffe in the mission in which the Challenger exploded, is part of the crew of this STS-118.

I'm happy she's made it... she's been waiting more than 20 years!

Daniel

crockett · « **Reply #6 on:** August 09, 2007, 02:22:06 PM »

I was digging through some stuff in storage, and found bunch of my old stuff from NASA. I had several family members that worked at the cape when I was a kid.

My uncle worked in the NASA print shop, so I always had tickets to see all the launches. That and all kinds of info on the space program and other rockets. I even found some old concept art of the shuttle, that was produced prior to the shuttle being built.

My step father used to be on the suit up and recovery team for the shuttle astronaut's, so I used to have all their signed autographs and so on. I haven't been able to find those, may have lost them in a fire we had whjen I was a teenager.

Red Tail 444 · « **Reply #7 on:** August 09, 2007, 03:10:06 PM »

I remember watching Columbia's launch in my social studies class.

I still make sure I'm home, now, watching nasa TV's coverage. I'll never get tired of watching the launch. Also, watching the MOS replays from the different cameras is really interesting.

I particularly like the fixed camera at ground level, with the orbiter in clear view without the steam plumes obstructing the launch. The camera can oly tilt a few degrees ad the shuttle leaves the frame.

I worked in TV a few years, so I find artistry in some of those scenes.