Shuttle Launch

[WilldCrd]

Can't wait,  a little over 3 1/2 hrs from now.
I was looking at some pics of Atlantis on the launch pad and Endeavor was in the background ready to launch if theres a problem.
IIRC this is the 1st time a backup shuttle has been on the pad ready to go in "just in case" scenario.

it would be cool if one day they fire off 2 at close to the same time. It's been done in the movies but RL is always so much better

[trax1]

It's gonna be on The Discovery Science Channel live here at 12:30 CST.

[Dragon]

Watch live at nasa.gov

[avionix]

Walked outside the office a little while ago and watched it.  Nearly 3 hours away by car and we can still see it for about 30-40 seconds before it disappears.  Pretty neat to see.  The best was seeing a night launch a few years back.  VERY impressive.

[Octavius]

Can't wait,  a little over 3 1/2 hrs from now.
I was looking at some pics of Atlantis on the launch pad and Endeavor was in the background ready to launch if theres a problem.
IIRC this is the 1st time a backup shuttle has been on the pad ready to go in "just in case" scenario.

it would be cool if one day they fire off 2 at close to the same time. It's been done in the movies but RL is always so much better

That's not true... the first time NASA readied a 'backup shuttle' was in September last year.  I'll find a linky

edit:  here we go:  http://www.newscientist.com/article/dn14770-backup-shuttle-for-hubble-mission-moved-to-launch-pad.html

Higher orbit to reach the Hubble.  Better safe than sorry I suppose.

[trax1]

Yeah when the Shuttle goes to Hubble I believe thats the furthest that the shuttle goes out away from the Earth, 400 miles IIRC.

Also a little bit of trivia for ya, but this was the last space shuttle launch that won't be going to the ISS, because it's not that much longer and the shuttles are being retired and replaced with the new space vehicle.

  The best was seeing a night launch a few years back.  VERY impressive.

Yeah a couple years ago I was in Houston and got to see the shuttle fly over head on it's way back to land at night, that was really cool, you get to see the glowing plasma trail it leaves behind in the sky, and man that thing is moving fast, it traveled across the visible sky in about a min, I believe they said it was still going about 12,000mph when it was over head.