Any of you guys watching the Shuttle Launch today?
 

I'm watching the preflight ops right now and pretty routine but very very interesting. Full coverage on the NASA Channel and online too. Launch is scheduled for 3:49pm EST.

Absolutely.

I've been flipping back and forth between NASA TV, Speed Channel (F1 qual.), ABC (Eng. vs. Port.), and NBC (Agassi) for the past 3 hours.

I'm watching it on HDNet.

Did the move the launch time up an hour? I keep seeing 3:48 p.m. EDT as the launch time, yet they're going in 15 minutes.

Aha... 45 minute hold coming up.

If you want to watch money wasted with fire, take out a $20.00 bill and light it, at least it'll warm you while it's wasted.

The Space Shuttle program should be canceled forthwith, and all future space flights should be privately funded.

So far, no go for launch now because of weather at the emergency landing site in case of an abort. From what I remember the site is about 5 or so miles from the launch pad. Here is a nice shot from the NASA channel -

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploads8/51151782646.jpg

Scrubbed for today. Re-scheduled for 3:26pm EST tomorrow...

I cut out when they said it was officially scrubbed for the day.
I might watch tomorrow.

If nothing goes wrong, it will look exactly like the last 15 or so successful launches. If something does go wrong we will see it 1000 times on every news show on TV.

If you ever get the chance to actually see a launch---go!
You will remember the experience. Actually the saturnV's were even neater. Just like other sporting events television pales in comparison to being there. The ground shakes, and the liftoff is much slower than it appears on the set.
Gary

My sister lives in Titusville. She's watched many-a-launch.

I really should visit during a launch.

I used to live in Cape Canaveral. 1 block from the beach. The house would shake when anything launched especially the Shuttle.

The land surveying company I worked for was on NASA's bidding list. We did a lot of projects related to the shuttle program and other programs.

The night launches are the best. There is an energy in the surrounding communities when a launch is being prepared and after it goes off.

I remember vividly when the Challenger exploded, everyone drove around with their headlights on as a memorial to the lost shuttle team. I wondered if they did the same after Columbia exploded. I have not lived in that area for over 10 years now.

Godspeed to the Shuttle crew today.

When I lived in FL I got to see several, including a couple from on base. Very cool. If you get the chance, see a night launch. It's completely surreal. You can see the orbiter main engines glowing as a point way off in the starry sky all the way to MECO (Main Engine Cut-Off) about 8:30 after lift-off - by that point it's halfway to Africa. Very cool indeed.

I'm watching...a friend of mine, Mike Forman, is part of the crew.

My wife worked with him during the shuttle cockpit upgrade.

We wish him well.

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1152040767.jpg

She's on her way. What a beautiful launch.

A carrier that I was design lead on is in the payload bay right now. I was glad to see it launch successfully.

Mike

Watching it on TV even when it's HDTV just doesn't do it justice, I've had the priveledge of seeing 2 launches in person and one of those was a night launch that I'll never forget.

Curious as to how they support the shuttle on the pad. Those two big towers don't cradle the wings of the shuttle do they? Or do the ends of the SRB's handle all the weight? Noticed that the shuttle kind of lurches over towards the cockpit during launch...

I'm glad there wasn't a complete F*up on Independance Day. Considering how things have been going with that program, I hope they get back safely too...Godspeed (or good luck if more politically correct)

Here is part of the information on the connection - "Each SRB is attached to the ET at the SRB’s aft frame by two lateral braces and a diagonal attachment. The forward end of each SRB is attached to the ET at the forward end of the SRBs forward skirt. On the launch pad, each SRB is fastened to the mobile launcher platform (MLP) at the SRB aft skirt by four large bolts that are severed by explosive charges at liftoff. " taken from here.