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  #1  
Old 12-06-2006, 06:13 PM
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Ironflight Ironflight is offline
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Default OT - STS-116 Launch Info

For some reason, my PM box fills up with questions a day or so before a Shuttle launch....so there must be some interest! In the hopes of keeping said PM box within the 50 message limit, I'll just answer the questions I have gotten here....

Yes, No, Definitely NOT, Maybe, and I haven't a Clue!!

Seriously though....the latest I have from the Wx guys is that the weather has a 70% chance of being no go for the scheduled launch time of Thursday night, and about that bad the next night. There is a frontal system that is going to be moving through tomorrow, and low clouds and showers are expected. After the front, winds could be up. We are still going to give it a try - you just never know if you're going to get a break.

After working three missions in a row, I have this one off, so I have been planning to go down to see the night launch. I was planning to fly over to KSC tomorrow morning from Houston, and get in before the airspace closes. Just to give you some insight into my thinking, I have scrubbed my trip for tomorrow....which (like carrying an umbrella to prevent rain) will probably mean that we get lucky and have a launch! However, I'm betting that I go down a couple days from now, and get to see a spectacular show. So I bet against a launch tomorrow, and hope that I am wrong!

As always...please stay clear of the TFR - launch windows are too small to deal with intruders!

Paul
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  #2  
Old 12-06-2006, 07:01 PM
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AltonD AltonD is offline
 
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Paul, when the shuttle launches, will it go up the coast? If so, we are able to see it for a few seconds at my place of work.
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  #3  
Old 12-06-2006, 07:44 PM
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Ironflight Ironflight is offline
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Yup - it's an ISS mission, so it will be going high inclination - pretty much right up the coast. I've heard that some people up the coast have seen launches all the way to Main Engine Cut-off.

Paul
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  #4  
Old 12-06-2006, 07:44 PM
TSwezey TSwezey is offline
 
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Well I am heading down there tomorrow morning. I am packing my golf clubs and if it lifts off great if it doesn't I will play golf again on Friday. My brother is a Major in The Air Force and is the Public Affairs Officer for Patrick AFB so he is keeping me informed. He says it doesn't look good for tomorrow, friday or saturday. Clouds and wind will probably be the main culprits. I think he said about a 40% chance of lift off but we all know how much the weather changes. It's suppose to head towards the northeast and should be able to be seen along the entire east coast. I have been down there for two launches and have seen them both. Hopefully it will be three times!
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  #5  
Old 12-06-2006, 08:14 PM
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AltonD AltonD is offline
 
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Yup, we see a big bright streak zip across the sky, then nothing, it must be main engine cutoff. I am in southeast Alabama.
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  #6  
Old 12-07-2006, 07:42 PM
DeltaRomeo DeltaRomeo is offline
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Default Dang. First attempt scrubbed.

....maybe tomorrow.

b,d
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  #7  
Old 12-07-2006, 08:23 PM
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Ironflight Ironflight is offline
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Default 48-Hour Scrub Turn-around....

Since I have this flight off, I'm just spectating on the decisions....tonight's was a very close decision, but we played by the rules....tomorow the threat is high winds (most of it cross), so we're going to forgo tomorrow's opportunity and shoot for Saturday. That doesn't look particularly good either, but at least it is a target, and we can look again before we commit.

Dang - by staying in Houston (due to forecast bad weather), I was hoping that the perversity of the universe would have made the weather "Go", and we could have gotten off!

Ah well, I hope to fly out for the next attempt - still want to see a night launch!

Paul
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  #8  
Old 12-07-2006, 11:53 PM
jdmunzell jdmunzell is offline
 
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Default Delay..

Ah...Paul,

That's what you get for knowing so much. I was descending into Dulles this evening hoping to see the shuttle scooting off to the Northeast, but you knew already the probable outcome. Why the scrub? Was it because of the overcast ceiling around 5,000 ft.?? ...the lack to be able to track visually the launch and any possible debris from the the ext. fuel tank?? just curious. I know the forecast for the next couple of days is not very good at all....mostly for wind reasons I believe.

I'm hoping that we, along the mid-atlantic seaboard, will be able to see this man-made wonder when she passes outbound on her journey to achieve orbit...

Sorry Paul, but you've pretty much been tagged "it" when it comes to this shuttle tech stuff...

And BTW, between your awesome paintjob of Valkyrie and that great photo of you relaxing next to her at that fly-in campground, provides great inspiration and motivation to finish my -8!!! I'm sure that the rest of us would agree??!!!

Jeff
-8 wings ...yes, I know...still!!
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  #9  
Old 12-08-2006, 04:25 AM
flydjd2 flydjd2 is offline
 
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Default KSC WX minimums

Hi Jeff,

I think you will find that the Wx restriction is to enable the RTLS - Return to launch site abort - which is the 1st Abort scenario - although I don't believe it has ever had to be used so far - fingers crossed as apparently it is the most difficult Abort situation.

The crew need VMC conditions for a KSC landing - link here as I may have some of this not quite 100% accurate

http://science.ksc.nasa.gov/shuttle/...tml#rtls_abort

(Sorry Paul to pre-empt your reply !)

I did watch Nasa TV yesterday evening here in Europe for the crew strapping in - very interesting although it was a shame they lost the Flt deck camera feed - but still great to watch from the comfort of my computer chair
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  #10  
Old 12-08-2006, 04:43 AM
TShort TShort is offline
 
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Default

Paul-
Just wondering ...
With all the visual / camera monitoring NASA is doing for debris from the external tank how do you handle a night launch (you know, dark and all )?

Thomas
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