OT: Shuttle Endeavor Launch This Evening.

[Deleted]

Space Shuttle Endeavor Launch, tonight. 1830 edt

Amazing that it's such a casual thing, now. I remember the feverish excitement each launch used to generate. And no one died. For a while.

Today's Astronomy pic of the day
antwrp.gsfc.nasa.gov/apod/image/0708/phoenix_nasa_big.jpg
antwrp.gsfc.nasa.gov/apod/astropix.html

I've been monitoring nasa's live video feed for an hour.
www.space.com/php/popup/mediaplayer/noad_frameset.php?id=live_247_nasatv&media=video&mode=play

Nice to have an occasional description of activity and / or status, instead of the non-stop prattle by the talking heads when it used to be covered on commercial television.

There is some discrepancy in the times. Launch Control is announcing T-3:23, but that amounts to the time when he said the astronauts will arrive at the shuttle. 14:45. So, there must be another sequence they go through after arrival.

[Deleted]

aah, now I understand. They just went into a planned 3 hr hold period while the final inspection team works.

So, T-3:00 and holding. Launch planned for 18:36.

[ocdmike]

reminds me of the time the two aggies were going to make a trip to the sun.....
someone said man the suns to hot to land on
the aggies said were going at night!..........
youre right, just a common thing nowdays yet very few people realize a fraction of whats involved in pulling this off.
i have a photo somewhere ,taken from cocoa beach fl. with my kids standing on the beach and the shuttle going up in the background. man, times flying.

[Deleted]

Some day, I want to do that Mike. What an incredible experience it must be, just to experience the vibration and the roar, not to mention the spectacle.

I'm not sure how close you can get by water, but I hear watching it from the water is spectacular, as well. How could it not be, I wonder?

[shoelessjoe]

it is a great story about the teacher who will be aboard tonight

[ghowiepharts]

hmmm........lets see....

I hope they are all sober and have packed Depends for the cross-country trip and have handcuffs and enough pepper spray just in case of a love triangle.

ghowie

[Deleted]

There are two females on the flight, so, it could get dicey.

[integrity4u]

Brig, you are so right. Sad that the space program is so "common place" that I dare say the majority of Americans didn't know the launch was taking place.

I watched the live feed and it was awesome.

My brother was in the Navy when the Apollo 10 mission was done:
nssdc.gsfc.nasa.gov/database/MasterCatalog?sc=1969-043A

He was on the USS Arlington, a communications ship that helped guide the spaceship back to earth. They splashed down in the ocean back then. He met the astronauts and President Nixon who came out to greet the returning astronauts.

My son once wanted to be an astronaut (what youngster didn't?) but he relegated himself to "saving the planet" here on earth in the Northwest and now in Alaska. lol

I just returned from my first visit to Alaska and got to see what David does managing 230,000 acs. of public use land for the state.

[Deleted]

Neat. I'll bet you're as proud as proud can be of David.

If I had known what I know now, I believe I would have been a marine biologist. Instead, I helped fuel the efficiency and productivity of American businesses, increasing their profits. All for a pat on the back and a kick in the pants when they were done with me.

I would much rather have gone scuba diving the barrier reefs for a living. That would have been more rewarding by half. And then some.

[integrity4u]

Oh to be young again. I guess I have lived vicariously through my children. I always wanted to live in each of the 50 states and just made it to 5. lol

My son served with AmeriCorp on the east coast restoring trails, working with kids with AIDS and restoring libraries in D.C. for 11 months. FWIW met Clinton when he was pres.

Then went to the NW and served 11 months, living in tents and working in nature. Then got his B.S. from Evergreen College in Olympia, WA. Met his wife sometime during his travels. They are made for each other. They got married 3 years ago in a hay meadow, by the stream where they met in Trout Lake, WA.

Not bad for coming from a small town of about 3,000 people in TX

Brig, I think you and David could write a very interesting book. I started writing my story, but it will probably be of interest to my 2 children only. lol Did live in a tent in a logging camp in Oregon when I was a baby. lol

[Deleted]

Folks, that link I gave tinyurl.com/2gdmq is live 24/7. Today at 13:56 EDT, they will be docking with the space station. I'm very much looking forward to seeing that.