Shuttle Launch Today!

[cudachaser]

Liftoff 3:51pm est...Weather is the only issue, Florida summer afternoon weather can be iffy.

I'm escorting 4 bus loads of Japenese dignatories to the viewing site today!

Joe

 

[SDAnderson]

"We shall not cease from exploration, and the end of all our exploring will be to arrive where we started and know the place for the first time." - T. S. Eliot

God Speed to these seven brave explorers, may they enjoy great success and have a terrific adventure.

 

[CBulla]

Rock on Cuda!! I can't wait to see that ole Roman Candle zip up on the horizon again today!!!! I miss seeing it!!! Next time my wife and I are coming over to see it

 

[parrottheaddiver]

"In spite of the opinions of certain narrow-minded people, who would shut up the human race upon this globe, as within some magic circle which it must never outstep, we shall one day travel to the moon, the planets, and the stars, with the same facility, rapidity, and certainty as we now make the voyage from Liverpool to New York."- Jules Verne, From the Earth to the Moon, 1865

Good luck and Godspeed to our brave Astronauts for a successful journey and a safe return!

:happywave

 

[simbrooks]

How far away can you be and still get a good view? We are thinking of heading to Port Canaveral, not sure how busy it'll be, but its only a couple of miles away from the Cape base.

 

[Bill51]

How far away can you be and still get a good view? We are thinking of heading to Port Canaveral, not sure how busy it'll be, but its only a couple of miles away from the Cape base.

From what I’ve heard most of the bars and restaurants at Port Canaveral as well as Jetty Park are going to be pretty packed by lunch time, and a lot of people are just stopping on 528 to watch. You have a pretty good view from just about anywhere on Merritt Island and many people turn up 1 to Space Coast airport to watch from there. I got to watch one launch from the control tower at Space Coast and it was a great view.

I may run over to the Cocoa Beach Pier for lunch and hang around there since it’s a great viewing spot as well.

I’m also watching the weather pretty close because it could get iffy for the launch if it stays this cloudy. Both the winds aloft forecasts and looking at some of the upper level cloud tearing right now make it a tough call too. I haven’t seen or heard the shuttle simulator GII flying yet, but they usually wait until about 3 hours before launch.

 

[dlndavid]

Can you take pictures Bill to post on SB?

 

[SDAnderson]

Can you take pictures Bill to post on SB?

Pretty please. With sugar on top?

 

[Bill51]

Without a very long lens it's almost impossible to get good pictures.

I’ve been checking the radar every time I get by the computer and it’s not looking good right now. A small level 2 cell has parked itself right over the pad 39B and forced all the visitors to take shelter from the lightning.

I bailed on the idea of taking the bike to the beach to watch with the weather as it is.

Astronauts Depart for Launch Pad
13 July 2005, 12:00 Noon EDT

The crew of space shuttle Discovery has departed the Operations & Checkout (O&C) Building at the Kennedy Space Center. The seven astronauts, riding in their silver trailer dubbed the ‘AstroVan’ are now enroute to launch pad 39B.

Thunderstorms have enveloped the launch complex, with heavy rain and lightning strikes – all personnel have been advised to take cover.

Launch remains scheduled for 3:51 p.m. EDT (1951 GMT), but the weather conditions continue to deteriorate and may force a launch scrub.

They’ve also lost power to the press center and the backup generator has failed – not a good day.

 

[dlndavid]

Watch NASA online here