Space Shuttle Endeavour Due To Launch, Monday 16th May 2011

*** News Flash ***

The countdown clock has started for the launch of the Space Shuttle Endeavour! The clock started at 7.00 pm BST today and will run right up until the launch of the Shuttle, at 8.37 pm BST on 29 April 2011..! :D

NASA link >> countdown clock
Only 3 days and an hour or so, to go... :popcorn:
 
... the launch date of Endeavour [was] changed [from the 19th April], due to a scheduling conflict with a Russian supply vehicle.

The Russian Progress supply vehicle has successfully docked with the International Space Station. The seal between Progress and the ISS is being checked before the hatch is opened...

For today's Shuttle launch:
Forecasters continue to predict a 70 percent chance of favorable weather for today's launch. The only concerns are low cloud ceilings and high crosswinds at the Shuttle Landing Facility at time of liftoff.

Currently, Endeavour is on schedule for launch at 8.47pm BST, today.
 
The Commander of this mission is the husband of that American politician that got shot in the head a few months back.
 
That's a shame - I was looking forward to the launch! >:(

Oh well, there's a meeting later with the launch director chap & his homies - hopefully the launch won't be delayed for too long... :bored:
 
Does that mean that the International Space Station is in fact just in a hangar somewhere? And, if it is an International space station, does the said hangar travel from country to country, or is it in several countries at once and thus is merely an illusion?

:thinking:
 
Does that mean that the International Space Station is in fact just in a hangar somewhere? And, if it is an International space station, does the said hangar travel from country to country, or is it in several countries at once and thus is merely an illusion?

:thinking:

Smoke and mirrors p'raps - couldn't do worse than ask Laika
 
They're looking at May 8th as the earliest possible launch date now.

Terribly disappointing for such a highly anticipated event.
 
NASA says that the earliest Endeavour launch could be May 10th..

On Launch Pad 39A, a new LCA (Launch Controller Assembly) box was installed into Endeavour this morning, and technicians are preparing to retest the system before Endeavour's next launch attempt is scheduled. Currently, Endeavour's no earlier than launch date remains May 10.

NASA Linkage >> Forensic Testing on Faulty LCA-2

The exact launch date is yet to be announced.....

Endeavour-to-Orbit.jpg

Archive Image: Shuttle Endeavour blasting into orbit!

Even older archive piccy of Endeavour >> endeavour_old.jpg *

*allegedly might just be artistic impression!
 
For UK dwellers - BBC4 - 8pm tonight - The Space Shuttle: A Horizon Guide

Documentary chronicling 30 years of service performed by Nasa's space shuttle programme to mark the final flight. The film examines the triumphs and tragedies captured in three decades of coverage of space missions

I might give that a watch.
 
The Launch clock is running! The launch is now scheduled for:

Monday 16th May 2011 @ 13.56 BST

That is, as long as nothing else goes wrong... :)

Shuttle Weather Officer Kathy Winters has forecasted a 70% chance of having favorable weather for Endeavour's liftoff scheduled for 8:56 a.m. <US eastern time>, Monday.
NASA Source >> Space Shuttle News

Fingers crossed... (although you may want to cross some-one else's fingers if you need to use yours between now and Monday...:unsure:)
 
There's approximately 50 minutes till lift-off!

For those that have a few spare minutes (and for those that can distract the boss for a moment or two), tune into NASA tv to hopefully watch Endeavour launch into space... :popcorn:

favorable conditions still predicted for launch time at 8:56:28 a.m. (US Eastern time)
 
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