STS-131 Shuttle Mission to the International Space Station Launches Monday 11:21 BST

Cosimo

Cosimo

Cosimo

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EDIT: Landing at KSC is 14:08 BST, Tuesday 20th

At last we have daylight launches:​

Discovery's flight will deliver supplies and equipment to the international Space Station. Inside the shuttle’s cargo bay is the Leonardo Multi-Purpose Logistics Module (MPLM), a pressurized "moving van" that will be temporarily installed to the station. The module will deliver supplies, a new crew sleeping quarters and science racks that will be transferred to the station’s laboratories. The 13-day mission will include three spacewalks to switch out a gyroscope on the station’s truss, or backbone, install a spare ammonia storage tank and return a used one, and retrieve a Japanese experiment from the station’s exterior.
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From NASA

I’m sure that many of you will want to watch this. Scheduled for launch at 11:21 BST (10:21 GMT, 06:21 EDT) on Monday 5th of April, here is the standard NASA TV link.

Here is a better stream: 1200kbps ​


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:)
 
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Poindexter snigger

Im so childish

Looking forward to the mission, as always they are really interesting endeavours
 
The official countdown sequence started at 08:00 BST (03:00 EDT) this morning.

Whilst we while away the time before launch I suggest you find some time to have a look at the following videos:




​

It’s a fascinating insight. :)
 
simulatorman said:
At last we have daylight launches:
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Daylight for you, maybe :). It is still officially (and actually) a night launch. It won't start getting light until 20-30 minutes after launch time.

starfighter said:
Cool, but those so called Astronauts look so boring, send me instead.
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Clayton Anderson is anything but boring. Avid space followers will well remember his DPC conversations. In case you're wondering, I've confirmed that Clay named every single city in Nebraska during Expedition 15 (all 894 of them).

wonder_lander said:
I'd love to see a shuttle launch live, do they sell tickets and if so are they easy to get hold of?
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They do sell tickets - about 135 USD each - though NASA Causeway tickets (the best public viewing option) sell quickly. There is obviously the minor issue of needing to be in Florida on launch day of course (my bank manager knows all about this). :)

PS - Assuming on-time launch, yours truly will be six miles away at the time.
 
The rotating service structure (RSS) was rolled back this morning revealing space shuttle Discovery ready for launch:

180842maindiscrss.jpg

Everything is looking good for tomorrows launch. The Mission Management Team will meet tonight around 01:15 BST to give the "go" or "no-go" decision for fuelling.

:)
 
 
Morning campers. I'm just packing up for the bus to KSC. Praying for no fog (last forecast I have suggests fog will be more likely inland). Weather would have been "no go" Sunday morning due to fog so I'm just going to have to hope the prayers get answered.
 
There are no technical issues, the crew are taking their seats aboard Discovery and the weather has been given green once again.

The launch schedule is:

07:26 ........ Resume countdown (T-minus 3 hours)

07:31 ........ Crew departs O&C building
08:01 ........ Crew ingress
08:51 ........ Astronaut comm checks
09:16 ........ Hatch closure
09:46 ........ White room closeout

10:06 ........ Begin 10-minute built-in hold (T-minus 20m)

10:16 ........ NASA test director countdown briefing

10:16 ........ Resume countdown (T-minus 20m)

10:17 ........ Backup flight computer to OPS 1
10:21 ........ KSC area clear to launch

10:27 ........ Begin final built-in hold (T-minus 9m)

10:57:23 .... NTD launch status verification

11:12:23 .... Resume countdown (T-minus 9m)

11:16:23 .... Orbiter access arm retraction
11:16:23 .... Launch window opens
11:16:23 .... Hydraulic power system (APU) start
11:16:28 .... Terminate LO2 replenish
11:17:23 .... Purge sequence 4 hydraulic test
11:17:23 .... IMUs to inertial
11:17:28 .... Aerosurface profile
11:17:53 .... Main engine steering test
11:18:28 .... LO2 tank pressurization
11:18:48 .... Fuel cells to internal reactants
11:18:53 .... Clear caution-and-warning memory
11:19:23 .... Crew closes visors
11:19:26 .... LH2 tank pressurization
11:20:33 .... SRB joint heater deactivation
11:20:52 .... Shuttle GPCs take control of countdown
11:21:02 .... SRB steering test
11:21:16 .... Main engine start (T-6.6 seconds)
11:21:23 .... SRB ignition and LAUNCH​
:)
 
Berserker said:
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I really want to go to a launch before the Shuttle is retired- it's one of those things that has become such an icon and once it's gone, well like Concorde before it, that will be that.

Can you give me any advice on how you planned and organised the trip? Are you going to one of the stands, where are you watching from, how much time have you budgeted in case the launch didn't go ahead today?

Cheers.
 
SiD the Turtle said:
I really want to go to a launch before the Shuttle is retired- it's one of those things that has become such an icon and once it's gone, well like Concorde before it, that will be that.

Can you give me any advice on how you planned and organised the trip? Are you going to one of the stands, where are you watching from, how much time have you budgeted in case the launch didn't go ahead today?

Cheers.
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Years ago we happened to be in Florida and drove over for the launch, It goto about 1min 15 secs to launch then computer failure, It launced 10 days later, our last day, due to weater and windows,
Its very hit and miss, you need a bit of luck, most missons manage a day or 2 later if they are put off

If you go stay as near to Kennedy as you can so you dont have far to go


Edit:
No go atm due to a failed communications encoder thingmy

Edit they got 1 module back up and are now go, it was the command message encoder verifyer ! ofcousre
 
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gizmoy2k said:
Years ago we happened to be in Florida and drove over for the launch, It goto about 1min 15 secs to launch then computer failure, It launced 10 days later, our last day, due to weater and windows,
Its very hit and miss, you need a bit of luck, most missons manage a day or 2 later if they are put off

If you go stay as near to Kennedy as you can so you dont have far to go


Edit:
No go atm due to a failed communications encoder thingmy
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Go :)
 
Thankfully they are GO again, the worked the issue that was making them a NO GO and resolved it.

Lets get going to space!
 
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