Space Shuttle STS-121 - Mission ULF1.1 to the International Space Station

Berserker

Berserker

Berserker

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After nearly a year of analysis, modification and testing after the previous Shuttle flight (STS-114), NASA is ready to launch it's next Shuttle mission to continue building and servicing the International Space Station.

All images posted by me credit NASA or NASA TV unless otherwise indicated.

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Discovery (OV-103) on launch pad 39B

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Countdown begins

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Crew arrives at KSC (larger)

From left are Commander Steven Lindsey, Mission Specialists Lisa Nowak and Michael Fossum, Pilot Mark Kelly, and Mission Specialists Stephanie Wilson, Piers Sellers and Thomas Reiter.

There are still concerns about foam loss from the external tank, but they're considered as no more than a 1-in-100 chance of causing damage to the shuttle.

Launch is scheduled for Saturday at 20:49, however, there is a 60% chance of thunderstorms causing a delay.

I wish them good luck and god speed on their upcoming mission. I'll keep this thread updated.
 
messiah khan said:
Some of the engineers did however express concern that the ceramic heat shielding tiles havent been fully been fixed yet.
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Human spaceflight is inherently dangerous (at least for the forseeable future). It's all about knowing the risks, understanding them, and either removing or accepting them. Strapping yourself into a capsule at the top of what is essentially a high-tech roman candle, blasting into space, docking, orbiting, undocking, and returning to earth at several times the speed of sound is risky. There are numerous things that could kill you.

NASA managers should not ignore or override anyone - they should discuss the facts, weigh up the risks, and make a decision - fly or don't fly. This is not the 1980's and we don't have managers ignoring warnings about O-ring seals and flying anyway (and getting the end-result - Challenger).

Of course, if something bad did happen, it would be the end of the Shuttle programme, and probably the end of the ISS too.
 
HEADRAT said:
Let hope it isn't a replay of 1st February 2003 either, I don't think thing have changed at NASA:-
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I sincerely hope that's not true and that things have changed. If they didn't, they'd be doomed to repeat the mistakes of the past, and if that happens, we could well see the manned space programme being set back by decades.

HEADRAT said:
it's a risk that I'm sure the crew are willing to take as this is spaceflight not riding the number 10 bus afterall. The Shuttle should be retired IMHO, it's been a good workhorse but it needs to be put out to pasture, I'm not sure the U.S. want to invest the money in it's replacement though!
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I agree with you there, but the problem is that, at least as far as I can tell, the Shuttle is the only platform capable of delivering and installing payloads to the ISS for the forseeable future. By NASA's own admission, the shuttle is too complex and has major design flaws (particularly in the thermal protection system, which is what is causing all the problems now). Using delicate ceramic tiles for protection, which can be damaged so easily by simple ice and chunks of foam on what is a very turbulent ascent can only be a recipe for disaster in the long-term (as Colombia unfortunately demonstrated all too well).

I personally want to see a few more launches yet, there's nothing quite like watching a shuttle launch and landing, and it's something that's not going to be happening for very much longer. :(

Rich_L said:
I have my fingers crossed that there's a delay, because I'm at KSC from the 15th July which means it could get launched while I'm there :cool:
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Sorry to disappoint, but I believe the launch window ends around that date due to NASA's no night launch criteria, and it doesn't open again until August 28th, so unfortunately it's unlikely you'll get to see a launch even if there is a delay.
 
NASA is going the same route too. Using heavy-lift rockets to get cargo into space then docking with a smaller crew transportation vehicle in orbit. More complex to plan, but easier (and probably safer) to implement.

I don't like the idea of all that hardware going up into space and then being dumped, but that's a fact of life with the space industry (just look at all the fuel they use). In my view the trade-off is worth it, but I expect many disagree (probably loudly). Fortunately, rockets tend to be louder than any protest. :D
 
At the last report I heard, NASA was unable to start the first loading of fuel to the Shuttle's internal fuel cells due to expected lightning. If a leak happened during fuelling, a lightning strike could be disastrous. To demonstrate the point, the launch pad was struck on Tuesday. No damage to the shuttle, but some blown breakers and possible damage were reported to launch pad systems.

Weather is still problematic at best for a Saturday, Sunday, or even Tuesday launch. The likelihood is they would stand down for the day Monday after two failed launch attempts. They would have to stand down for at least two further days if Tuesday was unsuccessful due to fuel issues.

More news as I hear it. :)
 
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Early dawn at Pad 39B. The rotating service structure has been 'parked'.

No problems currently being worked on. No weather issues preventing loading of fuel, and the chances of weather preventing lift-off has been reduced from 60% to 40%, as Florida's usual afternoon thunderstorms are predicted to be further away today.

You can watch live coverage all day on NASA TV. I will also post updates if there is any news.
 
WMP working fine here, as it has all morning. Nice full screen image when I'm not browsing.

Issue being worked on: Possible problem with one of the heaters for the orbital maneuvering system thrusters. Wasn't expected to be mission-threatening last I heard.
 
NightSt@lk3r said:
what stream are you watching the one im on is far from nice in full screen.
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Seems to depend on what version of WMP you have (9 works better than 10 for me, although I think I got 10 working eventually on one system), available bandwidth (more is better), and a bit of pot luck. After some careful tweaking I can fairly reliably get 150Kbps or better, but your odds decrease the closer to launch time it gets.

Riever said:
Looks like the launch maybe gonna get cancelled.
Riever
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/americas/5134926.stm
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In the words of the Hitchhikers Guide to the Galaxy, Don't Panic.

As I've already posted, there's a 40% chance of bad weather (and that's gone down). It was actually quite nice at launch hour yesterday. Today is apparently the best of the available days weather-wise, so here's hoping.
 
8 hours - there's a built in hold coming up in a few. Don't panic when the clock stops, either. :)

Florida is notorious for summer afternoon thunderstorms. It's all down to when and where they happen.
 
They say the sea breeze should kick in in an hour or two and knock those back out to sea. It's the afternoon stuff we need to worry about.

7 minutes from the next planned hold (so they can carry out inspections).
 
Should've gone yesterday - perfect weather for it. :(

Not sure when they decide to quit, but it'll either burn itself out or not. Mind you, after having a direct strike on the pad on Tuesday, I hope they're all safe.
 
At a guess no-go, and given the amount of clouds about, we're going to stay that way. This one could turn into a marathon as we have the same forecast or worse right up to at least Tuesday. Hoped they'd get off today so I could watch the landing (online), but I guess not.
 
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