STS-134 Shuttle Mission to the International Space Station Launches Monday 16th @ 13:56 BST

Cosimo · 28 Apr 2011 at 12:00

Ok, the last blasts from the past. STS-88 in the VAB:

and launch on the first shuttle mission to the ISS in December 1988:

Back to the present.

Very little to add this morning apart from the news that the Mission Management Team has given a unanimous "Go" for launch on Friday. There are no significant issues and the forecast remains at 80% favourable conditions for launch.

Metalface Mark · 28 Apr 2011 at 13:14

SM - do you know when the shuttles are moving to their new homes? Im going to LA end of June, Endevour is going to the science centre there, im going to go anyway as they have the Apollo-Soyuz command module and Pete Conrad and Dick Gordon's Gemini capsule (11 i think), but it would be fantastic for the shuttle to be there (albeit i think it will come too soon

)

Khrest · 28 Apr 2011 at 13:39

It is taking at least a year to decommission each Orbiter, so you won't be in with a chance sadly.

Khrest · 28 Apr 2011 at 13:43

Pete.Dakota said:
Any idea why this launch is the other way round? I wonder if they're going to launch into a higher orbit and let the ISS catch up with Endeavour, or if they'll stay low and just take that bit longer to close in.

I did wonder about that today. It may be that the previous ISS pass which would be in daylight is the one the Shuttle is 'catching up to'. Orbital mechanics make my head hurt, but in the past, if there is an ISS pass around about launch time, it usually means Shuttle would also be visible.

All that said, it will probably be cloudy anyway.

Khrest · 28 Apr 2011 at 13:47

This is a useful timeline of events. Docking will be at 6.01pm BST on Sunday.

http://wiki.spacevidcast.com/en/STS-134_Mission_Timeline

Cosimo · 28 Apr 2011 at 14:02

Metalface Mark said:
SM - do you know when the shuttles are moving to their new homes? Im going to LA end of June, Endevour is going to the science centre there, im going to go anyway as they have the Apollo-Soyuz command module and Pete Conrad and Dick Gordon's Gemini capsule (11 i think), but it would be fantastic for the shuttle to be there (albeit i think it will come too soon )

There are no firm dates but I have seen reports that the shuttles will be ready for shipment to their display sites by mid-2012. So you are going to be out of luck.

Spook187 · 29 Apr 2011 at 08:42

Looking forward to this

thanks for the links simulatorman

Priapus · 29 Apr 2011 at 11:03

Shame I won't be able to watch it live. Thanks for the info though. :cool:

Cosimo · 29 Apr 2011 at 13:13

Endeavour on the pad last night as a storm passed by:

Tanking is now underway and the forecast is at 70% favourable conditions for launch today.

Metalface Mark · 29 Apr 2011 at 13:15

simulatorman said:
There are no firm dates but I have seen reports that the shuttles will be ready for shipment to their display sites by mid-2012. So you are going to be out of luck.

Going back the following year anyway

trigger-happy · 29 Apr 2011 at 13:17

when is the launch in GMT time zone?

Embed · 29 Apr 2011 at 13:22

trigger-happy said:
when is the launch in GMT time zone?

8:47pm gmt

Hurlbag · 29 Apr 2011 at 13:25

simulatorman said:

Is nobody else concerned that John Locke in the middle here is going to murder the entire crew mid-flight in the name of Jacob?

DefiantAsh · 29 Apr 2011 at 13:25

Hopefully a Tornado doesnt strike the launch zone, would be catastrophic.

900 Tornadoes since beginning of April apparantly, looks like the same storm.

Will watch this stream on my netbook tonight

Cheers

Spook187 · 29 Apr 2011 at 13:43

Hurlbag said:
Is nobody else concerned that John Locke in the middle here is going to murder the entire crew mid-flight in the name of Jacob?

loool class

Combat squirrel · 29 Apr 2011 at 13:54

simulatorman said:
Huge was the word for it:

Thats awesome, it just show how hard it is to leave earth orbit from a direct launch vehicle, how much power and tech that is required, moon and beyond I think will clearly be met by many smaller rockets launching and then assembily at the ISS (in a perfect world)

Merlin5 · 29 Apr 2011 at 14:06

Embed said:
8:47pm gmt

Excellent, we've had the support act (wedding) now for the main show

PermaBanned · 29 Apr 2011 at 14:19

DefiantAsh said:
Hopefully a Tornado doesnt strike the launch zone, would be catastrophic.

900 Tornadoes since beginning of April apparantly, looks like the same storm.

Will watch this stream on my netbook tonight

Cheers

Unless it launched from the eye of the storm... that would just be orgasmic

Cosimo · 29 Apr 2011 at 14:34

An OMS pressure issue has been resolved, tanking is complete and we are now into “T-3 hours and holding”.

Berserker · 29 Apr 2011 at 14:58

Going to miss almost all of this mission which is

, but I need the break. Been a very stressful few months.

Will certainly be looking for lots of highlights when I get to catch up.