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

Berserker · 15 May 2011 at 23:33

If you like the Cupola, check out First Orbit. Save the obvious 60s footage, most of it was shot from the Cupola by Paolo Nespoli. Note: Long movie (99 mins).

Mik3 · 15 May 2011 at 23:39

Superewza said:
But it's 2009. It doesn't have the Cupola yet. That's the best bit!

I'm not aware of any more recent video tours, it would be great if they did one, as you say that one is very dated now.

Marine Iguana · 16 May 2011 at 00:00

Gonna miss this tomorrow got to take my car for MOT

Will have to watch the re run

Merlin5 · 16 May 2011 at 01:48

Superewza said:

Where's that picture from?

Cosimo · 16 May 2011 at 07:42

Today's plan:

06...20...00...07:36 .....Begin 2-hour 30-minute built-in hold (T-minus 3 hours)

06...20...00...07:36 .....Closeout crew to white room
06...20...00...07:36 .....External tank in stable replenish mode
06...17...00...07:39 .....Ascent flight control team on console
06...05...00...07:51 .....Astronaut support personnel comm checks
05...35...00...13:21 .....Pre-ingress switch reconfig
05...16...00...13:40 .....NASA TV launch coverage begins
04...25...00...09:31 .....Final crew weather briefing
04...15...00...09:41 .....Crew suit up begins

03...50...00...10:06 .....Resume countdown (T-minus 3 hours)

03...45...00...10:11 .....Crew departs O&C building
03...15...00...10:41 .....Crew ingress
02...25...00...11:31 .....Astronaut comm checks
02...00...00...11:56 .....Hatch closure
01...30...00...12:26 .....White room closeout

01...10...00...12:46 .....Begin 10-minute built-in hold (T-minus 20m)
01...00...00...12:56 .....NASA test director countdown briefing
01...00...00...12:56 .....Resume countdown (T-minus 20m)

00...59...00...07:57 .....Backup flight computer to OPS 1
00...55...00...13:01 .....KSC area clear to launch

00...49...00...13:07 .....Begin final built-in hold (T-minus 9m)
00...24...00...13:32 .....NTD launch status verification
00...09...00...13:47:28 ..Resume countdown (T-minus 9m)

00...07...30...13:48:58 ..Orbiter access arm retraction
00...05...00...13:56:28 ..Launch window opens (placeholder; not needed for STS-134)
00...05...00...13:51:28 ..Hydraulic power system (APU) start
00...04...55...13:51:33 ..Terminate LO2 replenish
00...04...00...13:52:28 ..Purge sequence 4 hydraulic test
00...04...00...13:52:28 ..IMUs to inertial
00...03...55...13:52:33 ..Aerosurface profile
00...03...30...13:52:58 ..Main engine steering test
00...02...55...13:53:33 ..LO2 tank pressurization
00...02...35...13:53:53 ..Fuel cells to internal reactants
00...02...30...13:53:58 ..Clear caution-and-warning memory
00...02...00...13:54:28 ..Crew closes visors
00...01...57...13:54:31 ..LH2 tank pressurization
00...00...50...13:55:38 ..SRB joint heater deactivation
00...00...31...13:55:57 ..Shuttle GPCs take control of countdown
00...00...21...13:56:07 ..SRB steering test
00...00...07...13:56:21 ..Main engine start (T-6.6 seconds)

00...00...00...13:56:28 ..SRB ignition (LAUNCH)

All looking good and the forecast remains at 70% favourable conditions for launch today.

Embed · 16 May 2011 at 07:53

Excellent, thanks Sim great break down.

Hopefully I will be able to watch this at college. No doubt I'll get nerd comments haha

Enjoy the show!

Cosimo · 16 May 2011 at 07:54

Merlin5 said:
Where's that picture from?

It's from the ISS taken on the 11th of September 2010. That is Caldwell Dyson in the ISS Cupola which was installed on the STS-130 mission. She was part of the Expedition 24 crew on the ISS between April 4, 2010 and September 25, 2010.

Cosimo · 16 May 2011 at 11:09

Crew is getting aboard and all is looking good.

VaderDSL · 16 May 2011 at 11:44

Lets hope they don't pull off the thermal tile around the hatch this time

Freakbro · 16 May 2011 at 11:45

Great pics coming in from the nasa video feed

PermaBanned · 16 May 2011 at 11:47

Just to clarify, those times are in BST simulatorman, right?

Cosimo · 16 May 2011 at 11:52

Superewza said:
Just to clarify, those times are in BST simulatorman, right?

That is what it says.

lcg · 16 May 2011 at 12:00

Thank you for the updates, simulatorman. I'm looking forward to watching this

VaderDSL · 16 May 2011 at 12:04

Hmm damaged tile, not sure where it is but doesn't look small.

Cosimo · 16 May 2011 at 12:09

VaderDSL said:
Hmm damaged tile, not sure where it is but doesn't look small.

Hopefully just a touch up job like they did with Discovery.

VaderDSL · 16 May 2011 at 12:11

simulatorman said:
Hopefully just a touch up job like they did with Discovery.

As always you're spot on

Megahurtz400 · 16 May 2011 at 12:15

Take off still at 1356?

Just saw the countdown clock and it said 51 mins?

Merlin5 · 16 May 2011 at 12:20

simulatorman said:
It's from the ISS taken on the 11th of September 2010. That is Caldwell Dyson in the ISS Cupola which was installed on the STS-130 mission. She was part of the Expedition 24 crew on the ISS between April 4, 2010 and September 25, 2010.

Ah thanks, so it's an observation area. What a view!

Cosimo · 16 May 2011 at 12:21

Megahurtz400 said:
Take off still at 1356?

Just saw the countdown clock and it said 51 mins?

Yes.

There are two clocks, one with elapsed (real) time to launch the other the countdown clock with all the launch events and built in holds. You’re seeing the latter. See the plan for today a few posts up to see the events scheduled and holds.

Here is a full explanation:

http://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/shuttle/launch/countdown101.html

Merlin5 · 16 May 2011 at 12:23

From spaceflightnow:

1122 GMT (7:22 a.m. EDT)
At least one of the three Transoceanic Abort Landing sites in Europe must have acceptable weather for the shuttle in case Endeavour must make an emergency landing during launch today. The outlook calls for thunderstorms at Moron runway in Spain and high winds at the Istres landing site France. But Zaragoza in Spain looks good.