General Chat

Hi again Fitz I almost saw discovery launch in early sept 1993 I was on my honeymoon in Florida and the second week we did the space center. We could have bought tickets for the launch the following week, but as we were staying at St Petes beach that last week, and as a tourist had been shot dead in a carjacking whilst driving a hire car at night (they played his wifes screams for help on the news) I made the decision that we would not do the few hours drive during the night (think it was about a 6am launch) Ive regretted it ever since. we watched Discovery go up on tv in our hotel I do however, have photos of Discovery on the launch pad, but it looks miles away I try to watch it on Nasa tv or the news if its on But I have a real soft spot for discovery....... Elaine x

Good decision Elaine, re car hijacks Well u probably in bed its early evening here and just checked the site and listened to a great conversation about hydrozene leaks! They have some kind of fuel leak but neither seem bothered. Both mission and astronauts seem ok -- more worried about weather that they'll have to go for Edwards air force base .. I hope all goes well. God speed.

From nasa.gov/mission site:- Space Shuttle Discovery and its six-member crew are scheduled to land today at Kennedy Space Center, Fla., bringing STS-121 to a close. Discovery has two landing opportunities available today, with the first one at 9:14 a.m. EDT. The crew is scheduled to fire the shuttle’s engines at 8:07 a.m. to begin Discovery’s descent to Florida. The second opportunity is at 10:50 a.m., with the engine firing at 9:43 a.m. Discovery delivered supplies, equipment and a new Expedition 13 crew member to the International Space Station. During three spacewalks, the crew performed maintenance on the station’s mobile transporter and tested orbiter heat shield repair techniques.

NASA TV can be viewed via a link on this NASA page, more infio is also on the page http://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/shuttle/main/index.html Elaine x

I still havent worked out the true landing UK time lol ! If its four hours it will be about 1.14pm our time ?? I may miss it, I dont finish work until 1.15pm, with five mins dash home. I will miss it if earlier as well, as im now helping all morning at school, as ive been told just now, that kyles to recieve a special governers award (one child in each class) for outstanding work !! Elaine x

From Jacqui Goddard at Cape Canaveral NASA has given the green light for the return of the space shuttle today after a mission that looks set to lift the cloud that has hung over the agency since the Columbia tragedy. A safe touchdown of Discovery will indicate the revival of America’s manned spaceflight programme and herald missions to complete construction of the International Space Station, which has been stalled for more than three years. “We are all pretty proud of where we stand today . . . it’s been a marathon,” the lead flight director, Tony Ceccacci, said. Weather permitting, the orbiter and its six astronauts, including a Briton, Piers Sellers, are scheduled to land at Kennedy Space Centre, Florida, at 9.14am local time after a ride back to Earth at up to 25 times the speed of sound. Engineers on the ground were yesterday examining data that indicated a small leak in one of the three auxiliary power units that work the hydraulic systems crucial for landing. There had been concerns that inflammable hydrazine fuel could be dripping from the unit, which could pose a fire risk on the trip home. Tests suggested that the problem is almost certainly harmless nitrogen, which would not compromise Discovery’s return. There remained a chance that it was hydrazine, “but we’re feeling a little more comfortable with it”, Mission Control told the astronauts yesterday. “You are cleared for entry.” The shuttle programme is pinned on the success of the test flight. Not only did Discovery achieve its launch unscathed, avoiding the fuel-tank debris problem that led to the death of Columbia’s seven astronauts in 2003, but Dr Sellers and Mike Fossum made crucial repairs to the space station. Provided things go according to plan today, the way will have been paved for 16 missions to ferry equipment and parts to the space station before the fleet is retired in 2010. Engineers are putting the finishing touches to Atlantis, to send it up in August, and will prepare Discovery for another flight in December. “We have done a lot on this flight to answer some of those unanswerable questions, things we couldn’t answer on the ground and it’s going to make us a safer programme,” said John Shannon, of Nasa. In a final e-mail to the crew yesterday, mission controllers at Houston, Texas, said: “Thanks for making this a great mission. Take care, and see you back in Houston — and we’ll buy the first adult malted beverage.”

From news24*.*com: Nasa managers were keeping an eye on the weather as showers threatened to come within 50 kilometres of the Kennedy Space Centre's 4 570-metre runway on Monday morning. Nasa was going to attempt a landing only at the Florida space centre on Monday but said it would consider the backup landing site at Edwards Air Force Base in California if forced to postpone because of weather. The shuttle must land by Wednesday. 'The clouds shouldn't be an issue; however, there's still a chance of showers,' Frick told Lindsey. 'We'll be looking real close at that.' Discovery will try to land at 13:14 GMT or 14:50 GMT on Monday, completing a successful 13-day mission that took supplies and an extra crew member to the international space station and allowed spacewalkers to repair a vital rail car on the station.

may god guide them home, safe and sound.

Should arrive @ 2.15 London Time, in Florida.

nudge

Phew ! Just got home in time !! Its also on Fox news Elaine x

This is sooo exciting !! They are just entering the outer fringes of the atmosphere (Fox news) not long now am going to watch on Fox now E x

15 mins Good luck to them all...speed home safe E x

bump

Looks a bit cloudy in Florida.

some probes may not be working, but the other side should compensate hope so

Eh? What probes?

Touchdown safe

Look at the scorch marks!!!

WOW just watched it laand