[curiousuburb]

So it looks like the countdown for tonight's launch of Discovery is on schedule.

The final (S6) truss with the 4th set of solar arrays is set to launch around 21:20 Eastern time (01:20 GMT).



Upon installation, ISS will reflect enough sunlight to appear (during some passes) as the 3rd brightest object in the night sky (behind only the Moon and Venus).
In some orientations and for some ground locations it will also be visible in daytime.

The station will also receive 'full power' for the first time.

Several spacewalks are planned (flight day 5 for the initial installation), and some robotic arm juggling is required to get it into position.

NASA TV coverage starts around 4PM Eastern (20:00 GMT).

Go Discovery!

[Luca]

Sounds neat! I remember seeing a very bright object move across the sky a couple weeks ago and then eventually fade and disappear, and I'm assuming it was the ISS.

Oh yeah, and I also remembered the Internet is trying to name an ISS module (to be installed in December) "Colbert."

http://www.nasa.gov/externalflash/name_ISS/index.html

[curiousuburb]

I think 'Serenity' is still ahead in the voting, but the Colbert campaign is significant.

As for overhead passes, http://heavens-above.com is my recommended place to check. Punch in your Lat/Long to get details and maps of what's up (including the lost tool bag from the last mission).

As for tonight's night launch... should be impressive as ever.

[turtle]

Thank you so much for posting this!!! I've been wanting to see another launch for some time now.

[Brad]

Originally Posted by curiousuburb Upon installation, ISS will reflect enough sunlight to appear (during some passes) as the 3rd brightest object in the night sky (behind only the Moon and Venus). In some orientations and for some ground locations it will also be visible in daytime.

That's no moon. It's a space station!

Originally Posted by curiousuburb The station will also receive 'full power' for the first time.

Don't be too proud of this technological terror you've constructed.

Originally Posted by curiousuburb some robotic arm juggling is required to get it into position.

He's more machine now than man… ?

[curiousuburb]

Postponed until Thursday evening due to Hydrogen leak.

Originally Posted by NASA The STS-119 launch was scrubbed at 2:37 p.m. EDT due to a hydrogen leak in a Liquid Hydrogen vent line between the shuttle and the external tank. The launch team is currently beginning the process of draining the external fuel tank. We'll turn around for launch attempt tomorrow at 8:54 p.m. EDT.

[curiousuburb]

Work on the Stack to access and inspect the leak site has pushed the next available Launch window back to Sunday.

Further briefings to follow the inspections may alter the timeline, but the provisional countdown clock is back up to 3 days and change.

[PKIDelirium]

Man, these valves are being a total pain in the ass...

[psmith2.0]

Originally Posted by Brad That's no moon. It's a space station! Don't be too proud of this technological terror you've constructed. He's more machine now than man… ?

Brad going for the trifecta!

My comment can't repel geekness of that magnitude!

Oops...

[curiousuburb]

Originally Posted by NASA The countdown for the launch of space shuttle Discovery picked up as planned at 3:18 a.m. EDT, from the T-11 hour mark. Launch teams aren't working any issues that would prevent a liftoff at 7:43:46 p.m. The updated launch forecast is unchanged. Weather remains 80 percent "go." The main concern is for a slight chance of a low cloud ceiling at Kennedy Space Center.

10 hours and counting...

[chucker]

Originally Posted by Luca Sounds neat! I remember seeing a very bright object move across the sky a couple weeks ago and then eventually fade and disappear, and I'm assuming it was the ISS.

I've definitely seen the ISS in the sky before. It's so crazy to think about.

Originally Posted by curiousuburb I think 'Serenity' is still ahead in the voting, but the Colbert campaign is significant.

Serenity FTFW

[PKIDelirium]

Serenity would be more fitting for a Moon facility.

Oh god did I just say that? I hope nobody figures that out.

[curiousuburb]

40 minutes and all systems are 'go'.

NASA TV is live with coverage.

[curiousuburb]

10 minutes and counting.

All systems go.

[curiousuburb]

1 minute!

[PKIDelirium]

1min and counting.

Full HD on Fox News HD.

[Maciej]

Yay!

[curiousuburb]

Successful launch! W0Ot!! No obvious issues to work.

Launch replays and post launch briefing to follow later.

[turtle]

Cool launch. I actually got to watch this one at church after the service ended. Literally just in time.

I'm uploading my copy of it now. Here's where it'll be when it's finished.

[Moogs]

Damn, missed it. Ah well, happy they got up there safe. Here's to a successful mission and safe return.... *raises virtual mug*

Next on the docket, SM4 to Hubble.

May 12, looks like.

[PKIDelirium]

http://www.cnn.com/2009/TECH/space/0...tle/index.html

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, Florida (CNN) -- A bat that apparently had trouble flying instead tried to hitch a ride on the space shuttle Discovery, NASA officials said. The animal was last seen clinging on the foam of the external tank of the space shuttle moments before the Discovery launched, officials said. NASA officials had hoped the bat would fly away on its own, but admitted the bat probably died quickly during Discovery's climb into orbit.

[curiousuburb]

Maybe... maybe not.

[Mugge]

Brian the Bat will live on on the internet:

Google translation

[curiousuburb]

Originally Posted by Mugge Brian the Bat will live on on the internet: Google translation

Originally Posted by Google translation Brian were lifted up and directly into to the place where the bat lands after last vingeslag.

Vingeslag = Bat-Valhalla?
Or is it 'shuffling off this mortal coil' metaphor for 'Terminal flight'?

[Mugge]

Naw. The proper translation would be wing beat. Though, bat-Valhalla woud be appropriate.

[709]

So this is how the Magog start.

God save us all.

[709]

*sniff*

[curiousuburb]

Watched the ISS/Shuttle pass overhead below Orion at 20:02... quite noticable.

Spacewalk in progress now on NASA TV.

S6 Truss successfully installed... they're working on some bolts and other tasks prior to array unfurl on Friday.

[PKIDelirium]

De-orbit burn was completed about 15 minutes ago. Landing scheduled for KSC at 3:14 PM Eastern. Everything's looking good so far.

17 minutes until entry interface.

Twitter feed of the landing sequences: http://twitter.com/InsideKSC

[turtle]

Touchdown!

I really love this stuff.