STS-128 Mission

August 24- Discovery is planned for a Launch at Canaveral 1:36am EDT (05:36AM GMT) for another mission to the ISS.
Conditions so far look good for a launch tonight.

reply to post by ROBL240

---

Cool, thanks for the heads up, I was not aware they were launching again. Hope all goes well.

reply to post by jkrog08

---

I wasn't either. Is it just me, or, are these launches just popping out of the blue recently?

reply to post by octotom

---

Seems like it, but I just do not pay much attention to shuttle missions anymore to be honest.

A shame because by my count NASA only have about 4 or 5 launches left in the Shuttles planned life schedule. Until Orion is completed the ISS will have to rely on Soyuz missions from Russia for Supplies and crew changeovers.

I wish I could go tonight, but I'm feeling under the weather as it is. An all night driving session is not what the doctor ordered... Hope the launch goes off safely, maybe I'll be able to catch a bit of it from the yard.

Does anyone know why it is being launched at night?

I thought that after the Columbia disaster they weren't going to do anymore night launches. I think they thought it would be easier to see if foam flaked off in the daylight.

So why the switch in policy?

It's 60% no-go at this point. T-storms off the coast.

Here's a pretty cool site with video covering the launch.

spaceflightnow.com...

reply to post by fieryjaguarpaw

---

I never heard of a "no night launch" policy post-Columbia (STS107), which was not launched at night according to this list...

www.nasa.gov...

I'm watching on the NASA Satellite TV channel now....they are closing the hatch, so I guess the countdown is still on??

reply to post by weedwhacker

---

I think this will go down to the wire. Lightning strike 4 miles from the pad about 20 minutes ago.

Last go no-go hold at T-9 minutes

I'm betting on a "go"

EDIT: I shouldn't say it's the last go no-go. It's the last built-in hold to synch up with the planned launch time of 1:36am EDT.

They can still scratch at any time up until launch, of course.

www.nasa.gov...


[edit on 24-8-2009 by Zarniwoop]

reply to post by Zarniwoop

---

You could here it, during launch status check....the delay in the one controller's response. The call currently is "No-Go".

Decision to scrub, has been made.

add: Setting up for the 24-hour launch scrub turnaround.

Gotta love Florida weather!!!

[edit on 25 August 2009 by weedwhacker]

reply to post by weedwhacker

---

Bummer.

70% chance of acceptable weather tomorrow... See ya at 1:10 am EDT

reply to post by Zarniwoop

---

Not sure I'll make it, tomorrow night!

Well, keeping fingers crossed.

So the mission has officaly been delayed for 24 huors? damn I was just outside (southwest CT) waiting to hopefully see it! nothing. SOme humidity and clouds in the air, but many stars are out.

I wasn't saying that the Columbia tradgedy was caused because it was launched at night, but that after the disaster they weren't going to launch in the dark anymore so they could better observe any debris.

Anyway looking for something where NASA said this I came across this article that cleared it all up for me.
www.msnbc.msn.com...

Mystery solved... And by JimO of all people

reply to post by fieryjaguarpaw

---

I stand (well, sit on the couch) corrected

Thanks for the link

Scrubbed again tonight



spaceflightnow.com...

damn! scrubbed again! I wonder whata going through the mnids of the crew! Why do i get a feeling of another Challenger incident 1986, or Columbia was it? 2003? hope not!

reply to post by ziggy1706

---

Nah, I don't get that feeling at all.

The scrubs are there to prevent potential disaster.

Those astronuts have waited so long for a mission, what's a few more days.

Long live the scrubs