NASA "Dawn" Mission Launch - 27th Sep 9:20pm

[iceman]

NASA's Dawn Mission (http://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/dawn/main/), is getting ready to launch on an unprecedented tour of two residents of the asteroid belt. This mission will be the first to orbit two different bodies in our solar system.

Launch window is 27th September, 21:20 AEST (07:20 US EST).

Dawn Mission Page: http://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/dawn/main/
NASA TV: http://www.nasa.gov/multimedia/nasatv/

I'm really looking forward to this launch and this mission. It should return some great science.

[Mr. Subatomic]

Phoenix was my first live launch. Unfortunately I was a matter of seconds or minutes late and so only saw the first stages of the launch on replays after. They are quite amazing things to watch!

[ballaratdragons]

:cool: Mine and all my familiy's names are onboard :thumbsup:

We're going into space :) :thumbsup:

[davidpretorius]

thanks for the heads up mike

[ballaratdragons]

The lift-off is being held up. A Ship is in the water in the way of Solid Rocket landing area.
5 mins before countdown resumes.

[Mr. Subatomic]

While I'm waiting for the ship to move I just thought I'd log onto IIS! :)

[ballaratdragons]

countdown resumes at 9:30pm AEST. The ship has moved out of the landing area.

[ballaratdragons]

Now they have the ISS in the way :lol:
It is directly in the path of the lift-off.

[Mr. Subatomic]

Rrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrroger Mission control. :D

[Mr. Subatomic]

T-4 min

[ballaratdragons]

Lift-off 4 minutes and counting :cool:

[ballaratdragons]

Rrrrrrrrrrrrrrroger Ramjet!

[Mr. Subatomic]

Dawn is go!

[Mr. Subatomic]

Those clouds don't look good.

[ballaratdragons]

Woooo-hooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo

[Mr. Subatomic]

Ionic propulsion? I thought that was still experimental?

[okiscopey]

Dawn just reached orbit .. roll on 2011!

Funny NASA TV coverage - very different from manned mission - just one fellow checking a row of what looks like microvave ovens with a few folks looking on - all standing up.

[ballaratdragons]

and others just watching out the window :lol:

[Mr. Subatomic]

That was spectacular!

[sheeny]

:lol:Sure it wasn't the laundromat?

I missed the launch but watched the launch replays. Some great detail in some of those shots!

Al.

[ballaratdragons]

At the very first instance, I thought it blew up!!!! :scared:
But it emerged from the top of the smoke about 1 second later. :whistle:

My son Jake let out a big 'Wooo-hoooooooo' :lol: :thumbsup: