STS-122: Space Shuttle Launch - Sunday Dec 9th, 7:43am AEDST

[iceman]

Space Shuttle Atlantis will launch on mission STS-122, on Sunday 9th December - 7:43am AEDST.

This is the 4th Space Shuttle mission this year, and will fly to the International Space Station to install the Columbus laboratory onto the Harmony module.

Resources and Links:
* NASA Space Shuttle page (http://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/shuttle/main/index.html)
* NASA TV (http://www.nasa.gov/multimedia/nasatv/index.html) (watch the launch live!)
* Heavens-above (http://www.heavens-above.com) for ISS and Shuttle overhead pass predictions

Good luck to the crew!

[h0ughy]

looking forward to this one

[xelasnave]

:thumbsup:Thanks for that Mike:thumbsup:...
now here is another Goal for you:)..

a trip on the shuttle one day;)....

what the mind can concieve a hopeful man can achieve.

alex:):):)

[koputai]

Just doing some obs schedules for Sydney:

New obs tba as old ones now out to lunch.

Cheers,
Jason.

[iceman]

Don't forget the launch, only 10 hours to go! Get on NASA TV and watch it in the morning!

[Omaroo]

Dec. 6, 10:30 a.m. EST: During tanking, two of four LH2 Engine Cutoff (ECO) sensors failed to respond appropriately, which is a Launch Commit Violation. The requirement to proceed calls for 3 of 4. The launch was scrubbed at 9:56 a.m. EST on the recommendation of Launch Director Doug Lyons.

Mission Management Team Chairman LeRoy Cain concurred following a short briefing on the issue. The ice inspection team will proceed with an abbreviated vehicle inspection prior to offloading the LO2 and LH2 and recycle for a launch attempt tomorrow, at 4:09 p.m. (8:09am our time AEST?)

[iceman]

Just noticed that too, Chris. How annoying for the crew.

The time on the left-bar has already been updated.

[sheeny]

Good news for me... Saturday morning - I can watch it at home!

Al.

[citivolus]

Any updated observing schedules? :)

[iceman]

It's been pushed back another day!
It's now Sunday morning at 7:43am AEDST - and even then it's not guaranteed due to weather.

[iceman]

Eric the observing scheduled for the ISS won't change. Go to heavens-above and enter your co-ordinates, and click "ISS" for pass predictions.

[citivolus]

True, we'll just likely lose the docking passes.

I saw Mir docking with a new module back in the late 80's and will never forget that one.

Eric

[iceman]

Looks like it's on hold for a while, may still launch later today?

[sheeny]

I hope so. I got out of bed to watch it... half asleep...:lol: trying to work out why it's not on...:whistle:

Al.

[matt]

So...it's now tomorrow arvo...if everything goes OK? (10 Dec).

[iceman]

Tomorrow morning - check the time on the left.

[matt]

I did check at left...it was reading "10 Dec 6:21am GMT+10"...which I took as 6:21 +10hrs = 4.21pm Oz time.

So I guess the clock actually mean 6.21am here (as in GMT+10). Got it!

Cheers

[matt]

NASA TV says five hours to go.

The countdown clock at left say 8hrs 30mins.

Think I'll keep an eye on NASA TV.

[matt]

Darn!

One of the four hydrogen sensors has failed.

Quoting the NASA TV voiceover guy: "This is not good news".

[matt]

Scrubbed!

[MikeyB]

NASA run two concurrent countdown clocks. The actual time to launch (presently showing around 8 hours but likely to change after the latest hitch), includes several planned hold points where they stop the other clock - the one announced on the NASA TV commentary.

The Countdown 101 page gives more info:
http://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/launch/countdown101.html

Today's launch (tomorrow morning our time), has just been scrubbed - they're draining the LOX tank now, then the hydrogen one. Grrr!

[Chrissyo]

Looks like we won't be seeing this launch for a couple more weeks.

"The launch of space shuttle Atlantis has been rescheduled for no earlier than Jan. 2, 2008. (http://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/shuttle/main/index.html")"

[iceman]

Bummer! Next launch window is 2nd January.

[Space]

Next launch window is 10th January :
"NASA is targeting Jan. 10 as the next possible launch opportunity for Atlantis on mission STS-122. Atlantis will carry the European-built Columbus laboratory to the International Space Station"

[saberscorpx]

While we're waiting, and in case anyone missed it:

http://myspacetv.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=vids.individua l&videoid=23903634


SJS

[erick]

Is that why they call it a "web"cam? :D

[iceman]

lol i saw that on Channel 7 (sunrise) the other day.. very funny seeing a spider crawl over the lens.