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On Orbit => Real NASA Space Shuttle Missions => Topic started by: Moonwalker on May 31, 2008, 10:08:05 PM

Title: STS-124 Launch Coverage
Post by: Moonwalker on May 31, 2008, 10:08:05 PM
Launch Coverage of todays STS-124 launch has begun:

Windows Media Player

http://www.nasa.gov/55644main_NASATV_Windows.asx

Quicktime

http://www.nasa.gov/qtl/151335main_NASA_TV_QT.qtl

Real Player

http://www.nasa.gov/ram/35037main_portal.ram

Here you go for the countdown timeline:

http://spaceflightnow.com/shuttle/sts124/fdf/124countdown.html

There is a 80% chance of launch today concerning the weather limitations. Everything looks rather good at the moment for a perfect launch today :)




Title: Re: STS-124 Launch Coverage
Post by: Steven on May 31, 2008, 11:41:40 PM
Crew now ingressing the vehicle.
Title: Re: STS-124 Launch Coverage
Post by: Moonwalker on June 01, 2008, 12:04:38 AM
Yeah great pictures. Can't wait to see them lifting off. I believe that this will be a perfect prelaunch and lift off, almost like in a storybook :)

Title: Re: STS-124 Launch Coverage
Post by: Elton on June 01, 2008, 01:56:08 AM
Now T-00:20:00  ;D
Title: Re: STS-124 Launch Coverage
Post by: Admin on June 01, 2008, 01:58:30 AM
T-20 and counting :)

/Admin
Title: Re: STS-124 Launch Coverage
Post by: marvx on June 01, 2008, 02:04:31 AM
anyone online at skype or yahoo for chattin???

/Marvx
Title: Re: STS-124 Launch Coverage
Post by: Twabi2 on June 01, 2008, 02:08:51 AM
T-9:00 and holding

Now let's just hope my girlfriend doesn't call to go to her place ;)
Title: Re: STS-124 Launch Coverage
Post by: Elton on June 01, 2008, 02:09:44 AM
 ;D ;D
Title: Re: STS-124 Launch Coverage
Post by: Moonwalker on June 01, 2008, 02:12:04 AM
Oh baby, this will be a mission for the books ;D So close to launch without any problems. Cabin leak checks and hatch sealing was perfectly done. The weather looks great too. Just 50 minutes to go... :)
Title: Re: STS-124 Launch Coverage
Post by: Admin on June 01, 2008, 02:13:15 AM
You mean NINE minutes!

/Admin
Title: Re: STS-124 Launch Coverage
Post by: Twabi2 on June 01, 2008, 02:14:55 AM
NINE minutes! ;)
Title: Re: STS-124 Launch Coverage
Post by: Moonwalker on June 01, 2008, 02:16:44 AM
Who cares about the annoying countdown holds? :P Just look at the EDT ;)
Title: Re: STS-124 Launch Coverage
Post by: Cthulhus on June 01, 2008, 02:18:52 AM
Quote from: Twabi2 on June 01, 2008, 02:08:51 AM
T-9:00 and holding

Now let's just hope my girlfriend doesn't call to go to her place ;)

lol
Title: Re: STS-124 Launch Coverage
Post by: Twabi2 on June 01, 2008, 02:21:11 AM
Quote from: Moonwalker on June 01, 2008, 02:16:44 AM
Who cares about the annoying countdown holds? :P Just look at the EDT ;)
I guess you would, if you'd be inside the real shuttle with a bunch of problems,
all piling up as time keeps ticking! ;)
Title: Re: STS-124 Launch Coverage
Post by: Moonwalker on June 01, 2008, 02:33:42 AM
Quote from: Twabi2 on June 01, 2008, 02:21:11 AM
Quote from: Moonwalker on June 01, 2008, 02:16:44 AM
Who cares about the annoying countdown holds? :P Just look at the EDT ;)
I guess you would, if you'd be inside the real shuttle with a bunch of problems,
all piling up as time keeps ticking! ;)

Well, I would do what the crew actually does: watching to my wristwatch, since the MET timer doesn't count before launch anyway as far as I know ;)

But there are astronauts who even don't care about. One guy even fell asleep, but I don't remember his name yet. The crew is much more relaxed as we may think. 
Title: Re: STS-124 Launch Coverage
Post by: Steven on June 01, 2008, 02:37:29 AM
GO/NO-GO polls coming up shortly.
Title: Re: STS-124 Launch Coverage
Post by: uri_ba on June 01, 2008, 02:38:43 AM
this hold is looooong :(
are 10 minutes not enought?
Title: Re: STS-124 Launch Coverage
Post by: Steven on June 01, 2008, 02:41:53 AM
Quote from: uri_ba on June 01, 2008, 02:38:43 AM
this hold is looooong :(
are 10 minutes not enought?

Lots of work to do in 45 minutes, let alone 10!  This is the final hold before she launches!
Title: Re: STS-124 Launch Coverage
Post by: Twabi2 on June 01, 2008, 02:42:54 AM
Guess who called?
No launch for me :(
I'll read it here tomorrow then!
Cya!

-Toine
Title: Re: STS-124 Launch Coverage
Post by: KRHart on June 01, 2008, 02:43:53 AM
Never watched a live launch before.  Its fantastic!

Title: Re: STS-124 Launch Coverage
Post by: Steven on June 01, 2008, 02:44:02 AM
Quote from: Twabi2 on June 01, 2008, 02:42:54 AM
Guess who called?
No launch for me :(
I'll read it here tomorrow then!
Cya!

-Toine

She can wait 45 minutes!  LOL!
Title: Re: STS-124 Launch Coverage
Post by: Moonwalker on June 01, 2008, 02:45:52 AM
Quote from: uri_ba on June 01, 2008, 02:38:43 AM
this hold is looooong :(
are 10 minutes not enought?

Don't worry. The countdown will be pick up again in 7 minutes. 17 minutes to go to launch from now...
Title: Re: STS-124 Launch Coverage
Post by: KRHart on June 01, 2008, 02:49:51 AM
Anyone else going down the ascent checklist as they call them out?   ;D

Aw man this is so cool! 

Poll underway..  countdown resuming..
Title: Re: STS-124 Launch Coverage
Post by: Steven on June 01, 2008, 02:51:19 AM
ALL GO FOR LAUNCH.

GODSPEED DISCOVERY.
Title: Re: STS-124 Launch Coverage
Post by: uri_ba on June 01, 2008, 02:51:29 AM
we have a GO :)
Title: Re: STS-124 Launch Coverage
Post by: Moonwalker on June 01, 2008, 02:51:40 AM
There we go, GO FOR LAUNCH and GO FOR KIBO! And the weather remains perfect too :)
Title: Re: STS-124 Launch Coverage
Post by: marvx on June 01, 2008, 02:53:43 AM
1 m in to resume countdown......
Title: Re: STS-124 Launch Coverage
Post by: uri_ba on June 01, 2008, 02:54:07 AM
Quote from: KRHart on June 01, 2008, 02:49:51 AM
Anyone else going down the ascent checklist as they call them out?   ;D

Aw man this is so cool! 

Poll underway..  countdown resuming..


nope, don't need to
IMU alignment
T-8: APU prestart
T-5 APU Start
t-4: Flash-evap to Off

T+40sec, @ M0.85: engine power down
T+1:20 @ M1.12: Engine Power UP

and cound down resumed!!
Title: Re: STS-124 Launch Coverage
Post by: Moonwalker on June 01, 2008, 02:56:00 AM
Note that past T-5 minutes you can "hear" the APU's. They sound like a steam locomotive.
Title: Re: STS-124 Launch Coverage
Post by: marvx on June 01, 2008, 02:58:08 AM
APU prestart completed
Title: Re: STS-124 Launch Coverage
Post by: uri_ba on June 01, 2008, 02:59:40 AM
engine gimbled to launch position
Title: Re: STS-124 Launch Coverage
Post by: Moonwalker on June 01, 2008, 03:01:11 AM
1 minute 30 seconds!
Title: Re: STS-124 Launch Coverage
Post by: KRHart on June 01, 2008, 03:02:24 AM
Good luck and Godspeed Discovery!

Title: Re: STS-124 Launch Coverage
Post by: uri_ba on June 01, 2008, 03:03:06 AM
Lift off..
godspeed.
Title: Re: STS-124 Launch Coverage
Post by: Admin on June 01, 2008, 03:03:16 AM
LIFTOFF! Best of luck STS-124 Discovery - have a safe and successful mission in Space and a safe return to Earth!

/Admin
Title: Re: STS-124 Launch Coverage
Post by: Moonwalker on June 01, 2008, 03:05:44 AM
That was a perfect show! :)
Title: Re: STS-124 Launch Coverage
Post by: uri_ba on June 01, 2008, 03:11:35 AM
MECO!
what a rush!
Title: Re: STS-124 Launch Coverage
Post by: Moonwalker on June 01, 2008, 03:13:49 AM
They are in orbit. Everything worked well. The people at NASA are just great.
Title: Re: STS-124 Launch Coverage
Post by: KRHart on June 01, 2008, 03:15:00 AM
Hope they didn't forget their lunchboxes..

Sweet launch!
Title: Re: STS-124 Launch Coverage
Post by: marvx on June 01, 2008, 03:31:54 AM
Failure of secondary electrical system of gimbal oms left

primary one lookin great

Good luck Discovery

/Marvx
Title: Re: STS-124 Launch Coverage
Post by: Steven on June 01, 2008, 03:41:37 AM
There was a big piece of foam.. I'm not too sure if it struck the Shuttle or not.  Will keep my eyes peeled.
Title: Re: STS-124 Launch Coverage
Post by: marvx on June 01, 2008, 03:51:32 AM
Inspection will clear that issue
Title: Re: STS-124 Launch Coverage
Post by: Moonwalker on June 01, 2008, 03:59:59 AM
Quote from: Steven on June 01, 2008, 03:41:37 AM
There was a big piece of foam.. I'm not too sure if it struck the Shuttle or not.  Will keep my eyes peeled.

I noticed that too. It was a pretty big peace and I'm rather sure it hit the HRSI tiles underneath the Shuttle. But it was late into the flight, at an altitude where the atmosphere is rather thin already. I think the speed of the piece of foam wasn't high enough to cause any big damage. My money is on 99,9% that there is no damage ;)

They'll have a look at it anyway...
Title: Re: STS-124 Launch Coverage
Post by: Moonwalker on June 01, 2008, 04:32:35 AM
They are talking about the foam loss in the conference at the moment. They say it was late into the flight and it probably is not a big issue. I think I'll safe my money 8)
Title: Re: STS-124 Launch Coverage
Post by: Steven on June 01, 2008, 04:53:38 AM
Yep, I posted a small video on NASASpaceFlight that shows the incident and slowed down.

Never hit the Shuttle.
Title: Re: STS-124 Launch Coverage
Post by: Twabi2 on June 01, 2008, 06:35:02 AM
Could you provide a link to that video for those of us that were... ehm, let's say... unavailable? ;)
She's asleep now, got some reading up to do!
Title: Re: STS-124 Launch Coverage
Post by: Steven on June 01, 2008, 07:08:22 AM
Quote from: Twabi2 on June 01, 2008, 06:35:02 AM
Could you provide a link to that video for those of us that were... ehm, let's say... unavailable? ;)
She's asleep now, got some reading up to do!

Video located on NASASpaceFlight's 'Live: STS-124: Launch Day / Flight Day 1'.

http://forum.nasaspaceflight.com/index.php?topic=13271.msg282975#msg282975

(Ford Mustang is me)
Title: Re: STS-124 Launch Coverage
Post by: uri_ba on June 01, 2008, 08:49:12 AM
Quote from: Steven on June 01, 2008, 07:08:22 AM
Quote from: Twabi2 on June 01, 2008, 06:35:02 AM
Could you provide a link to that video for those of us that were... ehm, let's say... unavailable? ;)
She's asleep now, got some reading up to do!

Video located on NASASpaceFlight's 'Live: STS-124: Launch Day / Flight Day 1'.

http://forum.nasaspaceflight.com/index.php?topic=13271.msg282975#msg282975

(Ford Mustang is me)

If that is the correct falling piece of foam, that's nothing.. diddn't get close and it looks too small to cause damage anyways.
Title: Re: STS-124 Launch Coverage
Post by: Steven on June 01, 2008, 10:47:35 AM
Quote from: uri_ba on June 01, 2008, 08:49:12 AM
Quote from: Steven on June 01, 2008, 07:08:22 AM
Quote from: Twabi2 on June 01, 2008, 06:35:02 AM
Could you provide a link to that video for those of us that were... ehm, let's say... unavailable? ;)
She's asleep now, got some reading up to do!

Video located on NASASpaceFlight's 'Live: STS-124: Launch Day / Flight Day 1'.

http://forum.nasaspaceflight.com/index.php?topic=13271.msg282975#msg282975

(Ford Mustang is me)

If that is the correct falling piece of foam, that's nothing.. diddn't get close and it looks too small to cause damage anyways.

It's after the 'critical' point in Ascent.  After the SRB's jettison, any debris will cause very minimal damage (not enough thrust for the vehicle to accelerate at an enormous pace).

There was a larger chunk near the 'Negative Return' call, but I did not have the time to post that video.
Title: Re: STS-124 Launch Coverage
Post by: Twabi2 on June 01, 2008, 04:23:46 PM
Thanks for that video Steve.
Looks like nothing got hit from what I've hear/read.
We'll have to wait until they finish scanning their belly to be certain tough ;)
Title: Re: STS-124 Launch Coverage
Post by: Moonwalker on June 01, 2008, 04:39:38 PM
Well, if I understood it right, yesterday during the post launch conference they said that there were 5 pieces hitting the Shuttle during ascent (I'm sure that I saw one of it on NASA TV during the late ascent). But it was all almost late into the ascent.

We'll know more after docking on Monday when they take the photos of the HRSI. But there won't be any damage anyway... ;)
Title: Re: STS-124 Launch Coverage
Post by: uri_ba on June 01, 2008, 08:23:40 PM
BTW - I happened to stumble on one of the NC burns.
I seems that they have decided to shut down the Left OMS engine till Deorb.
and use only the right one for maneuvers.

during launch the secondary gimble for the Left OMS engine failed.
so they decided to shut it down completely (and not risk the Main Gimble in unnecessary burns)
Title: Re: STS-124 Launch Coverage
Post by: USA~Driver on June 02, 2008, 12:12:51 AM
Watching MS Hamm and Nyberg conduct tile inspection with RMS without OBSS. As I said in a earlier post, Will be looking forward to simulating this mission. It is also nice to follow along the real mission and hear calls and commands that we use. I just heard about this left OMS descrepency. Seems the motor itself is fine but a backup electrical system has failed. The primary Is operable but not using the system until de-orb as a safety measure. ( I wonder if Admin and the boys can sim that? )Looking forward to docking Monday.    ;)
Title: Re: STS-124 Launch Coverage
Post by: Moonwalker on June 02, 2008, 02:06:15 AM
BTW, did anybody see the hend-held videos today, taken on the flight deck and mid deck? The sound quality was amazing. You could even hear the life support systems, Mark Kelly and Karen Nyberg talking and things like that... Was like beeing aboard myself. Just amazing.

PS: I recorded the sound of the middeck/flight deck from NASA TV and replace the cockpit wav with it in my SSM2007. It sounds just great ;D
Title: Re: STS-124 Launch Coverage
Post by: Twabi2 on June 02, 2008, 02:15:42 AM
Did you record that?
I only once saw handheld video material from inside the cockpit,
that was from a reentry...
It was THE most amazing piece of video I had ever seen!
Title: Re: STS-124 Launch Coverage
Post by: Steven on June 02, 2008, 02:21:06 AM
Quote from: Twabi2 on June 02, 2008, 02:15:42 AM
Did you record that?
I only once saw handheld video material from inside the cockpit,
that was from a reentry...
It was THE most amazing piece of video I had ever seen!


I'll be acquiring a copy tonight.  :)
Title: Re: STS-124 Launch Coverage
Post by: Twabi2 on June 02, 2008, 02:25:29 AM
Thanks a lot Steve!
Title: Re: STS-124 Launch Coverage
Post by: Steven on June 02, 2008, 08:25:26 PM
Quote from: Twabi2 on June 02, 2008, 02:25:29 AM
Thanks a lot Steve!


No problem.

http://www.megaupload.com/?d=P8MZMX7D

Sorry about it being on MegaUpload, the only place I could get it uploaded in a timely fashion..  If you've got kids around, you might want to push them away while you start the download..  :-X
Title: Re: STS-124 Launch Coverage
Post by: Spacewalker on June 02, 2008, 09:20:50 PM
Thank you very much, Steven, for making this interesting video available for us all!

This is amazing footage with very good sound quality, indeed. It really makes you almost feel like being aboard. (and it reminds me once more of one of the greatest times I had in my life, when I was invited aboard a Zero-G flight to experience weightlessness for real; but that's another story...)
Title: Re: STS-124 Launch Coverage
Post by: Moonwalker on June 02, 2008, 09:26:46 PM
Thanks a lot Steve!

Today I tested the demo version of the WM player. I think I buy it. Damn, I didn't have it already just an hour ago when the RCS firing was done by Mark Kelly and seen from the flight deck. That was cool as well. But sadly without interior sound. But doesn't really matter since RCS firing as well as OMS firing can't be heared within flight deck and mid deck anyway ;D
Title: Re: STS-124 Launch Coverage
Post by: Steven on June 02, 2008, 09:29:50 PM
Quote from: Moonwalker on June 02, 2008, 09:26:46 PM
Thanks a lot Steve!

Today I tested the demo version of the WM player. I think I buy it. Damn, I didn't have it already just an hour ago when the RCS firing was done by Mark Kelly and seen from the flight deck. That was cool as well. But sadly without interior sound. But doesn't really matter since RCS firing as well as OMS firing can't be heared within flight deck and mid deck anyway ;D

And I'm aquiring a video of the RCS firing (very spectacular)!  Will upload when I get that.
Title: Re: STS-124 Launch Coverage
Post by: Steven on June 02, 2008, 09:40:59 PM
Since I can't edit after 10 minutes or whatever the time is..

http://www.megaupload.com/?d=90R0LH0H

It's the spectacular NCC Burn.  Have fun.  :)
Title: Re: STS-124 Launch Coverage
Post by: Moonwalker on June 02, 2008, 09:53:07 PM
Thanks a lot for that too! This will enhance my human space flight video galleries... ;D