T-Minus 2 minutes and counting
February 24, 2011 1:47 PM Subscribe
STS 133 Space Shuttle Discovery (Single Link Space shuttle Launch)
Godspeed, Discovery.
posted by goodnewsfortheinsane at 1:52 PM on February 24, 2011 [1 favorite]
posted by goodnewsfortheinsane at 1:52 PM on February 24, 2011 [1 favorite]
I'm halfway through a bunch of dental work and saw this. I was momentarily excited that I wasn't going to miss it after all, but it doesn't look like I can watch on my phone.
Funny how I find that more upsetting than all this tooth destruction afoot.
posted by Stunt at 1:55 PM on February 24, 2011
Funny how I find that more upsetting than all this tooth destruction afoot.
posted by Stunt at 1:55 PM on February 24, 2011
In case you missed it the scanner on radio reference from Kennedy Space Center seems to be running a few minutes behind.
posted by Big_B at 1:56 PM on February 24, 2011
posted by Big_B at 1:56 PM on February 24, 2011
THAT MEANS MY FACE WENT TO SPACE!
FINALLY!
I've been waiting months for this. Can I have my flight certificate now?
posted by functionequalsform at 1:56 PM on February 24, 2011 [4 favorites]
FINALLY!
I've been waiting months for this. Can I have my flight certificate now?
posted by functionequalsform at 1:56 PM on February 24, 2011 [4 favorites]
We almost missed it thanks to CNN running a 15 second eSurance ad when we resized the window. Friggin' ads.
posted by maryr at 1:57 PM on February 24, 2011
posted by maryr at 1:57 PM on February 24, 2011
Spaceships: Completely Amazing Since 1957
posted by theodolite at 1:58 PM on February 24, 2011 [6 favorites]
posted by theodolite at 1:58 PM on February 24, 2011 [6 favorites]
Windows media player on my Windows machine (I moved to that when I wondered about the lack of full screen on my Mac).
"Discovery's three main engines are burning fuel at a rate that would drain an average back yard swimming pool in 25 seconds."
I didn't know Mission Control was a trivia trove too!
posted by yiftach at 1:58 PM on February 24, 2011 [1 favorite]
"Discovery's three main engines are burning fuel at a rate that would drain an average back yard swimming pool in 25 seconds."
I didn't know Mission Control was a trivia trove too!
posted by yiftach at 1:58 PM on February 24, 2011 [1 favorite]
Why do they say "eleven decimal nine" rather than "eleven point nine?"
posted by circular at 1:58 PM on February 24, 2011
posted by circular at 1:58 PM on February 24, 2011
Did I just see some flakes of stuff falling away? I suppose that's normal but it's still a little weird seeing it happen live.
Thanks for this post. I tuned in just after lift off.
posted by bondcliff at 1:59 PM on February 24, 2011
Thanks for this post. I tuned in just after lift off.
posted by bondcliff at 1:59 PM on February 24, 2011
...because I am totally using that next time I'm playing mission control in my car.
posted by circular at 1:59 PM on February 24, 2011 [1 favorite]
posted by circular at 1:59 PM on February 24, 2011 [1 favorite]
Circular: less ambiguity over noisy radio links with the polysyllable version.
posted by killdevil at 2:00 PM on February 24, 2011 [1 favorite]
posted by killdevil at 2:00 PM on February 24, 2011 [1 favorite]
That was outstanding, complete with drama-llama before launch. Nice.
posted by lydhre at 2:01 PM on February 24, 2011
posted by lydhre at 2:01 PM on February 24, 2011
Did it just go from 7,000 miles an hour to 14,000 miles an hour in the space of 20 seconds?
posted by ChrisHartley at 2:02 PM on February 24, 2011
posted by ChrisHartley at 2:02 PM on February 24, 2011
oh my god why was i NAPPING. luckily i woke up to pee.
posted by elizardbits at 2:03 PM on February 24, 2011
posted by elizardbits at 2:03 PM on February 24, 2011
Anybody know what display tech they used in the old monochrome mission control screens? Seems pretty high-res when I look at those old photos.
posted by circular at 2:04 PM on February 24, 2011
posted by circular at 2:04 PM on February 24, 2011
STS-133 mission marks:
164th American manned space flight
133rd shuttle mission since STS-1
39th flight of Discovery
35th shuttle mission to the ISS
108th post-Challenger mission
20th post-Columbia mission
posted by Brandon Blatcher at 2:04 PM on February 24, 2011 [1 favorite]
164th American manned space flight
133rd shuttle mission since STS-1
39th flight of Discovery
35th shuttle mission to the ISS
108th post-Challenger mission
20th post-Columbia mission
posted by Brandon Blatcher at 2:04 PM on February 24, 2011 [1 favorite]
Circular: It's standard terminology. FAA standard is actually to use "point" but ICAO (the international version of the FAA) standardizes to "decimal". That's probably what the Russians use so NASA standardized on it as well but I don't know that for sure. The important thing is that it's standardized so people know what to expect and use the correct term.
posted by macfly at 2:05 PM on February 24, 2011 [1 favorite]
posted by macfly at 2:05 PM on February 24, 2011 [1 favorite]
Beautiful launch.
Sad to see it come to an end.
posted by Thorzdad at 2:06 PM on February 24, 2011 [1 favorite]
Sad to see it come to an end.
posted by Thorzdad at 2:06 PM on February 24, 2011 [1 favorite]
functionequalsform: "THAT MEANS MY FACE WENT TO SPACE! "
Thanks for THAT! I'm gonna be on STS-134!
Congratulations! NASA appreciates your interest in space flight. You have completed the steps to submit your face or name to fly in space on Space Shuttle Mission STS-134. Welcome aboard!
posted by yiftach at 2:07 PM on February 24, 2011 [1 favorite]
Thanks for THAT! I'm gonna be on STS-134!
Congratulations! NASA appreciates your interest in space flight. You have completed the steps to submit your face or name to fly in space on Space Shuttle Mission STS-134. Welcome aboard!
posted by yiftach at 2:07 PM on February 24, 2011 [1 favorite]
Here's a link to the Kenneddy Space Center scanner feed
posted by HLD at 2:13 PM on February 24, 2011 [1 favorite]
posted by HLD at 2:13 PM on February 24, 2011 [1 favorite]
So awesome!
NASA TV Links for Employees (not available to general public)
CRUELEST LINK EVER. Seriously NASA, why you gotta taunt me like that?!
posted by grapesaresour at 2:14 PM on February 24, 2011 [1 favorite]
NASA TV Links for Employees (not available to general public)
CRUELEST LINK EVER. Seriously NASA, why you gotta taunt me like that?!
posted by grapesaresour at 2:14 PM on February 24, 2011 [1 favorite]
I took my kids out of school early just to make sure we were home in time to see this. I told the school it was a "Family Matter". Don't call the Truant Officer on me.
posted by TooFewShoes at 2:14 PM on February 24, 2011 [3 favorites]
posted by TooFewShoes at 2:14 PM on February 24, 2011 [3 favorites]
Why do they say "eleven decimal nine" rather than "eleven point nine?"
Because there is absolutely no mistaking what you mean when you say "decimal". The word "decimal" is also more likely to survive any little blip in the audio that would mask-over a short word like "point".
posted by Thorzdad at 2:16 PM on February 24, 2011 [1 favorite]
Because there is absolutely no mistaking what you mean when you say "decimal". The word "decimal" is also more likely to survive any little blip in the audio that would mask-over a short word like "point".
posted by Thorzdad at 2:16 PM on February 24, 2011 [1 favorite]
Space is awesome! But every time I heard "Space Shuttle Discovery", I get an image of a NASA engineer opening an old closet and yelling, "Hey Bob! Guess what I found? A space shuttle!"
posted by Cat Pie Hurts at 2:17 PM on February 24, 2011 [5 favorites]
posted by Cat Pie Hurts at 2:17 PM on February 24, 2011 [5 favorites]
Did I just see some flakes of stuff falling away? I suppose that's normal but it's still a little weird seeing it happen live.
Probably some ice that had condensed and frozen on the External Tank, which is full of liquid oxygen and hydrogen. Launch shakes it up and it falls away.
posted by Fleebnork at 2:19 PM on February 24, 2011 [1 favorite]
Probably some ice that had condensed and frozen on the External Tank, which is full of liquid oxygen and hydrogen. Launch shakes it up and it falls away.
posted by Fleebnork at 2:19 PM on February 24, 2011 [1 favorite]
and photos from The Atlantic's In Focus
posted by Prince_of_Cups at 2:19 PM on February 24, 2011 [2 favorites]
posted by Prince_of_Cups at 2:19 PM on February 24, 2011 [2 favorites]
I watched the launch progress on NASA TV, and it was pretty nerve-wracking in the last couple of minutes with the range-safety officers trying to fix a computer problem on the fly. I didn't quite hear the relief in anybody's voice when the radio chatter finally gave the go as SRO signed off the OK.
posted by CancerMan at 2:21 PM on February 24, 2011
posted by CancerMan at 2:21 PM on February 24, 2011
As far as I can determine, Discovery only had about three minutes of hold time before too much liquid oxygen would have drained out of the external tank to safely launch. The clock started up again with two whole seconds of that margin to spare. Talk about suspense!
posted by teraflop at 2:24 PM on February 24, 2011 [1 favorite]
posted by teraflop at 2:24 PM on February 24, 2011 [1 favorite]
Spectacular liftoff, I'm all misty...
posted by moonbird at 2:34 PM on February 24, 2011 [1 favorite]
posted by moonbird at 2:34 PM on February 24, 2011 [1 favorite]
My manager's been out this week 'cause he flew down for the launch. A bunch of us watched it on the big TV at work. I didn't expect it at all, but I found myself getting kind of misty-eyed.
posted by brennen at 3:06 PM on February 24, 2011 [2 favorites]
posted by brennen at 3:06 PM on February 24, 2011 [2 favorites]
functionequalsform: "THAT MEANS MY FACE WENT TO SPACE!
FINALLY!
I've been waiting months for this. Can I have my flight certificate now"
Me too. Cool!
posted by Splunge at 3:14 PM on February 24, 2011 [1 favorite]
FINALLY!
I've been waiting months for this. Can I have my flight certificate now"
Me too. Cool!
posted by Splunge at 3:14 PM on February 24, 2011 [1 favorite]
When I was fifteen, I watched from the press section as Discovery took off with then-Senator Jake Garn inside as part of the crew (STS 51-D, April 12, 1985). I remember the faces of his family, his kids yelling, his wife crying. I remember the way the ground rumbled under my feet and how the launch was the loudest thing I had ever heard. I remember my own joy and pride as the shuttle disappeared into the gray sky.
It's very strange to say goodbye to this shuttle.
One last trip, Discovery. Come home safe. And then I hope you're parked at the Air & Space Museum for people like me to see and touch and remember.
posted by swerve at 3:14 PM on February 24, 2011 [1 favorite]
It's very strange to say goodbye to this shuttle.
One last trip, Discovery. Come home safe. And then I hope you're parked at the Air & Space Museum for people like me to see and touch and remember.
posted by swerve at 3:14 PM on February 24, 2011 [1 favorite]
I HAVE MY CONFIRMATION NUMBER AND EVERYTHING
posted by functionequalsform at 3:29 PM on February 24, 2011 [1 favorite]
posted by functionequalsform at 3:29 PM on February 24, 2011 [1 favorite]
Now that the launch was successful, I'm kinda interested in this new Robonaut 2 that's onboard STS-133 en route to the station. It kinda looks like all they need is some body armor and we got a Samus look-alike.
posted by CancerMan at 3:30 PM on February 24, 2011
posted by CancerMan at 3:30 PM on February 24, 2011
A guy I work with somehow got tickets to go see it in person
For a second, I thought you said a guy you work with got tickets to go see it in prison, and I thought that was an interesting incentive...
posted by limeonaire at 4:25 PM on February 24, 2011
For a second, I thought you said a guy you work with got tickets to go see it in prison, and I thought that was an interesting incentive...
posted by limeonaire at 4:25 PM on February 24, 2011
WTF, CNN? They broadcast the launch, but couldn't be bothered to keep a countdown clock visible on-screen?? I hate them.
I finally had to switch to C-Span to actually watch the launch. (Which I think means that my cable company no longer carries the NASA Channel? WTF, Time-Warner? I guess I hate them, too.)
posted by AsYouKnow Bob at 4:38 PM on February 24, 2011
I finally had to switch to C-Span to actually watch the launch. (Which I think means that my cable company no longer carries the NASA Channel? WTF, Time-Warner? I guess I hate them, too.)
posted by AsYouKnow Bob at 4:38 PM on February 24, 2011
A team of scientists and students launched a weather balloon near the launch site in an attempt to capture video and pics of the shuttle launch from 100,000 feet. The team will post the media on their website when the package is retrieved.
Twitter updates/TwitPics | Facebook |Space.com article
posted by prinado at 4:43 PM on February 24, 2011 [1 favorite]
Twitter updates/TwitPics | Facebook |Space.com article
posted by prinado at 4:43 PM on February 24, 2011 [1 favorite]
My face is also going into space! Wearing a tricorn hat and a mask, obviously, because if there's one thing NASA needs it's a mission highwayperson.
Thank you for the link, functionequalsform! Now stand and deliver. In space.
posted by Pallas Athena at 5:43 PM on February 24, 2011 [1 favorite]
Thank you for the link, functionequalsform! Now stand and deliver. In space.
posted by Pallas Athena at 5:43 PM on February 24, 2011 [1 favorite]
No certificate until 3/7/2011. I can wait though. As for the space shuttle program:
.
With much nerd love.
posted by Splunge at 7:22 PM on February 24, 2011
.
With much nerd love.
posted by Splunge at 7:22 PM on February 24, 2011
Thanks mucho functionequalsform I've always wanted to see a launch. But how to get to Fla. in the next few months when my travel budget is 0.0 dollars?
Now at least I'll really be on Endeavor in spirit. And that flight, STS-134, is going to get even more mega-news attention. ('Tho not because my face'll be on it.)
BTW didn't NASA have some other publicity activity like this a few years ago? I feel like I remember having my parents' names put on something, back when my dad was still alive.
posted by NorthernLite at 9:24 PM on February 24, 2011
Now at least I'll really be on Endeavor in spirit. And that flight, STS-134, is going to get even more mega-news attention. ('Tho not because my face'll be on it.)
BTW didn't NASA have some other publicity activity like this a few years ago? I feel like I remember having my parents' names put on something, back when my dad was still alive.
posted by NorthernLite at 9:24 PM on February 24, 2011
All self links:
posted by autopilot at 9:53 PM on February 24, 2011 [5 favorites]
- Meeting Robonaut2
- On the pad after RSS retraction
- RSS retraction video
- STS-133 crew
- STS-133 liftoff (viewed from Banana Creek)
posted by autopilot at 9:53 PM on February 24, 2011 [5 favorites]
I took my kids out of school early just to make sure we were home in time to see this. I told the school it was a "Family Matter". Don't call the Truant Officer on me.
That, I think, is the finest definition of what homeschooling should be.
Thank you, shuttles Enterprise, Columbia, Challenger, Atlantis and Endeavour for igniting a spark of imagination in a generation of people. A thank you does not seem like enough, but it is all I have to offer. Thanks to you and the people whom you carried to the heavens for making me feel that humankind is truly worthy of ascending to the stars. Thanks to those of you who made the ultimate sacrifice in the name of science and to better understand the universe around us. No, it wasn't always a smooth ride, but then learning rarely is.
I'm sorry there is something in my eye.
Who am I kidding? I am crying. But here's to the next exciting era in space exploration.
posted by chemoboy at 10:04 PM on February 24, 2011 [2 favorites]
That, I think, is the finest definition of what homeschooling should be.
Thank you, shuttles Enterprise, Columbia, Challenger, Atlantis and Endeavour for igniting a spark of imagination in a generation of people. A thank you does not seem like enough, but it is all I have to offer. Thanks to you and the people whom you carried to the heavens for making me feel that humankind is truly worthy of ascending to the stars. Thanks to those of you who made the ultimate sacrifice in the name of science and to better understand the universe around us. No, it wasn't always a smooth ride, but then learning rarely is.
I'm sorry there is something in my eye.
Who am I kidding? I am crying. But here's to the next exciting era in space exploration.
posted by chemoboy at 10:04 PM on February 24, 2011 [2 favorites]
We had a stereo pair of 5D Mark 2's running Magic Lantern inside the fence at pad 39A that captured video. Here's a framegrab from the video that brings tears to my eyes.
posted by autopilot at 8:41 AM on February 25, 2011 [2 favorites]
posted by autopilot at 8:41 AM on February 25, 2011 [2 favorites]
Shuttle launch photos taken from a commercial flight.
posted by jjray at 10:34 AM on February 25, 2011 [1 favorite]
posted by jjray at 10:34 AM on February 25, 2011 [1 favorite]
jjray: "Shuttle launch photos taken from a commercial flight."
More impressive at night. Too bad I stopped flying to Florida around the time cameras shrunk to the size of a a fingernail. :(
posted by wierdo at 3:12 PM on February 25, 2011
More impressive at night. Too bad I stopped flying to Florida around the time cameras shrunk to the size of a a fingernail. :(
posted by wierdo at 3:12 PM on February 25, 2011
Live video of Discovery docking with the International Space Station 12,300 feet separating the two currently. Closing at 14 feet per second.
posted by HLD at 9:35 AM on February 26, 2011
posted by HLD at 9:35 AM on February 26, 2011
Now within 4000 feet of each other, flying over south-west Australia at sunrise. (The view from the ISS of the Shuttle closing is amazing.)
posted by HLD at 9:51 AM on February 26, 2011
posted by HLD at 9:51 AM on February 26, 2011
Shuttle soon to perform the Rendezvous Pitch Maneuver (AKA backflip)
posted by HLD at 10:07 AM on February 26, 2011
posted by HLD at 10:07 AM on February 26, 2011
Footage of the launch from a passing plane.
posted by dry white toast at 1:27 PM on February 26, 2011 [2 favorites]
posted by dry white toast at 1:27 PM on February 26, 2011 [2 favorites]
Does anybody have a link to a lower quality version of the NASATelevision feed? My connection is doing exceptionally poorly today.
posted by ChrisHartley at 8:27 AM on March 9, 2011
posted by ChrisHartley at 8:27 AM on March 9, 2011
Audio only feed here, couldn't find the link from NASA's website.
posted by ChrisHartley at 8:35 AM on March 9, 2011
posted by ChrisHartley at 8:35 AM on March 9, 2011
"Wheels stop." Mission elapsed time of 12 days, 19 hours 4 minutes and 50 seconds. After 27 years of historic flight, and a cumulative 365 days in orbit, Shuttle Discovery has landed.
posted by HLD at 9:24 AM on March 9, 2011
posted by HLD at 9:24 AM on March 9, 2011
I'm so glad it didn't explode.
posted by Brandon Blatcher at 10:14 AM on March 9, 2011
posted by Brandon Blatcher at 10:14 AM on March 9, 2011
Pics via The Big Picture.
Bonus pic of Kennedy space center employees forming a human shuttle (video).
posted by get off of my cloud at 8:50 AM on March 19, 2011 [1 favorite]
Bonus pic of Kennedy space center employees forming a human shuttle (video).
posted by get off of my cloud at 8:50 AM on March 19, 2011 [1 favorite]
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posted by yiftach at 1:50 PM on February 24, 2011