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  Return to Flight on July 13!

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Author Topic:   Return to Flight on July 13!
Robert Pearlman
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Posts: 42986
From: Houston, TX
Registered: Nov 1999

posted 06-30-2005 02:41 PM     Click Here to See the Profile for Robert Pearlman   Click Here to Email Robert Pearlman     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
NASA RELEASE: 05-171

NASA Gives Go for Space Shuttle Return to Flight

NASA has cleared the Space Shuttle to Return to Flight. After a two-day Flight Readiness Review meeting at NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida, senior managers approved a July 13 launch date for Discovery.

Commander Eileen Collins and her crew are scheduled to lift off at 3:51 p.m. EDT on the first U.S. space flight since the February 2003 loss of the Shuttle Columbia.

"After a vigorous, healthy discussion our team has come to a decision: we're ready to go," NASA Administrator Michael Griffin said after the meeting. "The past two and half years have resulted in significant improvements that have greatly reduced the risk of flying the Shuttle. But we should never lose sight of the fact that space flight is risky.

"The Discovery mission, designated STS-114, is a test flight," Griffin said, noting that astronauts will try out a host of new Space Shuttle safety enhancements. In addition, Discovery will carry 15 tons of supplies and replacement hardware to the International Space Station. July 13 is the beginning of three weeks of possible launch days that run through July 31.

NASA's Associate Administrator for Space Operations, William Readdy, chaired the Flight Readiness Review, the meeting that traditionally sets launch dates and assesses the Shuttle's fitness to fly.

"Today's decision is an important milestone in returning the Shuttle to service for the country. Our technical and engineering teams are continuing their in-depth preparations to ensure that Eileen and her crew have a successful mission," he said.

[This message has been edited by Robert Pearlman (edited June 30, 2005).]

ASCAN1984
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Posts: 1049
From: County Down, Nothern Ireland
Registered: Feb 2002

posted 06-30-2005 05:05 PM     Click Here to See the Profile for ASCAN1984   Click Here to Email ASCAN1984     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
I havew to get that day off. I have to.

KSCartist
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Posts: 2896
From: Titusville, FL USA
Registered: Feb 2005

posted 06-30-2005 06:47 PM     Click Here to See the Profile for KSCartist   Click Here to Email KSCartist     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
I am just as excited to see RTF as anyone. But please remember before you book any non-refundable tickets- "Mother Nature" may have a thing or two to say about letting the shuttle fly. A summer late afternoon launch-not easy.
Godspeed Discovery ! Keep your fingers crossed.

Tim

Rizz
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Posts: 1208
From: Upcountry, Maui, Hawaii
Registered: Mar 2002

posted 06-30-2005 07:38 PM     Click Here to See the Profile for Rizz     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
From the Associated Press.CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. — A panel overseeing NASA's resumption of shuttle flights concluded Monday that the space agency has failed to meet the toughest safety recommendations put in place after the Columbia disaster.

Despite exhaustive work and considerable progress over the past 2 1/2 years, NASA has been unable to eliminate the possibility of dangerous pieces of foam and ice from breaking off the external fuel tank and striking the shuttle at liftoff, the return-to-flight task force said.

In addition, NASA still does not have a clear idea of all the potential threats from ice, and still lacks a practical way to fix holes and other damage caused by flyaway launch debris, the group said.

Robert Pearlman
Editor

Posts: 42986
From: Houston, TX
Registered: Nov 1999

posted 06-30-2005 07:59 PM     Click Here to See the Profile for Robert Pearlman   Click Here to Email Robert Pearlman     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
Also from the Associated Press today:
quote:
The chief investigator of the Columbia disaster said Wednesday he's fine with NASA resuming shuttle launches in just two weeks, even though the space agency falls short of making three safety improvements he called for in 2003.

"It sounds to me like they're ready to go," retired Navy Adm. Harold Gehman Jr. said in an interview with The Associated Press. "As far as what I know, they have taken all the steps necessary to be ready to fly in July."

Gehman said the accident investigators never meant NASA had to carry out to the letter the changes recommended for the shuttle. "We didn't want it to be a poison pill," he said of one of the especially vexing improvements.


zee_aladdin
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Posts: 781
From: California
Registered: Oct 2004

posted 06-30-2005 09:37 PM     Click Here to See the Profile for zee_aladdin   Click Here to Email zee_aladdin     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
is 13 a good number to have the shuttle fly? I would have changed the date to either 12th or 14th.

What do you think?

Robert Pearlman
Editor

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From: Houston, TX
Registered: Nov 1999

posted 06-30-2005 09:49 PM     Click Here to See the Profile for Robert Pearlman   Click Here to Email Robert Pearlman     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
I think 13 comes after 12.

Ben
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Posts: 1896
From: Cape Canaveral, FL
Registered: May 2000

posted 06-30-2005 09:51 PM     Click Here to See the Profile for Ben   Click Here to Email Ben     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
And before 14, if I have my math right.

ColinBurgess
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Posts: 2031
From: Sydney, Australia
Registered: Sep 2003

posted 06-30-2005 10:29 PM     Click Here to See the Profile for ColinBurgess   Click Here to Email ColinBurgess     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
Just in passing: the US Navy will never launch a new ship on Friday the 13th, and I seem to recall a little monkey called Gordo/Old Reliable was launched aboard a Jupiter on a ballistic flight one Friday the 13th and was lost at sea after splashdown. I know this launch is a Wednesday effort, but thought I'd throw this in.

Colin

Robert Pearlman
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From: Houston, TX
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posted 06-30-2005 10:53 PM     Click Here to See the Profile for Robert Pearlman   Click Here to Email Robert Pearlman     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
In the history of monthly "13" space milestones, the score is 9 successes (or neutrals) vs. 3 failures.

June 13, 1983: Pioneer 10 becomes the first spacecraft to leave the Solar System.

July 13, 1969: Luna 15 launches in a failed attempt by the Soviets to beat the U.S. by returning lunar soil to Earth.

August 13, 1998: Soyuz TM-28 launches Padalka, Avdeyev, and Baturn on a flight to the Mir Space Station.

September 13, 1961: Mercury 4 launches on the first mission to deliver the unmanned spacecraft to Earth orbit.

October 13, 1969: Soyuz 8 launches on a failed mission to dock with Soyuz 7 and rendezvous with Soyuz 6.

November 13, 1971: Mariner 9 becomes the first spacecraft to enter orbit around another planet, Mars.

December 13, 1967: Pioneer 8 launches to explore Earth's magnetotail and wake which streams from the Sun.

January 13, 1978: NASA selects its first class of female astronauts, including Sally Ride and Kathryn Sullivan.

February 13, 1997: The STS-82 crew plucks the Hubble Space Telescope from its orbit to upgrade its instruments.

March 13, 1989: STS-29 launches aboard Discovery to deploy the third Tracking and Data Relay Satellite (TDRS).

April 13, 1970: An explosion strands Apollo 13 (Lovell, Haise, and Swigert) between the Earth and the Moon.

May 13, 1992: Hieb, Akers, and Thuot grab hold of Intelsat VI during an unprecedented three-man spacewalk.


Rizz
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From: Upcountry, Maui, Hawaii
Registered: Mar 2002

posted 07-01-2005 01:35 AM     Click Here to See the Profile for Rizz     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
July 13, 2005: Flawless Return to Flight and a successful mission.

Shuttlefan
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Posts: 173
From: 41366 Schwalmtal, Germany
Registered: Oct 2002

posted 07-01-2005 01:55 AM     Click Here to See the Profile for Shuttlefan   Click Here to Email Shuttlefan     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
Funny,isn´t it? We are all strong supporters of space technology, which can only work with as much exact science as possible, but when it comes to that number superstition is grinning from every corner. Only a very tough and broad experimental survey in statistics would convince me that this number has bad influence. By the way, my house number´s 13... After all that punches NASA´s got for making irrational decisions how would it look like if they say "We fix the launch window in respect to some mystical rumors about number influences".
Best luck to STS 114!

paul prendergast
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Posts: 429
From: crawley west sussex UK
Registered: Apr 2004

posted 07-01-2005 04:33 AM     Click Here to See the Profile for paul prendergast   Click Here to Email paul prendergast     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
Good news at last i hope all goes well, with everything.
Paul

HouseDadX4
unregistered
posted 07-01-2005 06:37 AM           Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
July 13th - My anniversary, my parent's anniversary, my wife's parent's anniversary... A truly lucky number...wish I could make it to Florida for RTF but can't..Will be watching on NASA TV and CNN, MSNBC, FOX, or wherever my tv lands...

Robert Pearlman
Editor

Posts: 42986
From: Houston, TX
Registered: Nov 1999

posted 07-01-2005 09:20 AM     Click Here to See the Profile for Robert Pearlman   Click Here to Email Robert Pearlman     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
Speaking of numbers, STS-114... 1/14 is my birthday, as well the day the Vision for Space Exploration was announced. So while I don't usually subscribe to lucky numbers, if I did, I would only expect good things ahead for STS-114 (which I do anyway). Go Discovery!

mikepf
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Posts: 441
From: San Jose, California, USA
Registered: Mar 2002

posted 07-01-2005 10:56 AM     Click Here to See the Profile for mikepf   Click Here to Email mikepf     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
The number 13 being bad luck is mere superstition, but why chance it? I say delay one day. Especially since I already have July 14th off for another matter.
Regards,
Mike

michaelSN99
Member

Posts: 153
From: heilbronn,germany
Registered: Apr 2005

posted 07-01-2005 01:14 PM     Click Here to See the Profile for michaelSN99   Click Here to Email michaelSN99     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
despite i think the 13 is number of good luck....in dont expect that anyone who is believing the reverse , must have any concerns about this date....certainly any bigger cloud at the floridian sky or strong winds at one of the launch aborting sites in europe will switch the launch to one of the next days ;-)))))

but anyway...it will become a great day for manned space exploration !!!

------------------
michael may www.ag-99.de/spacenet/main/main.html

[This message has been edited by michaelSN99 (edited July 01, 2005).]

z_tal_site
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posted 07-05-2005 02:22 PM     Click Here to See the Profile for z_tal_site   Click Here to Email z_tal_site     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
Hi all,

I prefer 13 million $ than 12.
And as we say in Spain:
"Ser supersticioso, trae mala suerte". In English: "To be superstitious, brings bad luck"

And for all people who have the good luck to see the launch in Florida, this is the weather report here in Zaragoza (Primary TAL site):

Today we have +28º C. of Max. and +16º C of min., with NE to SW winds of 16 km/h (This wind is called "CIERZO" and cleans the atmosphere of fog and clouds, and refresh the summer)

For July 11 (last available) we will have +34º C. of Max. and +21º C of min., without winds and partially cloudy.

Bye.
-----------
Carlos L. Borobio

Mike Isbell
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Posts: 551
From: Silver Spring, Maryland USA
Registered: Aug 2003

posted 07-08-2005 02:57 PM     Click Here to See the Profile for Mike Isbell     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
if the weather in Florida requires that the Discovery be rolled back to the VAB, would there be enough time to make the later part of the July launch window ?

Ben
Member

Posts: 1896
From: Cape Canaveral, FL
Registered: May 2000

posted 07-08-2005 03:35 PM     Click Here to See the Profile for Ben   Click Here to Email Ben     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
They have cancelled plans to roll back.
Unless Dennis brings surprise winds and dangerous weather to the Cape, which would stop work, they expect to make an ontime launch July 13.

At the moment the strongest winds we will get here are 30-35mph; and about 2-5 inches of rain.

zee_aladdin
Member

Posts: 781
From: California
Registered: Oct 2004

posted 07-13-2005 12:55 PM     Click Here to See the Profile for zee_aladdin   Click Here to Email zee_aladdin     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
July 13th ... not a good day for this flight ... was it a coincidence or something else? Now one will ever know

I hope the shuttle flies very soon.

I CANT WAIT

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