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Author
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Topic: STS-120: October 23, 11:38 a.m. EDT
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Robert Pearlman
Editor Posts: 42988
From: Houston, TX
Registered: Nov 1999
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posted 10-23-2007 02:06 AM
   
Space shuttle Discovery's external tank is now being fueled in preparation for the scheduled launch of STS-120 at 11:38 a.m. EDT.Commander Pam Melroy and her crew are now awake, eating breakfast and receiving a final medical check from the flight surgeons. There are no technical concerns or issues being worked. The weather however poses a threat with a 60-percent chance that cumulus clouds, showers and a low cloud ceiling could keep Discovery grounded. |
Robert Pearlman
Editor Posts: 42988
From: Houston, TX
Registered: Nov 1999
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posted 10-23-2007 04:16 AM
Fueling of Discovery's external tank has been completed. The countdown has entered a 2-hour, 30 minute built-in hold at T-3 hours. |
Robert Pearlman
Editor Posts: 42988
From: Houston, TX
Registered: Nov 1999
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posted 10-23-2007 05:10 AM
quote:
Originally posted by Robert Pearlman:
Commander Pam Melroy and her crew are now awake, eating breakfast...
If you have ever wondered what an astronaut has for breakfast before they launch, gone are the days of steak and eggs... STS-120 Crew Breakfast - Melroy: Scrambled eggs, hash browns, bacon
- Zamka: Scrambled eggs and two sausage patties
- Parazynski: French toast and has browns
- Wilson: Scrambled eggs, bacon and toast
- Wheelock: Three poached eggs, toast and English muffin
- Nespoli: Oatmeal
- Tani: Ham, cheese and pepper omelet with hash browns, slice of bacon and a piece of sausage
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Robert Pearlman
Editor Posts: 42988
From: Houston, TX
Registered: Nov 1999
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posted 10-23-2007 05:14 AM
The crew will depart for the launch pad (39A) at 7:48 a.m. EDT. (I will be departing to photograph their departure in a few minutes. Updates will be posted as possible.) |
Robert Pearlman
Editor Posts: 42988
From: Houston, TX
Registered: Nov 1999
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posted 10-23-2007 07:43 AM
The crew has arrived at Pad 39A and is now in the process of boarding Discovery. We are at T-2 hours and counting... |
Robert Pearlman
Editor Posts: 42988
From: Houston, TX
Registered: Nov 1999
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posted 10-23-2007 07:47 AM
Follow the launch: |
Gilbert
Member Posts: 1328
From: Carrollton, GA USA
Registered: Jan 2003
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posted 10-23-2007 11:20 AM
cS member Jimmy Brown was at the launch and had remote cameras set up. He should have some spectacular photos for us later this week. |
Robert Pearlman
Editor Posts: 42988
From: Houston, TX
Registered: Nov 1999
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posted 10-23-2007 11:23 AM
 Space shuttle Discovery launches the STS-120 crew and the Harmony module at 10:38 a.m. CDT from Pad 39A, as photographed from the top of the Vehicle Assembly Building (VAB) at Kennedy Space Center, Florida. |
Jay Chladek
Member Posts: 2272
From: Bellevue, NE, USA
Registered: Aug 2007
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posted 10-23-2007 11:34 AM
To quote a line from an old TV show (Airwolf):"No matter how many times I see her (Discovery), she still takes my breath away" Great launch. The HD feed I saw off of CNN (which presumeably was the NASA feed with their crawl at the bottom) looked okay, but it cut back to the normal feed only about 30 seconds into the ascent and seemed to stay that way for the rest of the ascent. At times like this I REALLY wish I had the NASA feed on my TV so I don't have to listen to commentary from CNN (or FOX) over the launch preparations and the launch itself. |
KSCartist
Member Posts: 2896
From: Titusville, FL USA
Registered: Feb 2005
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posted 10-23-2007 02:53 PM
Hi all:Just wanted to share with you my launch day photo. I left work during the T-9 minute hold and raced home to have lunch with my wife. She was babysitting our grandson. Here I am in my driveway holding my little guy and showing him the second launch of his life. What a great day it turned out to be. Tim  |
Robert Pearlman
Editor Posts: 42988
From: Houston, TX
Registered: Nov 1999
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posted 10-23-2007 02:55 PM
A few more of my launch shots from atop the VAB, as well as an STS-120 crew walkout photo, are here: High-flying Harmony |
space4u
Member Posts: 323
From: Cleveland, OH USA
Registered: Aug 2006
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posted 10-23-2007 03:15 PM
Great shots Robert and Tim! Wish I could have been there too. |
Blackarrow
Member Posts: 3120
From: Belfast, United Kingdom
Registered: Feb 2002
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posted 10-23-2007 08:22 PM
I saw Harmony at KSC in June. It's good to know that it is now in orbit where it belongs. |
kking
Member Posts: 106
From: Topmost, KY
Registered: Nov 2002
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posted 10-23-2007 08:42 PM
Great to see STS 120 on orbit. Great pictures. If anybody is interested. The STS 120 Flight Data files are online. Go to JSC home page, click Johnson news, click freedom of information act, then elecronic reading room, then flight data files.Kyle |
WSTFphoto
Member Posts: 70
From: Las Cruces, NM, USA
Registered: May 2005
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posted 10-23-2007 08:44 PM
Wow! Did y'all see the video from the ET LOx feedline camera? Late in assent, after SRB SEP, the camera had equivalent exposures for the ET, the Orbiter underside, and the Earth in the background all at the same time. Nothing blown-out... all three elements perfectly resolved. It was absolutely beautiful!-- David |
garymilgrom
Member Posts: 1966
From: Atlanta, GA
Registered: Feb 2007
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posted 10-25-2007 04:01 PM
I had a great time at the STS-120 launch Tuesday morning. I was lucky to get a causeway ticket and was on Bus 31. Were there any cS'ers on this bus? I talked to several folks over from England about cS, anyone join in the forum?This launch was much more exciting than the STS-116 night launch I saw in December. It may sound simple but at night everything is dark and you can't see anything except the engines' glow. My camera time stamps all my photos and STS-116 was only visible to me for a minute. STS-120 was visible for nearly 2.5 minutes. gm 
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James Brown
Member Posts: 1287
From: Atlanta, Georgia, USA
Registered: Jun 2000
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posted 10-25-2007 05:31 PM
Great photos Gary. I have decided that I have to go digital on my remotes soon. Nobody around here processes slide film in house anymore. I took my remote film in today, and was told they would have to be sent out, with a 7-10 day turn around. Bummer. It was a great trip for me. I have posted a few pre launch pics on my site. Looking forward to December's launch. James
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Ben
Member Posts: 1896
From: Cape Canaveral, FL
Registered: May 2000
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posted 10-25-2007 06:47 PM
Those are very nice photos from the causeway. I need to watch a launch from there before the program is over. I plan to wait for a night one, I think.Here are my photos from STS-120. |
Jay Chladek
Member Posts: 2272
From: Bellevue, NE, USA
Registered: Aug 2007
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posted 10-25-2007 09:45 PM
MAN those photos look nice Gary! Same with yours Ben! I've got to get to another launch this coming year when I get a chance. In my case when I saw STS-121 last year, I am so glad no clouds got in the way of my view as the orbiter could be seen up until about maybe three and a half minutes into the ascent from the press site. The thing looked like a star in the daytime after the SRBs punched off. |
garymilgrom
Member Posts: 1966
From: Atlanta, GA
Registered: Feb 2007
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posted 10-26-2007 06:06 AM
Ben your photos are fantastic! I really like the ones where you include some foreground (the bushes, or the edge of the VAB roof I'm guessing). Gorgeous!
Jay we saw the "daytime star" too, that was the last thing to see. I guess the solids punched off in a cloud because I did not see that.
Jimmy where is your site again? You always have beautiful images.
And guess what - I have to be in Orlando on December 6 for the PRI trade show. If it's clear I should be able to see Atlantis' ascent. I'm sure it will be another visual treat from 40 miles distance. |
KSCartist
Member Posts: 2896
From: Titusville, FL USA
Registered: Feb 2005
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posted 10-26-2007 07:13 AM
Ben-I've said it before and I'll said it again. You are a true artist. Great photos. Tim |
James Brown
Member Posts: 1287
From: Atlanta, Georgia, USA
Registered: Jun 2000
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posted 10-26-2007 08:18 AM
quote:
Originally posted by garymilgrom:
Jimmy where is your site again?
www.freewebs.com/jnbrown James |
garymilgrom
Member Posts: 1966
From: Atlanta, GA
Registered: Feb 2007
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posted 10-26-2007 09:36 AM
James your stuff is great. Tim your at-home photo with the grandson captures the emotion of the launch beautifully. |
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