Shuttle Launched Just Now

Steyr

Now travelling 3300 MPH man what a machine, just after watching her lift at 19:01 from Kennedy CTR wow! 4 mins into the flight now, Alt 310,000ft downrange from Kennedy CTR man 208 Miles from Kenndey Space CTR near 5 mins now, 65miles in alt 6500MPH now ......

Foggy43

Is it just going to do some maintenance work on the telescope? Any visit to the ISS?

I know this misson is been treated as quite dangerous. On of the other shuttles apparently is ready for launch if a rescue is required.

Dinner

Foggy43 wrote: »

Is it just going to do some maintenance work on the telescope? Any visit to the ISS?

I know this misson is been treated as quite dangerous. On of the other shuttles apparently is ready for launch if a rescue is required.

It's going to repair 2 parts and install 2 new parts. The reason this mission is bit more dangerous is because it is a lot further out than the missions to the ISS. So if something goes wrong it won't have the range to get to the station.

So in case something does go wrong, Endeavour has to be ready to launch a rescue. Although I think all missions since the Columbia disaster has had a rescue shuttle ready.

Steyr

Apparently just maintenace work on Hubble, they showed it live on The Discovery Channel, also on Sky News, also interesting to see the tool types they use due to the fact they wear the outsized gloves in Space etc.

Fratton Fred

They are fitting a new mirror to hubble that is a lot bigger apparantly. It will need several walks to fit it which could be quite dangerous by all accounts.

Tenger

Wasn't there a problem with this mission? I thought that the GW White House hadnt authorised the funds for the mission to upgrade the Hubble.

How many more launches before they are retired?

robinph

How is it any more dnagerous than any missions from before the ISS was up there?

They do only have the one(?) spare left now though in the event of needing to do a rescue, but there is nothing more dangerous about this than other missions except that if they loose any more astronauts that will be the end of NASA. That is the only added danger I can see.

Dinner

robinph wrote: »

How is it any more dnagerous than any missions from before the ISS was up there?

They do only have the one(?) spare left now though in the event of needing to do a rescue, but there is nothing more dangerous about this than other missions except that if they loose any more astronauts that will be the end of NASA. That is the only added danger I can see.

Well for most of the previous missions Mir would probably have been seen as the safehaven. Don't think the Russians would turn away a stranded shuttle crew.

There's an extra element of danger as well in the large amount of debris that Atlantis has to pass through to get to Hubble. The amount has only increased and I'm sure the recent collision of 2 satellites won't help matters. I think they said the Atlantis will pass through the debris (or gap in the debris) upside down and backwards to protect against damage, but that could risk exposing the heatshields to damage.

And since there's only about 3 missions left (after this one) a disaster would just bring around an even earlier end to the shuttle program rather than an end to NASA.

Foggy43

The Space Shuttle is to be withdrawn in 2010 or so we are led to believe. No replacment until 2015. Russian craft will bring replacement crews and service the ISS.

It is alledged that the new replacement, Ares rocket, is having problems on test. It vibrates so much there is a danger it will crash it to the ground platform. If you Google 'space shuttle replacement' there is a bit of information there. At the end of the day it is down to money.

pclancy

I was lucky enough to watch Columbia lift off in 1994 from Cocoa Beach near Kennedy. Amazing sight to see, the ground vibrations alone make you realise how powerfull it is, plus the fact its thundering into space like a giant candle.

Yet again we take a step backwards as, like Concorde, something technologically amazing is retired without a replacement. When I was a kid I'd hoped we'd be way more advanced by now then blasting rockets into space, where's the warp drive dammit!

Overheal

Dinner wrote: »

So in case something does go wrong, Endeavour has to be ready to launch a rescue. Although I think all missions since the Columbia disaster has had a rescue shuttle ready.

Its been in the playbook since Columbia. However it hasnt had to be implemented until now: this is the only mission since then where the Shuttle will be operating outside the range of the ISS. Under those circumstances if they had to ditch the Shuttle they could dock with the ISS and wait aboard comfortably for weeks and months. This time however ISS docking in the event of a failure is just not possible, and supplies on board the shuttle will only last so long.

As soon as Atlantis lifted off, Endeavour was automatically placed at T-minus 7 days and continues to be scheduled for launch next monday. If the Heat Shield passes inspection before then, the countdown will be canceled, obviously.

If Endeavour does have to rescue Atlantis they then have to hope that Endeavour's heat shield is not also damaged beyond repair during its rescue launch, as it will also be out of range of the ISS for the contingency mission. At that point they'd all be fcuked.

Overheal

Early reports in that Atlantis has been damaged. The inspection isn't complete yet, but initial spot check suggests the damage is superficial and the mission will not be comprimised.

http://www.spaceflightnow.com/shuttle/sts125/090512fd2/index3.html

JupiterKid

Fratton Fred wrote: »

They are fitting a new mirror to hubble that is a lot bigger apparantly. It will need several walks to fit it which could be quite dangerous by all accounts.

No, they are NOT fitting a new mirror on Hubble.:rolleyes: The HST has had the same primary mirror since it was built and launched 19 years ago. The mirror can't and won't be replaced. What they are doing is adding new instruments to make the telescope much more powerful and sensitive. They need to do a lot of maintenance on the ageing HST - replacing its gyroscopes, its attitude control system and ageing electronics systems.

This will be Hubble's last servicing mission before it is retired so it's important that things go well over the coming days. Hubble will then be replaced by a much bigger space telescope, the James Webb Space Telescope, which won't be serviceable as it will sit over 1 million miles from Earth.

Steyr

Atlantis’ crew completed a planned survey of the shuttle heat shielding on 13/05/09, noting a few dings in tiles that experts will continue to analyze. Flight Director Tony Ceccacci said that upon an initial look, damage found during the inspection appeared to be minor and likely not a concern, but he said experts would analyze it as is normal to be certain the shuttle’s heat shielding is in good shape. The damage included small dings along an area of about 21 inches spanning four of the shuttle’s thermal tiles located on the starboard side of the spacecraft where the wing blends into the forward fuselage.

(nasa website)

Biro

JupiterKid wrote: »

No, they are NOT fitting a new mirror on Hubble.:rolleyes: The HST has had the same primary mirror since it was built and launched 19 years ago. The mirror can't and won't be replaced. What they are doing is adding new instruments to make the telescope much more powerful and sensitive. They need to do a lot of maintenance on the ageing HST - replacing its gyroscopes, its attitude control system and ageing electronics systems.

This will be Hubble's last servicing mission before it is retired so it's important that things go well over the coming days. Hubble will then be replaced by a much bigger space telescope, the James Webb Space Telescope, which won't be serviceable as it will sit over 1 million miles from Earth.

I'm looking forward to results from the James Webb telescope, that's some serious piece of engineering! Didn't know it would be 1 million miles from Earth though! Thats 4 times farther than the moon!

Fratton Fred

JupiterKid wrote: »

No, they are NOT fitting a new mirror on Hubble.:rolleyes: The HST has had the same primary mirror since it was built and launched 19 years ago. The mirror can't and won't be replaced. What they are doing is adding new instruments to make the telescope much more powerful and sensitive. They need to do a lot of maintenance on the ageing HST - replacing its gyroscopes, its attitude control system and ageing electronics systems.

You're right (No need for the sarky eyes though ) I was reading an article on the BBC website and they were comparing mirror sizes. I mistook that as part of the upgrade they were doing.

Biro wrote: »

I'm looking forward to results from the James Webb telescope, that's some serious piece of engineering! Didn't know it would be 1 million miles from Earth though! Thats 4 times farther than the moon!

That was the mirror they were comparing it to.

What happens when we see the end of the universe? I have this theory that there will be a dirty great big brick wall, with "Kilroy Was Ere" graffitied across it:D

Biro

Fratton Fred wrote: »

You're right (No need for the sarky eyes though ) I was reading an article on the BBC website and they were comparing mirror sizes. I mistook that as part of the upgrade they were doing.



That was the mirror they were comparing it to.

What happens when we see the end of the universe? I have this theory that there will be a dirty great big brick wall, with "Kilroy Was Ere" graffitied across it:D

I reckon they'll see themselves looking back!