SHUTTLE LAUNCH!!!!

[SavageEagle]

Anyone watching this?

NASA - NASA TV

Me and the kids are sitting here waiting at the 9 minute hold waiting for a countdown to resume.

 

[indyjoe]

I am now. Been a long time since I've seen a shuttle launch. Sounds like someone forgot to close a door.

 

[Bigum1969]

Thanks for the heads up, Savage. I'm now watching it in High Def on the HDNET channel.

 

[SavageEagle]

Launch successful!! 13K mph!!! WHOOO HOOOO

This is our future people. This is bigger than anything else we will ever fight for. All that money we spend killing each other here on earth would be much better spent in our space program. Only here can we hope to survive as a Race. The Human Race that is. The only Race.

This mission is about home improvement on the ISS. This mission will expand the ISS and upgrade a few different labs. Good luck and Godspeed!

 

[SavageEagle]

NASA - STS-126

Veteran space flier Navy Capt. Christopher J. Ferguson will command the STS-126 mission aboard Endeavour to deliver equipment to the International Space Station that will enable larger crews to reside aboard the complex. Air Force Lt. Col. Eric A. Boe will serve as the pilot. The mission specialists are Navy Capt. Stephen G. Bowen, Army Lt. Col. Robert S. Kimbrough, Navy Capt. Heidemarie M. Stefanyshyn-Piper and NASA astronauts Donald R. Pettit and Sandra H. Magnus.

Magnus will remain on the station, replacing Expedition 17/18 Flight Engineer Gregory E. Chamitoff, who returns to Earth with the STS-126 crew. Magnus will serve as a flight engineer and NASA science officer for Expedition 18. Magnus will return to Earth on shuttle mission STS-119.

Endeavour will carry a reusable logistics module that will hold supplies and equipment, including additional crew quarters, additional exercise equipment, equipment for the regenerative life support system and spare hardware.

STS-126 is the 27th shuttle mission to the International Space Station.

 

[indykid]

Been a big fan of the space program since day one. Haven't missed many launches, and saw a shuttle launch in person a few years ago.

Just watched tonight's launch and still in awe of how fast that sucker accelerates!

I just hope omama realizes how great our space program makes this country!

 

[flagtag]

Yep! Just watched it on Fox News.
It's been a while for me also.
(does it make you feel like a kid too?)

 

[SavageEagle]

I remember when I was a young boy, we had one of those BIG Sat Dishes. A million channels and like 999990 of them were playboy/hustler.... Ten of them were just NASA channels. We got to flip back and forth between the shuttle, the pad, the ramp, the walkway, and mission control. It was AWESOME. I love watching the sloooooowww transfer of the shuttle to the pad. That damn "truck" is amazing. My favorite part is the ignition and liftoff.

When I was 7 we got to take a short tour of the grounds. Got to stand within spitting distance of the shuttle. Ever since then I've been hooked. My mom used to think my dad was crazy for watching the launch. I knew what was up though. My dad understands as I do how important the program is. This is the one thing we cannot be allowed to fail at.

 

[miguel]

I'll tell you what. Back in 1998, I saw a night shuttle launch.

UNREAL.

Photos, video, oral history, nothing prepares you to see that mother light up. Literally illuminated the entire area as if it was daylight.

 

[cougar_guy04]

Just watched it out in the parking lot at my condo. Please, don't chastize me too much about the crappy pictures . . . I'm far from a pro and the camera has been beat up for 4 years at Rose

(This pic is kind of deceptive . . . the whole sky lit up bright orange like it was a sunrise at 7:55PM)

 

[jblomenberg16]

Crappy photos or not, its stil friggin awesome! I'm guessing that from where you were you could hear it too?

I've never seen a night shuttle launch, but saw a night launch of another smaller rocket (think it was a Delta II maybe?) a few years ago when we were down in Orlando to see Mickey Mouse. Walked into our condo from dinner and looked up to see what the heck that bright light in the sky was.

 

[cougar_guy04]

Crappy photos or not, its stil friggin awesome! I'm guessing that from where you were you could hear it too?

I've never seen a night shuttle launch, but saw a night launch of another smaller rocket (think it was a Delta II maybe?) a few years ago when we were down in Orlando to see Mickey Mouse. Walked into our condo from dinner and looked up to see what the heck that bright light in the sky was.

I could just hear a low rumble. A friend told me for the last one he was at Cocoa Beach and could feel stuff shaking. The power in those boosters is unbe-fricking-lievable. Got these pictures from a friend's facebook (they were much further away, about 50-60 miles inland from the launch site). Much more repreesentative of what the sky looked like it.

As much as I hate crowds, I think if my family can getdown here for a launch, I'll try to get 'em closer to the launch.

 

[miguel]

Nice shots!

How far are you from that location?

 

[Scutter01]

I was at the space center in Florida for a landing once, but I've never been to a launch.

 

[Bigum1969]

When growing up in Southern California, I remember the shuttle landing at Edwards Air Force Base. It created a nice sonic boom on its way. I'll never forget that sound.

 

[Fishersstang]

I think tonights flight had a Indiana flag on it for the "Last flights" they will have a flag from each of the 50 states till the last flight.

 

[cougar_guy04]

Nice shots!

How far are you from that location?

About 18 miles as the crow flies.

 

[SavageEagle]

Just watched it out in the parking lot at my condo. Please, don't chastize me too much about the crappy pictures . . . I'm far from a pro and the camera has been beat up for 4 years at Rose

Appreciate the photos. They weren't crappy at all. Those are precious history!

I just wish that all Americans would see this program for what it is. You know?

They said the shuttle at liftoff produces something like 13 million horsepower or something like that. THIRTEEN MILLION!!!! HOLY FLYING ROCKET FUEL!!! LOL Wish I had a jet with that motor! I'd be sitting on some pacific island sipping some nice drink within minutes of take off!

 

[flagtag]

Appreciate the photos. They weren't crappy at all. Those are precious history!

I just wish that all Americans would see this program for what it is. You know?

They said the shuttle at liftoff produces something like 13 million horsepower or something like that. THIRTEEN MILLION!!!! HOLY FLYING ROCKET FUEL!!! LOL Wish I had a jet with that motor! I'd be sitting on some pacific island sipping some nice drink within minutes of take off!

Naw! You would overshoot the landing!

 

[SavageEagle]

Naw! You would overshoot the landing!

As soon as you see your target, pull 500 G vertical climb, pull your eyeballs from your ass, and eject! That is if your internals haven't liquified first....