The last flight of Discovery.

[trekkiedane]

The penultimate launch of a shuttle is in less than 24 hours.
(NASA)

Normally I'd try to catch the launch on-line from NASA-TV, but I'm not sure I'll be home at that time tomorrow

How about you? -are you going to watch?

 

[Zulu Romeo]

Discovery was always my favourite Shuttle. It'll be sad to see it go for the last time.

 

[RJDiogenes]

It's terribly sad to see the Shuttle Era drawing to a close, but also a bit of a relief. Launches and landings have been stressful for me ever since Challenger; I've never completely trusted the Shuttle design since then.

I just wish they had something to replace it. Not having one after all this time is just ridiculous.

 

[Quinton O'Connor]

Ugh, this makes me so sad.

 

[MANT!]

But wait..this is't the end of US manned spaceflight..

only the beginning of a NEW era..

http://www.spacex.com/

 

[Squiggy]

It's a beautiful day too. Mission managers are giving a 80% chance of "go" (and that's about as good as it gets) with no weather or mechanical delays.

 

[Deckerd]

​

The penultimate launch

Not according to the NASA site you directed us to.

 

[trekkiedane]

​

The penultimate launch

Not according to the NASA site you directed us to.

Sorry 'bout that -I just didn't check with NASA -- just copypasta from Wikipedia

BTW: Wikipedia has been edited since that -but you can still see where the words "penultimate flight" are missing from the second sentence of the STS-133-page!

 

[siskokid888]

It was also the first shuttle back in space after the Challenger and Columbia accidents.

Go boldly one last time, Discovery, and return to us safely.

Well done.
__________________

 

[trekkiedane]

It was also the first shuttle back in space after the Challenger and Columbia accidents.

Go boldly one last time, Discovery, and return to us safely.

Well done.
__________________

I posted this thread last night shortly before going to bed -sorry 'bout your thread on the subject -but thanks for trying

T minus three hours and counting.

Yay! -the crew has arrived!

 

[Candlelight]

Good luck Discovery. Atlantis was always my favourite shuttle but Discovery was the workhorse that got the program back on track.

 

[Candlelight]

live feed:

http://www.nasa.gov/multimedia/nasatv/index.html?param=public

 

[trekkiedane]

^Thanks for that link -what a thing to forget in the OP

T minus twenty minutes and counting (about an hour to blast-off)

Can anyone on here tell me why the white room guys are wearing caps indoors

 

[Kira's Mom]

Two minutes!

 

[Zulu Romeo]

live feed:

http://www.nasa.gov/multimedia/nasatv/index.html?param=public

That was beautiful.


Only... was it just me or was there an odd brief shadow brushing past the external tank cam and along Discovery's underside at about 4 minutes into the flight?

 

[trekkiedane]

I saw it too ZR.*

Very pretty blast-off.

I've forgotten the line, but I remember it wasn't horrible or embarrassing this time!!!


*) I'm hoping they'll have something to say about it at the press-conference.

 

[Candlelight]

That was great. Glad Discovery had a good final lift off.

Anyone know which museum has dibs on her once she lands?

 

[the 4th hanson bro]

Watched it online with my two sons. They were fascinated. I remember a time when there was no Space Shuttle and the excitement around its development. Now it's down to one more mission.

 

[Zulu Romeo]

*) I'm hoping they'll have something to say about it at the press-conference.

I only saw it momentarily, but it looked like a small piece of black tile...

 

[trekkiedane]

*) I'm hoping they'll have something to say about it at the press-conference.

I only saw it momentarily, but it looked like a small piece of black tile...

Looked to me as if there was something printed on it... probably just an in-flight magazine...