Shuttle Endeavour launches tonight.

[CorporalClegg]

For polar orbits. Would substatialy reduce the weight that could be carried into orbit though. If an equatorial orbit is acceptable the eastward velocity the vehicle already has when it's sitting on the pad is a substantial head start towards reaching orbital velocity.

Substantial payloads with single stage to orbit is a tall order. I'm not sure Texas, Mexico and commercial shipping exiting and approaching the Panama Canal would appreciate rocket boosters falling on their heads.

Yes, but we already have a SpacePort!

Sure but does that 'spaceport' also cater for vertical take-off?

Yes. There was one that was even supposed to launch the departed Jimmy Doohan into space ... But didn't.

In fact, I think there might be some of him in my back yard.

 

[Lindley]

I've never been entirely clear on why vertical take-off is so much better. I mean, sure you need a big rocket for the push to orbit, but we have the ability to make lightweight planes that can get very high on standard engines....wouldn't that cut the costs of launching a fair bit? (After the R&D, of course.)

Me too.

But there must be some good reason behind...

All I can think of is that the weight of fuel you're carrying makes standard aerodynamics difficult?

If you could somehow merge that lift capacity with a high-performance airplane *and* provide for re-entry, then whatever speed the rotation at the equator provides (I read 1000 mph somewhere).....it seems like Mach 4 would be a better starting point for the vertical boost.

 

[trekkiedane]

[Lindley]^Eww if that isn't a good argument for Sea Launch I don't know what is!

 

[trekkiedane]

A plastic cover over one of the thrusters near Endeavour's nose has pulled back a bit and engineers would prefer that no rain fall on the shuttle today and then freeze in the thruster once shuttle reaches space. The covers are installed over the thrusters to protect them while the shuttle is out at the pad. They are made out of Tyvek material like that used in housing construction. In space, the first thruster firings generally blast the covers safely away if they didn't come off anyway during liftoff.

On NASA-TV they're talking about the "top left" thrusters - shouldn't that be "forward port" thrusters

Edit: Or is that nomenclature only for when when the shuttle's cleared the tower?

 

[trekkiedane]

"Ready for hatch closure"

 

[trekkiedane]

A lot of clouds but not a lot of rain activity

T minus twenty minutes coming up.

T-20 minutes and holding
This built-in hold typically lasts 10 minutes.

• Shuttle Test Director conducts final launch team briefings
• Complete inertial measurement unit preflight alignments

 

[trekkiedane]

T minus 20 and holding

this pause is only 45 minutes!

 

[trekkiedane]

Less than twenty minutes (real time) to blast-off people!


If you are outside the the USA (or inside, but don't have cable TV) it is time to go to the web-site mentioned in the OP and "full-screen" the live web-feed if you want to watch the launch LIVE!

 

[trekkiedane]

Too soon: not tonight!

Launch scrubbed again:

Tue, 14 Jul 2009 12:34:58 AM GMT+0200
Officials just issued a Phase I lightning warning for the Launch Complex 39 area.

See ya all again next launch window!

 

[Silanda]

Scrubbed again.

EDIT: Too late, sorry.

 

[Teelie]

This is quickly becoming a running gag. We should start a betting pool on how many scrubs before they successfully launch.

 

[CorporalClegg]

Perhaps it's endeavoring to become the most pathetic joke in space exploration history?

 

[trekkiedane]

This is quickly becoming a running gag. We should start a betting pool on how many scrubs before they successfully launch.

I thought about that yesterday

 

[RJDiogenes]

Bummer. Is it another 24-hour delay?

 

[trekkiedane]

^There is another launch window on Wednesday;

The launch team will stand down Tuesday and go for a launch Wednesday evening at 6:03 p.m. The closeout crew will make their way to the launch pad and help the astronauts unstrap from Endeavour's crew compartment. After the crew is off and the external tank is drained of its propellants, the rotating service structure will be rolled into place around Endeavour to protect it from rain or other conditions. Technicians will also fix the Tyvek cover that pulled loose slightly from a thruster near Endeavour's nose.

From: http://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/shuttle/launch/launch_blog.html

Underlined is my emphasis! - what is that about? - whenever a naval vessel is concerned, shouldn't it be talked about in naval terms?

"Nose"?

Anyway, NASA-TV is now having the no-launch press conference! - in case you're interested: use the original link!

 

[RJDiogenes]

I'll keep my fingers crossed.....

 

[T'Bonz]

Damn. I tried to see this launch back in JUNE. It was scrubbed FIVE times.

 

[CorporalClegg]

You know, if they have to scrub a few more times, then maybe they should just blow the fucker up.

It would be poetic justice and a ratings grabber.

 

[MANT!]

What Florida afternoon thunderstorms..in summer? say it isn't so!!. I think they need a launch window in the MORNING dammit!!

 

[Jadzia]

There was one that was even supposed to launch the departed Jimmy Doohan into space ... But didn't.

In fact, I think there might be some of him in my back yard.

You know, I remember when I saw that report on the news, my first thought was "The Search for Spock" all over again