The Space Shuttle launches one final time today

[watermelony2k]

let's watch it together!

http://www.nasa.gov/multimedia/nasatv/

And here's an infographic

http://i.imgur.com/U3Gv0.jpg

 

[Squiggy]

It's only a 30% go right now. It's been raining here for the past day. Scattered showers around launch with a cloud issue.

 

[Deckerd]

Are we getting another video? I enjoy your roving reporter role.

 

[Squiggy]

I'm pretty busy today. I might get you something at launch.

 

[Deckerd]

Why do the two men working on the door have safety harnesses on?

 

[Deckerd]

Never mind, we're just about to find out!


T minus 20 and holding.

It doesn't look like it's being postponed.

 

[Goliath]

T minus 9 minutes....holding for 40 minutes? What's up with that?

 

[DarkHorizon]

T minus 9 minutes....holding for 40 minutes? What's up with that?

That's a standard hold: http://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/shuttle/launch/countdown101.html

 

[Goliath]

I know. I just find the idea of a "standard hold" a little strange.

 

[Deckerd]

It's to crank up the tension.

Mission control keep calling up the pilot who says "what? what?" and then they say "oh, nothing".

 

[Goliath]

Do they also pause the countdown for commercials?

 

[Shatnertage]

Been watching for about an hour.

I find that last "go/no go" poll really exciting. Doesn't that happen sometime soon? Or did I miss it?

 

[Goliath]

I think it's still forthcoming.

 

[Shatnertage]

As always. I'm amazed at the number of people involved in just getting the shuttle ready for launch.

Anyone else get a little emotional when the close-out crew was holding up those placards thanking everyone for 30 years of service?

 

[Shatnertage]

Cool! They're doing it!

ETA: They're going to pick up the clock in a minute,

I'm watching this with my 3 year-old. Very exciting.

 

[Goliath]

Yeah, that was pretty cool.

 

[Deckerd]

There's a lot of speechifying, including the captain who had obviously jotted a few things down.

 

[Zulu Romeo]

I'm watching it live too.

 

[Goliath]

I think they can be forgiven for the speechifying.

Do I understand this correctly? Somebody said "no go" on account of the weather, but was overridden?

 

[Deckerd]

Weee clock has restarted.

They do another go/no go at -5 I think.