5-4-3-2-1-0-Lift off.....finaly

finally the Shuttle is getting off after so many tries. I for one am happy for that it is for two reasons. One I get a joy fo watching from my back yard,can't see the shuttle but watch the fuel/flames as it goes further out to space.
Second it cost us to refuel every time they cancel the flight. And that was 6 times. http://www.cbsnews.com/video/watch/?id=3n&tag=watchnow

 

I'm jealous, we were hoping to be out in Florida for a holiday to watch the May launch but were delayed because of Visa issues! :mad Now coming out in September but no launches scheduled.

Never get tired of watching on NASA TV though, always amazes me when it's mentioned how long into the flight (not long) and the speed, altitude and distance downrange (lots!)

One question, mainly aimed at Star, but if anyone knows: Why does the water in the sound suppression system always look like sparks? Something to do with the water being superheated in the engine exhaust?

 

I actually didn't see it as there was cloud cover where I am but I most certainly heard it so did my two younger grand children 2 miles a way.
if you click on the link they are still broadcasting live from NASA.

Maybe next time you can catch it here.
http://www.cbsnews.com/video/watch/?id=3n&tag=watchnow

 

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v173/star17abby/45776.jpg

Hi Rex, hope you've been well. Please tell Maddie I said hello and she's missed here!

The sparks you are seeing are from igniters initiated to burn off any lingering gaseous hydrogen before the main engines are started. Without doing that, there's a substantial chance of an explosion upon engine ignition. The igniters are shown circled in the larger image and active in the smaller image.

The sound supression system is shown in the larger image during a recent test. It's commonly thought of being in place to prevent fires, explosions or other flammable events from continuation but in fact it's in place to dampen out shock waves during thrust build-up of the engines. The first two shuttle flights launched without the sound supression system as it was not yet developed or even thought to be needed. The shock waves knocked thermal tiles loose and even jolted a few control panels out of alignment. This hasn't been an issue since the system was put in place. If you look below the launch pad on some video during engine thrust build-up, you'll see the torrent of water pouring below.

Finally got the orbiter up after numerous delays, but it was a dirty launch. Don't know all the details yet as some imaging needs to be completed, but there were at least 8 or 9 foam debris events on the way up and some tile damage has occurred, to what extent has yet to be determined. When they get in the vacinity of the International Space Station and perform the camera surveys, the extent of the damage should be known. I've seen high-frame rate video of the launch already and the ship got popped several times. Likely due to the repeated fuelings/detankings from the launch delays, the external tank expanded/contracted enough that it may have creeped the coatings on the tank. Too early to tell right now, will know more after the cameras are retrieved from the boosters and folks take a look at the video. There is also a fuel cell acting up and its levels are below acceptable mission rules. In either case, not to panic; there are numerous contingency plans in place for any action needed.

Other than that, gorgeous launch as always. Only a few more flights and the program will be over, so hope you can come over here some time and see one.

 

WOW, star17, NICE pics! I watched it on TV during supper.. Nice launch, but your pics are so cool! Thank you for sharing with us!

 

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v173/star17abby/45776.jpg

.
What causes this?

What do you mean by "popped" ?

Other than that, gorgeous launch as always. Only a few more flights and the program will be over, so hope you can come over here some time and see one.
Yes it was as seen live on line.(that was so cool) How many more flights will there be? I really hope something changes for the better between now and then. My grandchildren are really starting to get into it and it would be a shame for them as well as others to loose that joy and experience. My youngest grandson just visited the space center the first part of this year with his class and his mom. When he came back he was just so ecstatic about the whole place.
Is there any way we could get some front row pics of it launching? If not I understand. Thanks in advance.

 

Hey Chris, I hope you and yours are faring well.
Good to see the Orbiter finally launched, albeit not quite as smoothly as hoped. I have mixed feelings about the Shuttle program drawing to a close soon. On the one hand, over the last 25 years or so, I've got used to seeing the Shuttle program in action, on the other, it is probably time to move on to bigger and better things - with the ultimate 'Holy Grail' of manned Mars missions eventually, (although a ways off, I know).

Take care all, and hope to hear from you soon.

 

Apollo 11 launched today 40 years ago for the moon. I posted a link in the interesting links forum, but here it is http://wechoosethemoon.org

They're going to have the whole thing shown on the website. The astronauts will be "Tweeting" back to earth, it looks cool.

 

That's a lot of water! Excellent pics, thanks Star!

Hope all is well with the orbiter, I gather you do have methods of patching the heat shield if required but let's hope it's not necessary

 

I'm sure Star will correct me if I'm wrong but the insulation is sprayed onto the large orange fuel tank to keep the hydrogen and oxygen in liquid form. During launch, the insulation can and does break away, especially as Star said, if the tank has been expanding and contracting with varying temperatures.

Insulation hitting the orbiter itself, it was damage from insulation that led to the loss of Columbia on re-entry.

I think there are just 7 flights due over the next 18 months/ 2 years but a possibility of extending the shuttle missions to cover the gap until Aries is flying. The Shuttles are nearing the end of their expected lifespan anyway, and are costing more and more to keep flying.

I wouldn't mind a delay until the second half of September for the next launch, if you could arrange that please Star! :-D I know there will always be rockets to watch but it's not the same as the Shuttle! :cry

 

Sure...this one okay?
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v173/star17abby/127launch.jpg
Huge size image here:
http://mediaarchive.ksc.nasa.gov/im...01&mr=l&w=0&h=0&fn=2009-4133&sn=KSC-2009-4133
Courtesy of the great folks at NASA/KSC Media Gallery.

Any future questions are to be directed to my protégé, Rex Noctis:-D