Updates STS-134 Updates

[agentgonzo]

That image is still playing with my head. I really don't know what it's supposed to represent

 

[DaveS]

That image is still playing with my head. I really don't know what it's supposed to represent

It's the STORRM DTO trajectory starting at undock sep burn.

 

[agentgonzo]

It's the STORRM DTO trajectory starting at undock sep burn.

It's just confusing. From the scale it looks like they go up to about 500km, then sea-level, then back to the ISS.

 

[orb]

Florida Today - The Flame Trench: Final Endeavour Countdown Preps Under Way:

{...}

A hazardous propulsion system operation is wrapping up at the pad this morning. Helium and nitrogen gas tanks in the shuttle's Main Propulsion System as well as its Orbital Maneuvering System and Reaction Control System were filled to 80-percent levels during an operation that began late Wednesday afternoon. The tanks will be brought up to full flight pressurization on Monday.

{...}

They were just looking for an excuse not to attend Will-and-Kate's wedding.

Discovery News: Forget the Royal Wedding, Obamas to Attend Shuttle Launch:

If the First Family was fretting over not being invited to the royal wedding next week, at least they won't have to sit around the White House and watch it on TV. Instead, President Barack Obama and his family will come to Florida to watch one of the final launches of the space shuttle.

"I didn't realize when the wedding was when we moved the launch date," to April 29, Bill Gerstenmaier, NASA's associate administrator for spaceflight, told reporters.

Endeavour had been targeted to launch April 19, but scheduling conflicts at the International Space Station prompted a 10-day delay. It now falls on the same day that Prince William and Kate Middleton plan to wed.

NASA routinely postpones shuttle launches for technical reasons, poor weather but "wedding constraints" hasn’t made it to NASA's launch guidelines, "so we did not factor that in," deadpanned Gerstenmaier.

{...}

 

[Emil]

Dear friends,

I want to film STS-134 Endeavour as it flies in tandem with the ISS, with the help of the local media. Cand anybody please tell me where the Shuttle is going to be, relative to the ISS, two days after launch ?

How far will the Shuttle be from the ISS on flight day 2 ?

 

[agentgonzo]

Dear friends,

I want to film STS-134 Endeavour as it flies in tandem with the ISS, with the help of the local media. Cand anybody please tell me where the Shuttle is going to be, relative to the ISS, two days after launch ?

How far will the Shuttle be from the ISS on flight day 2 ?

Not now, but check out www.heavens-above.com, www.n2yo.com or www.celestrak.com after the launch. They will tell you wher and when it will be. It's data is from NORAD tracking radars so not immediately up to date

 

[Orbinaut Pete]

The STS-134 press kit is now online! (PDF, 5.3 MB.) :thumbup:

 

[orb]

Spaceflight Now:

• Meet shuttle Endeavour's six-man crew
• NASA TV Schedule Rev. 0 (PDF)

Spaceflight Now's Mission Status Center:

NASA says the shuttle Endeavour astronauts have embarked on their trip from Ellington Field near the Johnson Space Center in Houston over to the Kennedy Space Center in Florida. Arrival at the launch site is expected around 12:15 p.m. EDT (16:15 UTC).

The astronauts are traveling in four T-38 jets:

• Tail number 955: Commander Mark Kelly and mission specialist Mike Fincke
• Tail number 966: Pilot Greg Johnson and mission specialist Roberto Vittori
• Tail number 961: Mission specialist Drew Feustel (with non-crew pilot)
• Tail number 908: Mission specialist Greg Chamitoff (with non-crew pilot)

After reaching the spaceport, the crew will pose for photos and make a brief statement to the gathered news media.

Clocks will begin ticking at 2 p.m. EDT (18:00 UTC) for the three-day countdown sequence to Friday's planned launch of Endeavour.

The weather outlook issued moments ago by the launch meteorology team gives an 80 percent chance for Endeavour to fly on Friday as planned. The only potential for weather prohibiting launch is the concern for crosswinds at the shuttle's Florida runway that must be available in case an emergency landing is declared just after liftoff.

The specifics call for a few clouds at 3,000 feet, good visibility, north-northeasterly winds of 12 peaking to 18 knots and a temperature of 77 degrees.

 

[orb]

T-42 hours, 55 minutes and counting. The countdown has begun. The official countdown sequence started at 2 p.m. EDT / 18:00 UTC inside Firing Room 4 with call-to-stations at 1:30 p.m. EDT / 17:30 UTC.

Astronauts arrived at KSC SLF at 16:55 UTC / 12:55 p.m. EDT.

 

[orb]

Florida Today - The Flame Trench:

• Forecast promising for Endeavour launch
• Endeavour crew at KSC for Friday launch
• Countdown Clocks Ticking Toward Friday Launch

Spaceflight Now:

• Shuttle crew ready to go as launch countdown begins
• Endeavour's astronauts arrive for launch (PHOTO GALLERY)

CBS News Space:

• STS-134 countdown begins; astronauts arrive for launch
• STS-134 Mission Preview

SPACE.com: Astronaut Mark Kelly and Shuttle Endeavour's Last Crew Arrive at Florida Launch Site

NASASpaceflight: STS-134: Endeavour begins S0007 Launch Countdown:

Endeavour has entered the three day countdown for what is likely to be her final ever launch. No issues are in work ahead of the next key status review – the L-2 Mission Management Team (MMT) meeting – as engineers dive into the complex ballet of S0007 operations, hopefully ending with the successful launch of STS-134′s packed mission to the International Space Station (ISS).

{...}

 

[IronRain]

STS-134 crew arrival at KSC

[ame="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VLNA8Exb--8&feature=feedu"]YouTube - Kelly and Crew Arrive at Kennedy for Endeavour Launch[/ame]

 

[Star Voyager]

This is NOT an uncommon occurance:

http://spaceflightnow.com/shuttle/sts134/wildfire1/

 

[orb]

Spaceflight Now:

• Mission preview: One final spaceflight for Endeavour
• Giffords flies to Florida for Endeavour's launch
• Wildfire at Kennedy Space Center (HELICOPTERS TACKLE LAUNCH SITE FIRE) (PHOTO GALLERY #2)

Florida Today:

• Endeavour's all ready to roar
• Giffords at Space Center for launch preparations
• First family's visit to KSC will be brief

Florida Today - The Flame Trench:

• KSC brush fire no concern to Endeavour count
• Giffords reportedly lands in Florida
• Obama, Air Force One Will Arrive At Skid Strip

CBS News Space: Endeavour in good shape; pre-launch weather a concern

NASASpaceflight: Final Launch Reviews Reveal Modifications to Endeavour for STS-134:

With Endeavour zipping through S0007 (launch countdown) ops, teams at Launch Complex 39A have completed PRSD load for Endeavour’s three electricity-producing Fuel Cells. Meanwhile, with no outstanding issues for the baby orbiter’s launch Friday at ~15:47.52 EDT on the STS-134/ULF6 mission to the International Space Station, final launch reviews have been completed – reviews that highlighted several “first time” configurations and modifications to Endeavour.

{...}

 

[Star Voyager]

This was issued today by the 45th Weather Squadron:

http://www.patrick.af.mil/shared/media/document/AFD-070517-025.pdf

http://www.patrick.af.mil/weather/index.asp

 

[Cosmic Penguin]

Spectacular weather just crossed KSC! :blink:
Some photos here.

 

[Eli13]

Glad it happened now, not later.... as in tomorrow.... which is kinda important... :lol:

 

[Donamy]

Godspeed Endeavour !!

 

[Star Voyager]

The RSS is now retracting, slowly revealing Endeavour for launch.

---------- Post added at 12:36 AM ---------- Previous post was at 12:07 AM ----------

The RSS has now fully moved back, exposing Endeavour for her late-afternoon launch tomorrow.

 

[orb]

The tanking is currently underway. No issues are being worked at the moment.

NASASpaceflight:

• STS-134: Endeavour ready for her big day as L-1 resolves minor issues
• Endeavour’s ET-122 begins tanking ahead of STS-134 launch

Spaceflight Now:

• Storm front slows, shuttle weather now 70 percent 'go'
• Shuttle being fueled for launch

CBS News Space:

• Storm front slows, shuttle launch now 70 percent 'go'
• Weathering storms, Endeavour fueled for launch

 

[Kyle]

Problem with the pressure in Endeavour's Right OMS pod. This is an LCC violation.