Updates STS-134 Updates

[Orbinaut Pete]

Roscosmos PAO: "Soyuz-ISS Photo Session Option is Reviewed by Russia".

Russian party is now in process reviewing the option of Soyuz TMA-20 fly-around of the ISS in order to get imagery of the station with the shuttle Endeavour and orbiting lab linked together.
“We are now in process evaluating risks and opportunity to perform the operation on the night of May 23-24”, official of the Russian rocket and space industry told news media.
May 24, Soyuz TMA-20 with the crew of commander Dmitry Kondratiev, Paolo Nespoli and Katherine Calleman is to return to the Earth. Prior to descent and reentry, the photo of the station may be made from the Soyuz.
The option is still unconfirmed, as many technical aspects are to be estimated before giving final ‘go’ for the operation.

 

[orb]

Here's calendar event for docking, and here you can request a reminder for that event.



Spaceflight Now:

• Shuttle Endeavour launches on her 25th and final voyage
• STS-134 NASA TV Schedule Rev. A
• Shuttle Endeavour awaits launch (PHOTO GALLERY)
• Gorgeous morning greets Endeavour (PHOTO GALLERY)
• Endeavour sits ready for launch (PHOTO GALLERY)
• Endeavour punches through low clouds on the way to space station (PHOTO GALLERY)

NASA: NASA's Shuttle Endeavour Heads To Space Station On Its Final Mission

NASASpaceflight: STS-134: APU heaters perform without issue as Endeavour launches

CBS News Space: Shuttle Endeavour rockets away on final mission (UPDATED)



A couple of videos:

• NASAKennedy: STS-134 Launch Replay Camera Site 2 (TV-7A):
  

  From Camera Site 2 (TV-7A)

• NASAKennedy: STS-134 Launch Replay OTV Camera 71:
  

  From OTV Camera 71

• NASAKennedy: STS-134 Launch Replay Press Site (TV-50):
  

  From Press Site (TV-50)

• NASAKennedy: STS-134 Launch Replay South Beach Tracker (TV-4A):
  

  From South Beach Tracker (TV-4A)

• NASAKennedy: STS-134 Launch Replay UCS-15 (TV-21A):
  

  From UCS-15 (TV-21A)

• NASATelevision: Ascent Team Steers Endeavour "Uphill":
  

  Ascent Team Behind the Scenes

• NASATelevision: Endeavour's Launch "Fantastic":
  

  Post-launch News Conference

 

[Eli13]

I almost went. This close (holds two fingers 1 tenth of a millimeter apart) but I just didn't have the time.

 

[Star Voyager]

I made the time to go see this because this means more to me than life itself. Godspeed, Endeavour! We wish you good luck on the way up and happy trails on the way down !

 

[ky]

Orb resourseful as always.Thanks for Videos and Links to websites!

---------- Post added at 11:26 PM ---------- Previous post was at 11:25 PM ----------

Saw the liftoff from E. Hillsborough through the clouds. Beautiful site even though it was short. 134 is on its way!

Wait are you in broward county?

 

[Eli13]

Theres no chance of seein that mechanical beauty from here. Lucky people in florida :dry:

 

[diogom]

Beautifull shots of the ET. (that didn't phone home before burning up)

 

[halcyon]

My girlfriend saw these pictures on a blog she frequents.
Is this cool or what?

You can still see the SRBs firing in the first picture.
The pics were snapped from an iPhone on a commercial flight. Not sure which one or which airline.

 

[Krikkit]

So do they purposefully add roll to the EFT through venting or something to make photographing easier, or is that just accidental?

 

[diogom]

Probably because of the RCS jets after separation. But I'm not sure.

 

[ky]

Yeah Eli I know im lucky.

 

[Star Voyager]

Wait are you in broward county?

No, he's in Hillsborough County, near Tampa (about 120 miles from the Cape; I live here in Tampa, too).

 

[Eli13]

And in to response from that, I'm about 615 miles away from the cape. Here I am in good ole' Rutherford County. Tennessee.

 

[tblaxland]

So do they purposefully add roll to the EFT through venting or something to make photographing easier, or is that just accidental?

The tumble is deliberately induced by venting the dregs of liquid oxygen overboard.

http://spaceflight.nasa.gov/shuttle/reference/shutref/events/2stage/

The ET separation software sends the necessary commands...and fires the ET liquid oxygen tank tumble vent valve.

 

[IronRain]

Daily Mission Recap - FD1

 

[garyw]

Flight Day 2 execute package is up -> http://www.nasa.gov/pdf/546080main_PAO_FD02_ExPkg.pdf

 

[ky]

Oh I live in Palm Beach County way across from you.

 

[IronRain]

I know we've got a lot of launch videos already, but this one is with launch accent data

 

[diogom]

The most beautiful Shuttle launch I've seen, IMO.

 

[Alfastar]

Nice shuttle launch