Posts: 1217
From: Huntsville, AL, USA
Registered: Jun 2003

posted 03-28-2005 09:43 AM               

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If all goes well, Discovery's rollover from the Orbiter Processing Facility to the VAB will begin tonight around 10 p.m. CST.

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"America's challenge of today has forged man's destiny of tomorrow." - Commander Eugene Cernan, Apollo 17 Mission, 11 December 1972

Posts: 42988
From: Houston, TX
Registered: Nov 1999

posted 03-28-2005 10:22 AM               

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And if all goes well, I'll have a selection of my photographs of the rollover posted here soon after.

(The rollover had been planned for this morning but a problem aligning the transporter vehicle resulted in this delay.)

Posts: 42988
From: Houston, TX
Registered: Nov 1999

posted 03-28-2005 01:56 PM               

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Rollover has now been postponed to 2:00am Tuesday.

Ben Cooper, who I'm happy to announce will be our staff photographer for STS-114 events at KSC, will also be contributing photographs to tonight's report (or for whenever it might finally occur).

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Posts: 1217
From: Huntsville, AL, USA
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posted 03-29-2005 09:48 AM               

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NASA has posted pictures of the roll over.
http://www1.nasa.gov/returntoflight/main/index.html

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"America's challenge of today has forged man's destiny of tomorrow." - Commander Eugene Cernan, Apollo 17 Mission, 11 December 1972

Posts: 42988
From: Houston, TX
Registered: Nov 1999

posted 03-29-2005 12:57 PM               

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First motion came at 1:28 a.m. EST after difficulties were reported opening one of the doors needed for Discovery to make its move.

The last media bus departed the Vehicle Assembly Building after all was said and done at approximately 3:00am.

It was a long, cold night but very well worth the effort.

Report and photographs are now online: Discovery rolls toward a return to flight

Posts: 1217
From: Huntsville, AL, USA
Registered: Jun 2003

posted 03-29-2005 01:30 PM               

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Amazing photos. Simply incredible.
This is starting to get kinda exciting.

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"America's challenge of today has forged man's destiny of tomorrow." - Commander Eugene Cernan, Apollo 17 Mission, 11 December 1972

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posted 03-29-2005 02:05 PM               

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3 A.M. is even later to the Houston dignitaries on hand!

But I agree, the photos are breathtaking. Managed to get the whole VAB in one. Hands down favorite for me though, is photo "g" in the article. With the bird's GIANT shadow on the VAB doors.

This is a real coup d'etat, compared to what's out there. WAY TO GO collectSPACE.

And its great to know Discovery is in the big house. The Vehicle Manager in the cS article said on the morning news that, actually, she got teary eyed with Discovery's roll out -- because they've been working so very long & so very hard on this bird.

[This message has been edited by capejeffs (edited March 29, 2005).]

Posts: 1896
From: Cape Canaveral, FL
Registered: May 2000

posted 03-29-2005 02:30 PM               

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Thanks guys. It was a fantastic experience, far more beautiful an event than I had expected it to be.

It may have taken 24 hours with nearly no sleep an definately no time for food, but it was worth it!

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posted 04-02-2005 08:49 AM               

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I thought cS's rollover coverage might be eclipsed, still the best on all the internet.

Was wondering how close the "cS reporters" got to America's Space Shuttle?

Rollout to pad now postponed to early hours of Tuesday. I recall there are good floodlights. Folks on the space coast will probably be able to cheer Discovery on out to the pad, from 528 ( or hopefully they will still allow people on 401 at night, past the port going to the CCAFS gate ).

Posts: 42988
From: Houston, TX
Registered: Nov 1999

posted 04-02-2005 10:48 AM               

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During the rollover itself, we were kept (at least) 100 feet from the orbiter for safety reasons. As is evident in the pictures, we could walk along with the orbiter as it made its way from OPF-3 to the VAB.

Aftewards, we were brought inside the VAB for a nose-on view of Discovery. Associate Administrator Bill Readdy, Astronaut Greg C. Johnson, Vehicle Manager Stephanie Stilson and Space Shuttle Program Manager Bill Parsons stood before the orbiter for interviews. As with the rollover, we were kept at a distance as work progressed preparing it for mating, though we were closer to Discovery inside the VAB.

Glad you enjoyed our photos. We will be there for rollout as well.

[This message has been edited by Robert Pearlman (edited April 02, 2005).]

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posted 04-02-2005 02:57 PM               

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I guess one cold all-nighter after time on a jet wasn't enough for the cS staff! We should hope that rollout is postponed until Tuesday because the low Monday night is around 49, but Tuesday overnight it is 56!

Do the cS reporters show up in any of the great photos. If so which one (and if not it would be nice to post one with cS staff.

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