posted 05-31-2007 02:51 PM               

quote:

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NASA Gives "Go" for Space Shuttle Launch on June 8

On Thursday, NASA senior managers selected June 8 as the official launch date for space shuttle Atlantis. Commander Rick Sturckow and his six crewmates are scheduled to lift off at 7:38 p.m. EDT on the STS-117 mission to the International Space Station.

During the 11-day mission and three spacewalks, the crew will work with flight controllers at NASA's Johnson Space Center, Houston, to install a 17-ton segment on the station's girder-like truss and deploy a set of solar arrays. The mission will increase the International Space Station's power capability in preparation for the arrival of new science modules from the European and Japanese space agencies.

Atlantis' launch date was announced at the Flight Readiness Review. During the two-day meeting, top NASA and contractor managers assess any risks associated with the mission and determine whether the shuttle's equipment, support systems and procedures are ready for flight. The first Flight Readiness Review for STS-117 was held Feb. 27-28. A hail storm on Feb. 26, however, damaged Atlantis' external fuel tank and delayed the planned mid-March launch.

"While we cannot control the weather, this team can ensure that when we do launch, it will be as safely as possible," said Associate Administrator for Space Operations Bill Gerstenmaier, who chaired the meetings. "This second Flight Readiness Review was as thorough as the first. The discussions were open, healthy, and are evidence of a team that is ready for a complicated and important station assembly mission."

Joining Commander Sturckow on STS-117 will be Pilot Lee Archambault and mission specialists Patrick Forrester, Steven Swanson, John "Danny" Olivas, Jim Reilly and Clayton Anderson. Anderson will replace current station crew member Sunita Williams, who has lived on the station since December. Williams will return to Earth on Atlantis.

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posted 06-05-2007 07:37 AM               

Any storms that may form are expected to be well inland, and the 30% is due to uncertainty of their distance from the launch boundary.

posted 06-05-2007 08:24 PM               

The count includes about 24 hours of built-in holds. From now until T-0, the Launch Control Center will be continually staffed. Fueling of the onboard fuel cells will be conducted Wednesday, and the Rotating Service Structure will be retracted at about 10:30pm EDT Thursday.

Fueling of the more-than half-million gallons of liquid oxygen and liquid hydrogen will commence at 9:42am EDT Friday.

A full countdown timeline is available from CBS via SpaceflightNow.

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-Ben

posted 06-08-2007 04:59 PM               

Our thoughts are with the crew and in particular our IrishAmerican James Reilly. His great grandparents came from Cork where they emigrated during famine times from Ireland. The cottage they left still stands.

Rob,Tim,James and Ben , keep the tripods steady and send us back some wonderful photos. We will endeavour to post some of the skies from Ireland.

Good speed the crew of Atlantis

posted 06-08-2007 06:59 PM               

COMPANY IS COMING !

Great job to all !

posted 06-08-2007 07:00 PM               

Meanwhile, what a fantastic sight the SRB plume was in the evening sun. Must've been spectacular in person. The views from the newer cameras north of L/C-39 were spectacular.

posted 06-08-2007 10:38 PM               

It was hard to hear the commentary from launch control over the speakers so I did not know they were no go for a time because of the TAL sites. What a relief that was not a constraint.

Then George Diller seemed to drag out that last second before saying "LIFTOFF" for what seemed like a long time to me. So you can imagine my relief and delight (and a bit of disbelief!) when Atlantis lifted off. I was so pleased and proud of the crew and the team on the ground.

posted 06-09-2007 03:22 PM               

I watched the coverage on both NASA TV and Fox News on sky with commentary from former astronaut Tom Jones and astronaut Rick Mastracchio who were on to discuss there view on the mission to the ISS.

Well worth 3 hours sleep !

Cheers,
Alex.

posted 06-09-2007 03:44 PM               

Indeed the pictures of the booster exhaust over the VAB are beautiful. Superb!

posted 06-09-2007 05:25 PM               

Interestingly, as we watched Atlantis, at one point, it flared massively in brightness for a fraction of a second. My first thought was that this may have been a thruster, but maybe there's a more prosaic explanation, such as sunlight striking a window? Any suggestions?

Thanks,

posted 06-10-2007 12:59 AM               

The pre-sunset lighting made this the best day launch I have seen by far, eclipsing 121, and the sound was ABSOLUTELY, IN-CRED-IBLE. I keep saying, well, maybe the mind does not remember sound as well as visual medium but as far as I remember I never felt more impressed. My pants were shaking so much I thought they would fall down before the SRBs separated.

The post-sunset spectacle in the sky was nothing short of icing on the cake, I have never seen it as beautiful as that. Only once before, at 109 before sunrise, was there anything similar but this was far and away more beautiful. All of Central Florida must have been out staring up in wonder.

I had a fantastic time and enjoyed very much seeing Tom G and Tom C, Robert (great shots!), Jimmy (nice shots, as always!), and anyone who I am forgetting off the top of my head at 2am Sunday.

A toast to Atlantis and getting off the first on-time launch in 4.5 years.

And really, I am very very happy that everyone here who was in attendance at the launch or who came for the show but got a bonus, was able to see it and smile...

...You couldn't wipe mine off my face after launch.

There was undoubtedly an emormous six-digit crowd at this launch. Given a Friday evening, in the summer, after work, with a good forecast and a launch date planned well in advance, this is no surprise. I'm glad everyone of them experienced it. I had received many emails before launch asking for viewing tips and photo tips and letting me know they are going for the first or second time with their fingers crossed.

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-Ben

LaunchPhotography.com

posted 06-11-2007 01:19 PM               

WOW, AWESOME, AMAZING.....

It was a long trip home leaving at 6pm (after thunderstorm delay). Orlando - Memphis - Denver - Seattle - home (12:30am). *whew!*
I'm spent, but I'll never forget this.

Tom

posted 06-12-2007 08:53 AM               

If you click on the picture to download the largest resolution you can see Venus shining at the upper left hand corner of the photo. It is shining through a hole in the cloud.

posted 06-14-2007 10:41 AM            

STS 117 was the second shuttle launch I have witnessed from the Cape. At the KSC Visitor Center field near the rocket garden, a large screen TV broadcast the event from the NASA channel. As the countdown reached zero and then plus 10 seconds or so, I stood there absolutely spellbound as the shuttle appeared over the trees and climbed upward. The applause from the crowd was tremendous, it reminded me of being at a concert or a game. We all walked away very satisfied.

Earlier in the day, I tried the Shuttle Launch Experience - highly recommended!

posted 06-23-2007 11:37 AM               

Enjoyed many hours of coverage on NASA TV, the first in our new home which made it all the more special.

We watched the shuttle and ISS pass over the south west coast of Ireland and hopefully we will get to meet J.R. pretty soon in Ireland.

Roll on STS 118

All the best
Eamon & Siobhan