Space Shuttle Discovery

Mercutio · 07-13-2005, 03:24 PM

The Discovery is scheduled to launch at 3:51 Eastern time (less than a half hour away) from the NASA base in Cape Canaveral, FL.

This is the first flight since the Columbia exploded 2 1/2 years ago.

***Jonathan*** · 07-13-2005, 03:29 PM

I heard they postponed the launch. Something wrong with a fuel sensor.
Too bad.

Mercutio · 07-13-2005, 04:02 PM

Yep. They had already postponed the launch from a month or so ago...now again.

Quote:

Workers were loading the seven astronauts into Discovery when they detected that one of four fuel sensors in the external tank wasn't giving a signal, National Aeronautics and Space Administration spokesman Allard Beutel said in an interview at Kennedy Space Center in Florida.

The sensors detect when there is a low level of liquid hydrogen in the external tank that would lead to the shuttle's main engines cutting off prematurely, Beutel said. The external tank provides fuel to the three main engines that propel the orbiter into space.

They might try to launch it tomorrow (if it's fixed in time).

Better safe than sorry though.

Tree Dweller · 07-13-2005, 04:08 PM

They might have a heck of a time launching it at all with the hurricane season that has been predicted.

***Khamûl*** · 07-14-2005, 01:23 AM

Since was a problem, I'm glad they went ahead and scrubbed the launch. Get it fixed, get it right. And then there was that problem a couple of days ago where the window protector came off and when it fell, it knocked off some protective tiles. I'm happy they fixed that, too. I hope they can get it off on their next open day, which will be Saturday.

Anglorfin · 07-14-2005, 11:20 AM

Those shuttles are old. I wonder if NASA has the funds to continue developement of a few new shuttles. I heard something about it a while ago but I guess they are still very prototype.

Insidious Rex · 07-14-2005, 01:10 PM

No more shuttles. They dont even want to use these to their projected use dates. They want them scrapped by 2010.

Spock · 07-14-2005, 01:23 PM

Tuesday evening there was a small story, not repeated, that a window had fallen out of the shuttle and damaged tail heat tiles. NASA said, no problem, they'd still go on Wed.. NO epoxy glue solutions for me. Those astronauts should have screamed bloody murder at that announcement. I find it most interesting that now the launch was delayed by "a false sensor reading"....at the news conference. Then today they're saying a fuel tank replacement. What are we dealing with here, junkyard rejects?

Insidious Rex · 07-14-2005, 01:34 PM

Theyve had this problem before where the sensor reads full when its empty or vice versa. They replaced the sensor. They replaced the fuel lines. They even replaced the fuel tank. It seemed to finally fix itself. They arent sure how. So they went ahead with launch plans. And now its doing it again.

EarthBound · 07-14-2005, 01:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Spock

Tuesday evening there was a small story, not repeated, that a window had fallen out of the shuttle and damaged tail heat tiles. NASA said, no problem, they'd still go on Wed.. NO epoxy glue solutions for me. Those astronauts should have screamed bloody murder at that announcement. I find it most interesting that now the launch was delayed by "a false sensor reading"....at the news conference. Then today they're saying a fuel tank replacement. What are we dealing with here, junkyard rejects?

It wasn't a window, but just a plastic cover taped over the window to keep it clean till the launch, if fell about 60ft or so is why it was able to slightly hurt a tile, better safe than sorry.....the sensor is the big concern and of course they're a bit worried, but that's the glory of the challange of space, eh! I want to go!

Spock · 07-14-2005, 03:23 PM

...bits and pieces falling off multi-million dollar space thingy's don't make me confident.

Mercutio · 07-14-2005, 03:24 PM

NASA has to launch by July 31 if they want to get to the International Space Station. If they miss that the next chance is September 9. Not too good considering this shuttle was going to help get some repairs done on the Station.

***Tessar*** · 07-14-2005, 04:20 PM

Think about it Spock, there are about a MILLION bit and pieces to every shuttle. Not everything can be perfect, and with something that big and that complex, something is bound to go wrong.

Twista · 07-14-2005, 04:55 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tessar

Think about it Spock, there are about a MILLION bit and pieces to every shuttle. Not everything can be perfect, and with something that big and that complex, something is bound to go wrong.

How much does Bush give for the Space Program? - Like Spock said, you'd think they'd get it right before setting the date.

***Tessar*** · 07-14-2005, 06:19 PM

Oh c'mon. There are things that happen that you just can't plan for.

Spock · 07-14-2005, 06:46 PM

Yeah, and that's what happened to Challenger!
This is space, not the Old Forest, they're going to. Everything HAS to be right the first time. It has been for years with one or two exceptions.

***Tessar*** · 07-14-2005, 10:36 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Spock

Everything HAS to be right the first time. It has been for years with one or two exceptions.

Except for the minor things they never bother to mention to the public, possibly?

Do you work for the space program? Do you have any idea what goes into building a shuttle and all the things that can go wrong? Geesh, try building a toy rocket some time.

Aragorn · 07-14-2005, 10:39 PM

Yeah, but the last time I built a toy rocket it freaking exploded.

We're not talking about some toy rocket, we're talking about a real space ship with people inside it. Nobody wants another Columbia.

Mercutio · 07-14-2005, 10:45 PM

Speaking of toy rockets, I need to ask my brother if he has any use for his (Last time he used them was 6+ years ago, I'd say). They're quiet fun. I just need a nice field and an interested friend.

The soonest they could possibly launch is Saturday.

Spock · 07-15-2005, 09:44 AM

T-to answer your questions: yes; no; sure.

I love it how you manufacture and find excuses for everything and everyone that goes awry.

07-13-2005, 03:24 PM	#1
Mercutio Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Narnia Posts: 1,656	Space Shuttle Discovery The Discovery is scheduled to launch at 3:51 Eastern time (less than a half hour away) from the NASA base in Cape Canaveral, FL. This is the first flight since the Columbia exploded 2 1/2 years ago. __________________ Mike nodded. A sombre nod. The nod Napoleon might have given if somebody had met him in 1812 and said, "So, you're back from Moscow, eh?". Interested in C.S. Lewis? Visit the forum dedicated to one of Tolkien's greatest contemporaries.

07-13-2005, 03:29 PM	#2
*Jonathan* Entmoot Attorney-General, Equilibrating the Scales of Justice, Administrator ♎ Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: Stockholm, Sweden Posts: 3,891	I heard they postponed the launch. Something wrong with a fuel sensor. Too bad. __________________ An unwritten post is a delightful universe of infinite possibilities. Set down one word, however, and it immediately becomes earthbound. Set down one sentence and it’s halfway to being just like every other bloody entry that’s ever been written. ☻

07-14-2005, 01:23 AM	#5
*Khamûl* Slacker Warrior Admin Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Alabama Posts: 2,759	Since was a problem, I'm glad they went ahead and scrubbed the launch. Get it fixed, get it right. And then there was that problem a couple of days ago where the window protector came off and when it fell, it knocked off some protective tiles. I'm happy they fixed that, too. I hope they can get it off on their next open day, which will be Saturday. __________________ "If the giving of information is to be the cure of your inquisitiveness, I shall spend all the rest of my days in answering you." Gandalf to Pippin Psalm 107:31

07-14-2005, 11:20 AM	#6
Anglorfin Alasailon Join Date: Apr 2003 Location: college Posts: 861	Those shuttles are old. I wonder if NASA has the funds to continue developement of a few new shuttles. I heard something about it a while ago but I guess they are still very prototype. __________________ "and then this hobbit was walking, and then this elf jumped out of a bush and totally flipped out on him while wailing on his guitar." "Anglorfin was tall and straight; his hair was of shining gold, his face fair and young and fearless and full of anger; his eyes were bright and keen, and his voice like music; on his brow sat wisdom, and in his hand was great skill."

07-14-2005, 01:10 PM	#7
Insidious Rex Quasi Evil Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: Maryland, US Posts: 4,634	No more shuttles. They dont even want to use these to their projected use dates. They want them scrapped by 2010. __________________ "People's political beliefs don't stem from the factual information they've acquired. Far more the facts people choose to believe are the product of their political beliefs." "Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere."

07-13-2005, 04:08 PM	#4
Tree Dweller Elven Warrior Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: The bulls-eye for recent hurricanes, but I still love these white sands....nothing compares. Posts: 129	They might have a heck of a time launching it at all with the hurricane season that has been predicted.

07-14-2005, 01:23 PM	#8
Spock An enigma in a conundrum Join Date: Oct 1999 Posts: 6,476	Tuesday evening there was a small story, not repeated, that a window had fallen out of the shuttle and damaged tail heat tiles. NASA said, no problem, they'd still go on Wed.. NO epoxy glue solutions for me. Those astronauts should have screamed bloody murder at that announcement. I find it most interesting that now the launch was delayed by "a false sensor reading"....at the news conference. Then today they're saying a fuel tank replacement. What are we dealing with here, junkyard rejects? __________________ Vizzini: "HE DIDN'T FALL?! INCONCEIVABLE!!" Inigo: "You keep using that word. I do not think it means what you think it means." Last edited by Spock : 07-14-2005 at 01:24 PM.

07-14-2005, 01:34 PM	#9
Insidious Rex Quasi Evil Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: Maryland, US Posts: 4,634	Theyve had this problem before where the sensor reads full when its empty or vice versa. They replaced the sensor. They replaced the fuel lines. They even replaced the fuel tank. It seemed to finally fix itself. They arent sure how. So they went ahead with launch plans. And now its doing it again. __________________ "People's political beliefs don't stem from the factual information they've acquired. Far more the facts people choose to believe are the product of their political beliefs." "Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere."

07-14-2005, 03:23 PM	#11
Spock An enigma in a conundrum Join Date: Oct 1999 Posts: 6,476	...bits and pieces falling off multi-million dollar space thingy's don't make me confident. __________________ Vizzini: "HE DIDN'T FALL?! INCONCEIVABLE!!" Inigo: "You keep using that word. I do not think it means what you think it means."

07-14-2005, 03:24 PM	#12
Mercutio Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Narnia Posts: 1,656	NASA has to launch by July 31 if they want to get to the International Space Station. If they miss that the next chance is September 9. Not too good considering this shuttle was going to help get some repairs done on the Station.

07-14-2005, 04:20 PM	#13
*Tessar* Master and Wielder of the Cardboard Harp of Gondor Join Date: Sep 2001 Location: IM IN UR POSTZ, EDITIN' UR WURDZ Posts: 6,433	Think about it Spock, there are about a MILLION bit and pieces to every shuttle. Not everything can be perfect, and with something that big and that complex, something is bound to go wrong.

07-14-2005, 06:19 PM	#15
*Tessar* Master and Wielder of the Cardboard Harp of Gondor Join Date: Sep 2001 Location: IM IN UR POSTZ, EDITIN' UR WURDZ Posts: 6,433	Oh c'mon. There are things that happen that you just can't plan for.

07-14-2005, 06:46 PM	#16
Spock An enigma in a conundrum Join Date: Oct 1999 Posts: 6,476	Yeah, and that's what happened to Challenger! This is space, not the Old Forest, they're going to. Everything HAS to be right the first time. It has been for years with one or two exceptions. __________________ Vizzini: "HE DIDN'T FALL?! INCONCEIVABLE!!" Inigo: "You keep using that word. I do not think it means what you think it means."

07-14-2005, 10:39 PM	#18
Aragorn Elven Warrior Join Date: Nov 2001 Location: Anywhere but where I should be. Posts: 369	Yeah, but the last time I built a toy rocket it freaking exploded. We're not talking about some toy rocket, we're talking about a real space ship with people inside it. Nobody wants another Columbia. __________________ And they carried them to the flatlands But they died along the way And they built up with their bare hands What we still can't do today. EIDRIORCQWSDAKLMEDDCWWTIWOATTOPWFIO till the day I die.

07-14-2005, 10:45 PM	#19
Mercutio Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Narnia Posts: 1,656	Speaking of toy rockets, I need to ask my brother if he has any use for his (Last time he used them was 6+ years ago, I'd say). They're quiet fun. I just need a nice field and an interested friend. The soonest they could possibly launch is Saturday. __________________ Mike nodded. A sombre nod. The nod Napoleon might have given if somebody had met him in 1812 and said, "So, you're back from Moscow, eh?". Interested in C.S. Lewis? Visit the forum dedicated to one of Tolkien's greatest contemporaries.

07-15-2005, 09:44 AM	#20
Spock An enigma in a conundrum Join Date: Oct 1999 Posts: 6,476	T-to answer your questions: yes; no; sure. I love it how you manufacture and find excuses for everything and everyone that goes awry. __________________ Vizzini: "HE DIDN'T FALL?! INCONCEIVABLE!!" Inigo: "You keep using that word. I do not think it means what you think it means."

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