Shuttle launch cancelled again

[MagicKingdom05]

NASA just scrubbed the shuttle launch again due to weather in the area and they will try to launch it at 2:28 et on 7/4. Apparently there now is a 48 hour turn around so 7/4 is the first available window for the shuttle to launch.

 

[patentguy]

Can you see anything from SeaWorld when the shuttle launches?

 

[Feralpeg]

Can you see anything from SeaWorld when the shuttle launches?

You would be able to see the vapor trail.

 

[tarheelmjfan]

We live in Tampa, which is farther from KSC than Orlando. We can see the shuttles from our front yard. It's not up close & personal, but it's very visible.

As a side note, I realize NASA must employee extremely knowledgable meteorologists, but I always wonder why they schedule the launches for late afternoon. Granted we live on the west coast of FL, but from around 2 pm on we're almost guaranteed to see the clouds roll in as a precursor to the afternoon thunderstorms. Am I missing something? Does the east coast not have these same thunderstorms around the same time of day? The most likely time to encounter clear skies here is before noon. I'm sure they have their reasons for a later launch. I just don't understand what they are.

 

[DizParks]

I believe the reason for them having to launch at those certain times deals with the International Space Station. They launch right when the Space Station is pretty close to being over the launch pad, this is so the shuttle can get to it using less fuel. I heard that yesterday on NASA TV.

 

[TheDoctor]

I was at WDW during one shuttle launch. You can see the vapor trail. It is a wonderful sight.

 

[tarheelmjfan]

I believe the reason for them having to launch at those certain times deals with the International Space Station. They launch right when the Space Station is pretty close to being over the launch pad, this is so the shuttle can get to it using less fuel. I heard that yesterday on NASA TV.

Makes sense! That definitely limits the likelihood of a successful launch though. I'm sure they've run studies & found that the postponements don't cost as much in the long run as the added fuel would.

 

[Beth76]

Makes sense! That definitely limits the likelihood of a successful launch though. I'm sure they've run studies & found that the postponements don't cost as much in the long run as the added fuel would.

Yeah, they said yesterday that they have something like a 10 minute window where they can launch. Crazy, isn't it. Also they have to have clear skies not only at the launch pad but at the emergency landing strip which is a few miles away. I think yesterday, it was the weather at the landing strip that caused the delay.

 

[2angelsinheaven]

I was really hoping for a launch today, I was working at the DCL terminal and we were planning on going on board to watch but it was a no go. That would have been a "Wonder"ful place to get to see that from.

Now 7/4, I'm excited but I can only imagine the traffic, a holiday AND a launch, ouch. The traffic leaving yesterday after the scrub was horrible, took me two hours to go 3 miles. But safety first and I hope all is a go for Tuesday.