Space Shuttle Discovery: She's on the GROUND!!! YEAHHH!!!!!

[Lisa loves Pooh]

Just now opened my Sunday paper--and it contained a special insert.

Can't wait to see her lift off on hopefully a picture perfect day. Probably watch from our pool deck.

Sadly--took the shuttle for granted and didn't say goodbye to Columbia when she lifted off--have seen all other shuttle launches since moving to the area in 1997 (except maybe one or two)--and missed that one .

http://www.nasa.gov/centers/kennedy/home/index.html

I so love living on the space coast.

Launch scrubbed...new launch attempt not set yet.

 

[legs22]

I'm not happy the launch is on a work day. I work close to US1 so hopefully I can step outside to see it.

 

[simba928]

I am so excited!! I will definitly be watching it, even though it will have to be seen on my TV if I can wrestle the remote away from my brother long enough. I got to see Columbia launched. That was the first shuttle launch I got to see. We stayed at the hotel that all the Israellie dignitaries stayed in. We pulled into the hotel parking lot on our first day and saw cops there. We had no idea the shuttle was launching so we were a little nervous about what we got ourselves into. Everytime a car pulled into the parking lot, they had dogs sniff it. There were counter-snipers on the roof and mounted police (police on horseback) on the beach all the time. I think I counted something like 12 cop cars in the parking lot. It was really awesome. I would love to be able to see the Discovery launch in person, but that isn't happening. Oh well.

 

[Dan Murphy]

She looks beautiful!!!!

 

[simba928]

That is beautiful Dan! Thanks for the pic!

 

[JimB.]

Hope it's a clear day up here. Go Discovery!!

I so love living on the space coast.

Agreed!!


I grew up on the space coast in the 60's & 70's. A tremendously exciting time. I would not have been ANYWHERE else........

 

[Lisa loves Pooh]

She looks beautiful!!!!

We need an astronaut smiley, but he will have to do .

 

[Morganpics]

Beautiful picture, Dan!
We were in FL in 2002 and got to see the shuttle go up from Titusville. Not all that close, but it still sent chills up my spine and tears in my eyes. I keep the photo on my desk. My goal after retirement is to see one up close. It's such a thrill to watch!

 

[chrissyk]

I am so excited!! This is our first shuttle launch We have friends coming out to watch it with us. We'll be watching from the beach (probably Paradise). I can't wait

 

[Hillbeans]

Great picture Dan!

We're going to miss the launch by 2 days...bummer!

I am very excited that we're going back into space....I pray for all of those abord Discovery.

 

[2angelsinheaven]

I will be working at the VIP site tomorrow, I'm pretty stoked! My aunt who has never seen a launch is joining me. We'll be serving drinks to and guiding around the president's guest. We had to go today to get "bagded" it was interesting, there were tons of security guards and things are way different than before. There was no mention of not allowing cameras for those working so I'm bringing mine, will post the photos when I get home. Look for me, maybe you'll see me. I'll be in black pants, red polo, white visor... photo is in my siggie.

 

[Lisa loves Pooh]

They just teased on the news something about a window covering falling on the shuttle....

AOL has this:

With Tile Glitch Fixed, Shuttle Is on Track for Launch


By MARCIA DUNN, AP

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. (July 12) - With the countdown for Discovery in its final hours, NASA was dealt an embarrassing setback Tuesday when a window cover fell off the shuttle and damaged thermal tiles near the tail. But the space agency quickly fixed the problem and said it was still on track for launch Wednesday.

The mishap was an eerie reminder of the very thing that doomed Columbia 2 1/2 years ago - damage to the spaceship's fragile thermal shield.

The lightweight plastic cover on one of Discovery's cockpit windows came loose while the spaceship was on the launch pad, falling more than 60 feet and striking a bulge in the fuselage, said Stephanie Stilson, the NASA manager in charge of Discovery's launch preparations. No one knows why the cover - which was held in place with tape - fell off, she said.

Two tiles on an aluminum panel were damaged, and the entire panel was replaced with a spare in what Stilson said was a minor repair job.

The cover, which weighs less than 2 pounds, struck a part of the fuselage that houses one of the engines used by the shuttle to maneuver in orbit. Launch managers were still awaiting an engineering analysis on whether the blow caused any damage to the engine hardware, but Stilson said she was confident there would be no problems.

Word of the mishap came just two hours after NASA declared Discovery ready to return the nation to space for the first time since the Columbia disaster.

Up until the window cover fell, NASA's only concern was the weather. Because of thunderstorms in the forecast, the chances of acceptable weather at launch time were put at 60 percent.

Discovery and its crew of seven were set to blast off at 3:51 p.m. EDT. The last few technical concerns had been resolved Tuesday afternoon at one final launch review by NASA's managers.

I hope it is all good--and shuttle launches and returns safely.

 

[2angelsinheaven]

It was fixed, saw that on the evening news tonight at 6:30pm. All is a Go! Hooray!

 

[Lisa loves Pooh]

Today's the Day!!!!

Keep the sun shining and the clouds away!!!

 

[barbeml]

DH and I saw a shuttle launch from the T-dock on Captiva on our honeymoon. Amazing how bright that flame trail was from so far away.

We're rooting for you Discovery!

 

[Miss Jasmine]

I am sooooo excited!!!! My heart lept in my throat last night when I heard about the window covering and the tiles. Thank goodness KSC has hard workers!!!!!

Anyone that has HD Net, it will be covering the launch (actually coverage starts at 11:00) in High Definition.

 

[Rajah]

Me too.

I'm trying to find a place I can watch it on the net until the actual launch. We have it on TV here, but I can't spend all day sitting in front of the hall TV.

 

[Reyasmom]

I was hoping that we'd be there to see it.

 

[Nite0wl71]

Now they are saying there is a 60% chance of thunderstorms or cloud cover during the launch window. It is still on schedule so far.

 

[Lisa loves Pooh]

Watching the Nasa channel (15 on brighthouse) and the crew was held up awaiting clearance to continue (making sure weather won't be a problem) and they've been given the go ahead to continue the journey to the shuttle.

Wahooooooo!!!!! So excited!