By TonyF on 15 March 2009 at 6:52PM
Discovery blasted into the evening sky on a 13-day mission to the International Space Station. NASA reports:
Image: Space shuttle Discovery blazes into the night sky as it lifts off Launch Pad 39A at NASA's Kennedy Space Center. Photo credit: NASA TV
Space shuttle Discovery has cleared the launch tower! It is tracing a brilliant arc of white and orange flames through the dusky-night sky on its way to orbit.
The twin solid rocket boosters will burnout shortly and fall away as Discovery continues its climb powered by its three main engines. Once in orbit, it will take Discovery about two days to catch up to the International Space Station.
Image: Space shuttle Discovery, with the STS-119 astronauts aboard, awaits liftoff. Photo credit: NASA TV
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The astronauts of STS-119 are to install the last major set of solar arrays to the orbiting laboratory complex during the mission.
Japan's Koichi Wakata also will switch from the shuttle to the station crew and current station crew member Sandra Magnus will become a member of the Discovery crew.
Live webcast from KSC and SpaceVidcast. Preflight pics are up at the JSC Gallery and Orlando Sentinel. More preflight pics and video at KSC. Discussion here. Check the links at right for play-by-play and NASA TV.
By TonyF on 15 March 2009 at 5:08PM
The hatches are closed, and the weather outlook has improved from 80% to 100%. NASA reports:
Image: A Kennedy technician secures Commander Lee Archambault into his seat on space shuttle Discovery. Photo credit: NASA TV
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Live webcast from KSC and SpaceVidcast. Preflight pics are up at the JSC Gallery and Orlando Sentinel. More preflight pics and video at KSC. Discussion here. Check the links at right for play-by-play and NASA TV.
By TonyF on 15 March 2009 at 4:06PM
The seven astronauts of STS-119 are strapping into the Orbiter for tonight's launch. NASA reports:
Image: Discovery's crew member wave to well-wishers as they make their way to the Astrovan which will take them to Launch Pad 39A. Photo credit: NASA TV
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Image: The STS-119 crew members wave to the crowd before climbing into NASA's Astrovan. Photo credit: NASA TV
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| All times listed in EDT |
|
| 2:30 p.m. |
Live launch coverage begins on NASA TV and Launch Blog |
| 3:48 p.m. |
Countdown resumes at T-3 hours |
| 3:53 p.m. |
Discovery astronauts depart crew quarters for Launch Pad 39-A |
| 4:23 p.m. |
Discovery astronauts arrive at the launch pad and begin to board Discovery |
| 5:38 p.m. |
Discovery's hatch is closed and latched for launch |
| 6:28 p.m. |
Countdown enters a 10-minute planned hold at the T-20 minute mark |
| 6:38 p.m. |
Countdown resumes at the T-20 minute mark |
| 6:49 p.m. |
Countdown enters a 45-minute planned hold at the T-9 minute mark, during which the Mission Management Team, and Launch Control team will conduct polls to give a final "go" decision for launch |
| 7:34:44 p.m. |
Countdown resumes at the T-9 minute mark |
| 7:38:44 p.m. |
Auxiliary Power Units start at the T-5 minute mark |
| 7:43:44 p.m. |
Discovery launches on the STS-119 mission |
| 7:52:07 p.m. |
Main Engine Cut Off (MECO) |
Live webcast from KSC. Preflight pics are up at the JSC Gallery and Orlando Sentinel. More preflight pics and video at KSC. Discussion here. Check the links at right for play-by-play and NASA TV.
By TonyF on 15 March 2009 at 3:40PM
A special team of ground personnel have deployed to the launchpad to check out a system on the Mobile Launch Platform. Also, a small bat (a small furry flying mammal, not the baseball kind!) has decided to "hang out" on the External Tank. He's in for a wild ride! NASA reports:
Image: Kennedy's "Red Team" is sent to Launch Pad 39A at NASA's Kennedy Space Center to check out a helium pressure drop. Photo credit: NASA TV
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A "red team" has been dispatched to the launch pad to adjust a pressurization valve on the mobile launcher platform, or MLP. The team of technicians and safety personnel are accessing a panel inside the MLP to increase the pressure of helium that feeds to a "gap" area between the external tank and shuttle. This area where liquid hydrogen and liquid oxygen lines run from the tank to the shuttle, is purged with helium to prevent the formation of ice and the accumulation of gaseous hydrogen and oxygen. Helium does not freeze in the presence of super-cold hydrogen.
The helium level was on the lower side of acceptable limits, and the red team will adjust the pressure to create the proper margin.
This issue will not interfere with today's launch attempt.
Image: Space shuttle Discovery stands tall on NASA Kennedy Space Center's Launch Pad 39A awaiting liftoff. Photo credit: NASA TV
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Live webcast from KSC and SpaceVidcast. Preflight pics are up at the JSC Gallery and Orlando Sentinel. More preflight pics and video at KSC. Discussion here. Check the links at right for play-by-play and NASA TV.
By TonyF on 15 March 2009 at 1:32PM
Tanking is complete at KSC's Pad39A. Shuttle Discovery is set for tonight's launch, scheduled for 7:43PM EDT. NASA reports:
Image: Space shuttle Discovery sits poised for launch at NASA's Kennedy Space Center's Launch Pad 39A. Photo credit: NASA TV
Commander Lee Archambault will lead Discovery's crew of seven, along with Pilot Tony Antonelli, and Mission Specialists Joseph Acaba, John Phillips, Steve Swanson, Richard Arnold and Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency astronaut Koichi Wakata on mission STS-119 to the International Space Station.
The Discovery crew members are set to fly the S6 truss segment and install the final set of power-generating solar arrays to the International Space Station. The S6 truss will complete the backbone of the station and provide one-fourth of the total power needed to support a crew of six.
Additional Resources
› STS-119 Flow Valve Fact Sheet (447 Kb PDF)
› STS-119 Mission Summary (562 Kb PDF)
› STS-119 Fact Sheet (788 Kb PDF)
› STS-119 Press Kit (5.06 Mb PDF)
› STS-119 Information for Educators
Live webcast from KSC. Preflight pics are up at the JSC Gallery and Orlando Sentinel. More preflight pics and video at KSC. Discussion here. Check the links at right for play-by-play and NASA TV.
By TonyF on 15 March 2009 at 11:25AM
Launch preparations are underway for tonight's liftoff of Shuttle Discovery, scheduled for 7:43PM EDT. NASA reports:
| All times listed in EDT |
|
| Midnight |
STS-119 communications system activation begins |
| 1 a.m. |
Discovery astronauts go to sleep |
| 3:18 a.m. |
Discovery's countdown resumes at the T-11 hour mark |
| 4:28 a.m |
Discovery's fuel cells are activated |
| 5:18 a.m. |
Solid Rocket Booster joint heaters are activated |
| 8:18 a.m. |
Countdown enters a two-hour planned hold at T-6 hours |
| 9 a.m. |
Discovery astronauts wake up for launch |
| 9:30 a.m. |
Discovery's crew eats breakfast |
| 9:45 a.m. |
Mission Management Team meets to give a "go" to begin fueling Discovery's external tank |
| 10:15 a.m. |
NASA Television will provide commentary updates on the status of external tank fueling every 30 minutes, or as circumstances warrant |
| 10:18 a.m. |
Operation to begin fueling Discovery's external tank begins, and countdown resumes at T-6 hours |
| 10:30 a.m. |
Discovery's crew undergoes final medical checks |
| 12:03 p.m. |
External tank liquid hydrogen low-level cutoff sensors go "wet" |
| 12:33 p.m. |
External tank liquid hydrogen "topping" begins |
| 1:18 p.m. |
Fueling enters stable replenish mode and countdown enters a 2-hour, 30-minute hold at T-3 hours |
| 2:30 p.m. |
Live launch coverage begins on NASA TV and Launch Blog |
Live webcast from KSC. Preflight pics are up at the JSC Gallery and Orlando Sentinel. More preflight pics and video at KSC. Discussion here. Check the links at right for play-by-play and NASA TV.
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