Just leaving for launch now. Wish us luck. Sensor holding up for now.

BTW we are trying to squeeze in a Delta IV launch (GOES-N satellite). Shuttle launch plus 3 days is the going estimate now. I guess Delta IV is next biggest behind Shuttle these days since the Titian no longer flies from Cape (I left at Vandenberg).

 

Good luck and Godspeed...

 

Watching it right now! Live on computer... I think like everyone here at work is watching it. 8 mins till lift off!

 

LIFT OFF! Perfect launch! currently at 12,600 MPH!

 

WOW first time we're every getting actual video feed from the external tanks! That was awesome can see the shuttle seperate.

 

Well done NASA...

 

Just got off console - released when orbit confirmed and no AOA (Abort once Around). Very smooth countdown, especially on NASA side. Our AF Range had a few minor issues but all told a smooth count as well. What a relief to get the Shuttle back in operation.


Now on to Delta IV on 29 July at 18:23 EDT (6:23 PM for some of you)

 

Congrats to the cobradav and the entire NASA team. The goosebumps were plentiful as she lifted off the pad! Way cool new video too -- I hope we get to see some shots from the other new cameras one of these days!!

One question Dave, what's the "AF Range?"

 

Good stuff!
Very exciting, I still remember the visits to the Cape and Houston SC..I loved it.
One day I will attend a live launch...

 

Congrats to the cobradav and the entire NASA team. The goosebumps were plentiful as she lifted off the pad! Way cool new video too -- I hope we get to see some shots from the other new cameras one of these days!!

One question Dave, what's the "AF Range?"
[/quote]
Well, don't get me started.

The first rocket launch from Cape Canaveral, that of Bumper #8, occurred on July 24, 1950. Used be Army, then in early '50s officially turned over to Air Force to run. As it exists today (after many, many changes in Name - Long Range Proving Grounds, Air Force Missile Test Center, Eastern Missile Test Range (when I first started), Eastern Space and Missile Center, and now just Eastern Range, we provide all range safety - protection of people and property and all the instrumentation that that function requires, - communications, radar, telemetry, optics, and most importantly - Command Destruct. We ensure that no errant missile/booster/spacecraft can endanger property or human life so we have the means to destroy missiles in flight including Shuttle. It is an Air Force responsibility, not NASA. Most flights from ER are DoD in nature, although civil (NASA and FAA) and commercial are catching up and in some recent years may have outstripped the DoD launches. NASA only has two launch pads - SLC (Space Launch Complex) 39A and 39B. All other launch pads are on CCAFS (Cape Canaveral Air Force Station).

In the '50s-'90s we also tested many weapons systems (non space launches). SNARKS, Navaho, Titan, Atlas, Thor, Pershing, Polaris, Poseidon, Trident and Trident II to name just a few.

The range extends now all the way from Argentia in Newfoundland to Ascension in the South Atlantic Ocean. In the early days it was from the Cape only south (no northern launches allowed for safety reasons) to the other side of Africa. We had stations all over the Bahamas (GBI, Eleuthera, Carter Cay and many other cays), Antigua, Grand Turk, Trinidad, Barbados, Fernando de Noronha (Brasil), Ascension, Pretoria, South Africa, and Madagascar. It also required the use of a lot of tracking ships up until the mid '90s. Up to 20 or more in the '50s into the '70s and then less as our land based capabilities improved (tracking range). In that list above I was at every location at one time or another except for Madagascar.

Anyway that is the brief version. The October 1959 National Geographic had an excellent article - Cape Canaverals' 6000 Mile Shooting Gallery - if you really want some history. I'm sure there are other sources as well.