Space Shuttle Discovery launch

The Space Shuttle Discovery is due to launch this evening just before 10pm GMT. We've long been interested in the science behind space travel, and have perused a few launches before. For the first time in Sidepodhistory, we've got a live thread for the launch, as well as what I'm hoping will be quite awesome Factbyte Factbox coverage.

Credit: Copyright free
The space shuttle Discovery, ready for launch

The launch can be viewed on a live stream via NASA TV, available here, and NASA are on Twitter as well, although I don't know how comprehensive their coverage will be.

182 responses

Steven Roy24/02/2011 at 20:06

Great photo
Mr C24/02/2011 at 20:07

Great photo
(hearts) to nasa for the use of all their images. we need to start a nasa site, copyright free audio, video, everything.
Christine24/02/2011 at 20:07

Are all those people the astronauts? They don't look very suited up.
Steven Roy24/02/2011 at 20:09

Those are the people who put the astronauts into the shuttle. The round hatch in the background is the shuttle
Steven Roy24/02/2011 at 20:10

They are 255(I think) feet up in the air and once they complete everything they need to do to close out the shuttle they break down the white room they are in and are left on a platform up in the air
Steven Roy24/02/2011 at 20:11

(hearts) to nasa for the use of all their images. we need to start a nasa site, copyright free audio, video, everything.
I told you before you need to take over NASA TV
Mr C24/02/2011 at 20:14

this picture makes me mad: http://www.theatlantic.com/infocus/2011/02/space-shuttle-discoverys-final-launch/100015/#img25
how is it possible to type with big thumbs?
Steven Roy24/02/2011 at 20:16

Lots of useful info on the space site Pat linked to in the daily. I had never seen it before but I think I am going to be checking it out regularly
http://www.spaceflightnow.com/shuttle/sts133/status.html
Pat W24/02/2011 at 20:20

Lots of useful info on the space site Pat linked to in the daily. I had never seen it before but I think I am going to be checking it out regularly
They have their own pre-launch show streaming which I just found, might be more interesting than the NASA radio for a while.
Steven Roy24/02/2011 at 20:23

They have their own pre-launch show streaming which I just found, might be more interesting than the NASA radio for a while.
I am watching that. They are presenting the subject far better than NASA TV ever did
Steven Roy24/02/2011 at 20:25

FBFB
I stick to this countdown clock rather than the official one. It actually counts down all the way rather than having stops all over the place
http://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/shuttle/main/index.html
Christine24/02/2011 at 20:27

I stick to this countdown clock rather than the official one. It actually counts down all the way rather than having stops all over the place
All these holds actually boggle my mind.
Steven Roy24/02/2011 at 20:28

All these holds actually boggle my mind.
I can never remember when the holds are or how long they are so I just pretend they don't exist
Steven Roy24/02/2011 at 20:31

Any time you here them say KFC they are actually saying KSC - Kennedy Space Centre. It gets me every single launch
Mr C24/02/2011 at 20:33

Any time you here them say KFC they are actually saying KSC - Kennedy Space Centre. It gets me every single launch
christine just asked me if it's possible an astronaut could've started out at KFC.
#explainseverything
Steven Roy24/02/2011 at 20:35

christine just asked me if it's possible an astronaut could've started out at KFC.
I have fallen for that at least ten times. My brain refuses to learn
Steven Roy24/02/2011 at 20:36

I just heard one of the feed mention that there may be an issue with a tile. It is not expected to be a problem. I guess they are checking it now
Steven Roy24/02/2011 at 20:40

Looks like a little white circle can be seen on the damaged tile
Barrie24/02/2011 at 20:41

lovely idea though - starting out at KFC lol
Mr C24/02/2011 at 20:46

The Closeout Crew would be an excellent name for a band.
awesomely 80's.
Steven Roy24/02/2011 at 20:47

The Closeout Crew would be an excellent name for a band.
:D
Pat W24/02/2011 at 20:47

The Closeout Crew would be an excellent name for a band.
with their hit album, Ready For Launch.
Mr C24/02/2011 at 20:50

with their hit album, Ready For Launch.
:) :)
Steven Roy24/02/2011 at 20:51

They have made the white dot disappear
Steven Roy24/02/2011 at 20:52

They coloured in the white dot. It's black again so all is well
Mr C24/02/2011 at 20:54

They coloured in the white dot. It's black again so all is well
space is easy.
Steven Roy24/02/2011 at 20:55

I like the sound of this. Commercial company may fly the shuttles for a few years to fill the gap until NASA has a new vehicle available. Great news
Barrie24/02/2011 at 20:55

They coloured in the white dot. It's black again so all is well
I hope they didnt go over the line........
Steven Roy24/02/2011 at 20:55

space is easy.
I don't see Mike Gascoyne being happy about someone fixing damage with a felt marker
Barrie24/02/2011 at 20:57

I don't see Mike Gascoyne being happy about someone fixing damage with a felt marker
Remember the Brawn? I thought that someone had gone mad with a highlighter pen. if it is good enough for NASA.....
Steven Roy24/02/2011 at 21:00

FBFB
If you are looking for facts. Steve Bowen is flying as a replacement for Tim Kopra who hurt himself on a bike. Bikes are dangerous.
Mr C24/02/2011 at 21:02

"According to the STS-133 press kit, the Shuttle Liftoff Weight is 4,525,220 pounds. That's quite a lot."
how many elephants is that?
Steven Roy24/02/2011 at 21:03

how many elephants is that?
I am pretty sure it's more than 4
Kai mobile24/02/2011 at 21:05

I've met Bassano!
Steven Roy24/02/2011 at 21:05

I've met Bassano!
Don't let him give you any cheeky Vimto
Mr C24/02/2011 at 21:07

I am pretty sure it's more than 4
it's a jungle out there.
Janna24/02/2011 at 21:07

I've met Bassano!
I hope you got your Sidepodhug :)
Barrie24/02/2011 at 21:08

I hope you got your Sidepodhug :)
I've never had a Sidepodhug :(
Steven Roy24/02/2011 at 21:10

#FBFB
The very first objective is to dock with the space shuttle and "perform mandatory safety briefing for all crew members." Like.. emergency exits are here, here and here?
:lol: :lol: :lol:
Ian Savell24/02/2011 at 21:13

Shuttle / African elephant = 301.6 (approximately
Mr C24/02/2011 at 21:15

Shuttle / African elephant = 301.6 (approximately
thank you ian :)
Steven Roy24/02/2011 at 21:16

thank you ian :)
FBFB got there first. Fortunately both have the same number
Steven Roy24/02/2011 at 21:16

FBFB got there first. Fortunately both have the same number
Same person, two different names :D
Steven Roy24/02/2011 at 21:19

30 minutes to launch and everything seems to be running to plan now the white bit on the tile has been coloured in.
Kai mobile24/02/2011 at 21:21

I hope you got your Sidepodhug :)
yep! :)
jpancoast24/02/2011 at 21:22

I still think the fact that we can launch things into space is just about the coolest thing ever.
Kai mobile24/02/2011 at 21:23

Janna, I got your message and i'll send it to you when I get home. Thanks :)
Steven Roy24/02/2011 at 21:24

If you ever wondered how they can tell which solid rocket booster is which when they fish them out of the sea after launch the left one has a thick black stripe round it near the top.
I never noticed it either until it was pointed out
Steven Roy24/02/2011 at 21:28

Space robot has his own twitter account
http://twitter.com/AstroRobonaut
jpancoast24/02/2011 at 21:29

Space robot has his own twitter account
Disappointed that it doesn't have just one tweet "DESTROY. ALL. HUMANS"
Steven Roy24/02/2011 at 21:29

THe range is red because of a computer.
Multiple redundancy NASA - multiple redundancy.
How can you lose all the money associated with a launch because of a computer glitch?
Steven Roy24/02/2011 at 21:30

Disappointed that it doesn't have just one tweet "DESTROY. ALL. HUMANS"
Wait till he gets control of the ISS
jpancoast24/02/2011 at 21:30

How can you lose all the money associated with a launch because of a computer glitch?
this being the US gov't, the computer is probably older than we are.
jpancoast24/02/2011 at 21:31

Wait till he gets control of the ISS
"About to rain death from above. lulz!"
Steven Roy24/02/2011 at 21:31

this being the US gov't, the computer is probably older than we are.
Probably been around is Wehner von Braun
Ian Savell24/02/2011 at 21:31

Geek point - weight = 3,200 F1 cars but engine power = 50,000 F1 cars. Great on the straights but it would corner like a brick.
Steven Roy24/02/2011 at 21:32

They are going to run the countdown down to T-5minutes before they pull the plug if the computer is not functional
Steven Roy24/02/2011 at 21:32

Geek point - weight = 3,200 F1 cars but engine power = 50,000 F1 cars. Great on the straights but it would corner like a brick.
:D :D
More a drag racer than an F1 car then
Steven Roy24/02/2011 at 21:35

They keep saying they will go to 5 minutes then hold. I don't see how they can hold when there is only about a minute of a launch window. If they hold for more than a minute at 5 minutes it is an abort
Pat W24/02/2011 at 21:36

I like this bit.
Steven Roy24/02/2011 at 21:38

Flight controller poll
All go apart from range who have the blue screen of death
Steven Roy24/02/2011 at 21:38

I like this bit.
I love listening back to Apollo polls. THe flight controllers barely had time to say yes before the flight director called the next one
Mr C24/02/2011 at 21:40

All go apart from range who have the blue screen of death
:)
Steven Roy24/02/2011 at 21:41

They can go 3 minutes beyond the planned launch time. If they hold at 5 minutes for 3 minutes 1 second it's game over and reset to go again tomorrow
Steven Roy24/02/2011 at 21:44

Jut like Thunderbirds as they pull back the crew access arm
Mr C24/02/2011 at 21:44

the fbfb countdown has never been more apt. it just needs to look more nasa-y now.
Steven Roy24/02/2011 at 21:44

Jut like Thunderbirds as they pull back the crew access arm
Just not Jut
Steven Roy24/02/2011 at 21:45

the fbfb countdown has never been more apt. it just needs to look more nasa-y now.
Lazy 8s
Steven Roy24/02/2011 at 21:47

I think they should pull the plug early on this
Pat W24/02/2011 at 21:47

Go!
Steven Roy24/02/2011 at 21:47

We are go for launch
Neil Denham24/02/2011 at 21:47

Whats up with the eastern range? Like I even know what that means...
jpancoast24/02/2011 at 21:48

Whats up with the eastern range? Like I even know what that means...
too many okies.
Steven Roy24/02/2011 at 21:48

Whats up with the eastern range? Like I even know what that means...
The computer that blows up the shuttle if it ends up pointing at a town had the blue screen of death
Mr C24/02/2011 at 21:48

Whats up with the eastern range? Like I even know what that means...
windows reboot required on the pc that runs the air force.
Neil Denham24/02/2011 at 21:49

I can barely send a photo on my mobile, this is awesome technology for me!
Steven Roy24/02/2011 at 21:50

I can barely send a photo on my mobile, this is awesome technology for me!
:D
Pat W24/02/2011 at 21:50

windows reboot required on the pc that runs the air force.
It was probably an Adobe update, I always get those at the most inopportune times.
Mr C24/02/2011 at 21:50

I can barely send a photo on my mobile, this is awesome technology for me!
it even looks awesome. can't fault this.
Steven Roy24/02/2011 at 21:50

3 minutes to go
RG24/02/2011 at 21:51

Did not realise BBC News shows it live. I'm in.
Steven Roy24/02/2011 at 21:51

The beanie cap is being retracted
The Boston Red Scott24/02/2011 at 21:51

Hi All - fingers crossed :) The top's off!
Steven Roy24/02/2011 at 21:51

FBFB
Very impressed with the technical knowledge
Mr C24/02/2011 at 21:52

ahh, the fbfb timer was a bit fast.
The Boston Red Scott24/02/2011 at 21:52

ahh, the fbfb timer was a bit fast.
nah nasa is just slow
Steven Roy24/02/2011 at 21:53

30 seconds
Pat W24/02/2011 at 21:53

Fourstar is in Florida
Epcot, Downtown Disney and now a Shuttle Launch. Should be able to see from balcony, cloud permitting. Quite thrilling :)
The Boston Red Scott24/02/2011 at 21:53

firecracker lights...
The Boston Red Scott24/02/2011 at 21:53

yay!
Steven Roy24/02/2011 at 21:53

Epcot, Downtown Disney and now a Shuttle Launch. Should be able to see from balcony, cloud permitting. Quite thrilling :)
Awesome
The Boston Red Scott24/02/2011 at 21:54

watching these launches will never get old
Steven Roy24/02/2011 at 21:55

They got through throttle up. Phew
The Boston Red Scott24/02/2011 at 21:55

They got through throttle up. Phew
73++ :)
RG24/02/2011 at 21:55

watching these launches will never get old
I'm pretty sure that was my first one, pretty spectacular.
Steven Roy24/02/2011 at 21:55

SRB dumped
The Boston Red Scott24/02/2011 at 21:55

I'm pretty sure that was my first one, pretty spectacular.
only one more to go....maybe.
Mr C24/02/2011 at 21:56

that was awesome.
Pat W24/02/2011 at 21:56

Fantastic
Steven Roy24/02/2011 at 21:56

only one more to go....maybe.
2
The Boston Red Scott24/02/2011 at 21:56

that was awesome.
You wait until you see thermal cam ;)
The Boston Red Scott24/02/2011 at 21:56

what's PAIN1 ??
RG24/02/2011 at 21:56

only one more to go....maybe.
BBC said 2?
Steven Roy24/02/2011 at 21:57

2 engine TAL
They can get across the Atlantic on 2 of 3 main engines
The Boston Red Scott24/02/2011 at 21:57

BBC said 2?
I'll believe the BBC. I haven't checked lately. over the last few months they added one. maybe they added another. i'll check...
The Boston Red Scott24/02/2011 at 21:57

was that tiles that just came off?
Steven Roy24/02/2011 at 21:57

BBC said 2?
It's 2. THey added one
Pat W24/02/2011 at 21:57

Negative return
Steven Roy24/02/2011 at 21:59

Abort to orbit.
If everything fails now they go to orbit rather than try to land
Andy Taylor24/02/2011 at 21:59

Nice of them to wait for me to get home from picking up the eldest - had 2 minutes to spare :D
The Boston Red Scott24/02/2011 at 22:00

http://www.nasa.gov/missions/highlights/schedule.html
Endeavour - April 19 & Atlantis June 28 (dates are "targeted for")
Neil Denham24/02/2011 at 22:00

Wow look at those pictures, thats the earth below!!
CAMikaze24/02/2011 at 22:01

Makes me wish NASA named one of their shuttles "Thunderbird" :)
The Boston Red Scott24/02/2011 at 22:02

That's the atmos burning up top right? I haven't seen a camera stay this good throughout liftoff - normally they cut away right?
Steven Roy24/02/2011 at 22:02

Main engine cut off
Steven Roy24/02/2011 at 22:02

External fuel tank jettisoned
The Boston Red Scott24/02/2011 at 22:02

Shuttle is free!
CAMikaze24/02/2011 at 22:03

Wow look at those pictures, thats the earth below!!
From the camera on the external fuel tank? Best. Onboard. Camera. Angle. EVER. :D
Steven Roy24/02/2011 at 22:03

How does the FBFB know how fast Thunderbird 1 goes?
The Boston Red Scott24/02/2011 at 22:03

control room - see some guy heading home with his bag? he's done....
Steven Roy24/02/2011 at 22:04

control room - see some guy heading home with his bag? he's done....
The shuttle is off the ground. Your fired now
Neil Denham24/02/2011 at 22:05

Guy there just checking his mobile, must have gone well.
Ian Savell24/02/2011 at 22:05

Agree with CAMikaze - I'd like to stay with the fuel tank!
Christine24/02/2011 at 22:07

How does the FBFB know how fast Thunderbird 1 goes?
All-knowing FBFB.
Steven Roy24/02/2011 at 22:07

All-knowing FBFB.
I am impressed
Pat W24/02/2011 at 22:07

@NASAKennedy
#STS133 We witnessed history today as NASA's oldest and most experienced space shuttle thundered into orbit for its last scheduled mission.
The Boston Red Scott24/02/2011 at 22:07

@Christine - I thought you were over shuttle launches (or was that just the delays?)
CAMikaze24/02/2011 at 22:09

I wonder if there was a feeling of melancholy at Kennedy Space Center today...
Steven Roy24/02/2011 at 22:09

Chunks of foam falling off the external fuel tank.
Christine24/02/2011 at 22:09

@Christine - I thought you were over shuttle launches (or was that just the delays?)
Did I say that? I don't recall, but I may have been having a strop at NASA that day :)
Steven Roy24/02/2011 at 22:09

Chunks of foam falling off the external fuel tank.
I missed that live
CAMikaze24/02/2011 at 22:09

Chunks of foam falling off the external fuel tank.
"Hear me baby? Hold together." - Han Solo
The Boston Red Scott24/02/2011 at 22:09

I missed that live
i caught it - scroll up ;) it looked big but it was only out of the corner of my eye
The Boston Red Scott24/02/2011 at 22:11

Replays coming up on
http://www.nasa.gov/multimedia/nasatv/index.html
Steven Roy24/02/2011 at 22:13

FBFB
THe foam coming off the external tank is not intentional. It can cause serious damage to the heat shield. The shuttle that blew up on re-entry to the atmosphere did so because of damage caused by that foam
Steven Roy24/02/2011 at 22:16

You can track the shuttle and station live at http://spaceflight.nasa.gov/realdata/tracking/index.html
You can also find out when you can see either or both flying over your head by picking your country on the menu in the left hand column and then your local area.
http://spaceflight.nasa.gov/realdata/sightings/index.html
Steven Roy24/02/2011 at 22:16

FBFB
You won't see the OHMS burn
Christine24/02/2011 at 22:18

You can track the shuttle and station live at spaceflight.nasa.…acking/index.html
I just stole all of that comment :)
The Boston Red Scott24/02/2011 at 22:18

You can also find out when you can see either or both flying over your head by picking your country on the menu in the left hand column and then your local area.
NASA has an app too for the iphone and it does the sightings thing for you once you tell it where you are. Also, heavens-above.com can do some cool stuff once you set up where you are. use google maps to find the latitude and longitude of where you are
Steven Roy24/02/2011 at 22:19

I just stole all of that comment :)
I am going to follow Rupert Murdoch's example and start charging for comments :)
Kai mobile24/02/2011 at 22:19

On to the pub, great dinner, great company, lots of fun!
Steven Roy24/02/2011 at 22:19

NASA has an app too for the iphone and it does the sightings thing for you once you tell it where you are. Also, heavens-above.com can do some cool stuff once you set up where you are. use google maps to find the latitude and longitude of where you are
I linked to a NASA page a few weeks ago that listed a few apps
Pat W24/02/2011 at 22:20

The guy who docks shuttle to ISS @ 17k mph - wonder if his wife gives him grief about his parking performance at the mall like mine does.
- @Fieldof33
:)
I'm really impressed at how many people were tweeting about the launch.
Steven Roy24/02/2011 at 22:20

I linked to a NASA page a few weeks ago that listed a few apps
http://www.nasa.gov/connect/apps.html
Mr C24/02/2011 at 22:20

I'm really impressed at how many people were tweeting about the launch.
am stunned anyone is commenting it too. we thought a post would be overkill.
The Boston Red Scott24/02/2011 at 22:21

am stunned anyone is commenting it too. we thought a post would be overkill.
Oh please. We fill one up with Eurovision....
Christine24/02/2011 at 22:21

Have embedded the FBFB replay in the post. This was too much fun, peoples.
Steven Roy24/02/2011 at 22:21

Oh please. We fill one up with Eurovision....
:D
Pat W24/02/2011 at 22:22

am stunned anyone is commenting it too. we thought a post would be overkill.
My whole feed lit up. Here I thought we'd just have me, Steven and you guys, posting the odd comment in the Daily.
Steven Roy24/02/2011 at 22:22

Have embedded the FBFB replay in the post. This was too much fun, peoples.
So will you break out the FBFB for the landing?
I have to say my favourite FBFB moment of the launch was the green flag
Ian Savell24/02/2011 at 22:23

Thanks Christine - haven't watched a shuttle launch in years, never knew when they were on, news coverage is zero. Having watched the original Apollo launches I thought we'd be mining Titan by now!
The latest XKCD cartoon refers.
Pat W24/02/2011 at 22:23

I have to say my favourite FBFB moment of the launch was the green flag
I liked that too :) :)
Mr C24/02/2011 at 22:23

Oh please. We fill one up with Eurovision....
hehe
Christine24/02/2011 at 22:23

So will you break out the FBFB for the landing?
I may do just that :)
The Boston Red Scott24/02/2011 at 22:24

I have to say my favourite FBFB moment of the launch was the green flag
But she would have been caught out if we needed a white one, right? ;)
is landing day or night? I love the head up display as it comes in, maybe the infrared through the night sky too?
Steven Roy24/02/2011 at 22:25

Thanks Christine - haven't watched a shuttle launch in years, never knew when they were on, news coverage is zero. Having watched the original Apollo launches I thought we'd be mining Titan by now!
I really wish they would publicise them more and NASA TV were not useless. There is no point complaining about their budget if they don't take the best chance they have to sell their program.
I think we all thought that the moon would be populated by now and Mars too
The Boston Red Scott24/02/2011 at 22:25

is landing day or night? I love the head up display as it comes in, maybe the infrared through the night sky too?
http://www.nasa.gov/multimedia/nasatv/mission_schedule.html
17:45 GMT
The Boston Red Scott24/02/2011 at 22:26

I think we all thought that the moon would be populated by now and Mars too
mars is populated, just not my humans.
Steven Roy24/02/2011 at 22:26

is landing day or night? I love the head up display as it comes in, maybe the infrared through the night sky too?
I haven't even looked at the rest of the mission since the original launch was aborted.
Steven Roy24/02/2011 at 22:26

mars is populated, just not my humans.
Well we should go there and kick them out.
The Boston Red Scott24/02/2011 at 22:27

Well we should go there and kick them out.
we sent the rovers to drive up and down there street. step one - "annoy the elderly neighbours with cars". step two - develop real estate.
The Boston Red Scott24/02/2011 at 22:27

*their not there.
Steven Roy24/02/2011 at 22:29

I think if I had been in charge there would not have been a launch today. If a computer crashes for any reason is it really a good idea to trust the lives of all the people in one of the towns in the area to it when it has only been back up and running for a minute or two?
Steven Roy24/02/2011 at 22:29

we sent the rovers to drive up and down there street. step one - "annoy the elderly neighbours with cars". step two - develop real estate.
:D
The Boston Red Scott24/02/2011 at 22:30

External Tank Camera replay is about to start
http://www.nasa.gov/multimedia/nasatv/index.html
The Boston Red Scott24/02/2011 at 22:30

External Tank Camera replay is about to start
look for pieces coming off after about two-three minutes (?)
The Boston Red Scott24/02/2011 at 22:34

pieces fell off - about four minutes. yep just saw stuff go from right to left
Steven Roy24/02/2011 at 22:38

Just reading through the FBFB for bits I missed.
I swear that guy on the radio just said "Space Shuttle switching to turtle power."
I have no idea what that is meant to be
Steven Roy24/02/2011 at 22:39

May have been INTERNAL power.
I should have read the next line. It was internal power
Mr C24/02/2011 at 22:39

I have no idea what that is meant to be
"heroes in a half shell!"
Steven Roy24/02/2011 at 22:39

"heroes in a half shell!"
It weighs in elephants but is powered by turles. Amazing it ever got off the ground
Mr C24/02/2011 at 22:40

"heroes in a half shell!"
or ninja's if you live outside the uk.
Mr C24/02/2011 at 22:40

It weighs in elephants but is powered by turtles. Amazing it ever got off the ground
♥
The Boston Red Scott24/02/2011 at 22:41

Post launch conference coming up top of the hour
Andy Taylor24/02/2011 at 22:41

or ninja's if you live outside the uk.
It's Ninja here too now
Christine24/02/2011 at 22:42

Heroes is better.
Mr C24/02/2011 at 22:42

It's Ninja here too now
hero always sounded more... heroic.
Andy Taylor24/02/2011 at 22:43

Heroes is better.
Of course.
Steven Roy24/02/2011 at 22:45

Heroes is better.
Ninja is way better than hero
Pat W24/02/2011 at 23:12

It weighs in elephants but is powered by turles. Amazing it ever got off the ground
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:SkyOneDiscworld.png
Maverick24/02/2011 at 23:25

I swear that guy on the radio just said "Space Shuttle switching to turtle power."
Partners in Kryme if I remember rightly - it sure is an eclectic mix on the space shuttle's ipod
Zephyr25/02/2011 at 00:52

There is only one way and that is upwards :) Why do we love speed? It's the only way how to exceed the gravity!