STS-129,Atlantis - 12/11/09

Turtwig

Awesome stuff!!:D

Gotta say though, for a while there I thought the shuttle would never take off:p

Em, can you by any slim chance enter those replica rockets??:)

lord lucan

I've no idea how to put into words what i seen today(yesterday). I arrived in Orlando on sunday night about 22.00. Went straight to the hotel and then for something to eat. I spent an hour after that making sure my camera/phone batteries were fully charged and i'd all the correct paperwork. I tried sleeping but tbh i was like a kid on xmas eve night,i just couldn't sleep with the excitement!!

After an hour and a halfs worth of sleep i was up at 03.30. Went to a diner for brekkie and then down to another hotel where i was to be picked up at 05.30. I went with Gator tours,they pick you up and bring you to KSC ,visitor center ticket was included as was a causeway viewing ticket. We arrived at KSC about 07.00. It was pretty quiet and there wasn't a whole lot happening early on. NASA tv was broadcast from 10.00 onwards with regukar updates on status. The processing flow for STS-129 had gone amazingly well,no real issues arose all the way through and the weather forecast the night before was for a 90% chance of acceptable weather for launch. I still reckoned it would go pear shaped,it was all to good to be true!!

At 11.00 we had to board our buses for the causeway. Unfortunately some dope decided to stroll around and didn't turn up until 12.00,delaying us and a load of other tour buses in the process. The advantage of this though was we didn't arrive on the causeway until 12.30 so we only had a couple of hours to wait.

NASA tv is broadcast over the PA system on the causeway. Unfortunately some bright spark put them on the other side of the road behind the buses. That coupled with a reasonable breeze made it very difficult to hear. I ended up texting the wife to get "Spaceflight Now" on the computer at home and text me updates!!

And so to the final hold and polling. I still thought it was going to get scrubbed! Strangely the volume on the PA increased in time for polling and i can't explain the elation when i heard "go's" all round!! Could it really happen? Something had to go wrong,they never go first go these days!

And so down to the final few minutes. I finally started to believe when control passed to the orbiter. And who'd guess someone could get so excited by hearing the words "close and lock your visors and initiate o2 flow"?!!

And then it happened,14.28:10 and it was "GO". My legs went to jelly!! I was intent on watching it with my own eyes and not through a viewfinder. The orange flame from the SRB's was amazing,the tv coverage doesn't capture it at all. She ripped off the pad and was heading skyward at a ridiculous rate. To think there was 6 lads strapped on top of that!!!!

There was one moment that had my jaw on the floor. Atlantis passed through some low cloud shortly after launch and just lit it up. I'm still having the hairs on my arms standing up thinking about it. And the noise is incredible,snap,crackle and pop!

A truly amazing experience,super clean processing,a super clean launch,i think it's fair to say that STS-129 will be my favourite mission of the shuttle programme and Atlantis my favourite orbiter.:)

lord lucan

Malty_T wrote: »

Awesome stuff!!:D

Gotta say though, for a while there I thought the shuttle would never take off:p

Em, can you by any slim chance enter those replica rockets??:)

There's a couple of capsules/mock-ups you can enter and the shuttle "Explorer" is a mock up you can go into.

lord lucan

Malty_T wrote: »

Awesome stuff!!:D

Gotta say though, for a while there I thought the shuttle would never take off:p

I had the camera on burst mode,it was taking 3 frames per second. I started taking pics when the sound suppression system was armed so there's a few shots with water pouring from the pad into the flame trench and no actual SSME or SRBs having fired.

muskyj

Beeker wrote: »

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xfMbPOZMaAs

I just love the quote "beginning their working week with a monday commute into orbit"!! Brilliant and yes WOW!!

dbran

lord lucan wrote: »

I had the camera on burst mode,it was taking 3 frames per second. I started taking pics when the sound suppression system was armed so there's a few shots with water pouring from the pad into the flame trench and no actual SSME or SRBs having fired.

Do post your pics

Stargate

Hi all ,

Special hello to LL ( Our Leo Enright )

Was late getting to bed last night , and up very early this morning !
Im giving these times etc here but please feel free anyone to correct them
as i could be wrong , i am half asleep lol :rolleyes: , thanks !


Sunrise at 07:54 am
Sunset at 16:25 pm

First ISS / SS pass tonight is........


ISS
Starting 17:17 UTC from the West
Highest elevation will be 62 degrees
Ending in the EAST at 17:25 UTC
Dont think we can see this pass ?


SS
Starting 17.50 UTC From The WEST
Highest elevation will be 62 degrees
Ending in the EAST at 17.54 UTC

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2nd Pass ISS / SS

ISS
Starting 18.52 UTC From The WEST
Highest elevation will be 87 degrees
Ending in the EAST at 18.57 UTC
Only visible for 5 minutes then goes into earth shadow



SS
Starting 19.22 UTC From The WEST
Highest elevation will be 87 degrees
Ending in the EAST at 19.23 UTC
Only visible for 1 minute then goes into earth shadow

Good luck all - hope you get to see them and you get clear skies ;-)
Its lashing rain here in Cork at the moment

Stargate

Stargate

lord lucan wrote: »

Here you go,it's worth watching in slideshow mode(fast) for the launch pics.

http://s94.photobucket.com/albums/l108/kincher_2006/STS-129/

LL hi man , thanks so very much for all those great great pictures , very impressive LL

I for one will admit to being totally and utterly jealous of you :mad::eek:

No person should have so much fun .......and not bring Me !!!!!!

Stargate

If anyone wants to sub to this , the email info is at the end of the report

Topics of the day:

1. STS-129 MCC Status Report #01

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Date: Mon, 16 Nov 2009 14:19:34 -0600
>From: info@JSC.NASA.GOV
Subject: STS-129 MCC Status Report #01

STS-129
Report #01
2 p.m. CST Monday, Nov. 16, 2009
Mission Control Center, Houston, Texas

HOUSTON - Space shuttle Atlantis launched at 1:28 p.m. CST on its way to store supplies onboard the International Space Station.

Commander Charles Hobaugh, Pilot Barry Wilmore and Mission Specialists Mike Foreman, Robert Satcher, Jr., Randy Bresnik and Leland Melvin reached orbit eight and a half minutes later as the space station flew 220 miles over the South Pacific Ocean.

Aboard the station watching Atlantis' launch on a live feed from Mission Control were Commander Frank De Winne of the European Space Agency and Flight Engineers Jeffrey Williams, Nicole Stott, Roman Romanenko, Maxim Suraev and Robert Thirsk of the Canadian Space Agency.

Following Atlantis' docking and hatch opening Wednesday, Stott officially becomes a shuttle crew member to return home aboard Atlantis after nearly three months aboard the station.

Shortly after reaching orbit, Atlantis' crew began procedures to ensure the spaceship is healthy for on-orbit operations and is scheduled to open the payload bay doors at about 2:53 p.m.

The crew's launch day ends with a thorough checkout of the robotic arm and survey of the payload bay before heading to bed about 7:28 p.m.

Following wakeup at 3:28 a.m. Tuesday, the crew will spend the majority of the day assessing the health of Atlantis wing leading edge panels and nosecap using the boom/sensor extension and checking out the spacesuits to be worn during three planned spacewalks later in the mission. The crew also will test rendezvous tools and prepare the docking system ahead of arrival at the station.

Atlantis' mission is the 129th in shuttle program history and the 31st dedicated to station assembly, resupply and maintenance. The mission is focused on storing supplies on the exterior of the station to sustain operations after the space shuttle is retired.

The next shuttle status report will be issued after crew wakeup or earlier if warranted.


###

NASA Johnson Space Center Mission Status Reports and other information are available automatically by sending an Internet electronic mail message to listserv@listserver.jsc.nasa.gov. In the body of the message (not the subject line) users should type "subscribe hsfnews" (no quotes). This will add the e-mail address that sent the subscribe message to the news release distribution list. The system will reply with a confirmation via e-mail of each subscription. Once you have subscribed you will receive future news releases via e-mail.

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End of HSFNEWS Digest - 14 Nov 2009 to 17 Nov 2009 (#2009-124)
*********************************************************

fifilarue

Stargate-have to say that I cracked up laughing so many times at the antics on this thread last night, thanks to yourself and everyone else. Highlight had to be someone calling for Joe Coleman after Lord Leo's reaction! LOVE the enthusiasm! Fingers xxd for a bit of good weather this evening.

Stargate

fifilarue wrote: »

Stargate-have to say that I cracked up laughing so many times at the antics on this thread last night, thanks to yourself and everyone else. Highlight had to be someone calling for Joe Coleman after Lord Leo's reaction! LOVE the enthusiasm! Fingers xxd for a bit of good weather this evening.

Good Morning fifilarue

Haha , would you believe i havd to google Joe Coleman to find out who he was ( please insert langer after my name )

I burst out laughing myself as soon as i knew who he was , it was a class moment in a great day / thread . Everywhere here on Boards.ie iv seen some of the most amazing humour fifilarue , sometimes some of the comments on threads are unreal i just cant stop laughing days after ive read them , they kinda stick with you , some great people in Boards/Astronomy & Space section fifilarue , including yourself may i add

Now someone please stop the rain and give us clear skies for tonight :cool:

Can you do us a sunshine dance fifilarue lol

Stargate

Originally Posted by Beeker View Post
I second that, cany wait to hear all about it. For now relax and enjot the moment. GET DRUNK!

Och Aye , i taught you were in Waterford Beeker , you move to the highlands :eek:

haha

Stargate

Slightly off topic sorry , just in case LL or anyone esle is interested

Lord Leo .......when are you coming home ? just to let ya know the Footy game France V Ireland will be shown on RTE 2 YIPPIE

http://www.rte.ie/sport/soccer/2009/1117/republicofireland_rights.html

Beeker

LL the photos and video are incredible!!! Man you must be walking on air today!
The problem is once you see one you want more. It's like a drug. I've been to two and still want to go to another.:)
Enjoy the rest of your time at KSC and visit the Shuttle Launch Experience, the Imax and if you have timwe go on the Cape Canaveral visit.:)

Beeker

Stargate wrote: »

Originally Posted by Beeker View Post
I second that, cany wait to hear all about it. For now relax and enjot the moment. GET DRUNK!

Och Aye , i taught you were in Waterford Beeker , you move to the highlands :eek:

haha

:DWhen I get excited I break into Scottish!:D

Stargate

Beeker wrote: »

:DWhen I get excited I break into Scottish!:D

LoL Beeker , better not tell ynotdu you know he has a thing for you LOL

fifilarue

to all of the above, :D:D:D

lord lucan

Stargate wrote: »

Hi all ,

Special hello to LL ( Our Leo Enright )

I have a beard if that helps!:D

Reading over this thread from pre-launch to now has been hilarious,very entertaining!!:D

Stargate

lord lucan wrote: »

I have a beard if that helps!:D

Reading over this thread from pre-launch to now has been hilarious,very entertaining!!:D

Hey LL ( Lord Leo ) , your a wanted man now , those shots and video are something esle , its been reported on CNN they are sending someone from their network down to try find you in Florida hehehe

Awesome stuff LL , truly awesome

oh re the beard ........ very cool ...our Lord Leo ;-) !!!!

lord lucan

Beeker wrote: »

LL the photos and video are incredible!!! Man you must be walking on air today!
The problem is once you see one you want more. It's like a drug. I've been to two and still want to go to another.:)

Yeah i know,i'd love to another but i doubt i'd have the money or time to do it again. I can understand why many people go to every launch,it's an amazing spectacle! I'm still wired from yesterday,can't believe it really happened.

lord lucan

Stargate wrote: »

Hey LL ( Lord Leo ) , your a wanted man now , those shots and video are something esle , its been reported on CNN they are sending someone from their network down to try find you in Florida hehehe

Awesome stuff LL , truly awesome

And them pics were with a reasonable camera with a 200mm lens. You should have seen the equipment some lads had with them!! Monster lens' :eek:

Stargate

lord lucan wrote: »

And them pics were with a reasonable camera with a 200mm lens. You should have seen the equipment some lads had with them!! Monster lens' :eek:

Id say Leo ( ahem....Lord Lucan ) A lot of the folk here on the Astronomy & Space > STS-129,Atlantis - 12/11/09 Thread .......were following your adventure with Atlantis , because i think within all of us there is a great passion for the SS/ISS etc and now you have gone and been to A LAUNCH OF A SPACE SHUTTLE LL ,something some of here now will never get to do ......... Beeker and yourself LL have shared great memories and moments with us here and some fab information , and now some amazing shots of the launch etc its a wonderful thing to do ...thank you LL

Im really glad for you it all went smoothly and you had the day of your life LL ( ahem .... I mean Leo ) :D: over there ( we were all with you , loving every minute of it ) :cool:

Bet you now when you get to see her pass over , it will feel really special to you , a little different maybe than before :P

Turtwig

Stargate wrote: »

something some of here now will never get to do

I may miss out on the STS missions, but by god, if Constellation continues you can bet your arse that some year in the future I shall be there..

For now, let's raise our non alcoholic beverages in tune
*To Lord Lucan's Adventure*
*Cling*

Stargate

Malty_T wrote: »

I may miss out on the STS missions, but by god, if Constellation continues you can bet your arse that some year in the future I shall be there..

For now, let's raise our non alcoholic beverages in tune
*To Lord Lucan's Adventure*
*Cling*

Malty_T lol , to hell with non i`ll have a nice cold Miller please

ynotdu

Stargate wrote: »

LoL Beeker , better not tell ynotdu you know he has a thing for you LOL

Oh Beeker Stargut is on to us Love,I have not had a chance to review whats been posted since i logged off last night so when i can i will do the thank you's and watch the vids&pics!


Until then Beeker,ALL My Love pet.xxxxxx

Stargate

ynotdu wrote: »

Oh Beeker Stargut is on to us Love,I have not had a chance to review whats been posted since i logged off last night so when i can i will do the thank you's and watch the vids&pics!


Until then Beeker,ALL My Love pet.xxxxxx

LoL @ ynotdu , and you told me you were shy now professing your love for Beeker openly , and i know its just to get to his SS collection of stuff :eek:

Stargate

Just saw iss , anyone esle??

By the way , i posted this before
http://www.zarya.info/Frequencies/FrequenciesISS.php

its a list of scanner frequencies for the iss when passing over etc

Might be of interest for anyone who missed it !!

ynotdu

fifilarue wrote: »

Stargate-have to say that I cracked up laughing so many times at the antics on this thread last night, thanks to yourself and everyone else. Highlight had to be someone calling for Joe Coleman after Lord Leo's reaction! LOVE the enthusiasm! Fingers xxd for a bit of good weather this evening.

It was Malty-T, have to say i got a good laugh from it too!:D

Turtwig

Stargate wrote: »

Just saw iss , anyone esle??

By the way , i posted this before
http://www.zarya.info/Frequencies/FrequenciesISS.php

its a list of scanner frequencies for the iss when passing over etc

Might be of interest for anyone who missed it !!

Saw nothing but raindrops

jumpguy

lord lucan wrote: »

There's a couple of capsules/mock-ups you can enter and the shuttle "Explorer" is a mock up you can go into.

:eek: Are they to scale?