I would swear that the NASA TV commentator is John McCain. It sounds just like him.

Looks like a beautiful day for a launch!

A horse race AND a shuttle explosion in the same afternoon! Sweet!!

We're leaving together....

I didn't realize they were launching a shuttle today. NASA is really media whoring it up lately, aren't they? Not that I mind really.

Was this a planned launch, or just an emergency fix the crapper launch.

MLB.tv stream, check.
NASA.tv stream, check.
Wicked countdown chart, awesome.

cambie: I didn't realize they were launching a shuttle today. NASA is really media whoring it up lately, aren't they? Not that I mind really.

Was this a planned launch, or just an emergency fix the crapper launch.

Planned. They're bringing Garrett Reisman back down from the ISS.

Mediocre-Photoshops-Incorporated

Great stuff! Thanks!

Meh. I guess I'll go out in the driveway and watch this one too.

superbovine: I guess I'll go out in the driveway and watch this one too

I'm jealous.

cambie: I didn't realize they were launching a shuttle today. NASA is really media whoring it up lately, aren't they? Not that I mind really.

Was this a planned launch, or just an emergency fix the crapper launch.

It was planned, however they did add space plumbing supplies at the last minute.

superbovine: Meh. I guess I'll go out in the driveway and watch this one too.

I normally would go out and watch, but I'm out of town this weekend. Oh well, It'll be on every available screen and audio source at the conference I'm at.

Its what happens when you get a bunch of rocket scientists together in a space convention.

Big Al's Plumbing Service scheduled for liftoff today at 5:01 EDT; watch here

Maybe I was just too early.

Okay shuttle geeks, a question. Why do they have pre-planned "holds" at T-20 and T-10? why not just count down the actual time, or just start the clock at 4:42 pm ET (in this instance)?

Launch Countdown (new window)

Mediocre's initial item of conversation (suck it, filter) was unreadable for me for whatever reason.

swannie: Why do they have pre-planned "holds" at T-20 and T-10?

Actually, they have holds all through the countdown starting at like T-minus 24 hours and all the way through. More here (new window)

Ron Paul Revere: When you see something like that, right click the picture and choose "view image."

Not available on IE though.

BZWingZero: It was planned, however they did add space plumbing supplies at the last minute.

Polish astronauts too.

Ron Paul Revere: That's what you get for using IE. ;)

I don't use it. I was just sayin'. I have NASA TV in one tab, the schedule in another, and of course TF in another.

JerseyTim: We're leaving together....

And still, it's farewell... (pops)

We're going to space!

Been waiting for this thread to go green, been watching NASA TV for the past 40 minutes or so, down in the corner of my monitor.

Exciting!

Call Roto Rooter
That's the name
and away goes troubles
down the drain.

/Roto Rooter

cambie: Was this a planned launch, or just an emergency fix the crapper launch

Jesus, can you imagine the bill for that service call?

ninjakirby: Been waiting for this thread to go green, been watching NASA TV for the past 40 minutes or so, down in the corner of my monitor

I've had it fullscreened on my laptop while TFing on the desktop.

/not obsessed
//really

Thanks Fark! Totally forgot about it today, gonna have to step outside for a bit to watch it.

You'd think they could at least afford a high definition broadcast.

TheGreatZarquon: ninjakirby: Been waiting for this thread to go green, been watching NASA TV for the past 40 minutes or so, down in the corner of my monitor

I've had it fullscreened on my laptop while TFing on the desktop.

/not obsessed
//really

Sadly, you're not alone.

PainInTheASP: cambie: Was this a planned launch, or just an emergency fix the crapper launch

Jesus, can you imagine the bill for that service call?

On a saturday night none the less. Its a union job too, so you know there is a guy with a ratty wife beater smoking a cigar strapped in on the shuttle now.

make me some tea: You'd think they could at least afford a high definition broadcast.

CNN has it in HD.

make me some tea: You'd think they could at least afford a high definition broadcast.

they are broadcasting it in HD, actually. this is the low-res feed.

swannie
Why do they have pre-planned "holds" at T-20 and T-10?

I think the purpose of a planned hold is that it encourages people to speak up if they've seen something unsafe. The theory is that if you see something and you aren't sure it's right, you feel pressured by the clock to just keep quiet about it. You don't want to raise your hand and say, "hey is that supposed to be dangling there" and then have everyone say, "omfg swannie, you unbelievable newb, now we have to stop the countdown and walk back out there to see what you're biatching about." That wouldn't happen, but sometimes it feels like that's what'll happen, so you keep quiet.

So what they do is just build in a planned stop, and then you feel a little more comfortable. I think that's what the reason is.

make me some tea: You'd think they could at least afford a high definition broadcast.

They've been experimenting a lot more lately with HDTV from the ISS and of the launches. They do record it in HD, but I think they haven't yet figured out how to get the TV networks to carry it in HD. Too bad too, because if anything deserves HD, it's NASA coverage.

Tofu: swannie
Why do they have pre-planned "holds" at T-20 and T-10?

I think the purpose of a planned hold is that it encourages people to speak up if they've seen something unsafe. The theory is that if you see something and you aren't sure it's right, you feel pressured by the clock to just keep quiet about it. You don't want to raise your hand and say, "hey is that supposed to be dangling there" and then have everyone say, "omfg swannie, you unbelievable newb, now we have to stop the countdown and walk back out there to see what you're biatching about." That wouldn't happen, but sometimes it feels like that's what'll happen, so you keep quiet.

So what they do is just build in a planned stop, and then you feel a little more comfortable. I think that's what the reason is.

good reason. I was under the impression it also gives them time to fix minor mistakes while still making the launch window. or go over checklists for the 50th time.

Man On Fire: they are broadcasting it in HD, actually. this is the low-res feed.

I don't think there is any such thing as streaming HD video over the Internet. I mean I guess it's possible but you'd need a seriously fast connection.

Man On Fire: good reason. I was under the impression it also gives them time to fix minor mistakes while still making the launch window. or go over checklists for the 50th time.

My understanding is that the clock is mainly used to orchestrate a bunch of things that need to happen at exactly the right time. The holds serve as a time where they can "sync up" things that fallen behind.

No explosions no explosions no explosions...

(I was at the Challenger launch because my mom was a childhood friend of Judy Resnick).

the horse race is NEXT saturday, by the way.

Operation Pooper Pump.

Mnemia: Man On Fire: good reason. I was under the impression it also gives them time to fix minor mistakes while still making the launch window. or go over checklists for the 50th time.

My understanding is that the clock is mainly used to orchestrate a bunch of things that need to happen at exactly the right time. The holds serve as a time where they can "sync up" things that fallen behind.

Both of you are wrong. Do you know that big clock that they have where everyone watches the launches from? Its hand operated stemming back to the mercury program. Much like the hand operated scoreboard at fenway, for traditional reasons.

Swapping in all of those tiles so quickly takes a toll on the guys running it, so they OSHA mandates holds to give them a break.

Tofu: I think the purpose of a planned hold is that it encourages people to speak up if they've seen something unsafe. The theory is that if you see something and you aren't sure it's right, you feel pressured by the clock to just keep quiet about it. You don't want to raise your hand and say, "hey is that supposed to be dangling there" and then have everyone say, "omfg swannie, you unbelievable newb, now we have to stop the countdown and walk back out there to see what you're biatching about." That wouldn't happen, but sometimes it feels like that's what'll happen, so you keep quiet.

So what they do is just build in a planned stop, and then you feel a little more comfortable. I think that's what the reason is.

That's pretty much it. As I recall, the new hold procedure was put into place for the return to flight after the Challenger for that reason. I'm also pretty sure that if they don't have to make a specific launch window that the holds can be extended too.

"Urinate? No. We did not think of that....."


/wetback

Awesome, I woke up just in time. Final checks.

/Love things that fly into space.

Baby we are GO TO LAUNCH!!!!
YEAH BABY!

It would appear all systems are "go" or somesuch.

Go For Launch!

If they make it up safely everyone is invited over to my place for waffles.

woo, shuttle

Tofu: I think the purpose of a planned hold is that it encourages people to speak up if they've seen something unsafe.

Interesting. So, essentially it's psychological trickery.

...Did I just hear they're delivering Tivo to the space station? Swanky.