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Old 24-02-2011, 20:08
afcbfan
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Tracking Discovery by balloon:http://www.ustream.tv/channel/chasin...medium=7239224

Launch is due at 20:30, but could be as early as 20:20
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Old 24-02-2011, 20:32
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You actually think America is going to give up its space exploration leadership and business in any significant way to a foreign entity?

EADS is already having a tough enough job trying to sell air tankers to their Air Force, which they never should been allowed to bid on anyway.
There will only be two more shuttle launches after the one that's due to take place in the next couple of days. That means that the USA will effectively be launcherless for the next few years and wholly dependent upon Russia's Soyuz to get astronauts into space.

The only practical replacement launchers for the USA are the three that l have mentioned unless they want to totally humiliate themselves by buying in Soyuz launchers and launching them from Cape Kennedy.
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Old 25-02-2011, 03:41
squack
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Wow, enjoy!

Weather forecast is 80% go at the moment, so hope it holds for you
Just got back to the hotel and I'm still buzzing. Wow, that was an absolutely great show!
The weather was perfect. Squeaky bum time when Range Safety said 'No-Go' and the extra hold at T-5:00 but it launched and I watched it.
I was trying to take photos and watch the launch 'naked eye' as well but got some good pictures. The wierd part was the delay between seeing ignition & the launch and then hearing it because the sound travels slower and I was about 7 miles away on the causeway.
There are only two more left so if you get the chance you must go, it's the most amazing thing I've ever seen and will recommend it to everyone.
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Old 25-02-2011, 12:44
HenryGarten
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Just got back to the hotel and I'm still buzzing. Wow, that was an absolutely great show!
The weather was perfect. Squeaky bum time when Range Safety said 'No-Go' and the extra hold at T-5:00 but it launched and I watched it.
I was trying to take photos and watch the launch 'naked eye' as well but got some good pictures. The wierd part was the delay between seeing ignition & the launch and then hearing it because the sound travels slower and I was about 7 miles away on the causeway.
There are only two more left so if you get the chance you must go, it's the most amazing thing I've ever seen and will recommend it to everyone.
Oh congratulations that it all went well. Yes you must have been sweating a bit when the doubt arouse.

I was on the phone to someone at a launch in July 2009. I guess that is as close as I get to a shuttle launch.

It makes you wonder what a Saturn V launch was like. But I guess they were all faked!
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Old 26-02-2011, 13:14
squack
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Oh congratulations that it all went well. Yes you must have been sweating a bit when the doubt arouse.

I was on the phone to someone at a launch in July 2009. I guess that is as close as I get to a shuttle launch.

It makes you wonder what a Saturn V launch was like. But I guess they were all faked!
There are two left Henry, you still have time to see one. You need to do what I did, which was decide to go last minute you don't have time to change your mind as you're already travelling! Florida is hot anytime of year, so you get a nice holiday too, which is a bonus.
I'm even missing a Wales rugby game being out here and that's a bit like denying religion for a Welshman

I thought the Saturn V was real, there was just no-one on them.
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Old 03-03-2011, 17:59
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...and it's on tonight at 9.30pm on BBC Radio 4 and there's more details here http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b00yz3gy. It's one of Melvin Bragg's In Our Time discussions and they can be very good on science issues.
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Old 04-03-2011, 11:21
tiger2000
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What a Disaster for NASA

Nasa Glory mission ends in failure


The US space agency's (Nasa) attempt to launch its latest Earth observation mission has ended in failure.

The Glory satellite lifted off from California on a quest to gather new data on factors that influence the climate.

But about five minutes into the flight, officials became aware of a problem.

It appears the fairing - the part of the rocket which covers the satellite on top of the launcher - did not separate properly.

This would have made the rocket too heavy and therefore too slow to achieve its intended 700km orbit. It would probably have fallen into the Ocean near the Antarctic, but this still has to be confirmed.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-12551861
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Old 04-03-2011, 17:39
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There are two left Henry, you still have time to see one. You need to do what I did, which was decide to go last minute you don't have time to change your mind as you're already travelling! Florida is hot anytime of year, so you get a nice holiday too, which is a bonus.
I'm even missing a Wales rugby game being out here and that's a bit like denying religion for a Welshman

I thought the Saturn V was real, there was just no-one on them.
Out of interest, Squack, what were your travel arrangements? Who did you fly with, where did you stay, did you hire a car etc...? This si something I would love to do and for obvious reasons time is running out so I would seriously consider it if money permitted. I am seriously jeleous.
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Old 04-03-2011, 18:18
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I thought the Saturn V was real, there was just no-one on them.
You scamp.

Any number of test pilots would have fought to be aboard. After that, it's a no-brainer to land someone on the Moon.

Good try though. Impressed.
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Old 04-03-2011, 18:19
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...and it's on tonight at 9.30pm on BBC Radio 4 and there's more details here http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b00yz3gy. It's one of Melvin Bragg's In Our Time discussions and they can be very good on science issues.
For the cool kids who will be down the pub:

http://www.bbc.co.uk/podcasts/series/iot
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Old 05-03-2011, 09:48
squack
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Out of interest, Squack, what were your travel arrangements? Who did you fly with, where did you stay, did you hire a car etc...? This si something I would love to do and for obvious reasons time is running out so I would seriously consider it if money permitted. I am seriously jeleous.
I flew with Virgin Atlantic, stayed in Orlando at the southern end of International Drive which is close to all of the theme parks (which I wasn't bothered to visit!). I didn't hire a car but sort of wish I did as I could have visited more attractions on the days that I wasn't in the space centre.
My local travel agent sorted the flight, hotel, visa, and airport transfers for just over £900. The only thing I had to do was get on a trip to Kennedy on the Thursday, I booked on a Florida Dolphin tour through the Viator website, but you can book directly with Florida Dolphin on their website here.
The tour cost $169 (£106) and gets you into Kennedy on the launch day (blue ticket) and out to the causeway (green ticket) for the launch. The blue ticket is good for a second visit: as most of the space centre is not accessible on launch days so you will need a return trip to see everything there. Florida Dolphin also do a 'transport only' for $55 which takes you to the Astronaut Hall of Fame and Kennedy Visitors Centre where you can do the full tour on a non-launch day.

There were reports that there were about 250,000 people watching the launch that day and the next two will only get worse so if you want to see the launch you may need to decide soon. I was very, very lucky in that the launch actually took place, you need to remember that STS-133 was originally scheduled to launch in September which slipped to November and was scrubbed 5 times before it actually launched. I left everything till last minute as it gave me a better chance of seeing the launch rather than planning months ahead only to find out the date had slipped. You may not have that luxury with the launch day tickets as they will be getting huge demand for these last launches.

I hope you do decide to go as it is really a 'once in a lifetime' experience and timing and luck had a lot to do with giving me the chance which I took with both hands and am really glad that I did.
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Old 05-03-2011, 09:59
Assa2
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I flew with Virgin Atlantic, stayed in Orlando at the southern end of International Drive which is close to all of the theme parks (which I wasn't bothered to visit!). I didn't hire a car but sort of wish I did as I could have visited more attractions on the days that I wasn't in the space centre.
My local travel agent sorted the flight, hotel, visa, and airport transfers for just over £900. The only thing I had to do was get on a trip to Kennedy on the Thursday, I booked on a Florida Dolphin tour through the Viator website, but you can book directly with Florida Dolphin on their website here.
The tour cost $169 (£106) and gets you into Kennedy on the launch day (blue ticket) and out to the causeway (green ticket) for the launch. The blue ticket is good for a second visit: as most of the space centre is not accessible on launch days so you will need a return trip to see everything there. Florida Dolphin also do a 'transport only' for $55 which takes you to the Astronaut Hall of Fame and Kennedy Visitors Centre where you can do the full tour on a non-launch day.

There were reports that there were about 250,000 people watching the launch that day and the next two will only get worse so if you want to see the launch you may need to decide soon. I was very, very lucky in that the launch actually took place, you need to remember that STS-133 was originally scheduled to launch in September which slipped to November and was scrubbed 5 times before it actually launched. I left everything till last minute as it gave me a better chance of seeing the launch rather than planning months ahead only to find out the date had slipped. You may not have that luxury with the launch day tickets as they will be getting huge demand for these last launches.

I hope you do decide to go as it is really a 'once in a lifetime' experience and timing and luck had a lot to do with giving me the chance which I took with both hands and am really glad that I did.
Thanks for all the info. I really wish I could go. Sadly any chance of that may have flown out the window this morning with the arrival of a letter from HMRC telling me I owe them over £500!! Bstrds.
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Old 05-03-2011, 10:04
squack
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You scamp.

Any number of test pilots would have fought to be aboard. After that, it's a no-brainer to land someone on the Moon.

Good try though. Impressed.
Sorry

That was Henry's fault. His prevous post and his other thread and poll asking if there really was moon landings had put me in a 'conspiracy nut' baiting mood.
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Old 05-03-2011, 10:17
squack
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Thanks for all the info. I really wish I could go. Sadly any chance of that may have flown out the window this morning with the arrival of a letter from HMRC telling me I owe them over £500!! Bstrds.
I'm so sorry to hear that. Yes, Bstrds

I'm just playing with my piccies and here's my best one of the launch - clicky.
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Old 05-03-2011, 11:40
Assa2
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I'm so sorry to hear that. Yes, Bstrds

I'm just playing with my piccies and here's my best one of the launch - clicky.
Very nice. I have actually seen a shuttle on the launch pad... Discovery back in '88 for STS-26 Return to Flight after Challenger. I did the tour in August about 4 weeks before the launch. From what I remember (I was 13 at the time) there was a real buzz around the place in anticipation of getting back to business.

I wonder what the feeling is like now with just 2 flights to go? It's a massive shame the budget has dried up with no immediate successor in the pipeline. Like the period 1975 - 81 between Apollo and Space Shuttle. It must be horrible to be involved in the manned space program but not have the capability to actually fly people.

I wonder how much media attention the last flight in June will get?
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Old 06-03-2011, 12:10
tiger2000
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I know he's not everyone's cup of tea but Brian Cox's new 4 part series Wonders of the Universe starts on BBC2 tonight @9pm.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b00zf9dh
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Old 09-03-2011, 15:57
HenryGarten
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Discovery has just fired it engine to de-orbit.
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Old 09-03-2011, 19:33
Assa2
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I know he's not everyone's cup of tea but Brian Cox's new 4 part series Wonders of the Universe starts on BBC2 tonight @9pm.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b00zf9dh
I actually quite liked the first episode. A reasonably weighty explanation of the universe's life-span and the concept of entropy. Found it rather depressing ... which is a good thing because it means it was being explained clearly which is rare for such a confusing concept.

I just wish Prof Cox would stop with all the silly 'Laurence Of Arabia' posturing in the middle distance - he clearly has a hankering to be a catalogue model.
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Old 09-03-2011, 19:56
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Discovery has just fired it engine to de-orbit.
Landed safely

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-12688254

An astonishing and incredible achievement and the end to a career lasting 27 years.

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Old 15-03-2011, 13:32
Assa2
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Have a load of posts gone missing from this thread? I'm sure someone posted about the BBC4 prog. 'Around thr world in 60 Minutes'?
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Old 15-03-2011, 14:44
squack
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Have a load of posts gone missing from this thread? I'm sure someone posted about the BBC4 prog. 'Around thr world in 60 Minutes'?
They are in the ISS sightings thread. Methinks you are getting your space threads mixed up, there are all of two
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Old 15-03-2011, 16:10
Assa2
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They are in the ISS sightings thread. Methinks you are getting your space threads mixed up, there are all of two
Oh dear oh dear... I'm seriously losing my marbles!

I shall nip there now to leave my comments!
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Old 15-03-2011, 16:20
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Wonders of the Universe Ep 2 - again I was very impressed. Much more information and less pretty pictures but his globe-trotting in order to illustrate his subject matter is getting a bit tenuous - an abondoned building being demolished in Rio to explain the death sequence of a star?!
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Old 17-03-2011, 17:23
tiger2000
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The Messenger probe will go into orbit around Mercury tonight (00:45 GMT), the first spacecraft to visit the planet for over 30 years, the the first to go into orbit around the planet.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-12761025

http://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/me...ain/index.html
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Old 17-03-2011, 18:03
HenryGarten
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The Messenger probe will go into orbit around Mercury tonight (00:45 GMT), the first spacecraft to visit the planet for over 30 years, the the first to go into orbit around the planet.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-12761025

http://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/me...ain/index.html
Thank you for that. I had forgotten.
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