STS-133 Discovery final launch in 2 hours

[DRuM]

Launch at 9.50pm GMT/4.50pm EST on your friendly nasa tv.

Meanwhile check out these awesome hi-res pics and panoramics.
http://nasatech.net/

Here's a nice one.

http://nasatech.net/Discovery2Lt110131/

[bam!]

kids have been watching this today, probably too young for it to have any real impact though.

[obsidian]

The space shuttle looks tiny compared to the size of the VAB.


That website looks like it was designed in 2000. lol... tables for layout.

[Tsakali]

woah! that second link image looks like Escher's Relativity painting

[seremtan]

something tells me this will (more or less) mark the end of US dominance in space flight

i wonder if those retards in congress who are cutting NASA's budget realise they're running the risk of relegating the US space programme to the second half of only the first chapter of the history of space flight (the first half belonging to the soviets - sputnik, yuri gagarin etc)?

[DRuM]

T -minus any minute now


http://www.livestream.com/spaceflightnow

[xer0s]

Success!

[tnf]

Looks like a few of the heat tiles fell off about a minute and a half after launch. Hope that isn't a problem.

[xer0s]

Seems like every launch those damn things fall off...

[seremtan]

they do? those are kinda important for re-entry

[EtUL]

Looks like a few of the heat tiles fell off about a minute and a half after launch. Hope that isn't a problem.

Saw that as well. Wondered if they guys commentating were ignoring it or just missed it when they said everything looked normal.

[DRuM]

I believe it's thin foam falling from where the external tank brackets meet the orbiter. Nasa is not too worried about it. They'll be doing their usual extensive checks anyway.

[GONNAFISTYA]

they do? those are kinda important for re-entry

All they need is Jesus.

[andyman]

they do? those are kinda important for re-entry

All they need is Jesus.

"He is my shield, my sword, my MOAB, my steel-toed boots. May His eternal light blind me forever and always."
-Ecclegiartomies 5:11

[Tsakali]

[Captain]

[MKJ]

[seremtan]

i for one will not welcome our new chinese overlords when they put the first guy on mars while the US congress is still arguing over how paltry the chump change they fund NASA with should be

[Whiskey 7]

[quote="Captain Mazda [/img] [/quote]



Those pictures of Columbia failing during reentry reminded of the other shuttle lift off disaster of Challenger

RIP Challenger Crew




Hey, big thanks DRuM for the topic and links

[Peenyuh]

Yes RIP Challenger Crew




Hey, big thanks DRuM for the topic and links

[Captain]

Actually that was Columbia. PWNT!

[tnf]

Was that the challenger or the columbia crew? It was hard to tell one from the other when all was said and done.

[Captain]

Was that the challenger or the columbia crew? It was hard to tell one from the other when all was said and done.

Whiskey posted the Challenger crew, that's the shuttle that broke up after launch. Columbia disintegrated during re-entry.

[Peenyuh]

What's yer point, Terrorist?

[seremtan]

also, cat shit pics

bant