Astronomy News
[singlepic=83,200,,,right]At 1438 EDT (1838 GMT), the space shuttle Discovery lifted successfully from the Kennedy Space Center, Florida. Within 10 mins it had safely ejected it’s booster rockets and performed a safe separation from the main fuel tank.
No technical hitches were reported and everything appears to be A-OK. Discovery is now approaching its correct orbit to allow it to dock with the International Space Station (ISS) tomorrow.
Cryptoworld wishes the crew good luck on their mission, and for a safe return.
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After analysis of available data, the Mission Management Team has given a “go” for a Tuesday launch of Space Shuttle Discovery to the International Space Station.
Tis will be the first ever Independence Day launch for the shuttle, and it is though a lot of people will be watching it.
Two countdowns at the weekend had to be cancelled because of stormy weather around the space centre, but Nasa are hopping for a smooth lift-off from the Kennedy Space Center at 1438 EDT (1838 GMT) this afternoon.
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[singlepic=82,200,150,,right]A huge asteroid whizzed by Earth early Monday, passing about 433,000 kilometres from the planet’s surface – slightly farther away than the moon.
More than three dozen asteroids have flown closer to Earth in the past few years, but scientists believe 2004 XP14 is among the largest.
The asteroid, discovered in 2004, is estimated to be up to 800 metres wide based on its brightness. Late Sunday and early Monday, it was expected to be visible as a small moving dot to amateur sky watchers with good telescopes in North America and as a fainter object in Europe. Its closest approach was over the U.S. West Coast.
Scientists estimate 2004 XP14 will have 10 more close encounters with Earth over this century, none expected to pose a threat to the planet.
Today’s launch of Space Shuttle Discovery has been postponed for 24 hours because of weather. The new launch time will be at 3:26 p.m. Sunday afternoon.
Thunderstorms and electrically-charged anvil clouds near the launch pad forced Nasa officials to scrub the lift-off.
Much is at stake for the mission; some observers believe the shuttle has still to prove its safety since the loss of the Columbia ship and its crew in 2003.
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[singlepic=64,200,150,,right]Weather conditions at the Kennedy Space Center are not looking too good, so the planned launch for today is looking unlikely, although Nasa are keen to launch if they can.
Discovery was moved to the launch pad in May, and cleared for lunch on 1st July amidst safety fears from senior safety officials that it was not safe to fly.
Nasa played down the concerns at a news conference on the 17th June, and Michael Griffin (Nasa administrator) said “I can’t possibly accept every recommendation given to me by every member of my staff, especially when they all don’t agree.”
[singlepic=66,240,200,,right]The US space agency begun a three-day countdown on Wednesday at 5 p.m. (EDT), in preparation for the launch of its next space shuttle mission on Saturday.
During a countdown status briefing at the Kennedy Space Center in Florida, NASA Test Director Jeff Spaulding announced that “Discovery is in excellent shape.”
“We’re tracking no issues in our preparation at this point. Our teams have been working tirelessly during this last year to help make this flight and all shuttle flights as safe as possible for the crews,” he said. “As we approach our nation’s 230th birthday, I’m proud to announce that the launch vehicle, the launch and flight teams and flight crew are ready to launch and continue our mission completing the space station.”
Payload Manager Debbie Hahn indicated the payloads have been loaded into the orbiter and are ready for flight.
[singlepic=67,200,150,,right]Nasa have set a launch date of July the 1st, dismissing fears over safety.
Safety officials have said that Discovery
is not safe to fly, and that modifications carried out to prevent chunks of protective foam breaking off where not enough.
Conflicting views on the modifications haven’t helped matters, and Nasa administrator Michael Griffin told a news conference “I can’t possibly accept every recommendation given to me by every member of my staff, especially when they all don’t agree.”
Fair enough I guess, but if I was about to blast seven people into space on a multi million dollar firecracker, I would want to make sure everybody was all agreeing! Any doubts by anybody and I would want to know why and double check, possibly even triple check!
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[singlepic=65,200,,,right]The crew of the Space Shuttle Discovery have arrived at the Kenidy Space Cente, and will start coundown test ahead of the planned July lift-off.
Discovery’s Commander Steve Lindsey greated the media, and introduced the crew members, Pilot Mark Kelly, Mission Specialists Mike Fossum, Lisa Nowak, Stephanie Wilson, Piers Sellers and Thomas Reiter who are all involved in the countdown test this week.
[inspic=54,right,,thumb]Space Shuttle Discovery has been given the all clean for take off.
The US Space Agency has approved the changes to the fuel tank, which means Discovery could be good to go on the 1st July. Although an offical date will be releast ealy next week.
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[inspic=54,right,,thumb]The Space Shuttle Discovery has been moved onto its launch pad at the Kennedy Space Center, in Florida, as part of its preparations for a July lift-off.
Mounted on the Mobile Launcher Platform and carried by the mammoth crawler-transporter, Discovery emerged from the assembly building, and was moved the 4.2 miles at less than one mile an hour, arriving at the launch pad early Friday evening.
This mission will continue the evaluation of flight safety procedures, including shuttle inspection and repair techniques. It also will deliver more supplies and cargo for future station expansion.
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BBC, Space shuttle moved to launch pad
