Endeavor on the pad, Mission STS-123 cleared for launch

[Chief]

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v645/SeniorChieftain/123.jpg

This 16 day +1 mission to the International Space Station will be the longest such mission ever. They will be delivering the Japanese logistics module for installation, and will be bringing up the first of two special robotic "hands" to augment the robotic arm on the Station.

There are a bunch of experiments that need to be installed on the outside of the Station which will require a number of spacewalks to accomplish.

This mission will also feature a rare night launch, scheduled for 0223 EST on Tuesday, March 11th. I certainly won't be up to watch that, but I have Tivo...

[Waterbuffalo]

Are we talking about 11pm PST tonight Chief that it will be launching? (or about that time?)

[Chief]

Yes, about that time WB. NASA TV is the place to be this evening if you feel like staying up late. You should plan on starting to pay attention aroun 8:00 tonight to see if the weather will cooperate for launch.

My friend Duane in Palm Coast Florida should be out with his camera for this. If he sends me anything I'll share it...

;)

[Waterbuffalo]

I'll try and have Nasa tv running on my computer. I think if I remember right I can watch it online...

[Chief]

Bumping...

Tonight is the night launch of Endeavor, and should be around 11:30 PM our time if all goes well. Should be quite a show up the Eastern Seaboard if the weather is clear...

[Waterbuffalo]

How was the popcorn and pony show? Too bad I was asleep when it went took off. Really wanted to watch it.

[Chief]

Pretty cool! If I hear from my pal Duane with pictures from his backyard, I'll post 'em...

Safely on orbit, en route to the ISS...

[Chief]

As of the last update I heard this morning, Endeavor is gaining 500 miles per orbit on the ISS, and will rendesvous this evening, and dock around midnight our time.

There are 5 spacewalks planned for this mission and lots to do over the next 2 weeks.

[Waterbuffalo]

I bet there is.. A lot to do and this might be one of the last ISS missions for the shuttle with critical pieces of infrastructure.

Now I need to go read your French and European Space link you sent me..

[Chief]

Endeavor is on short-final approach to the ISS for docking right now, with about 70 feet of spearation between the two spacecraft.

Hatch opening will still be around midnight our time...

[Waterbuffalo]

So its now 11:30pm and they should be docked now. Hope they will be cleared for spacewalk starting in the morning, so we can see down here what's going to be passed on next to the ISS team.

[Chief]

I just watched the morning brief and all is well on orbit.

They explained some of the unique considerations of the approach; such as the requirement that the shuttle not spray the ISS with RCS jet exhaust. The backwash from one would be more than enough to destroy the solar panels on the Station.

EVA1 is set for tomorrow, which is this evening our time (the Station is on Grenwich Mean Time which makes things quite confusing to interpret at times...).

We need to be aware of viewing opportunities here in the Northwest. The ISS and Shuttle together are enormous, and once they put the Japanese module in place, the station will be larger than ever. It is clearly visible in the night sky as it flies over, and if you can catch it with a set of good binoculars, you'll be amazed at the details you will see. You can make out the gold colored solar panels easily from the ground...

;)

[Waterbuffalo]

too bad the next couple of days Portland will be sucked into a certain familiar weather pattern with greying skies..

Hope we do get an opportunity in a week or two for clear skies.

[Chief]

The crew is saddling up now for EVA-2, where they will be putting the rest of DEXTRE together and checking it out. There are also a number of spares in the shuttle bay that have to be moved and bolted onto the outside of the ISS.

There's nothing else worth watching on TV and it's raining naked babies and pitchforks over here today...

[Waterbuffalo]

Thanks for the update Chief!