nasa
All posts tagged nasa
Got into work and totally forgot about the test launch today. Fernando reminded me and I got NASAtv on the computer at about 7:25am. They were holding @ T-4:00 and had aborted the launch once already for wind. They restarted @ about 7:52am and again aborted due to winds over 21 knots. A third time @ 8:26am that aborted @ -3:09 due to several Fill/Drain Vales on first stage booster rockets not closing. The left and center rockets didn’t show closed when commanded to close. The cycled the valves several times the O2 valves checked out fine, but the H2 valves on the left and center booster didn’t check. They aborted launch attempt for today @ 9:39am and are going to recycle for 24 hours.
Expedition 31 Flight Engineer Don Pettit relayed some information about photographic techniques used to achieve the images: “My star trail images are made by taking a time exposure of about 10 to 15 minutes. However, with modern digital cameras, 30 seconds is about the longest exposure possible, due to electronic detector noise effectively snowing out the image. To achieve the longer exposures I do what many amateur astronomers do. I take multiple 30-second exposures, then ‘stack’ them using imaging software, thus producing the longer exposure.”
The last shuttle mission, Atlantis, only 33 missions, starting in 1985.
Gulf Fritillary
Arrived at the Center about 2pm, jumped right on the bus to the Gantry. The security there was like getting on an airplane but they didn’t require us to take off our shoes. The signage stated restrictions not talked about on the website but they didn’t seem to worried about Dad’s knife (signage said NO knives, website said only pocket knives). Started raining a bit during the drive to the Gantry, a storm rolled in from the north past both the 39B and then 39A launch pads. Took some photos of the Atlantis Shuttle while on the 39A pad but couldn’t see much due to the structure. On to the Saturn V exhibit after leaving there.
The Saturn V area was cool, not sure if I had seen it before, the entire actual launch controls were in the building and then the pieces of the Saturn V that took the crew to the moon. Mom and Dad were tired by then allowing me to walk around while they just sat and watched people. Rode back to the main area and I walked up to see the “Explorer”, a mockup of a Re-entry Vehicle. We then left. The Atlantis is suppose to launch on next Friday July 8th.
We stopped in at a Outback Steakhouse and had some steaks for dinner before getting home and watching some more of the Casey Anthony Trial, most of the testimony is over and the Defense Rested. No, Casey was not put on the stand. I believe she is guilty in SOME way, although I’m not sure if it’s murder actually. She is kind of cute in a very alligator kind of way.
