Shuttle Discovery (STS-133) launch

[davedubya]

Thanks Gary for starting this thread (the radio talk was a bit more understandable in this thread, compared to the Milair section.)

[SamP]

That was fantastic! Got some great comm's this time too, fantastic reception tonight Just a shame it's so long after sunset, would have been great to see her one last time

[Knife 04]

Fantastic video of Shuttle overflying UK from Twitter's @VirtualAstro here:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3HS4-e7Z ... e=youtu.be" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Sorry Tom - I dont think that is this is this evening - look at the timeline. Dont even think its the Shuttle (the external tank separation would not be visible from the UK) - stand to be corrected though!

Great comms NW - Nothing at all from just outside Newbury (or maybe I need to climb in the loft and throw the antenna out of the window!). Anybody else get anything from the South apart from Spirit of Kitty Hawk - Dragon51?

cheers and thanks for the posts - a good evening!

[thommg]

Thats 2009

Oh Dan...it's OK.. my brain transplant is booked

Hadn't realised @VirtualAstro on Twitter was republishing old material...

No wonder I was impressed! Duh!

[Gary]

Thanks Gary for starting this thread (the radio talk was a bit more understandable in this thread, compared to the Milair section.)

No problem

Anyone interested.

Monday 28th February at 16.15 GMT the STS-133 crew will perform their first space walk

Wednesday 2nd March at 15.15GMT STS-133 crew will perform their second space walk

Spaceflight now & NASA TV will have full coverage of the spacewalks and the full mission Thats me sorted for the next 11 days

Also don't forget around 19th April we get to do this all again with STS-134 'Endeavour '

[WAP]

was a bit pants for me to, had the camera setup just incase and recorded most of my scanner comms but only had a brief bit of voice and not readable. Looking forward to Endevour which will hopefully be an early afternoon launch which we should definatly see.

[Mattyjc]

[quote="Knife 04"]

Great comms NW - Nothing at all from just outside Newbury (or maybe I need to climb in the loft and throw the antenna out of the window!). Anybody else get anything from the South apart from Spirit of Kitty Hawk - Dragon51?

cheers and thanks for the posts - a good evening![/quote]


Managed to make out "thank you" along with a load of numbers standing 5 floors up at work in Didcot, Oxfordshire. First time I have heard it and I'm suitably impressed!

Great thread, thanks

[Gary]

was a bit pants for me to, had the camera setup just incase and recorded most of my scanner comms but only had a brief bit of voice and not readable. Looking forward to Endevour which will hopefully be an early afternoon launch which we should definatly see.

Looks like Endeavour is a 00.48BST launch


Date: April 19 +
Mission: STS-134
Launch Vehicle: Space Shuttle Endeavour
Launch Site: Kennedy Space Center - Launch Pad 39A
Launch Time: 7:48 p.m. EDT
STS-134 Description: Space shuttle Endeavour will deliver the Express Logistics Carrier-3 (ELC-3) and the Alpha Magnetic Spectrometer (AMS) to the International Space Station.


Spaceflight Now are showing the Post-launch news conference

Discovery is deploying the Ku-band antenna system so should have some great onboard footage at some point. Unless it fails like on STS-131

[SamP]

Fantastic! Should be able to see Endeavour after the clocks go back

Many thanks for all the info you post on these missions Gary, your knowledge is very much appreciated!

[Gary]

Fantastic! Should be able to see Endeavour after the clocks go back

Many thanks for all the info you post on these missions Gary, your knowledge is very much appreciated!

No problem If the info i post helps people get as much enjoyment as i get watching the shuttle its all good

Still can't believe the shuttle will be gone by mid July

NASA have been chatting about the debris see falling off, they don't seem to be too concerned about it.... The crew on the ISS will take detailed photos off Discovery heat shield before she docks with the ISS on Saturday as standard procedure. Again should be able to see it happen during the live streaming on Spaceflight now & NASA TV

[dantheman_09]

They believe it was Foam, Nothing to be worried about

[sjnovis]

Was watching last night, had butterflies in the tummy just prior to launch, an amazing sight, I still get a chill down my spine as mission control says "Go for Throttle Up"

[davedubya]

Still can't believe the shuttle will be gone by mid July

It was one of my ambitions to see a Shuttle launch...doubt it'll happen now, unless I'm spontaneous with STS-134. (I was once in Florida during a launch window, but it got scrubbed several times).

They believe it was Foam, Nothing to be worried about

Foam moving around at speeds approaching 17,000 mph can pack a punch, even it is just foam. Fortunately debris looked more "floaty" than impacting.

[Gary]

A couple of things worth checking out on one of the live streams today.

18.06 GMT Discovery backflip
19.19 GMT Space station docking
21.18 GMT Hatch opening

Coverage on any of the following

Spaceflight now
NASA TV
Spacevidcast or Spacevidcast.com

Hopefully might interest some.

[RichC]

Dave is correct, there is a big null for those listening in the south as it passes overhead, particular for me as i live right under its actual track in Devon. When its overhead i hear nothing. I can only hear them when they are approaching from Ireland.

[thommg]

Interesting about the null.

If the cloud remains broken here in Cardiff, there's a good sighting opportunity this evening I see via the excellent Heaven's Above website.

Details below are for Cardiff (just being selfish!):

For Discovery: Comes over south western horizon at 18:29:43 reaching a max elevation of 37 degrees at 18:31:41

Then just a few minutes later....For the ISS: Comes over the SW horizon at 18:35:44 reaching a max elevation of 54 degrees at 18:38:47

There's another chance just after 8pm but not as bright.

My kids love watching with me in the garden.

I shall leave the UBC on with bctool logging/recording any comms bursts - If I'm lucky!

[pilot_ngb]

Clearing up nicely in the north east. Docking is at 7:15pm.

[Gary]

Shuttle closing in on the ISS (3000 feet away) Some great footage Should be doing the back flip in 20 mins

[RichC]

You should also try 143.625 for shuttle/ISS docking procedures.
259.700 is usually only used for ascent and re-entry not during the orbit phase.
Inmarsat is used mostly for shuttle-houston relay for orbit too.

[Gary]

Thanks Rich. Is that FM or NFM etc?