Thunderstorms Threaten Shuttle Launch
AP is reporting that thunderstorms are moving toward the shuttle launch pad and may disrupt the planned launch schedule. NASA's official Launch Blog is still showing normal countdown activity at this time, with the crew strapped in and performing communication checks.
UPDATE: 3:29 EDT - countdown is holding at T-9 for thunderstorms and clouds in the area.
3:38 EDT - Countdown still on holding at T-9, the launch window closes at 3:53. The last launch poll still had weather as a no-go. It looks like the launch may be scrubbed for today.
3:42 EDT - Launch is scrubbed for today. Another attempt will be made tomorrow.
By TC@LeatherPenguin, Saturday, 1 July , 2006 @ 1:44 pm
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Those aren't thunderstorms… it's a flock of frakin' BIRDS." Sorry; hadda do it.
(Had to edit this for a bad tag closure, TC)
By TC@LeatherPenguin, Saturday, 1 July , 2006 @ 1:44 pm
By Shawn, Saturday, 1 July , 2006 @ 2:05 pm
I have issues with NASA. I find the safety issues that have occurred in recent years appalling. If they are going to spend such a huge amount of taxpayer moolah at least do it right. Now they want to launch even while knowing that tiles on the boosters will almost surely come loose. “Oh, we can put the Astronauts on the Space Station if that happens and enact a rescue mission later, so all is well. Really. No foolin’.” Okay, but what about the tiles on the rescue Shuttle? What if the mission fails, or is delayed? What if all you have to show for your efforts is Tang?
Would these same people put their spouses or children on the Shuttle, knowing what they know?
Sorry, I endeth the rant here.
By Gaius, Saturday, 1 July , 2006 @ 2:18 pm
My problem with foam is that they should never have switched to the non-CFC foam in the first place - that’s what started the problems.