SPACE

Potts · Post by **Potts** » Sun Jun 01, 2008 2:08 am 0

Just got back to the hotel having watched STS-124 lift off, and fulfilled an ambition I've had since I was little.

Awesome sight, I can highly recommend it to anyone who's even slightly interested, it was 10 times brighter and 10 times louder than seeing on TV can convey,

axel000 · Post by **axel000** » Sun Jun 01, 2008 4:42 am 0

Awesome. I saw a few going up from Orlando when I used to live down there, but never close up at the Cape. If you are still around when it returns to Florida the sonic boom as it comes overhead is quite nice too, its audible for miles.

axel000 · Post by **axel000** » Mon Jun 02, 2008 3:11 pm 0

Shuttle docking @ ISS on Nasatv right now. Some really nice out-the-window views here and there.

Edit: Blimey that blonde astronaut they have onboard the Discovery is a bit of all right

they had some vids of her doing some exercises in a nice tanktop and shorts earlier on

Crystal_sword · Post by **Crystal_sword** » Mon Jun 02, 2008 3:26 pm 0

Cool to Hear there are Signs of Ice on Mars, Should be interesting what may happen in the Near Future

PVB · Post by **PVB** » Mon Jun 02, 2008 4:46 pm 0

axel000 wrote:Shuttle docking @ ISS on Nasatv right now. Some really nice out-the-window views here and there.

You sure?

Nasa says it's not docking for another two hours:

http://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/shutt ... index.html

You've probably just say the Shuttle positioning so the ISS cre can take pictures of the Shuttle tiles, to check for any missing.

WiteWulf · Post by **WiteWulf** » Mon Jun 02, 2008 4:48 pm 0

The docking procedure takes hours as the orbiter is moving so slowly...

PVB · Post by **PVB** » Mon Jun 02, 2008 4:51 pm 0

WiteWulf wrote:The docking procedure takes hours as the orbiter is moving so slowly...

Yeah, but as the Nasa site says:

Space shuttle Discovery is scheduled to dock with the International Space Station at 1:54 p.m. EDT.

About an hour before docking, STS-124 Commander Mark Kelly and Pilot Kenneth Ham will guide the shuttle through a Rendezvous Pitch Maneuver, or back-flip, giving the Expedition 17 crew the opportunity to take pictures of the orbiterâ€™s protective heat-resistant tiles. These photos will be sent to engineers on Earth for analysis.

So they're probably just positioning ready for the pictures in an hour or so, then they'll turn around and dock at 6:55pm UK time.

WiteWulf · Post by **WiteWulf** » Mon Jun 02, 2008 4:53 pm 0

Fairy nuff...

PVB · Post by **PVB** » Mon Jun 02, 2008 4:59 pm 0

They've just said on Nasa TV that they're preparing for the pitch manoeuvre for the pics to be taken.

Just about to do a quick burn to eventually get to within 700 metres of the ISS, almost directly below the ISS.

axel000 · Post by **axel000** » Mon Jun 02, 2008 5:02 pm 0

Well yes technically they are scanning the orbiter from the ISS, in my view this is all part of the docking sequence (with the flip maneuver being the highlight). Yes, the actual docking approach is a few hours out.

So, unrelated, anyone know how it actually smells in the ISS ? I remember hearing that the old Mir station stank. I imagine they have HEPA filtration on ISS but what about odor ? What if you have a serious case of gas ? Does the gas clear out quickly, does it stay in a cloud that you may be unfortunate enough to dive through in passing through the station ?

I can just imagine opening the Shuttle's hatch just to experience the aroma of 3 months of flatulence.

PVB · Post by **PVB** » Mon Jun 02, 2008 5:07 pm 0

The ISS crew have just played the trucking song Convoy to Discovery.

WiteWulf · Post by **WiteWulf** » Mon Jun 02, 2008 5:08 pm 0

How long 'til the RIAA are knocking on the ISS' door demanding to see if they've got a legitimate copy of the song on CD or if they downloaded it, then?

PVB · Post by **PVB** » Mon Jun 02, 2008 5:15 pm 0

axel000 wrote:Well yes technically they are scanning the orbiter from the ISS, in my view this is all part of the docking sequence (with the flip maneuver being the highlight). Yes, the actual docking approach is a few hours out.

Sorry, just me being picky.

Discovery is currently 2 miles away from ISS and they can both see each other through their windows.

http://www.nasa.gov/multimedia/nasatv/

For those of us in the UK, the track of the ISS/Shuttle tonight is here:

So it'll be to the south west, viewable between about 10:54 and 10:59pm.

RedOktober · Post by **RedOktober** » Mon Jun 02, 2008 5:28 pm 0

So, unrelated, anyone know how it actually smells in the ISS ? I remember hearing that the old Mir station stank.

I seem to recall reports of mould, regular fires and large amounts of vodka on MIR, so I'd think the ISS smells a whole lot better.

PVB · Post by **PVB** » Mon Jun 02, 2008 5:34 pm 0

Discovery, 3,500 feet away, viewed from the ISS:

Ain't technology wonderful?

YakYak

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