STS-132 liftoff date and time scheduled for 2010-05-15 T 0220 hours Singapore Standard Time (SST) from Launch Pad 39A, Kennedy Space Center (KSC). 
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Final Launch Of Space Shuttle Atlantis (OV-104)
- Thread starter 9V-Orion Images
- Start date
Well, the level of motivation to pursue space exploration simply isnt there, even for the Space Race between the two capitalism and communism superpowers from 1957, through the Cold War and till the collapse of the Soviet Union was pursued as a means of maintaining scientific and technological superiority over each other.
Kind of disappointing isnt it? As a child we had imagined space travel as fuss free as travelling on the bus or train but decades down the road for the future generations, the period where men from another era walking on the moon could simply be a distant memory totally unrelated to them in anyway whatsoever except in their history textbooks unless someone is willing to pick up the pieces from where the United States left off.
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Source/Credit
The total amount allocated to NASA accounts for just ≈0.51% to ≈0.52% of the overall United States federal budget for fiscal year 2010 as compared to the ≈18% to ≈19% allocated to the DoD, clearly this show where their commitment and priority lies.
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makes sense too... why spent so much money trying to find life in space (which is very very remote) when earthly problems are increasing? we should sort out our backyard problems first before welcoming visitors from our front lawn. that's my opinion lah...
Actually this is two separate issues, one concerning astrobiology and the other Human Space Flight (HSF). In fact the President Obama administration has increase NASA budget for the fiscal year 2011 proposal but totally dropped funding for the Constellation Program in favour of outsourcing American Human Space Flight (HSF) programs to the private sector where the capabilities required for them to be able to do so is questionable.
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bousozoku
Senior Member
Russian Soyuz rockets.
If I hadn't moved, I'd be thinking about missing watching the launches from my street. Seeing them going up, even from a short distance was incredible. Now, I'm so far, all I can do is watch them on television.
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I think the US Government was retarded to can the Ares I-X launch vehicle. What they need now is heavy lift platform to carry science for experiments on the ISS after the Shuttle is retired. There are calls for the Russian Federation to revive the Buran. I think if Russia does that, they can have a huge piece of the market in the satellite launch industry. Nasa is no-longer the cutting edge is space exploration.. how sad it has become for them.
The constellation/ Ares I-X programme was almost to completion. They are going to use it as a crew recovery module for the ISS. Its like going one-step forwards and 3 steps back.
The only problem with the Soyuz is its crew capacity but mated to an extremely reliable vehicle... maybe we will see more frequent Soyuz launches? The baton will be passed on to them anyway.
I hope to see the Buran revived from the grave though!
The constellation/ Ares I-X programme was almost to completion. They are going to use it as a crew recovery module for the ISS. Its like going one-step forwards and 3 steps back.
The only problem with the Soyuz is its crew capacity but mated to an extremely reliable vehicle... maybe we will see more frequent Soyuz launches? The baton will be passed on to them anyway.
I hope to see the Buran revived from the grave though!
* T-6 hours and counting...
Loading of 500,000 gallon of liquid hydrogen and liquid oxygen propellant into the External fuel Tank (ET).
* T-3 hours and holding...
* (Typically lasts 2 & a 1/2 hours)
STS-132 crew members get suited up into their personal S1035 Advanced Crew Escape pressure Suit (ACES) before heading towards launch pad LC-39A from the Operations and Checkout Building on the astrovan.
The following operations will also be conducted during this built-in holding period...
* T-3 hours and counting...
* T-20 minutes and holding...
* (Typically lasts 10 minutes)
The following operations will also be conducted during this built-in holding period...
* T-20 minutes and counting...
The following operations will also be conducted during this built-in holding period...
* T-9 minutes and holding...
* (Hold period varies)
The Launch Director (LD), Mission Management Team (MMT) and Shuttle Test Director (STT) will poll their teams for a Launch status check (AKA go/no go poll).
- OTC (Orbiter Test Conductor Prime): ...
... go/no go
- TBC (Tank/Booster Test Conductor): ...
... go/no go
- PTC (Payload Test Conductor): ...
... go/no go
- LPS (Launch Processing System Test Conductor): ...
... go/no go
- Houston Flight (Mission Control Center): ...
... go/no go
- MILA (Merritt Island Spaceflight Tracking and Data Network Station): ...
... go/no go
- STM (Support Test Manager): ...
... go/no go
- Safety Console (Safety Console Coordinator): ...
... go/no go
- SPE (Shuttle Project Engineer): ...
... go/no go
- LRD (Landing and Recovery Director): ...
... go/no go
- SRO (Superintendent of Range Operations): ...
... go/no go
- CDR (Mission Commander): ...
... go/no go....
... Atlantis clear/not clear to launch.
* T-9 minutes and counting...
* T-0...
Solid Rocket Booster (SRB) ignition and liftoff of space shuttle Atlantis (OV-104).
Loading of 500,000 gallon of liquid hydrogen and liquid oxygen propellant into the External fuel Tank (ET).
* T-3 hours and holding...
* (Typically lasts 2 & a 1/2 hours)
STS-132 crew members get suited up into their personal S1035 Advanced Crew Escape pressure Suit (ACES) before heading towards launch pad LC-39A from the Operations and Checkout Building on the astrovan.
The following operations will also be conducted during this built-in holding period...
- External Tank (ET) loading enter the period of stable replenishment after loading of the liquid hydrogen and liquid oxygen propellant is completed
- Perform Inertial Measurement Unit (IMU) pre-flight calibration
- Align Merritt Island Launch Area (MILA) tracking antennas
- Final inspection team proceed to the launch pad to conduct a detail analysis of the space shuttle as the team walk up and down the entire launch tower
- Closeout crew members proceed to the launch pad to configure the crew module for countdown and launch before assisting the astronauts with entry and ingress into the orbiter
- Televised weather briefing
- Flight crew weather briefing
* T-3 hours and counting...
- STS-132 crew members proceed down to the astrovan from the Operations and Checkout Building
- The astrovan travel to launch pad LC-39A from the Operations and Checkout Building while being escorted by armed NASA law enforcement and security officers
- The astrovan arrive on launch pad LC-39A approximately 15-16 minutes after it leave the Operations and Checkout Building
- STS-132 crew members get ready to enter space shuttle Atlantis (OV-104) from the whiteroom of the Fixed Service Structure (FSS)
- Air-to-ground voice communication (comm) checks are conducted with Launch Control Center (LCC) and Mission Control Center (MCC) at John Kennedy Space Center (KSC) and Lyndon Johnson Space Center (JSC) respectively
- Cockpit switch configurations are check and verified
- All STS-132 six crew members are now on-board the space shuttle Atlantis (OV-104) and will be in the upright position for the next 2 hours whereby bodily fluid will rapidly accumulate in their urinary bladder due to the force of gravity and causing an extreme urge to answer the call of nature thus the need to wear a diaper during launch
- Air-to-ground voice communication (comm) checks conducted with Launch Control Center (LCC) and Mission Control Center (MCC) concludes
- Crew hatch of the space shuttle Atlantis (OV-104) is close shut and lock for flight by the close-out crew
- Close-out crew check and verify the integrity of the pressure seal around the crew hatch
- Space shuttle Atlantis (OV-104) is pressurised and thereafter the internal orbiter pressure will be check and verified for any possible leaks by the close-out crew
- Pressure verification is completed, close-out crew clears and "closes" the whiteroom (also known as whiteroom close-out), before retreating to the fallback area
* T-20 minutes and holding...
* (Typically lasts 10 minutes)
The following operations will also be conducted during this built-in holding period...
- Shuttle Test Director (STD) conducts final launch team briefings
- Complete Inertial Measurement Unit (IMU) pre-flight alignments
* T-20 minutes and counting...
The following operations will also be conducted during this built-in holding period...
- Transition the orbiter's onboard computers to launch configuration
- Start fuel cell thermal conditioning
- Close orbiter cabin vent valves
- Transition backup flight system to launch configuration
* T-9 minutes and holding...
* (Hold period varies)
- Final launch window determination
- Activate flight recorders
The Launch Director (LD), Mission Management Team (MMT) and Shuttle Test Director (STT) will poll their teams for a Launch status check (AKA go/no go poll).
- OTC (Orbiter Test Conductor Prime): ...
... go/no go
- TBC (Tank/Booster Test Conductor): ...
... go/no go
- PTC (Payload Test Conductor): ...
... go/no go
- LPS (Launch Processing System Test Conductor): ...
... go/no go
- Houston Flight (Mission Control Center): ...
... go/no go
- MILA (Merritt Island Spaceflight Tracking and Data Network Station): ...
... go/no go
- STM (Support Test Manager): ...
... go/no go
- Safety Console (Safety Console Coordinator): ...
... go/no go
- SPE (Shuttle Project Engineer): ...
... go/no go
- LRD (Landing and Recovery Director): ...
... go/no go
- SRO (Superintendent of Range Operations): ...
... go/no go
- CDR (Mission Commander): ...
... go/no go....
... Atlantis clear/not clear to launch.
* T-9 minutes and counting...
- Start automatic ground launch sequencer
- T-7 minutes, 30 seconds: Retract orbiter access arm
- T-5 minutes, 00 seconds: Start auxiliary power units
- T-5 minutes, 00 seconds: Arm solid rocket booster range safety safe and arm devices
- T-3 minutes, 55 seconds: Start orbiter aerosurface profile test, followed by main engine gimbals profile test
- T-2 minutes, 55 seconds: Retract gaseous oxygen vent arm, or "beanie cap"
- T-2 minutes, 00 seconds: Crew members close and lock their visors
- T-50 seconds: Orbiter transfers from ground to internal power
- T-31 seconds: Ground launch sequencer is go for auto sequence start
- T-16 seconds: Activate launch pad sound suppression system
- T-10 seconds: Activate main engine hydrogen burnoff system
- T-6.6 seconds: Main engine start
* T-0...
Solid Rocket Booster (SRB) ignition and liftoff of space shuttle Atlantis (OV-104).
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NASA TV live coverage
The URL for network streaming through other media player.
Official countdown clock
Alternate official countdown clock
The URL for network streaming through other media player.
Official countdown clock
Alternate official countdown clock
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I think it'll be so cool to be there to capture some shots of the take off.
http://www.nasa.gov/centers/kennedy/about/view/view_shuttle.html
http://www.nasa.gov/centers/kennedy/about/view/view_shuttle.html
bousozoku
Senior Member
It's also much cheaper to let someone else deliver the International Space Station parts.
:bsmilie:
Yes, though it could be a while before the PRC manage to catch up and close the gap with their Long March series of ELVs (Expandable Launch Vehicles) and Shenzhou spacecraft. The Chang'e program plans to put a Chinese on the lunar surface within the next 25 years to 30 years optimistically speaking though I have a certain reserve about their ambitions.
Don't be surprise though if mandarin becomes the de facto universal language in the near future literally.
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