Jun 28 2006
Space Shuttle Countdown
According to the Space Coast Newspaper, the countdown is about to start for the launch of the Space Shuttle Discovery:
Liftoff is scheduled for 3:49 p.m. Saturday — prime time for seasonal summer storms.
The first official launch forecast will be issued today. But extended forecasts from the U.S. Air Force’s 45th Space Wing show a high probability of rain Saturday and Sunday.
Discovery’s crew nonetheless is keyed up about the launch countdown, which will begin at 5 p.m. today.
“We’re really excited to be here, ready to go do this for real,” Lindsey said. “We’ve been training for a long time. We’re as prepared as we’re going to be.”
As if there were not enough concerns over the launch, Bad Astronomy says:
When the Shuttle lifts off on July 1, the astronauts on board may well be concerned about their safety. But now they have something else to worry about: kidney stones.
Expressing concern over this launch seems to be a common them on many blog sites. Here is an excerpt from Fayrouz In Beaumont:
I’m concerned for the safety of these seven astronaunts. I have a feeling that if anything bad happens to the shuttle or the astronaunts this time, it may be the end of the manned space program until other safety measures are put in place. Most of NASA’s problems can be solved if the government raises the budget for NASA instead of cutting it. NASA doesn’t have a lack of intelligent people. It has a lack of funds.
We spent billions of dollars in Iraq and Afghanistan where most people don’t seem to like us. But we can’t afford to spend enough money to help the brightest among us to discover the unknown around us. What happened to JFK’s vision?
Lou Minatti thinks it’s time to end the shuttle program:
The fact is, manned space flight is not a necessity for exploration. In fact, it’s a hindrance. Space exploration is much cheaper when no life support systems are needed. Manned space flight is a simply a prestige project. Other than finding the ultimate cure for disease, I think it is the ultimate prestige project. As an American taxpayer, I can’t think of more a more worthy program to boost American prestige around the world and attract the engineering and scientific talent we need.
For the latest on the launch, including live video, visit the NASA site.
