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Space Shuttle Endeavour Launches (at last)

Posted by michael on from the astronauts-not-allowed-to-bring-nailfiles-on-board dept.

mumkin writes: "Hey, STS-108 has finally launched! In addition to bringing a new crew to the International Space Station and performing an EVA, Endeavour will be releasing Starshine 2, another orbiting disco-ball for ground-based observers to track."

8 of 90 comments (clear)

  1. More Cargo by flynt · · Score: 5, Informative

    In addition to the things already mentioned, the shuttle also has 6000 American Flags, which when returned from space, will be given to the members of the families of the World Trade Center victims.

  2. Re:ISS module stuck by ocelotbob · · Score: 2, Informative

    Yep, they got it fixed. The whole reason for the delay of the shuttle's launch was to fix that problem before they got up there. Dunno if they had to do a spacewalk to fix it, though.

    --

    Marxism is the opiate of dumbasses

  3. Re:ISS module stuck by sweatyboatman · · Score: 3, Informative

    If you're really curious to know, here's the story on CNN.

    http://www.cnn.com/2001/TECH/space/12/03/spacewa lk /index.html

    Half the time estimated. Maybe NASA's learning to double their estimates. It can only make them look better in the public's eye.

    --
    It breaks my pluginses, my precious!
  4. To see the ISS & Shuttle yourself... by Tsar · · Score: 5, Informative

    Go to Heavens-Above and enter your location on earth, and it'll provide you with all the info you need to spot the ISS, the Shuttle, and a host of other orbiting objects as they pass over you before sunrise or after sunset. The site has a wealth of other information about satellites and space exploration in general as well, so it is with a very heavy heart that I expose one of my absolute favorite sites to the eminent threat of slashdottery.

  5. Satellite Sighting! by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 4, Informative

    I invite you to check for ISS/shuttle sightings on the nasa website. Also Heavens above might be updated with the shuttle orbital information within the next few hours.

    For example, I see there will be a nice pass almost straight above San Francisco, Thr Dec 06, 05:26 PM for ISS, and 11 minutes later (05:37 PM) the shuttle catching up with it! So I suspect similar opportunies for other US cities in the coming days, weather permitting of course.

    Don't expect to see more than a moving point of light, but it is still quite cool.

  6. It's been covered... by sweatyboatman · · Score: 2, Informative
    but it's not really news (at least from what NORAD's been saying). It's just a spent SL12 Rocket. Here's some information on this Russian Rocket

    oh, and here's CNN's little piece on it: Lights in the Sky

    --
    It breaks my pluginses, my precious!
  7. GAS Payloads on STS-108 by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 4, Informative

    STS-108 also contains GAS Payloads...which are basically just canisters that can be rented, usually by universities and space agencies. Experiments are flown in these canisters and they range anywhere from boiling water to growing plants, testing the effects of microgravity. I am the webmaster of the Utah State University GAS Team and we sent up a payload on this shuttle with 3 powered experiments and a few passive ones. Glad the shuttle finally got off the ground!

  8. Re:Postponed due to bad weather? by jstockdale · · Score: 2, Informative

    yes yes i know this is offtopic but i thought i'd just address the mentioned price of the Shuttle vs B2 Bomber:

    B2: US$1.2 Billion (Source: USAF)
    STS: US$2 Billion (Source: ABC News)

    ok you may now commence the modding
    -1 Offtopic ;)

    --
    **AA: a bunch of mindless jerks who'll be the first against the wall when the revolution comes