Watch the sky tonight

Today marks an extremely neat event. Ever since the Space Shuttle Columbia broke up in Earth's atmosphere 2 years ago NASA has placed a ban on space shuttle flights, tonight that ban is lifted with the launch of the SS Discovery. For those of you that can't watch the launch on TV NASA is televising it over the internet, you only need Real Player or Window's Media Player to watch, for more info go here: http://www.nasa.gov/multimedia/nasatv/114_schedule.html (The live coverage of the launch should begin at 3:50 p.m. EST, should everything go according to plan.)

For you Astronomy buffs out there you should be able to see the shuttle as it orbits the Earth. To find out when and where go here: http://www.heavens-above.com
Once there enter your location. After you've entered your country/city click on your city's name and then the 'click here' link in the top paragraph, a little chart should appear telling you when and where (North, Northwest etc.) the shuttle will appear to you. I hope that most of you will be watching this event, as humans return to space.

This sounds very interesting. Thanks for giving us a heads up. This is a big event...I remember when Columbia was destroyed...

I'll be watching.

Oh yes. I have heard about this on the news. My cousins are taking a trip down to the Kenedy Space Center, and watching the Shuttle lift off. (I live in Florida) So im just gonna sit outside my house and watch it. I dont live but an 2 hours away from the launch site.

And yes. I remebmer very clearly Columbia breaking apart. It was so weird, and right when i saw all the pieces of the ship, i knew it was bad

EDIT: Its gonna be goinf off in two hours. (were i live)

BREAKING NEWS: Launch has been cancelled (for today, at least). There seems to be a problem with a fuel tank sensor. Dang. Better luck next time, NASA.

*sigh* Unfortunatly it's true, the launch has been postponed, although NASA is still hoping to launch tomorow. The site I linked to earlier will still be acurate, as they update it as conditions change.

Ah, that's to bad that it was delayed. I know alot of people will be working over time today and tonight just to try and get it ready for a launch tomorrow. I also live close in Florida, so I get to see it lift off outside my house.

I hope it goes up tomorrow!

Well, they do have to take more precautions in light of the previous two disasters. Better safe than sorry. But neat event anyway.

Thanks for telling me about this. My family took a trip to Florida and we went to the Kennedy Space Center only a few months ago.
So this will be interesting.

I also remember when the Columbia was destroyed.

I will try and find out when I will be able to watch the sky and see if I can see the shuttle.

Wow, how exciting! Funny that I never heard anything about it before now. Maybe I'm just not observant.

But alas, I hear that it is cancelled ... figures. *mopes away*

Yeah. Something about a temperature guage in one of the hydrogen tanks malfunctioned so the mission control cancelled the flight. The earliest flight time is scheduled around Sat. but there's not guarantee.

I've been following the return of Space Shuttle flights for a while now. I remember it was originally supposed to be back in May. Regardless, it's good that the US didn't abandon the space program. It's a much more worthy endeavour to put money into than some of the US' other projects (Iraq and what not). Anyway, it'll be great to the Space Shuttle take off once more.

gaaah...the heavans above site isn't working for me, and I am looking forward to the launch so I can't figure out where I have to look...I'm not much of an astronomy junkie but sometimes I do tend to just stare up at the night sky or maybe look at the moon...one time I saw a red moon (or maybe it was mars).

Originally Posted by jehuty

gaaah...the heavens above site isn't working for me, and I am looking forward to the launch so I can't figure out where I have to look...I'm not much of an astronomy junkie but sometimes I do tend to just stare up at the night sky or maybe look at the moon...one time I saw a red moon (or maybe it was mars).

heavens-above does seem to be down at the moment, actually I think it's been down since about 2 pm EST. I don't know when it'll be back up but as the shuttle launch was delayed it doesn't really matter now.
Also, if the shuttle isn't able to launch by the end of the month the launch will have to be delayed until fall, I'm not sure of exactly why but I think the ISS will be out of position.

The site is working now but where do I go from the chart place? I see my city's coordinates, elevation, reigon, and Time zone but I don't see anything that shows me where I have to look...

Originally Posted by jehuty

The site is working now but where do I go from the chart place? I see my city's coordinates, elevation, reigon, and Time zone but I don't see anything that shows me where I have to look...

Darn too late now...

I missed it, now I feel bad.

It was cancelled yesterday, either it was going on while I was sleeping or it still hasn't happened. If I miss it I'll probably catch it on the news, this is a pretty big event so I'm sure it'll be on a multitude of times.