The final story I filed for FOX Saturday from KSC is below...did I have fun? Duh! It was not only a great time, but whenever I watch a launch it makes me proud to be an American!
Something funny....I watched/photographed the launch from the edge of the lagoon behind the big clock...I've never been near that famous clock so with three minutes to go I called someone and told them to look on live TV they did and I told them to tell me when they showed the clock...well they said 'now' and I'd be standing to one side and I'd wave..but live TV was only showing brief flashes of the clock and since there is a time delay we never did get it right....course all people who were out there probably thought the sun had gotten to me....very un-reporter like I know but what the heck ...another thing that happened in the post launch press conference I asked a question...what I didn't realize is they show it live on NASA TV AND I didn't know that they have a camera that faces reporters when they ask a question...I asked my question and even before the answer was finished my phone was vibrating in my pocket (thank goodness I remembered to turn it down!)..I checked it when it was over...it was a text from my sister in North Carolina, one line it said 'Geez man you need a haircut'!
PHOTO GALLERY
Discovery Races Towards Space Station
By Greg Engle
FOX 35 NEWS
KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, Fla. (WOFL FOX 35, Orlando) --Space Shuttle Discovery topped off a picture perfect Florida day by a perfect on time launch from Kennedy Space Center Saturday.
STS –124 roared off the launch pad at exactly 5:02 p.m. EST and streaked towards orbit in a nearly cloudless sky after a flawless countdown.
In the post launch analysis officials said they found a problem with a backup maneuvering rocket or ‘gimble’ on the left engine. According to officials they saw a ‘potential failure’ and will test the system but don’t feel it will impact the mission at all. If the system doesn’t check out, there would only a loss of redundancy they said.
There were also five small pieces of foam that broke away during the launch. It was pieces of foam that broke off during a launch that doomed the shuttle Columbia. The external fuel tank had undergone several design changes since then and the Discovery carried the latest redesign Saturday.
The five pieces of foam that broke off Saturday were very small according to officials and happened during a part of the ascent that causes them no concern. However as they have done with every shuttle flight an inspection will be done to ensure no damage was done. The inspection for Discovery will come on flight day 14.
Among the tasks during the 14-day mission, Discovery will deliver the Kibo Japanese science laboratory to the International Space Station.
There were absolutely no problems in the days leading up to the launch and NASA even felt confident enough that they elected to fuel the shuttle earlier than planned Saturday. Launch director Mike Leinbach said that in fact in the overall preparation for STS-124 a record was tied for the fewest trouble reports.
Even the weather forecast that had called for a 20% chance of run was upgraded early in the afternoon to less than a 10% chance for showers. At launch time only a few small clouds hung over the launch site.
“It was a gorgeous launch,” said Launch Director Leinbach. “An extremely smooth countdown. We just had nothing to talk about. I wish every day could be like this.”
The Discovery is now racing towards the International Space Station and will dock with it on Monday afternoon.
My stuff from the live blog I did....
Good afternoon from the press site at Kennedy Space Center! I’ve been to KSC for
a launch before but I’ve never been here to cover it and report on it and I have
to tell you this is way cool!
I got here just before noon and even before I got set up, they loaded a bunch
of us on buses and we went and watched the STS-124 crew load into the van for
the trop to the pad. Being at my first ‘crew walk’ was quite an experience and
I’m looking forward to the rest of the day!
We are processing the first photos, these are from the crew walk and they
will be up on MyFoxOrlando and here on the blog soon!
UPDATE 2:50The astronauts are strapped in, and the clock is counting down and so far everything appears to be a go…the astronauts are doing communications checks and the weather looks good…the close out crew is finishing up and will soon close and secure the hatch.
One very poignant moment during the crew walk came when the crew came out two little girls standing with their mom in front of me started cheering and saying bye dad! We love you etc…the families are forbidden from coming in contact with their loved ones for a week prior to the launch to prevent illnesses…so it was really cool being there as the kids said goodbye and good luck to their dad!
Another observation came to mind, at the press site here, looking at all the news outlets that are set up reminds me of a scene from the 1960’s…I can almost hear Walter Cronkite calling an Apollo launch! I’ll take some more pictures and get them uploaded soon!
UPDATE 5:25 Space Shuttle Discovery topped off a picture perfect Florida day by a perfect on time launch from Kennedy Space Center Saturday.
STS –124 roared off the launch pad at exactly 5:02 p.m. EST and streaked towards orbit in a nearly cloudless sky after a flawless countdown.
Among the tasks during the 14-day mission, Discovery will deliver the Kibo Japanese science laboratory to the International Space Station.
There were absolutely no problems in the days leading up to the launch and NASA even felt confident enough that they elected to fuel the shuttle earlier than planned Saturday.
Even the weather forecast that had called for a 20% chance of run was upgraded early in the afternoon to less than a 10% chance for showers. At launch time only a few small clouds hung over the launch site.
The next task for the Discovery will come on Monday afternoon when it docks with the International Space Station.
