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[stargazer]

The Shuttle Discovery lifted off today at 9:39 AM with no problem. YEA!!!!!!!!! ;D They are now in Space. I recorded the whole thing from start to finish. Starting at 6 am. I cried as they lifted off. Now I pray they make it back just as easy as they left.

Becky

[Chicago Astronomer - Astro Joe]

An observation...

While watching the lift-off, (which was quite cool), it was interesting on the new camera angles, but I was focused in on something.

A camera shot of the pylons that attach the orbiter to the main fuel tank was shown, and first time ever image of the two separating was captured...excellent.

But I could not help notice how fragile and small the mating points are. I'm amazed that a single attachment point, up near the nose, can successfully hold the entire weight of orbiter, all while on Earth, thru the intense vibratiions of the lift-off...right up until tanksep. I also expected a visible demonstration of the explosive bolts event, but saw none...just the two separating smoothly.

It was also interesting watching the different play of the plume exhaust of the three main engines from the same camera angle, as it would flare up one moment and dissapear the next.

Great lift-off and let's see how the examination of the tiles goes with the new laser guided inspection arm.

[Rocketman]

Becky, I know what you mean. I almost became teary eyed myself. It was a very graceful ascent. I've waited a long time for today, and I can say that I'm very pleased, and relieved.

As for the camera views, I think they were fantastic. I didn't notice anything at all falling from the external tank.

The live video showing ETSEP was killer. I too was also wondering about the explosive bolts, but I didn't see them "explode". It appeared to me that the orbiter just simply let go.

I can't wait to see Atlantis launch now ;D

[Chicago Astronomer - Astro Joe]

Looking closer at anomolies, the term "bird brain" could never be truer. Playback video showed a bird running smack into the external tank. Probably be re-incarnated into a cell-talking motorist soon. And something unknown fell off the ET as well. It isn't known what is was, but perhaps the bird and the debris were related.

Also,

At least one tile has fallen off. Can't an adhesive be created that keeps 'em stuck on?

[Rocketman]

>>> And something unknown fell off the ET as well.
>>> At least one tile has fallen off.

Well I didn't see anything fall off from the ET camera. I did see a little condensation develop on the camera lense, but nothing was falling off, at least not in the ET feed from CNN. I watched it like a hawk...

[Chicago Astronomer - Astro Joe]

Yes...some debris fell off the left side of the Et, from near the top. It missed the shuttle entirely.

ABC replayed it a couple of times for clarity. Taken by the same camera that showed us the separation.

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(* I'm closing this thread down, as for some reason...it's not showing up on the most recent threads option. You can start up another thread on this subject.)