Shuttle launch!

[Groo]

I've got a more than normal interest in this flight... a large percentage of the Flight Support Equipment on the ICC-VLD carrier was stuff I oversaw as project manager (for the 6 P6 Batteries, and the EOTP), and one of the Shuttle Crew (Bowen) is a parishoner at my church. Plus, he's doing one of the EVAs using my hardware to do the Battery R&R, so there's a lot of tie ins...

 

[Woketman]

I've got a more than normal interest in this flight... a large percentage of the Flight Support Equipment on the ICC-VLD carrier was stuff I oversaw as project manager (for the 6 P6 Batteries, and the EOTP), and one of the Shuttle Crew (Bowen) is a parishoner at my church. Plus, he's doing one of the EVAs using my hardware to do the Battery R&R, so there's a lot of tie ins...

What kind of batteries (chemistry) are used? How many charge/discharge cycles are they rated for? Thanks.

 

[Woketman]

Great article here: https://www.spaceref.com/news/viewnews.html?id=1391

 

[Groo]

I've got a more than normal interest in this flight... a large percentage of the Flight Support Equipment on the ICC-VLD carrier was stuff I oversaw as project manager (for the 6 P6 Batteries, and the EOTP), and one of the Shuttle Crew (Bowen) is a parishoner at my church. Plus, he's doing one of the EVAs using my hardware to do the Battery R&R, so there's a lot of tie ins...

What kind of batteries (chemistry) are used? How many charge/discharge cycles are they rated for? Thanks.

I'm not the Battery Dude, but they are Ni-H2 chemistry. Each one weighs about 370 lbs. They've been up on P6 since it flew in November 2000. Things have been cycled in the tens of thousands by now... in fact they're past the original date for when they were supposed to be replaced...

STS 132 presskit

Most of the Battery R&R will happen on the next 2 EVAs, starting Wednesday. Today they just broke the installation torque on the 2 attachment bolts. Tomorrow they'll extend the carrier out near the end of the truss on the end of the Station arm.

 

[rickcorwn]

I got back back last night after a very cool weekend. As far as the launch goes all I can say is WOW I mean really, WOW. What an incredible feat. I haven't got all the pics sorted and uploaded, I'll have the total space geek album up later but here's a few for now.

The night before the launch we went down to Space View Park and hung with the serious space geeks. The shuttle here lit up for night before preparations.

Lift off!

We returned the next day for the full tour of the Space Center. Here's a view of the Shuttle Transport Crawler, in the background is the building where the Shuttle and the booster rocket are assembled.

My personal favorite, the business end of the Saturn 5 mg:

Darn it!! None in my size :glare:

That night we went on a tour of old astronaut hang outs. First we went to La Fiesta formerly The Moon Hut they have preserved the back room as it was back in the day. Then to the old Mousetrap which is now Durangos and still has the original bar where men with the right stuff knocked back a few, so we did too. Finally off to the Pig and Whistle the name is the same but a new location but no old memorabilia but they did have the best beer selection :good:

Then after a day and a half of trying to entertain ourselves in Orlando we capped it off with a sunset flight home.

 

[wheatonFJR]

Nice report! :clapping:

 

[Woketman]

Yeah, they did a great job restoring that Saturn V in the new Apollo museum. Except the very top. Did you notice that the Launch Escape Tower was a few degrees cock-eyed from the stack? I wonder what that was all about.

Lots and lots of history there!

 

[Yambone]

Just returned home from my own adventure same day as Atlantis landed. Besides the shuttle launch, I enjoyed part of the Arkansas Twisty Butt ride, Natchez Trace Pkway, Deals Gap and many points in between. Got one official Iron Butt SS 1000 on the way home to Idaho.

Here are my views of the launch from a little park (Kennedy Point Park) near the end of Hiway 50, just to the south of the hiway end. Provides a clear view across the water of the shuttle but about 11 miles away. Arrived 4 hours early and got a nice spot in the covered gazebo. It was easy to get FJR parking but cars were maxxed with about 3 hours to go. The park has a restroom which is critical for a day long stay! Poor souls just to the north were waiting in an hour long line at the Chevron!

Rickcowrn's photos blow mine away which tells me it is worth it to beg buy borrow or steal tickets to the Causeway for best viewing, so keep that in mind if you plan to go for the next launch in September. I was plenty happy with my spot but I wish NASA would have let me stand about half mile away and take my chances!

Did score a great seafood experience in Titusville: Dixie Crossroads. Absolutely great broiled tilapia and a whole pile of the schweeeet butterflied rock shrimp. They make shrimp about 20 different ways and excellent service. Got seated even with the launch crowd in town by calling ahead for a quasi-reservation.

If I had to do it over, I would base in Daytona Beach instead of Orlando. Easy to drive down for the day of launch. The beach was fairly vacant on a beautiful Saturday at noon, so there must be good deals at the hotels there.

Thanks again for the tips from the forum on Shuttle viewing. Hopefully ya'll get to go for the next one.

 

[Woketman]

Great report, Yambone!!! What a bitter-sweet deal these last launches are. Starting to tear up just typing about it (could be the Miller Light talkin'!)