NASA Fans Plan Shuttle Launch Tweetup

About 100 NASA fans have converged on Cape Canaveral for today's launch of the shuttle Atlantis, with plans to tweet the event providing a virtual play by play. "I'll be uploading stuff as it happens," promised Steve Wake, 38, a computer programmer who flew in from Denver. "On launch day, who knows? I may be too excited about everything else to even think about doing that stuff. When it's over with, I'm sure I will."

NASA invited it's Twitter followers to make the trek with 100 slots, and 50 backup positions, filling up in less than 20 minutes on Oct. 16th. The tweeps will represent 21 states, the District of Columbia, and five countries, including Morocco and New Zealand. Each of which are traveling at their own expense.

Weather is expected to be excellent for the launch schedules for 2:28 p.m. local time.

Source: USA Today

Hubble Repairs

NASA is pleased thus far with testing performed on the upgraded Hubble Telescope after 4 days of difficult space walks performed by shuttle astronauts. Check out this video from the Telegraph

Space Station To Get Extreme Makeover

The Space Shuttle Endeavour docked with the International Space Station on Sunday afternoon bringing with it a second toilet, sleeping compartments, exercise equipment and a water regeneration system to support an extra 3 long term crew members. There are also 4 space walks planned for the Endeavour crew to work on the stations power system. The astronauts plan to clean a huge rotary joint needed to pivot solar panels to face the sun, the joint was shut down last year when it was found that it contained metal filings.

CBC Story.

Hubble Telescope Stops Sending Data

A mission to repair the Hubble Telescope scheduled for two weeks time has been put on hold by NASA until it understands the problems experienced by the telescope over the weekend. The space shuttle Atlantis had been scheduled to rendevous with Hubble in two weeks, but a new unexpected problem with Hubble appeared on Saturday night and the astronauts would potentially have new repairs to contend with, repairs that haven't trained for. Because it will take time to identify the failed part and train the astronauts to repair or replace it, the mission originally scheduled for October 14th will be postponed until early next year. Discovery Channel.

A good day in space

Russian cosmonauts were able to reboot 2 of the 3 downed computers that were putting their mission in jeopardy on the inside of the International Space Station, while NASA astronauts used surgical equipment meant to stitch wounds to repair the damaged shuttle thermal blanket. Good news on both fronts! CNN has some great video footage here.

Oh... and happy Father's Day!

Honey, we have a problem

Natalie Meilinger, an elementary school teacher from a Chicago suburb got an out of this world surprise when she checked her video baby monitor earlier this week. Instead of images of her 3 month old Jack, she was receiving NASA's live video feed of the Space Shuttle Atlantis crew on a space walk to repair the shuttle's thermal blanket which was torn on liftoff. Natalie apparently checked the baby's room to make sure their were no uninvited astronauts.

MSNBC article and video here.

NASA fighting on two fronts

While NASA astronauts are working to repair the torn thermal blanket on the Space Shuttle Atlantis, Russian cosmonauts are working diligently to reboot 3 failed computers that control the Interational Space Station's orientation. The docked shuttle is able to assist the space station with it's thrusters while the Russian's work from onboard and from earth. Atlantis crew have powered down some systems to conserve energy in the event that they will have to prolong their stay to help keep the station on orbit. While NASA says there are no current plans to abandon the space station that is the worst case scenario in the event the computers can not be restarted. More here at Globeandmail.com

Thermal blanket concerns for shuttle

Nasa engineers will be paying close attention to images of the space shuttle Atlantis to determine whether or not repairs are required to a torn thermal blanket. The affected area of the shuttle does not heat as much as other critical areas upon re-entry, but the shuttle crew is equiped to make the necessary repairs if required. Read more at CNN...