Seguite il lancio della missione STS-130 verso la ISS

5 Febbraio 2010
Il conto alla rovescia è in corso presso il Kennedy Space Center (KSC) della NASA in Florida per il lancio dello Space Shuttle Endeavour della missione STS-130, che porterà il Nodo 3 e la Cupola, di costruzione europea, alla ISS. Il lancio è previsto per domenica mattina, 7 febbraio, alle ore 10:39, ora dell'Europa centrale (OEC). Endeavour arriverà ed attraccherà alla ISS il 9 febbraio alle ore 07:23 OEC.
È possibile seguire il lancio in diretta su Internet sia dal sito di video streaming della NASA, sia attraverso il seguente link dell’ESA: http://www.esa.int/SPECIALS/node3/SEM73DUJ15G_0.html

CONTINUA QUA: http://www.esa.int/esaCP/SEM3GSVJ15G_Italy_0.html

Endeavour Set to Launch Sunday, Carrying 'Tranquility' Node to Station

Commander George Zamka and crew will deliver a new connecting node and cupola to the International Space Station.
http://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/shutt ... ive_1.html

STS-130's launch has been scrubbed due to low cloud ceilings. The decision was made at 4:30a ET.

NASA managers are deciding when to try our next launch attempt. For now, it's no earlier than Monday, Feb. 8 at 4:14a ET. Stay tuned.

Launch weather is "go." Now we're assessing low clouds and rain at all three overseas abort landing sites - we need one to be "go."

Mission Management Teams Give "Go" for Liftoff
Mon, 08 Feb 2010 10:01:24 AM GMT+0100

Space shuttle Endeavour has been cleared for launch this morning at 4:14 a.m. EST.

The mission management team, mission control and the launch team have given a unanimous "go" for launch.

The teams are not working any technical issues and the weather has cooperated over Launch Pad 39A at NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida.
http://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/shutt ... index.html

Orbiter Access Arm Moves Back from Orbiter
Mon, 08 Feb 2010 10:07:01 AM GMT+0100

T-7 minutes and counting . . . The orbiter access arm is swinging away from the shuttle's hatch in preparation for launch. If an emergency develops, the arm can swing back into place within seconds and the astronauts can leave the shuttle.

APU start
Mon, 08 Feb 2010 10:09:38 AM GMT+0100

T-5 minutes and counting . . . The three auxiliary power units in Endeavour are up and running. They generate the hydraulic power needed to swivel Endeavour's three main engines during launch. The hydraulic system also moves the shuttle's aero surfaces, which are the rudder and elevons that steer the shuttle when it is in the atmosphere.

Ritratto il beanie cap

LIFTOFF!
Mon, 08 Feb 2010 10:14:27 AM GMT+0100

Endeavour has cleared the tower!

"Negative Return"
Mon, 08 Feb 2010 10:19:16 AM GMT+0100

With all systems working well, Endeavour is flying at 6,000 mph and gaining speed. It is going too fast and has gone too far to return to KSC if there were an emergency. All systems go.

MECO!
Mon, 08 Feb 2010 10:22:47 AM GMT+0100

Endeavour shut down its three main engines on time after a flawless climb into orbit. Next up, jettisoning the external fuel tank that caried the propellants for the three main engines.

Spectacular Launch Begins a Complex Mission
Mon, 08 Feb 2010 12:13:21 PM GMT+0100

"What a beautiful launch we had this morning... the orbiter performed extremely well," said Bill Gerstenmaier, associate administrator for Space Operations, during the STS-130 postlaunch news conference. "This is a great start to a very complicated mission."
READ MORE: Http://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/shutt ... ive_1.html