Space shuttle Discovery launches on final flight
Updated at 7:44 p.m. ET
CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. - Discovery, the world's most traveled spaceship, thundered into orbit for the final time Thursday, heading toward the International Space Station on a journey that marks the beginning of the end of the shuttle era.
The six astronauts on board, all experienced space fliers, were thrilled to be on their way after a delay of nearly four months for fuel tank repairs. But it puts Discovery on the cusp of retirement when it returns in 11 days and eventually heads to a museum.
Trouble with an Air Force range safety system computer put the launch in doubt as the countdown ticked into its final stages, CBS News space consultant Bill Harwood reports. To give repair crews as much time as possible, Launch Director Mike Leinbach ordered engineers to pick up the countdown at the T-minus nine-minute mark and to press ahead toward launch.
But the problem was not immediately resolved and the countdown entered an unplanned "hold" at the T-minus five-minute mark, Harwood reports. Finally, with just three seconds left to make the end of the launch window, the glitch was resolved, the countdown resumed and Discovery blasted off at 4:53:24 p.m. ET.
Discovery is the oldest of NASA's three surviving space shuttles and the first to be decommissioned this year. Two missions remain, first by Atlantis and then Endeavour, to end the 30-year program.
It was Discovery's 39th launch and the 133rd shuttle mission overall.
"Enjoy the ride," the test conductor radioed just before liftoff. Commander Steven Lindsey thanked everyone for the work in getting Discovery ready to go: "And for those watching, get ready to witness the majesty and the power of Discovery as she lifts off one final time."
Emotions ran high as Discovery rocketed off its seaside pad into a late afternoon clear blue sky, and arced out over the Atlantic on its farewell flight.
Discovery will reach the space station Saturday, delivering a small chamber full of supplies and an experimental humanoid robot. "Look forward to having company here on ISS in a couple days," station commander Scott Kelly said in a Twitter message.
The orbiting lab was soaring over the South Pacific when Discovery blasted off.
"Discovery now making one last reach for the stars," the Mission Control commentator said once the shuttle cleared the launch tower.
On-board TV cameras showed some pieces of foam insulation breaking off the external fuel tank four minutes into the flight, but shouldn't pose any safety concerns because it was late enough after liftoff.
NASA is under presidential direction to retire the shuttle fleet this summer, let private companies take over trips to orbit and focus on getting astronauts to asteroids and Mars.
An estimated 40,000 guests gathered at Kennedy Space Center to witness history in the making, including a small delegation from Congress and Florida's new Gov. Rick Scott. Discovery frenzy took over not only the launch site, but neighboring towns.
Roads leading to the launching site were jammed with cars parked two and three deep; recreational vehicles snagged prime viewing spots along the Banana River well before dawn. Businesses and governments joined in, their signs offering words of encouragement. "The heavens await Discovery," a Cocoa Beach church proclaimed. Groceries stocked up on extra red, white and blue cakes with shuttle pictures. Stores ran out of camera batteries.
The launch team also got into the act. A competition was held to craft the departing salutation from Launch Control: "The final liftoff of Discovery, a tribute to the dedication, hard work and pride of America's space shuttle team." Kennedy's public affairs office normally comes up with the parting line. Souvenir photos of Discovery were set aside for controllers in the firing room. Many posed for group shots.
Lindsey and his crew paused to take in the significance of it all, before boarding Discovery. They embraced in a group hug at the base of the launch pad.
Unlike the first try back in November, no hydrogen gas leaked during Thursday's fueling.
NASA also was confident no cracks would develop in the external fuel tank; nothing serious was spotted during the final checks at the pad. Both problems cropped up during the initial countdown in early November, and the repairs took almost four months. The cracks in the midsection of the tank, which holds instruments but no fuel, could have been dangerous.
The lengthy postponement kept one of the original crew from flying.
Astronaut Timothy Kopra, the lead spacewalker, was hurt when he wrecked his bicycle last month. Experienced spacewalker Stephen Bowen stepped in and became the first astronaut to fly back-to-back shuttle missions.
Packed aboard Discovery is Robonaut 2, or R2, set to become the first humanoid robot in space. The experimental machine — looking human from the waist up — will remain boxed until after Discovery departs. Its twin was at the launch site, perched atop a rover, waving goodbye.
"I'm in space! HELLO UNIVERSE!!!" R2 announced in a tweet sent by a human still on Earth.
Discovery already has 143 million miles to its credit, beginning with its first flight in 1984. By the time this mission ends, the shuttle will have tacked on another 4.5 million miles. And it will have spent 363 days in space and circled Earth 5,800 times when it returns March 7.
No other spacecraft has been launched so many times.
Discovery's list of achievements include delivering the Hubble Space Telescope to orbit, carrying the first Russian cosmonaut to launch on a U.S. spaceship, performing the first rendezvous with the Russian space station Mir with the first female shuttle pilot in the cockpit, returning Mercury astronaut John Glenn to orbit, and bringing shuttle flights back to life after the Challenger and Columbia accidents.
Discovery is expected to be eventually put on display by the Smithsonian Institution.
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malade!
ta rancoeur va te tuer, "Janfebmarapr "
.......
sick!
Your resentment will kill you "Janfebmarapr "
"au revoir"
The space station provides engineers the ability to create and perfect the mechanisms that will make the trip possible.
Put the money, time and effort to work on earth, LORD we need help here, children going to school hungry is just one article I read this week, two kids shot mafia style in the next town over, drugs by a 21 year old (dealer) .. SAD... so much to do here... Social Security problems, Medicare funding, states that are billions in Debt, WIsconsin, city of Chicago, Ohio 9 billion in debt, teachers beginning to be lay off.
No,..time to put those 30 year old POS on display. I was in the Navy on a 30 year old ship, they finally sold it to Taiwan for $1, those poor bast..a..rds.. had to sail it back to Taiwan, just to have a bucket of bolts in their hostilities with China, just a number.
THe USA (Capitolist) system of government is BROKE in more ways than one
Regardless, I really wish they would get started on at least the preparation, it will without doubt be one of the greatest achievements in mankind, talked about for thousands of years to come (and in fact crucial to the very idea of man still being around in thousands of years time).
Our typically useless, short-sighted politicians are the problem. Trillions are spent on exceedingly little, yet there is never any money available for great challenges such as this. In 2003, Bush jumped on the bandwagon, saying we'll go to Mars, then instead wasted the sort of budget which could get us at least in a strong position to get there (with a moon base and necessary technologies), on a pointless invasion of a patch of desert. Similarly Obama has done his best to help ensure we can't afford to do it for decades. Both only care about getting votes in the next election, not really in making America great.
retraite bien m?rit?e,
bravo "Discovery,
=========
"30" years of good and loyal service, time flies, well-deserved retirement,
bravo "Discovery"
"au revoir"
NASA and the Federal GOvernment (funding) has left NASA in NO position as an organization to conduct space exploration. The last Astronauts had their bodies scattered all over Texas only because NASA as an organization could not carry out a proper administration with the EXCUSE of risk with space exploration. Its a taxi service to the Space Station !, done way too many times in the past. And NOT one NASA manager convicted of murder or at the least 'negilgence'. Of course I would not want to have been the SUpervisor or Manager that turned down the request for 'spy' satellite pictures of the tile or insulation damage as had been requested. Those poor astronauts right up to the end were smiling and enjoying the re-entry, of course until the heat became unbearable, etc etc.
LIttle or no need to be 'out in space' with the problems Humans have on earth.
I QA audited a subcontract company to a prime NASA supplier. THe engineers didn't even know what a design review was IAW their QUality Program. I disapproved them in the formal report and was 'over-turned' by my bosses.
One big 'good' ole boys network. Waste of tax payers money. Time for 'commercial' industry to take it over, and for those who want to go up, go.
I'm sorry NASA,..you deserve better.
thats the problem with NASA, risk is involved.. it is NOT risk when management cuts corners and put seven astronauts in harms way, so they could experiment for a new cell phone.
Dude, your thinking is the problem and NASA doesn't deserve better, you don't get what you deserve, you get what's coming to you.
NOTICE in the last sentence of the article: ""Godspeed Discovery," retired space shuttle program manager Wayne Hale said in a Twitter update Thursday. "Prayers for a safe flight and wisdom for decision makers."
===============
It was the TOTAL lack of WISDOM of that disaster flight that killed those astronauts and NOT risk of space exploration. Its a taxi service to the space station that has been going on for YEARS. NASA lacks proper organization (and funding).
WHich is no different than 'commercial' operation of nuclear power plants in the USA. Google MILLSTONE 1 and Time Magazine. REALIZE the OBAMA administration is shutting down Yucca Mountain. MEANING: Nuclear fuel rod (caskets) appropriate word by the way) is sitting out at Maine Yankee and other 'decommissioned' nuke plants way too easy for Terrorists. Read about the kid from Texas. He got his chemicals shipped the next day placing an order on the internet.
You want a 'Chernobly' village in many places in the states.
You complain about past administration no funding next generation shuttles, try worry about this adminstration not funding proper storage safety of nuclear spent fuel bundles.
AMericans truly are spoiled, and stupid in electing Congressmen, Senators and Presidents. (A junior senator of two years experience running the government)
and idiot congressmen (Barney Fife Franks overseeing Finance Committee saying just a few short years ago, Fannie Mae and Freddie mac were ok.
NO ONE HELD ACCOUNTABLE