Two Days of Tweetness: Witnessing a Shuttle Launch

Space Tweeps Unite! NASA Tweetup participants gather at the launch clock on Friday, July 8, 2011. © NASA HQ Photo

It’s been over a week since the NASA Tweetup and I’m still thinking about it. For good reason, of course… it was awesome.

Over the course of two days I saw a capsule that had been to space and back, talked with five astronauts (one currently in orbit!), toured Kennedy Space Center, met a muppet, touched a piece of the Moon, made dozens of new friends and, of course, watched, heard and felt the launch of the last space shuttle to leave Earth. (And managed to talk my way into a delicious barbecue sandwich inside the Vehicle Assembly Building.) All with less than six hours of sleep.

Not too shabby.

Tweeting in the Twent

I have to say, I was very impressed with the organization by the people at NASA. From directions to getting our badges to the lovingly air-conditioned, internet-supplied and somewhat rainproof Tweetup tent (or “twent”, as it’s called) to the guest speakers and tours of Kennedy Space Center, they all did a fantastic job at making the 150 Tweetup participants (er, “tweeps”… yes, there’s a definite lingo here) feel like genuine VIPs. We had access to places that most people don’t get to see, and got to watch Atlantis launch from a location reserved for members of the press. The twent was located on the edge of the press lawn, just to the right of the big countdown clock and between the Lockheed-Martin and Boeing tents. Seeing the shuttle on the pad was as easy as stepping outside the twent and looking across the pond… we were literally closer than all the major media representatives! (And I believe we were visited first by Elmo.)

Atlantis ignites! © Jason Major

What’s it like to watch a shuttle launch from the press site? In a word: amazing!!! (Really, what did you think??) When the smoke and steam started billowing up from the pad, a gasp was heard from all present, followed by a cheer and then the simultaneous clicking of hundreds of cameras. This, of course, was only audible until the sound of the shuttle’s rockets crossed the 3.1 miles between the pad and the press site and quickly filled the air with a growing rumble that culminated in a deep, flapping roar that you could feel as much as hear. It was all I could do to keep my hands steady to take photos – luckily I had pre-focused and set my camera so all I had to do was adjust zoom and keep the shutter going. Every now and then I made sure I looked at what was happening with my own eyes as I didn’t want to experience the launch only through the viewfinder of a camera. Still, the actual launch happened so quickly and the shuttle passed through the clouds so soon, I only got a couple of glimpses of it as it soared upwards. But the memories of it are burned in my mind.

And, of course, I do have lots of photos.

I opted for photos rather than video because I wanted something I could print at a decent size, perhaps even on photo canvas, and I figured there’d be plenty of videos out there of the launch anyway. (And there are.)

I did shoot some video during the Tweetup, of the chat between Elmo and astronauts Mike Massimino and Doug Wheelock in the twent, of the inside of the Vehicle Assembly Building and of the retraction of the Rotating Service Structure from the shuttle – during which we were lucky enough to be in the adjacent viewing lawn!

Me talking with Doug Wheelock. Credit: Patty Cleveland @scienceesl

I’m not sure how to sum up the Tweetup as a cohesive story, other than that it was an experience like I’ve never had before. Being around so many other people who share one’s excitement about spaceflight and astronomy and who are all fixated on one event taking place is quite a feeling. Meeting astronauts in person is an awesome experience as well. Col. Wheelock was especially gracious to all of us, giving a first-hand account of his time aboard the space shuttle and International Space Station and informing us of what happens in the minutes before, during and after a launch, and was more than happy to take time to sign autographs and pose for photos. I got a photo with him, got his signature in my autograph book and even let him use my back as a signing table! He seemed like a genuinely nice guy, who loves what he does, and was a pleasure to meet. I also got a chance to talk with Canadian astronaut Chris Hadfield, who was also very nice, as well as Garrett Reisman (who now works for SpaceX developing rockets), Mike Massimino (briefly) and Expedition 29 astronaut Ron Garan via iPhone while he passed overhead aboard the ISS! Very cool.

Atlantis on the pad before dawn, July 8 2011. © Jason Major

Ultimately luck was on our side on Friday, as Atlantis launched despite a 70% chance that the weather would not cooperate. The day before brought torrential rain and thunderstorms and the word around the site was that it wasn’t looking good for launch, but NASA seemed extra-determined to make the final flight of the shuttle program happen on time. For some reason, once I saw Atlantis lit up by those powerful spotlights early Friday morning, glowing in the distance like a holy temple of space travel – which, in a way, it was – I had a feeling it was going to take off that day. Which it did, thankfully, only two minutes later than planned at 11:29 am.

(See above for what that was like.)

Yeah.

Here’s some other random thoughts I have regarding the Two Days of Tweetness:

They don’t mess around with security at Kennedy Space Center. They know what’s going on, everywhere, as well as what time it is. If tweeps aren’t allowed in the gate until 5am, they aren’t going to let you in at 4:35am. And don’t speed in KSC. They will pull you over.The VAB is HUGE. Way huge. Picture the biggest building you have ever been in. It’s bigger than that.

I watched a spaceship take off.When you watch the shuttle launch, it’s a dramatic, powerful event that blows your mind. Then you remember that there’s four humans riding on it, and your mind is blown even more.Kennedy Space Center is a place where they build spaceships in giant buildings surrounded by moats filled with alligators. If that’s not science fiction I don’t know what is.If you want good prices on NASA mission patches and t-shirts visit the gift shop at the Air Force Space and Missile History Museum. Same stuff, way cheaper. Tell Mary Ann I said hi.The Saturn V rocket is the biggest rocket you have ever seen. (Which makes sense, because it’s the biggest rocket ever made.)You can say you’re going to Tweet a launch, but in reality you won’t be Tweeting much because there’s no cellular service during a launch. Totally clogged up.Manatees live in the pond between the press site and the launch pad. That’s cool.Bring bug spray.And sunscreen.When people say to bring bug spray and sunscreen, do it.And when the sign says don’t drink the water on site for any reason, don’t drink the water. This goes for brewed coffee too. (It’s a long story.)The NASA cafeteria is a great place for a deli sandwich, but you better know what you want. The ladies there aren’t fooling around.There’s a lot more waiting than launching at a shuttle launch. And don’t trust the clock… NASA time is not real time. When it says there’s three hours to launch that really means seven hours to launch. Plan accordingly.Of course, there won’t be any more shuttle launches, so that’s a moot point.

Regardless of it being the end of the shuttle program, KSC is an awesome place to visit. I am honestly shocked that this is the first time I have ever been there, considering all the times I have been in Florida. But then again I have never been a guest of NASA like I was during the Tweetup – it’s definitely a different experience that way! Still I’d go back in a second as there’s still a lot I didn’t get a chance to see. Until then, I’ll be replaying the events of last week over and over in my mind… until then and for the rest of my life, I’m sure. Thanks to everyone at NASA who made this possible, and thanks to the great tweeps I met while I was there! We’re now part of a special group of people who shared a historic event, it’s true, but we’re also very excited to share it with as many people as we can.

Because it really was just that cool.

STS-135 Atlantis launched at 11:29 am on July 8, 2011. I was there. © Jason Major

See more photos from the STS-135 Tweetup in the Flickr group here.

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Jason Major is a graphic designer, photo enthusiast and space blogger. Visit his website Lights in the Dark and follow him on Twitter @JPMajor or on Facebook for the most up-to-date astronomy awesomeness!

Tagged as: Atlantis, KSC, Launch, NASA, shuttle, STS-135, Tweetup, Twitter

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An Image it Took 30 Years to Complete: Father and Son at First and Last Shuttle Launch

Father and Son: STS-1 and STS-135. Chris Bray and his father took two similar images, 30 years apart. Image courtesy Chris Bay. Click the image to see it on Flickr

Chris Bray and his father Kenneth attended the first space shuttle launch 30 years ago and even though they hadn’t seen any other launches in person since, they decided to make the journey to see the final launch to ‘bookend’ the shuttle program in their lives. Plus, they were able to take this great image of father and son at two shuttle launches, “the picture we waited 30 years to complete,” Chris Bray said.

Note the similar shirts and poses, as well as examples of the available technology of the day.

But their odyssey wasn’t without a bit of adventure!

“In addition to being astronomy buffs for as long as I can remember, Dad and I have been big fans and followers of the space program — including all the private endeavors,” Chris Bray told Universe Today. “We’ve only been to the two Shuttle launches. I live in NYC and he lives in NJ, so it’s not always the easiest and most convenient trip to make.”

Chris said that about a year ago when NASA started discussing the last missions, he and his father talked about how nice it would be to go to the last launch since they had attended the first.

“Dad was a jewelry designer and made some of the official shuttle pins for the early STS missions (like this one),” Chris said, “so that’s why we were down there for the first launch. We were lucky enough to get in the lottery for STS-135 and scored some tickets to the Astronaut Hall of Fame viewing site.”

“But we almost didn’t make it! Our flight out of Newark on Thursday the 7th was delayed 5 or so hours and we didn’t get to Orlando until about 2:30 am. On top of that, all the rental cars were gone and despite having a reservation for a car we had no transportation. We eventually were able to rent a 15 seat passenger van (the last available car) from a small rental company and drove straight to the site, bailing on our hotel.”

Chris said both he and his Dad are sad to see the program end, but at the same time excited about the next phase, whatever that might be.

Thanks to Chris for sharing the image with Universe Today.

Tagged as: launches, Space Shuttle, STS-1, STS-135

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Watch the Final Shuttle Launch Live

Free desktop streaming application by Ustream

Spacevidcast is live from Kennedy Space Center and will be providing up-to-the-minute commentary by guest experts throughout the launch countdown webcast. Viewers will also be able to call in and ask questions about astronauts, engineers, and the whole launch process in general via social stream. You can watch here, and participate in the social stream/chat below.

You can also watch live on NASA TV via the web.

SpaceflightNow.com also has a live webcast.

NASA just released a new app to watch the launch on an Android phone.

Tagged as: Space Flight, Space Shuttle, webcasts

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End of the Shuttle Era: Q & A With Shuttle Launch Director Mike Leinbach

NASA's Shuttle Launch Director Mike Leinbach has been with NASA since 1984 and took a moment to share his thoughts about the future. Photo Credit: Jason Rhian

CAPE CANAVERAL Fla. – He has been with the shuttle program for the past three decades and has witnessed both its tragedies and its triumphs. NASA’s Shuttle Launch Director Mike Leinbach reflected on the end of the shuttle era when interviewed this week. He talked a bit about his plans for the future as well as what he thinks people can expect from both him and his team on launch day.

Q: The Terminal Countdown Demonstration Test (TCDT) for STS-135 has just wrapped up, is this is a period of accelerated work for you and your team or is this a time when you can catch your breath?

Leinbach: “This TCDT was a little different; we had a very busy period getting the crew
ready for this mission. On July 4 we’ll have a bit of a break and then things
will pick right back up again as we get ready for launch.”

Q: What do you think you will be feeling when that final launch occurs?

Leinbach: “I don’t know, I mean I have thought a lot about this…I don’t know what it’s
going to be like. For the last flight of Discovery we had one more launch for
both Endeavour and Atlantis, well now this really and truly the last flight of
the shuttle program… so it’s going to be a very reflective time.”

Leinbach gestures toward his former secretary before the start of the interview. Photo Credit: Jason Rhian

Q: Do you think anything will be special about this mission?

Leinbach: “The launch itself will be very much any other launch. When the guy’s are
working on the consoles they are very serious about what they are doing.
They won’t be distracted by the fact that it is the last one.

Q: Speaking of your job – it keeps you very busy, have you had any time to reflect?

Leinbach: “For the moment I still have a lot to do concluding TCDT, but this Saturday I
am planning on driving out to the launch pad and just looking up at Atlantis
and just soaking it all in, all by myself.”

Leinbach started working for NASA as a structural engineer in 1984, his words are softly spoken which tends to lend them even more weight. His first mission as launch director was STS-114. This was the first shuttle launch after the loss of the space shuttle Columbia in 2003. Leinbach led the recovery team searching for Columbia’s debris in Texas. A year later in 2004 Leinbach was awarded the Presidential Rank Award, which is given in recognition of long-term accomplishments.

Atlantis will carry the four person crew of STS-135 to the International Space Station on a resupply flight designed to keep the orbiting outpost well stocked after the shuttles are decommissioned. The mission is scheduled to last twelve days, launching on July 8 at 11:26 a.m. EDT. The crew consists of Commander Chris Ferguson, Pilot Doug Hurley and Mission Specialists Sandra Magnus and Rex Walheim.

The Launch Control Center or LCC is where the final "go" "no-go" for launch is determined. Photo Credit: Jason Rhian

Tagged as: history, Mike Leinbach, NASA, Space Flight, Space Shuttle

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Final Shuttle Voyagers Conduct Countdown Practice at Florida Launch Pad

STS-135 crew at TCDT Q&A session with journalists at base of Launch Pad 39A, Kennedy Space Center. From left; Mission Specialists Rex Walheim and Sandy Magnus; Pilot Doug Hurley
and Commander Chris Ferguson. Credit: Ken Kremer

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER – The “Final Four” shuttle astronauts who will ever voyage to Earth orbit aboard a NASA Space Shuttle Orbiter jetted into the Kennedy Space Center (KSC) this week for their final simulated countdown training at the seaside Florida Launch Pad.

The all veteran crew for the STS-135 mission arrived at Kennedy’s Shuttle Landing Facility (SLF) on twin T-38 jets for four days of comprehensive flight training for what’s known as the Terminal Countdown Demonstration Test (TCDT). Along with all other shuttle flight related activities, it’s the very last time this training will ever occur.

The TCDT is part of the ritual of training for all shuttle crews that takes place in the last few weeks preceding a liftoff and that concludes with a full countdown dress rehearsal from inside Atlantis at the launch pad.

The last ever shuttle crew jets into KSC for TCDT training at KSC aboard T-38 jets. From left; Sandy Magnus, Doug Hurley, Commander Chris Ferguson and Rex Walheim. Credit: Ken Kremer

Chris Ferguson is leading the STS-135 mission and he will be recorded in history as the final Space Shuttle Commander. This will be Ferguson’s third shuttle flight and second one as Commander. Also aboard are Pilot Doug Hurley and Mission Specialists Sandy Magnus and Rex Walheim.

The quartet of space flyers are due to blast off aboard Space Shuttle Atlantis on July 8 at 11:26 a.m. EDT for the “Grand Finale” of NASA’s thirty year old Space Shuttle Program. If all goes according to plan the end of the Shuttle Era is less than 1 month away.

It’s a bittersweet moment for everyone working on the shuttle program. Proud to be part of a magnificent adventure with the most complicated machine ever built by humans, but simultaneously sad that the program is ending well before its true flight time is up and with no concrete timetable to replace the trio of majestic spaceships.

“We are incredibly proud to represent this, the final flight,” said STS-135 Commander Chris Ferguson after touchdown to dozens and dozens of journalists gathered at the shuttle landing strip to greet the astronauts.

“I speak on behalf of the crew, everyone in the astronaut office, and I’m sure everybody here at KSC in saying that we are just trying to savor the moment,” Ferguson added. “As our children and our children’s children ask us, we want to be able to say, ‘We remember when there was a space shuttle.”

The first order of business for Ferguson and Hurley was to practice shuttle landings in the Shuttle Training Aircraft (STA), which is a modified Gulfstream II jet.

During the TCDT period, the crew engaged in mission briefings at the Launch Control Center which is the brain of shuttle launch operations, payload familiarization and training at the Space Station Processing Facility, fire suppression training, range safety and security briefings and emergency escape training in an M113 armored personnel carrier near Launch Pad 39A. Read more in my upcoming features.

On the last day of TCDT, the astronauts donned their orange launch and entry suits, journeyed to the pad in the Astrovan and were strapped to their assigned seated inside the orbiter exactly as will occur on launch day for a full dress rehearsal of the launch countdown.

STS-135 Crew at TCDT pad emengency training at Pad 39A. From left are Commander Chris Ferguson, Pilot Doug Hurley, Mission Specialists Sandy Magnus and Rex Walheim. Credit: NASA/Kim Shiflett

The crew also met with over 100 reporters for a Q & A session at the base of Launch Pad 39A which was back dropped by a thrilling view of Shuttle Atlantis atop the Mobile Launch Platform and the gigantic Flame Duct which directs the rocket exhaust way from the shuttle stack during launch.

“We’re very honored to be in this position,” Ferguson said to reporters at the foot of the pad. “There are many people who could be here. When the dice fell our names were facing up. We consider ourselves fortunate and lucky.”

“I think each of us feels a little extra burden to make sure we put on the best possible face forward for the last go around of this. The crew’s very prepared and we’re going to do a fantastic job.”

“I don’t think that the full magnitude of the moment will really hit us until the wheels have stopped on the runway,” said Ferguson, reflecting on the significance of the grand finale of all shuttle missions. “I’m not sure words will really be able to capture for the crew and for the entire shuttle workforce just how much the shuttle program has meant to us for the last 30 years.”

“TDCT is very comprehensive, hands on and invaluable training at the place you’re going to do it,” said Hurley. “Everything is a just a little bit different when you are in the real vehicle so this is a great way to get you ready for launch day – when it counts!”

Tucked inside Atlantis cargo bay is the Italian- built “Raffaello” logistics module, the primary payload. Raffaello is loaded full with some five tons of critical spare parts, crew supplies and science experiments that will be delivered to the International Space Station (ISS) during the 12 day flight.

The secondary payload is the Robotic Refueling Mission (RRM) which will demonstrate tools and techniques to refuel satellites in orbit.

The STS-135 crew arrive at KSC aboard a wave of T-38 jets for countdown, payload and emergency training. Credit: Ken Kremer

“Sandy Magnus is our ‘transfer czar’ in charge of emptying and filling Raffaello,” said Ferguson. Magnus is an ideal choice for the mission since she lived for months aboard the orbiting outpost and is familiar with its nook and crannies.

“We feel very honored to be on this flight and are very focused to perform it well,” said Magnus. “We are just the tip of the iceberg of a huge group of people who plan and get the hardware ready and prepare all our procedures.”

“I often think about how we will launch from the exact same launch pad that Apollo 11 launched at to go to the moon. It gives you goose bumps,” said Walheim.

Media with STS-135 astronuats at TCDT Q&A session at Launch Pad 39A. Credit: Ken Kremer

Watch the TDCT Launch Pad press conference here:

Read my prior features about the Final Shuttle mission, STS-135, here:
Final Payload for Final Shuttle Flight Delivered to the Launch Pad
Last Ever Shuttle Journeys out to the Launch Pad; Photo Gallery
Atlantis Goes Vertical for the Last Time
Atlantis Rolls to Vehicle Assembly Building with Final Space Shuttle Crew for July 8 Blastoff

Tagged as: international space station, ISS, MPLM, NASA, Raffaello, Space Shuttle, space shuttle atlantis, STS-135

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Final Payload for Final Shuttle Flight Delivered to the Launch Pad

Space Shuttle Atlantis and cargo canister at Launch Pad 39A for Final Shuttle Flight
This view shows the delivery of the cargo canister – white rectangular box - with the payloads for the last shuttle mission; STS-135. The canister has been hoisted up the Rotating Service Structure, at right, for installation into the orbiters payload bay. Credit: Ken Kremer
Updated Photo Album below

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER – The cargo canister for NASA’s final space shuttle mission was delivered to the sea-side launch pad at the Kennedy Space Center (KSC) in Florida and hoisted up the pads massive launch pad gantry early Friday (June 17).

NASA is targeting a July 8 blastoff of the STS-135 mission with Space Shuttle Atlantis and the last cargo a shuttle will ever haul to space. The 60 foot long cargo canister is the size of a shuttle payload bay.

The STS-135 mission is the very final flight of the three decade long Space Shuttle Era and is slated for liftoff at 11:26 a.m. EDT from Launch Pad 39A. The flight is scheduled to last 12 days and will be NASA’s 36th and last shuttle mission bound for the International Space Station (ISS).

Atlantis will deliver the Italian- built “Raffaello” logistics module to the orbiting outpost.

Raffaello is loaded full with about 5 tons of critical space parts, crew supplies and experiments to sustain space station operations once the shuttles are retired at the conclusion of the STS-135 mission, according to Joe Delai, NASA’s Payload Processing Manager for the STS-135 mission.

Close up of top of shuttle Atlantis stack at Launch Pad 39 A
Astronauts will walk through the White Room at left to enter Atlantis crew cabin. Credit: Ken Kremer

NASA technicians at the launch pad have closed the cocoon-like Rotating Service Structure (RSS) back around the orbiter to gain access to the vehicles payload bay. Atlantis’ payload bay doors will be opened Saturday night and the cargo will be installed into the shuttle’s cargo bay on Monday (June 20).

The secondary payload is dubbed the Robotic Refueling Mission (RRM) – a sort of “gas station in space” said Delai, who spoke to me at Pad 39A.

Joe Delai, NASA STS-135 Payload Processing manager, answers media queries at Launch Pad 39A. Credit: Ken Kremer

Pad workers were also busy on Saturday (June 18) with work to begin the collection of high resolution X-ray scans of Atlantis External Tank at certain support ribs on the shuttle facing side, according to Allard Beutel, a NASA KSC shuttle spokesman.

“The technicians will scan the tops and bottoms of 50 support beams, called stringers, to confirm that there are no issues following the tanking test conducted by NASA this week at the launch pad”, Beutel said.

The reinforcing stringers were installed after minute cracks were discovered during the propellant loading of 535,000 gallons of super cold liquid oxygen and hydrogen into the fuel tank during the initial launch attempt of the STS-133 mission in November 2010. “No problems are expected and this work is just being done as a precautionary measure.”

Space Shuttle Atlantis sits atop Launch Complex 39 A at Sunrise at the Kennedy Space Center
The last ever shuttle flight will blast off on July 8. Credit: Ken Kremer

During the tanking test, a potential fuel leak was discovered in a hydrogen fuel valve in Space Shuttle Main Engine No. 3, the right most engine.

“Technicians will spend the next week swapping out the engine valve with a new one and conduct tests to verify the fix solved the problem,” Buetel told me. “NASA expects the work can be completed with no delay to the July 8 launch.”

Space Shuttle Atlantis is set to blastoff on July 8 on NASA’s Final Shuttle Mission; STS-135. Credit: Ken Kremer

The engine leak would have been a show stopper and scrubbed the launch if this had been the real countdown on July 8, said Beutel – to the huge disappointment of the 500,000 to 750,000 folks expected to pack the Florida Space Coast.

The hydrogen valve replacement and X-Ray scans are being completed in parallel out at the pad.

The STS-135 crew of four veteran shuttle astronauts is led by Shuttle Commander Christopher Ferguson. Also aboard are Pilot Doug Hurley and Mission Specialists Sandy Magnus and Rex Walheim.

The crew will fly to into the Kennedy Space Center from Houston aboard their T-38 jets on Monday for several days of pre-launch training.

I will be covering the STS-135 launch for Universe Today on site at the KSC Press site, location of the world famous countdown clock.

Ken Kremer and Space Shuttle Atlantis on top of Launch Pad 39A. Credit: Ken Kremer

Read my prior features about the Final Shuttle mission, STS-135, here:
Last Ever Shuttle Journeys out to the Launch Pad; Photo Gallery
Atlantis Goes Vertical for the Last Time
Atlantis Rolls to Vehicle Assembly Building with Final Space Shuttle Crew for July 8 Blastoff

Tagged as: End of the shuttle program, ISS, NASA, Raffaello, Space Shuttle, space shuttle atlantis, space shuttle program, STS-135

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