kkeenan

Yeah, but you're one of the good ones...

I think what is overrated are the things people would pick instead of their "hated" alternatives. For example - I bet after gouging just one eye out with a knitting needle, you would settle for hearing "Free Bird", rather than continue on the other eye. And do you kick both feet at the same time with the toothpicks under the toenails, or after kicking one foot, would you watch a little Cage or Brando rather than kicking that other foot ? I'm also thinking that somewhere along that 50-ft. razorblade slide into the rubbing alcohol, you would put up with one more country song, rather than finish the slide. That's what I think is overrated. Kevin K. _____________________________________ Dude, you are so awesome... Can I be on your ash jump ?

You missed a good time, Jimmy. Many thanks to Chris (and crew), for a great boogie, to Fortson (and crew), for work on the GSR, and to all the jumpers who came from near and far to make this a really great weekend. We had a blast. Kevin K.

Sometimes I feel so lost and alone because I don't check with DZ.com to assess my every minuscule decision. I guess I'm just terribly anti-social...

It's pretty funny that they now have the "psycho-babble" chick talking you down from your mania. The text of that is interesting in that it is so non-specific about "your problem", that it may be a cut-and-paste from their company manual for dealing with someone presenting evidence that they don't like. Kevin K.

A nice video put together by the STS-133 Mission Management Team, showing the highlights of the last flight of Space Shuttle Orbiter Discovery, OV-103. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BSJIEKcHlho&feature=youtube_gdata_player Enjoy.

Wed, 09 Mar 2011 11:59:46 AM EST The shuttle has rolled to a stop, officially concluding the STS-133 mission. After 27 years of service during which it racked up exactly one cumulative year in space and an odometer reading of more than 148 million miles, space shuttle Discovery's distinguished career has flown into history books. "And to the ship that has led the way time and time again, we say farewell, Discovery," said NASA Commentator Josh Byerly. "And Houston, Discovery. For the final time, wheelstop," Commander Lindsey said when the orbiter stopped on the runway. He also thanked the Kennedy team for giving the crew a "terrific vehicle for a final flight."

Wed, 09 Mar 2011 11:58:04 AM EST Main gear touchdown. Discovery and crew are back on the ground at NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida, wrapping up the 5.3-million-mile mission STS-133 mission. The cheers from the crowd below are audible all the way up here in the air traffic control tower.

Wed, 09 Mar 2011 11:19:26 AM EST Since there won't be time to explain it close to touchdown, here's an explanation of the sonic booms heard during shuttle landings. The thunderous sound we hear on the ground originates when a fast-moving, airborne vehicle forcefully shoves air molecules aside. Shockwaves form around the vehicle's nose and tail, generating two loud booms as the vehicle passes by and the pressure buildup is abruptly released. This is the case for supersonic aircraft as well as the space shuttle. But most supersonic aircraft are so small, the sounds are normally heard as one. The shuttle, on the other hand, is large enough that its two sonic booms are distinct. NASA's Dryden Flight Research Center offers a fact sheet providing more details. Ffor technical reasons, you'll need to copy and paste this link into your browser. http://www.nasa.gov/centers/dryden/news/FactSheets/FS-016-DFRC.html

Wed, 09 Mar 2011 11:06:21 AM EST Discovery's landing track this morning will bring the shuttle over Florida at Sarasota, over Kissimmee in Central Florida, and then to Kennedy Space Center. After the landing, when Discovery has rolled to a stop on the runway, the wheelstop location will be marked on the runway so a permanent marker can be installed, showing where Discovery's missions finally ended.

Wed, 09 Mar 2011 10:56:18 AM EST "We saw a good burn and we'll meet you on the post-burn tab of the reentry checklist," CAPCOM Charlie Hobaugh said to Discovery Commander Steve Lindsey. For Lindsey, his crewmates and Discovery, the trip home is finally under way. After 13 days in orbit -- more than eight of them spent docked at the International Space Station -- Discovery is headed to landing at Kennedy's Runway 15 at 11:57:26 a.m.

They are way above 35k ft until the terminal area around KSC.

Wed, 09 Mar 2011 10:48:58 AM EST Pilot Eric Boe started one auxiliary power unit just to ensure one is working for entry. Shortly before Discovery meets the upper edges of Earth's atmosphere, he'll activate the other two. The APUs provide power to the hydraulic system that operate the orbiter's steering surfaces. The crew is pulling out their entry checklist with about four minutes left until the deorbit burn.

Wed, 09 Mar 2011 10:04:19 AM EST Flight controllers already have given Flight Director Tony Ceccacci their go-ahead for the deorbit burn. The burn is scheduled for 10:52 a.m. Discovery and the STS-133 astronauts are "go" to return to Kennedy Space Center today with touchdown expected at 11:57:26 a.m.

Wed, 09 Mar 2011 09:52:54 AM EST With an hour left until the deorbit burn, the timeline calls for Discovery's astronauts to start strapping into their seats. Lindsey, of course, is flying home in the commander's seat on front left side of the flight deck. Pilot Eric Boe will sit beside him on the right. Behind them are Mission Specialists Alvin Drew and Nicole Stott. Below, on Discovery's middeck, are Mission Specialists Michael Barratt and Steve Bowen.

Kennedy Space Center's Shuttle Landing Facility (SLF) is the preferred landing site for every shuttle mission because it saves on processing time. Edwards Air Force Base in California is the shuttle's backup landing site, although a landing there requires a cross-country ferry flight aboard the Shuttle Carrier Aircraft, a modified Boeing 747. Because there's no calling off a landing after the deorbit burn, the flight director has to decide on a landing site about an hour and a half before touchdown. The SLF runway was designed specifically for space shuttles returning from orbit. Measuring 15,000 feet long and 300 feet wide, the paved runway is longer and wider than most commercial airport runways. Although there is only one physical runway here, it's considered two: Runway 33 is used for approaches from the southeast, and Runway 15 accommodates approaches from the northwest. Wind direction and speed are important factors when choosing a runway. NASA has selected Runway 15 for Discovery's landing today.

Space Shuttle Discovery Set to Return Home Tomorrow Morning Space shuttle Discovery and its six-member crew are scheduled to wrap up the STS-133 mission tomorrow, Wednesday, March 9, with a landing on KSC's Shuttle Landing Facility (SLF) runway at 11:57 a.m. The Spaceflight Meteorology Group at NASA's Johnson Space Center in Houston is predicting favorable weather. Live landing coverage originating from the SLF's Air Traffic Control Tower will begin at 8:30 a.m. on NASA's Landing Blog, http://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/shuttle/launch/landing_blog.html STS-133 is Discovery's final scheduled spaceflight. The shuttle first flew in 1984, and its storied past includes the deployment of NASA's Hubble Space Telescope, the first rendezvous with Russia's Mir space station, two return to flight missions and key International Space Station construction flights. Space Shuttle Endeavour Scheduled to Roll Out to Launch Pad 39A Tomorrow Evening Space shuttle Endeavour will make its last planned trek out to Launch Pad 39A from the Vehicle Assembly Building tomorrow, Wednesday March 9. The move, known as "rollout," is scheduled to begin at 8 p.m. Endeavour is being prepped for the STS-134 mission, which is targeted to launch April 19. The shuttle and its crew of six will carry the Alpha Magnetic Spectrometer-2 (AMS) and critical space parts to the International Space Station. The mission is scheduled to be the last for Endeavour, which first flew the STS-49 mission in May 1992. Endeavour's upcoming mission is commanded by Mark Kelly and piloted by Greg H. Johnson. The mission specialists are Michael Finke, Greg Chamitoff, Andrew Feustel and European Space Agency astronaut Roberto Vittori. The crew members are scheduled to be at KSC to witness their spacecraft's move to the seaside launch pad.

So, you run a tow truck now ?

Well, why don't we start with you. You have criticized guys in this forum. Why did you do it ? For the times that you wanted to criticize guys and didn't, why didn't you do it ? Kevin K.

Much like any post with your name on it. _____________________________________ Dude, you are so awesome... Can I be on your ash jump ?

This is so true. Unless you have experienced a high-g situation you can't believe how it feels to be inches from the door, but completely stuck to the floor and unable to move. Kevin K.

Nice video - 132 Space Shuttle launches in 132 seconds. http://www.cnn.com/video/data/2.0/video/us/2011/02/23/nat.132.launches.132.seconds.cnn.html

Heard before exit on an RW jump: "Slow is slow, fast is faster. If you don't get in, you're a rotten bastard." _____________________________________ Dude, you are so awesome... Can I be on your ash jump ?

Discovery, Weather Looking Good for Tomorrow's Launch During today's prelaunch news conference, NASA's mission management team gave unanimous approval to launch space shuttle Discovery tomorrow, Feb. 24, at 4:50 p.m. The weather forecast remains favorable, calling for an 80 percent chance of acceptable conditions at launch time. Discovery is scheduled to lift off for the last time, embarking on the 11-day STS-133 mission to deliver a new module, critical spare parts and Robonaut 2 to the International Space Station. The crew members are in medical quarantine at KSC, and will receive weather briefings and review flight procedures before suiting up and boarding Discovery for flight at about 1 p.m. tomorrow. Live countdown coverage from Firing Room 4 of KSC's Launch Control Center will begin with fueling commentary at 7:15 a.m. and continuous coverage begins at 11:30 a.m. on NASA TV. NASA’s Launch Blog, originating from Firing Room 3, also will begin at 11:30 a.m. For other countdown events and updates on Discovery's status, go to http://www.nasa.gov/shuttle. If you're looking for another avenue to feed your shuttle countdown appetite, follow along with KSC's social media accounts on Twitter, http://twitter.com/nasakennedy and Facebook, http://www.facebook.com/NASAKennedy.

I agree - a few layers of thin thermals are way better than the bulk of a jacket. Wearing a jacket outside your jumpsuit can be a problem due to gear interference. Kevin K. _____________________________________ Dude, you are so awesome... Can I be on your ash jump ?