T-9 and Counting

The ice constraint has been cleared, and the bird is go for launch. The count picks up at -9, and I'm QSY to a larger TV screen.

T-9 and Holding

If anyone wonders, the T-9 hold is longer than usual. Launch is still on schedule for 1801:56 UTC. This optimum launch time changes slightly as Hubble's orbit is tracked. The window for a launch actually lasts until 1843 UTC.

Count resumes at 1752:56 UTC.

Preliminary examination of the ice team's photos indicates no constraint, but needless to say there'll have to be a meeting on this.

Freedom Star Now On 6751 USB

3 hours ago, Allan Stern in FL heard Cape Radio and DoD Cape go to 6751.0 for range comm with Freedom Star.

STS-125 Remains on Schedule

NASA just exited the planned T-20 hold, and has resumed count toward a 2:01:57 EDT launch of the space shuttle mission STS-125 to the Hubble telescope.

At 1700 UTC, NASA TV shows an ice team examining icing on a LH2 return line. If this becomes too large, it's a no go for launch.

Cape Radio at Cape Canaveral Air Force Station has been heard working Booster Recovery Vessel Freedom Star on 5711 and 10780 kHz USB.

STS-125 Launch Scheduled Monday

The Hubble repair mission is scheduled to launch, if all goes well, on Monday, May 11, at 1401 Eastern or 1801 UTC. As always, radio traffic downrange will start the night before, on the usual NASA frequencies.

From the NASA press release:

NASA will provide online updates at:

http://www.nasa.gov/shuttle

A webcast May 10 at noon will start the in-depth online coverage of the mission. Host Damon Talley of NASA's Digital Learning Network and correspondent Rebecca Sprague will preview the mission and examine the remarkable history and discoveries the Hubble observatory has made. Astrophysicist Mario Livio of the Hubble Space Telescope Science Institute will discuss the telescope's impact beyond the scientific community.

A blog will provide launch countdown updates beginning at 8:30 a.m. May 11. Originating from the Launch Control Center at NASA's Kennedy Space Center, the blog is the definitive Internet source for information leading up to launch.

During the STS-125 mission, visitors to NASA's shuttle Web site can read about the astronauts' progress and watch their five spacewalks live. Also, updates will be provided to the NASA News Twitter feed.

To access the feed, visit:

http://www.twitter.com/nasa

As Atlantis' flight wraps up, NASA will update a blog detailing the spacecraft's return to Earth.