Saturday, December 09, 2006

Shuttle Will Attempt Launch Saturday Night

Latest dispatch from the KSC mailing list:

Mission: STS-116 - 20th International Space Station Flight (12A.1) -
P5 Truss Segment
Vehicle: Discovery (OV-103)
Location: Launch Pad 39B
Launch Date: Dec. 9, 2006, at 8:47 p.m. EST
Launch Pad: 39B
Crew: Polansky, Oefelein, Curbeam, Higginbotham, Patrick, Fuglesang
and Williams
Inclination/Orbit Altitude: 51.6 degrees/122 nautical miles

...
The orbiter's external fuel tank, which was drained of its liquid
hydrogen and liquid oxygen last night, will be re-filled on Saturday
at approximately 11 a.m., once the go-ahead is provided by the
Mission Management Team.

The current forecast for Saturday shows a 70 percent chance of weather
prohibiting the launch. The primary concerns are crosswinds at the
Shuttle Landing Facility, a low cloud ceiling and isolated showers.
The temperature at launch time is forecast to be 63 degrees, with 90
percent relative humidity.

There are two solid rocket booster recovery ships that are deployed
prior to each launch. The Freedom Star, which was positioned just off
the coast of Cape Canaveral, is back in port and will depart Saturday
at noon if the go-ahead is given for launch. The Liberty Star, which
is positioned 140 miles northeast of Cape Canaveral, remains at sea
awaiting the Saturday launch attempt.


[See below for BRV/DOD Cape/Cape Radio comm reports]