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by WTVT_Emily from Fox 13, Tampa

Last Post 73 days, 17 hours Ago


MyFoxTampaBay coverage of the space shuttle Discovery launch
Dec 9, 2006 | 8:23 AM
Category: News
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Weather just wouldn't cooperate for Thursday's scheduled launch of the space shuttle Discovery, so NASA will try again on Saturday. Launch time is set for 8:47 p.m., and I'll be at the Cape to give you the latest on the preparations right up to launch time. Check back here for updates throughout the day on Saturday. And remember, you can watch the launch, should it happen, live on FOX 13 as well as here on myfoxtampabay.com!
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WTVT_Emily read my blog view my photos
Dec 9, 2006 | 2:28 PM

4:18 p.m.-- Well, it's a beautiful, sunny day here at the Cape, and preparations are underway for NASA's second attempt at a launch. which is set to happen at 8:47. Weather is still a concern-- our own veteran space reporter Warren Elly is here with me, and he says that the problem tonight will be winds. Cross winds can't be higher than about 17 knots at launch time, and they're expected to be higher than that. But, as we learned on Thursday night's attempt, things can change pretty quickly so we'll see.

Right now, the astronauts are busy suiting up, and soon they'll head out to the pad to board Discovery. NASA officials are certainly hoping to get Discovery off the ground tonight, since it costs them a little over $500,000 for every scrubbed launch.

Check back for more....
WTVT_Emily read my blog view my photos
Dec 9, 2006 | 3:25 PM

5:18 p.m.-- I'm just back from watching the astronauts drive out to the launch pad aboard the astrovan. Now, they're boarding Discovery one by one. Check the photo gallery on our news page for photos of that shortly.

The odds are getting better for NASA that the launch will actually go off without a hitch tonight. With just a little more than three hours to go, the probability of launch has been upgraded to 40 percent from 30 percent. The clouds aren't really a huge concern at this point-- now meteorologists are keeping an eye out for the dreaded cross winds that could keep Discovery on the ground. They tell us that 15 knots is their standard maximum wind for a launch, but we're hearing they could actually go to 16 or 17 knots safely. We'll see if they make that call.

More to come soon as things begin to buzz here in the press center...
WTVT_Emily read my blog view my photos
Dec 9, 2006 | 5:22 PM

7:07 p.m.-- Great news for Discovery! Air Force meteorologist Sgt. Matt Timmerman says there's now a 70 percent chance for launch tonight as scheduled at 8:47!

Warren Elly, satellite truck operator Mak, and videographer Mark Zewalk and I are just back from grabbing a quick dinner across the way at NASA's cafeteria. It's really a little strange to eat dinner surrounded by astronauts, but it's different in the sense that most places we go for media events, the press is isolated from everyone else. Here, everyone is the same-- at least at dinner time.

The excitement is really beginning to build, at least for me. I don't think I've mentioned this in earlier blogs today and Thursday, but I've never seen a launch in person (except from all the way across the state). And from what I'm told, night launches are amazing.

The crew hatch is closed and NASA reports everything is going as scheduled. Don't forget-- you can watch the launch live on our website tonight!

Check back for more in a bit...
WTVT_Emily read my blog view my photos
Dec 9, 2006 | 6:07 PM

8:00 p.m.-- All systems go! Everything looks good for a launch in less than an hour. That includes the weather, which of course has plagued NASA all week. But, they say now that everything looks good here at KSC and at the abort landing sites around the globe.

Right now we're in the final hold at T-9 minutes. It's the last hold before launch. Exact launch time, NASA says, is 8:47:35.

The live stream is in progress on our site-- check it out! I'll have more following the launch, and before that, should there be any change to the shuttle's green status.
WTVT_Emily read my blog view my photos
Dec 9, 2006 | 7:28 PM

9:08 p.m.-- If you've never seen a shuttle launch in person, put it on your list of things to do. Immediately.

It was gone within just a matter of a few minutes, but for the time that Discovery was visible, it was a sight to be seen. When the clock finally ticked down to zero, the sky lit up like a fireball.

Discovery roared off the launch pad, and for about 10 seconds all I heard were the ohs and ahs coming from the journalists around me (yes, it still amazes them). But within about five or six seconds, the sound was overwhelming. It was so loud, the ground shook. My camera shook. I shook. Everything shook.

Just as quickly as it came to life, it was gone. But I can promise you that seeing a launch like that-- at night-- is one of the most spectacular things I have ever seen. If you think it's amazing on video, you should see it in person.

I'm uploading pictures from the launch now. Check them out on my blog shortly.

Thanks for following along with MyFoxTampaBay for tonight's perfect launch!
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WTVT_Emily

I'm the morning web producer at FOX 13. I'm a 2006 USF grad (go Bulls!), and my TV career started as a producer in our sports department. Now, I'm proud to be part of the team that brings you MyFoxTampaBay.com.

Member Since: 6/30/2006


 

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