Comments on: Launched!

By: Anse

Anse — Tue, 30 Oct 2007 14:08:15 +0000

to Grand Lunar:

Thanx for the explanation! I’ll keep an eye on the SSMEs next time

By: Doug Keenan

Doug Keenan — Thu, 25 Oct 2007 14:22:53 +0000

“Almost boring” like the birth of a child is almost boring.

By: DennyMo

DennyMo — Thu, 25 Oct 2007 12:48:56 +0000

I think folks are making too big a deal over this “almost boring” issue. It was a metaphor, and, like most metaphors and similes, it is an exercise in “exagerration (sp?) for effect”. When someone is really really angry, we might refer to them as “mad as a bull”. Trust me, I’ve seen lots of angry bulls in my lifetime, and no human can wreak as much havoc as an angry bull. “Full of s__t”, c’mon, we know that’s not literal. (Unless it’s a burning paper bag on your front porch, but that’s a topic for next week…) So let’s all just relax, hit the “replay” button at NASA TV, and enjoy the view.

By: Grand Lunar

Grand Lunar — Wed, 24 Oct 2007 22:56:56 +0000

I saw the shuttle launch with my own eyes (as I posted in another blog entry). Very cloudy, but I at least managed to see the intial few seconds. Or more, given I’m about 60 miles or so away, and so it would take several seconds before the shuttle rises to where it can be seen from my POV.

To Anse,

I imagine you refer to the exhaust cloud from the rocket, yes?
The shuttle SRBs put out a lot of exhaust, due to the composition.
You may note that the SSMEs do not put out a lot, as it’s just hydrogen and oxygen.
Other chemical propellents are similar, in that not much of a visible exhaust (or flame for that matter) is produced.
An entry for this exists on Clavius.org.

By: Anse

Anse — Wed, 24 Oct 2007 22:18:08 +0000

Out of curiosity: Just watched the news about the launch of the chinese probe, and I didn’t see much vapour. How that? I’m not watching launches as a rule, but every shuttle seems to go with loads of it… Is this a matter of fuel, of size of the rocket, outer temperature, or is it just a hint that it is… FAKED? X-)=)…

Anse

By: KaiYeves

KaiYeves — Wed, 24 Oct 2007 20:10:16 +0000

“On the other hand, NASA TVâ€™s online video stream makes watching the launches accessible when the networks donâ€™t want to be bothered such such things. (Hooray for broadband!)”

Yeah, I caught it with my family on NASA TV. The TV news gave it five seconds. THAT is why the TV news is dying.
It would have been so hard to be a girl geek back in those Apollo days…

By: Crux Australis

Crux Australis — Wed, 24 Oct 2007 19:58:53 +0000

Oops, forgot that Google is my friend.