Shuttle Discovery at 19 minutes to launch on hold due to rain

[csziggy]

It's scheduled to launch at 1:36 AM ET but there are showers in the area, so they may not be able to watch. I'm watching live on NASA Channerl, so no link.

This is the shuttle with the Colbert Treadmill!

Stephen Colbert 'Go' for Space Shuttle Launch
By Tariq Malik
Managing Editor
posted: 24 August 2009
09:03 pm ET

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. - Comedian Stephen Colbert is go for the space shuttle Discovery's Tuesday launch, even if he can't watch the spacecraft send a treadmill named after him into orbit with his own two eyes.

NASA invited Colbert, host of Comedy Central's "The Colbert Report," to watch Discovery's launch at 1:36 a.m. EDT (0536 GMT), but the comedian was unable to attend. Instead, he sent NASA a recorded video message urging astronauts to take advantage of the new COLBERT treadmill that is carrying his name to the International Space Station.

NASA named the treadmill COLBERT, short for the lengthy moniker Combined Operational Load Bearing External Resistance Treadmill, earlier this year after the comedian won an online poll to name a new space station room after him. NASA opted to name the new module Tranquility, after the Apollo 11 moon base, instead. But as a consolation, Colbert got his name - and face - on a new treadmill for the space station's gym.

While Colbert lamented losing the space station room, he took some solace knowing that his treadmill will help keep flabby astronauts healthy.

"Let's face it, being weightless is mostly just a desperate bid to get away from the bathroom scale every morning," he said.

More: http://www.space.com/missionlaunches/090824-sts128-colbert-message.html

[bridgit]

1. Good one, NASA TV streaming link:

http://www.nasa.gov/multimedia/nasatv/index.html

[csziggy]

2. Thanks for posting that link!

::hi:

[johnnie]

3. Looks like a go

[csziggy]

4. Maybe not - Houston no go, somebody else no go.

Looks like a scrub for today. Dang.

They were on hold but continuing as long as they could just in case the weather cleared.

Edited to add - next window tomorrow at 01:10.

[johnnie]

5. No

Looks like they are scrapping it

[johnnie]

6. Tomorrow evening

Hope they do it while I'm at work. I work out here at NASA Glenn and pulling 2nd shift. So if they do it tomorrow night, I'll be able to watch in our control room.

[Maru Kitteh]

7. Bummer. I love night launches.

[Posteritatis]

8. They're trying again at 1:10am Eastern tomorrow, so there's another shot at one (nt)