Night shuttle launch may be seen on East Coast

[Lochloosa]

For you night birds. Launch is 4:37 AM Sunday Morning.

Should be quite a show.

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/35259167/ns/technology_and_science-space/



People in the eastern United States will get a great opportunity, weather permitting, to see the space shuttle Endeavour launched into orbit early on Sunday morning, Feb. 7. And it will also likely be the very last opportunity ever to see a space shuttle blast off at night.

This flight (STS-130) will be the 32nd to rendezvous and dock with the International Space Station (ISS). It is the first of NASA's five final shuttle missions this year before the fleet is retired in the fall.

Out of the 129 previous shuttle launches, 29 have occurred in complete darkness. The very first night launch of a space shuttle (Challenger) was STS-8, which took place on Aug. 30, 1983. There have also been seven Shuttle launches that occurred during twilight, four at dawn and three at dusk.

[Dr.Phool]

1. I thought it was tomorrow morning.

Ooops.

The last night launch, at midnight, I could see it to main engine cut-off, on the Gulf Coast, by Tampa.

Awesome!

[gorfle]

2. When is the last shuttle launch going to be?

I'd like to go down and see the last one take off. It probably marks the end of America's manned space flight.

[Lochloosa]

3. September 16, 2010 Space Shuttle Discovery

http://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/shuttle/shuttlemissions/sts133/index.html

[gorfle]

4. thanks! n/t

.