Last ever Shuttle Launch...

[petermcleland]

NASA Television Now in HD
NASA TV now has a full-time HD Channel available at no cost to cable and satellite service providers. Live coverage of space shuttle missions, on-orbit video of Earth captured by astronauts aboard the International Space Station, and rocket launches of advanced scientific spacecraft are among the programming offered on NASA HD. Also available are imagery from NASA’s vast array of space satellites, as well as media briefings, presentations by expert lecturers, astronaut interviews and other special events, all in the improved detail and clarity of high-definition.

Picture is in 16:9 format and looks great, even on my 4:3 screen:-

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

[Paul K]

Tuned in about 11 minutes before launch, and it was quite something to watch live in HD. Very glad I watched this last launch, and history being made; thanks very much Peter.

[airboatr]

Bon Voyage Baby

Watched it from KLNA on NASA TV Peter, No visual from here due to cloud cover though

[Chris Trott]

Watched the launch and had a big sigh when the call of "Hold, Hold, Hold, we have a failure," from the MTD at T-31 seconds (that was intentional too since at T -31 seconds they hand over computer control to the STS) for the friggin' beenie cap not showing fully retracted. Thankfully they got a camera turned around and confirmed it was really retracted and out of the way, so they were able to make it with a couple minutes still left in the launch window. Would've sucked to have to wait until Sunday for the launch.

Glad this one went without any major hitches beyond the lightning strike inspection yesterday and this morning. Next step, docking on Sunday with the ISS.

[FlyTexas]

Glad they got away before the weather went sour...it was a beautiful launch. Got a little misty-eyed watching her liftoff for the last time.

Brian

[Chris Trott]

Yeah, it kinda got to me because the first STS launch I ever recorded was Atlantis launching Cassini to Saturn and it was kinda fitting to hear one last time the handoff just after liftoff to Houston and the call of "Roger Roll Atlantis" from the same CAPCOM who worked that flight (sorry, can't remember his name now, but the voice is unmistakeable). All 3 vehicles will be seeing a well deserved retirement after this final flight with Endeavour and Discovery already in process of decomissioning and safing for display, but it's still sad to see STS pass into history although Lockheed Martin, Boeing, and Space X seem well on their way to making sure we're not without a viable crew launch system for long.

[Dev One]

Yes, gets kinda heart wrenching, but it has lasted a lot longer than some other types.
I designed a body restraint that went up in the ESA Spacelab in the early 80's & a second time with a Canadian mission. Dont know which Orbiter took them though.
I always seem to be associated with end of lines or dead ends......Valiant, TSR2, C5A, F228, IAM, Jindivik & now Shuttle.....
Keith

[Chris Trott]

Everything has an end line Keith, never feel bad about that. When you designed the body restraint, no one knew where the end line of the Shuttle was, only that it'd come sometime. Everyone figured the B-52 would be at the "end line" after 10 or 15 years. It's not over 60 and still going strong. How could anyone have known that?