STS-127 Is Away

Well, it is once again launch day. It is the sixth attempt by NASA to launch STS-127. To summarize, here is the results from the first 5 attempts:

June 13: Hydrogen leak

June 17: Hydrogen leak

July 11: Delayed 24 hours to check for lightning damage

July 12: Delayed 24 hours due to weather

July 13: Delayed 24 hours due to weather

We decided to stay home this time and watch from our neighborhood. I waited until the countdown reached and cleared the T-9 minute hurdle that tripped it up on the past two attempts. Once it did, I grabbed the camera and the compass and headed for the lake nearby. Based on my Google Earth planning, Kennedy Space Center is due north of our house. Accounting for magnetic variation, I expected to point the camera slightly right of magnetic north.

At the lake, I set up my camera and pointed it slightly east of north. Susan walked along and found a "better" spot, so I moved a bit to the east. Then she found an "even better" spot, so I moved again. While setting up again, I heard her say, "There it is". I shot off a few rounds on the camera as I watched the shuttle disappear behind the overcast, never to be seen again.

By the time we got back home and back to NASA TV on the computer, we got to watch the shuttle separate from the external fuel tank. Looking at my photos, I got nothing - not surprisingly. Maybe I'll get lucky and get to see/hear it return.