Space Shuttle Endeavour STS-130 Launch

Space Shuttle Endeavour lifted off from Kennedy Space Center at 4:14EST early Monday morning (Feb. 8). It will deliver the Node 3 or Tranquility Module and the Cupola to the International Space Station. This STS-130 mission will feature 3 spacewalks and is planned to last 13 days. This is the first Shuttle launch in 2010 and the first of the last 5 Shuttle launches. Its the last planned night launch of the Space Shuttle programm. It marks the beginning of the 130th Shuttle mission and the 32nd to the ISS. This is Endeavours 24th launch.
We saw an uneventful ascent to orbit, all the calls you hear are nominal.

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[nighthauke]

If they are so concerned about the tiles on the shuttle getting damaged why do they launch at night? Having the cameras does not help much. Why is this the last night time launch?

[MrSweets1]

@nighthauke They have a lot of other opportunities to look at the tiles, for example the inspection with the OBSS or the RPM just before docking. So, they don't necessarily need those video images...

It's the last night launch, because the remaining 4 launches are targeted for daytimes.

[408train]

launch people not warheads

[mjmck88]

Good Luck STS-130!!!

[Cedimedi]

@TheMaxwell777 under the shuttle is also water... and that makes that huge smoke

[nakazatoGTR]

you fraks are all about global warming.

come on greeners, global warming is but a periodical cycle of the planet earth. the planet has gone through multiple ice ages and climate changes.

you greeners seem to make fools of everyone for personal gain, ie: popularity, profit etc, by making hem believe they are causes of this natural cycle.

[Teeags84]

@sethpoohbottom her voice is insanely sexy

[mach25man]

If I might ask, What problem was not solved with Ares ? And Falcon still has to prove itself. Private companies will make rockets on the cheap to make money and I dont believe they will be safer. All of the US rockets Atlas, Delta, Shuttle old Titan can use solids. None of them are safe ?

The last Titan that blew up was a battery spark that ignited the liquid fuel. Each design has its pro's and con's. Each of them is 99 plus percent reliable. Falcon's percentage looks bad right now.

[mach25man]

Liquid hydrogen and oxygen burn clean. Main engines on shuttle burn clean. Kerosene or RP1 burns dirty. Solids burn dirty. The fuel used depends on what your trying to accomplish with that particular rocket. Its all about specific impulse or how much bang you get for the buck. Some rockets use a combination on different stages.

[comprehende]

@TheMaxwell777 kind of ironic i guess ...

[sethpoohbottom]

I don't want to sound sexist but the female voice on this video sounds like an air hostess. Endeavour is now traveling to fast to return to Kennedy in the event of an engine failure - may I serve you a coffee with that?

[ti994apc]

In addition, liquid fueled engine can be turned off. Once you light a solid rocket engine and can not be stopped. In Falcon9's case, any one of its 9 engines can be stopped during flight. Falcon 9 use the best aspects of Soyuz and Apollo.  Other issues include the fact the solid rocket fuel is temperature sensitive. No Soyuz (liquid fueled) launch was ever scrubbed (that I know of) because it was under 42 degrees outside.

[ti994apc]

I could give you a 1000 reasons why Falcon is safer. Here is the basics: Falcon9 is liquid fueled. That means you have a chance to eject in an explosion. Solid rocket fuel shoots molten chucks of debris in every directionn that burns for a long time after the explosion. There is no viable escape system with solid rocket engines. This problem was never solved with Nasa's Ares I. If you get a chance go on youtube and watch the Delta II solid rocket fuel explosion.

[ToddBradley]

@ti994apc What makes you think Falcon9 and Dragon are going to be so safe?