Page 2 - Space Shuttle Launch News Today

In the early morning hours of April 12, 1981, NASA launched its first Space Transportation System, or space shuttle, mission, carrying astronauts John Young and Robert Crippen into orbit.

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More than three decades after it broke apart and all seven people aboard were tragically killed, a piece of the wrecked space shuttle, the Challenger, was discovered at the bottom of the Atlantic Ocean off the coast of Florida.

>> first time i saw "columbia" and got close to it, my whole thought was, oh my god, its big. and this is going to go 17,500 miles per hour? >> more than half a million people crowded the beaches around cape kennedy this morning if witness firsthand the first space shuttle launch. >> t-minus ten, nine, eight, seven, six, five, four -- weve gone for main engine start -- >> we added a giant fuel tank to it and two solid rocket boosters that are the largest pop bottle rockets on the planet. when yo...

That this thing ever actually works. but they have fixed, it appears, that first hydrogen leak that they encountered on monday. so this is a new hydrogen leak in a different place. and you know, part of the reason that this is such a troublesome spot for nasa and the entire artemis team right now is because of liquid hydrogen itself. hydrogen is the smallest molecule in the universe. it is notoriously difficult to deal with because its so small, its, of course, very easy to leak. and so this is ...

And energy, and i know a lot of space enthusiasts around the world and here at kennedy space center are looking for a good launch here today. >> and i know artemis the twin sister of apollo. ultimately this is a preparation for a trip to mars. what more does nasa want to learn from the artemis missions? >> thats right. the first time we went to the moon back in the 60s it was about flags and footprints. we were in a race to beat the russians there. this time nasa is intent on creating a sustaine...

Nature is on our side as of now. nasa saying that weather conditions are 80% favorable for the start of this two hour window that begins at 8:33 eastern time this morning. but due to those delays that i mentioned, it looks as if this launch will happen more towards the back half of that two-hour window and towards the back half nasa says the weather doesnt look as good, only 60% favorable conditions. but the delays, the issues that the team has had to overcome so far hasnt stopped the excitement...

Prope pr pr propellants that fill that tank. theyre still targeting, but that may not be possible with the delays and the leaks. the weather is looking good at 8:30 in the morning in florida, but closer to 10:30, the end of the launch window, those showers start to come in. so its too soon to say if the rocket is going to go but a lot of excitement here. >> this is a big rocket, right. this is unlike anything weve ever seen before, am i right? >> reporter: it is the most powerful rocket thats ev...

With that said, nasa officials are very confident about this first launch attempt tomorrow morning at 8:33 a.m. eastern time. they say that the vehicle is performing beautifully so far on the launch pad and fredricka, perhaps even more impressive for florida in august is the fact that we have an 80% favorable weather conditions at the very beginning of that launch window. here is one of the lead test directors for the artemis program speaking about how hes feeling about this, this morning. >> my...

Workout, a lightning bolt came very close to the tower. thats what its designed to do, protect that all-important rocket. hopefully we believe the weather will clear up in time for a first attempted launch on monday. space force is expecting 70% favorable conditions by the time this rocket is set to lift off. about an hour ago all the artemis mission managers got together and held a briefing to see if all systems were good to go to proceed with this launch and they said yes. fredericka, as of no...