NASA's Orion powered on for the first time

[Eric Mc]

Do you know what time zone those times relate to?

Doh - I've just seen they state Eastern.

So that should be Plus 5 hours for us in the UK?

[MartG]

Yes, should be +5 for GMT

[ccr32]

MartG said:

Press kit released http://www.nasa.gov/sites/default/files/files/orio...

Good bit of train reading that - thanks for the link!

[funkyrobot]

60% chance of favourable weather for Thursday's launch:

http://baynews9.com/content/news/baynews9/news/art...

[Eric Mc]

I'm sure they'll be rather cautious with this first flight.

[MartG]

Yes - I don't think they'll launch if there's the slightest chance of a problem

[MartG]

http://spaceflightnow.com/2014/12/01/isolated-show...

[MartG]

[Eric Mc]

Press conference on at the moment states that the weather is actually improving.

They said last night that they have a very wide launch window for this flight - over two hours - so they are hopeful that even if there are some delays they should be able to get the launch off the ground.

[Eric Mc]

Nice also to hear that gene Kranz will be a guest of honour at Mission Control tomorrow.

[MartG]

Service structure rolled back ( further than it looks in the pic )

[funkyrobot]

Shame I'm at work today. Would love to have watched this.

I'll see if I can sneak a look.

[MartG]

Live coverage here http://www.nasa.gov/multimedia/nasatv/#.VIAtfDGsVI...

[Eric Mc]

I don't mind if people want to continue to use the original thread but the thread title relates to an event that happened over one year ago. Would it be possible for the thread title to be changed to something more appropriate for today's events - or maybe just more appropriate for the project in general - such as -

"NASA's Manned Orion Spacecraft - Updates"?

[Eric Mc]

Seems like they've got a new digital display clock at the visitor's viewing area. The old one had been there since the Shuttle began - at least.

[ccr32]

MartG said:

Live coverage here http://www.nasa.gov/multimedia/nasatv/#.VIAtfDGsVI...

Is it just spinning for anyone else, or is it the dodgy corporate wifi here blocking the video stream? Can't see anything at the moment...

[Simpo Two]

So I tried to find Obama's speech on Mars and the fist hit was 'UFO experts claim to have spotted rock resembling President Barack Obama's head'

[anonymous-user]

wow, check out the service module mass of Orion compared to Apollo!



Wonder where that enormous mass reduction comes from?

[Eric Mc]

Max_Torque said:

wow, check out the service module mass of Orion compared to Apollo!



Wonder where that enormous mass reduction comes from?

Newer composite materials.

Increased use of titanium

Lighter heatshield.

Use of solar power for onboard systems rather than fuel cells (which need large volumes of liquid hydrogen and helium and associated tanks and plumbing, valves etc.

[funkyrobot]

What were the flames that I just saw?

Edit - hang on, they are near the rocket, not on it. Camera angle.