US
Grounded: Endeavour Space Shuttle Launch Cancelled
- Posted on April 29, 2011 at 12:35pm by
Jonathon M. Seidl
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CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. (AP) — NASA has called off Friday’s launch of space shuttle Endeavour because of a heater failure.
Commander Mark Kelly and his crew were on their way to the launch pad, when NASA halted the countdown. The astronauts’ van did a U-turn, and returned the astronauts to crew quarters.
NASA spokesman George Dillard says the next try will be Sunday at the earliest.
NASA reported earlier that two heaters on an auxiliary power unit were not working. Engineers could not understand the problem, and the launch was halted.
Kelly is married to wounded congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords. She is already in Cape Canaveral. President Barack Obama planned to watch the launch but had not yet arrived.
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Comments (64)
joey g
Posted on April 29, 2011 at 11:38pmmabe they could take obumer with them….hahahahahah
Report Post »GiGi80
Posted on April 29, 2011 at 7:02pm@CATB “Yes that is why I didn’t drive across the state to watch it live … I knew Obama would “screw” it up somehow. ”
Report Post »And how, exactly, did Obama screw up the shuttle launch? You people lose all credibility with these knee-jerk reactions. Why don‘t you thoughtfully and clearly articulate your criticism of Obama’s policies, instead of just blurting out nonsensical comments?
GiGi80
Posted on April 29, 2011 at 6:56pmYour mother must be so proud of you . . .
Report Post »packrbackr
Posted on April 29, 2011 at 6:04pmMulti task, strap Obama on the wing on do a fly over Alabama, with BO in charge after the riots all of America will look like it.
Report Post »quicker
Posted on April 29, 2011 at 5:23pmYa you gotta lotta class.HEY dipweed death is never funny.Suppose that was someone you loved .Not quite so funny is it.
Report Post »TheBeezKnow
Posted on April 29, 2011 at 3:13pm@ Snow
Report Post »True. I live in an area that was devastated by Ike. But, I guess we aren‘t Obama voters so you’ll never hear about how this region is doing since or the recovery process. Actually, the recovery went well. I guess more people were clamoring to recover south east Texas unlike New Orleans.
quicker
Posted on April 29, 2011 at 4:48pmSure was funny though when Greraldo R got knocked on his can .I live here also.
Report Post »TheBeezKnow
Posted on April 29, 2011 at 3:07pmThey should rename the title: Grounded: Failure to launch has Obama ecstatic!
Report Post »moosebeeusa
Posted on April 29, 2011 at 2:44pmLike the new rules for the airlines. Do the astronauts get a full refund on thier tickets? lol
Report Post »Thevoice
Posted on April 29, 2011 at 2:06pmAll you evil conservatives just don’t relize dear chairman Obama has a plan. He is saving the last space shuttle as a way off the planet with Al Gore, Louie Farrakhan,Rachel Maddow, Barbara Boxer, Nancy Pelosi, Rev Jessie Jackson, Ed Schultz,Auntie Oprah, pig nose Waxman,Al Sharpton,George Sorors, Tom Hartman, Bill Mahe and in the cargo bay a whole host of gay and lesesbian, trans sexual and liberal supporters. .He is planning on setting up the new world order on planet “O” A special keep liberal secret. There they will use the stored embroies of only progressive to recolonize . You evil conservatives just wait….. it’s going to be a great place….No pollution no climate change and no big evil conservative business…
Report Post »Thevoice
Posted on April 29, 2011 at 2:24pmAnd no longer will us progressive liberal people have to endure not having all our basic human rights….That’s Right Chairman Obama our fearless leader has written all the basic human rights in his book “Wet dreams of my Daddy” …You just wait…. all you evil conservatives will be left on planet earth with your green house gases…While us the great and knowing progressives will live working only for the good of the entire collective.. Our pledge of allegiance… I pledge allegiance to Hope and change ..to the collective for what it stands ..one world under the hope and change to move forward into the hope and change..for the hope and change forever…You wait it’s going to be great..
Report Post »nacilbuper
Posted on April 29, 2011 at 1:48pmHeater, it’s like 90 degrees in Florida.
Report Post »GiGi80
Posted on April 29, 2011 at 1:55pmUmm . . . the shuttle doesn’t just circle around 500 feet over Florida. If you don’t understand why “heaters” are important on an aircraft, try walking out onto the wing next time you fly.
Report Post »Chris
Posted on April 29, 2011 at 9:08pmThe problem is with the hearers on the hydrazine tank(s) that supply the auxiliary power units. The APUs provide power to move the flight surfaces during launch and landing. When they are on orbit the tanks would get cold enough for the hydrazine to freeze without the heaters. That would be a problem for entry and landing since they couldn‘t start the APUs and wouldn’t have any power for the flight surfaces.
Report Post »Bushie
Posted on April 29, 2011 at 1:37pmKeep Barry out of Florida please, he pollutes the air.
Report Post »GiGi80
Posted on April 29, 2011 at 1:53pmAgain, classy. And insightful.
Report Post »ALISSTER
Posted on April 29, 2011 at 1:28pmFLASH!!
Obama in the latest press release says to make Alabama it into the worlds largest golf course.
Report Post »ZiaStorm
Posted on April 29, 2011 at 1:25pmToo bad. Weird that O is planning to be there since his admin are the ones that evicerated NASA. You’d think he would be embarrassed.
Report Post »beebacksoon
Posted on April 29, 2011 at 5:41pmHe wants to be there to GLOAT. I’m sure every czar, commission, task force or other ‘human” that had something to do with this will be gloating, too.
Report Post »And Google is waiting for more office space.
Sister_Mary
Posted on April 29, 2011 at 1:10pmI feel for the Gabbie but I sure hope we the taxpayers, are not paying for all her trips. I know she is a congresswomen but this trip was not for “business” purposes.
Report Post »GiGi80
Posted on April 29, 2011 at 1:35pmI sure hope that we taxpayers are not paying for any of your meds or other expenses.
Report Post »Mackerel
Posted on April 29, 2011 at 1:08pmObama’s head was taking up too much airspace.
Report Post »Mr. Nice Guy
Posted on April 29, 2011 at 1:07pmI was lucky enough to see the launch of Discovery on its first mission. Amazing thing to witness. It’s sad to see the end of the shuttle program.
Too bad it’s not part of Winning The Future. Thank you, Mr. President, for all you do for us.
Report Post »Hisemiester
Posted on April 29, 2011 at 2:21pmNo, no, no not for us, to us. Thank you for all the good things you do to us.
Report Post »OUTRIDER WRITER
Posted on April 29, 2011 at 1:05pmNo launch today? How surprising.
Report Post »Sadly, however, is the near future when we won’t have a launch to cancel or postpone.
W@nd@
Posted on April 29, 2011 at 1:02pmthink it has to do with the low cloud ceiling and if there was an abort and they sight in to land the shuttle…the low thick clouds hinder this was what i heard…
Report Post »GiGi80
Posted on April 29, 2011 at 1:35pmReally? I swear that at least half the people who get their “news” from this site only read the headlines. “Reading” is too much like that damned intellectual elitism, I guess. The article includes an explanation of why the launch has been postponed: “NASA reported earlier that two heaters on an auxiliary power unit were not working. Engineers could not understand the problem, and the launch was halted.”
Report Post »TheGreyPiper
Posted on April 29, 2011 at 7:37pmHee hee, the trolls are potshotting each other!
Report Post »trooper
Posted on April 29, 2011 at 12:52pmMaybe they cancelled it because Obama was out there waiting for the launch, I would have put it off for 45 Min. 6 or 8 times before I said “sorry no launch today”.
Report Post »GiGi80
Posted on April 29, 2011 at 12:54pmYes — that would show real class, not to mention patriotism.
Report Post »GiGi80
Posted on April 29, 2011 at 12:52pmThe launch was postponed, not canceled. Words mean things, even in the headlines on a pretend news site.
Report Post »(And — preemptively — the preferred spelling is “canceled” with one “l”)
wordweaver
Posted on April 29, 2011 at 1:45pmYep, concur. Sloppy word choice – or was it a headline writer’s deliberate act to grab attention. Either way, you sure see it more and more often these days.
Report Post »GiGi80
Posted on April 29, 2011 at 12:50pmThe launch was postponed, not canceled. Words mean things, even in headlines.
Report Post »(And — preemptively — the preferred spelling is “canceled” with one “l”)
TOMSERVO
Posted on April 29, 2011 at 12:59pmWait, words mean things? Now THAT’S crazy talk.
Report Post »Hawt'n'secksie
Posted on April 29, 2011 at 4:11pmThey aren’t much for proofreading at The Blaze. Even the comment policy has mistakes.
Report Post »pappy
Posted on April 30, 2011 at 5:37amGIGI80 – You’ll never have a career in politics with an attitude like that…. Hmmph… wurds mean stuff… how silly.
Report Post »TheAmericanRifleman
Posted on April 29, 2011 at 12:46pmGod stopped the launch because he’s going to give me the desire of my heart of witnessing the last one.
Report Post »Gonzo
Posted on April 29, 2011 at 1:48pmWoah man, you should ask for the powerball numbers.
Report Post »Lee_in_PA
Posted on April 29, 2011 at 12:44pmCancelled and postponed are not the same thing. Which is it?
Report Post »Deane
Posted on April 29, 2011 at 1:06pm72hr postponement at least according to NASA TV
Report Post »cemerius
Posted on April 29, 2011 at 1:18pmon hold for at least 48 hours….of course depending on tee times…..
Report Post »J.C. McGlynn
Posted on April 29, 2011 at 12:41pmCould not understand why the heaters were not working?
Report Post »I am a car mechanic and I know. Something is broke and needs repair.
Snowleopard {gallery of cat folks}
Posted on April 29, 2011 at 5:06pmOne more fine example of a government project at work?
Report Post »pappy
Posted on April 30, 2011 at 5:34amJ.C. – C’mon down to NASA…. There’s a job waiting here for ya. You sound like you know more than the techs that built it.
Report Post »Bring your tools……
orangeelephant
Posted on April 30, 2011 at 9:16am@J.C.Mcglynn….You made me spit my coffee out my nose.
Report Post »Sam Brown
Posted on April 29, 2011 at 12:40pmThey didn’t want to launch it without Obama there. He is in Al. showing he cares about the tornado victims for the media. When he is done they will launch the shuttle as he will be there. Politics.
Sam
Report Post »Brad Wesselmann
Posted on April 29, 2011 at 12:53pmSadly, that is where the good money is…I wonder if the Taggert Tunnel will collapse on them in their haste to launch the last shuttle. ;-)
Report Post »the_zazzy
Posted on April 29, 2011 at 12:53pmI thought he was vacationing in AL??? It has been a while since his last one!
Report Post »W@nd@
Posted on April 29, 2011 at 12:59pmhe cares for the photo opp…period
Report Post »how come obama did not fly to texas
when he went to chicago
swing by texas to see their devastation
so govt could act on their emergency situation
Could it be the potus is showing favoritism…
by making them wait for the funds…hmmm hmmm hmmm
but flys to AL to show (photo op) how much he cares!
another gut crosswise moment for me concering this “caring?” potus…
can you splain that to me again
your first excuse does not make sense to me..
I thought you were the potus of all 50 states
but evidently it is on a scratch my back and ill scratch yours basis
Gov Perry’s spur must have dug in a little too deep
so you show him and his state…make em wait….
I guess that makes you about the most petty pres in the history of this country…
maybe one day all will see you for what you rally are…
TOMSERVO
Posted on April 29, 2011 at 1:02pm@TheZazzy “vacationing” at locations destroyed by catastrophic storms and tornadoes? Sounds nice
Report Post »Deane
Posted on April 29, 2011 at 1:02pm@the_zazzy…no no you misunderstood, he heard there was golf balls size hail in AL and thought he’d take his clubs and go hit a few
Report Post »Rothbardian_in_the_Cleve
Posted on April 29, 2011 at 1:05pmNo, actually it is the new Endeavour Volt and they are waiting on it to finish charging up. Evidently, it will use solar power to charge up to come home.
Report Post »cycloid
Posted on April 29, 2011 at 1:26pmOur Dual Allegiance non-citizen President was taking advantage of the AL catastrophe for a photo op. He doesn’t care to help any real citizens. What about Texas’ request more than 2 weeks ago. Thin-skinned ODual won’t even respond.
Report Post »CatB
Posted on April 29, 2011 at 2:00pmYes that is why I didn’t drive across the state to watch it live … I knew Obama would “screw” it up somehow. Funny it took him WEEKS to get to the Gulf after the oil spill .. but then he wasn’t campaigning then!
Report Post »Snowleopard {gallery of cat folks}
Posted on April 29, 2011 at 2:30pmInteresting the shuttle did not launch, understandably though, for such a complex machine the safety of the crew is a absolute priority. So any delay in the smallest of manners concerning procedures and the slim tolerance windows they allow is okay.
As for Obama in AL, that is pure politics, he refuses to aid TX in any way when asked. So we again can see where his true motives lay at.
Report Post »right-wing-waco
Posted on April 29, 2011 at 4:22pmActually Michele Obama thought they said “tomatoes”, not tornadoes, and thus she made Bama go there instead of the launch.
Report Post »beebacksoon
Posted on April 29, 2011 at 5:20pmHe went to AL because it was on his way to FL. See? He’s trying to show Americans he can save fuel, too! Is that solar fuel, BHO? Is it ethenol fuel, BHO? Or perhaps AFO propels on wind power. Hmm.
Report Post »Americans in turmoil, whether it is from natural causes, or not (911), thoughts and prayers are always given by all the other Americans, and those Americans don‘t wait for the gov’t to jump in. They round up supplies; or donate money, clothes, food, etc.; or just jump in their big ol’ SUV, VAN, or TRUCK and Go, Go, Go!
staggerlee32
Posted on April 29, 2011 at 10:37pmYeah, “O” goes to AL. were he may win…. Gov. Perry in TX. has been asking “O” for 2 wks to declare a state of emergency in TX. for the wild fires….. hasn’t heard a peep from the WH. Texas doesn’t need “O”…. if “O” gets any votes in Texas in 2012 they have to be the dumbest people on the planet and deserve to have gnashing of teeth.
Report Post »Armed Patriot
Posted on April 30, 2011 at 9:28amnobama, late again because he was busy campaigning.
Report Post »Blazer334
Posted on April 30, 2011 at 7:11pmActually, Obama was going to be there for the launch, and would have with plenty of time to spare had it not been cancelled. I would tend to think that NASA is trying to drag out the time frame for the final two launches so that maybe the new Republican congress and President coming in 2013 would extend the Shuttle program for a few more years, giving the space agency more time to get the Orion project off the ground and NOT have to rely on the Russians to get people to and from the space station.
Report Post »