We (Finally) Have Liftoff!

Space Shuttle Endeavour heads for International Space Station

It took six tries, but the space shuttle Endeavour finally experienced a successful countdown and liftoff. My brother Bailey and I attended a launch party in Austin, Texas, on Wednesday for our friend, Astronaut Tim Kopra, who is on board the Endeavour. The shuttle is expected to arrive and dock at the International Space Station (ISS) today.

We ate nachos, ice cream, and cake as we waited once again for NASA to give the launch clearance. Three other times, the shuttle launch was scrubbed because of a gas leak. Bailey and I were at the Kennedy Space Center for the first three attempts. The next two attempts we experienced in Austin. Bad weather got in the way of those launches.

The party in Austin, was held by some of Kopra's high school friends and families. He went to school in Austin with my mom. We were all very excited to be able to finally see the launch after so many delays.

As Endeavour lifted off, we all sat in silence and watched in awe. Some people had tears in their eyes. We kept asking each other, “I wonder what the astronauts are thinking now? I wonder what they are doing right now?”

We are all extremely happy for Tim. He is going to be part of the first six-person crew on the ISS..  And we are very eager to get a chance to talk to him now that he is in space. We have a special email address just for him, while he is living on the Space Station. (That's got to be one of the coolest email address in the whole universe!)

This morning, I read on Twitter that the crew’s wake up song was “These Are Days” by the 10,000 Maniacs. My mom wasn’t surprised by this choice of music. She says Tim has always loved the 10,000 Maniacs, and Natalie Merchant.

I am currently following the leader of the mission, Mark Polanski, and reading his tweets from space. You can too. His Twitter account is Astro_127.

As soon as Tim gets to the ISS he will make his first walk in space! Then we are going to link up to his email and we will let you know more soon!

—Mason Pownall

PHOTO: Expedition 20 Commander Gennady Padalka uses a computer in the Zvezda service module of the International Space Station as he prepares to welcome the crew of the space shuttle Endeavour. Credit: NASA

Launch is Off Again!

On again off again space shuttle launch now set for July 11.

Launch managers call it a scrub when they cancel a launch. The space shuttle Endeavour has been scrubbed twice now.

It's 2 a.m. and my brother Mason and I are at Kennedy Space Center in Florida, hoping to see the 5:40 a.m. shuttle launch. It was originally scheduled for Saturday, but delayed because of a gas leak.

The fuel tanks were drained and the leak worked on, but to no avail. As the space shuttle crew prepared for launch, NASA had to scrub it again. The leak was back and STS-127 has been delayed once again.

We arrived early this morning and went through two different security and bag checks. Hundreds of people are here with us and they are all disappointed. Of course, there are not nearly as many people here now as there were Saturday. Not everyone could stay for the rescheduled launch.

Here are some of the comments we heard as soon as the second delay was announced:

"You've got to be kidding!" "Now we'll never see a launch!"

According to one of the security guards we talk to, seeing a launch up close is a very special experience.

NASA TV will provide more information in about an hour we have been told. You can log on to NASA TV and watch (if you're up this late!)

A lunar orbiter scheduled for launch on Thursday should go ahead as scheduled. A new date is now set for Jully 11 at 7:39 p.m.  ET.

—Bailey Pownall

Photo: At NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida, space shuttle Endeavour is bathed in light as it awaits its early-morning liftoff at Launch Pad 39A. The launch was scrubbed around 2 a.m. Image credit: NASA TV

A Silver Space Shuttle Lining

Follow the space shuttle launch on Twitter at 5 a.m. Wednesday!

A few days ago, the space shuttle Endeavour was scheduled to launch on a trip to the International Space Station (ISS). Unfortunately, the mission was delayed from Saturday until Wednesday, June 17, at 5:40 a.m. because of a gas leak.

The delay illustrates how important each component of the space shuttle is in a launch. If just one little part malfunctions, it affects the entire mission. Sure, it’s pretty disappointing for everyone who went to so much preparation to see the launch. But it’s all for the astronauts’ safety, and NASA does not want to take any chances.

There's always a bright side! Because of an unexpected free day, my brother Bailey and I spent the morning shopping and looking around the town of Cocoa and Cocoa Beach. Interesting fact: Cocoa Beach is where the 1970’s TV sitcom, “I Dream of Jeannie,” was set. Major Anthony Nelson, who finds a genie in a bottle, was an astronaut.

We visited the famous Ron Jon Surf Shop, where we talked to a shop owner who mentioned that a delayed launch means more business. That's because a delayed launch means people like us with free time on their hands. Many of them find their way into his shop. That is a definitely silver lining for local shop owners!

Maybe my friend, Astronaut Tim Kopra, could find some comfort in that. Every day of delay for him is a day more in quarantine with his fellow astronauts, and one more day away from his family. But his dream to go into space is about to be realized.

Join me and Bailey early tomorrow morning as we Twitter the launch live from Kennedy Space Center in Florida!

—Mason Pownall

PHOTO: Mason and Bailey (hat) Pownall relaxing while waiting for the space shuttle Endeavour launch to be rescheduled. Photo Courtesy Mason and Bailey Pownall.

Space Shuttle Launch a Go!

Endeavor relaunch scheduled for 5:40 a.m. Wednesday.

The refueling of the space shuttle Endeavour will begin at 10 p.m. tonight (Tuesday). Then, if all goes well, it will blast off for the International Space Station (ISS) at 5:40 a.m. Wednesday morning.

My brother Mason and I have been watching the NASA Channel online while we are still in Florida. We traveled here from Texas to see the launch. We interviewed Astronaut Tim Kopra, who is traveling by shuttle to live on the ISS for three months. He will be part of the first six-person crew to live there!

When the launch was scrubbed due to a gas leak, we had a decision to make: how long to wait for the launch to be rescheduled before we had to go back home. So we started watching the NASA channel for news.

I learned that the main problem with rescheduling the launch is that NASA has a very full launch schedule this week and doesn't want to fall behind. Another launch was scheduled for Wednesday, the best day for rescheduling the space shuttle. (For us, too, since we really want to see the space shuttle launch!)

NASA planned to launch its Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter (LRO) on Wednesday. After much discussion over several days, NASA officials decided to launch the Endeavour on Wednesday and the LRO on Thursday.

The LRO is another exciting NASA project. The orbiter is going to the moon to help plan another astronaut mission there. NASA is even looking to build a base there where astronauts can live and work.

Now that the LRO is rescheduled, it is all systems go for the Endeavour. Weather is the only other major problem that could keep the astronauts on earth.  As of now, meteorologists predict an 80 percent  chance that the weather will NOT affect the launch. If the weather keeps the shuttle from going on Wednesday,  the next opportunity will be on July 11. We won't be able to stay for THAT.

I really hope that the shuttle can go on Wednesday, because everyone has gone through so much preparation and anticipation (including me and my family!). It would be disappointing to have to wait another month to go. But better to be safe!

—Bailey Pownall

Photo: The STS-127 Mission Patch with each astronaut's name on it. Photo Courtesy NASA Image.