HDNet to Broadcast Live, High Definition Coverage of the Launch of Space Shuttle Discovery - Saturday, May 31

Network's comprehensive launch coverage begins at 4:30 p.m. ET with launch from the Kennedy Space Center scheduled for 5:02 p.m. ET

HDNet's launch coverage -- which is far more comprehensive than any other network -- is hosted by HDNet World Report Correspondent, Greg Dobbs. Dobbs will be joined on the broadcast by NASA astronaut Julie Payette, a veteran of space flight.

Discovery's mission is to deliver Kibo, the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency -- or JAXA -- station laboratory. It is the largest laboratory (and also the second component of Japan's laboratory complex) to fly to the station. The Kibo pressurized module weighs in at 32,000 pounds. It's so large that the shuttle's robotic arm was left at the station during the last mission. There's not room in Discovery's cargo bay for both the boom arm and the lab.

WHEN: HDNet's LIVE coverage begins at 4:30 p.m., running until 5:30 p.m. with the launch of Discovery scheduled for 5:02 p.m. ET.

Thought I'd bring this back up as a reminder. Also, looks like HDNet will air the launch of a new gamma-ray telescope on 6/3 at 11:30am.

I know it's not HD but the guy on the NASA feed explaining things SURE sounds like John McCain.

Looks like CNN will show the HD feed of NASA TV during launch.

Looks like CNN will show the HD feed of NASA TV during launch.

Yep. I'll finally get to see an HD launch on Comcast.:cool:

I hope D* adds this to the lineup when D11 lights up.

CNN PQ was FAR superior to HDNet.

Edit: Not the fault of HDNet. Fault lies solely on the shoulders of D* and their HD lite carriage of HDNet.

Did anyone else see something come off the external fuel tank and hit the bottom of the shuttle about 5 1/2 minutes in?

Having now seen a shuttle launch on HDNet via Verizon and CNN HD via Comcast, Comcast is reeeeally compressing their feeds to fit more channels in the QAM. Yikes.

Wow. This announcer on HDNET should just do the show from HDNET's facility if he thinks it's better to watch the view on tv then in person. 43 seconds of watching it go up before it goes in to the clouds vs watching it in HD wins in my book. Sorry.

Sorry. Watching a shuttle watch in person is really something to experience at least once if you are a follower of the space program in the least.

Did anyone else see something come off the external fuel tank and hit the bottom of the shuttle about 5 1/2 minutes in?


Yes they are replaying it now on CNN and foam did hit the heat shield.

Looked great on CNN, but too many graphics on the screen.

Yes they are replaying it now on CNN and foam did hit the heat shield.

does something ever seem to not hit the heat shield.

I watched both CNN and HDnet yesterday. So HDnet no longer has exclusivity !?!

The NASA HD feed (with logo on the top right outside the 4:3 area) is different from the HDnet feed. It is clearer, but I have to agree CNN ruined it by having that ridiculous delegate ticker at the bottom. What does that have to do with the shuttle? And there weren't any primaries or caucuses on Saturday! Couldn't they have dropped it for at least 5 minutes when the launch is in progress?

Huge delay on HDnet, it's feed was running about 10 seconds behind CNN. But HDnet have access to replays from every camera, including the one inside the launch tower.

Did anyone else see something come off the external fuel tank and hit the bottom of the shuttle about 5 1/2 minutes in?
At that time HDNet showed a few different angles for the launch so I didn't see it.

I always enjoy hearing the extra popping from the tanks about 30 seconds or so into the flight.

So what happens to the tanks? Does the main tank stay up in orbit or does it fall back to Earth? Does NASA go pick them up from the ocean or do they just let them sink?

At that time HDNet showed a few different angles for the launch so I didn't see it.

I always enjoy hearing the extra popping from the tanks about 30 seconds or so into the flight.

So what happens to the tanks? Does the main tank stay up in orbit or does it fall back to Earth? Does NASA go pick them up from the ocean or do they just let them sink?
The tank and boosters drop and they are recovered and re-used. I know the boosters have chutes, so I assume the tank does, as well.

tank isnt reusable.

shuttle consists essentially of 3 parts:
1. the reusable winged Orbiter.
2. the throwaway Main External Tank (MET).
3. the reusable pair of Booster Rockets.

does something ever seem to not hit the heat shield.
Honestly, the shuttle gets a pounding every time it goes into orbit - and that's just from all the bits of space junk stuck in orbit.

I don't think it's possible for foam NOT to break off the tank during launch. It's essentially just a spray-on style insulation. It's not intended to anything other than protect the tank from cold.

tank isnt reusable.

shuttle consists essentially of 3 parts:
1. the reusable winged Orbiter.
2. the throwaway Main External Tank (MET).
3. the reusable pair of Booster Rockets.
My mistake - I was under the impression the tank was resused, as well.

Thanks for the clarification. So it's essentially like fighter plane drop tanks?

Watching a shuttle watch in person is really something to experience at least once if you are a follower of the space program in the least.

After living in Orlando for 25 years we FINALLY went over and saw the shuttle go up. You definitely can't see as much as with HDTV, but when the rumble of the engines washed over us the trip was worthwhile. Very emotional, especially when the crowd starts to cheer.

I've been to Kennedy Space Center once but it wasn't during a launch. Wish I could see it live but HD will do just fine. :) PQ was decent I guess as I don't have CNN HD to judge against.

Did anyone else see something come off the external fuel tank and hit the bottom of the shuttle about 5 1/2 minutes in?

Only during the first two minutes of launch is it a concern about anything hitting the shuttle. After 2 minutes the atmosphere is to thin to cause a impact of a severity to damage the shuttle.

After living in Orlando for 25 years we FINALLY went over and saw the shuttle go up. You definitely can't see as much as with HDTV, but when the rumble of the engines washed over us the trip was worthwhile. Very emotional, especially when the crowd starts to cheer.

Yes, the sound is something that you have to experience live to understand.

recorded the launch on hdnet and watched it last night. first launch i've seen in hd and must say i'm impressed. especially enjoyed the different camera views.

most enjoyable. i love hd tv

Yes, the sound is something that you have to experience live to understand.

I know we're going off topic, but during the launch I was standing next to someone from Bradenton, which I'd guess is ~20 miles further away than you in Brandon. So apparently you guys can see the launch from way the heck over there on the west coast? Can you see just the smoke plumes, or can you actually see the flame also?

I know we're going off topic, but during the launch I was standing next to someone from Bradenton, which I'd guess is ~20 miles further away than you in Brandon. So apparently you guys can see the launch from way the heck over there on the west coast? Can you see just the smoke plumes, or can you actually see the flame also?

Nah, we don't see the flame on this side of the state. We generally can see the plume, depending upon weather conditions.

But I try to make the drive over for at least one launch per year.

Nah, we don't see the flame on this side of the state. We generally can see the plume, depending upon weather conditions.

But I try to make the drive over for at least one launch per year.

How about seeing the flame during a night launch? I wouldn't be surprised if that could be seen in Texas.

How about seeing the flame during a night launch? I wouldn't be surprised if that could be seen in Texas.

Yes, that can be seen a bit.

Best launch sequence? Try Apollo 13, Imax Edition. Spectacular picture, sound. Almost like being there. Certainly much better than we see in Melbourne Beach, maybe 50 miles south. We see a lot, but no sound.
Props to HDNET for always covering these events in HD.