The loud-noise tour

Posted: Wednesday, June 28, 2006 6:45 PM by Alan Boyle

As NASA prepares for the shuttle Discovery's launch, you can expect to see a delegation of dignitaries down at Kennedy Space Center in Florida - led by Vice President Richard Cheney and his wife, Lynne. NBC News quotes administration sources as saying that the Cheneys are due to take in Saturday's launch as well as the the Pepsi 400 NASCAR race in Daytona, then head back to Washington for Independence Day.

That schedule may be all wet, however, if stormy weather delays the shuttle launch. In that event, the Second Family might have to miss out on a roar even louder than a NASCAR engine. But I'll still be down there, waiting for Discovery to take flight. I'll try to keep this old log updated from Kennedy Space Center, dependent on time and bandwidth.

For the whole story of the shuttle mission, check out our "Return to Flight" special section, and take a look at the discussion on MSNBC's Technology & Science message board. If you have any burning questions about the space program or the shuttle flight, leave them as comments here and I'll see if I can get them addressed - again, dependent on time and bandwidth.

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Comments

Think NASCAR is loud? Try working inches below an F-15's F-100 engine in 5th stage afterburner, attempting to use a tool to tweak the fuel control and "trim" the engine. You vibrate so hard you can't tell if you're breathing and can feel your teeth moving in your jaw. Now that's LOUD....

Doug Fingles, Warner Robins, GA (Sent Wednesday, June 28, 2006 9:17 PM)

If the vice-president IS there, stay clear of him. He might have a gun.

Mary Margaret, Ohio (Sent Thursday, June 29, 2006 1:30 AM)

You mean to tell me the vice-moron is coming out of his undisclosed secure location? WOW! Whoop-de-do! Probably puts the STS in the same class of activity as 40,000 screaming sadists waiting for a 200 mph pile-up.

The piece from England is truly a breath of fresh air. The logic and self-evident truth is there!
Probably get the writer crucified for real in this harborage for the terminally superstitious!

I will do the usual sacrifice to Murphy for success on this launch. Have a good trip!

Wade Whitlock, Aberdeen, MD (Sent Thursday, June 29, 2006 8:34 AM)

If you see [Cheney] down there at Kennedy space Station remind him to give Nasa's James Hansen a ring to see if he's interested in a photo op with the V.P.
Maybe Mr Hansen could even pull a few strings that would allow the V.P. out on the launch pad to light the fuse.

Brad Harris (Sent Thursday, June 29, 2006 9:22 PM)

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