Penultimate Launch

[krpalmer]

While I had been hoping to be able to watch the launch of space shuttle Endeavour through official streaming video just before leaving on vacation, things didn't work out that way. (It makes me grateful all over again that I had good luck when I did go to Florida.) However, despite a delay the space shuttle did blast off today; I managed to learn about it in the Alaska time morning through the one news site we can access from the ship for free. I've been sort of interested in this mission as one of the "last-minute additions" to the final schedule, and in what it's carrying, using the size of the space station to support a new scientific instrument and perhaps do a little to counter all the easy criticism that it just maintains people in space for the sake of having them there. On the other hand, I've heard the instrument is run by remote control anyway. In any case, I do hope I'll be able to keep up with the mission once I'm back from my cruise in just a few days.