Listen in on Communications for Today's Space Shuttle Launch

By Nancy Atkinson - November 14, 2008 at 12:25 PM UTC | Missions
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[/caption] Just a reminder of this evening's launch of Space Shuttle Endeavour. And this time, NASA is trying something new. During the countdown you can listen in to live audio of communications between launch controllers and the shuttle, something that is not normally done. NASA Television will provide a continuous "clean video feed" on its Media Channel of space shuttle Endeavour in the hours before its 7:55 p.m. EST liftoff today, Nov. 14. This means there won't be the regular commentary, just the communications audio, beginning at 2:30 pm EST on the Media Channel. If you have satellite television, check your channel listings. To watch online,

go here,

and choose the Media Channel. And if you'd rather listen to the regular commentary, just go to the regular Public NASA TV channel. Or watch

SpaceVidCast

on UStream, if you prefer where you can text chat with other viewers...

The "clean feed" will include live audio of communications between launch controllers and the shuttle but not the commentary airing on NASA TV's Public Channel. NASA TV commentary will air on both channels beginning approximately nine minutes before the scheduled launch time at the conclusion of what is known as the T minus 9 minute hold in the launch countdown.

During the shuttle's 15-day STS-126 mission to the International Space Station, the crew will deliver supplies and equipment necessary to double the station crew size from three to six members and conduct four spacewalks.

Nancy Atkinson

Nancy Atkinson

Nancy Atkinson is a space journalist and author with a passion for telling the stories of people involved in space exploration and astronomy. She is currently retired from daily writing, but worked at Universe Today for 20 years as a writer and editor. She also contributed articles to The Planetary Society, Ad Astra (National Space Society), New Scientist and many other online outlets.

Her 2019 book, "Eight Years to the Moon: The History of the Apollo Missions,” shares the untold stories of engineers and scientists who worked behind the scenes to make the Apollo program so successful, despite the daunting odds against it. Her first book “Incredible Stories From Space: A Behind-the-Scenes Look at the Missions Changing Our View of the Cosmos” (2016) tells the stories of 37 scientists and engineers that work on several current NASA robotic missions to explore the solar system and beyond.

Nancy is also a NASA/JPL Solar System Ambassador, and through this program, she has the opportunity to share her passion of space and astronomy with children and adults through presentations and programs. Nancy's personal website is nancyatkinson.com