Soyuz successfully makes orbit

Got home from Tony's. Happily, the John Smallberries computer had not suddenly shutdown (again). So, fired up Thunderbird and reviewed emails. And there was a note from Katrina at 10:18 PM reminding us of the Soyuz launch at 11:14 PM. Ah, OK.

Didn't want to run Firefox on Smallberries (so to further test what's causing the main computer problem). Turned to John Littlejohn, still in sleep mode. Once logged in, I accessed an existing Firefox window, created a new tab, and jumped into my Google calendar. Updated the Soyuz entry, changing it from an all-day timeless entry to a timed one, starting at 11:00 PM. Saved it. It popped up where it should have... And I noted the little red line horizontal line showing the current time... And still didn't clue in right away. Hold the phone. That was imminent... The launch was in 15 minutes or so. Crikey!

I immediately opened another tab and pulled up Spaceflight.com's live Mission Status Center with live updates and streaming video. Woo hoo! Everything was a go... Found the feed. Astronauts were in the stuffed cabin of the Soyuz. Ha ha... I noted their gravity gauge. Very funny.



I wondered where Katrina was. I wondered if other members were watching. Opened separate browser windows for the RASC Toronto Centre Yahoo!Group chat room and for Facebook. No one in the chat room. Katrina was not visible in Facebook; but Sharmin was. Said hello. She was watching NASA TV. It was around this point that I heard the announcer refer to the weather at the Cosmodrome. I flipped to the feed. Holy hanna! Look at the conditions!



That was incredible. I had never seen conditions like that before. Oh, I suddenly feared they might scrub... I couldn't remember what the launch window was. Wondering about cryogenics, ice build-up... Hold on. It's the Ruskies. They won't scrub. It's just snow. Snow means go!



Turned up the volume. Sharmin counted down. Her TV feed was about 30 to 45 seconds ahead of mine. Snow launch, here we go. Engines start...



It is a little eerie watching the Soyuz launch, being so used to Shuttle launches. The Soyuz stays clamped down for a long time, as the engines ramp up. Finally... lift off!



I just love that colour contrast. I knew it was going to be good. I was ready with the Print Screen key. Go baby go.

It was a smooth launch, down the pipe. Everything sounded nominal. I waited for the red angry bird to go weightless...



There he goes!



Ha ha. There are his feet...

Awesome. Awesome on a lot of levels. I've very happy for all concerned. We can hopefully get back to good science at the space station.