This is on NASA’s website:

T-20 Minutes and Holding

Tue, 14 Jul 2009 05:38:11 AM GMT+0800

The countdown clock at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida has paused as scheduled at the T-20-minute mark. This is a planned hold lasting 10 minutes. At Launch Pad 39A, space shuttle Endeavour’s crew access hatch has been closed, sealed and locked for flight. All seven STS-127 astronauts are safely strapped into their seats and are awaiting liftoff at 6:51 p.m. EDT.

Launch managers and weather personnel continue keeping a wary eye on the weather.

I am waiting at my desktop to see the live NASA TV of the launch of Endeavour Space Shuttle to the International Space Station. The flight has been delayed for four times, and hope this time good luck to the team and to http://home.wangjianshuo.com/archives/20090612_good_luck_endeavour_and_chris.htm.

The flight schedule seems to be very flexible according to the weather condition. The count down was paused at 9 minutes, and waited for the final launch time. Isn’t it interesting that in this world, many things happens, but your attention is only drew those you feel connected with. Like this case, if Chris is not on board, maybe I won’t want to wake up at 5:30 AM to watch the launch of a space shuttle.

Difference between Reading News and Watch Live

When I watch the launch when it approaches to the schedule time, I continue to read the Launch Blog where Steven updates the latest news. It seems the weather currently still remains “red”, which means “no-go”, and hopefully it clears up very quickly. This kind of nervousness, expectation, and uncertainty is a key factor why people prefer to watch something live, instead of checking the recorded video.

Jon sent out the email to the whole YLF community, and I believe many YLFers are watching now.

Update 6:49 AM, July 14, 2009

This time, the launch was delayed for the 5th time due to weather condition. The storm is going to the wrong direction, and getting worse. The launch has to be canceled.

Compared to this flight cancellation, my flight cancellation due to mechanism problems of United Airlines plane seems to be the smallest problem to have. I don’t know whether Chris will write a blog article complaining the inaccurate launch time of NASA Airlines(mine), and maybe bad (actually no) service on flight at all (mine). :-)

No problem. Let’s try it the sixth time. Good luck!

Update 7:00 AM, July 14, 2009

Update from NASA: the new launch time will be 6:03 PM Wed, US Eastern Time.

OK. Then I will take my working suite (not as fancy as astronauts’ – just T-shirt with Baixing logo), and get ready to my launch scheduled at 7:15 AM. The launch vehicle (my FIAT Siena) will be ignited at 7:14:55, and it will be launched through a 1 hour time window before the storm of huge traffic hits the Nanpu Bridge, and send me safely to my International Working Station at 18F of my office building. My mission in the remote planet Xujiahui during this trip will be three meetups, several meetings, and (re-)install Windows 7 system on the computer system of my International Work Station, and then I will return to my base in Pudong for dinner and sleep via car shuttle scheduled at around 7:00 PM. I will be the pilot, and mission specialist. The only thing goes wrong will be, there is no NASA TV broadcasting my journey.

Now, I am entering my 9-minute count down… 9….8….7….6….