Space shuttle Discovery was launhed at  6;21 am today from Florida cape canaveral space station . The lift off that took was smooth with no hastle and happened in the first available launch time. This flight is unique as there would be record 4 women in the space station once it docks with ISs.

Astrologically, I notice 6th lord placed in Lagna, with 12th saturn aspecting . Lagna lord is in the 12th house. 5th lord Moon is seen with Rahu in the 10th house. Not a very happy situation as it looks now. Let me keep the fingures crossed.  Mars 2nd and 9th lord is debilitated and has an evil aspect on 11th and 12th house that too on the lagna lord. Major fire related problems can creep up and could damage the shuttle for sure. 8th lord is seen with Mercury in Aries a house ruled by Mars. The docking is going to be problematic

The thermal sheild problems would be cause of concern. The outer layer of the shuttle could get damaged due to heavy temperature during the transit  or at the time when the launch rocket booster splits from the shuttle

Flight Controllers Troubleshooting Ku-Band Antenna
Mon, 05 Apr 2010 09:58:08 PM UTC+0530


Shortly after space shuttle Discovery reached orbit today, the shuttle's Ku-Band antenna did not successfully complete its standard initial activation sequence and is not operational at this time.

The dish-shaped antenna is used for high data rate communications with the ground, including television, and for the shuttle's radar system that is used during rendezvous with the International Space Station. Discovery can safely rendezvous and dock with the station and successfully complete all of its planned mission objectives without use of the Ku-Band antenna, if needed. The Ku-Band system is one of several shuttle communications systems that can be used for transmission of voice and data to and from the ground. The other systems -- S-band and UHF -- are operating normally. Discovery also has multiple systems that provide backup capability for the rendezvous radar system. In addition, the station has a Ku-band system that also is used for transmission of television to the ground and can be used to transmit shuttle television views after docking.

STS-131 Flight controllers are continuing to troubleshoot the problem with Discovery's Ku-band antenna while also formulating plans to conduct the mission without use of the shuttle Ku system if necessary.

The Ku antenna is typically used by the crew and the ground teams during flight day 2's inspection using the OBSS. If the Ku still is not working tomorrow, the crew will record all of the inspection video and play it back after docking with the station, using the station's Ku antenna. The crew will monitor the video in real time tomorrow and will note the time stamps of any areas of concern

Discovery dish disappointment mars Shuttle launch - April 06, 2010
The Space Shuttle Discovery blasted off from the Kennedy Space Center in Florida yesterday, bound for the International Space Station.

A number of American papers are leading their stories with news that Discovery’s ‘Ku-Band antenna’ dish has broken, compromising the Shuttle’s ability to communicate at high data rates with the ground. This means images of the outside of the Shuttle cannot be instantly beamed back to mission control, where a team stands ready to scour them for signs of damage to the heat shield (AP, Houston Chronicle). Such damage downed the Shuttle Columbia in 2003.

Discovery in its final flight this year is  unsually facing many hurdles and communication problem. RJ cable problem  during its the Rendezvous Pitch Maneuver happening at this moment. It is a cause of concern as in the later part of the day , it has to dock with ISS