NASASpaceFlight.com Forum
NASA Shuttle Specific Sections => Endeavour (Post-STS-134, T&R) => Topic started by: Chris Bergin on 12/02/2008 06:34 am
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Via L2 Post Flight Coverage:
http://www.nasaspaceflight.com/2008/12/endeavour-deservicing-window-damage-failed-to-spread/
This thread will update her deservicing at Dryden/Edwards through to the SCA Ferry trip back to KSC. Once back in OPF-2, we'll move to the next update pages.
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George Diller is quoted as saying the SCA leaves Edwards on Sunday morning and is expected at KSC late Tuesday morning.
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EDWARDS, Calif. -- After landing at Edwards Air Force Base in
California on Nov. 30, space shuttle Endeavour is about to make its
cross-country journey back to NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida.
Mounted on a modified Boeing 747 shuttle carrier aircraft, Endeavour
is expected to begin its journey to Florida as early as Sunday. The
exact date and time of departure have yet to be determined because of
changing weather conditions and the fluid nature of preparing
Endeavour for this ferry flight. However, the latest information
about the shuttle's ferry flight will be available by calling
321-867-2525.
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Some pics of Endeavour at the MDD on the Dryden website
http://www.nasa.gov/centers/dryden/multimedia/STS-126/index.html (http://www.nasa.gov/centers/dryden/multimedia/STS-126/index.html)
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Some pics of Endeavour at the MDD on the Dryden website
http://www.nasa.gov/centers/dryden/multimedia/STS-126/index.html (http://www.nasa.gov/centers/dryden/multimedia/STS-126/index.html)
Wow, amazing!
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So is it known yet if it will go to Dallas Fort-worth airport yet? Or will I have to call that number to find out?
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So is it known yet if it will go to Dallas Fort-worth airport yet? Or will I have to call that number to find out?
No flight plan yet from what I have in front of me. Remember, they have to wait until they know what the weather situation will be for where they will stop off. I think they even changed it at the last minute with one of Discovery's returns.
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So is it known yet if it will go to Dallas Fort-worth airport yet? Or will I have to call that number to find out?
Don't they use Air Force bases anyways? Or has DFW been utilized in the past? It just seems strange to think they would fly it in to regular airports...
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DFW has been used in the past if I recall correctly. I heard someone in my family saw it there.
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Don't they use Air Force bases anyways? Or has DFW been utilized in the past? It just seems strange to think they would fly it in to regular airports...
In only a cursory search I found mention of one case, during the ferry after STS-30. That was a long time ago, but more importantly it was before 9/11.
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In only a cursory search I found mention of one case, during the ferry after STS-30.
More in the severe trivia department: in addition to the stop at DFW after STS-30, Atlantis (and SCA escort) also stopped at Grand County Airport in Longview, Texas, (Space Day festivities) during ferry from KSC back to Palmdale for an OMDP (Oct. 1992).
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I do believe they only use Air Force bases now. Obviously this is for security reasons.
And it was during Atlantis' STS-117 ferry flight that they diverted the SCA/Atlantis duo to different Air Force installations because of incliment weather in the Gulf Coast region. The weather diversions actually delayed Atlantis' return to KSC by a day or two.
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Latest round up of L2 processing info/SSP Standup etc:
http://www.nasaspaceflight.com/2008/12/supporting-endeavour-equipment-and-personnel-edwards/
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Out of interest, if an Orbiter were ever to land at a TAL site in Europe or Africa, what would be the plan for returning her to KSC? Would the SCA have the range to fly across the Atlantic Ocean, or would it have to go the long way round the planet, East all the way?
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Out of interest, if an Orbiter were ever to land at a TAL site in Europe or Africa, what would be the plan for returning her to KSC? Would the SCA have the range to fly across the Atlantic Ocean, or would it have to go the long way round the planet, East all the way?
Might have to copy this across to Shuttle Q&A as I've always wondered about that too. You'll of seen the emergancy landing site document on L2 with all the contingency landing sites and you have to wonder if they could even land the SCA on some of the "sporty" runways (wide enough?) - so maybe they'd have to lift her on to a barge?
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We did talk about thing in the Q&A thread some time ago. The SCA-OV stack couldn't do the atlantic unrefuelled. Original thread: http://forum.nasaspaceflight.com/index.php?topic=8687.0
There was an early proposal to refuel the SCA in flight. In a normal setup flying boom setup, as used by the USAF, the tanker is the top aircraft, which deploys its flying boom, which in turn slots into a recepticle on the reciever aircraft.
(http://www.boeing.com/defense-space/military/kc135-strat/images/kc-135-RC_KC135_375X300.jpg)
This gets a little bit difficult when the reciever is the SCA and has a Shuttle on top, epecially due to turbulence. The plan was to reverse the positions, with the tanker and reciever swapping places. The SCA would have a refuelling boom fitted in its tail (Boeing has done this to other 747's) which would then pump fuel uphill from the tanker below.
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I thought the SCA was used to bring Enterprise to the Paris Air Show way back when. Is it the added mass of an operational orbiter that breaks the camel's back?
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Mass has nothing to do with it. The killer is that the SCA is restricted to low altitudes to prevent feezing of the orbiters fluids and hence its range drops rapidly.
I'm not sure about the Paris trip, but if it was part of the same tour that took it to the UK, then the SCA went the long way around; up throught the UK then Iceland, Greenland, Canada and down the east coast of the USA. Is the same route you take if doing the trip in any range limited aircraft.
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Some additional information..........
SCA and Pathfinder:
They have parking areas for the SCA and Pathfinder at Istres, Moron, and Zaragoza along with fuel, etc.
Ferry Flight:
Ferry operations are much more difficult particularly during certain adverse climatic conditions that can be expected in high northern latitudes during considerable portions of the year. An attempt will be made to avoid the northern route through Scotland, Iceland, Greenland, and Canada during certain winter months when extremes of weather and very short daylight periods occur.
Orbiter Weight Reduction:
The distance between possible refueling stops dictate that the Orbiter weight be reduced to 154,000 pounds for a return from locations in the Pacific. Reduction to 217,000 may be required for a ferry flight from Spain or France.
To reduce weight, removal of detachable portions of the Orbiter, including landing gear and main engines, may be required. Hypergolic deservicing may also be accomplished for weight reduction. The removal of the main engines would require a special piece of GSE, called the Hyster, which is extremely large and heavy and would have to be airlifted by C-5 or transported by surface ship.
Payload:
If within the range, structural, and performance capabilities of the SCA, the payload will remain installed. Smaller payload elements may be removed individually. The Space Cargo Transportation System (SCTS) which is transported by C-5 may be available from the Air Force for certain payloads
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So the procedure is flyback whereever possible, rather than just loading the orbiter as is onto a barge or other vessel, prehaps in a sealed tent to limit saltwater corrosion.
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I did a quick review of the SCA compared to your average 747-100 (MTOW, Service Ceiling, etc.). I guess range should be around 1000-1200 miles with a shuttle. Minimum runway length should be around 10,000 feet. So if anyone want's to look up all the airstrips between Europe and the US with a 10k runway and a max distance of 1000miles in between... ;)
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I did a quick review of the SCA compared to your average 747-100 (MTOW, Service Ceiling, etc.). I guess range should be around 1000-1200 miles with a shuttle.
Are you factoring in the SCA ceiling with the orbiter on top for range? Can't fly much higher than 15k feet.
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I did a quick review of the SCA compared to your average 747-100 (MTOW, Service Ceiling, etc.). I guess range should be around 1000-1200 miles with a shuttle.
Are you factoring in the SCA ceiling with the orbiter on top for range? Can't fly much higher than 15k feet.
Yep 15k was what I read as ceiling.
But I have to say my numbers for range are just an educated guess, based on a Flight Level vs. Range chart for the 747-200F and roughly calculating the differences between -200, -100 and SCA.
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Don't they use Air Force bases anyways? Or has DFW been utilized in the past? It just seems strange to think they would fly it in to regular airports...
In only a cursory search I found mention of one case, during the ferry after STS-30. That was a long time ago, but more importantly it was before 9/11.
I seem to remember the most recent Ferry-Back made a stop at Amarillo (commercial airport)??
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Out of interest, if an Orbiter were ever to land at a TAL site in Europe or Africa, what would be the plan for returning her to KSC? Would the SCA have the range to fly across the Atlantic Ocean, or would it have to go the long way round the planet, East all the way?
Might have to copy this across to Shuttle Q&A as I've always wondered about that too. You'll of seen the emergancy landing site document on L2 with all the contingency landing sites and you have to wonder if they could even land the SCA on some of the "sporty" runways (wide enough?) - so maybe they'd have to lift her on to a barge?
Remember Enterprise went to the 1983 Paris Air Show.
Route was EAFB-Peterson-McConnell-WrightPat, then Goose Bay,
Keflavik, RAF Fairford, Bonn, Le Bourget.
On the way back, Le Bourget to Stansted, Keflavik, Goose Bay, Ottawa, Dulles, Sheppard, EAFB.
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Was there coverage on NASA TV of the MLP being moved to the parking position?
If so are their any videos of it. :)
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Was there coverage on NASA TV of the MLP being moved to the parking position?
If so are their any videos of it. :)
No coverage which is usual.
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Out of interest, if an Orbiter were ever to land at a TAL site in Europe or Africa, what would be the plan for returning her to KSC? Would the SCA have the range to fly across the Atlantic Ocean, or would it have to go the long way round the planet, East all the way?
Might have to copy this across to Shuttle Q&A as I've always wondered about that too. You'll of seen the emergancy landing site document on L2 with all the contingency landing sites and you have to wonder if they could even land the SCA on some of the "sporty" runways (wide enough?) - so maybe they'd have to lift her on to a barge?
Remember Enterprise went to the 1983 Paris Air Show.
Route was EAFB-Peterson-McConnell-WrightPat, then Goose Bay,
Keflavik, RAF Fairford, Bonn, Le Bourget.
On the way back, Le Bourget to Stansted, Keflavik, Goose Bay, Ottawa, Dulles, Sheppard, EAFB.
Ottawa...that's when I got hooked!
Saw it outside our house doing a fly-around, then landing at YOW. Good thing my dad was into flying...he was as choked up as I was!
And BIG! I have a polaroid somewhere of it. I was only 12.
I wish it would do a tour when the last orbiter retires, that would be neat.
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I am at EDW this week... the parking lot over at DFRC is *packed* compared to the usual. Noted that there are currently two SCA's on the NASA ramp. Anybody know if they use the 2nd 747 as the pathfinder airplane or if they use a C-130 or maybe the STA aircraft for that role, or maybe something else entirely?
If there is anybody on here that is local at EDW, hey, I have a flight line badge and would love to go have a look! Lunch? Hey, I'm buying! (PM me....)
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Anybody know if they use the 2nd 747 as the pathfinder airplane or if they use a C-130 or maybe the STA aircraft for that role, or maybe something else entirely?
IIRC, I think they used the C-9 as the pathfinder aircraft for Atlantis/SCA post-117. If I remember what I saw on flightaware.com, they were about 100 miles or so out front of the SCA. I believe the aircraft was NASA 932. Please someone correct me if I'm wrong on this. :)
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I am at EDW this week... the parking lot over at DFRC is *packed* compared to the usual. Noted that there are currently two SCA's on the NASA ramp. Anybody know if they use the 2nd 747 as the pathfinder airplane or if they use a C-130 or maybe the STA aircraft for that role, or maybe something else entirely?
If there is anybody on here that is local at EDW, hey, I have a flight line badge and would love to go have a look! Lunch? Hey, I'm buying! (PM me....)
If I recall correctly, the plan that was briefed pre-launch was to use 911 as the primary SCA and the C-9 for Pathfinder.
In the past, pathfinder was a USAF 141 but C-9 has filled that role most recently. Of course the use of the C-9 is contingent on it not having any other flight commitments during the planned ferry flight days.
Mark Kirkman
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It just struck me that in most other NASA references, the orbiter is distinct from the Shuttle. Is there any special reason why the acronym for the customized 747 is not "OCA"?
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It just struck me that in most other NASA references, the orbiter is distinct from the Shuttle. Is there any special reason why the acronym for the customized 747 is not "OCA"?
It mainly depends on how specific one chooses to be when naming these things. Some see the orbiter as THE shuttle and not just one part of a larger "shuttle" set. Others see the orbiter as just the orbiter and see the orbiter, ET and SRB stack as the shuttle. Either that, or perhaps someone didn't feel like having a three-syllable word in the acronym. ;)
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First time post for me. I've followed the space program since my distant and vague memory of Friendship 7 and have read these forums for a couple of years. Great work everyone!
By the title and subtitle of a 12/2 msnbc.com article, the implication might be that if the SCA and Endeavor do't make it back to Florida, we may all be doomed!
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/28023610/
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http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/28023610/
Oh! That's funny! Clearly some Space.com writer or MSNBC editor had a left over subtitle from some prior article (probably about HST) ::)
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MSNBC's published the wrong abstract, can happen with Content Management Systems, so it'll be some subeditor over there, not space.com who messed up. Hardly end of the world ;)
Was a boring article, however.
Welcome to the site's forum Dsyfert.
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It's taken almost a week for MSNBC to find Endeavour?
NSF scoops the MSM again! Congrats, Chris.
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Oh! That's funny! Clearly some Space.com writer or MSNBC editor had a left over subtitle from some prior article (probably about HST) ::)
IIRC, the subtitle refers to a survey of systems with dust, and speculating that star systems with a different amount of cometary bombardments are less likely to form life on those worlds. Something about Spitzer as well.
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Oh! That's funny! Clearly some Space.com writer or MSNBC editor had a left over subtitle from some prior article (probably about HST) ::)
IIRC, the subtitle refers to a survey of systems with dust, and speculating that star systems with a different amount of cometary bombardments are less likely to form life on those worlds. Something about Spitzer as well.
Or it was speculating on the result of opening the MPLM containing trash and dirty laundry once it reaches the SSPF. ;)
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Was a boring article, however.
Not only that, but it read as if it were written by a third grader at the last second for his English class presentation.
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I seem to remember the most recent Ferry-Back made a stop at Amarillo (commercial airport)??
Yes:
http://forum.nasaspaceflight.com/index.php?topic=8538.msg157840#msg157840
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At the risk of offending people by stating that this thread is devoid of news - surely there must be something happening on the the mating? I seem to remember the last ferryback was more exiting than the mission :)
What's going on folks???
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Probably more on L2, but if was of importance, Chris would let us know.
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Probably more on L2, but if was of importance, Chris would let us know.
Have you looked at this thread yet: http://forum.nasaspaceflight.com/index.php?topic=13035.msg341635#msg341635
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At the risk of offending people by stating that this thread is devoid of news - surely there must be something happening on the the mating? I seem to remember the last ferryback was more exiting than the mission :)
What's going on folks???
That's my fault, lots being thrown into L2 but neglects the open site a bit, as I was delayed in writing it the articles due to some major meetings taking place on other items of interest.
Will be an article shortly with processing news and the flight plan the duo will take across the US.
Another article afterwards on the Ferry Flight Readiness Review (FRR) will go on Sunday, and a third for when they arrive back at KSC on Monday. Those three articles should round up the main highlights of the L2 coverage.
Then next week we move into what those major meetings were about!
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Do you also have arrival/departure times on L2? Will you be adding them to the aritcle? (Sorry, don't have L2, wish I did).
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Knocked this article out on the Flight Plan, and some other L2 processing items. Will review the Ferry FRR documentation and have that on ahead of her depature:
http://www.nasaspaceflight.com/2008/12/endeavour-to-visit-three-states/
(Yes Stowbridge, I included the arrival/depature times).
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Good work, thanks.
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Hello All
I am thinking of driving down to Altus tomorrow to see the Ferry arrive. From past experiences, what can you usually see...just it arriving and then departing of the base? Do they allow you on base to see it?
Thanks
Jayson
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Apparently, there was a earthquake in the Mojave desert about 5 on the Richter scale overnight - according to the news. Hopefully nothing got to swinging around on the MDD.
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Hello All
I am thinking of driving down to Altus tomorrow to see the Ferry arrive. From past experiences, what can you usually see...just it arriving and then departing of the base? Do they allow you on base to see it?
Thanks
Jayson
Go to the gate today and check.
Google maps show unrestricted roads under runway centerline on both north and south ends. If you can figure out which way they are landing you could pick a good spot there.
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Any information on the Tucson Davis-Monthan stop? Good public viewing areas? Considering the drive to the Old Pueblo...
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Here is a video of a shuttle/sca at the mate/demate device. Note that the SCA here is the N905, while N911 will be used for this flight.
http://www.dfrc.nasa.gov/Gallery/Movie/747_SCA/640x/EM-0064-03.mov
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Knocked this article out on the Flight Plan, and some other L2 processing items. Will review the Ferry FRR documentation and have that on ahead of her depature:
I've updated my log of SCA ferry flights, for the amusement of completists. If anyone can fill in the missing info of whether 905 or 911 made various flights in the 1990s, I'd love to hear.
- Jonathan
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Here is an image of the two SCA's nose to nose, N911 is on the left while N905 is on the right. You can tell the difference based on the number of windows behind the cockpit, N905 is a 747-100 , with only two upper deck windows on one side, while N911 is a 747-100 SR with 5 Windows per side on the upper deck.
N905 is a former American Airlines liner which was acquired in 1974. She was first used in the Approach and Landing tests, then was later modified to ferry orbiters.
N911 was a former aircraft of the Japan Airlines. She was purchased by the Airforce for NASA after the Challenger accident, when the Roger's Commission recommended a second SCA. Her first ferry fight was delivering Endeavour to the Kennedy Space Center for the first time after construction.
http://www.dfrc.nasa.gov/gallery/Photo/STS-Ferry/HTML/EC95-43339-1.html
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Due to a technical issue related to installation of the aerodynamic tailcone, the ferry flight has been postponed to no earlier than early Monday morning. Details posted here (http://www.collectspace.com/ubb/Forum30/HTML/000746-3.html#120608a).
The flight readiness review has been pushed off until mid-day Sunday.
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Thanks Robert. Have they said anything about NASA TV coverage of departure?
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Thanks Robert. Have they said anything about NASA TV coverage of departure?
If Robert gets an official word, that would be great, but I think we'll just want to keep a watch out for it at the appropriate time.
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I've updated my log of SCA ferry flights, for the amusement of completists. If anyone can fill in the missing info of whether 905 or 911 made various flights in the 1990s, I'd love to hear.
- Jonathan
Cool, thanks. Based on the Dryden pix archive (http://www.dfrc.nasa.gov/Gallery/Photo/), looks like 905 was used to ferry Discovery after STS-92.
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I've updated my log of SCA ferry flights, for the amusement of completists. If anyone can fill in the missing info of whether 905 or 911 made various flights in the 1990s, I'd love to hear.
- Jonathan
Cool, thanks. Based on the Dryden pix archive (http://www.dfrc.nasa.gov/Gallery/Photo/), looks like 905 was used to ferry Discovery after STS-92.
Good find, thanks!
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A very impressive storm system affects much of the county in the Mon/Tue timeframe - I think the slot they've picked isn't going to work for the timeline to match the schedule. They'll probably have to stay behind the system as it sweeps across the southern states.
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Any thoughts on if any of this will affect the AFBs used?
I've been trying to include a map (it helps for me to visualise the route, especially not being from the US) but I lack the technical skills!! Can anyone step up?
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Any thoughts on if any of this will affect the AFBs used?
I've been trying to include a map (it helps for me to visualise the route, especially not being from the US) but I lack the technical skills!! Can anyone step up?
Was thinking that myself. There's a bunch of alternative bases on the Flight Plan on L2. So they could dodge and weave the storm Rob speaks of? Or is that storm going to cover the length of the country?
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I will try this map
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That's brilliant, thank you.
It always helps me to actually see things (visual learner I think).
Being cheeky, can anyone do a similar thing with the route taken by the ETs from MAF to KSC (probably to be moved to another thread)?
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The pairing were to take in Altus AFB in Oklahoma - for an overnight stop - before heading to Columbus AFB, Mississippi, with what would have resulted in a Tuesday afternoon at the Shuttle Landing Facility (SLF), KSC.
Is this the flight path for Monday
Daniel
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That's brilliant, thank you.
It always helps me to actually see things (visual learner I think).
Being cheeky, can anyone do a similar thing with the route taken by the ETs from MAF to KSC (probably to be moved to another thread)?
ask ye shall receive
http://forum.nasaspaceflight.com/index.php?topic=11969.msg341946#msg341946
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Will it be covered by flight aware? One could only hope.....
Edit, yes it will:
http://flightaware.com/live/flight/NASA911
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DELAY: the as noted by rdale above weather has prompted a delay to Tuesday for take-off. They'll re-assess the weather Monday.
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A Tuesday departure should put them behind the bulk of this storm system... It's not something they can dodge - severe thunderstorms are expected in the Gulf Coast states on Tuesday, and that same system is hitting my state with up to a foot or more of snow...
But afterwards I think it'll be quiet. It'll be COLD across the southern US, but no major systems. The timing should have the front in Florida Thursday morning, so I'd expect that they will have to park somewhere extra so that the timing brings them in later on Thursday.
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Where did you find that trip is off until Tuesday, I can't find it on NASA site
Daniel
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The info comes from this site and its sources. ;)
With all due respect to this site and its sources, in this case, NASA has been quite good about promptly sharing the news of the delay(s) with accredited media. Not all the information gets posted to NASA's website; some of it is directly e-mailed and some is by phone.
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Here is an image of the two SCA's nose to nose, N911 is on the left while N905 is on the right. You can tell the difference based on the number of windows behind the cockpit, N905 is a 747-100 , with only two upper deck windows on one side, while N911 is a 747-100 SP with 5 Windows per side on the upper deck.
I think you meant to say N911 is a -100 SR, which is a strengthened short range version. The 747 SP is a high performance 747 model built with a much shorter fuselage (almost 50 ft shorter). The lower GW allowed higher, faster flight and use of shorter runways. An orbiter would not fit on an SP.
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This one from L2: There may be another delay, to Wednesday, due to high winds in the Edwards area. Weather briefing at 2pm Eastern - then there will be official word.
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Thanks Chris for the update.
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I think you meant to say N911 is a -100 SR, which is a strengthened short range version. The 747 SP is a high performance 747 model built with a much shorter fuselage (almost 50 ft shorter). The lower GW allowed higher, faster flight and use of shorter runways. An orbiter would not fit on an SP.
FWIW, the platform for NASA's SOFIA (http://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/SOFIA/) is a 747 SP (N747NA).
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This one from L2: There may be another delay, to Wednesday, due to high winds in the Edwards area. Weather briefing at 2pm Eastern - then there will be official word.
Obviously they want the orbiter back ASAP, but is there a point when delays start become a real nuisance for processing timelines?
Also, everything OK in the MPLM with the delay? i.e. no milk going off or anything, he, he.
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There's been stories about them opening the MPLMs during post flight processing - and absolutely stinking. The delay isn't going to help ;)
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There's been stories about them opening the MPLMs during post flight processing - and absolutely stinking. The delay isn't going to help ;)
As a college form resident I know the answer, open a window and spray a bottle of Febreeze. ;)
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There's been stories about them opening the MPLMs during post flight processing - and absolutely stinking. The delay isn't going to help ;)
As a college form resident I know the answer, open a window and spray a bottle of Febreeze. ;)
We couldn't afford Febreeze when I was at Uni! Those rich American colleges, I don't know ;)
Meanwhile, windy Edwards still doesn't look good. They've got everything ready for Endeavour to be put back on top of the SCA, but winds are a constraint.
Weather briefing in just over 30 mins. May end up with a delay to Wednesday still.
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One new picture up on the Dryden page:
http://www.nasa.gov/centers/dryden/multimedia/STS-126/
Attached a thumbnail of it...
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They've started to raise Endeavour, so it looks like (pre weather brief at least) they are going to depart tomorrow.
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No earlier than sunrise on Wednesday for departure, according to the phone line number on the third post of this thread. George Diller recorded it.
Don't know if that means they've stopped the lift (will wait for the next L2 status update) or if they plan to leave her on top of the 747 for the interim.
Weather in the south east is affecting the first leg of the flight.
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I transcribed some of the info there:
Weather in the southwest remains marginal (update: Chris, I heard southwest, not southeast, could be wrong though)
Arrival at KSC would be Thursday or Friday
Mating continues to be delayed by gusting winds; now planned for 7:00pm PT
Departure is planned for 6:29am PT
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Why would webcam 3 say this? ???
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Why would webcam 3 say this? ???
Not hooked up to one of the closed-circuit TV feeds at the moment.
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Thanks I just wanted to know. :)
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Why would webcam 3 say this? ???
Not hooked up to one of the closed-circuit TV feeds at the moment.
Better than the EELV webcams hooked up to ESPN yesterday.......
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Endeavour is now softmated on top of the SCA, as per morning processing on L2.
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Endeavour is now softmated on top of the SCA, as per morning processing on L2.
Thumbnail of picture available from Dryden image gallery (links in several earlier posts here)...
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Have they said anything about NASA TV coverage of departure?
From Dryden's website: The ferry flight takeoff should be telecast live on NASA Television when it occurs.
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Cool. That'll allow for a screenshot or two.
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Well while Endeavour is being readied, over on the East Coast her boosters are being taken apart:
http://mediaarchive.ksc.nasa.gov/search.cfm?cat=4
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ANd Endeavour Money shot:
http://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/shuttle/main/
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Are they sticking to the original flight plan for tomorrow?
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Are they sticking to the original flight plan for tomorrow?
They'll try but it all depends on the weather.
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That is a nice picture of the orbiter and the rig! Anybody notice that it looks like they had some issues painting the centerline down the rig at one point?
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That is a nice picture of the orbiter and the rig! Anybody notice that it looks like they had some issues painting the centerline down the rig at one point?
Heh!
Ok folks, writing up a departure article and we'll be covering today as an event, with screenshots etc. Not sure how much coverage NASA TV will manage, but some is always better than none.
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What time is departure?
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What time is departure?
Supposed to be around 7:00-7:30
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Which is 3-3:30pm UK, 4-4:30pm Europe.
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SCA rollback from MDD started at approx 2:30.
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3:50am SCA has cleared the MDD and heading for the ramp.
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Flightaware is showing a flight plan:
http://flightaware.com/live/flight/NASA911
Departure at 7:10 local...
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Looks good. Biggs is on the list of runways they can use. Last update we had was Fort Worth, TX, but they've obviously changed it again.
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What is the route the have finally decided on?
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...and the C-17 leaves 10 minutes prior: http://flightaware.com/live/flight/NASA912
Lawton - click the link and you can see they are going to BIF (Fort Bliss, TX).
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What is the route the have finally decided on?
See previous page.
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Looks good. Biggs is on the list of runways they can use. Last update we had was Fort Worth, TX, but they've obviously changed it again.
Or Biggs (El Paso) is a refueling stop. Not quite the distance from Edwards to El Paso, but it's a LONG way from El Paso to Fort Worth.
What is the route the have finally decided on?
They know the first hop and they know the destination, but points in between can still be changed.
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Weather is nil on the route to Texas - there is a line of showers in eastern TX but that should be avoidable fairly easily. The big stuff is just now entering Florida so will be ahead of them all the way.
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I see that they will stop at El Passo first, but I guess my question was do they have anything planed after that?
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Runway diagram for BIF - http://flightaware.com/resources/airport/BIF/APD/AIRPORT+DIAGRAM/pdf
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Weather is nil on the route to Texas - there is a line of showers in eastern TX but that should be avoidable fairly easily. The big stuff is just now entering Florida so will be ahead of them all the way.
How about the other side of Texas? Would the weather today support getting into say Fort Worth or San Antonio or Houston by local sunset?
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Cold and a bit windy - but quiet. Winds out of the north at 15-25mph in the DFW area towards sunset with a few high clouds.
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...To Be Determined
NASA TV Schedule
December 10, Wednesday
**ALL PROGRAMS MAY BE PRE-EMPTED OR RESCHEDULED WITHOUT ADVANCE NOTICE**
TBD - Ferry Flight of Space Shuttle Endeavour - DFRC (All Channels)
currently on:
9 a.m. Video File
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NTV now slating ferry takeoff coverage from Dryden.
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ferry flight coverage just starting
NASA tv
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NTV now slating ferry takeoff coverage from Dryden.
Woo hoo!
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Already taxing!
Go crazy with screenshots everyone.
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Anyone have one with the shadow on the building behind them as they passed them
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What are all the white things on the hills in the background?
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That's Tehachapi Wind Resource Area in the background.
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Wind turbines maybe?
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That's Tehachapi Wind Resource Area in the background.
The wind turbines are sprinkled all over that area...just drove through a bunch going out I-10 past Palm Springs (San Gorgonio)...
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all set to go
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Takeoff roll started. (Well, at least on this feed.)
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Big U-turn!!! :)
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jus checking to see if would stay on top
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engins spooling up
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In the air...
and wheels up...
Took off to the northeast (22 left or right -- edit, wrong end, Dave corrected me)...
Nice shot from a chase plane now that will have screenshots upcoming...
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Oh that is beautiful.
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Oh that is beautiful.
Some chase plane shots coming up...don't remember this on the 117 ferry, but definitely the past...
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nice take off.
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The chase plane looked to be an F-18.
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A chase plane:
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Took off to the northeast (22 left or right)...
Actually it was 04R. They initially rolled down 22L but then they did a 180 and took off from 04R.
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passing over the many solar farms out on the Mojave desert
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Took off to the northeast (22 left or right)...
Actually it was 04R. They initially rolled down 22L but then they did a 180 and took off from 04R.
My bad.
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nice roll
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End of coverage with chase passing over SCA and orbiter.
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That was brilliant. Thanks Stockman for the great images!
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Wow spectacular ending!!!
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Wow :) :
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And we are done... what a great show...( my pointy/clicky finger is sore now... :) )
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http://flightaware.com/live/flight/NASA911
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http://flightaware.com/live/flight/NASA911
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SCA with a C17 as pathfinder in front of it.
About 594 miles to go (estimate: 1 hour 44 minutes left)
http://flightaware.com/live/fleet/NAS
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Article, which is mainly on her processing events during the Edwards stay (incidents, TPS etc.) from the Ferry FRR presntation.
http://www.nasaspaceflight.com/2008/12/endeavour-departs-edwards-sca-piggyback-ride-texas/
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Did anyone snag a video of the departure from Edwards?
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Did anyone snag a video of the departure from Edwards?
John 44 will have, he always does when it comes to video footage.
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And we are done... what a great show...( my pointy/clicky finger is sore now... :) )
you wern't using your toes too (lol)
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1 hour 12 minutes left
407 miles to go
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Thanks for the great coverage guys...I couldn't make it to see it live, but I got the feeling it was, with the images posted. :)
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Now over half way:
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I wounder how many air passangers in commercial planes near the flight path look out the window and say "WOW"?
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http://travel.flightexplorer.com/airport.aspx?id=KBIF
shows no other flights near
use the zoom out button on the bottom of picture
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KELP shows quite a bit of traffic.
Look at the top left and you can see B747 NASA 911 approaching from the West.
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I wounder how many air passangers in commercial planes near the flight path look out the window and say "WOW"?
The SCA is flying at 15K feet. Most commercial jets are at 27K and above. So it will be difficult and passengers will have to be looking downward.
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Different airport listings brings up more aircraft,
thanks
only had KBIF to use
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A lot of flights are flying in and out of El Paso airport. Of course I am not sure what the sepertion is between the special NASA flight and the regular flights. Probably a margin of 10 miles or more.
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Just checked the El Pasotimes and the have a small article about the shuttle stop over. They also refer to NASASPACEFLIGHT.COM.
http://www.elpasotimes.com/newupdated/ci_11182316
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According to FlightAware, should be on the ground now...
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http://travel.flightexplorer.com/airportFlights.aspx?aid=KBIF&status=3
yes
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SPACE SHUTTLE ENDEAVOUR FERRIES TOWARD KENNEDY SPACE CENTER
http://www.space-multimedia.nl.eu.org/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=4572
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Don't mean to clutter up the board but I thought that last few minutes of the ferry flight was so good I took John44's video and snapped a few more sequence shots than I was able to grab live.. Pardon the extra pictures but this was really cool :) .... Thanks John44 for the video - great as always.
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Great Shots - sorry I missed the live event.
Any idea who was crewing the SCA?
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Just wondering when the SCA will head out on the next leg, to Oklahoma I believe.. Sorry if this has been listed further back,but my brain has been fried from studying for finals (which is why I missed the takeoff :( )
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Great Shots - sorry I missed the live event.
Any idea who was crewing the SCA?
Maverick and Goose.. ;) - the chase plane I mean..
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Just wondering when the SCA will head out on the next leg, to Oklahoma I believe.. Sorry if this has been listed further back,but my brain has been fried from studying for finals (which is why I missed the takeoff :( )
http://flightaware.com/live/flight/NASA911
waiting for that on Flightaware
so far nothing listed
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http://flightaware.com/live/flight/NASA911
waiting for that on Flightaware
so far nothing listed
I'm sure several here are, but keep an eye on the Pathfinder, too.
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I was sitting on I-10 just about a mile north of I-8 near Casa Grande, Az where I thought I would get a good view but never saw the SCA.
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George Diller says takeoff expected around 3pm EST, no word on the next stop.
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Looking at the weather channel, shows rain on the southeast until late Thursday, Friday looks clear
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Ft Worth NAS (NFW) airport info: http://flightaware.com/resources/airport/NFW/APD/AIRPORT+DIAGRAM/pdf
Forecast for them this afternoon / evening: Mostly clear, winds from the NW at 15G25mph, subsiding after sunset.
Cold front sweeps across Florida during the day Thursday, so they might get in around sunset if timing works out.
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Here is the replay:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4cvazd5EgYM
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spaceflightnow.com reporting SCA ferry this afternoon headed to Fort Worth, Texas.
http://www.nasaspaceflight.com/2008/12/endeavour-departs-edwards-sca-piggyback-ride-texas/
"With the plan continuing to evolve, the current path the SCA and Endeavour will take points towards a trip to Fort Bliss’ Biggs Airfield, Texas, before a second leg will potentially take in Barksdale, Louisiana. The other site mentioned on Wednesday was Fort Worth - which may yet become one of the stopovers. Managers will likely decide the route just prior to take off from each site."
So that means Louisiana might be on the cards.
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I make that about a 520 mile leg (KBIF - KNFW).
Has not come up on Flightwawre yet.
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spaceflightnow.com reporting SCA ferry this afternoon headed to Fort Worth, Texas.
http://spaceflightnow.com/shuttle/sts126/status.html
Flight plan for the Pathfinder shows this now, too...
http://flightaware.com/live/flight/NASA912
(Destination used to be Carswell AFB, I believe; another stop for other ferry flights.)
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next stop
http://travel.flightexplorer.com/TrackFlight.aspx?fid=NASA911&snum=6&orig=BIF&dest=NFW
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Flightware now reporting Fort Worth
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http://www.nasaspaceflight.com/2008/12/endeavour-departs-edwards-sca-piggyback-ride-texas/
"With the plan continuing to evolve, the current path the SCA and Endeavour will take points towards a trip to Fort Bliss’ Biggs Airfield, Texas, before a second leg will potentially take in Barksdale, Louisiana. The other site mentioned on Wednesday was Fort Worth - which may yet become one of the stopovers. Managers will likely decide the route just prior to take off from each site."
So that means Louisiana might be on the cards.
Will they stay the night in Fort Worth?
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Scheduled to KNFW in about 25 mins.
First time I have seen Flightware refer to NASA911 as 747SCA Shuttle Carrier - normally just B747.
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http://www.nasaspaceflight.com/2008/12/endeavour-departs-edwards-sca-piggyback-ride-texas/
"With the plan continuing to evolve, the current path the SCA and Endeavour will take points towards a trip to Fort Bliss’ Biggs Airfield, Texas, before a second leg will potentially take in Barksdale, Louisiana. The other site mentioned on Wednesday was Fort Worth - which may yet become one of the stopovers. Managers will likely decide the route just prior to take off from each site."
So that means Louisiana might be on the cards.
Will they stay the night in Fort Worth?
I'd of thought so.
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Article in the El Paso paper with a picture of the Shuttle in El Paso.
http://www.elpasotimes.com/ci_11182316
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Replays on NASA TV from Edwards.
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Replays on NASA TV from Edwards.
Today's Video File. Replayed many times a day.
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(Destination used to be Carswell AFB, I believe; another stop for other ferry flights.)
Carswell AFB closed and was reopened as NFW - NAS Fort Worth, Joint Reserve Base.
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If they were to stay the night a NFW, would they keep the vehicle outside all night? Or would have a hanger to keep it in? Was thinking of making the drive down there to maybe by chance see it sitting out on the airfield.
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SCA should be taxiing right now.
FWIW, both the Pathfinder and SCA have the same scheduled departure time; however, the Pathfinder will go first and should get a little head start...
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If they were to stay the night a NFW, would they keep the vehicle outside all night? Or would have a hanger to keep it in? Was thinking of making the drive down there to maybe by chance see it sitting out on the airfield.
Almost certinly outside. The Orbiters tail stcks up higher than the SCAs so it would need an extra tall hanger. I don't think there is one big enough in North America.
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SCA should be taxiing right now.
FWIW, both the Pathfinder and SCA have the same scheduled departure time; however, the Pathfinder will go first and should get a little head start...
Yup - understand. I'm watching the KBIF airport activity so will see both. Hope my time conversion is correct - should have departed 10 mins ago if I have it right??
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If they were to stay the night a NFW, would they keep the vehicle outside all night? Or would have a hanger to keep it in? Was thinking of making the drive down there to maybe by chance see it sitting out on the airfield.
Why not drive down and see it land?? I'd give my top set to be there for that!!
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OK - Pathfinder departed at 12:16 MST
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Pathfinder left at 2:18pm EST. Remember public flight tracking websites have a 6 minute delay.
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If they were to stay the night a NFW, would they keep the vehicle outside all night? Or would have a hanger to keep it in? Was thinking of making the drive down there to maybe by chance see it sitting out on the airfield.
Almost certinly outside. The Orbiters tail stcks up higher than the SCAs so it would need an extra tall hanger. I don't think there is one big enough in North America.
The old dirigible hangers like Hanger 1 at Ames are hundreds of feet tall. It's also over 1100 feet long and over 300 feet wide.
http://www.nasa.gov/centers/ames/images/content/74028main_AC92-0222-98.jpg
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If they were to stay the night a NFW, would they keep the vehicle outside all night? Or would have a hanger to keep it in? Was thinking of making the drive down there to maybe by chance see it sitting out on the airfield.
Why not drive down and see it land?? I'd give my top set to be there for that!!
Love too...its a 3+ hour drive...depending on traffic..plus being at work doesnt help...
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Flight ID: NASA911
Status: In Flight
hmmmmmm.......?
Time remaining: 1h 45m (estimated)
Distance remaining: 8,515 miles (7,399 NM or 13,703 km)
from
http://travel.flightexplorer.com/trackFlight.aspx
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Retired - must need to hit refresh or something. FA shows takeoff at 2:30pm EST, arrival at NFW 4:21pm EST (921pm UK)
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Any chance of live landing coverage? It's 9.40pm this side of the pond - should I put on some strong coffee or call it a night?
Also - any info on who is piloting each leg?
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Not quite as gusty for a takeoff tomorrow from NFW - out of the northwest around 10-15 with mostly clear skies. It'll be a COLD night though as temps drop below freezing...
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362 miles to go.
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overflying:
Winkler County Airport (IATA: INK, ICAO: KINK) is a general aviation airport located 3 miles NW of Wink, Texas.
It is owned and operated by Winkler County, Texas, Kermit, Texas.
The airport was opened in August 1941 as Wink Field and was used by the United States Army Air Forces as a training base. At the end of the war the airfield was determined to be excess by the military and turned over to the local government for civil use.
-----------Feet-------Meters
13/31 5,000 1,524 Asphalt
4/22 3,515 1,071 Asphalt
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SCA is now at the halfway mark of this leg.
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274 miles to go in todays final leg.
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http://www.wfaa.com/sharedcontent/dws/wfaa/latestnews/stories/wfaa081210_wz_shuttle.4cb0662c.html
Ft worth tv is ready for the Shuttle Ferry
They are repoting that the Flight will stay there over night
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http://www.wfaa.com/sharedcontent/dws/wfaa/latestnews/stories/wfaa081210_wz_shuttle.4cb0662c.html
Ft worth tv is ready for the Shuttle Ferry
They are repoting that the Flight will stay there over night
http://www.wfaa.com/sharedcontent/livevideo/?nvid=258426&live=yes
Link to live TV news for WFAA.
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they have a C-17 for the pathfinder? is that correct? NASA912. disregard, i wasn't aware that nasa had a C-17
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159 miles to go
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100 miles to go... Seems to be deviating from flight plan as well??
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WFAA video stream showing the Pathfinder landing now...
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63 miles to go.... Definitely taking the short way in.. ;)
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Anybody able to record this stream?
http://www.wfaa.com/sharedcontent/livevideo/?nvid=57424&live=yes
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Landing on Runway 35? I guess from wind direction
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SCA and Endeavour now in shot...
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in sight 4 min from landing
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Cameraman: "God its cold"
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Wow
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Ooh...just got home to see it!
Shuttle landings can't be beat, but there's still something marvelous about watching the SCA landing.
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That was awesome. Thanks for the coverage guys.
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I managed to record it:
Credit: WFAA Channel 8 www.wfaa.com
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Awesome. News, updates, images and video. There really isn't any other site that even comes close to the shuttle coverage here.
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A little longer, but not by much:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GMVDJnCy0ak
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Impressive sight, thanks for the video!
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The Space Shuttle Endeavour atop its modified Boeing 747 carrier aircraft lifts off from Edwards Air Force Base on the first leg of its ferry flight back to the Kennedy Space Center just after sunrise on Dec. 10, 2008.
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Is there a public viewing area?
If it's leaving tomorrow, what are the odds I could go watch it take off?
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Is there a public viewing area?
Google is your friend ;)
http://www.bensware.com/scandfw/fwnasjrb.htm
I'm not sure how that mall ends up with relation to the takeoff path, but expect it to take off to the north.
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Is there a public viewing area?
If it's leaving tomorrow, what are the odds I could go watch it take off?
1) I doubt it, it's a military base.
2) She's got a name, and it's not "it".
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1) I doubt it, it's a military base.
2) She's got a name, and it's not "it".
Whoa there... no need for that tone, not everyone here was raised in a culture where ships and aircraft are referred to as "her", in fact, historically in many cultures they are referred to as "he" or "it". I don't believe any offense was meant :)
Also, just about every large airport, be it a military base or not, has some sort of viewing area... even if it's a mile or two away. We aviators love to share our love of flying with as many people as possible (and we're also most often the viewers anyway). Every base I've ever been to has had an on-base museum, as well as major public roadways cutting across the approach and landing paths.
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Indeed, I meant absolutely no offense. :'(
Does anyone know when it shall depart the air base?
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stay tuned to the Shuttle Ferry info hotline.
they only post the times around an hour or two before flight time.
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On my way out there from Houston myself. Hopefully there will be a clear view of take off!
Anyone know a hotel near the base?
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On my way out there from Houston myself. Hopefully there will be a clear view of take off!
Where are you observing it from?
Spur 341?
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I haven't decided yet...playing this by ear. Is that near the mall mentioned earlier ? I was going to explore for a spot tonight - I'm an hour and a half out and just cleared a snowstorm!
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stay tuned to the Shuttle Ferry info hotline.
they only post the times around an hour or two before flight time.
Is there a link or number for the hotline? I'm close by and it's worth going to see. Boy I bet it's going to be crowded over there.
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Friend of mine took this today at fw jrb.
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Does anyone know when it shall depart the air base?
If you sign up at flightaware.com (free signup and no spam), you can choose to receive alerts whenever specific aircraft either file a flight plan, take-off, or land. The alerts can be sent to an email, cell phone, jabber client, or AIM (not sure if that feature is functional yet).
You would probably want to subscribe for alerts to both NASA911 (the SCA itself) and NASA912 (the Gulfstream that flies in advance of the SCA). That way, even if they don't file a flight plan early, you'll be allerted when the Gulfstream takes off and will have SOME warning that the SCA will be taking off within the hour.
Off-topic, but some of you may be interested to setup an alert for N787BA also, the first Boeing 787 Dreamliner, so you'll know when it starts flight testing. It's a pretty darn cool airplane, even if it is 2 years behind schedule =\
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I managed to record it:
Credit: WFAA Channel 8 www.wfaa.com
Thank you! And kudos to that field reporter for his decent commentary in a tight situation (no IFB from studio), clamming up for the moment of touchdown, and finally the "wow" :)
NASA912 (the Gulfstream that flies in advance of the SCA)
That's one huge Gulfstream :)
Edit: I know, I was wisecracking! He probably got "Globemaster III" confused with "Gulfstream III".
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Wasn't able to keep up live, so thanks everyone for the great recaps, video and photos. Those bird's eye shots (after the SCA took off from Edwards) as the chase plane peeled away overhead were AWESOME.
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NASA912 (the Gulfstream that flies in advance of the SCA)
That's one huge Gulfstream :)
Yes, especially considering the fact that it isn't a Gulfstream at all, it is a Boeing C-17.
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On my way out there from Houston myself. Hopefully there will be a clear view of take off!
Anyone know a hotel near the base?
Hope you are taking a camera or 2.
Enjoy.
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Hope you are taking a camera or 2.
Enjoy.
Indeed!
So far the best night viewing spots I've found are on the 820 Bridge across Forth Worth or along Cahoba Drive right along the lake. There was a park near Cahoba and 820, however I wasn't quite feeling brave enough to work my way through the brush alone out there.
For tomorrow I'll definitely be heading to Spur 341. I'm sure others will be parking out there with me somewhere!
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NASA912 (the Gulfstream that flies in advance of the SCA)
That's one huge Gulfstream :)
Edit: I know, I was wisecracking! He probably got "Globemaster III" confused with "Gulfstream III".
Yep, you're right :) I was tracking the flights at work, and only had a few seconds to glance between calls. I was kinda surprised when I thought I saw that they were using the Gulfstream, since I had seen the flight plan posted in L2 specified a C-17, but I thought maybe with the delay they'd had time to fly their "G" out there. The fact that it was listed in FlightAware with a NASA tail # seemed to confirm it was a NASA aircraft. My mistake :) And it's she, btw, but I don't mind, kinda hard to tell on the internets ;)
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Here are two of the best shots (and zooms of them) I was able to take tonight in the darkness from the seat of my car. Not amazing, but hopefully I'll be able to follow up with much better photos once the sun comes out tomorrow - if there's time before she takes off again I'm going to travel back to the 820 bridge shoulder lane for a few more from afar.
(http://lh4.ggpht.com/_YtuqknT7CVg/SUDIU_dA2OI/AAAAAAAAABU/ojMyUKjpCAA/s640/DSC_0038.JPG)
Across the water...
(http://lh3.ggpht.com/_YtuqknT7CVg/SUDIVFoCfiI/AAAAAAAAABc/R37jqs069kk/DSC_0038_Zoom.jpg)
(http://lh5.ggpht.com/_YtuqknT7CVg/SUDIVaLTngI/AAAAAAAAABk/y4j0sPNq-WA/s640/DSC_0050.JPG)
From the shoulder of the bridge...
(http://lh5.ggpht.com/_YtuqknT7CVg/SUDIV04FxQI/AAAAAAAAABs/04Wh8j5Mu40/s640/DSC_0050_zoom.jpg)
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Thanks for the photos, very nice!
I'm sat at my computer here in Tampa at 03:47 looking at the radar and wondering if the weather will clear enough for SCA / shuttle to move at all tomorrow. There does not seem to be much eastward movement of the system.
Paul
Here are two of the best shots (and zooms of them) I was able to take tonight in the darkness from the seat of my car. Not amazing, but hopefully I'll be able to follow up with much better photos once the sun comes out tomorrow - if there's time before she takes off again I'm going to travel back to the 820 bridge shoulder lane for a few more from afar.
(http://lh4.ggpht.com/_YtuqknT7CVg/SUDIU_dA2OI/AAAAAAAAABU/ojMyUKjpCAA/s640/DSC_0038.JPG)
Across the water...
(http://lh3.ggpht.com/_YtuqknT7CVg/SUDIVFoCfiI/AAAAAAAAABc/R37jqs069kk/DSC_0038_Zoom.jpg)
(http://lh5.ggpht.com/_YtuqknT7CVg/SUDIVaLTngI/AAAAAAAAABk/y4j0sPNq-WA/s640/DSC_0050.JPG)
From the shoulder of the bridge...
(http://lh5.ggpht.com/_YtuqknT7CVg/SUDIV04FxQI/AAAAAAAAABs/04Wh8j5Mu40/s640/DSC_0050_zoom.jpg)
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For tomorrow I'll definitely be heading to Spur 341. I'm sure others will be parking out there with me somewhere!
Yep. I'll be there in a few hours.
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http://www.nasaspaceflight.com/2008/12/endeavour-departs-edwards-sca-piggyback-ride-texas/
"With the plan continuing to evolve, the current path the SCA and Endeavour will take points towards a trip to Fort Bliss’ Biggs Airfield, Texas, before a second leg will potentially take in Barksdale, Louisiana. The other site mentioned on Wednesday was Fort Worth."
So that means Louisiana might be on the cards.
Heading to Barksdale AFB, Louisiana next :) Confirmed off the KSC update line.
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URGENT - WINTER WEATHER MESSAGE
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE SHREVEPORT LA
532 AM CST THU DEC 11 2008.
....
..WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY IS CANCELLED:
THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN SHREVEPORT HAS CANCELED THE
WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY ISSUED ON WEDNESDAY.
THE COLD CORE UPPER LOW RESPONSIBLE FOR SOME WINTER PRECIPITATION
ACROSS THE FOUR STATE REGION LAST NIGHT...WAS LOCATED NEAR MORGAN
CITY LOUISIANA. THE SYSTEM WAS MOVING RAPIDLY EAST AND WILL BE
NEAR NEW ORLEANS BY SUNRISE...WITH PRECIPITATION ENDING ACROSS THE
REGION BY MID MORNING.
REPORTS FROM LAW ENFORCEMENT THIS MORNING INDICATED A MIXTURE OF
RAIN AND SLEET OCCURRING FROM NEAR HEMPHILL TEXAS EASTWARD TO JENA
LOUISIANA...WITH MOSTLY RAIN NORTH OF THIS LINE. TEMPERATURES
RANGED FROM 31 TO 36 DEGREES...WITH MOST LOCATIONS IN THE PRECIPITATION
AREA ABOVE FREEZING. ANY ACCUMULATIONS OF ICE OR SNOW WILL BE
BRIEF AT THESE TEMPERATURES...AND WILL QUICKLY MELT ONCE THE
PRECIPITATION ENDS.
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Looking at the Eastern Continental IR Satellite loop
http://www.goes.noaa.gov/GSSLOOPS/ecir.html
and other weather information, I cannot see how they would fly any further east than Shreveport/Barksdale AFB, Louisiana today. So I would think that the plan would most likely depend on where it is best to spend another night. Stay tuned...
Current Conditions SE Shreveport, Shreveport, Louisiana (PWS)
35.2 °F / 1.8 °C
Windchill: 30 °F / -1 °C
Wind Speed: 8.0 kts.
Wind Dir: 318° (NW)
Ceiling: 4900 ft / 1493 m
http://www.wunderground.com/cgi-bin/findweather/getForecast?query=Shreveport%20LA&wuSelect=WEATHER
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Hello All
I am thinking of driving down to Altus tomorrow to see the Ferry arrive. From past experiences, what can you usually see...just it arriving and then departing of the base? Do they allow you on base to see it?
Thanks
Jayson
I posted some pictures of STS-114 over in this thread http://forum.nasaspaceflight.com/index.php?topic=15237.0 , when Discovery stopped at Altus back in 2005. I think you can get a pretty good view of her ;) These were taken by friends of friends who emailed them to me.
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Oh my, nice photos! :)
Depature from Texas not for at least another three hours.
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weather channel reporting snow in New Orleans today
how warm does it have to be to be airborne with the shuttle?
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Oh my, nice photos! :)
Depature from Texas not for at least another three hours.
Weather permiting, it's actually planned to go to Barksdale by way of JSC for a couple of low fly overs.
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Remember that temps at 15000ft (where they fly) are WELL below freezing, and the temps on the ground right now in Texas are right around the freezing mark, so it can be cold and still have the shuttle around.
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Remember that temps at 15000ft (where they fly) are WELL below freezing, and the temps on the ground right now in Texas are right around the freezing mark, so it can be cold and still have the shuttle around.
There is more to it than just temps.
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Currently here on the South Bound side of Spur 341. Someone tell the ground crew to hurry up :) Or if someone wants to bring me coffee.....
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Currently here on the South Bound side of Spur 341.
What the heck is Spur 341? :) Some kind of layby on the road where you can park up?
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Currently here on the South Bound side of Spur 341.
What the heck is Spur 341? :) Some kind of layby on the road where you can park up?
google shows that road rght next to the air strip
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correct. I moved to an area closer to the lockheed plant at an overpass. Anyone else coming?
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The "plan" seems to be a potential JSC flyover at noon local time. Depending on conditions.
Someone correct me if I'm wrong, but the last time it happened (and maybe the only time) was with Challenger in 1983:
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Still no flight plan on Flightaware for NASA 911 or 912
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but, look what has been leaving from Ellington Field
http://flightaware.com/live/fleet/NAS
interesting
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Photo gallery: Shuttle Endeavour visits Fort Worth
http://www.star-telegram.com/photos/gallery/1086856.html
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but, look what has been leaving from Ellington Field
http://flightaware.com/live/fleet/NAS
interesting
T38 Escort over JSC perhaps? Or, one of the astros is going to fly the SCA? Interesting for sure!
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but, look what has been leaving from Ellington Field
Help me out - what are we seeing that is interesting?
The T38's are going to west Texas so nothing related likely. Not sure what the DC93 is, but it's made some sort of trips out over the water, near EFD, quite often the last few weeks.
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Do they use the T38's to move Astronauts and/or other 's involved high up management?
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everyone parked near the fence were kicked out by the police who said we could not park on city property. Everyone on 341 is now in a lot near the end of the runway....we just had a show from a series of F-16 take offs!
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Departure in 1 hour, noon EST, to Barksdale.
http://flightaware.com/live/flight/NASA911
http://flightaware.com/live/flight/NASA912
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Help me out - what are we seeing that is interesting?
The T38's are going to west Texas so nothing related likely. Not sure what the DC93 is, but it's made some sort of trips out over the water, near EFD, quite often the last few weeks.
I believe NASA 932 is the current "vomit comet."
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The flight path lists them going over College Station, TX (just northwest of Houston) -- clearly they would not need to go that far south to get to NW Louisiana so flyover on the books.
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http://travel.flightexplorer.com/trackFlight.aspx
The flight path goes off the bottom and comes back up,
anyone know how to get the whole image on the screen?
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Gusty northwest winds will put them on RWY33 at Barksdale (near Shreveport for those searching.) No other weather issues on the path.
BAD airport info at http://204.108.4.16/d-tpp/0812/00391AD.PDF
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JSC flyover expected at about 12:00pm CST, and will be covered live on NASA TV.
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Get your screenshot fingers warmed up folks, this is going to be awesome!
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but, look what has been leaving from Ellington Field
Help me out - what are we seeing that is interesting?
The T38's are going to west Texas so nothing related likely. Not sure what the DC93 is, but it's made some sort of trips out over the water, near EFD, quite often the last few weeks.
DC93 is the DC-9 Dash 30 version which is used for zero g flights and HAT (heavy aircraft training) for Shuttle Pilots. T-38s to ELP are usually for Shuttle Pilot Pool Astros to do STA flights out of El Paso (i.e. Whitesands) and to pickup and drop off other Astros and Aircraft Ops Folks (T-38 IPs, STA crews etc...).
Mark Kirkman
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No major changes here yet. Stairs are still visible next to the SCA. It appears a hot purge is still being run on the Orbiter due to rising heat seen in it's vicinity.
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No major changes here yet. Stairs are still visible next to the SCA. It appears a hot purge is still being run on the Orbiter due to rising heat seen in it's vicinity.
Thanks for the on location reports Bodge ;D
Decent crowd building up?
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I can now see that the C-17 is being prepped for takeoff....the red light on the wing? is blinking and I can see some exhaust near by the aircraft.
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Oh yes Chris, many cars at my site...I'd say 100+ people in this lot alone.
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Great to have someone at the seen reporting.
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For the record, here's John Shannon's note about the flyover:
JSC Special: Space Shuttle Endeavour to Fly By Today
Special message from the Shuttle Program Manager:
On Dasher, on Dancer, on Prancer ...on ENDEAVOUR!
Even though it snowed last night, Santa hasn't changed his schedule... but the Space Shuttle Endeavour will fly by Johnson Space Center today, circling over JSC between 11:45 a.m. and 12:45 p.m. while mounted on a modified Boeing 747 shuttle carrier aircraft. Although a stop at Ellington Field is NOT planned, the Endeavour will fly by and be visible from Ellington Field and the Sonny Carter Training Facility before passing over JSC.
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Good stuff Robert! I see Mr Shannon's in a festive mood :)
Oh yes Chris, many cars at my site...I'd say 100+ people in this lot alone.
That's good to hear!
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C-17 was in motion and has stopped. Crowds have quadrupled in the last few minutes.
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STS-126 Mission Update
http://www.nasa.gov/rss/126_update.xml
Endeavour's Landing Planned for Friday
Thursday, December 11, 2008 4:40 PM
After an overnight stop in Ft. Worth, Texas, the ferry flight team has decided on another stopover tonight before giving the go-ahead for the piggy-backed shuttle to return to Kennedy Space Center in Florida.
There is an advancing cold front moving in on Kennedy, preceded by high winds and storms that will not allow a smooth flight and landing for the dynamic duo today.
The crosswinds at Kennedy are forecasted to subside and the Shuttle Carrier Aircraft with Endeavour perched on top is scheduled to arrive at Kennedy's Shuttle Landing Facility no earlier than 2 p.m. Friday.
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http://www.wfaa.com/sharedcontent/livevideo/?nvid=57424&live=yes
Keep an eye on this stream - they had pretty good coverage of the landing at Fort Worth. Presumeably they will cover the take-off as well.
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I would assume that the reason for the non direct flight is because the weather in Mississippi is bad and as far as they can go today would be Lousania. That give them some extra time for the treat and will also get the Shuttle about 800 miles from KSC.
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C-17 taxiing
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Live feed of Dallas Air Traffic Control at http://www.liveatc.net/feedmap/feedmap.html, also there is a feed for College Station so might hear things there too.
Live video at http://mfile.akamai.com/23079/live/reflector:33916.asx?bkup=35208
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SCA powered up.....
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What's the 4-prop airplane running, next to the SCA?
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SCA in motion !!!!
Cops STILL chasing people off. Jerks...
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taking photos....talk to you all after!!!
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Here's your live coverage link (warning, horrible computer noises on the feed):
http://www.wfaa.com/sharedcontent/livevideo/?nvid=57424&live=yes
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the weather channel has been in and out with video
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Clean chopper feed at http://mfile.akamai.com/23079/live/reflector:33916.asx?bkup=35208
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TV say the crowds are huge. Nice work getting them all down there Bodge ;)
Looks like that channel broke into a soap opera to show the take off.
Great work as ever with the screenshots Ron.
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TV say the crowds are huge. Nice work getting them all down there Bodge ;)
Looks like that channel broke into a soap opera to show the take off.
HAHA!! Yes Bodge - I thought I saw you in the background there when the SCA was lining up for take-off!! Great to have on the scene reports - well done. Look forward to your pics.
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Shoot, I recorded over the take off, no video, sorry guys.....
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I didn't think that Endeavour would get such recognition to break into a soap opera when she was leaving TX.. Fantastic, more and more people are getting into the thrills of Space. :)
Thanks for the live updates, Bodge.
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I love how the news woman was like "We have liftoff!" like she was commentating on a launch or something.
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I was in high school when I saw Columbia return from STS-1 through Tinker AFB in April 1981. The memory of seeing Columbia, atop the SCA, fly over I-40 during evening rush hour is permanently ingrained in my noggin.
The north to south approach to Tinker crosses I-40, and there's a startling video somewhere in the Oklahoma City TV news archives of the SCA flying less than 1000 feet over the highway. One minute the sky was clear, and the next minute there's Columbia coming in for a landing. It's amazing there wasn't a 20-car pile-up from the poor souls who were just driving home that night.
Glad you and the Metroplex got to see Endeavour, Bodge!
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That was beautiful! I'll post photos as soon as I hit Houston..Endeavour is kicking my butt on the ride back to JSC!!
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it's a NASA air day
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Think some chase planes are meeting up with the SCA:
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I'm not seeing any chase planes showing up on Flightaware, they are military (F18's I think someone mentioned?) and won't be listed or shown on the map.
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However back to the SCA:
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Hmmm...was wondering if they'd throw it to JSC for the flyover...slate going up on NASA TV now.
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Switching to JSC for live coverage:
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NASA tv still has announcement screen up
http://www.khou.com/sharedcontent/livevideo/?nvid=178826&live=yes&noad=yes&largecomments
just had clip on
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http://www.ktbs.com/news/Space-shuttle-to-make-stop-at-Barksdale-21506/
Shreveport, La will have coverage
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Now getting picture. (I'm sure screenshots will follow!)
Can see one other aircraft in the vicinity...stills and video from that might not be live...guess we'll see...
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http://www.ktbs.com/news/Space-shuttle-to-make-stop-at-Barksdale-21506/
Shreveport, La will have coverage
Good find! Everyone rate that article a 5 - not because it's award winning journalism, but to show people are interested! Every little helps ;)
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Great screen shots. It surprised me that no live coverage in the Houston area that I could find except for the NASA.
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Looks like a T-38 is escorting. Beautiful sight.
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Looks like they have camera chase
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Great screen shots. It surprised me that no live coverage in the Houston area that I could find except for the NASA.
Local ABC has it.
http://abclocal.go.com/ktrk/index
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a couple of quick ones between the buildings
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Ugggg, that cameraman!!
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Looks like the C17 is staying away...
http://flightaware.com/live/flight/NASA911
http://flightaware.com/live/flight/NASA912
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Great screen shots. It surprised me that no live coverage in the Houston area that I could find except for the NASA.
Local ABC has it.
http://abclocal.go.com/ktrk/index
Much better than NTV
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Stunning.
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apache?
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Thanks for finding it. I have been checking all of them and nothing showed up. Great shots.
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nice tail.. ;)
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nasa 912 is almost halfway to Barskdale
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What is the significance of G and Q in the aircraft type?
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Looks like they are heading out:
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How many laps is that, four or five? Wow!
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Sweet view of the low pass down the runway at Ellington from the ABC chopper
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What is the significance of G and Q in the aircraft type?
http://flightaware.com/about/faq_aircraft_flight_plan_suffix.rvt
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http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C-YmdHWMayI
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And she is gone, flight aware still confused:
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That was awesome. Endeavour's US tour now moves to Barksdale.
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End of coverage...looks like the Pathfinder is slowed down a little to wait for the SCA to close the gap...
Edit -- well, end of live coverage. Hopefully we'll get some stills and possibly chase video in a Video File later today or tomorrow.
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What is the significance of G and Q in the aircraft type?
That is the type of navigation equipment the aircraft has. So that ATC can know what fixes and routes they can fly.
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pathfinder just turned back
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http://www.ktbs.com/news/Space-shuttle-to-make-stop-at-Barksdale-21506/
Shreveport, La will have coverage
I emailed them about a minute after the flight plan was posted yet no email back.....
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Looks like pathfinder is circling waiting for SCA to catch-up.
Flightaware has literally lost the plot with the SCA.
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I expect there will be a ton of good hi res images, so remember, post links, do not lift them off extenal sites unless it's NASA.gov - or they are your own images.
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http://www.ktbs.com/news/Space-shuttle-to-make-stop-at-Barksdale-21506/
Shreveport, La will have coverage
I emailed them about a minute after the flight plan was posted yet no email back.....
I don't see the link for live coverage - am I missing it?
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wowza! I saw the T38 taking off from Ellington field and heading out to the parking lot to watch.
first pass was too low to see through the trees and buildings, but then we had 3 great passes around the JSC/USA buildings - two directly overhead!
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http://www.ktbs.com/news/Space-shuttle-to-make-stop-at-Barksdale-21506/#
down the right side of the home page
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wowza! I saw the T38 taking off from Ellington field and heading out to the parking lot to watch.
first pass was too low to see through the trees and buildings, but then we had 3 great passes around the JSC/USA buildings - two directly overhead!
So very cool. Hearing from a fair few JSC people, some watched out of windows, some from parking lots. Don't think much work got done over the last hour, and rightly so! :D
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I'd like to see the shots from Ellington. As it was approaching and flew over it was in a very typical landing pattern. They were so low I was sure they were going to touch down.
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That was an amazing sight. She looks beautiful.
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That was a great sight!! It flew directly over the USA buildings twice!! Lots of folks were outside watching.
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The sunlight kept catching her windows during the tight banks, as if she was winking at us.
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straight and true to Barksdale:
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Note that the tracking sites lost all data went it dropped down low, so the history tracks are not reliable.
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wowza! I saw the T38 taking off from Ellington field and heading out to the parking lot to watch.
first pass was too low to see through the trees and buildings, but then we had 3 great passes around the JSC/USA buildings - two directly overhead!
Yeah, first pass was too low for good pics from the mall area. Second one was much better. Pics from each pass attached.
You can still see a little snow on the ground in the first pic, though it's melting rapidly...
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SPACE SHUTTLE ENDEAVOUR FLIES OVER THE JOHNSON SPACE CENTER
http://www.space-multimedia.nl.eu.org/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=4575
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NASA912 in a holding pattern:
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Pathfinder out of holding pattern.
Flightaware picked up SCA again.
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Wind at Barksdale is 25mph NW so landing will be on Runway 33.
Google Earth shows gazillions of B52's on the apron at Barksdale - look out for them during landing coverage!
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wowza! I saw the T38 taking off from Ellington field and heading out to the parking lot to watch.
first pass was too low to see through the trees and buildings, but then we had 3 great passes around the JSC/USA buildings - two directly overhead!
Yeah, first pass was too low for good pics from the mall area. Second one was much better. Pics from each pass attached.
You can still see a little snow on the ground in the first pic, though it's melting rapidly...
Very nice picture Jorge, at full size that's a very nice view of the duo.
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Wind at Barksdale is 25mph NW so landing will be on Runway 33.
Google Earth shows gazillions of B52's on the apron at Barksdale - look out for them during landing coverage!
That is assuming that there is a feed, I can not seem to find one....
Me neither. Very Sad :(
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This appears to be the feed but all I get is audio:
http://www.ktbs.com/player/wm_player.cfm
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This appears to be the feed but all I get is audio:
http://www.ktbs.com/player/wm_player.cfm
Thanks - got video and audio.
Lets hope they have coverage.
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This appears to be the feed but all I get is audio:
http://www.ktbs.com/player/wm_player.cfm
http://www.ktbs.com/images/banner/streamingVid08.png
try this one
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Direct link: http://a759.g.akamai.net/7/759/27506/6/ktbs.download.akamai.com/27506/Playlist/commercial.asx
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Flightware indicates NASA912 down on the ground at 12 minutes after the hour.
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Mine is good over here is South Africa.
Hope I'm on the right channel - HealthWatch???
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(AP) Marcia Dunn - Nasaspaceflight subscribers have been implicated in a Denial of Service attack against KTBS this afternoon, sources report.
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(AP) Marcia Dunn - Nasaspaceflight subscribers have been implicated in a Denial of Service attack against KTBS this afternoon, sources report.
Heh, I'd take that just for the link in the AP feed - best free advertising you could ever hope for ;)
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Just got back from seeing Endeavour leave FWNAS. Beautiful sight. Set up a telescope and let people observe.
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I think the station breaks for commercial advertising that they don't show on the webcast.
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The feed from KTBS is working with video here
http://www.ktbs.com/player/wm_player.cfm
KSLA News 12 Shreveport
Has a text blurb up:
http://www.ksla.com/global/story.asp?s=9505512
Space Shuttle Endeavour making a stop at Barksdale AFB
....The shuttle is suppose to land about 1:30 pm.
but I do not see any link for streaming live online
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http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UpGfV5VGv4U
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Hmm, this crew seems more interested in fawning over the snow than the space shuttle.....
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And the reason she is not going to Florida:
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In the grand scheme of things - today's record breaking snowfall is MUCH more important.
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In the grand scheme of things - today's record breaking snowfall is MUCH more important.
Also more rare than a shuttle stop at Barksdale.
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In the grand scheme of things - today's record breaking snowfall is MUCH more important.
Biased Meteorologist ;)
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She has arrived, no video :(
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Now we have bail-out news.
Great!!
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Well, I could agree snow news _before_ or _during_ the snowstorm is higher priority, but afterwards, it's not really news, it's just history.
(I live in NH, I'm jaded on this whole snow thing)
Anyways, now they're replaying the same news, so I think we're hosed.
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Flightaware reports SCA arrived 16 mins ago!!!
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Now we have bail-out news.
Great!!
Although I only have audio, I am starting to suspect it may not be live...
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Now we have bail-out news.
Great!!
Although I only have audio, I am starting to suspect it may not be live...
Yup - she said Endeavour arrives at 1.30. It was 1.34 when she said it.
Anyhow - we missed the live coverage - SCA has been on the ground for 20 mins already.
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http://www.ktbs.com/
go here
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Oh well, we've had a good run with the Dallas/Fort Worth channel and the JSC flyover coverage. And we will obviously get a good amount of coverage from her arrival at KSC tomorrow.
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A brief article from the Shreveport times
http://www.shreveporttimes.com/article/20081211/NEWS01/81211020
And another from KSLA TV
http://www.ksla.com/global/story.asp?s=9505512
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Now we have bail-out news.
Great!!
Wish you had prefaced that with "financial" -- you made my heart skip a few beats!! :o
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Oh well, we've had a good run with the Dallas/Fort Worth channel and the JSC flyover coverage. And we will obviously get a good amount of coverage from her arrival at KSC tomorrow.
The weather does not look good Chris.
Will it be a direct flight to KSC from Barksdale?
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Actually the weather looks very good tomorrow... One of the L2 options was direct to KSC from BAD, with a 2:35 flight time.
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Here's a video my mother took as Endeavour was leaving FWNAS. And that's me reminding her of the ship's name...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dFRPhKjnEhI
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STS-126 Mission Updatehttp://www.nasa.gov/shuttle en-us The Shuttle Carrier Aircraft took off from Ft. Worth at 12:08 p.m. EST and is expected to arrive at Barksdale Air Force Base in Louisiana around 2 p.m. and remain there until Friday.
An advancing cold front moving in on Kennedy, preceded by high winds and storms will not allow a smooth flight and landing for the dynamic duo today.
The crosswinds at Kennedy are forecasted to subside and the carrier aircraft with Endeavour perched on top is scheduled to arrive at Kennedy's Shuttle Landing Facility no earlier than 2 p.m. Friday.]]> Thu, 11 Dec 2008 17:32:20 GMT
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Here's a video my mother took as Endeavour was leaving FWNAS. And that's me reminding her of the ship's name..
Wow. Big crowd, the news wasn't lying (heh)! Great video, always love the personal stuff!
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Well, I could agree snow news _before_ or _during_ the snowstorm is higher priority, but afterwards, it's not really news, it's just history.
(I live in NH, I'm jaded on this whole snow thing)
Anyways, now they're replaying the same news, so I think we're hosed.
Heh...sounds pathetic to me. Snow isn't news, it's what they put on the news when there's nothing else to talk about. ;)
That's life in Buffalo NY. We like to laugh at the towns and cities that get shut down by an inch or two.
:D
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I'm curious and haven't been able to search up an answer:
Does anyone know how they move the tailcone from one place to another (ex: KSC to Edwards)?
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I'm curious and haven't been able to search up an answer:
Does anyone know how they move the tailcone from one place to another (ex: KSC to Edwards)?
It is not one piece, it disassembles
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Here's a video my mother took as Endeavour was leaving FWNAS. And that's me reminding her of the ship's name...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dFRPhKjnEhI
Great video and your Mum is cool!
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I realize these are a bit late to the party, but here are a few of my shots from today's flyover of JSC.
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Wow, those are amazing Robert. Best ones yet.
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Mojave Skies blog with shots of Dryden departure:
http://mojaveskies.blogspot.com/2008/12/godspeed-endeavour.html
Bill Hartenstein's pix of Dryden departure...hadn't checked for a while and he has pix of the landing and launch, too!
http://www.ktb.net/~billmeco/sts126SCA911.html
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Sorry if this has already been asked, but is the orbiter piloted in case of any kind of abort mode?
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You mean "is there someone up in the orbiter during carried flight?" If that's your question -- answer = no.
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Sorry if this has already been asked, but is the orbiter piloted in case of any kind of abort mode?
No. The orbiter is unpowered during the entire ferry flight.
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Mojave Skies blog with shots of Dryden departure:
http://mojaveskies.blogspot.com/2008/12/godspeed-endeavour.html
Bill Hartenstein's pix of Dryden departure...hadn't checked for a while and he has pix of the landing and launch, too!
http://www.ktb.net/~billmeco/sts126SCA911.html
Thanks for posting the links - awesome photos!
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I realize these are a bit late to the party, but here are a few of my shots from today's flyover of JSC.
Nice shots Robert. Any chance you'll get to see the "hall of humor" this time around???
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DaveS
I realize the orbiter is un-powered as it is on re-entry but they must have studied failure modes where the carrier aircraft (747) would have a problem which would require the orbiter to separate similar to the original flight tests? I guess at the heart of my question is whether abort modes for cross country flights were studied in order to preserve the Shuttle should a unrecoverable error occur on the 747, anyone know?
It is after all for all intensive purpose a national treasure.
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DaveS
I realize the orbiter is un-powered as it is on re-entry but they must have studied failure modes where the carrier aircraft (747) would have a problem which would require the orbiter to separate similar to the original flight tests? I guess at the heart of my question is whether abort modes for cross country flights were studied in order to preserve the Shuttle should a unrecoverable error occur on the 747, anyone know?
It is after all for all intensive purpose a national treasure.
The Shuttle cannot separate, there are not explosive bolts to separate and the nose attach point is in the wrong configuration Two of the thousands of reasons.
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Any chance you'll get to see the "hall of humor" this time around???
I hadn't put in a request or planned an article to justify such, so probably not. However, I do have an idea for a future revisit to that hallway...
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I realize these are a bit late to the party, but here are a few of my shots from today's flyover of JSC.
Better late than never. Thank you, Robert. You've taken some amazing shots. Putting the first one as my desktop!
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I realize the orbiter is un-powered as it is on re-entry
I'm talking about electrically. They have removed all the cryos that are used as reactants for the three fuel cells. No cryo reactants, no power from the fuel cells.
And there's no umbilicals between the SCA and the orbiter.
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Here's some of my shots from during my mini-reporting session today. Crowds, lining up for takeoff, and rolling down the runway.
(http://lh6.ggpht.com/_YtuqknT7CVg/SUHIkcG_S5I/AAAAAAAAAB4/YsmBzIzLhQ0/s640/DSC_0331.JPG)
(http://lh3.ggpht.com/_YtuqknT7CVg/SUHIk4WuZsI/AAAAAAAAACA/fdf5tz1NckY/s640/DSC_0509.JPG)
(http://lh4.ggpht.com/_YtuqknT7CVg/SUHIlXBBrSI/AAAAAAAAACI/cO31VK9A6Wk/s640/DSC_0551.JPG)
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Nice work Bodge. Remember, attaching the images, rather than embedding them, will allow for the full size/res of the images.
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http://www.ktbs.com/player/player.cfm?video_id=14585¤t_zone=1&video_zone=1
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http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HY5JUKbWzvM
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OB6ehfQHyg4
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Totally out of the timeline of this thread and coverage, but check out this lowly viewed youtube video. Awesome sound and a great shot of her punching through clouds.
Check out the kid shouting "Go USA!" whilst being shook by the SRBs.
http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=hoc9xTuo0gs
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Great thread!
Hi Guys,
I guess we are looking towards an afternoon arrival at KSC,today? Is that the right info?
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More JSC Fly-over photos from NASA:
http://www.spaceflight.nasa.gov/gallery/images/shuttle/sts-126/postflight/ndxpage1.html
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Great thread!
Hi Guys,
I guess we are looking towards an afternoon arrival at KSC,today? Is that the right info?
Depends on the weather. We'll know in a few hours.
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And a few more from NASA Dryden:
The Space Shuttle Endeavour mounted atop its modified Boeing 747 carrier aircraft flies over California's Mojave Desert on its way back to the Kennedy Space Center in Florida on Dec 10, 2008.
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Yeah, the plan is to arrive back at KSC this afternoon - pending weather.
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More JSC Fly-over photos from NASA:
That second one is my new desktop. Thanks for the link, Jacques! :)
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No weather concerns at all... The front will have completely cleared KSC by the time they get off the ground at BAD and very little if any clouds are expected in the path.
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Current plan:
Weather brief at 10:00, depart at 12:00, and arrive at KSC around 2:45 Eastern.
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http://www.shreveporttimes.com/article/20081212/NEWS01/812120341/1060
there's a video on the right side that has some of the landing yesterday,
Maybe someone with some pull might ask for the full video??
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I didn't see this posted before, but here is a link to Shreveport times tha has a lot of pictures at Barksdale.
http://www.shreveporttimes.com/apps/pbcs.dll/gallery?Site=D9&Date=20081211&Category=NEWS&ArtNo=812110805&Ref=PH&Params=Itemnr=1
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Current plan:
Weather brief at 10:00, depart at 12:00, and arrive at KSC around 2:45 Eastern.
Cool!
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Latest article, first of the STS-126 post flight IFA review articles (13 presentations on L2 from yesterday's review) - reckon there will be four or five articles to come out of those presentations:
http://www.nasaspaceflight.com/2008/12/endeavour-coming-home-review-notes-srb-issue/
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STS-126 Mission Update
http://www.nasa.gov/rss/126_update.xml
Weather is Watchword for Shuttle's Return
Friday, December 12, 2008 2:13 PM [GMT]
Clouds associated with a cold front in Florida are expected to move out of the area around NASA’s Kennedy Space Center this afternoon in time for space shuttle Endeavour to return to its home spaceport on top of a 747 Shuttle Carrier Aircraft.
Meteorologists and mission managers will discuss the weather forecast during a briefing later this morning. Endeavour, still bolted to the top of the 747, is at Barksdale Air Force Base, La. where it landed Thursday.
If Endeavour is cleared to fly back to Florida today, it is not expected to reach Kennedy until at least 2 p.m. EST.
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we have a plan
http://travel.flightexplorer.com/trackFlight.aspx
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By chance, will either the takeoff or landing be shown live on NASA TV?
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Here is the current flight plan. so far no delays.
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The shuttle isn't as big as I remember it:
http://www.shreveporttimes.com/apps/pbcs.dll/gallery?Site=D9&Date=20081211&Category=NEWS&ArtNo=812110805&Ref=PH&Params=Itemnr=4
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current weather from long range
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It bugs about the flight plan on a clear day.
other routes allowed the country to see and today they want to fly the coast line.
bah hum bug
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It bugs about the flight plan on a clear day.
other routes allowed the country to see and today they want to fly the coast line.
bah hum bug
Sure. And the route also passes pretty close to MAF and Stennis. Might be nice for the people that make these machines go to get a rare look, as was done for JSC yesterday.
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flightaware is down
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Let's see if I can get this right using an attachment..
Here's a photo of two F-16's taking off with the SCA/Shuttle in the background from Fort Worth yesterday. It sort of looks like they're making a run on the stack - pew pew pew!
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Let's see if I can get this right using an attachment..
You've got it :) Now it doesn't affect loading times, and you can click the image for full size. Job done ;)
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Let's see if I can get this right using an attachment..
Here's a photo of two F-16's taking off with the SCA/Shuttle in the background from Fort Worth yesterday. It sort of looks like they're making a run on the stack - pew pew pew!
strafing run?? nahh... more like the shuttle/SCA looking at the F-16's and thinking - "don't worry boys, one day you will grow up too".. :)
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Bodge - your pics are superb.
Well done and thanks again for the coverage!
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It bugs about the flight plan on a clear day.
other routes allowed the country to see and today they want to fly the coast line.
bah hum bug
Sure. And the route also passes pretty close to MAF and Stennis. Might be nice for the people that make these machines go to get a rare look, as was done for JSC yesterday.
That was my first thought when I so the southern coast route. It would be nice if they could do a fly around MAF for the people to see. Problem, this is a longer flight (816 miles) and may be close to the Max for a flight.
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Looks to me like Orlando, FL is gonna get a look at it too, by the kink in the flight path at the end.
I would guess the landing will be to the north with the winds, but who knows. It would be usefull to know where to set up to watch the approach.
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That was my first thought when I so the southern coast route. It would be nice if they could do a fly around MAF for the people to see. Problem, this is a longer flight (816 miles) and may be close to the Max for a flight.
Good point. It would be interesting to know what the range is for this configuration. Last ferry flew from Dryden to Amarillo, over 900 miles; however, this is a heavier orbiter.
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It bugs about the flight plan on a clear day.
other routes allowed the country to see and today they want to fly the coast line.
bah hum bug
Sure. And the route also passes pretty close to MAF and Stennis. Might be nice for the people that make these machines go to get a rare look, as was done for JSC yesterday.
My understanding is that each of those yellow circles on the track shown on "FlightExplorer" represents an "airfield" of some sort. This not only helps with navigation, but gives potential emergency landing options. (I would expect the SCA with Shuttle wold "glide like a brick")
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Weather at KSC seems to be breaking up- no rain on the radar and clouds showing some breakup now - blue skies appearing..
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I would guess the landing will be to the north.........
You are correct. It will fly up the beach on a northery approach.
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My understanding is that each of those yellow circles on the track shown on "FlightExplorer" represents an "airfield" of some sort. This not only helps with navigation, but gives potential emergency landing options. (I would expect the SCA with Shuttle wold "glide like a brick")
Some of them are airfields, but I don't believe all of them are -- they're more like waypoints.
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My understanding is that each of those yellow circles on the track shown on "FlightExplorer" represents an "airfield" of some sort. This not only helps with navigation, but gives potential emergency landing options. (I would expect the SCA with Shuttle wold "glide like a brick")
Some of them are airfields, but I don't believe all of them are -- they're more like waypoints.
They are waypoints.. I turned on the Airport overlay and the airports on the picture here show up as small black dots now for reference. The big circles however are definitely waypoints.
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Shuttle Cleared for Final Leg of Flight
http://www.nasa.gov/rss/126_update.xml
Friday, December 12, 2008 3:37 PM [GMT]
Space shuttle Endeavour will take off from Barksdale Air Force Base, La., aboard the Shuttle Carrier Aircraft at noon EST. It is scheduled to arrive at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center at about 2:40 p.m. today.
Depending on the weather on Florida’s Atlantic coast at arrival, pilots of the 747 Shuttle Carrier Aircraft could fly over Cocoa Beach, Fla., during the return. The pilots will make that decision when they near the area.
The 747 is being fueled at the Barksdale base after staying at the facility overnight. Endeavour began its ferry flight from Edwards Air Force Base, Calif., on Wednesday. Endeavour landed at Edwards Nov. 30 at the end of STS-126.
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Looks like the weather continues to clear up.. We should have no trouble getting in today if this continues
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Breezy though. KSC just went above 18 kts. That's right down the runway though.
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http://travel.flightexplorer.com/trackFlight.aspx
says nasa912 is in flight
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http://travel.flightexplorer.com/trackFlight.aspx
says nasa912 is in flight
And that NASA911 is to take off at 1110 CST.
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did others NASA TV go blank?
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did others NASA TV go blank?
Did for me too!
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did others NASA TV go blank?
Directv says they're having temporary technical difficulties. Usually if it's the source's fault they'll say so, but not this time.
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Dish tv says "no signal"
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According to flightexplorer.com, NASA911 is in the air, takeoff at 1107 CST.
http://travel.flightexplorer.com/trackFlight.aspx
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It looks like we are off... However the Distance calculation seems fowled up at the moment..I really don't think they are planning to fly 7500 miles today..
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did others NASA TV go blank?
Directv says they're having temporary technical difficulties. Usually if it's the source's fault they'll say so, but not this time.
Considering that the Internet streams and the feed that KSC rebroadcasts at 1 fpm is also showing the same, it's a good guess it's a transmission issue. Happened when the ISS hour broadcast from JSC ended (I see the Media Channel Internet stream is also frozen). I'm getting the same blackness via cable TV retransmission of the Public Channel.
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flightaware is having problems with flights
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http://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/shuttle/main/
Endeavour Takes Off for Florida
Fri, 12 Dec 2008 05:13:28 PM GMT
The final leg of space shuttle Endeavour’s cross-country trek began at noon EST today when space shuttle Endeavour took off from Barksdale Air Force Base, La., on the back of a modified 747 Shuttle Carrier Aircraft. It is scheduled to arrive at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center at about 2:40 p.m. today.
Depending on the weather on Florida’s Atlantic coast at arrival, pilots of the 747 Shuttle Carrier Aircraft could fly over Cocoa Beach, Fla., during the return. The pilots will make that decision when they near the area.
The flight will land at the Shuttle Landing Facility on runway 33, which means it will land from the southern end of the runway.
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Considering that the Internet streams and the feed that KSC rebroadcasts at 1 fpm is also showing the same, it's a good guess it's a transmission issue. Happened when the ISS hour broadcast from JSC ended (I see the Media Channel Internet stream is also frozen). I'm getting the same blackness via cable TV retransmission of the Public Channel.
Public Channel is unstuck. Video File now starting.
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It appears to be back on.
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They are replaying the JSC flyaround, before anyone in the KSC panics they are missing her arrival ;)
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http://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/shuttle/main/
Endeavour Takes Off for Florida
Fri, 12 Dec 2008 05:13:28 PM GMT
The final leg of space shuttle Endeavour’s cross-country trek began at noon EST today when space shuttle Endeavour took off from Barksdale Air Force Base, La., on the back of a modified 747 Shuttle Carrier Aircraft. It is scheduled to arrive at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center at about 2:40 p.m. today.
Depending on the weather on Florida’s Atlantic coast at arrival, pilots of the 747 Shuttle Carrier Aircraft could fly over Cocoa Beach, Fla., during the return. The pilots will make that decision when they near the area.
The flight will land at the Shuttle Landing Facility on runway 33, which means it will land from the southern end of the runway.
Expected that with the wind. Now I know exactly where to sit...
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Question for those more knowledgeable that I ... What is the typical time required to get Endeavour dismounted and back in the OPF? I don't expect it to happen in minutes but if they land at 2:40 this afternoon will she be back in the barn tonight sometime or is it a day or two operation?
thank you in advance
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It appears to be back on.
Still nothing from DirecTV, but they just changed their slide from 'technical difficulties' to 'we are experiencing problems from the program source.'
Last time I saw this slide was during a football game, under a big "NO NEED TO CALL US, IT'S NOT OUR FAULT" sign along with it. I guess they don't think they'll be overwhelmed with thousands of calls from indignant NASA-TV fans.
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Through the first turn, now heading pretty much parallel to the coast.
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What are they showing on NASA TV right now? Looks like a big ship.
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What are they showing on NASA TV right now? Looks like a big ship.
That's the Pegasus barge arriving with ET-130 for STS-125, from MAF.
http://www.nasaspaceflight.com/2008/12/sts-125s-tank-manifest-meeting-ares-i-x-iss-food-shortage-2/
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What's going with the flight path, it looks to be headed east now - which is off path.
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what's going with the flight path looks to be headed east now - off of path
Seems ok to my screen.. About to cross the border into the Great State of Mississippi.. (ok, even I can't type that with a straight face...). Just over 1100 kilometers to go.
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that looks like the original flight plan... my screen shows it going like a straight arrow now until it hits florida airspace...
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nasa tv
December 12, Friday
2:30 p.m. - Shuttle Carrier Aircraft Delivers Space Shuttle Endeavour to the Kennedy Space Center - KSC (All Channels)
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810 kilometers to go... About to head over Alabama shortly.. Anyone Living in Mobile Alabama - go outside and look up... :)
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669 km to go... now appearing to be entering Florida Airspace... Welcome back Endeavour :)
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Halfway. Getting about 40mph tailwind at altitude
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406 km to go.. now making its heading turn to the south having completed the flight over the panhandle.
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Looks like the beaches will get a good look, to be followed by a flyby of Patrick AFB and Port Canaveral.
http://blogs.orlandosentinel.com/news_space_thewritestuff/2008/12/shuttle-endeavo.html
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308km left... getting closer..
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200km...
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MEDIA ADVISORY: M08-260
SPACE SHUTTLE FERRY FLIGHT ARRIVAL ON NASA TV'S PUBLIC CHANNEL
WASHINGTON -- Today's arrival of space shuttle Endeavour at NASA's
Kennedy Space Center in Florida will be seen only on NASA
Television's Public Channel (101) and NASA's Web site. System
maintenance is being performed on the media (103) and education (102)
channels.
Mounted atop a modified Boeing 747 shuttle carrier aircraft, Endeavour
is scheduled to land at Kennedy at 2:30 p.m. EST after a three-day
cross-country ferry flight from NASA's Dryden Flight Research Center
at Edwards Air Force Base, California.
Space shuttle Endeavour and its crew landed at Edwards Nov. 30,
completing a 16-day journey of more than 6.6 million miles. During
the mission, designated STS-126, the crew conducted important repair
work and prepared the International Space Station to house six crew
members on long-duration missions beginning next year.
For NASA TV streaming video, schedules, and downlink information,
visit:
http://www.nasa.gov/ntv
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MEDIA ADVISORY: M08-260
SPACE SHUTTLE FERRY FLIGHT ARRIVAL ON NASA TV'S PUBLIC CHANNEL
WASHINGTON -- Today's arrival of space shuttle Endeavour at NASA's
Kennedy Space Center in Florida will be seen only on NASA
Television's Public Channel (101) and NASA's Web site. System
maintenance is being performed on the media (103) and education (102)
channels.
Mounted atop a modified Boeing 747 shuttle carrier aircraft, Endeavour
is scheduled to land at Kennedy at 2:30 p.m. EST after a three-day
cross-country ferry flight from NASA's Dryden Flight Research Center
at Edwards Air Force Base, California.
Space shuttle Endeavour and its crew landed at Edwards Nov. 30,
completing a 16-day journey of more than 6.6 million miles. During
the mission, designated STS-126, the crew conducted important repair
work and prepared the International Space Station to house six crew
members on long-duration missions beginning next year.
For NASA TV streaming video, schedules, and downlink information,
visit:
http://www.nasa.gov/ntv
Good, because this "NASA Edge" show giving me a headache.
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Just over 100km to go.. last flight path update from me.. will try to transition to screen shots when the live feed comes on... (btw.. I agree about the NASA edge on right now... my eyes hurt!!). ;)
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pathfinder has landed at the SLF
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What the heck.. one more... under 50km ... now watching for NASAtv to go live.
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Just had a nice view with the binoculars as it headed east and made it's northward turn, very cool!
Scott
Melbourne, Fl
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Very cool Scott!
NASA TV coverage about to start, thankfully.
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Getting closer. Envy the local viewers
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TV coverage started.
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Welcome home :)
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touch and go?
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That low pass reminded me of the Dambusters!
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Didn't quit touch but a nice flight down the runway.
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Beautiful.
Last screenshot
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What a display :)
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Nice one Jim ;)
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Where did they put that darm gear down handle!
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Gear down now
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Landing gear down ready for the landing
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Gear down
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Coming in to land!
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So many people got to see her this time that we should make and sell T-shirts for 'Endeavour's 2008 US Tour'.
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can confirm gear down
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welcome home
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Nice landing
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Smooth landing.
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Good, finally....at home.
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STS126-2528919.jpg
Someone better get a good resolution on this one
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Wow, those 747s can turn on a sixpence.
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Now thats a tight turn!
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Catching the sun turning around
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Wow, see that rocking after wheels stop?!
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Heading to the MDD - or not yet. Photo ops!
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look at the ants...
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Two engines shut down or just idling?
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Taxi... Taxi!!
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Taxi... Taxi!!
Of course!
Silly me.
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What - no landing replays?? ;)
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Shuttle Carrier Aircraft Delivers Space Shuttle Endeavour to the Kennedy Space Center
http://www.space-multimedia.nl.eu.org/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=4576
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Starting to be pulled. Those have to be powerfull machines.
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on the move
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That tug looks like a Ford truck commercial... or the little engine that could.
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uh oh.. Dr. Suess time... Which Snitch is going to move first...
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uh oh.. Dr. Suess time... Which Snitch is going to move first...
"Will the owner of an olive C-17 please report to Runway 33..."
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Starting to be pulled. Those have to be powerfull machines.
Well, it weighs in at 65,000 lbs(29250 kg).
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I love seeing all the little people...
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Starting to be pulled. Those have to be powerfull machines.
Well, it weighs in at 65,000 lbs(29250 kg).
And it has to pull 150 tons!
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Starting to be pulled. Those have to be powerfull machines.
A 747 with passengers, baggage and fuel weighs more than the SCA and orbiter
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Money Shots! Awesome work by the NASA TV people with the camerawork on this.
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Starting to be pulled. Those have to be powerfull machines.
A 747 with passengers, baggage and fuel weighs more than the SCA and orbiter
Is the SCA a modified 747-400?
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almost there...
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Is the SCA a modified 747-400?
No, they are 747-100
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I guess the crew wants off....
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Starting to be pulled. Those have to be powerfull machines.
A 747 with passengers, baggage and fuel weighs more than the SCA and orbiter
Exactly how fat are people in the US Jim?? (that was meant as a funny... no offense.. :) )
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A question was asked erlier, and I am not sure if I saw a reply. How long will it take them to demount the Suttle?
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Heh, check out the guy looking up at Endeavour and giving her a wave!
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Who was that waving at Endeavour :D
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As I know the 747 SCA has all the unnecessary stuff, seats, internal decoration, toilets, etc. removed to reduce weight.
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What will become of the SCA when the Shuttle fleet is retired?
Scrap? Convert to some other use? Museum?
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Heh, check out the guy looking up at Endeavour and giving her a wave!
I am lovin that personalized picture!!!
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In those last couple of pictures, endeavour looks tired and like "Get me back into my OPF".
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can't blame her, she's travled quite a few miles since she was last in her own bed.
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Thought I would share this ....
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some local wildlife in this shot.
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How do they get the aerodynamic tailcone back to Edwards?
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Thought I would share this ....
And it's to your credit you did! Can never get enough of these shots.
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I still say she has a nice tail.. ;)
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How do they get the aerodynamic tailcone back to Edwards?
Probably on the Guppy would be my guess
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all buttoned up again
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When we see Orion transported to KSC on the back of a truck, we're going to miss days like these.
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When we see Orion transported to KSC on the back of a truck, we're going to miss days like these.
Amen to that!
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Getting the demate facility ready
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Thats it for NTV coverage... What a great trip this was the past few days...
Still looking for one answer as to how fast they will be in getting endeavour back in the OPF?
Have a great weekend all.. :)
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When we see Orion transported to KSC on the back of a truck, we're going to miss days like these.
Amen to that!
I smell a poll...I'd be looking ahead to when it's going to fly -- just like when Endeavour or Atlantis or Columbia was first delivered to the Cape. There's so much material now for reminiscing here and elsewhere online, much of it can be done almost instantaneously.
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End of coverage by NASA TV. We got a good run though!
Nice work by Stockman on the screenshots...my PC started to frown at me after 15 of them, so it's appreciated.
We'll be moving to STS-127 processing once she's back in OPF-2.
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Thats it for NTV coverage... What a great trip this was the past few days...
Still looking for one answer as to how fast they will be in getting endeavour back in the OPF?
Some time tomorrow, if all goes well.
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How do they get the aerodynamic tailcone back to Edwards?
I'm curious and haven't been able to search up an answer:
Does anyone know how they move the tailcone from one place to another (ex: KSC to Edwards)?
It is not one piece, it disassembles
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ASAP Probably
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We parked on the Towway at the gate thru the fence just as the pathfinder C-17 was landing. Did not know that would be where the C-17 was gonna park. But not until the pilot backed the C-17 about 200 yds down a narrow taxiway
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Then the SCA came thru on the low pass at 250 feet with the gear up. Gotta respect the kind of cajones a guy has to do a low pass with $2B on his back:
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Then he turned out over the Indian River and gave the folks along A1A in Titusville a good look
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Then of course a fine picture of Florida's best wetland shrubbery, with something blurry in the background:
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And the Main Event:
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Then I headed over by the KSC firehouse, which is right adjacent to the MDD ramp. I was shooting over the fence when one of the firefighters invited me through the firehouse so I could shoot from their apron - inside the fence line.
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In my hurry to take advantage of the Firefighter's goodwill, I left my shorter lense in the car. It was so close I couldn't get the whole rig in view at once sometimes.
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Then she turned up to the MDD and the light was really good. And I backed up to the treeline to fit it all in.
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Thanks John,
Great pictures!
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I hope you won't mind me posting image IMG_4035.JPG in another post Johng.
That was my thought for a lunar rover idea (Canada's possible contribution to Constellation). I believe it's a Bombardier (or similar style vehicle).
btw: thanks for thoese great hi-res images!
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I realize the orbiter is un-powered as it is on re-entry
I'm talking about electrically. They have removed all the cryos that are used as reactants for the three fuel cells. No cryo reactants, no power from the fuel cells.
And there's no umbilicals between the SCA and the orbiter.
Actually there is a wire harness between the SCA and orbiter to power up the water coolant loop pumps as well as some heaters for freeze protection.
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johng: AMAZING. Thank you for the pictures! I'm setting the closeup of Endeavour as my desktop both here at work and at home. Thank you so much.
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Nice way to close up the STS-126 ferry trip coverage John. They make for a beautiful duo.
We'll need to keep an eye on the MDD and a ETA on her rollback to OPF-2.
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I hope you won't mind me posting image IMG_4035.JPG in another post Johng.
That was my thought for a lunar rover idea (Canada's possible contribution to Constellation). I believe it's a Bombardier (or similar style vehicle).
btw: thanks for thoese great hi-res images!
I Believe that firefighting vehicle in the photo is the Swedish over-snow/all-terrain/amphibious vehicle
Hägglunds Bv 206 (Hagglund Bandvagn 206 )
Wikipedia
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bv_206
or see:
http://dbase.ljacksonandco.com:1066/FMPro?-db=bv206.fp5&-format=jacksons%2Fbv206_showroom.html&-lay=detail&-sortfield=id&-op=cn&title=Hagglund%20BV206&-max=5&-findall=
Our Fire Department here on Providenciales got one a couple of years ago.
(After EXPENSIVE repairs to transmissions of big firetrucks driven through flooded roads to assist/evacuate people)
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I hope you won't mind me posting image IMG_4035.JPG in another post Johng.
That was my thought for a lunar rover idea (Canada's possible contribution to Constellation). I believe it's a Bombardier (or similar style vehicle).
btw: thanks for thoese great hi-res images!
I Believe that firefighting vehicle in the photo is the Swedish over-snow/all-terrain/amphibious vehicle
Hägglunds Bv 206 (Hagglund Bandvagn 206 )
Wikipedia
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bv_206
or see:
http://dbase.ljacksonandco.com:1066/FMPro?-db=bv206.fp5&-format=jacksons%2Fbv206_showroom.html&-lay=detail&-sortfield=id&-op=cn&title=Hagglund%20BV206&-max=5&-findall=
Our Fire Department here on Providenciales got one a couple of years ago.
(After EXPENSIVE repairs to transmissions of big firetrucks driven through flooded roads to assist/evacuate people)
Thanks for that info!
I know Hagglunds hydraulic motors well enough...ugghhh very expensive (but great design). We use them on cable ferries as the main drive motor(s).
Again, great images!
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Fly around images:
http://spaceflight.nasa.gov/gallery/images/shuttle/sts-126/lores/s126e014784.jpg
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http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=30uq406GHsg
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Gorgeous johng! Thanks
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Here was the view from my location. The heat haze and backlit shooting was a negative but I made the best of it. Here are a sample.
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Wounderful pictures everyone!!!!
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Great effort by all concerned with the photos, which are a welcome addition to the live shots via NASA TV.
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Great coverage. Anyone know the estmated time she'll be rolled back to OPF-2 on her RATs?
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Great coverage. Anyone know the estmated time she'll be rolled back to OPF-2 on her RATs?
Later today, don't have a time yet, but they've been working through the night to get her unbolted off the SCA.
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Really great pictures. A lot of us envy those of you that could see it live, but are thankful that you took the time to share your enjoyment.
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Ben has some nice pix up on his site:
http://www.launchphotography.com/STS-126_747_SCA.html
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Ben has some nice pix up on his site:
http://www.launchphotography.com/STS-126_747_SCA.html
http://www.launchphotography.com/STS-126_747_SCA_5.JPG - winner! :o
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Ben has some nice pix up on his site:
http://www.launchphotography.com/STS-126_747_SCA.html
http://www.launchphotography.com/STS-126_747_SCA_5.JPG - winner! :o
I was thinking the same thing because of the sun location. With all of the pictures that were taken, it is really hard to say which is the best. Someone could make a nice book or calendar with the pictures.
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HD Video from Houston, not mine but it looks great:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V10Lqjuv4V0
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A few more...
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http://www.nasaspaceflight.com/2008/12/endeavour-sts-127-processing-discovery-rollover-sts-119/
Will move to STS-127 now.
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And a few more from NASA Dryden:
The Space Shuttle Endeavour mounted atop its modified Boeing 747 carrier aircraft flies over California's Mojave Desert on its way back to the Kennedy Space Center in Florida on Dec 10, 2008.
Hey, where did you get these pictures? I especially like the 3rd one... I love how the shadows fall on the orbiter... is there a higher resolution availible?
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And a few more from NASA Dryden:
The Space Shuttle Endeavour mounted atop its modified Boeing 747 carrier aircraft flies over California's Mojave Desert on its way back to the Kennedy Space Center in Florida on Dec 10, 2008.
Hey, where did you get these pictures? I especially like the 3rd one... I love how the shadows fall on the orbiter... is there a higher resolution availible?
You should be able to find a 3000px × 2400px version of that photo here:
http://www.nasa.gov/images/content/296611main_ED08-0306-148_full.jpg
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And a few more from NASA Dryden:
The Space Shuttle Endeavour mounted atop its modified Boeing 747 carrier aircraft flies over California's Mojave Desert on its way back to the Kennedy Space Center in Florida on Dec 10, 2008.
Hey, where did you get these pictures? I especially like the 3rd one... I love how the shadows fall on the orbiter... is there a higher resolution availible?
You should be able to find a 3000px × 2400px version of that photo here:
http://www.nasa.gov/images/content/296611main_ED08-0306-148_full.jpg
Thanks so much ;D