Author Topic: Orbiter retirement (Read 348749 times)

Namechange User · « **Reply #1220 on:** 04/21/2011 05:04 pm »

I believe Enterprise also had a life-limiting structural issue from a "hard bounce" during one of the ALT flights.

brettreds2k · « **Reply #1221 on:** 04/21/2011 05:11 pm »

When Enterprise was built, it was built to be converted to a space vehicle but as mentioned above, later deemed to costly and not necessary.

Skylon · « **Reply #1222 on:** 04/21/2011 07:37 pm »

Quote from: OV-106 on 04/21/2011 05:04 pm

I believe Enterprise also had a life-limiting structural issue from a "hard bounce" during one of the ALT flights.

That's the first I've heard of that. I do not believe the PIO that happened on the final ALT flight was that severe.

K466 · « **Reply #1223 on:** 04/21/2011 07:59 pm »

Will the orbiters have any fly arounds on the SCA here in Florida or elsewhere before they arrive at their museums?

brettreds2k · « **Reply #1224 on:** 04/22/2011 11:52 pm »

Quote from: MarsMethanogen on 04/21/2011 04:20 pm

Really? Obviously, Challenger was, but I wasn't aware that Enterprise was. Is that referenced somewhere, perhaps in Jenkins' book? I've read that book, but perhaps I've forgotten. It just seems that from all the bits and pieces I've read more recently on this site, I've had the complete opposite assumption; that it never was.

Actually the new article (Part 1 On Endeavour) also mentions that Enterpise was considered to replace challenger but quickly was deemed would be to costly and to time consuming so thats how Endeavour came to be. But Enterpise was considered to be fitted as an operational flight vechicle even then. So at the origin when it was built Enterpise was "Supposed" to be converted then the idea again after Challenger.

tim_george · « **Reply #1225 on:** 06/16/2011 10:30 pm »

Hi

Apologies if this is covered elsewhere, or this is posted in the wrong section. I just googled the subject and searched this forum and couldn't find what I was looking for...

Assuming STS-135 goes ahead as planned in July, is there an estimated date for when Atlantis will be ready to go on display at Kennedy Space Center?

I am visiting Florida (and KSC for the first time...cannot wait) in mid-September. I am ready to be told I'm being overly optimistic to expect Atlantis to be display-ready by then, but thought I would look into it!

Cheers!

Chris Bergin · « **Reply #1226 on:** 06/16/2011 10:37 pm »

Merged, and not until next year at the earliest, is the answer.

tim_george · « **Reply #1227 on:** 06/16/2011 10:51 pm »

Thank you

Chris Bergin · « **Reply #1228 on:** 06/16/2011 11:23 pm »

Sure thing Tim - and to expand on why, they have to post flight safe her, then deservice, take off her SSMEs, FRCS, OMS and such, then clean her out of all the hypers and such. A lot of post flight work to get her into a safe configuration for display.

At least that's from the orbiter side.

K466 · « **Reply #1229 on:** 06/17/2011 04:53 pm »

I wonder if we'll be able to see them tow Atlantis over to from OPF to KSC. I assume the visitors center might be closed that day.

cycleroadie · « **Reply #1230 on:** 06/17/2011 04:57 pm »

Quote from: K466 on 06/17/2011 04:53 pm

I wonder if we'll be able to see them tow Atlantis over to from OPF to KSC. I assume the visitors center might be closed that day.

If you happen to be out on one of the bus tours, and it's during park hours when it's towed back to OPF, you might see it, the VC is always open even when they are rolling out from OPF to VAB or back from SLF to OPF.

K466 · « **Reply #1231 on:** 06/17/2011 05:15 pm »

Quote from: cycleroadie on 06/17/2011 04:57 pm

Quote from: K466 on 06/17/2011 04:53 pm
I wonder if we'll be able to see them tow Atlantis over to from OPF to KSC. I assume the visitors center might be closed that day.

If you happen to be out on one of the bus tours, and it's during park hours when it's towed back to OPF, you might see it, the VC is always open even when they are rolling out from OPF to VAB or back from SLF to OPF.

My bad for not being clear. I'm referring to the time when they tow Atlantis over to her final resting place, the at the KSC Visitor's Center.

cycleroadie · « **Reply #1232 on:** 06/17/2011 05:24 pm »

Quote from: K466 on 06/17/2011 05:15 pm

Quote from: cycleroadie on 06/17/2011 04:57 pm
Quote from: K466 on 06/17/2011 04:53 pm
I wonder if we'll be able to see them tow Atlantis over to from OPF to KSC. I assume the visitors center might be closed that day.

If you happen to be out on one of the bus tours, and it's during park hours when it's towed back to OPF, you might see it, the VC is always open even when they are rolling out from OPF to VAB or back from SLF to OPF.

My bad for not being clear. I'm referring to the time when they tow Atlantis over to her final resting place, the at the KSC Visitor's Center.

Ah, well that's another story then. Tough call, could be great for business that day, but also could be a logistical nightmare. Guess we'll just have to wait and see. Depends where the new facility is going also I would think ? I heard it might be right where the Explorer is now, but haven't seen anything definitive on that, if anyone else has, chime in, I'd like to know, and unfortunately do not read these threads as often as I'd like. If it's off the main VC site like the the Saturn V building, it won't really matter if they are open or not.

Jorge · « **Reply #1233 on:** 06/17/2011 05:27 pm »

Ready-for-transport dates are currently February 2012 (OV-103), June 2012 (OV-105), and October 2012 (OV-104).

K466 · « **Reply #1234 on:** 06/17/2011 05:38 pm »

Quote from: Jorge on 06/17/2011 05:27 pm

Ready-for-transport dates are currently February 2012 (OV-103), June 2012 (OV-105), and October 2012 (OV-104).

That sucks... such dates will make a great photo op (http://forum.nasaspaceflight.com/index.php?topic=24618.0) impossible, I'm sure.

I wonder why Atlantis needs so much longer between it's final flight and ready date, compared to Discovery?

MadameConcorde · « **Reply #1235 on:** 06/19/2011 02:46 pm »

Quote from: K466 on 06/17/2011 05:38 pm

I wonder why Atlantis needs so much longer between it's final flight and ready date, compared to Discovery?

Atlantis does not want to go to a Museum.

She wants to fly.

Jim · « **Reply #1236 on:** 06/19/2011 02:59 pm »

Quote from: K466 on 06/17/2011 05:38 pm

Quote from: Jorge on 06/17/2011 05:27 pm
Ready-for-transport dates are currently February 2012 (OV-103), June 2012 (OV-105), and October 2012 (OV-104).

That sucks... such dates will make a great photo op (http://forum.nasaspaceflight.com/index.php?topic=24618.0) impossible, I'm sure.

I wonder why Atlantis needs so much longer between it's final flight and ready date, compared to Discovery?

Less people working on it

K466 · « **Reply #1237 on:** 06/21/2011 06:04 pm »

Quote from: MadameConcorde on 06/19/2011 02:46 pm

Atlantis does not want to go to a Museum.

She wants to fly.

Discovery wants to fly too!

Quote from: Jim on 06/19/2011 02:59 pm

Less people working on it

Makes sense now that I think about it... thanks

brettreds2k · « **Reply #1238 on:** 06/23/2011 03:05 pm »

Quote from: K466 on 06/17/2011 05:38 pm

Quote from: Jorge on 06/17/2011 05:27 pm
Ready-for-transport dates are currently February 2012 (OV-103), June 2012 (OV-105), and October 2012 (OV-104).

That sucks... such dates will make a great photo op (http://forum.nasaspaceflight.com/index.php?topic=24618.0) impossible, I'm sure.

I wonder why Atlantis needs so much longer between it's final flight and ready date, compared to Discovery?

Id think also because they new building still needs to be built and that will still take quite a while since they havent even announced an exact spot or broken ground you know?

Jorge · « **Reply #1239 on:** 06/23/2011 03:48 pm »

Quote from: brettreds2k on 06/23/2011 03:05 pm

Quote from: K466 on 06/17/2011 05:38 pm
Quote from: Jorge on 06/17/2011 05:27 pm
Ready-for-transport dates are currently February 2012 (OV-103), June 2012 (OV-105), and October 2012 (OV-104).

That sucks... such dates will make a great photo op (http://forum.nasaspaceflight.com/index.php?topic=24618.0) impossible, I'm sure.

I wonder why Atlantis needs so much longer between it's final flight and ready date, compared to Discovery?

Id think also because they new building still needs to be built and that will still take quite a while since they havent even announced an exact spot or broken ground you know?

That will affect when the orbiters are actually shipped, but the ready-for-transport dates do not account for it.