STS-126: Post Flight (Dryden, SCA Ferry to KSC) Coverage

[psloss]

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

[SpaceNutz SA]

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???

[Lawntonlookirs]

Probably more on L2, but if was of importance, Chris would let us know. 

[catdlr]

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

[Chris Bergin]

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!

[Stowbridge]

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).

[Chris Bergin]

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).

[Stowbridge]

Good work, thanks.

[mrpoptop]

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

[johng]

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.

[johng]

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.

[jeffchan]

Any information on the Tucson Davis-Monthan stop?  Good public viewing areas?  Considering the drive to the Old Pueblo...

[Ronsmytheiii]

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

[jcm]

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

[Ronsmytheiii]

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

[collectSPACE]

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.

The flight readiness review has been pushed off until mid-day Sunday.

[Chris Bergin]

Thanks Robert. Have they said anything about NASA TV coverage of departure?

[psloss]

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.

[psloss]

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, looks like 905 was used to ferry Discovery after STS-92.

[jcm]

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, looks like 905 was used to ferry Discovery after STS-92.

Good find, thanks!