NASASpaceFlight.com Forum
NASA Shuttle Specific Sections => Atlantis (Post STS-135, T&R) => Topic started by: Chris Bergin on 05/26/2009 11:15 pm
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Processing updates for Atlantis out in California, her ferry trip back, through to being spotted in her OPF ahead of processing towards STS-129:
Processing update from Dryden, and opening post landing TPS overview via L2.
http://www.nasaspaceflight.com/2009/05/atlantis-tracking-ksc-return-tps-good-shape/
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If mating ops will be finished on sunday, I assume a Monday start of the ferry flight is that OK??
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If mating ops will be finished on sunday, I assume a Monday start of the ferry flight is that OK??
Possibly Monday, but the weather will determine what day they can start the return flight.
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Tracking Sunday, but there's a few weather concerns (wind) relating to processing (such as getting the tail cone on), and the power outage didn't help. Still has Sunday as ready to ferry on the latest update.
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Winds are light most of the day... Looks like as we get into the afternoon (3pm PDT / 22 UTC) then a gusty west breeze blows at 20mph with gusts 30-35mph, then they subside again quickly after sunset.
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Post-mission servicing and ferry flight preparations on the Space Shuttle Atlantis got under way in earnest Tuesday at NASA's Dryden Flight Research Center, following Atlantis' landing Sunday morning at Edwards Air Force Base in Southern California.
After completion of jacking and leveling operations in the Mate-Demate Device, the large gantry-like structure used to conduct post-flight servicing and mounting of the shuttle atop its carrier aircraft, United Space Alliance technicians completed drying of the main engine compartment. They also continued inspections of Atlantis' thermal protection tiles and blankets and completed installation of covers over the shuttle's windows.
On Thursday, technicians will don self-contained atmospheric protection ensemble or SCAPE suits in order to drain various toxic fluids from Atlantis' systems that could prove hazardous to unprotected personnel. Installation of the fittings for attachment of the tail cone used to improve the shuttle's aerodynamics during the ferry flight is also on the overnight schedule.
Post-mission processing managers are targeting lift operations to mount Atlantis on the modified 747 carrier aircraft on Saturday, and following a Flight Readiness Review the same day, are looking toward ferry flight departure just before sunrise Sunday morning at the earliest.
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Seeing the post immediately above prompts me to ask this question. I have been informed in other threads that the hypergols are not typically drained after each flight if post-landing inspections detect no leaks of any kind. Is that typical only of landings at KSC SLF? And will hypergols be drained from Atlantis while at Dryden prior to its cross-country flight on the SCA? Or does the entry above pertain to the draining only of (coolant) ammonia?
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Will the STS-125 payload require the SCA to make more intermediate landings for refueling?
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Seeing the post immediately above prompts me to ask this question. I have been informed in other threads that the hypergols are not typically drained after each flight if post-landing inspections detect no leaks of any kind. Is that typical only of landings at KSC SLF? And will hypergols be drained from Atlantis while at Dryden prior to its cross-country flight on the SCA? Or does the entry above pertain to the draining only of (coolant) ammonia?
No draining applies to KSC. Toxic fluids usually refers to the propellants. BTW, Ammonia is not refer to as a hypergol.
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Thanks, Jim. So I can assume that they'll be draining the hypergols. I'm aware that ammonia is not a hypergol, but it can be "toxic" and that's why I mentioned it in my question.
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According to Flightaware - the SCA last flew 161 days ago. Is there any plan to test fly the SCA unloaded before mating with Atlantis?
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FA only checks flights where they filed a flight plan.
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Will the STS-125 payload require the SCA to make more intermediate landings for refueling?
Absolutely. With that beast on its back, how could it now require large amounts of additional fuel? Also, it flies much lower than it normally would/its design ceiling and the denser atmosphere requires more fuel. Finally (and someone more knowlegable can chime in here), I wouldn't be surprised if they take on a less than full load of fuel to minimize the take-off weight. All these factors combine to require frequent stops between Dryden and KSC. If you back and check the number of stops made the last time this was required, I believe that you will find that it stopped at least four times (and stayed overnight at some point) before continuing on.
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FA only checks flights where they filed a flight plan.
Does anyone know when last the SCA was flown?
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Will the STS-125 payload require the SCA to make more intermediate landings for refueling?
Absolutely. With that beast on its back,
He's asking if the PAYLOAD of STS-125 would cause more stops for the SCA, since it's not an empty bay. I recall there being a ferry document from the FRR before launch in L2.
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The last flight plan was to KEDW on Dec 16.
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The last flight plan was to KEDW on Dec 16.
That's what was posted above - what he's asking is if it's flown at all since then.
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Mike Massimino posts some interesting post-landing twitter updates, nice insights:
Just got home after landing in California, it was an awesome mission, but it is good to be safe at home with Hubble all fixed up12:36 AM May 25th from web
Could not land for 2 days so spent most time looking out windows - this was a gift - listening to music looking at Earth and stars for hours9:34 AM May 25th from web
favorite moment on last full day was night pass over Australia with thunderstorms and city lights below and universe above, a heavenly view9:37 AM May 25th from web
On day 12 on a night pass over India I say 2 shooting stars entering the atmosphere below me, streaks of light below, I made 2 wishes9:41 AM May 25th from web
At home, even though exhausted could not sleep much, talked with my family til late sharing space stories, memories of space still fresh9:43 AM May 25th from web
Getting re-adjusted to gravity, let go of a small bag of groceries and must have expected it to float, luckily no damage11:26 PM May 25th from web
Walking everywhere or having my wife drive, I am not allowed to drive until Wednesday, normal re-adaption period after a spaceflight11:28 PM May 25th from web
Woke up with slightly sore back and lower legs, my muscles are re-adjusting to gravity9:24 AM May 26th from web
Finished a physical exam with the doctors, all is good, I am cleared to resume driving a car, flying, and light exerciseabout 9 hours ago from TwitterBerry
Preparing our post-flight report, paperwork is necessary for everybodyabout 4 hours ago from TwitterBerry
http://twitter.com/Astro_Mike
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The last flight plan was to KEDW on Dec 16.
That's what was posted above - what he's asking is if it's flown at all since then.
And we're talking here about NASA 911, right? What happened to NASA 905? It was last used for an orbiter ferry mission in 2007 (STS-117) but now in flightaware.com if I enter "NASA 905" I get a T-38... did I miss a memo?
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Somewhere in the L2 FRR docs just posted for STS127 says that one of the SCA's is down two engines currently, but I can't find it offhand to remember exactly.
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Will the STS-125 payload require the SCA to make more intermediate landings for refueling?
Probably not. The performance limiting factor is the drag, not the weight. The payload doesn't affect that so they should fly simmilar legs to what they have done in the past.
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Atlantis Fluid Draining in Progress; Ferry Flight May Occur Sunday
Post-mission servicing of the Space Shuttle Atlantis and preparations for its ferry flight are progressing well at NASA's Dryden Flight Research Center, and shuttle managers are hopeful that Atlantis will be ready to ferry late Saturday evening. As of Thursday morning, the ferry flight itself would depart Edwards Air Force Base in Southern California no earlier than about sunrise on Sunday, May 31.
Technicians in self-contained atmospheric protection ensemble or SCAPE suits are on schedule Thursday as they drain various toxic fluids from Atlantis' systems that could prove hazardous to unprotected personnel Thursday. Installation of the tail cone used to improve the shuttle's aerodynamics during the ferry flight is scheduled for no earlier than late Friday.
Shuttle processing managers are targeting lift operations to mount Atlantis on the modified 747 carrier aircraft to begin at mid-day Saturday. A Flight Readiness Review is scheduled for mid-day Saturday, at which time managers will decide when the ferry flight will occur.
Inspectors noted some damage on both the interior and exterior of Atlantis' right Orbital Maneuvering Engine nozzle that was apparently caused by a micrometeoroid strike while Atlantis was in orbit. Shuttle engineering is reviewing the issue to determine if the nozzle will need to be repaired or replaced.
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If the SCA leaves Sunday morning, that usually means a Monday AM arrival at KSC, correct? I have a 2PM flight leaving Daytona Beach and hope to be around to see it.
Any advice on where to best view the SCA? I have tickets to the KSC visitors center, but was thinking it might be better to be along the beach somewhere... anyone got a good spot to watch?
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If the SCA leaves Sunday morning, that usually means a Monday AM arrival at KSC, correct? I have a 2PM flight leaving Daytona Beach and hope to be around to see it.
Any advice on where to best view the SCA? I have tickets to the KSC visitors center, but was thinking it might be better to be along the beach somewhere... anyone got a good spot to watch?
Lucky you! I'd give my front set to see that. They normally do a nice fly-by at KSC before landing so I'm sure you'll see it wherever you are.
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Is there a calm wind runway preference for Edwards departure? For STS-126 they used Rwy 04, but I don't know if that was due to winds or not.
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Getting re-adjusted to gravity, let go of a small bag of groceries and must have expected it to float, luckily no damage11:26 PM May 25th from web
Okay, that was priceless! Couldn't stop laughing...oops, still can't... :)
Thanks for posting that.
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If the SCA leaves Sunday morning, that usually means a Monday AM arrival at KSC, correct? I have a 2PM flight leaving Daytona Beach and hope to be around to see it.
Any advice on where to best view the SCA? I have tickets to the KSC visitors center, but was thinking it might be better to be along the beach somewhere... anyone got a good spot to watch?
It's all going to depend on the runway they use. If they use 15, go on the Max Brewer Parkway heading toward Playalinda Beach. If the road out there is still open (don't know if they'd close it for this, apparently they do for actual shuttle landings), it at one point passes the end of the SLF about a quarter or half mile away. A GPS will show exactly when you're at the end of it, as it's a wooded area between. I'd think you'd want to be a quarter mile or so to the side to have a better side view.
If they use RWY 33, you'll probably need to be at KSC. The Apollo/Saturn V Center is located near the end of the SLF at that end. If you can get a view in the correct direction, you may be able to see it from there.
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HYTHIRM was used on Atlantis even without the DTO:
http://twitter.com/spacegirly
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That was the plan - I imagine we'll have some pics in the next few days.
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It's all going to depend on the runway they use. If they use 15, go on the Max Brewer Parkway heading toward Playalinda Beach. If the road out there is still open (don't know if they'd close it for this, apparently they do for actual shuttle landings), it at one point passes the end of the SLF about a quarter or half mile away. A GPS will show exactly when you're at the end of it, as it's a wooded area between. I'd think you'd want to be a quarter mile or so to the side to have a better side view.
If they use RWY 33, you'll probably need to be at KSC. The Apollo/Saturn V Center is located near the end of the SLF at that end. If you can get a view in the correct direction, you may be able to see it from there.
Cool, took a minute on google earth to realize it's the same runway, just different directions... am I right on the 2-day trip length? The wife and I took a drive down that parkway tonight actually - the road was open up to where you can take a left on rt. 3 or a right to the badging/ID station near pad B. The gate to the beach was closed, but that might have been since it was near 7:30PM... I'm gonna call tomorrow and see if they're closed due to Endeavour sitting on the pad. Those damn lightning towers - you know the pad is right there, but -just- miss being able to see the top of the stack...
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Nope, they're not closed when Pad B is occupied. I was there right after the rollout when both pads were occupied. When it's open, you keep going straight past SR-3 and eventually get to a ticket booth, where you have to pay $3/person to go further and get to the beach.
The website for Canaveral National Seashore says they're open until 8 PM, but maybe they stop letting cars in early or something. Calling would definitely be your best option.
The SLF, however, is before SR-3.
Attached is a pic I took on 4/17 when I was down there, right after Endeavour got to 39B.
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Any idea if the ferry flight plan will be posted on L2 somewhere? I haven't seen it yet but I was hoping to find out if and when it lands at KDMA.
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Haven't seen anything yet, and they usually don't post a flight plan until just before leaving Edwards because of weather and other conditions.
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Ferry unlikely to start until next week due to delays in processing (Tailcone installation etc.) Will write it up as the next article.
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I was able to get out to DFRC due to some good friends ;D
The weather was ugly, so tailcone installation was postponed this afternoon. It seems likely from this, that takeoff will be NET Monday at least.
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Here is a fun shot of the SCA waiting in the wings Saturday. You can kind of see the weather in the background. On the drive out, we observed a dust devil the that reached up almost high enough to be considered a funnel cloud.
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Ferry unlikely to start until next week due to delays in processing (Tailcone installation etc.) Will write it up as the next article.
KSC official status is Sunday flight, but the guys out there say Monday. Will see where things stand today.
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Ferry unlikely to start until next week due to delays in processing (Tailcone installation etc.) Will write it up as the next article.
KSC official status is Sunday flight, but the guys out there say Monday. Will see where things stand today.
The official DFRC statement is NET Sunday afternoon PDT: http://www.nasa.gov/centers/dryden/home/index.html
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Ferry unlikely to start until next week due to delays in processing (Tailcone installation etc.) Will write it up as the next article.
KSC official status is Sunday flight, but the guys out there say Monday. Will see where things stand today.
The official DFRC statement is NET Sunday afternoon PDT: http://www.nasa.gov/centers/dryden/home/index.html
Confirmed as NET Monday per latest L2 update via our mutual friend out at Dryden working with Atlantis.
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Atlantis latest:
http://www.nasaspaceflight.com/2009/05/endeavour-rollaround-atlantis-departing-california/
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Dryden News
Space Shuttle Atlantis Ferry Flight To Begin Early Monday
Post-mission servicing of the Space Shuttle Atlantis and preparations for its ferry flight are nearing completion at NASA's Dryden Flight Research Center, and shuttle managers expect preparations to be complete by Sunday evening. If that schedule can be maintained, the ferry flight itself would depart Edwards Air Force Base in Southern California shortly before sunrise Monday morning, June 1.
Edwards, a restricted access military base, will not be open to the public for viewing of the shuttle's ferry flight departure. However, there are several off-base locations where the 747-shuttle combo may be visible after takeoff.
During a Flight Readiness Review Saturday afternoon at Dryden, ferry flight managers reviewed servicing and preparation work already completed, and found no constraints to a Monday morning departure from Edwards. The cross-country flight of Atlantis mounted atop one of NASA's two modified Boeing 747 Shuttle Carrier Aircraft will be at fairly low altitudes – about 10,000 to 16,000 feet – and will involve several intermediate stops for fuel and at least one overnight stop en route.
An unexpected thunderstorm with high winds slowed operations Friday afternoon, but work resumed Friday evening. Installation of the aerodynamic tail cone over Atlantis rocket engine nozzles was completed at mid-day Saturday, and raising of the landing gear and other closeout work was under way late Saturday. The lift onto the modified Boeing 747 Shuttle Carrier Aircraft was scheduled to begin late Saturday or overnight Sunday.
Atlantis' cross-country ferry flight will be accompanied by a NASA C-9 pathfinder aircraft, which will fly about 100 miles ahead of the piggyback combo to assist the flight crew in avoiding any precipitation that could damage the shuttle's thermal protection blankets.
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NASA's Boeing 747 Shuttle Carrier Aircraft sit parked side by side on Dryden Flight Research Center's main ramp. The aircraft in the foreground, NASA 911, will ferry Space Shuttle Atlantis back to the Kennedy Space Center. (NASA Photo / Tony Landis)
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NASA's Boeing 747 Shuttle Carrier Aircraft sit parked side by side on Dryden Flight Research Center's main ramp. The aircraft in the foreground, NASA 911, will ferry Space Shuttle Atlantis back to the Kennedy Space Center. (NASA Photo / Tony Landis)
Why do they need two? And I thought one had been converted for the SOFIA telescope (or something like that)?
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Atlantis latest:
http://www.nasaspaceflight.com/2009/05/endeavour-rollaround-atlantis-departing-california/
Thanks for the very interesting read, especially on the pad repair.
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NASA's Boeing 747 Shuttle Carrier Aircraft sit parked side by side on Dryden Flight Research Center's main ramp. The aircraft in the foreground, NASA 911, will ferry Space Shuttle Atlantis back to the Kennedy Space Center. (NASA Photo / Tony Landis)
Why do they need two? And I thought one had been converted for the SOFIA telescope (or something like that)?
SOFIA is an entirely different aircraft, a modified 747SP which has a shorter fuselage than the regular 747.
And the reason for having two is so that if one suffers an accident, they simply can switch it out for the second one.
Getting a second SCA was a recommendation made by the Rogers Commission that investigated the Challenger accident.
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With a bit of planning and luck, I managed to overfly the DFRC Saturday morning and managed to get some shots of the tailcone installation work. Know anyone down there? :)
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Nice pictures! Thanks for posting them, shuttlefanatic!
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The girl who blogs here: http://damarisbsarria.blogspot.com/ was working on Atlantis as you were flying over :)
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She'll of been working with our very own Bob too!
Awesome photos shuttlefanatic!
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According to NASA's website: "The mate of Atlantis to the Shuttle Carrier Aircraft was completed at 7:55 a.m. EDT (4:55 a.m. PDT)."
http://www.nasa.gov/shuttle
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Update from the NASA Shuttle page:
"The STS-125 ferry flight departure from Edwards AFB, Calif. is currently planned for 8:20 a.m. EDT (5:20 a.m. PDT) Monday, June 1. Sunday's weather briefing has concluded and the forecast looks favorable for the departure just before sunrise Monday. There will be a weather briefing at 6:15 p.m. EDT (3:15 a.m. PDT) Monday."
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Is there any way of finding out the flight path over the Mojave Desert? I teach at a high school that I am told by another teacher has at least once been right under the flight path. However, the couple of times I have had the opportunity to look, they have gone way north and I have seen nothing.
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As soon as it's known, it'll be posted here. Happening on a weekend however hurts the chances of getting it too far in advance.
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NASA's Boeing 747 Shuttle Carrier Aircraft sit parked side by side on Dryden Flight Research Center's main ramp. The aircraft in the foreground, NASA 911, will ferry Space Shuttle Atlantis back to the Kennedy Space Center. (NASA Photo / Tony Landis)
Why do they need two? And I thought one had been converted for the SOFIA telescope (or something like that)?
SOFIA is an entirely different aircraft, a modified 747SP which has a shorter fuselage than the regular 747.
And the reason for having two is so that if one suffers an accident, they simply can switch it out for the second one.
Getting a second SCA was a recommendation made by the Rogers Commission that investigated the Challenger accident.
Not to mention that having two frees up the other for extended maintenance (like N905 right now) or transporting two orbiters as has been done in the past.
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Is there any way of finding out the flight path over the Mojave Desert? I teach at a high school that I am told by another teacher has at least once been right under the flight path. However, the couple of times I have had the opportunity to look, they have gone way north and I have seen nothing.
One way you can track the flight is with this site:
http://flightaware.com/live/flight/NASA911
During STS-126's ferry, they flew right over my town and the tracking was very good - I missed it by a few minutes though, as I waited too long, go out about 10-15 minutes early to be sure to catch the flyover. Good luck on being in the flight path!
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Hi guys, do you think Atlantis and the SHUTTLE CARRIER Aircraft will land in Texas for fuel or an overnight stay? I'm in Dallas and I'd love to see and photograph Atlantis? thanks a bunch
-Eric C
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From Dryden's Twitter (http://twitter.com/NASADryden) (about one hour ago):
Shuttle Atlantis ferry flight from Dryden to Kennedy could be delayed until 8:20 am PDT
crews are working technical issue, more details as they are known.
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Hi guys, do you think Atlantis and the SHUTTLE CARRIER Aircraft will land in Texas for fuel or an overnight stay? I'm in Dallas and I'd love to see and photograph Atlantis? thanks a bunch
-Eric C
Your best bet is to keep an eye on flightaware. Even better keep your eye on this thread - NSF.com often has the inside track on things :)
As soon as anything is known - it will be posted here. Flightaware normally shows the destination shortly before or after takeoff although the pathfinder (which keeps about 100miles ahead) gives the destination away long before. Keep Flightaware pointed to KEDW and you'll see the pathfinder file a flightplan - then you'll know!
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From NASA Shuttle Home Page:
Teams preparing space shuttle Atlantis for its cross-country trip from California to Florida are running behind their original schedule because of some minor hardware problems. But they're still aiming to depart Edwards Air Force Base this morning. Managers now will meet for a pretake-off weather briefing at 9 a.m. EDT (6 a.m. PDT) for a target departure time of 11 a.m. EDT (8 a.m.) from Edwards. Technicians encountered some difficulties while trying to tighten a bolt on the right attach point for connecting Atlantis to its modified Boeing 747 aircraft. The bolt now is securely in place, and Atlantis almost is ready to begin its ferry flight back to NASA's Kennedy Space Center. Weather permitting, Atlantis could be back at its Florida home Tuesday night, where space shuttle Endeavour is being prepared for its upcoming STS-127 mission to the International Space Station.
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Thanks for the update, aurora899!
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Just some high clouds over Edwards this morning... Winds out of the southwest at around 10mph through takeoff time. West half of the US is very quiet weatherwise, so shouldn't be using any weather backups.
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Ferry flight coverage will be on the media channel since there's a space station conference on the public side.
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Is the media channel open only to those who have media credentials and some type of access rights? If so, is there anyone at EDW that will be able to capture and post some images for the remainder of us commoners? Thanks!
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Is the media channel open only to those who have media credentials and some type of access rights?
No.
http://www.nasa.gov/multimedia/nasatv/index.html
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First stop Biggs Tx. Depature from Edwards at 11am Eastern.
Anyone in that area, with a camera and an understanding boss? ;)
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http://flightaware.com/live/flight/NASA932
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Looks like this will be the "pathfinder" leaving at 7:40 pacific. Nasa911 (SCA) leaves at 7:55 pacific.
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I thought from the last flight that it was a large cargo-type military jet? This is just a DC9.
Here's the SCA:
http://flightaware.com/live/flight/NASA911
Lat/longs for those who want to plot out its path:
KEDW Origin Airport 34.9085577 -117.8837687
HEC VOR-TAC (NAVAID) 34.7969444 -116.4630556
PKE VOR-TAC (NAVAID) 34.1019444 -114.6819444
PXR VOR-TAC (NAVAID) 33.4330556 -111.9702778
IWA VOR-TAC (NAVAID) 33.3030556 -111.6513889
SSO VOR-TAC (NAVAID) 32.2691667 -109.2630556
KBIF Destination Airport 31.8495000 -106.3800000
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You are so quick, Sir! And thanks a bunch for the info about the media channel.
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I thought from the last flight that it was a large cargo-type military jet? This is just a DC9.
I believe that was a C-17; however, there's documentation for this mission that mentions that the Pathfinder aircraft would be different from the last ferry.
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Pathfinder should look like this.....
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I believe that was a C-17; however, there's documentation for this mission that mentions that the Pathfinder aircraft would be different from the last ferry.
Thanks - found a pic of it at http://www.flickr.com/photos/av8pix/634134962/ and http://www.airliners.net/search/photo.search?regsearch=N932NA and http://jetphotos.net/showphotos.php?regsearch=N932NA
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I wonder if they are going to follow the same plan as with endeavour. EDW-Bliss-FT Worth...
There is rain currently west of Fort Worth. If they were to go north into oklahoma they wouldn't be able to stay the night due to a chance for severe storms w/ hail in the evening.
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If they were to go north into oklahoma they wouldn't be able to stay the night due to a chance for severe storms w/ hail in the evening.
The threat of evening severe weather is actually greater in TX than in OK.
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Do we have info on which direction they are taking off yet? That will determine whether I will see them since I am only about 35-40 miles ESE of the base. I am at school now, and don't have access to twitter from here (it is blocked).
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Winds are out of the southwest so whichever runway takes them in that direction most likely.
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Winds are out of the southwest so whichever runway takes them in that direction most likely.
Very likely the main 22/04 runway regardless; the question is more likely which way. (Sounds like taking off on a 220 heading would provide the stronger headwind.)
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Runway 22 according to some other sources!
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Runway 22 might be favorable to me! From past experience the other way takes them too far north.
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Yes, should be RWY 22 (i.e, direction SW). Very limited info on twitter: "It will likely turn east prior to reaching Lancaster/Palmdale."
Expected departure time is 7:55 am PDT (approx.) Good luck!
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First stop Biggs Tx. Depature from Edwards at 11am Eastern.
Anyone in that area, with a camera and an understanding boss? ;)
New member here, thanks to Google. I am mobilized on active duty from the Wisconsin National Guard, and work at Biggs not far from the flight line. Not sure what I'll be able to get, but I know that I can at least get to the runway perimeter fence.
Thanks for all the info posted here. Big help! I have an appointment from 1100-1200 local, so hopefully the takeoff won't be until after noon. Make sure it gets posted here when you have the info.
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"The duo will head to Biggs, Texas, before taking in the Air Force bases of Dyess, Texas, or Altus, Oklahoma - based on current information. This will be updated based on local weather." - article going on site in a minute or so.
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Pathfinder took off at 10:44am EDT
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"The duo will head to Biggs, Texas, before taking in the Air Force bases of Dyess, Texas, or Altus, Oklahoma - based on current information. This will be updated based on local weather." - article going on site in a minute or so.
Updated: Biggs is the overnight stop.
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First stop Biggs Tx. Depature from Edwards at 11am Eastern.
Anyone in that area, with a camera and an understanding boss? ;)
New member here, thanks to Google. I am mobilized on active duty from the Wisconsin National Guard, and work at Biggs not far from the flight line. Not sure what I'll be able to get, but I know that I can at least get to the runway perimeter fence.
Thanks for all the info posted here. Big help! I have an appointment from 1100-1200 local, so hopefully the takeoff won't be until after noon. Make sure it gets posted here when you have the info.
Welcome to the site's forum Don!
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Spaceflightnow.com has some nice photos of N911NA/OV-104 mated stack courtesy of Gene Blevins: http://www.spaceflightnow.com/shuttle/sts125/090601ferry/
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No coverage on media channel, unfortunately.
But there should follow a F-18 for photo chasing, sol lets hope for some nice pictures in the next days.
Edit: Replaced the (old) image with one actually taken during this ferry flight. (Full size link (http://www.nasa.gov/centers/dryden/images/content/354293main_ED09-0127-101_full.jpg))
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Can't tell from the flightaware site if SCA will overfly Tucson. I have a buddy there. If one draws a straight line between origin and destination, it would seem to be a bit north of Tucson. Anybody have any more information on the PATH of the aircraft?
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Media channel now live
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It's comming on!
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Anybody have any more information on the PATH of the aircraft?
I posted the lat/long of the points it will follow about an hour ago, so scroll back in this thread.
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Ferry Flight coverage is coming up on the media channel
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Article: http://www.nasaspaceflight.com/2009/06/atlantis-road-trip-sts-125-et-foam-liberation-event-reviewed/
(Will be updated on the ferry)
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Start of taxi.
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Nice, they're showing the video on the Public Channel with the normal ISS PAO commentary...
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Now taxing onto the runway after a short pause -- just saw another NASA jet take off, so they were #2.
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Photo op F18 (looked small on the runway!)
http://flightaware.com/live/flight/NASA852
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Just saw one of the F-18s flash by on its takeoff run.
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Now beginning take off roll.
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They're off the ground...
Wheels up...
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Now getting a nice shot from chase plane.
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Nice crowd of people there too. Must be awesome to see that in person.
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New landing ETA for the SCA - 1pm EDT.
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Can someone give me the link were to follow the trip?
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Public Channel now back to ISS mission coverage.
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Can someone give me the link were to follow the trip?
Already posted.
http://www.nasa.gov/multimedia/nasatv/index.html - MEDIA channel.
Great screenshots Mike!
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Pathfinder did two quick loops as they were pretty far out ahead due to the delays.
747 - http://flightaware.com/live/flight/NASA911
DC9 - http://flightaware.com/live/flight/NASA932
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Public Channel now back to ISS mission coverage.
Interesting - if you're watching via the internet, the Media Channel seems to have nowhere near the same amount of lag time as the Public Channel.
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Pathfinder did two quick loops as they were pretty far out ahead due to the delays.
747 - http://flightaware.com/live/flight/NASA911
DC9 - http://flightaware.com/live/flight/NASA932
I was looking for these ones. Thanks!
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Looks like that's all over for the Media Ch. coverage as well.
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Sorry Dave, didn't realize you meant the flight links.
That was very cool. Shame we've gone back to water drinking questions from Marcia.
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Sorry Dave, didn't realize you meant the flight links.
That was very cool. Shame we've gone back to water drinking questions from Marcia.
Good reply, though. Good questions from Bill, too.
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Sorry Dave, didn't realize you meant the flight links.
That was very cool. Shame we've gone back to water drinking questions from Marcia.
I think we're biased, Chris, but I agree. Think they got the channels and broadcasts mixed up...shouldn't the press conference be on the Media Channel? :)
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New landing ETA for the SCA - 1pm EDT.
Anyone aware if NASA will cover the landing? I kind of doubt it, but thought I'd ask.
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They never have before. Look for local TV station streaming links (might want to hunt back the thread from the last carrier flight, they might be in there still.)
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Good idea.
They're at altitude now, but not yet at their planned speed. New landing time is now 13:12 EDT. I'm used to Texas being in CDT, but this airfield is so far in extreme northwestern Texas, that it's on my (MDT) time!
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STS-125 - Departure of Shuttle Atlantis Ferry Flight from Edwards Air Force Base
http://www.space-multimedia.nl.eu.org/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=5034
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I thought from the last flight that it was a large cargo-type military jet? This is just a DC9.
Here's the SCA:
http://flightaware.com/live/flight/NASA911
Lat/longs for those who want to plot out its path:
KEDW Origin Airport 34.9085577 -117.8837687
HEC VOR-TAC (NAVAID) 34.7969444 -116.4630556
PKE VOR-TAC (NAVAID) 34.1019444 -114.6819444
PXR VOR-TAC (NAVAID) 33.4330556 -111.9702778
IWA VOR-TAC (NAVAID) 33.3030556 -111.6513889
SSO VOR-TAC (NAVAID) 32.2691667 -109.2630556
KBIF Destination Airport 31.8495000 -106.3800000
Here is the path for Google Earth
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Now flying perhaps fairly closely along Interstate 10 and at the half-way point. All you Tucson/Phoenix commuters, look up!
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"The duo will head to Biggs, Texas, before taking in the Air Force bases of Dyess, Texas, or Altus, Oklahoma - based on current information. This will be updated based on local weather." - article going on site in a minute or so.
Updated: Biggs is the overnight stop.
Do you have a link to confirm that they're overnighting here? I'll miss the landing because of the delay. (I've got some friends who will be able to catch it though.)
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No luck here - from FlightAware's path, they circled around to the north, so I couldn't see them. Thanks all for the links and the updates. It helped.
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"The duo will head to Biggs, Texas, before taking in the Air Force bases of Dyess, Texas, or Altus, Oklahoma - based on current information. This will be updated based on local weather." - article going on site in a minute or so.
Updated: Biggs is the overnight stop.
Do you have a link to confirm that they're overnighting here? I'll miss the landing because of the delay. (I've got some friends who will be able to catch it though.)
Updated the article with the memo noting it.
http://www.nasaspaceflight.com/2009/06/atlantis-road-trip-sts-125-et-foam-liberation-event-reviewed/
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"The duo will head to Biggs, Texas, before taking in the Air Force bases of Dyess, Texas, or Altus, Oklahoma - based on current information. This will be updated based on local weather." - article going on site in a minute or so.
Updated: Biggs is the overnight stop.
Do you have a link to confirm that they're overnighting here? I'll miss the landing because of the delay. (I've got some friends who will be able to catch it though.)
Updated the article with the memo noting it.
http://www.nasaspaceflight.com/2009/06/atlantis-road-trip-sts-125-et-foam-liberation-event-reviewed/
LOL... OK, so I'm a noob. In the future, I'll come to NSF to confirm other rumors, instead of assuming that there are rumors here I need to confirm elsewhere. Nice to have an authoritative source.
Now, can you get me to the VIP stand if we're lucky enough to get another night launch? I was at the STS-125 launch, and now I've got the fever...
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Thanks Don, but afraid I can't do much for you on VIP tickets ;)
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Getting close to their destination on this leg.
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I just got a email from KVIA TV and they said they would be having coverage of the Shttle landing in El Paso. I'm not sure if they will have a live video though.
http://www.kvia.com/Global/category.asp?C=80118&nav=menu193_1_8
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Spaceflight Now.com is reporting that the SCA will make a fly-over of the White Sands facility.
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descending... now 14 miles out..
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Spaceflight Now.com is reporting that the SCA will make a fly-over of the White Sands facility.
Yes, I saw that earlier, but I guess I'm still not up to speed on the etiquette for referring to other sites . . I thought that was somewhat verboten. Also, he (Justin Ray) stated that NASA had mentioned that this would occur. Not knowing his source, I assumed that it had been mentioned on NASA TV, and I didn't hear it, because my sound was muted at that time.
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Not knowing his source, I assumed that it had been mentioned on NASA TV, and I didn't hear it, because my sound was muted at that time.
NASA twitted it about an hour ago.
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Spaceflight Now.com is reporting that the SCA will make a fly-over of the White Sands facility.
Yes, I saw that earlier, but I guess I'm still not up to speed on the etiquette for referring to other sites . . I thought that was somewhat verboten.
Well, we don't mention them that much but I think someone else actually posted a link to the site earlier!
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Wow, flightaware still shows them at 15K feet. There must be a fairly significant lag time in what's displayed.
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Stockman is following the Pathfinder. The SCA is NASA911.
Wow, flightaware still shows them at 15K feet. There must be a fairly significant lag time in what's displayed.
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Not knowing his source, I assumed that it had been mentioned on NASA TV, and I didn't hear it, because my sound was muted at that time.
NASA Public Affairs has other channels of communication with journalists for information like that; NASA TV generally does not relay that information.
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Stockman is following the Pathfinder. The SCA is NASA911.
Wow, flightaware still shows them at 15K feet. There must be a fairly significant lag time in what's displayed.
crap... sorry about that... trying to follow this while at work... I will stand down for now so as not to confuse the issue... thanks for pointing that out...
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SCA 9 minutes out; 8700 feet.
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last refresh....3 minutes out, 6800 feet.
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Anyone found a TV link?
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If they're going to do a flyover of White Sands, it's likely the arrival time will be delayed from the current estimate.
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911's flight plan shows a clear turn to the north that the pathfinder did not make before landing.
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Yeah, that would be the way to vector to White Sands. I just drove by there last week.
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flightaware reports SCA landed 17 minutes ago, but the green route line stops short, and north of landing site. Not going out to that "other" site because it's locked up and then shut down my internet browser several times this morning.
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FA only reported that because they haven't received a radar return, likely due to the low altitude. Do not use that as an arrival time.
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Agreed. NTV now showing loop of deaprture from EDW........
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NTV now showing loop of deaprture from EDW........
That's just one of the many re-runs of the Video File.
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NASA 911, a Boeing 747 modified to carry the space shuttles, thunders off Runway 22 at Edwards Air Force Base June 1 with the shuttle Atlantis on its back on the first leg of Atlantis' ferry flight back to the Kennedy Space Center in Florida. (NASA photo / Tony Landis)
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I think they have just arrived at Biggs.
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NASA.gov: The pair arrived at Biggs Army Airfield in El Paso, Texas at 1:22 p.m. EDT (11:22 a.m. MDT) and will spend the night there before resuming the cross-country trip tomorrow. Atlantis may be home on Tuesday if weather permits.
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Now if we could just find a way to squeeze an ET's worth of LOX and LH2 into the SCA's belly, we'd be set... =)
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Nice article Chris!
But need some clarification with this fragment :
"The duo will stay the night in Biggs, Texas - before potentially taking in the Air Force bases of Dyess, Texas, or Altus, Oklahoma - based on current information."
Dyess in Texas? Not in Arkansas?
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Dyess is in Texas, it's near Dallas.
http://www.dyess.af.mil/
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Dyess is in Texas, it's near Dallas.
http://www.dyess.af.mil/
Thanks for fast response!
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Dyess is in Texas, it's near Dallas.
http://www.dyess.af.mil/
I think the confusion is that Dyess is an Air Force Base in Texas, not a city. Abilene sure seems a lot closer to Dallas when looking at it on a map than when you're driving it on I-20. :)
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nasa.gov states that the SCA could land on the SLF Tuesday night...is this possible?? Why didn't they continue today past Biggs?? Weather??
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nasa.gov states that the SCA could land on the SLF Tuesday night...is this possible?? Why didn't they continue today past Biggs?? Weather??
Fuel, more than likely. With the drag of the orbiter on top, plus the low altitude, the 747 is a real gas guzzler.
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Dyess is in Texas, it's near Dallas.
http://www.dyess.af.mil/
Thanks for fast response!
Phew, you had me worried there for a second ;)
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Depending on timing, weather and where they go tomorrow, I might get to go see her. I'm three hours from Abilene, which is where Dyess AFB is located, so if I find out where they're headed early enough, it would definitely be a worthwhile experience to see her up close!
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Ok, these photos aren't that great - I guess it was a little hazy, but I figured I'd show off the fruits of my labor today. I flew up from San Diego this morning and watched Atlantis depart Edwards from about 8 miles south at 6500' :)
Thanks again for all the up to date coverage on this site! It helped me get to the right place at the right time.
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nasa.gov states that the SCA could land on the SLF Tuesday night...is this possible?? Why didn't they continue today past Biggs?? Weather??
Wasn't fuel. They could have stopped for fuel and lunch at 1100 and been back in the air comfortably by 1300 or 1330. They did that the last time they were here.
It was weather, I believe in east Texas. Pretty bad storms last night, I'm sure some leftovers still out there. I think they realized that with an easy overnight here, the coast is clear (literally and figuratively) tomorrow.
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Actually weather was pretty quiet today in Texas. There will be scattered storms along the path again tomorrow, so not quite sure weather was the only reason for the layover.
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The striking similarity of the "observer's body language" in these two iconic photos really captures the emotion of the moment...Wow.
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This one from the Dryden (Edwards take-off) SCA takeoff...
Photo credit: Gene Blevins/LA Daily News
(If you have a link, that would be best as such images are copyright - only NASA.gov are non copyright).
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Great photos, that must have been quite a sight! Thanks for posting.
paul
Ok, these photos aren't that great - I guess it was a little hazy, but I figured I'd show off the fruits of my labor today. I flew up from San Diego this morning and watched Atlantis depart Edwards from about 8 miles south at 6500' :)
Thanks again for all the up to date coverage on this site! It helped me get to the right place at the right time.
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Shuttlefanatic,
I tweaked one of your photos, hope you dont mind.
Paul
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To me it's bone chilling everytime I see a ferry flight! It has to be THE most valuable cargo being flown at any time and a failure is not an option.
The flightcrew of the SCA have the largest cohones in the business to do this!
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It has to be THE most valuable cargo being flown at any time and a failure is not an option.
The flightcrew of the SCA have the largest cohones in the business to do this!
Every single human passenger is more valuable "cargo" than a shuttle.
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From the NASA Ferry Flight Blog:
Managers met this morning for a weather briefing. They decided that Atlantis' departure on top of a modified Boeing 747 Shuttle Carrier Aircraft from Biggs Army Air Field, in El Paso, Texas now will take place no earlier than 8:40 a.m. EDT (6:40 a.m. MDT).
The ferry flight team will continue to assess the weather to determine the best route to take from Texas to NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida.
That extra hour means I should get good video and stills of the departure.
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FlightAware.com just reported that the SCA is leaving at 6:40 MDT headed for Lackland AFB (San Antonio) - due to arrive at 9:10 CDT. Does anyone have any idea how long it will be there? Also, any suggestions about where the best viewing would be for the general public?
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T38 on the way soon from Houston to land just ahead of the Pathfinder & SCA later this morning.
http://flightaware.com/live/airport/KSKF
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Just so I watch the correct flight today,,, is the flight number still NASA911 ?
thank you in advance
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Yes.
Interesting discussion on why they stopped where they did...
"Today's first leg flight is a perfect example of how crazy the scheduling challenges can be. We had originally planned for just a fuel layover in El Paso, then added an option to go north to Amarillo instead of El Paso and finally needed to pick just stopping at El Paso for the day."
http://blogs.nasa.gov/cm/blog/shuttleferry
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Some showers and storms moving through northern Texas should not be an issue today, expect some isolated activity just about anywhere in the southeast US today but overall coverage will be minimal.
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Looks like a good choice going to Lackland with the rainy weather in Abeline and Fort Worth areas.
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Just so I watch the correct flight today,,, is the flight number still NASA911 ?
Yes; won't change because NASA 911 is really the aircraft.
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Pathfinder is up according to FlightAware:
http://flightaware.com/live/flight/NASA932
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If flightaware is accurate then I believe NASA911 (shuttle) just departed..
Close up of todays flight source and destination as well.
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Whats then the next fuel station on the route?
Ahh.. I missed it - Lackland Afb.
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Whats then the next fuel station on the route?
Ahh.. I missed it - Lackland Afb.
Looks like it is going to Mississippi after the Lackland stop. Will then look at weather in Florida or stay overnight in Miss. Weather in Fla starts to go downhill after today.
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100 miles downrange now... about 400 to go.
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At KSC in Florida the weather doesn't look that stable at least for today and tomorrow. I think the decision will not be easy.
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194 miles down - 300 to go
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half way on this leg...
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298 down - 196 to go on this leg
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It was a smooth departure this morning. Light wind, with a shift in direction at about 0600 according to one of my fellow observers (my section Sergeant Major, with the beaucoup $$$ Canon camera). I'll leave the meteorology to RDale, but anyway it's my dumb luck that we didn't get much of a prevailing wind this morning.
Net result: instead of taking off on Runway 21 and looping around El Paso (with great mountains in the shot, etc.), they just used Runway 03 and took the straight shot out. He got the great pics, and I got to his location about 5 minutes after the action.
Should have a few in darkness and early morning light to share with you all later. Plus he got the entire rollout, including a few shots with both the Pathfinder and SCA together. I'll be posting to L2 (thanks Chris) later.
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All drivers on 10th route from El Paso to San Antonio should look on the sky above them.. :)
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Who's in the NASA T38 flying over from Ellington to Lackland?
http://flightaware.com/live/flight/NASA924
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We have as much a shot at know who as we do the one that's flying to Mobile ;)
http://flightaware.com/live/flight/NASA968
They fly T38's all the time at NASA, so there is no way of figuring out the crew for a random flight.
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392 miles down - 103 to go
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We have as much a shot at know who as we do the one that's flying to Mobile ;)
http://flightaware.com/live/flight/NASA968
They fly T38's all the time at NASA, so there is no way of figuring out the crew for a random flight.
Just curious since it so obviously correlates with the SCA arrival in San Antonio. :-p
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They should let Mark Kirkman fly the SCA :)
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It was a smooth departure this morning. Light wind, with a shift in direction at about 0600 according to one of my fellow observers (my section Sergeant Major, with the beaucoup $$$ Canon camera). I'll leave the meteorology to RDale, but anyway it's my dumb luck that we didn't get much of a prevailing wind this morning.
Net result: instead of taking off on Runway 21 and looping around El Paso (with great mountains in the shot, etc.), they just used Runway 03 and took the straight shot out. He got the great pics, and I got to his location about 5 minutes after the action.
Should have a few in darkness and early morning light to share with you all later. Plus he got the entire rollout, including a few shots with both the Pathfinder and SCA together. I'll be posting to L2 (thanks Chris) later.
Awesome Don!
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47 miles to go
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28 miles to go and descending
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9 miles out - 2900 feet.. should be landing soon
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Could someone possibly refresh my memory...
Why do they cruise at only 15000 feet enroute?
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Arrived...
Welcome to Lackland Afb Arpt (KSKF)
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Could someone possibly refresh my memory...
Why do they cruise at only 15000 feet enroute?
Not an expert by any means (so others can correct me) but one thing that comes to mind is the temperature - gets VERY cold at 35000 feet and the orbiter is not powered - may be other reasons as well..
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Why do they cruise at only 15000 feet enroute?
Temps. Go back a page and check my link to the story on how they determine flight path / landing sites / etc
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New to this forum and have been following STS-125 with great interest.
My question is about the SCA - I know it adds drag but does having the shuttle on board add significant lift for the combination? Or is the angle of attack too low?
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@NASA: "Expected to leave for Columbus, MS at 11am CST and arrive there at 1pm CST."
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Why do they cruise at only 15000 feet enroute?
Temps. Go back a page and check my link to the story on how they determine flight path / landing sites / etc
I went back to your link that you refer to and read the blog. It states,
The Orbiter cannot be exposed to temperatures less than 15 F either in flight or on the ground and the Orbiter cannot fly at an altitude where the pressure is less than 8 psia. These requirements typically limit our altitude to an 11,000 to 16,000 ft range.
I get the part about the rain potentially damaging the tiles, but can someone explain why the orbiter cannot be exposed to tempatures less than 15 F? Also, why can the orbiter not be exposed to pressure less than 8 psia? It's a spacecraft, for heaven's sake! And it's exposed to those low pressures seconds on its climb up the hill. What am I missing here?
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Thanks guys for the memory refresh.
And MarsMethanogen, thanks for asking that for me!! ;) ;D
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@NASA: "Expected to leave for Columbus, MS at 11am CST and arrive there at 1pm CST."
Probably just a typo - I assume 11am CDT to 1pm CDT.
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can someone explain why the orbiter cannot be exposed to tempatures less than 15 F? Also, why can the orbiter not be exposed to pressure less than 8 psia? It's a spacecraft, for heaven's sake! And it's exposed to those low pressures seconds on its climb up the hill. What am I missing here?
It has power and heat and pressurization when it's in space. Turn off all the system when in orbit, and you quickly have a dead orbiter.
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@NASA: "Expected to leave for Columbus, MS at 11am CST and arrive there at 1pm CST."
Probably just a typo - I assume 11am CDT to 1pm CDT.
What facility in Columbus will they be using?
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Howdy all. Here are some pictures I took as they landed this morning! You can see all the lovely C-5's in the background. It is a bit overcast here but it is clearing nicely. ENJOY!
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What facility in Columbus will they be using?
The only one.
http://www.columbus.af.mil/
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Great shots! Has my first post on the Forum beat all to heck!
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I get the part about the rain potentially damaging the tiles, but can someone explain why the orbiter cannot be exposed to tempatures less than 15 F? Also, why can the orbiter not be exposed to pressure less than 8 psia? It's a spacecraft, for heaven's sake! And it's exposed to those low pressures seconds on its climb up the hill. What am I missing here?
The orbiter is unpowered and therefore the many heaters are inactive. Hydrazine freezes at 1 C. As for pressures, the same applies, there is no electrical power for vents.
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Up on flightware that depart 11:10 CDT for Columbus AFB arriving at 1:18 CDT
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http://flightaware.com/live/airport/KSKF has the next leg now. No concerns for weather there until later this afternoon.
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Thanks Jim for the more informative answers. I wasn't aware that they ferried the orbiter with it unpowered/inert...
I would think that if they could keep the temp critical systems powered up and warm, it sure would open a lot more options for them as far as weather since they could climb to much more efficient altitudes and get above most of the weather instead of having to pick through it.
Why not power up one or 2 of the fuel cells, or have the SCA provide power to the orbiter? I know there are reasons... I just don't know what they are.
The orbiter sure is more delicate than my Learjet that I fly!
Thanks!
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Up on flightware that depart 11:10 CDT for Columbus AFB arriving at 1:18 CDT
here is the next leg...
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I wounder if they will fly over JSC this time. They are closer on this route than they were during the last flight.
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Yes, that would indeed be cool!
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NASA: Shuttle arrival at KSC expected around 6pm EDT today
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Sounds like a long day for all. I assume they will unload Atlantis and get into the OPF as soon as possible. Long night also.
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I wounder if they will fly over JSC this time. They are closer on this route than they were during the last flight.
They could, but there are likely different factors at play this time.
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here's the weather path
http://www.weather.gov/forecasts/graphical/sectors/southmissvly.php?element=Wx
it updates itself
Daniel
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I wounder if they will fly over JSC this time. They are closer on this route than they were during the last flight.
They could, but there are likely different factors at play this time.
Yes, If I remember correctly they had bad weather to the East and would not have been able to fly LA through too KSC. This flight I am sure they want to get to KSC today.
I am sure a lot of people around the Houston area will see it fly over at the 15000 ft.
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Howdy all. Here are some pictures I took as they landed this morning! You can see all the lovely C-5's in the background. It is a bit overcast here but it is clearing nicely. ENJOY!
Very nice! She looks great even in overcast weather.
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FlightAware has Pathfinder in the air again.
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My Sergeant Major and I were wondering the same thing. Why the temperature and pressure concerns when those limits are exceeded by a significant degree (order of magnitude) during missions?
Perhaps the power issues have something to do with it? Sensitive electronics not protected without APU power, etc. etc.?
Jim answered earlier:
http://forum.nasaspaceflight.com/index.php?topic=17221.msg414832#msg414832
Yup, I noticed. Broke the cardinal forum rule -- read first, post later. Sorry, no caffeine this AM. Diet Dew, anyone?
Already removed my post. Thinking about changing my profile title from "Still Kinda Cluless" to just plain old regular "Cluless". :-)
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pathfinder on the way to Columbus:
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SCA now in the air. ETA 2:36pm EDT
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And they are off..
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Looks like the pathfinder is heading JSC way?
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Pathfinder has turned towards Houston
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Looks like the pathfinder is heading toward Houston!!! Wrong just turned toward the North East.
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Pathfinder was following I-10 more or less...not sure they want to get too close to the "stuff" building up around Houston.
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Finally on the Radar - 27 miles out..
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V212 (the airway they are taking to LFK) takes them right along I-10 so I wouldn't read much into the turn. Not saying they won't go to JSC, but the path they are taking matches their flight plan so far (which does not include JSC.)
Showers are forming over Houston, with thunderstorms just northeast, so they'll need to do a LOT of manuevering in and near precip if they do.
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99 miles down... 570 to go
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If it's anything like last time, they would have announced it by a memo to the JSC people a good number of hours in advance, but that was very much set up as a photo op for the year.
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Just noticed Astro_127 (Mark Polansky) just tweeted that he was on the way to KSC for the STS 127 terminal countdown test. I believe that's him in NASA946 on Flightaware now. Wow!
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Pathfinder has turned well to the north away from the precip over Houston.
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157 Miles down -- 510 to go
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234 milies down - 431 to go
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301 miles down - 364 to go - Just about to cross out of Texas
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Any local news stations at the destination that might break to cover the landing live?
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It's a very small town in a very small TV station market - it'd be doubtful.
http://wcbi.com/
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389 miles down... 276 to go
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Ran out to lunch and got these pictures as Atlantis was leaving. What an amazing thing to see up close. I really hope I can make it out to a launch soon I hear they are better....but still great watching her leave! Enjoy!
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Great pictures and thanks for sharing.
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470 miles down... 196 to go
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Thanks for the images, FusionLattice. Did it seem to you that it took a long time for the SCA to get down the runway and get airborne?
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520 miles down --- 147 to go..
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NASA: Once Atlantis gets to Columbus Air Force Base managers will assess the weather and determine what the best route is to arrive at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida this evening.
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Thanks for the images, FusionLattice. Did it seem to you that it took a long time for the SCA to get down the runway and get airborne?
It did seem like it took a while to get up and it was in the rotated position for quite sometime before it finally started to lift up. I see C5's and C17's go in and out and they don't usually take that long to get up.
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Great pics of the last few legs at http://blogs.nasa.gov/cm/blog/shuttleferry
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Also noticed that for this leg the Pathfinder is now in the database as a C9. Not sure why the designation changed but the plane is still the same C9.
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98 miles to go
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Ran out to lunch and got these pictures as Atlantis was leaving. What an amazing thing to see up close. I really hope I can make it out to a launch soon I hear they are better....but still great watching her leave! Enjoy!
Excellent :) Thanks again for posting.
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51 miles out.. now down to 10000 feet
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17 miles out -- 2100 feet - should be landing momentarily
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NASA: Once Atlantis gets to Columbus Air Force Base managers will assess the weather and determine what the best route is to arrive at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida this evening.
Don't know why they would want go get to Florida tonight when I read this:
ISOLATED STORMS FIRING ALONG THE ATLANTIC SEA BREEZE BOUNDARY...
THROUGH 4 PM... THE EAST COAST SEA BREEZE BOUNDARY SLOWLY MOVING INLAND ACROSS INTERSTATE 95 WILL SERVE AS A FOCUS FOR STORM DEVELOPMENT. STORMS WILL ALSO DEVELOP OVER INLAND AREAS FROM LAKE OKEECHOBEE NORTH TO SAINT CLOUD... AND METRO ORLANDO. ISOLATED STRONG STORMS WILL BE POSSIBLE FROM PIERSON TO DELAND AND DELTONA.
MAIN THREATS IN THE STRONGEST STORMS WILL BE CLOUD TO GROUND LIGHTNING STRIKES SMALL HAIL AND GUSTY WINDS. HEAVY RAINFALL WILL TEMPORARILY REDUCE VISIBILITY.
from http://www.weather.gov/alerts/us.html#FLZ147.MLBNOWMLB.172900
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Because as the sea breeze moves inland, it takes the storm threat with it. The stuff firing right now is pretty weak by "storm" standards, and really not moving, so should not be a barrier if they make a go for it.
However given the lack of a rush, I wouldn't be surprised if they spent the night somewhere else and tried first thing in the morning.
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Also noticed that for this leg the Pathfinder is now in the database as a C9. Not sure why the designation changed but the plane is still the same C9.
Funny, I noticed the same thing just a few minutes ago, too. If for once my I trust a site which shall not be mentioned here, the C-9 is a military version of the DC-9. Maybe some pilots are used to write DC93 in the flight plan and others use C9?
Another thing: Dryden has put some nice hi-res images on its STS-125 image gallery (http://www.nasa.gov/centers/dryden/multimedia/imagegallery/STS-125/index.html). (Forgive me if that was already mentioned.)
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SCA on the ground.
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NASA (http://twitter.com/NASA): A huge crowd gathered at Columbus AFB, Miss. to welcome Atlantis. The stop here includes refueling&weather briefing before going to Kennedy.
NASA (http://twitter.com/NASA):The STS-127 crew is about to land at Kennedy for a launch dress rehearsal. Watch the arrival on www.nasa.gov/ntv
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Right now the PAO is doing some ISS coverage. Is this on the Public or Media channel?
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However given the lack of a rush, I wouldn't be surprised if they spent the night somewhere else and tried first thing in the morning.
Probably isn't a "rush," but maintaining as much processing margin for STS-129 and getting a look at the ASA circuit probably make it desirable to get back to the OPF as soon as safely possible.
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Sorry, maybe we missed it. When I posted it the tweet was six minutes old, so I thought it is about to happen.
Update: Video of STS-127 crew arrival now on YouTube (http://tinyurl.com/qehdcq)
(My apologies for misusing this thread with off-topic stuff, I'll be more careful in the future.)
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Loving the note of "huge crowds" at Columbus.
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Loving the note of "huge crowds" at Columbus.
I wonder if Orion would attract such people when its ferried back from California? ;)
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weather is looking rough over Alabama
http://radar.weather.gov/Conus/southeast.php
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Pretty easy to miss that - we worry when those are in a line and/or around the landing airport.
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Last leg - http://flightaware.com/live/flight/NASA911/route/20090602/2050Z/KCBM/KTTS
4:50pm EDT departure, 6:42pm arrival.
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Looks like they may do this tonight...
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I'm about 2 miles from the strip, and it is now a beautifull flying day here. Just a bit much on the breeze coming inland, gusting to 16 right now. Other than that, blue with little puffys.
I would assume a landing on 15 with the winds. Gotta figure out where I'll set up for photos. Late afternoon sun could be a factor.
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I'm about 2 miles from the strip, and it is now a beautifull flying day here. Just a bit much on the breeze coming inland, gusting to 16 right now. Other than that, blue with little puffys.
I would assume a landing on 15 with the winds. Gotta figure out where I'll set up for photos. Late afternoon sun could be a factor.
Any idea if they will fly by the coastline providing an opportunity for photos? If so, any ideas how far north I need to be in order to catch a glance? (I'm in the Melbourne Beach area)
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Showers and storms in the vicinity have moved to the east and died as expected. With winds out of the east and a bit gusty I'd guess Rwy15 as well.
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NASA: "A flyby of the space coast beaches is possible if weather permits."
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The list of waypoints shows it using the ormond beach airport, north of Daytona. It'll hopefully run the beach down from there past Daytona. So, anyone at ERAU might want to head for the Ocean deck about 6 o'clock.
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NASA 932 is in the air. SCA should be departing soon.
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SCA is airborne.
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The flightaware site has the estimated arrival time in error. As a result the Duration is indicated as 4 hours, 35 minutes! Perhaps a mid-air refueling is in order. . . .
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And they are off.. 53 miles done -- 528 to go..
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Now it's been corrected.
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They're going to be skirting those showers pretty close.
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They won't skirt showers, they'll stay away from them just fine...
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102 miles down.. 485 to go
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Does anyone know the banking limitations of the 747 when it's got the shuttle on its back?
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151 miles down - 431 to go.... skirting around the rain quite nicely
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posting from my cell, hope this works were seeking a hook up with them, will get some photos if able.
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posting from my cell, hope this works were seeking a hook up with them, will get some photos if able.
Awesome, best of luck getting that
8)
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212 miles down... 368 to go
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posting from my cell, hope this works were seeking a hook up with them, will get some photos if able.
Now that would be one amazing escort for her!
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posting from my cell, hope this works were seeking a hook up with them, will get some photos if able.
Now that would be one amazing escort for her!
Oh Yea! Undoubtedly!
Question to be sure - any coveraga on NasaTV from landing, no?
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Welcome Back --- well at least to Florida Airspace... 276 Miles down ... 303 to go
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346 miles down... 229 to go
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I have to go... FORD MUSTANG please continue with relevant updates... Lets hope for some nice landing pictures upon arrival...
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Welcome Back --- well at least to Florida Airspace... 276 Miles down ... 303 to go
Its Georgia Airspace!
Little bit of the Florida panhandle in there.
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I have to go... FORD MUSTANG please continue with relevant updates... Lets hope for some nice landing pictures upon arrival...
Yes sir! ;)
207 miles to go.
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Thank you for the updates and info guys. Wasn't really waiting them to get Atlantis home for the night.
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Kinda looks like based on what the Pathfinder scouted out around Jacksonville that they're going fly out to the coast south of there...
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159 miles to go, ETA is 27 minutes.
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Not following the pathfinder thru Jax?
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METAR KTTS 022155Z 10006KT 030V150 10SM FEW020 FEW100 BKN200 27/22 A3003 RMK SLP169 2SC /2/ 1AS 5CI /4/
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103 miles to go. ETA is 17 minutes. Starting to descend.
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Pathfinder due down in 5 minutes, 13 miles to go.
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NASA TV might cover, looks like they are showing Dryden departure footage?
Ugg, it was Video File.
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NASA TV might cover, looks like they are showing Dryden departure footage?
Hopefully, but we're in the typical Video File broadcast this time of day.
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SCA has been cleared to land at the SLF. 65 miles to go, ETA is 9 minutes.
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NTV coverage starting now. (Well, the graphic is up.)
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Pathfinder should be down.
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Coming up on NASA TV!
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Yay! They cut off the video file and are going to show her return!
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NTV coverage starting now. (Well, the graphic is up.)
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SCA still 59 miles out. ETA is 7 minutes.
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SCA still 59 miles out. ETA is 7 minutes.
The FlightAware data is a little behind...hearing estimates of 35 miles north of the SLF...
...and if it's that far away, might be a few more minutes before there's anything to show on TV.
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Whata luck that I have looked to this thread.. wanna just go sleep ;D
Great news that they will cover landing :)
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Flightaware typically has a ~6 minute lag.
The SCA appears to fly a very shallow approach. No flight route NOTAMs that I can tell. So if someone's flying up the coast along New Smyrna Beach in a Cessna... They get to watch the SCA go barreling by?
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Flightaware typically has a ~6 minute lag.
The SCA appears to fly a very shallow approach. No flight route NOTAMs that I can tell. So if someone's flying up the coast along New Smyrna Beach in a Cessna... They get to watch the SCA go barreling by?
Would be quite a sight!
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Getting video now.
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Live coverage starting!
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Flyby of the VAB:
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Making some kind of loop I think..
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Does the SCA use the HAC to make its turns to line up on the runway?
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SCA is going to land on RWY 15.
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Does the SCA use the HAC to make its turns to line up on the runway?
It may do a loop around the runway of some sort, but not a HAC in the shuttle landing sense, no. A shuttle approach HAC would be far too steep to fly with the orbiter onboard.
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Down to Patrick AFB before final?
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Does the SCA use the HAC to make its turns to line up on the runway?
It may do a loop around of some sort, but not a HAC in the shuttle landing sense, no. A shuttle approach HAC would be far too steep to fly with the orbiter onboard.
Thanks!
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A "loop" is a vertical maneuver guys...
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Guy in the brown vest seems pretty bored, bottom left of the image:
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A "loop" is a vertical maneuver guys...
I must admit I'm not as familiar with airborne maneuvers as i could be! ;) I guess the proper turn would be flying in a circle. Although a "loop" with the SCA would be a sight indeed.
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Nice to see they've got a big welcome home cake under wraps for Atlantis on the left ;)
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Flight Aware saying they are 24 miles from the SLF, still heading south..
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Probably went that way to fly north along the beach on the way back...
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Nice to see they've got a big welcome home cake under wraps for Atlantis on the left ;)
But who's going to jump out of the cake? Ed Weiler? :)
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A "loop" is a vertical maneuver guys...
Im not so familiar with English yet! :)
Imo they are making "the circle" at the moment :P
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Flight Aware saying they are 24 miles from the SLF, still heading south..
Trying to imagine driving north on US 1 with the SCA at 1000 feet in my windshield :)
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Oh wow, the SCA/Shuttle just did a low pass right up the coastline past Cocoa Beach/Cape Canaveral!
What an awesome sight that is!
Ross.
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"Over Pad 40 now.", heard on the loops.
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Pad A: Should have had the RSS open for awesome photo ops.
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Nice! She just overflew her younger sister on Pad A!
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NASA 911 calling tower for low pass over SLF before swinging around to land.
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Looks like she's coming around A now and to the SLF.
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Burning off the fuel...
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Nice! She just overflew her younger sister on Pad A!
That was awesome.
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Heh, you can see it from the Pad 40 cameras:
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Probably the best ferry-return coverage we've ever had from PAO.
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Flying right over HQ right now. Spotted at OPFs.
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Coming for low pass over SLF down RWY 33:
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Might be a flyby first like last time.
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"He's having a play time!" - Engineer on the loops
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"Coming back to ya, boys."
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Might be a flyby first like last time.
The SCA crew probably wants some good shots of the photography crowd.
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Gear Down pass! Burn lots of fuel!
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Setting up for the teardrop to land at RWY 15:
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This is excellent. SCA making a go-around for landing.
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I know it's not possible, but it would sure be an amazing view out of Atlantis's windows right now.
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"Coming down the coast again to you.."
"I think he's taking a look at Playalinda!"
"Going down to North Playalinda Beach to see the sights."
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Coming in for a full stop this time.
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Around B:
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Rounding out at the SLF.
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Is there a URL for the audio loop you're listening to?
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Coming in nice and easy:
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Atlantis is back at KSC! Rolling out on RWY 15!
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Home again...
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Just a bit noisier than if she was flying by herself..!
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Awesome. Some serious reverse thrust kicking in just by the photographers.
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Going to stop at 1000 foot remaining mark to allow the ground crew to do the toxic sniff...
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Welcome home Atlantis!
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Rolling down RWY 15, stopping at the 1000 feet left mark.
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"Please follow the courtesy truck to the OPF, sir." :)
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Wheel stop!
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"Please follow the courtesy truck to the OPF, sir." :)
Please remain strapped to the roof until the aircraft has come to a full and complete stop.
Thanks for the coverage everyone!
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STS-125 via L2 latest:
http://www.nasaspaceflight.com/2009/06/atlantis-arrives-back-at-ksc-sts-127-agency-frr/
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Before departing, please check to make sure you have left your carry-on behind.
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Really nice image with the sky background color.
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I'm waiting for the landing replays. :-)
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Great coverage folks! Thanks... :)
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Perfect shot. Will have the low fly-by pass and actual landing (about 10 minutes and 35 seconds worth of video) heading to YouTube here in a few minutes. Will post here once it's processed. Then will work on having the full coverage up, split into 3 parts (gotta love YouTube's 10 minute limit!).
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STS-125 via L2 latest:
http://www.nasaspaceflight.com/2009/06/atlantis-arrives-back-at-ksc-sts-127-agency-frr/
That was fast! :)
Amazing coverage here again guys, thanks!
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This is nice extended coverage. I sure wouldn't mind seeing the move to the MDD, and some towing-to-the-OPF action.
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moving to tow (i hate vlc.....)
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That was fast! :)
Amazing coverage here again guys, thanks!
Agreed! Ford Mustang was posting images just a few seconds after showing on NTV. Great work!
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Going to stop at 1000 foot remaining mark to allow the ground crew to do the toxic sniff...
Just curious: Was that also done on the other stops?
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Probably the best ferry-return coverage we've ever had from PAO.
Perhaps in the last four years, but they've been doing this for a long time. (The beach flyby is also traditional.) It would have been cool to see this same extended coverage for the early ferry flights and ones such as when the orbiters were first delivered to KSC. Even as "recently" as when Endeavour was delivered to KSC in May, 1991, we'd get glimpses on the local news of the ops they're showing live once again. (Hooking up to tow the SCA to the MDD.)
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http://brevard.fl.scanamerica.us/index.php
Is there a URL for the audio loop you're listening to?
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That was fast! :)
Amazing coverage here again guys, thanks!
Agreed! Ford Mustang was posting images just a few seconds after showing on NTV. Great work!
The fast comment was Chris having a full article on site a minute after they landed, but yes, Steven has done a very good job with the screencaps.
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Now under tow towards the MDD.
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Now under tow towards the MDD.
She is beautiful :)
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Getting some nice shots of Atlantis as she is moved to the MDD.
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Thanks everyone for the play-by-play. It was nice to come home from a long Army day and see the finale. As [one of] the newbiest here, salutes all around. :)
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Setting up some stairs to the SCA
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Heh, did one of the flight crew get off and give Atlantis a wave?
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The metal structure to the right of the picture is the MDD.
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Well that ends that. I guess coverage is over. Good night everyone!
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STS-125: SCA Lands at KSC with Atlantis
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LP8l-zoUJko
I recorded this from the 1200kbps feed, uploaded it to YouTube. Starts from the low-fly pass down RWY 33, through the teardrop maneuver, and until the SCA stops on RWY 15. I'll have the first two parts uploaded soon, so keep watching my page if you are interested.
Quality will go up, video still being processed.
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Thanks for the great coverage guys!
Welcome back darlin. Home, safe and sound. :)
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Pics from Cocoa Beach as Atlantis flew by...
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more
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Better late than never? Just got time to download these from the camera. Found a fine spot accessible by anyone with a badge at the approach end of 15. No one else in view.
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Someone explained earlier that the orbiter/SCA can't fly at pressures lower than 8 psia because no systems are powered up. I don't understand why that matters, when no one is in the shuttle during the ferry flight. The 747 is pressurized, and that's where the pilots/flight engineers are. Are the mechanical and hydraulics systems on-board the shuttle really so fragile that they would rupture were the pressure too low?
As a physics teacher, I have a theory from a fluid dynamics standpoint: In order to generate enough buoyancy force (lift) to counteract the weight of the joined craft, they need a higher air pressure than the 747 alone would normally require.
I'm not an aeronautical expert, though, (at least not yet!), so I'd appreciate it if someone could do into more detail about the pressure issue.
Thanks.
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Someone explained earlier that the orbiter/SCA can't fly at pressures lower than 8 psia because no systems are powered up.
That sounds garbled to me. The 8 psia limit is for the air-cooled equipment. They can't be cooled effectively at lower pressures and will overheat and fail. Of course, that is only if they are powered up.
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One thing:
Weather looked rather wet. Do they apply new waterproofing to the tiles before ferry flights?
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They don't fly through rain.
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One thing:
Weather looked rather wet. Do they apply new waterproofing to the tiles before ferry flights?
They do not apply waterproofing prior to ferry flight. It is only applied during orbiter processing for spaceflight. If it gets wet at the SLF we will have to IR scan and dry out the wet areas prior to rollout to VAB.
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One thing:
Weather looked rather wet. Do they apply new waterproofing to the tiles before ferry flights?
They do not apply waterproofing prior to ferry flight. It is only applied during orbiter processing for spaceflight. If it gets wet at the SLF we will have to IR scan and dry out the wet areas prior to rollout to VAB.
Here is a link on the waterproofing that may be of interest as it has been talked about.
http://www-lib.ksc.nasa.gov/lib/public/edocuments/shuttle_tile_waterproofing.pdf
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Thanks.
On the fist pictures on the landing in Florida it looked like it was raining so I was curious.
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Flightaware typically has a ~6 minute lag.
The SCA appears to fly a very shallow approach. No flight route NOTAMs that I can tell. So if someone's flying up the coast along New Smyrna Beach in a Cessna... They get to watch the SCA go barreling by?
Yes... and it was an awesome sight!
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Some more interesting pictures and videos have been added to the NASA ferry blog:
http://blogs.nasa.gov/cm/blog/shuttleferry
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Atlantis sure likes Edwards.
Now its time to get ready for STS-129.
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Some nice pictures of the SCA refueling stops at Lackland AFB and Columbus AFB are posted at the websites of these Air Force Bases:
http://www.lackland.af.mil/news/story_media.asp?id=123152232 and
http://www.columbus.af.mil/news/story_media.asp?id=123152233
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Atlantis sure likes Edwards.
Eh, no more than Discovery. (Or even Endeavour since it started flying.)
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Flightaware typically has a ~6 minute lag.
The SCA appears to fly a very shallow approach. No flight route NOTAMs that I can tell. So if someone's flying up the coast along New Smyrna Beach in a Cessna... They get to watch the SCA go barreling by?
Yes... and it was an awesome sight!
I've seen the SCA come back 3 times now and that was the most conservative flying I've seen of the 3. Gear was down for the initial SLF flyby, and the pattern after that was large. All in close flying appeared to be about 500 feet high.
I was sitting at the approach end of 15, about at the 14k mark. The 747 carried a lot of power until it was way past me. In my pics it looks like touchdown was near the 11k mark. So, yeah, a shallow approach.
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They're lowering Atlantis to Weight on Wheels(WOW) in the MDD right now. Lowering to Weight on Nose-Gear(WONG) will suit after WOW.
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Is Atlantis back in her OPF yet? If not, when is this likely to be so?
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Atlantis sure likes Edwards.
Eh, no more than Discovery. (Or even Endeavour since it started flying.)
Does anyone know which Orbiter holds the record for the most ferry flights? I assume that it's Discovery but without looking back through the records I don't know what percentage of her landings have been at Edwards, as compared to Atlantis.
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Is Atlantis back in her OPF yet? If not, when is this likely to be so?
Atlantis was spotted in OPF Bay-1 at 0049 EDT (1st attempt) this morning.
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Cheers!
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Probably a good time to start a STS-129 section (hint-hint for Chris).
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Yes sir! :)
Just writing up the aforementioned update on her returning back to the OPF into an article - along with a fleet update - and will use that article to kick off the 129 processing thread.
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Does anyone know which Orbiter holds the record for the most ferry flights? I assume that it's Discovery but without looking back through the records I don't know what percentage of her landings have been at Edwards, as compared to Atlantis.
From http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_space_shuttle_missions# I counted:
Columbia: 13 (inc. one at White Sands)
Challenger: 7
Discovery: 14
Atlantis: 12
Endeavour: 6
The DFRC press release claimed STS-125 was the 53rd landing at Edwards. The wiki page lists 51. I haven't tried to reconcile where the error is yet.
I'm looking at this and realizing I've been to over half the 33 post-Challenger Edwards landings.
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Does anyone know which Orbiter holds the record for the most ferry flights? I assume that it's Discovery but without looking back through the records I don't know what percentage of her landings have been at Edwards, as compared to Atlantis.
From http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_space_shuttle_missions# I counted:
Columbia: 13 (inc. one at White Sands)
Challenger: 7
Discovery: 14
Atlantis: 12
Endeavour: 6
The DFRC press release claimed STS-125 was the 53rd landing at Edwards. The wiki page lists 51. I haven't tried to reconcile where the error is yet.
I'm looking at this and realizing I've been to over half the 33 post-Challenger Edwards landings.
Weren't there 2 ALT flights?
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Weren't there 2 ALT flights?
Five free flights.
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Does anyone know which Orbiter holds the record for the most ferry flights? I assume that it's Discovery but without looking back through the records I don't know what percentage of her landings have been at Edwards, as compared to Atlantis.
Here's the corrected count of post-mission ferries (i.e. Edwards landing count):
Columbia: 13 (inc. one at White Sands)
Challenger: 7
Discovery: 14
Atlantis: 13
Endeavour: 7
Presumably, each orbiter has at least one additional ferry for initial delivery from Palmdale to KSC. If you count the Enterprise, however, I think she'd win. From http://www.astronautix.com/craft/entprise.htm, I tallied 17 ALT flights (captive + free) plus at least 10 other ferry flights.
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With Atlantis back in the OPF, here's where some of its returned payload will be going...
Unpacking Atlantis: Hubble artifacts and astronaut mementos
http://www.collectspace.com/news/news-060409a.html
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SCA headed back home... http://flightaware.com/live/flight/NASA911
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SCA headed back home... http://flightaware.com/live/flight/NASA911
Well, its first stop is Ellington Field right now, but the eventual destination is probably Edwards
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SCA headed back home... http://flightaware.com/live/flight/NASA911
Well, its first stop is Ellington Field right now, but the eventual destination is probably Edwards
Going to be turbulent flight. Some of those thunderstorm cloud tops are 30,000ft.
Looks like they are taking the looooong way around! Heading north to Houston?
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SCA headed back home... http://flightaware.com/live/flight/NASA911
Well, its first stop is Ellington Field right now, but the eventual destination is probably Edwards
Right - they can't make that flight nonstop.
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SCA headed back home... http://flightaware.com/live/flight/NASA911
Well, its first stop is Ellington Field right now, but the eventual destination is probably Edwards
Right - they can't make that flight nonstop.
I was going to ask about that. Presumably, the SCA can fly much higher and faster without the beast on its back, or do the various modifications to the plane mean that it still has to operate under tighter constraints than a normal 747?
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I was always baffled as to how the SCA got Enterprise over to England on the 1980s tour.
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I was always baffled as to how the SCA got Enterprise over to England on the 1980s tour.
Via Canada, Greenland, northern Scotland.
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I was always baffled as to how the SCA got Enterprise over to England on the 1980s tour.
I think any small airplane with 600 miles range can make it to Europe.
If I put some gas cans in the back with a hand pump, I could bring my little Taylorcraft over to see you.
Danny Deger
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Fast response (on the thread) from the air force again! :)
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So are both SCAs based at Edwards?
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I was always baffled as to how the SCA got Enterprise over to England on the 1980s tour.
Via Canada, Greenland, northern Scotland.
It seems to be a long way from Greenland to Scotland. Are you sure it didn't have to stop along the way in Iceland as well?
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NASA 911 is now at Ellington Field
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SCA headed back home... http://flightaware.com/live/flight/NASA911
Well, its first stop is Ellington Field right now, but the eventual destination is probably Edwards
Right - they can't make that flight nonstop.
I was going to ask about that. Presumably, the SCA can fly much higher and faster without the beast on its back, or do the various modifications to the plane mean that it still has to operate under tighter constraints than a normal 747?
Last Ferry back the SCA returned directly to KEDW.
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I was going to ask about that. Presumably, the SCA can fly much higher and faster without the beast on its back, or do the various modifications to the plane mean that it still has to operate under tighter constraints than a normal 747?
FWIW, FlightAware had NASA 911 at 28800 feet altitude the one time I checked today while it was en route.
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SCA at Ellington Field:
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FlightAware -- SCA going home:
Your tracked aircraft NASA911 has just filed a flight plan. It is scheduled to depart KEFD (Ellington Field) at 08:10 CDT heading for KEDW (Edwards Afb) for an arrival at 10:13 PDT.
Expected route: IDU3 JCT EWM J4 PKE DAG
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SCA headed back home... http://flightaware.com/live/flight/NASA911
Well, its first stop is Ellington Field right now, but the eventual destination is probably Edwards
Right - they can't make that flight nonstop.
I was going to ask about that. Presumably, the SCA can fly much higher and faster without the beast on its back, or do the various modifications to the plane mean that it still has to operate under tighter constraints than a normal 747?
NASA Dryden Fact Sheet indicates that they could.
http://www.nasa.gov/centers/dryden/news/FactSheets/FS-013-DFRC.html
With Orbiter: Range = 1000 nautical miles; Ceiling = 13 - 15,000 feet
Without Orbiter: Range = 5500 nautical miles; Ceiling = 24 - 26,000 feet
So they must have had reasons other than flight performance to make a stop at Ellington on their way back to Edwards.
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NASA Dryden Fact Sheet indicates that they could.
http://www.nasa.gov/centers/dryden/news/FactSheets/FS-013-DFRC.html
With Orbiter: Range = 1000 nautical miles; Ceiling = 13 - 15,000 feet
Without Orbiter: Range = 5500 nautical miles; Ceiling = 24 - 26,000 feet
So they must have had reasons other than flight performance to make a stop at Ellington on their way back to Edwards.
I suppose I could just Google this myself and make a more definitive statement, but I'm sure there's some experts around here who could chip in on this.
Isn't Ellington reasonably close to Houston? Seems to me that it wouldn't be a bad place to stop if there were folks who needed a hop from KSC to JSC.
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With a bit of planning and luck, I managed to overfly the DFRC Saturday morning and managed to get some shots of the tailcone installation work. Know anyone down there? :)
Wow shuttlefanatic, I have never seen photos like this. They are spectacular! How on earth were you able to do this, I would think this would have been restricted airspace?
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Hubble hardware back in the PHSF?
Edit: Hleps to have the right channel!
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You've GOT to read this!
http://infinite-frontier.blogspot.com/2009/06/nasa-747-pilot-shares-experience.html
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You've GOT to read this!
http://infinite-frontier.blogspot.com/2009/06/nasa-747-pilot-shares-experience.html
Nice, and a good detail about landing weight.
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You've GOT to read this!
http://infinite-frontier.blogspot.com/2009/06/nasa-747-pilot-shares-experience.html
Wow, that was a fantastic read, I'll have to share it with my friends ;D
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Everyone who is a Shuttle lover HAS to read that. Best thing I've read in a long time.
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Great interesting article. The only thing strange about it is that it sounds like it was his first flight with the shuttle.
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Doesn't seem strange - seems like you read this line:
"My mind could not get over, from this point on, that this was something I had never experienced."
If he never experienced it before, it likely was his first time!
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Doesn't seem strange - seems like you read this line:
"My mind could not get over, from this point on, that this was something I had never experienced."
If he never experienced it before, it likely was his first time!
That is exactly what I mean. Doesn't it sound strange that they would have someone fly a SCA with the shuttle on it without any previous flight knowledge. I would at least think he would have had to be a copilot on a few flights before he flew it.
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Doesn't seem strange - seems like you read this line:
"My mind could not get over, from this point on, that this was something I had never experienced."
If he never experienced it before, it likely was his first time!
That is exactly what I mean. Doesn't it sound strange that they would have someone fly a SCA with the shuttle on it without any previous flight knowledge. I would at least think he would have had to be a copilot on a few flights before he flew it.
Well he must have at least the proper type-rating and enough hours in flight to be pilot in command, don't know what NASAs rules are, but in airline aviation (at least where I am flying) you've got to have at least 5.000 hours in flight in the book prior to beeing certified as captain.
But yes, it is strange that his first flight with an orbiter attached is in the left seat...would have thought you would need at least one or two flights with the SCA as a first officer (plus what I mentioned above of cause).
Lucky guy so, would do anything to be in his place. ;) The 747 is my favorite airliner and flying the SCA would be my greatest day. :)
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Hey everyone...
To make up for the Endeavor post-scrub blues, I put a bunch more Atlantis pics up on my L2 thread:
STS-125 Post Flight: SCA Ferry (Biggs Army Air Field/Fort Bliss -- El Paso, TX)
http://forum.nasaspaceflight.com/index.php?topic=17318.0 (http://forum.nasaspaceflight.com/index.php?topic=17318.0)
There are some really nice pics of the SCA/Orbiter at dawn that not too many of you with L2 access have clicked thru yet, so feel free to stop by and take a look. And for those of you who don't have L2 access yet, I'll put in a big plug for it -- definitely worth it, get over there already!
Here's a few other samples, taken by a friend of mine.
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Post flight payload processing for the SLIC.
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WFPC-2 is now visible:
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That was in space a few weeks ago... and had been there for years! Thanks for the screencaps, I personally love to see things return from space.
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You've GOT to read this!
http://infinite-frontier.blogspot.com/2009/06/nasa-747-pilot-shares-experience.html
A friend e-mailed me this, and I came here to share. I was at the SLF can vouch that the account of the approach and landing is accurate, but have doubts about a couple things:
A) NASA does not fly the SCA from zero margin runways. If the SCA had barely gotten off the ground somewhere, we'd have heard of it.
B) The ga-ga attitude of the author is almost completely free of "the right stuff". THe guys who fly this thing are super-experienced full time pilots.
There was a guy named Jack Nickel (re: e-mail handle "Triple Nickel") on the crew so I guess its possibly real, but maybe a bit of hangar-talk pumped up by public affairs.