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Here's today's schedule taken from the NASA TV schedule Rev. R. And the latest ground tracks can be found here: http://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/shuttle/shuttlemissions/sts117/main/landing.html
ATLANTIS CREW WAKE UP (begins FD 15) 09:38 UTC
DEORBIT PREPARATIONS BEGIN 13:12 UTC
PAYLOAD BAY DOOR CLOSING 14:32 UTC
KSC-1 DE-ORBIT BURN 17:12 UTC
KSC-1 LANDING 18:18 UTC
EDW-1 DE-ORBIT BURN 18:43 UTC
KSC-2 DE-ORBIT BURN 18:50 UTC
EDW-1 LANDING 19:49 UTC
KSC-2 LANDING 19:55 UTC
Constantly updated article on site: http://www.nasaspaceflight.com/content/?cid=5144
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FD15 is underway with the "Marine's hymn" for CJ.
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Thx for the current info, Dave. :)
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Current weather.
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Post-sleep cryo configs is in work by CJ.
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A nationwide view of the clouds.
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Guess who is on ISS capcom right now?
Clue: She just got her record beat
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While we wait.. Some CanadaArm2 movement Images.
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From L2:
"Weather update: 2 KSC attempts do not look promising. 2 out of the 3 Edwards attempts are GO... "
Two KSC attempts and three at Edwards is what is being said. White Sands still seems to be something they want on the cards, but not officially yet.
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Arm continues to move.
(Sorry nothing else is being said right now)
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Today's Video file.
Nothin' new
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Crew is now preparing moving into the de-orbit timeline.
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Arm has now grappled Destiny.
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From the article on main page:
''Atlantis is now on her longest ever mission, following yesterday's wave off that kept her on orbit an extra day, breaking her STS-98 mission duration of 12.89 days."
:)
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IMU alignment procedures are now in work.
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Orbit 3 handing over to Entry team, wishing Atlantis "a happy landing".
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Since not much is happening I just thought that I would post the latest weather observations from Edwards and KSC.
Edwards: Visibility is 80 statute miles with clear skies and calm winds.
KSC: Visibility is 10 statute miles with partly cloudy skies with towering cumulus clouds observed. Winds are 6 kts from the west.
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ShuttleDiscovery - 22/6/2007 7:35 AM
''Atlantis is now on her longest ever mission, following yesterday's wave off that kept her on orbit an extra day, breaking her STS-98 mission duration of 12.89 days."
Any idea what would be the theoretical longest possible shuttle mission, and what the limiting factors would be? Certain things could be switched to low-consumption modes (like power) but obviously certain other things (like breathing) would be hard to limit.
I guess it would also depend on certain assumptions, like would the payload bay have a cargo or would it be packed full of extra consumables.
Just curious. :)
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mcdavis941 - 22/6/2007 2:17 PM
ShuttleDiscovery - 22/6/2007 7:35 AM
''Atlantis is now on her longest ever mission, following yesterday's wave off that kept her on orbit an extra day, breaking her STS-98 mission duration of 12.89 days."
Any idea what would be the theoretical longest possible shuttle mission, and what the limiting factors would be? Certain things could be switched to low-consumption modes (like power) but obviously certain other things (like breathing) would be hard to limit.
I guess it would also depend on certain assumptions, like would the payload bay have a cargo or would it be packed full of extra consumables.
Just curious. :)
Well Endeavour and Discovery can now stay happily docked to ISS for 12 days via the
Station-Shuttle Power Transfer System (SSPTS). So maybe 18-19 days including FD-1 to docking, through docking, to late inspections and wave offs?
A good time to mention we have the Shuttle Q&A where most of these questions are answered: http://forum.nasaspaceflight.com/forums/thread-view.asp?tid=6156&posts=471&mid=154217#M154217
Helps keep this thread on track with the live updates, so remember that option above everyone. Thanks.
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From the point of just prior to the deorbit burn, I will be posting screenshots of what it's like onboard, all the way to landing and wheel stop.
The screenshots will be taken from the 350mb/2hour STS-115 (Camcorder on the flight deck) re-entry video. I'll be posting quotes from the video too which will give added information.
Given Atlantis landed at KSC on this video, if they change to Edwards, I will switch the Edwards HUDS video on L2 just ahead of the HAC. Same if White Sands becomes the option.
This will give an added insight past the NASA TV coverage.
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White Sands added as the sixth landing opportunity today (after being off and on all morning). Looks like they are set with it now.
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And here we have our first view of today!
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Looking cloudy at KSC at the moment...
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As you can see on the Wx radar screen in the FCR, there's some showers within 30 NM of the SLF:
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Latest radar and VAB view:
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That's not a good sign.
Although it is still a bit early in the day.
Fingers crossed.
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1419 UTC VAB view:
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"GO" for payload bay door closure.
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haywoodfloyd - 22/6/2007 10:14 AM
That's not a good sign.
Although it is still a bit early in the day.
Actually it is a good sign - that'll keep early heating down a bit and their movement will be clearly out of range by worry time. More on that in the weather thread (and now I'm outta here - kids can be slow sometimes ;> )
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Given the WX forecast at KSC, are the shuttle's reentry check lists so stringent that they can be done on only one schedule? Is it not of possible to move everything up a few hours and land in the morning to beat the weather? I would guess the crew would not mind.
Or, is it a case of the orbital ground track? Sorry for the very basic question!
Paul
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Steve Lindsey: "I think we've got a shot at this" :o
"It's all going to depend on .. When we get into STA and see how things develop to the north."
Lindsey wants them to go for it so far. Officially No Go.
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Orbital ground tracks dictate the times when you can land at KSC or Edwards, I believe. They already did a rocket burn to get an earlier opportunity for Edwards.
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Payload Bay closed and latched.
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Go for OPS-3 (Entry and Landing)
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1442 UTC view:
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Targets onboard, no state vector update is needed.
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Latest weather observation from the SLF is that there's a ceiling violation. They got a broken deck at 1500 ft and 7000 ft.
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In case someone is interested in it, here is the DEL PAD as of a few minutes ago for KSC Rev# 218.
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State vector is the combination of positional vector and velocity vector, i.e. six scalar values x, y, z, vx, vy, vz at a given time, this vector is propagated by numerical integration into the future, therefore computing position and velocity at other time points. Targets are usually state vector to be obtained after a maneuvre.
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thomasafb - 22/6/2007 11:31 AM
In case someone is interested in it, here is the DEL PAD as of a few minutes ago for KSC Rev# 218.
Very nice! Love to see more of these, and the deorbit pad too..
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State of play:
Weather situation at KSC becoming more acceptable according to Steve Lindsey.
Atlantis: No issues, all going well. Crew suiting up.
Edwards: Being prepared as most likely.
Landing opportunity one:
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1543 UTC view from VAB:
1543 UTC EDW view:
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Transcribed from Lindsey in the STA:
"After dive into 15. I could see the PAPI (Approach). The runway was obscured by scattered clouds. Workload was low all the way down.
"Thin stuff at 8500. 500ft thick. Wouldn't call it a ceiling at all. Some scattered at 3500.
"South end of field after approach-rainshower.
"That's what I was afraid of," after told the shower is not moving.
"Attempting dive into 33. Rain shower may knock it off."
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Mission Control will have their decision made in 15mins...
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White Sands removed from landing opportunities (been on off all day). Back to five opportunities.
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Chris Bergin - 22/6/2007 5:54 PM
Transcribed from Lindsey in the STA:
"After dive into 15. I could see the PAPI (Approach). The runway was obscured by scattered clouds. Workload was low all the way down.
"Thin stuff at 8500. 500ft thick. Wouldn't call it a ceiling at all. Some scattered at 3500.
"South end of field after approach-rainshower.
"That's what I was afraid of," after told the shower is not moving.
"Attempting dive into 33. Rain shower may knock it off."
Image to go with this post. Decision in 15 minutes.
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L2 loop sounds like they are going to wave off this first opportunity.
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Wave-off!
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Now looking at Edwards aswell for the next attempt
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Almost certainly a landing next time; just a question of where.
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Once again, I will state that this is a live update thread. We have a Shuttle Q&A section for questions. We are a far busier site than all the others, so we don't have just one page as we provide more details here.
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Guys i have a small request. For the ones reading the updates and not watching NTV it will be great that when someone reports a wave off indicate what exactly we´re waving off as some could think that we are over for the day.
Thanks,
Dan.
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Well, a "wave-off" would only be for one attempt each time. They wouldn't wave off the rest of the attempts, they always wave off one at a time. So, obviously this wave off is for the first attempt at KSC.
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Dan - KSC was attempt one. Waved off. Edwards 2, KSC 3, Edwards 4, Edwards 5 to follow.
Edwards is big time favorite for landing now (on this next opportunity.)
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1620 UTC EAFB view:
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DaveS - 22/6/2007 5:20 PM
1620 UTC EAFB view:
Looking very nice over there at Edwards! My money's on a California landing today...
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Well, I just got back into my office from celebrating Mass (of course, with the intention for a safe landing!). I see the first attempt has been waved off. I am trying to find the chart of landing times (EDT) for today. I have to be in a meeting at 5:30 EDT tonight, so I am hoping to see an earlier re-entry and landing...
Rob+
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1642 UTC, EAFB:
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KSC looks to be improving
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FatherRob - 22/6/2007 6:41 PM
Well, I just got back into my office from celebrating Mass (of course, with the intention for a safe landing!). I see the first attempt has been waved off. I am trying to find the chart of landing times (EDT) for today. I have to be in a meeting at 5:30 EDT tonight, so I am hoping to see an earlier re-entry and landing...
Rob+
Landing times for EDW-1 and KSC-2:
EDW-1 LANDING 3:49 pm EDT
KSC-2 LANDING 3:55 pm EDT
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gordo - 22/6/2007 12:44 PM
KSC looks to be improving
Fingers crossed on that. I'd love to think that, if they land at EAFB they'd reflect on the safe conclusion of the mission on the evening news for fifteen seconds... not on the 1.7 million it costs the program extra to take the shuttle back to KSC (which you KNOW will get metioned!).
Will be keeping my eye peeled on this thread, as I can't really open the NASA TV site here at work for the length of time I'd like to... I have worked over a bit this week, so i am hoping to head home early today to catch the entire descent live.
Rob+
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Looks like NASA's STA with some guys in blue jumpsuits are getting ready to take to the air at Edwards.
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State of play (remember, let's keep this on updates. Doesn't make a blind bit of difference to read posts of how people are keeping their fingers crossed) ;) ):
Atlantis, merrily on orbit with no issues.
STA back in the air now, for the assessment of KSC. If KSC still looks no go (and this will be a slightly earlier call), then they will go with Edwards opportunity 1 (providing Edwards is good) on the same rev.
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ShuttleDiscovery - 22/6/2007 11:27 AM
DaveS - 22/6/2007 5:20 PM
1620 UTC EAFB view:
Looking very nice over there at Edwards! My money's on a California landing today...
Well I give a 25% chance KSC and 99% chance that this next landing opportunity will be a land regardless.
It seems the showers are moving a bit away and we still may stick around in this clearing long enough.
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STA:
"Coming down to South to take a look at other buildups
"220 at 13 biggest buildup (no idea what that means)
STA at 14,000, buildup is well above STA
"Weather at 33mi on radar."
KSC has a chance right now!
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"Scooter" taxiing in the STA for weather recon at EDW:
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Still taxiing:
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Still taxiing:
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Really cool to watch pictures from EDW, heaven on earth for a pilot. :)
Just found this, the track of the Gulfstream STA looks pretty impressive: http://flightaware.com/live/flight/NASA945
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It's either SOFIA or one of the SCAs in the background in this shot:
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Lakebed view:
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Edwards weather officially classed as go at this time.
KSC is no go.
STA over Titusville "Stuff to west of river moving east and building. South of cape building as well."
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I thought SOFIA was a 747SP, but that doesn't have the outrigger tails on it that the SCA's do.
Build-ups are cumulus clouds that could turn into storms.
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Take-off view:
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DaveS - 22/6/2007 12:06 PM
It's either SOFIA or one of the SCAs in the background in this shot:
SOFIA is a 747SP, the short fuselage baby 747 - the one in the screenshot looks a bit too long so she must be a SCA.
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Lindsey in STA at KSC: "Stuff to south we think it's building ...it doesn't seem to want to get out of the way here."
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Exhaust from engines:
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Judging by the markings on that STA, I think its N946NA.
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Building altitude:
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If I'm reading the stuff on the weather thread right (and I might not be), not only is it crystal clear skies at EAFB, but the wind has been almost dead calm for hours, right? So weather is going to be go at Edwards on this next attempt almost certainly?
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Chris Bergin - 22/6/2007 5:57 PM
220 at 13 biggest buildup (no idea what that means)
Translation: clouds 13nm from Kennedy on bearing 220 degrees are the biggest cumulus buildup.
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mdmcgrory - 22/6/2007 7:19 PM
If I'm reading the stuff on the weather thread right (and I might not be), not only is it crystal clear skies at EAFB, but the wind has been almost dead calm for hours, right? So weather is going to be go at Edwards on this next attempt almost certainly?
It is going to be "GO".
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KSC STA:
"Thunderstorms 23mi South with lightning."
[understatement]Me thinks you can class that as no go.[/understatement]
PS Thanks Mark.
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Is that a new HTML command ? :)
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Very pretty image!
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Now in Shuttle Sim mode:
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heads-on view:
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"GO" for fluid-loading.
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Decision coming at a TIG meeting. Crew will land on this coming rev.
Fluid loading taking place.
By the way, we've seen a few sites using the info off this section on other sites as "I've got a source". At least accredit us...we get enough people from other sites throwing their URLs all over the place, so it wouldn't hurt to accredit us.
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Go for fluid loading... We'll be landing somewhere :-)
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MCC to Atlantis: "Begin fluid loading, not ready to make the call justyet on KSC or EAFB."
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Approach complete:
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Yes, nice little "touch and go" from Scott on runway 22 EDW there. Views of the approach angle gives me a frisson of things to come shortly.
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Chris Bergin - 22/6/2007 6:37 PM
Decision coming at a TIG meeting. Crew will land on this coming rev.
Fluid loading taking place.
TIG Meeting decision at XX:57. (this hour).
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So as this looks to be a landing in California, a little historical trivia….
- This would be the 51st shuttle mission to end in California. The first 14 shuttle missions (including the Enterprise test flights) landed at Edwards (sole exception being STS-3 at White Sands.
- This will be Atlantis’ 11th landing at Edwards, including the infamous STS-37 where Atlantis landed 600 feet short of the runway … though luckily this wasn’t the problem on the dry lake beds of Edwards that it would have been in Florida.
- Discovery is the top California tourist among the active shuttles, with 13 Dryden landings.
- Would be first Edwards landing since weather at KSC forced Discovery to land there on the return to flight STS-114 mission.
- Atlantis last returned to Edwards at the close of STS-98 in February 2001, after deploying the Destiny lab to ISS.
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Lindsey in KSC STA: "Cloud cover 2/8 everywhere
"Looks good up to North.
"Weather down to south."
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ApolloLee - 22/6/2007 12:44 PM
- This will be Atlantis’ 11th landing at Edwards, including the infamous STS-37 where Atlantis landed 600 feet short of the runway … though luckily this wasn’t the problem on the dry lake beds of Edwards that it would have been in Florida.
600 feet is still within the 1000 ft runway over/underrun, so it would have been a nailbiter, but a safe landing at KSC. And 37 landed on runway, not lakebed.
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Thorny - 22/6/2007 1:47 PM
ApolloLee - 22/6/2007 12:44 PM
- This will be Atlantis’ 11th landing at Edwards, including the infamous STS-37 where Atlantis landed 600 feet short of the runway … though luckily this wasn’t the problem on the dry lake beds of Edwards that it would have been in Florida.
600 feet is still within the 1000 ft runway over/underrun, so it would have been a nailbiter, but a safe landing at KSC. And 37 landed on runway, not lakebed.
No, it was the lakebed -- Runway 33.
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Officially targeting Edwards now. (Just called up by CapCom.)
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PAD updates for Edwards is being sent up to the crew.
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actually RWY 22
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What direction is the approach? Figure a South to North bordering on Baja...
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Runway 22 according to L2 loop.
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Isn't it a little unusual to decide for Edwards more than 50 minutes before the deorbit burn?
Analyst
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DEL PAD for Edwards Rev# 219
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Ford Mustang - 22/6/2007 10:58 AM
Opportunity being taken today:
Looks like L.A.'s going to get a sonic boom..... Always was a great thing when I lived there..... especially for those who didn't know the shuttle was coming in and figured it was another quake.
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Overview of EDW.
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ApolloLee - 22/6/2007 11:57 AM
What direction is the approach? Figure a South to North bordering on Baja...
Ground tracks here; looks like the landing heading is towards the southwest.
ETA: as illustrated above, thanks Eirik.
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STS-37 landed on Runway 22, and 22 is concrete.
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Crew suited up getting prepared for APU start.
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Hi guys. New here. Long time reader.
Lee talked about a sonic boom in LA. I live in San Diego, does anyone know if it is possible to hear on here in San Diego? Not enough time for me to get up to Edwards to see the landing =(
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Can any American TV watchers tell me which C-Span usually covers the landing?
Rob+
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According to NASA's own archive, STS-37 landed on Runway 33. NOT 22.
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Green light for Deorbit burn has been given by TIG meeting.
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TIG in 30 minutes.
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3-9 / OMS BURN PREP underway
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L2 Re-Entry Video - 22/6/2007 11:10 AM
Crew suited up getting prepared for APU start.
Great idea for the visual!
also, is this where Leslie Nielson comes up from middeck to say "Good luck, we're all counting on you"
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MCC is ready for vent door close.
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FatherRob:
C-SPAN 3
02:00 PM EDT
0:30 (est.) LIVE
Space Shuttle Atlantis Landing
Godspeed STS-117 Atlantis.
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Go for the deorbit burn (will be moving to quotes used on 115 soon).
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If Atlantis lands at Edwards and takes around 7 days to ferry back to Florida will it be able to launch again in time for December or will it be delayed?
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marktowler - 22/6/2007 7:23 PM
If Atlantis lands at Edwards and takes around 7 days to ferry back to Florida will it be able to launch again in time for December or will it be delayed?
There's no problem with the timeline for Atlantis' next launch from a ferry trip.
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Satellite view of the EDW area:
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Perhaps she landed at both, Runway 22 at Edwards (from Space) and 33 at Kennedy (ferry back, I guess technically not a landing).
May be wrong but paved runways at Edwards are 04/22 and 06/24. 33 is unpaved, so if it was a paved runway she landed on, then it had to be 22.
I do think it’s funny that the KSC Shuttle Launch Archive says 22 and the Nasa Mission Archive says 33.
Edit:
http://www.dfrc.nasa.gov/Gallery/Photo/STS/Small/EC91-0176-1.jpg
Note the dirt the crew are standing on and the ruts the shuttle made in the dirt. So unless the shuttle went off the end of the runway to, it looks like a dirt runway(33).
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13 minutes to the burn
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5 minutes away from single APU start
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spaceamillion - 22/6/2007 2:33 PM
The crew post landing film sys Runway 33 - for the first time
Yeah; it's also in several other references, like this one:
http://members.aol.com/WSNTWOYOU/STS39MR.HTM
I don't have the tape with me, but I can probably post a screengrab of the video of that landing once it's digitized.
Edit: also check out Danny Dot's accounts of that landing:
http://forum.nasaspaceflight.com/forums/thread-view.asp?tid=6156&start=331#M143930
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Have a safe ride home, Atlantis
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"Houston, we're in work with page 3-14 single APU pre-start." Good point to sync (any second now)
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Single APU (no 3) start underway
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Convoy on the move at Edwards!
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"You'll probably hear a little popping noise" (OMS Start two mins)
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Awaiting start of Deorbit burn!
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good config for deorbit burn
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"OMS good" burn started
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Deorbit burn underway! Two good OMS engines
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"We're going somewhere!"
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good deorbit burn! no trim required
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Helmets next?
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3-32 / OMS/RCS POST BURN RECONFIG underway
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"Can pass the helmets please - ready to manever to flight atitude"
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3-34 / SECONDARY ACTUATOR CHECK not required
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Atlantis being manauvered into a nose forward position
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Atlantis swinging over...
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Edwards you got a shuttle on the way!
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3-36 / FORWARD RCS DUMP underway
Four jets dump time: 22sec
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Whoa, the 115 dump time was 1:47 mins.
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Starting to see some RCS firings
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15mins until landing (I think I heard it right) :)
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ShuttleDiscovery - 22/6/2007 2:01 PM 15mins until landing (I think I heard it right) :)
Make that 50 :)
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Are all 3 APU's up yet?
Aaaah. Not yet. But will happen "on time."
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Make that 50 :)
Yeah, the "18 minutes until EI" comment kinda gave it away. :)
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Putting the gloves on (cracking some jokes about that)
"But I was really careful when I took them off"
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ENTRY SW CHECK completed
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3-40 / REMAINING APUs START underway
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Dark flight deck. Helmets going on.
"I might pressurize and get the wrikles out (of the suit)"
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It must be 50 minutes.
Is Edwards totally ready now? The convoy has arrived to their position where they will wait for atlantis? Altman has landed?
I think it looks very good so far.
Wonder if the space station later will leave some comments as they do under the re-entry of sts 115?
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"Remaining APUs are up" Lights on
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Current EAFB weather: 93 degrees F, winds out of the North at 3 mph only 14% humidity.
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About when will it hit the coast? 40 past?
Simon ;)
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10 min away from EI
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Master alarm sounds on 115, was explained from APU (Master Alarm Possible).
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Taking their last fluid loading. Asks how the middeck crew are seeing the video, say it's great.
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"Time to cut the chit chat" Pilot gets his helmet on.
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5mins away from EI
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Altman will stay up and out of the way he'll land after Atlantis does--usually the STA will kinda buzz over the shuttle as lands then he'll go land and park the STA in time to greet the crew when they exit the CTV--thats the white and red people-mover.
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Just a quick note, Atlantis is starting to see daylight, sun is just ahead, slightly to the left. From now on will be sunlight until touchdown.
Dan./
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About to start interface. Very calm on the flight deck (on 115 at this moment)
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Looks like EI has started. Views switched to Entry mode!
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Height: 400 000 ft
Velocity: 24 900 fps
Range: 4245 nm
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More RCS flashes "Everyone feeling ok? Feel free to move your head around when you feel the Gs. Some people like to keep their heads still.
"You'll start to get a pretty good light show soon."
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It seems the Convoy is fully positioned at Edwards!
32 mins!
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"Starting to see the light show" - more RCS (hard to screenshot).
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Now 30 mins to touchdown!
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Picking up a little Qbar.
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Why is that WB57 not up taking images of the landing?
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first roll to the left
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"Now it's getting a bit brighter outside"
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"0.2Gs guys. My arms are starting to sag...bummer.
"Something else might start to sag too" (laughs).
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"0.3Gs now. Left bank is 80. 2800 miles to touchdown. Might start feeling a bit funny."
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Getting closer.
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"Decellerating. Wow, felt like 2Gs (laughs). This is the ratter comm period. Up to 0.4Gs"
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20mins away from touchdown
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"This is where the gloves come off (literally)."
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Getting ever closer!
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"Here comes the G"
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Mission Control is really quiet. Can you listen to the behind the scenes stuff on L2?? Thanks.
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"0.6 on the G - through Mach 21"
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Approaching the mainland!
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5mins away from the first roll reversal (left to right)
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The NASA TV PAO needs more practice. "Atlantis at an altitude of 215 feet."
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jeffgibson - 22/6/2007 9:31 PM
Mission Control is really quiet. Can you listen to the behind the scenes stuff on L2?? Thanks.
No.
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Approaching the mainland!
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"you can crank up your G suits now"
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183,000 ft
9000mph
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13 minutes to go.
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"you can crank up your G suits now"
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I'm working in Downtown Los Angeles. Will let you know when I hear the twin sonic booms.
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10,000 FPS
165,000 ft.
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Coming out of the plasma
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first roll reversal (left to right) underway
velocity ~ 7000 fps
speed brake at 81%
10 mins away from touchdown
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Atlantis being tracked! 10 mins to touchdown!
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Dryden has picked up Atlantis. Touchdown speed predicted at 195 mph 2600 ft. down Runway 22. TACAN activated.
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"Easing off the Gs a little bit"
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Is it just me or is the site getting a bit slow? If so, may want to cut down on the screencaps a bit...
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"Things really going to happen fast now guys"
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Dryden has a visual!
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velocity 2 500 fps
height 83 000 ft
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We have a view!
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Just heard the sonic boom here in San Diego!
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Rolling back.."Stating to pick up a bit of wind noise"
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In a right-hand bank over Edwards.
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Sonic Booms just now, over Los Angeles
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Can now make out more details!
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height 40 000 ft
velocity 900 fps
~120 secs to touchdown
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normal chute deploy
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Why is the comm looping?
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We have HUD view!
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Switching to HUDS for 22 at Edwards if required.
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In the HAC. Right hand turn to the runway. Yeah sounds like there's a problem with comm.
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On at the 180.
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On the HAC! Terrible feedback on the audio!
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On at the 90. Comm fixed.
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Runway in view.
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Approaching!
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One minute.
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Pre-flare in work.
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Here she comes!
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Gear down. Main gear touchdown!!
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Drag chute out. Nose gear down.
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TOUCHDOWN!
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Rollout!
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Atlantis completing her 28th mission after 5.8 million miles. Wheels stop!! Welcome home Atlantis!!
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Final rollout!
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5-3 / POST LANDING PROCEDURES underway
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And wheelstop! GREAT MISSION ATLANTIS! WELCOME BACK!
Looking forward to seeing you launch the Columbus module.
And seeing her and the SCA Land at Barksdale AFB for a refuel and rest! I will be at a local park!
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Excellent landing! :)
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Comm with convoy (NCC) established
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ET UMBILICAL DOOR OPENING completed
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From the mesa at JPL, I could see it brightly oscillate back and forth across the sky as it s-turned, shortly before it disappeared with a boom-boom. Great show!
Simon ;)
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View from that Chopper in the last view.
And another view!
-
Thus completes what will IMHO go down as one of the highlight missions of the STS.
And welcome home, Suni!
-
That was really pretty -- they get really nice video of the pre-flare and gear deploy when they land at EDW 22 in the daytime...I guess there are fewer alligators there than around the SLF!
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RAD RECONFIG underway
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Well done to all concerned. (Never seen this site so busy - totally went off the wall at one point, so the webmasters made it member only for a short period to protect the site staying up). Strange how it was 20 percent busier than launch day!
-
HYDRAULIC LOAD TEST underway
-
-
View from that chopper.
-
would i be overstating things if i said *wow*?
-
Seemed to have a little crosswind on the landing. He had that rudder pulling pretty far left.
-
RAD RECONFIG completed
NH3 ACT underway
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Will be interesting to see how Olivas' work on the OMS pod held up... From a distance, can't see all that much differece....
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Chris Bergin - 22/6/2007 2:56 PM
Well done to all concerned. (Never seen this site so busy - totally went off the wall at one point, so the webmasters made it member only for a short period to protect the site staying up). Strange how it was 20 percent busier than launch day!
Echo! had a real tough time loading and reloading the page. great work webmasters!
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Body Flap set.
-
RCS, OMS, DRAG CHUTE and LANDING GEAR SAFING completed
SET BODY FLAP underway
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OMS pod blanket repair looks like it held nicely!
-
DPS TRANSITION – GNC 9 underway
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Another great mission!
Well done to everyone involved.
-
Isn't she just the cutest thing, the way she sits there on the runway? Boy, will i miss her and her sisters in a few years.
--------
If you have a Vision, go see a doctor.
:-)
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ready for SSME REPO
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Hi L2 Re-Entry Video,
Where are the in-cockpit shots from? - how come you dont get them on NASA TV?
Thanks
Ian
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SSME Reposition!
More chopper views.
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Really good mission, and excellent coverage on this site, every single day, as always! Thanks to everyone.
Well done. ISS is getting so pretty... :)
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USFJoseph - 22/6/2007 1:58 PM
Seemed to have a little crosswind on the landing. He had that rudder pulling pretty far left.
You're not just looking at the split rudder speed brake?
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SET BODY FLAP complted
SSME REPO in work
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nathan.moeller - 22/6/2007 8:46 AM
Why is the comm looping?
obviously an open mike somewhere ;)
unfortunatly for me that was also the time my "real player" went down :angry:
and the "real" page said it'd reached its limit :o obviously a lot of people welcoming back atlantis :)
luckily "cnn i" came on with smiles o brien :)
fantastic coverage once again fellas :) :)
JJ..
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I wonder how Suni feels now :)
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Convoy approaching Atlantis!
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I was one who got kicked out a few minutes before landing. Bummer! :angry: I understand, tho.
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ichilton - 22/6/2007 9:02 PM
Hi L2 Re-Entry Video,
Where are the in-cockpit shots from? - how come you dont get them on NASA TV?
Thanks
Ian
That was me (my alta ego) ;)
It's not on NASA TV, and would never be, because it's a camcorder taken onboard, and downloaded a few days later. It actually done for the middeck crew to watch live, but a source was good enough to pass it on to us. It's on L2, but there's a free sample for those who can't afford to join: http://forum.nasaspaceflight.com/forums/thread-view.asp?tid=4813&start=1
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Aww, only a bit of PPOV. Shame, that :( Still, that was a great landing, very smooth.
Re the looped comm, right now there are people working on some kind of weird drum and bass remix with the samples :P
-
You and Me both Thomas--i will miss her--i do already. I love the way it sits like that--what an awesome, beautiful machine. To rehash STS-1 quotes--"the World's greatest electric flying machine that was super"--John Young and Crippen's "What a way to come to California!" Crippen's words live on :)
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SSME Repositioned!
Workers already near the Orbiter!
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convoy crew by nose gear landing gear door
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Hi Chris,
But how do you get it so quick? - do you work for NASA?
Thanks
Ian
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JJ.. - 23/6/2007 8:02 AM
nathan.moeller - 22/6/2007 8:46 AM
Why is the comm looping?
obviously an open mike somewhere ;)
unfortunatly for me that was also the time my "real player" went down :angry:
and the "real" page said it'd reached its limit :o obviously a lot of people welcoming back atlantis :)
luckily "cnn i" came on with smiles o brien :)
fantastic coverage once again fellas :) :)
JJ..
try it through KSC in future, i find their mirror is a bit less busy:
http://science.ksc.nasa.gov/cgi-bin/rrg2.pl?encoder/nasatv.rm
from: http://science.ksc.nasa.gov/shuttle/countdown/video/
I'll miss em all too. That was a great lookin landing there, Atlantis did a solid job.
Well covered here too!
-
I'd just like to say thanks to all you guys on this site. As a 10 year-old when Apollo 11 landed I found space travel absoluteley enthralling .. your coverage of this mission has brought back many of those feelings. Well done to you, Atlantis and her crew!
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elmarko - 22/6/2007 4:04 PM
Aww, only a bit of PPOV. Shame, that :( Still, that was a great landing, very smooth.
They may run a bit more of it during replays, but IIRC, the live transmission has been spotty for Edwards landings.
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jeklund - 22/6/2007 9:04 PM
I was one who got kicked out a few minutes before landing. Bummer! :angry: I understand, tho.
Yeah, we're really sorry about the guests getting knocked off for a bit. We had no choice, as the site was getting hammered (more than we ever thought it would) and it was take that action or the site would go down, so we had to take a protective measure.
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SSME REPO completed
APU/HYD SHUTDN in work
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ichilton - 22/6/2007 9:05 PM
Hi Chris,
But how do you get it so quick? - do you work for NASA?
Thanks
Ian
I wish ;)
Just a journalist (the monkey with the typewriter) ;)
The video was synced to the same points STS-117 was going through, but was from STS-115 (as tagged). Just wanted to give you all an idea of what it was like on the flight deck at the same timeline.
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GO for extended powerup
-
go for extended power up
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ichilton - 22/6/2007 4:05 PM
Hi Chris,
But how do you get it so quick? - do you work for NASA?
Thanks
Ian
Ian,
That video was from an entry and landing into KSC last September (STS-115).
-
Moving the Ladder into position.
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APU/HYD SHUTDN completed
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POST LANDING MPS RECONFIG in work
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I wish ;)
Just a journalist (the monkey with the typewriter) ;)
Ah :)
So where those pictures actually from this landing or a previous one? - I dont get how you get them so quick if they are live.
I take it the full video of this landing will only be available on L2?
You'll probably edit/delete my post for this, but if you can get them are they not publically available elsewhere? :)
Thanks
Ian
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Bulk of the Convoy Approaches!
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orbiter access vehicle at atlantis' hatch
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How come the runway and orbiter isn't swarming with people by now?
*edit* - ah, the shot just changed and it is now!
How long is it before the astronauts disembark?
Do you see them get off, or do they pull a tower over the door?
Thanks
Ian
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Nothing on L2 is publically available. That's the point of a subscription area ;) See posts before about it being STS-115s.
-
Can somebody in the know say what the various support trucks are/do? (I know some, but not certain :-)
-
When are the pressure vessels of the O2, H2, N2, He and hydrazine depressurized? Do they have to do that before the convoy can get close?
-
Trailer approaching!
-
VENT DOOR PURGE POSITIONING are in work
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andymw - 22/6/2007 9:06 PM
I'd just like to say thanks to all you guys on this site. As a 10 year-old when Apollo 11 landed I found space travel absoluteley enthralling .. your coverage of this mission has brought back many of those feelings. Well done to you, Atlantis and her crew!
Just like to echo this, it was my 7th birthday when man first walked on the moon, now due to broadband access which eables me to watch nasa tv and the coverage on this site it has re-ignited my passion for space. Cant wait for August.
Thanks to all - for giving me a greater understand of the complexity of space flight.
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Nothing on L2 is publically available. That's the point of a subscription area ;) See posts before about it being STS-115s.
Ah, ok.
So you have some way of getting them direct from Nasa with exclusive rights?
Thanks
Ian
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Thanks to all guys for your incredible work for the coverage of the mission... and welcome back home Atlantis!
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Already working at the hatch.
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VENT DOOR PURGE POSITIONING complete
RCS, OMS VALVE TEST in work
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ichilton - 22/6/2007 9:13 PM
Nothing on L2 is publically available. That's the point of a subscription area ;) See posts before about it being STS-115s.
Ah, ok.
So you have some way of getting them direct from Nasa with exclusive rights?
Thanks
Ian
I want to keep this open for STS-117 updates, so I'll PM you later on.
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Zachstar - 22/6/2007 3:12 PM
Trailer approaching!
It's called a People Mover. :)
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Trailer jacked up higher and approaching the Orbiter.
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Hey, they have a camel bus! I remember seeing those first in Mexico City Airport... I don't see why they have stairs also in that case?
Great way to help Suni off.
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GPC PWRDN in work
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I want to keep this open for STS-117 updates, so I'll PM you later on.
Thanks! - am concious of taking the thread off topic but just curious :)
I'll shut up now :)
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Chris Bergin - 22/6/2007 4:06 PM
jeklund - 22/6/2007 9:04 PM
I was one who got kicked out a few minutes before landing. Bummer! :angry: I understand, tho.
Yeah, we're really sorry about the guests getting knocked off for a bit. We had no choice, as the site was getting hammered (more than we ever thought it would) and it was take that action or the site would go down, so we had to take a protective measure.
Yeah, I was watching on my Pocket PC at work and wondered what was up. Of course we had one display computer on the Net and tuned in to NASA TV to watch the landing!
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So, I guess it's a bit early to ask - but will the STS-117 HIGHLIGHTS be aired in about 3 hrs? And since they landed in California, will the press conference usually 6 hrs after landing be delayed?
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From what I have heard, after 6 months in microgravity there's a good chance she won't be able to walk in earth gravity for a little while. Perhaps nomatter how much they excercise, the body loses its adaptation to earth gravity so rapidly. Just a guess...
What a tremendous site you people have here. Thanks alot.
http://forum.nasaspaceflight.com/images/emoticons/wink.gif
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Trailer backed away and awaiting crew departure.
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Comm with ASP established
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This mission was very interesting.Creaw working smoothly and cooperation between Huston MCC and Moscow was superb as well and of course ET repair team done great job to prepare ET 124.Another great mission to prove to some ugly media that the the shuttle program is very usefull,and this is not a waste of money.
And I must say landing during day at EAFB with clear sky was beauty.
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Landing replays coming up!
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Landing replays in progress on NASA TV
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RCS, OMS VALVE TEST completed
-
-
Well, that's another one gone. Not many more flights left now.
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You know, I'm all for retiring the Shuttle in one sense, but I'll admit that there will never be anything quite like watching that hot brick drop! Gorgeous landing!
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paulhbell07 - 22/6/2007 10:28 PM
Well, that's another one gone. Not many more flights left now.
Only two more for Atlantis ...
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The shuttle is the pilot's ultimate dream machine. I'd take that baby down among those lakebeds anytime!
A great mission, and thanks to all of you NASASpaceFlight.com guys who contributed over the 15 flight days with screenshots and other updates.
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Beautiful landing in California, although it looks like they could have landed at KSC now. Hey, hindsight is always 20/20, I agree with the decision as does everybody probably. Better safe than sorry. Plus, it's always another cool thing to see the shuttle on the SCA. Now its time to start getting ready for Endeavour!
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APU HEATER DEACTIVATION complete
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RCS/OMS HEATERS PWRDN in work
-
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I just described the landing to my 14 year-old daughter as watching a brick land with wings. Whilst she was watching she asked "when are they going to drop the wheels?". "About 5 seconds before landing" I reply and she walks away looking absolutely amazed. I agree -- the Shuttle meeds to be replaced, but it's amazing to watch just how it works!
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NH3 DEACT in work
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PPOV replay is very good looks like all the way through wheels stop.
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Just for the sake of humor... from the good folks at CNN.com
SHUTTLE COMPLETES MISSION IN CALIFORNIA
Posted 4:06 PM EDT
STORY HIGHLIGHTS:
• NEW: Atlantis lands at Edwards Air Force Base at 3:49 p.m. ET
• Weather knocks out first chance Friday for shuttle landing in Florida
• If Friday landing scrubbed, NASA will try on Saturday, possibly in New Mexico
Wow... guess after they wash the Shuttle down tonight Rick is going to climb back in and activate those jets for .... oh, wait....
Rob+
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-
-
Has anything been said on how Suni Williams is doing? It's just that Thomas Reiter did not feel too good after his landing in December after returning from zero-g for such a long time...
-
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WHen I watched the landing, I noticed there seemed to be a slight lag on the dropping of the right landing gear. I had never noticed a difference between the two before. I thought it seemed a bit curious.
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Yep, I spotted that lag as well.
-
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Atlantis signing off......beautiful landing Rick. And some say that penguins can't fly ;)
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Chandonn - 22/6/2007 9:45 PM
WHen I watched the landing, I noticed there seemed to be a slight lag on the dropping of the right landing gear. I had never noticed a difference between the two before. I thought it seemed a bit curious.
I noticed that too. The left one dropped like a brick, really quick!
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Chandonn - 22/6/2007 4:45 PM
WHen I watched the landing, I noticed there seemed to be a slight lag on the dropping of the right landing gear. I had never noticed a difference between the two before. I thought it seemed a bit curious.
hmm you're right. I just watched the reply and there is a noticable albeit small difference in deploy times. interesting question as to whehter this is typical or is this somewhat abnormal.
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Replays over shortly after Houston signed off.
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POST LANDING PROCEDURES complete
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Chandonn - 22/6/2007 1:45 PM
WHen I watched the landing, I noticed there seemed to be a slight lag on the dropping of the right landing gear. I had never noticed a difference between the two before. I thought it seemed a bit curious.
I wouldn't be surprised; alot of aircraft have asynchronous gear extension, to save hydraulic pressure...
Simon ;)
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Many congratulations to Atlantis and crew, NASA and contractors and this site (especially the L2 coverage which was outstanding).
-
Atlantis' touchdown is the main attraction on MSNBC...
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/
...and CNN
http://www.cnn.com/
:)
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simonbp - 22/6/2007 4:48 PM
Chandonn - 22/6/2007 1:45 PM
WHen I watched the landing, I noticed there seemed to be a slight lag on the dropping of the right landing gear. I had never noticed a difference between the two before. I thought it seemed a bit curious.
I wouldn't be surprised; alot of aircraft have asynchronous gear extension, to save hydraulic pressure...
Perhaps the uplock hook for that was a little slower in releasing...
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Zoom on the OMS pod
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End of MCC coverage.
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re OMS pod closeup.. I know the shot is not high quality but is that just a dark spot or did that blanket peel back a bit again?
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stockman - 22/6/2007 12:57 PM
re OMS pod closeup.. I know the shot is not high quality but is that just a dark spot or did that blanket peel back a bit again?
I imagine it'll be a bit before we know for sure, but the dark area could just be the cluster of pins Danny installed.
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stockman - 22/6/2007 4:57 PM
re OMS pod closeup.. I know the shot is not high quality but is that just a dark spot or did that blanket peel back a bit again?
Hard to tell...hopefully we'll get close-ups between now and when the crew leaves the runway...
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Chandonn - 22/6/2007 3:45 PM
WHen I watched the landing, I noticed there seemed to be a slight lag on the dropping of the right landing gear. I had never noticed a difference between the two before. I thought it seemed a bit curious.
Only had the (in)famous White Sands Video for comparison at hand, but FWIW. both, left and right main gear extend simultaneously as Columbia comes in there. But then again, we can hardly call that landing "nominal" anyways.....
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Do any of you have an idea about how long it will be before the crew disembark?
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andymw - 22/6/2007 11:05 PM
Do any of you have an idea about how long it will be before the crew disembark?
Do you mean from the CTV or the orbiter? If it is the former: That is a couple of hours after landing. If it is the latter: They're already off the orbiter.
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i too noticed the dark spot,
so i put 2 grabs together to show both the repair and the spot ..
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DaveS - 22/6/2007 4:11 PM
andymw - 22/6/2007 11:05 PM
Do any of you have an idea about how long it will be before the crew disembark?
Do you mean from the CTV or the orbiter? If it is the former: That is a couple of hours after landing. If it is the latter: They're already off the orbiter.
Thanks .. Quick question: what happens whilst they are in the CTV?
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JJ.. - 22/6/2007 5:16 PM
i too noticed the dark spot,
so i put 2 grabs together to show both the repair and the spot ..
Well its definitely in the right spot, thats for sure. Thanks for the pictures.
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andymw - 22/6/2007 11:16 PM
DaveS - 22/6/2007 4:11 PM
andymw - 22/6/2007 11:05 PM
Do any of you have an idea about how long it will be before the crew disembark?
Do you mean from the CTV or the orbiter? If it is the former: That is a couple of hours after landing. If it is the latter: They're already off the orbiter.
Thanks .. Quick question: what happens whilst they are in the CTV?
They are given they're first post-mission medical check-up and they get to relax a bit and get used to gravity again.
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CTV backing away from the orbiter
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CTV on the move!
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The transport has moved.
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Down:
-
We can expect to see the STS-117 flight crew be doing a walk-around of the orbiter in the next few mins:
-
And we have a view!
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Handheld camera:
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Crew departing!
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And here we have the astronauts:
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Walking to the orbiter:
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Crew photo!
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At side of the orbiter:
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Did Suni exit with them? I may have missed her?
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Under the Orbiter
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stockman - 22/6/2007 11:24 PM
Did Suni exit with them? I may have missed her?
I would be seriously impressed if se could stand up for a full minute without any assistance.
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stockman - 22/6/2007 5:24 PM
Did Suni exit with them? I may have missed her?
Very unlikely for her to come out. In the past, NASA will release some video of her later on (like with Thomas Reiter after the last landing).
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Who's in the red cap? My quality of picture is so low that I can't see.
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stockman - 22/6/2007 4:24 PM
Did Suni exit with them? I may have missed her?
I did not see her either, However note that people who have been up in microgravity for 6 months usually can't stand for a bit after return.
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chksix - 22/6/2007 5:26 PM
Who's in the red cap? My quality of picture is so low that I can't see.
Commander Rick Sturckow
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This was from a backhaul feed from Edwards. Not seen on NASA TV.
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It's Rick commander !!
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Compare the size of the shuttle to some of the crew here.
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Cheers! Seems they are all more or less unsteady on their legs :)
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.....wish there were some audio with this.......
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DaveS - 22/6/2007 3:26 PM
stockman - 22/6/2007 11:24 PM
Did Suni exit with them? I may have missed her?
I would be seriously impressed if she could stand up for a full minute without any assistance.
Absolutely. When astronauts can come back from a long stretch on ISS and immediately walk around normally, we'll be ready to send someone to Mars.
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Setting up for a crew speech.
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You can see the winds are starting to pick up now...
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It's only been ~1.5 hours since re-entry, are the tiles still pretty hot? (I see folks walking under the belly of atlantis, I would think that that would been a hot area).
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outward - 22/6/2007 5:34 PM
It's only been ~1.5 hours since re-entry, are the tiles still pretty hot? (I see folks walking under the belly of atlantis, I would think that that would been a hot area).
No -- they are "touchable" very quickly after the heat source is gone.
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One (two?) of those trucks has been actively cooling the TPS since soon after landing.
ETA: hmm... since psloss has a different take on this I'm link hunting... where did I hear this?
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Crew speech.
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Now done and heading on outta here!
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No love for Atlantis like Discovery got from Steve Robinson. :(
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Joffan - 22/6/2007 5:36 PM
One (two?) of those trucks has been actively cooling the TPS since soon after landing.
ETA: hmm... since psloss has a different take on this I'm link hunting... where did I hear this?
The cooling is for the orbiter systems. (If you're familiar with "refrigerated" computer server rooms, that's kind of the idea.)
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Sarah Shuttle - 22/6/2007 5:41 PM
No love for Atlantis like Discovery got from Steve Robinson. :(
It's not like it's much better in Florida, but consider that last I checked it was 35C/95F at Edwards with 10% humidity. Might not help adjusting back to normal.
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Later Atlantis!
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Briefing coming up in 15mins.
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I've seen video of tile being removed from a furnace and it's cool to the touch in seconds.
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psloss - 22/6/2007 5:44 PM
It's not like it's much better in Florida, but consider that last I checked it was 35C/95F at Edwards with 10% humidity. Might not help adjusting back to normal.
Curses -- I lied. Last observation was 37C/98.6F (which, as noted in 'Airplane', is "normal"). Relative humidity was down to 8%.
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lcs - 22/6/2007 10:29 PM
This was from a backhaul feed from Edwards. Not seen on NASA TV.
Looks like it needs a few new tiles now they've got pins through them!
Still trying to pull away from the frame though.
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Looks like we wont be needing that anymore today. ;)
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Hopefully we will get to see Atlantis being towed off the runway all the way to the MDD just like when Discovery had landed at Edwards to end STS-114 in August 2005.
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Zachstar - 22/6/2007 10:37 PM
Crew speech.
Shame none of them mentioned Suni the record breaking astronaut!
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Nice pic from KSC MMedia Gallery:
http://mediaarchive.ksc.nasa.gov/search.cfm?cat=4
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psloss - 22/6/2007 3:42 PM
Joffan - 22/6/2007 5:36 PM
One (two?) of those trucks has been actively cooling the TPS since soon after landing.
ETA: hmm... since psloss has a different take on this I'm link hunting... where did I hear this?
The cooling is for the orbiter systems. (If you're familiar with "refrigerated" computer server rooms, that's kind of the idea.)
That too of course, but this, from http://www.tsgc.utexas.edu/archive/subsystems/aero.pdf :
After landing the Shuttle is connected immediately to trucks that act as heat exchangers. Hoses from these trucks pump coolant through the Shuttle and thereby cool it down. The reason this is done so soon after landing is to prevent permanent damage to the heat resistant tiles of the TPS. The tiles work well because on reentry heat is transferred very slowly through the tiles and so protect the vehicle until it has landed. However since heat is absorbed SO slowly it is dissipated as slowly and therefore forced cooling is necessary.
is the kind of thing I was thinking of.
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Post Landing Conference coming up!
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Joffan - 22/6/2007 12:00 AM
psloss - 22/6/2007 3:42 PM
Joffan - 22/6/2007 5:36 PM
One (two?) of those trucks has been actively cooling the TPS since soon after landing.
ETA: hmm... since psloss has a different take on this I'm link hunting... where did I hear this?
The cooling is for the orbiter systems. (If you're familiar with "refrigerated" computer server rooms, that's kind of the idea.)
That too of course, but this, from http://www.tsgc.utexas.edu/archive/subsystems/aero.pdf :
After landing the Shuttle is connected immediately to trucks that act as heat exchangers. Hoses from these trucks pump coolant through the Shuttle and thereby cool it down. The reason this is done so soon after landing is to prevent permanent damage to the heat resistant tiles of the TPS. The tiles work well because on reentry heat is transferred very slowly through the tiles and so protect the vehicle until it has landed. However since heat is absorbed SO slowly it is dissipated as slowly and therefore forced cooling is necessary.
is the kind of thing I was thinking of.
That one is not entirely true. Only one of the trucks are providing cooling, the second one provides purge air.
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On now.
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Who's the teenage PAO? :o
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Stowbridge - 22/6/2007 12:05 AM
Who's the teenage PAO? :o
Jason Sharp.
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Mike L always comes across as affectionate about the orbiters. Always "she" "her".
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Here comes the idiots with the "It's been a bad year, but..." questions.
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Woooah. Steady those horses. Let's not have another one of those about the media.
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Zachstar - 22/6/2007 5:37 PM
Crew speech.
i CJ wearing a phillies hat?
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Endeavour118 - 22/6/2007 5:15 PM
i CJ wearing a phillies hat?
I assume it's the same red Marine Corps hat he's worn throughout the mission.
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No post-landing crew news conference.
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http://www.nasa.gov/images/content/180847main_image_feature_853_ys_full.jpg Sweet high-res photo of today's landing.
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Conference over, and that looks to be about it for updates from NASA TV.
Enjoy the replays again and claw into the media stuff (Images,Video and the lots)
I want to thank everyone at NASASpaceFlight for giving me this chance to cover with images the Flight of STS-117. I missed a few days but I hope my coverage will greatly aid research done in the future on this flight. I did this for the archive and not for fun.
I will likely be unable to do the same for 118 so I look forward to a new set of posters covering in detail that flight.
Later everyone!
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Judging by the comms, is CJ still in Atlantis with "Butch"?
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ApolloLee - 23/6/2007 12:33 AM
Judging by the comms, is CJ still in Atlantis with "Butch"?
No. It's a poorly synched comm recording with the videos. They shouldn't play it at all.
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Hi,
It's a replay!
The crew have long left the orbiter and runway.
Ian
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What the heck is the deal with these cheesy scripted lines the CAPCOM reads after Wheels stop??
"Atlantis-Houston, copy Wheels stop. Welcome back, congratulations on a great mission. Good job installing the S3/ S4 continuting to expand the space staiton in preparation for adding modules from more of our internaitonal partners in stepping stones for the rest of the NASA exploratiioon plan."
What the heck? The crew doesn't need to be told that, they KNOW what their mission was!! One recent flight I even heard them say "demonstrating the capabilities of the 50-foot robot arm..." This stuff really sounds laboriously pre-scripted as though they are hoping that sound bite makes the evening news but it's cynical and ridiculous. Enough fo that.
Whoever this Entry/ Landing PAO was today wasn't too swift, hardly said a word or gave much information at all.
Great landing though, glad they are safely back which is all that's really important.
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ichilton - 23/6/2007 12:38 AM
Hi,
It's a replay!
The crew have long left the orbiter and runway.
Ian
Yes, if they switch back to live views of Atlantis on the runway, we would most likely see Atlantis in a nearly ready tow config.
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Hi,
When will they get back to their families? - will they all fly home tomorrow?
Presumably the families are all at KSC thinking they would be landing there?
I assume they will all be on the phone to them as we speak :)
Ian
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ichilton - 23/6/2007 12:43 AM
Hi,
When will they get back to their families? - will they all fly home tomorrow?
Presumably the families are all at KSC thinking they would be landing there?
I assume they will all be on the phone to them as we speak :)
Ian
Yes, they'll fly home to Houston tommorow.
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Hi,
Anyone know if http://www.space-multimedia.nl.eu.org will publish the videos of the crew coming out of the CTW (or any other sites which would?)? - i missed that bit and just got back in time for the speeches.
Thanks
Ian
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DaveS - 22/6/2007 6:36 PM
ApolloLee - 23/6/2007 12:33 AM
Judging by the comms, is CJ still in Atlantis with "Butch"?
No. It's a poorly synched comm recording with the videos. They shouldn't play it at all.
They are re-airing the replays as they originally broadcast them post-landing with the audio from the live broadcast, which is rather odd. They already aired this stuff about 20 minutes or so after the landing.
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Hi,
Was there no flight day highlights for yesterday (day 14)?
Thanks
Ian
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ichilton - 23/6/2007 12:58 AM
Was there no flight day highlights for yesterday (day 14)?
No. Because it wouldn't have been much to show except for some views from KSC and MCC along with pre-de-orbit comms.
The KU band antenna was stowed on Thursday so they couldn't downlink any video from the orbiter.
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Hi,
ok - I thought that would be the case.
Will the footage they've recorded be published later now they are back and can downlink it all?
Thanks
Ian
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Why didn't they get the antenna back out when they were waved off on Thurs btw?
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ichilton - 23/6/2007 1:08 AM
Why didn't they get the antenna back out when they were waved off on Thurs btw?
That would just have added complexity to the mission as the it's perfectly reasonable that the KU band antenna might have failed to stow correctly and might have required an EVA to manually push the antenna into the payload bay again.
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ahh, ok
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What's the reason for not having a crew press conference? Does it have anything to d owith how the crew feels or that the landing was at EAFB?
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kimmern123 - 23/6/2007 1:28 AM
What's the reason for not having a crew press conference? Does it have anything to d owith how the crew feels or that the landing was at EAFB?
Probably because it's going to be so late. It was scheduled for NET Landing+6 hours which have put it about 6:50 pm PDT.
Also add in that the crew has been up since 2:38 am PDT, which puts their awake time to over 16 hours so they got to be pretty tired by then.
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Thanks for the excellent coverage of the landing and spaceflight in general!!
Regards...Michael
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AlamedaDad - 22/6/2007 6:31 PM
Thanks for the excellent coverage of the landing and spaceflight in general!!
Regards...Michael
Hear hear. Super coverage, best on the net, yet again. Who says there's no interest in spaceflight, there's lots!
Also thank you for L2, I've never felt so involved in space flight like that place makes you feel. I've got some much respect for the work that goes on. These people are amazing, making these vehicles work and safe.
Proud to be an American.
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Yet another useless joyride at the cost of near billions to the US taxpayer......;) Just kidding
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Entry flight controll team video replay underway on NASA TV.
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Zachstar - 22/6/2007 3:31 PM
Conference over, and that looks to be about it for updates from NASA TV.
Enjoy the replays again and claw into the media stuff (Images,Video and the lots)
I want to thank everyone at NASASpaceFlight for giving me this chance to cover with images the Flight of STS-117. I missed a few days but I hope my coverage will greatly aid research done in the future on this flight. I did this for the archive and not for fun.
I will likely be unable to do the same for 118 so I look forward to a new set of posters covering in detail that flight.
Later everyone!
Anyone know when NASA TV will be showing the full landing sequence again for those of us who missed it today while we were at work? I realize I can get it from John 44's site, but I'd like to see it on TV instead. I'm a little surprised and very disappointed that NTV is bothering to show anything besides the landing stuff on-the-hour, since that is typically when they seem to show any of the day's event-related videos. What is up with that? I really have to question whether NASA knows who their audience is sometimes.
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It might be through the night. It'd make sense for them to do this, but I'm not sure. I'm sure someone will alert us if there are any replays.
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Told you I'd be having a blonde for dinner :) Amazing to see her land here and I'll update status when I can.
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tcj - 22/6/2007 8:22 PM Zachstar - 22/6/2007 3:31 PM Conference over, and that looks to be about it for updates from NASA TV. Enjoy the replays again and claw into the media stuff (Images,Video and the lots) I want to thank everyone at NASASpaceFlight for giving me this chance to cover with images the Flight of STS-117. I missed a few days but I hope my coverage will greatly aid research done in the future on this flight. I did this for the archive and not for fun. I will likely be unable to do the same for 118 so I look forward to a new set of posters covering in detail that flight. Later everyone!
Anyone know when NASA TV will be showing the full landing sequence again for those of us who missed it today while we were at work? I realize I can get it from John 44's site, but I'd like to see it on TV instead. I'm a little surprised and very disappointed that NTV is bothering to show anything besides the landing stuff on-the-hour, since that is typically when they seem to show any of the day's event-related videos. What is up with that? I really have to question whether NASA knows who their audience is sometimes.
For the past 3 missions they have repeated coverage throughout the weekend of FD Highlights thru landing, they likely would do the same this time I would think.
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Well, now that the mission is over, I'd like to give a huge thanks to everyone who kept these threads going throughout the mission. It was so nice to be able to sit down after being away for a few hours and just read the pages and know exactly what happened. Plus, while watching live, it was wonderful to have everyone's interpretations and analysis. Your efforts are greatly appreciated!
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Very successful mission! Great landing today.
Just wanted to post and say that I was glad I could help support the archive with images and information. Thanks to all who got information for us, thanks to all who posted images, and thanks for everything the mods/admins do here! I hope to be able to cover 118 like 117 was covered! Congrats to all the Atlantis crew and orbit/entry teams!
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Before I head off and throw my head into a bucket of cold water ;) I want to thank everyone for visiting during this mission, and to all the people that help with the site - from live coverage to site maintenance to the sources etc. Too many to mention, but without whom I wouldn't be able to run this site.
As the regulars will know, we never stop here. We've got a lot of post flight processing coverage to come, including Atlantis' ferry back to KSC. We're already deeply into Endeavour's processing for 118, with rollover coming at the start of next month, and that's just Shuttle.
We've managed to get through the mission with the site up and running on our new servers, with only the short period where we had to turn guests off for 10 minutes today, during which time we were getting absolutely swamped (our main webmaster says he's never seen anything like it on demand levels).
As someone wisely said earlier, "Who said there's no interest in space flight?" We're only into our third year of operations and we've gone through six figure visitor numbers just for this mission.
Remember, every single one of us are ambassadors for the space program, so if you enjoyed this mission, make sure you represent it well to your family, friends, work colleagues and school friends. Send them to this site, send them to another space flight site, but whatever you do, give them an opportunity to be properly introduced to these amazing vehicles and the dedicated team of thousands that enable their safe flight.
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Sincerest thanks Chris.
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I've gotta hand it to you, Chris. My first mission was more than you said!! I didn't expect this much coverage.. ever! Thanks, once again, for doing all this, as well as your staff. Glad I could be part of a wonderful site, and glad I could make everyone's experience and archive a little better. :)
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Chris - 3rd mission since I joined L2 - and they keep getting better. A huge thanks to you, the sources that contribute, and those that help keep things running so smoothly. Having NASA TV on the satellite is great, having NSF on the internet is priceless!! Take a break and enjoy some time off!
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Well said. This website has been desperately needed due to the negative, lack of commitment to pure space flight coverage, or general utter boredom that was generated by a lot of the other websites ove the years. We've got people like James Oberg holding a candle in the dark and Bill Harwood of CBS, but thank god we've got Chris and this website now too. The amount of interest shown here has me emotional. I wish we had this internet and this site back during Apollo when the interest started to die. I'm very impressed by the website and the members on it. I'm also very impressed by L2 and I think it's a testiment to see all the willingness of USA and NASA managers to speak on there and help explain the documentation. It's also a testiment to see on the member list most of the major space media people like Miles O'Brien, James Oberg, Todd Halverson and Traci Watson on L2 also.
I honestly believe this website is more important than most people may assume. My grandson says the internet will be more important than television and newspapers in years to come. If so then this place will be a shining light in the darkness NASA PR itself has not found a way to shine a light one. I urge you all to support Chris and the website because we can't afford to lose it and I ask you this as a person that has dedicated 30 years to the space program.
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Great coverage guys. Here's to STS-118. Only just over a month to go!
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Thanks to the site team, the sources and everybody else who makes the site possible. Great experience, great community! Thanks again!
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FatherRob - 22/6/2007 3:29 PM
You know, I'm all for retiring the Shuttle in one sense, but I'll admit that there will never be anything quite like watching that hot brick drop! Gorgeous landing!
I totally agree with you, Father.
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I got to see the landing, but I was struck by how weird the audio was acting. It kept on repeating out of sync with the image. NASA TV needs to fix this.
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lcs - 22/6/2007 3:29 PM
This was from a backhaul feed from Edwards. Not seen on NASA TV.
Is there any further information on how the repair performed? It looks like the pins pulled out as you might expect since they were put in straight and so only had friction with which to restrain the blanket. The staples may have done the job because the neighboring blanket didn't pull up.
How are these blankets restrained normally? Adhesive or something?
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Chris Bergin - 22/6/2007 10:49 PM
Remember, every single one of us are ambassadors for the space program, so if you enjoyed this mission, make sure you represent it well to your family, friends, work colleagues and school friends. Send them to this site, send them to another space flight site, but whatever you do, give them an opportunity to be properly introduced to these amazing vehicles and the dedicated team of thousands that enable their safe flight.
Great and true words, Chris!
Let me add my compliments to you and all of your helpers who did- and continue to do- a wonderful job here!
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Chris Bergin - 22/6/2007 9:49 PM
Remember, every single one of us are ambassadors for the space program, so if you enjoyed this mission, make sure you represent it well to your family, friends, work colleagues and school friends. Send them to this site, send them to another space flight site, but whatever you do, give them an opportunity to be properly introduced to these amazing vehicles and the dedicated team of thousands that enable their safe flight.
This is my first entire mission since I joined L-2. Also my first post. I cannot lie, but when I did early june, I was so skeptic about finding much more than is already in NASA site or any other. Now I find NASA so short in communicating all the incredible things those people are doing for the sake of research. They are scientists, not entertainers, Obviously.
I am so amazed and overwhelmed with the tons of info I found in this site and the forum, and I believe will need weeks to process and read all the wonders that were posted here, not to mention having a hard time on keeping up to date with all the new daily and hourly (and "minutely")stuff. This is where I realize how important is not only keep supporting spaceflight, buy as internet buddies, supporting those who can make the difference and keep NASA aiming high, like Chris and all the profesionals that work with it and all the folks that support the site, one way or another.
My greets and regars to all of them. Keep on. I am sure every mission we will see new wonders like those found in the last.
Thanks to all of you, my vission has changed!!
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Lee Jay - 23/6/2007 12:27 P
How are these blankets restrained normally? Adhesive or something?
RTV
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Good job, Atlantis crew. Can't wait to hear the twin sonic booms here in California again! :laugh:
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Anyone know if the crew homecoming at Ellington is going to be webcast anywhere (even after it happens)? Especially since there was no post flight press conference with the crew......
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At least part of it will probably be replayed a few days afterwards on NASA TV's video file.
Not sure if it will shown live.
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Watch for the "This week in Nasa" Highlights package on NTV - usually on each day right after (or before I forget which) the daily ISS coverage, they usually will play a little of the crew arrival back in Houston. May also be in video file as mentioned, but I seem to remember it more in the TWIN.