See thread msg #209 for the STS-125 master flight plan link, and msg #9 for the daily Execute Package update link (any daily flt plan updates will be published there each morning)
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Bingo- sailed right past it earlier.
Thanks MKremer
Massimino ? I thought it was Rodney Dangerfield.
Hmm, I dont have 3D glasses did this work?
I know this is is a little ahead of the timeline, but since there's not much going on right now, I was reading the flight plan and noticed a ship-to-ship call from Atlantis to ISS on FD10. That started me thinking, can the ISS crew see the HST and/or Atlantis and vice versa? I know they are at different altitudes and orbit inclinations, but at some point the orbits cross each other. (See picture.) I did some reading about orbital mechanics but didn't really see this in there.
Joey
Just a general comment about the STS-400 "Emergency Shuttle". The news media sure has a short memory. The Emergency Shuttle was a Constraint for whatever mission was next. Ever since our third RTF; I refer to three since #2 involved MPS and did ground the entire Shuttle Fleet. I was Columbia's MPS Lead Engineer at the time so it was a short RTF situation in that regard but it was a "Shutdown" of all Missions as directed from NASA Level 1. OK so we have Return to Flights - 1st, Post Challenger 1986-1988, 2nd, MPS Hydrogen Leaks of Columbia, summer 1991, and 3rd, Columbia reentry disaster Feb 2003. Following the last Disaster and stoppage of all Flts, most of the attention was directed into how to inspect and fix the ET section that broke off during early Ascent impacting the left wing's RCC. Extremely high on the Orbiter's "Crit 1 list" was the impact detection system sensors on the inside of the RCC and the techniques, new glues/thermal materials and the Design and Implementation of the Extension and Inspection Laser Boom needed for on Orbit TPS location and possible repair. There was always the worst case scenario whereby a certain type of damage may not be repairable on Orbit. That meant going to ISS until a rescue shuttle or some "other system" could bring back the temporarily ISS stranded Shuttle crew. I seem to remember that NASA always had a "Rescue Shuttle" on "stand-by" ready to go (or very, very close) for every Post Columbia Mission, am I wrong? I know some of you all remember? I'm 95% sure, off the top of my lil head and without making a simple call to KSC, that we have always had a Shuttle on "Stand-by" called STS-400 or maybe an earlier term other than STS-400. Also let's remember, Hubble has been in its current "debris prone" orbit for all these years (since 1990) and has not sustained any hits worthy of mention and it has very little orbital transfer ability other than position/pointing. Hubble is the size of the Shuttle's Payload Bay and the Solar Panels are begging to be hit, they have not. Eventually, yes, but hopefully not till after Hubble's final Photon is captured!
The difference is that this is the only time the "emergency" shuttle was at the pad, so it gives the news media something they need -- a visual.
Thanks for that clarification.
Ever since post Columbia there was a new ground rule for a "Rescue Shuttle" or maybe they called it the "Backup Shuttle". It was "ready to go" within an allowable emergency "Time to Launch" window. That seems like what I remember. Your comment is so true about the Rescue Shuttle at the Pad! Such a big Press topic and photo Op overtaken only by the Swine Flu, CIA Memos or the New York City 747 Flyover!
Thanks
