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STS-125: Landing Weather
by
Lawntonlookirs
on 19 May, 2009 13:52
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Just an early post on the weather. The KSC has thunderstorms forecasted all the way through the week and weekend. rdale will probably give us an update shortly, but what I can see the storms have been pretty bad with some flooding.
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#1
by
psloss
on 19 May, 2009 13:59
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FWIW, SMG forecast from this morning shows only a chance of showers within 30 for Friday, but this appears to be looking at the original deorbit opportunities. The weather one rev earlier may be a little better, but for comparison, look at today's forecast.
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#2
by
rdale
on 19 May, 2009 16:44
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#3
by
robertross
on 19 May, 2009 21:48
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We'll obviously have to wait for the call, but I take it from that, they will simply choose EDW for the first opportunity. Let's ALL hope NOR isn't needed.
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#4
by
SgtBulldog
on 19 May, 2009 22:20
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Any guesses when a landing may occur if EDW is used?
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#5
by
rdale
on 20 May, 2009 00:41
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We'll obviously have to wait for the call, but I take it from that, they will simply choose EDW for the first opportunity. Let's ALL hope NOR isn't needed.
I doubt they've given up on a KSC landing... Remember they have waveoff days in there just for this purpose.
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#6
by
robertross
on 20 May, 2009 01:06
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We'll obviously have to wait for the call, but I take it from that, they will simply choose EDW for the first opportunity. Let's ALL hope NOR isn't needed.
I doubt they've given up on a KSC landing... Remember they have waveoff days in there just for this purpose.
Not to go too far OT, but the LiOH situation for STS-127 is also driving a shorter on-orbit time somewhat. The more they save on Atlantis, the greater the benefit for ISS ops.
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#7
by
c.steven
on 20 May, 2009 01:31
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Looking at the forecast, there's little chance STS-400 would be able to fly this weekend without a whole lot of luck.
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#8
by
psloss
on 20 May, 2009 13:11
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Morning forecast from SMG:
http://www.srh.noaa.gov/smg/SMG_prod.php?pil=OAV&sid=JSC&version=0Excerpt:
NOAA/NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE
SPACEFLIGHT METEOROLOGY GROUP / WS8
LYNDON B. JOHNSON SPACE CENTER
HOUSTON TX 77058
900 AM CDT WEDNESDAY MAY 20 2009
LANDING FORECAST FOR STS-125
EXPECTED LANDING DATE: 05/22/09
TIME: 1402Z
SITE: KENNEDY SPACE CENTER...FL
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U.S. LANDING SITES - EOM - FRIDAY 05/22/09
SHUTTLE LANDING FACILITY...KENNEDY SPACE CENTER FL
KSC FEW020 SCT040 BKN100 7 10011P17
CHC TSRA WI 30NM CHC BKN040
EDWARDS AIR FORCE BASE CA
EDW SCT150 BKN250 7 23008P14
NORTHRUP STRIP...WHITE SANDS SPACE HARBOR NM
NOR SCT060 BKN100 7 16007P10
CHC TSRA WI 30NM
FLIGHT RULE VIOLATIONS:
KSC ... CIG/LIGHTNING/PRECIP/TS
EDW ... NONE
NOR ... LIGHTNING/PRECIP/TS
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#9
by
ItsyAndy
on 21 May, 2009 10:11
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Doesn't look good for tomorrow at KSC, and the weekend as well... maybe early for that.
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#10
by
psloss
on 21 May, 2009 11:51
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I believe the Entry flight control team will go over an updated forecast with the crew later, but the morning SMG forecast is out:
http://www.srh.noaa.gov/smg/SMG_prod.php?pil=OAV&sid=JSC&version=0Excerpt showing tomorrow's current forecast for the primary U.S. landing sites:
NOAA/NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE
SPACEFLIGHT METEOROLOGY GROUP / WS8
LYNDON B. JOHNSON SPACE CENTER
HOUSTON TX 77058
800 AM CDT THURSDAY MAY 21 2009
LANDING FORECAST FOR STS-125
EXPECTED LANDING DATE: 05/22/09
TIME: 1402Z
SITE: KENNEDY SPACE CENTER...FL
U.S. LANDING SITES - EOM - FRIDAY 05/22/09
SHUTTLE LANDING FACILITY...KENNEDY SPACE CENTER FL
KSC FEW020 BKN040 BKN100 7 11012P19
CHC TSRA WI 30NM
EDWARDS AIR FORCE BASE CA
EDW SCT150 BKN250 7 23010P17
AFT 17Z WIND 23016P23
NORTHRUP STRIP...WHITE SANDS SPACE HARBOR NM
NOR SCT060 BKN100 7 21007P10
CHC TSRA WI 30NM
FLIGHT RULE VIOLATIONS:
KSC ... CIG/LIGHTNING/PRECIP/TS
EDW ... NONE
NOR ... LIGHTNING/PRECIP/TS
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#11
by
Lawntonlookirs
on 21 May, 2009 15:26
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With the forecast for the weekend the way it is, it surprises me that they don't go for EDW on Friday as it appears that is where they will land anyway. Just my thoughts
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#12
by
robertross
on 21 May, 2009 15:36
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With the forecast for the weekend the way it is, it surprises me that they don't go for EDW on Friday as it appears that is where they will land anyway. Just my thoughts
I had the same thoughts (read up), but was squashed.
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#13
by
psloss
on 21 May, 2009 15:40
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With the forecast for the weekend the way it is, it surprises me that they don't go for EDW on Friday as it appears that is where they will land anyway. Just my thoughts
Why is a EDW landing on Friday better than a KSC landing on Sunday?
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#14
by
rdale
on 21 May, 2009 15:40
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With the forecast for the weekend the way it is, it surprises me that they don't go for EDW on Friday as it appears that is where they will land anyway. Just my thoughts
Because there's no price to pay in staying up another day... The weather forecast does improve for KSC over the weekend, and to be honest Friday isn't a complete failure yet.
It takes a LONG time to get the shuttle back from the west coast compared to landing directly at KSC.
So giving KSC an additional chance, at no cost to the shuttle or crew or overall schedule in ANY way, could result in much better big picture.
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#15
by
robertross
on 21 May, 2009 15:54
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With the forecast for the weekend the way it is, it surprises me that they don't go for EDW on Friday as it appears that is where they will land anyway. Just my thoughts
Because there's no price to pay in staying up another day... The weather forecast does improve for KSC over the weekend, and to be honest Friday isn't a complete failure yet.
It takes a LONG time to get the shuttle back from the west coast compared to landing directly at KSC.
So giving KSC an additional chance, at no cost to the shuttle or crew or overall schedule in ANY way, could result in much better big picture.
For the other orbiters, I would say yes. But since Atlantis will simply have thorough inspections until late next year...no rush to bring her home to KSC. It also frees up STS-127 from LON, provides ISS with additional LiOH cannisters, frees the on-orbit team, and lastly: should (heaven forbid) ASA becomes a problem, you have runway surface more ideal than KSC. That's my 2cents. Sorry for grabbing the thread.
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#16
by
psloss
on 21 May, 2009 15:56
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For the other orbiters, I would say yes. But since Atlantis will simply have thorough inspections until late next year...no rush to bring her home to KSC.
Atlantis is flying STS-129, late
this year. It has fairly significant reconfig work to go from HST to ISS support, including things like ODS reinstall and verification.
With the flight rate on the schedule, all three orbiters will be busy.
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#17
by
Danny Dot
on 21 May, 2009 16:49
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We'll obviously have to wait for the call, but I take it from that, they will simply choose EDW for the first opportunity. Let's ALL hope NOR isn't needed.
I doubt they've given up on a KSC landing... Remember they have waveoff days in there just for this purpose.
Not to go too far OT, but the LiOH situation for STS-127 is also driving a shorter on-orbit time somewhat. The more they save on Atlantis, the greater the benefit for ISS ops.
Can you explain why this flight will effect STS-127 LiOH? Sounds interesting.
Danny Deger
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#18
by
robertross
on 21 May, 2009 17:20
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We'll obviously have to wait for the call, but I take it from that, they will simply choose EDW for the first opportunity. Let's ALL hope NOR isn't needed.
I doubt they've given up on a KSC landing... Remember they have waveoff days in there just for this purpose.
Not to go too far OT, but the LiOH situation for STS-127 is also driving a shorter on-orbit time somewhat. The more they save on Atlantis, the greater the benefit for ISS ops.
Can you explain why this flight will effect STS-127 LiOH? Sounds interesting.
Danny Deger
Per L2:
http://forum.nasaspaceflight.com/index.php?topic=17091.msg407607#msg407607
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#19
by
DeanG1967
on 21 May, 2009 22:50
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