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STS-125 Atlantis Viewing (Landing and Photos) Thread
by
Andy USA
on 21 May, 2009 22:33
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Seen as the previous has become convoluted, this is the new thread dedicated to landing.
Feel free to attach (don't embed), photos of her return.
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#1
by
ChrisC
on 22 May, 2009 02:10
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Here's the end of
the previous thread.
Resuming the question I had just started in that thread:
What is everyone's experience with cross-track visibility? That is, how close do I have to be to the ground track line (perpendicular distance) to have a chance of seeing it fly by? I tried to spot it from 100 miles away once but had no success.
I'm sure atmospheric conditions play a role, but what about altitude? Does 40,000 feet vs 200,000 feet make any difference in visibility if you are way off to the side?
I watched STS 109's nighttime reentry from 250 miles north of the track and taped 107's dawn reentry beginning when it was nearly 300 miles NW of me to 200 miles east. Closest approach was about 80 miles north. Here is that video... http://www.chrisvalentines.com/sts107/reentrypage.html
Right, OK, let me refine the question then ... in
daytime, when any glow from reentry would be washed out by ambient light
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#2
by
vipermaster
on 22 May, 2009 02:35
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Hi,
Does anybody has at what time he passes the orlando region and would it be visible ?
Not mentioning the weather and clouds , but when the view isn't obstructed.
Best regards,
Mike
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#3
by
rdale
on 22 May, 2009 02:39
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Just a matter of minutes at the most prior to whatever time it's going to land.
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#4
by
ChrisC
on 22 May, 2009 04:18
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You might want to check out the landing day threads of earlier missions (e.g. STS-119) to see what the timing was. But generally it'll be something like 5 minutes.
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#5
by
contra
on 22 May, 2009 22:03
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#6
by
astrobrian
on 23 May, 2009 19:19
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Nice job on the panos
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#7
by
spork3000
on 24 May, 2009 06:43
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If the landing is at Edwards today, anyone know where the best place to observe would be? Looks like the base and the lakebed viewing are closed, so I'm guessing its either off Hwy 58 or on the driveway to the north end of the base?
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#8
by
x24val2
on 24 May, 2009 07:01
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I'm trying to get reentry sighting data (elevations/range/azimuths) from...
http://spaceflight.nasa.gov/realdata/sightings/...I'm only getting the now meaningless particulars for entry attempts at KSC landings orbits 165,166,180 and 181 and Edwards 166,167, 181 and 182.
Anyone with past experience using this NASA applet? Should I expect numbers for orbits 196 and 197 in the next few hours?
Is there another source for this data?
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#9
by
x24val2
on 24 May, 2009 09:47
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Well, no reentry path data yet on 196 or 197 ...maybe it'll come soon, but I can extrapolate from the in orbit numbers well enough.
Weather is great here in AZ for me to capture the reentry, but seems it'll take a miracle for the weather at KSC to cooperate for a reentry over N. Mexico. It's a bummer because I have/had some good locales scoped out for some possible cool footage using two cameras.
1. To shoot from just north of the Pinal Airpark (Google it) and while shooting HD tracking close-ups of Atlantis, have the second camera, locked down with a wide angle lens and capture the pass with all the old aircraft (747s, L1011s and what not) in the shot. Might make for a nice effect. Even if a KSC landing happens, dunno if I can get the right angle as the site is highly restrictive. Why? I don't know!
2. Wanted to shoot from atop Kitt Peak
http://www.noao.edu/kpno/kpcam/legend.html ... and have all the telescopes in the wide shot as Atlantis passes to the south. Unfortunately they don't "open" the mountain until mid-morning. But, I can still shoot from the base and maybe I could bring the telescopes into "the program".
I wish they could make a call for Edwards or KSC early, but I know that won't happen in time for me to "wave off" my efforts. I'll have to hit the road at 5am local if I have any chance to be in position as option 1 is 80 miles from me...Kitt Peak is even farther. Then again, I'm staring at the Melbourne radar ...if things/weather continues to look hopeless, maybe I'll just assume it is going to be Edwards even before NASA calls it.
Hoping for a minor miracle, so I can videotape the shuttle one more time.
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#10
by
x24val2
on 24 May, 2009 10:59
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Is anybody getting the numbers for reentry paths 196 and 197?
At...
http://spaceflight.nasa.gov/realdata/sightings/ ...maybe somehow the problem is on my end.
To repeat, I'm only getting the meaningless elevations/azimuths and more for days gone by entry attempts for KSC landings orbits 165,166,180 and 181 and Edwards 166,167, 181 and 182.
We're only a few hours from Atlantis coming home, seems awfully weak if someone just blew off plugging in the particulars for today's reentry paths.
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#11
by
spork3000
on 24 May, 2009 15:02
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Once again, any tips for viewing at Edwards if the public areas are closed?
Beautiful day here, by the way. Light breeze, not a cloud to be seen...
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#12
by
craigcocca
on 24 May, 2009 21:46
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Do we have anyone on here who is affiliated with or knows media in Hawaii? I'm wondering if anyone was up at 5:30am HST to get some footage of the plasma trail as Atlantis passed high to the northwest of the Hawaiian Islands.
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#13
by
Bubbinski
on 25 May, 2009 02:49
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That would be interesting to see.
Now since the shuttle landed at Edwards she'll need to be flown back to KSC on the 747. This will give at least a few lucky souls an added viewing opportunity when the ferry flight starts.
I'd be very interested to know where the SCA will be going when the time comes, as if she flies to Salt Lake City Int'l or to Hill AFB.....I'll get a 2nd opportunity to see Atlantis this month! (Of course the first time I saw her this month was the most spectacular).
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#14
by
robertross
on 25 May, 2009 20:18
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That would be interesting to see.
Now since the shuttle landed at Edwards she'll need to be flown back to KSC on the 747. This will give at least a few lucky souls an added viewing opportunity when the ferry flight starts.
I'd be very interested to know where the SCA will be going when the time comes, as if she flies to Salt Lake City Int'l or to Hill AFB.....I'll get a 2nd opportunity to see Atlantis this month! (Of course the first time I saw her this month was the most spectacular).
It's too bad she will be needed again (despite the original plan). This would have been an opportunity for NASA to build on this success (Hubble) and do a short exhibition flight to certain states before landing at KSC. Great PR, very few potential opportunities left.
Don't get me wrong, I want to see her fly again
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#15
by
iamlucky13
on 26 May, 2009 06:13
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I bet you guys didn't know about the secret crewmember on this flight...
(I hope no one minds a little humor)
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#16
by
Ronsmytheiii
on 26 May, 2009 11:32
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#17
by
Chris Bergin
on 26 May, 2009 11:38
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I bet you guys didn't know about the secret crewmember on this flight...
(I hope no one minds a little humor)
He'd be a fun interview
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#18
by
Orbital Debris
on 26 May, 2009 14:40
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I was able to get out there and see the final approach. Base security turned us around when we were headed for the viewing area, but we were able to get a pretty good view from intersection of Rocket site road and Twenty mule team road. We had a good tail-on view of the final approach.
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#19
by
iamlucky13
on 28 May, 2009 03:29
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Orbital Debris - How close would you estimate you were?
I bet you guys didn't know about the secret crewmember on this flight...
(I hope no one minds a little humor)
He'd be a fun interview
I can set one up if you'd like.
They sell those little teddy bears wearing ACES (Crew Bear is stitched on the back) at the KSC gift shop. I got that for a special someone when I was there to miss seeing STS-119.
I have to say, that place is sinister. I'm normally almost completely immune to gift shops. Even at aircraft museums, I generally just glance around briefly. Others don't get even that much. At KSC, however, I felt like I needed one of everything and two of the good stuff. After looking at the other people in the checkout line, I felt fortunate to be escaping with slightly less than half a day's pay worth of nearly useless stuff.
