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#40
by
jacqmans
on 31 May, 2009 08:24
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Dryden News
Space Shuttle Atlantis Ferry Flight To Begin Early Monday
Post-mission servicing of the Space Shuttle Atlantis and preparations for its ferry flight are nearing completion at NASA's Dryden Flight Research Center, and shuttle managers expect preparations to be complete by Sunday evening. If that schedule can be maintained, the ferry flight itself would depart Edwards Air Force Base in Southern California shortly before sunrise Monday morning, June 1.
Edwards, a restricted access military base, will not be open to the public for viewing of the shuttle's ferry flight departure. However, there are several off-base locations where the 747-shuttle combo may be visible after takeoff.
During a Flight Readiness Review Saturday afternoon at Dryden, ferry flight managers reviewed servicing and preparation work already completed, and found no constraints to a Monday morning departure from Edwards. The cross-country flight of Atlantis mounted atop one of NASA's two modified Boeing 747 Shuttle Carrier Aircraft will be at fairly low altitudes – about 10,000 to 16,000 feet – and will involve several intermediate stops for fuel and at least one overnight stop en route.
An unexpected thunderstorm with high winds slowed operations Friday afternoon, but work resumed Friday evening. Installation of the aerodynamic tail cone over Atlantis rocket engine nozzles was completed at mid-day Saturday, and raising of the landing gear and other closeout work was under way late Saturday. The lift onto the modified Boeing 747 Shuttle Carrier Aircraft was scheduled to begin late Saturday or overnight Sunday.
Atlantis' cross-country ferry flight will be accompanied by a NASA C-9 pathfinder aircraft, which will fly about 100 miles ahead of the piggyback combo to assist the flight crew in avoiding any precipitation that could damage the shuttle's thermal protection blankets.
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#41
by
jacqmans
on 31 May, 2009 08:25
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NASA's Boeing 747 Shuttle Carrier Aircraft sit parked side by side on Dryden Flight Research Center's main ramp. The aircraft in the foreground, NASA 911, will ferry Space Shuttle Atlantis back to the Kennedy Space Center. (NASA Photo / Tony Landis)
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#42
by
Captain Scarlet
on 31 May, 2009 08:35
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NASA's Boeing 747 Shuttle Carrier Aircraft sit parked side by side on Dryden Flight Research Center's main ramp. The aircraft in the foreground, NASA 911, will ferry Space Shuttle Atlantis back to the Kennedy Space Center. (NASA Photo / Tony Landis)
Why do they need two? And I thought one had been converted for the SOFIA telescope (or something like that)?
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#43
by
Captain Scarlet
on 31 May, 2009 08:35
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#44
by
DaveS
on 31 May, 2009 08:49
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NASA's Boeing 747 Shuttle Carrier Aircraft sit parked side by side on Dryden Flight Research Center's main ramp. The aircraft in the foreground, NASA 911, will ferry Space Shuttle Atlantis back to the Kennedy Space Center. (NASA Photo / Tony Landis)
Why do they need two? And I thought one had been converted for the SOFIA telescope (or something like that)?
SOFIA is an entirely different aircraft, a modified 747SP which has a shorter fuselage than the regular 747.
And the reason for having two is so that if one suffers an accident, they simply can switch it out for the second one.
Getting a second SCA was a recommendation made by the Rogers Commission that investigated the Challenger accident.
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#45
by
shuttlefanatic
on 31 May, 2009 09:20
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With a bit of planning and luck, I managed to overfly the DFRC Saturday morning and managed to get some shots of the tailcone installation work. Know anyone down there?
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#46
by
ede545
on 31 May, 2009 12:07
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Nice pictures! Thanks for posting them, shuttlefanatic!
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#47
by
chksix
on 31 May, 2009 14:33
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#48
by
Chris Bergin
on 31 May, 2009 15:18
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She'll of been working with our very own Bob too!
Awesome photos shuttlefanatic!
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#49
by
collectSPACE
on 31 May, 2009 18:26
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According to NASA's website: "The mate of Atlantis to the Shuttle Carrier Aircraft was completed at 7:55 a.m. EDT (4:55 a.m. PDT)."
http://www.nasa.gov/shuttle
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#50
by
shuttlefanatic
on 31 May, 2009 21:42
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Update from the NASA Shuttle page:
"The STS-125 ferry flight departure from Edwards AFB, Calif. is currently planned for 8:20 a.m. EDT (5:20 a.m. PDT) Monday, June 1. Sunday's weather briefing has concluded and the forecast looks favorable for the departure just before sunrise Monday. There will be a weather briefing at 6:15 p.m. EDT (3:15 a.m. PDT) Monday."
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#51
by
Karen
on 31 May, 2009 22:25
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Is there any way of finding out the flight path over the Mojave Desert? I teach at a high school that I am told by another teacher has at least once been right under the flight path. However, the couple of times I have had the opportunity to look, they have gone way north and I have seen nothing.
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#52
by
rdale
on 01 Jun, 2009 00:00
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As soon as it's known, it'll be posted here. Happening on a weekend however hurts the chances of getting it too far in advance.
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#53
by
Ronsmytheiii
on 01 Jun, 2009 00:21
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NASA's Boeing 747 Shuttle Carrier Aircraft sit parked side by side on Dryden Flight Research Center's main ramp. The aircraft in the foreground, NASA 911, will ferry Space Shuttle Atlantis back to the Kennedy Space Center. (NASA Photo / Tony Landis)
Why do they need two? And I thought one had been converted for the SOFIA telescope (or something like that)?
SOFIA is an entirely different aircraft, a modified 747SP which has a shorter fuselage than the regular 747.
And the reason for having two is so that if one suffers an accident, they simply can switch it out for the second one.
Getting a second SCA was a recommendation made by the Rogers Commission that investigated the Challenger accident.
Not to mention that having two frees up the other for extended maintenance (like N905 right now) or transporting two orbiters as has been done in the past.
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#54
by
lsullivan411
on 01 Jun, 2009 02:22
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Is there any way of finding out the flight path over the Mojave Desert? I teach at a high school that I am told by another teacher has at least once been right under the flight path. However, the couple of times I have had the opportunity to look, they have gone way north and I have seen nothing.
One way you can track the flight is with this site:
http://flightaware.com/live/flight/NASA911 During STS-126's ferry, they flew right over my town and the tracking was very good - I missed it by a few minutes though, as I waited too long, go out about 10-15 minutes early to be sure to catch the flyover. Good luck on being in the flight path!
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#55
by
Eric C99
on 01 Jun, 2009 05:07
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Hi guys, do you think Atlantis and the SHUTTLE CARRIER Aircraft will land in Texas for fuel or an overnight stay? I'm in Dallas and I'd love to see and photograph Atlantis? thanks a bunch
-Eric C
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#56
by
ede545
on 01 Jun, 2009 05:48
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From
Dryden's Twitter (about one hour ago):
Shuttle Atlantis ferry flight from Dryden to Kennedy could be delayed until 8:20 am PDT
crews are working technical issue, more details as they are known.
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#57
by
SpaceNutz SA
on 01 Jun, 2009 07:44
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Hi guys, do you think Atlantis and the SHUTTLE CARRIER Aircraft will land in Texas for fuel or an overnight stay? I'm in Dallas and I'd love to see and photograph Atlantis? thanks a bunch
-Eric C
Your best bet is to keep an eye on flightaware. Even better keep your eye on this thread - NSF.com often has the inside track on things
As soon as anything is known - it will be posted here. Flightaware normally shows the destination shortly before or after takeoff although the pathfinder (which keeps about 100miles ahead) gives the destination away long before. Keep Flightaware pointed to KEDW and you'll see the pathfinder file a flightplan - then you'll know!
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#58
by
aurora899
on 01 Jun, 2009 10:18
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From NASA Shuttle Home Page:
Teams preparing space shuttle Atlantis for its cross-country trip from California to Florida are running behind their original schedule because of some minor hardware problems. But they're still aiming to depart Edwards Air Force Base this morning. Managers now will meet for a pretake-off weather briefing at 9 a.m. EDT (6 a.m. PDT) for a target departure time of 11 a.m. EDT (8 a.m.) from Edwards. Technicians encountered some difficulties while trying to tighten a bolt on the right attach point for connecting Atlantis to its modified Boeing 747 aircraft. The bolt now is securely in place, and Atlantis almost is ready to begin its ferry flight back to NASA's Kennedy Space Center. Weather permitting, Atlantis could be back at its Florida home Tuesday night, where space shuttle Endeavour is being prepared for its upcoming STS-127 mission to the International Space Station.
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#59
by
ede545
on 01 Jun, 2009 10:30
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Thanks for the update, aurora899!
