LIVE: STS-129 Flight Day 12 - EOM - RE-ENTRY and LANDING

• #220 by Chris Bergin on 27 Nov, 2009 16:03
• Mike L -
  
   Some small TPS damage (happens post launch). Still a very clean vehicle. The ship looks very, very clean.
  
  Mike M -
  
   Didn't see anything like the ground TPS damage on orbit.
  
   Finish the manifest and stop and reflect only after that.
  
   Gerst -
  
    I'm blessed to work with this team. I cherish each day I get to work with this team. I look at that and do my absolute best and not worry about the future.

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• #221 by Chris Bergin on 27 Nov, 2009 16:04
• Bobby Block asking about COTS.
  
  Gerst -
  
  Falcon 9 flying next year - not a COTS milestone. Will be interesting to see how that flight goes.
  
  Rumors of resigning soon? (That's news to me).
  
  Gerst -
  
   No truth to that at all.

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• #222 by Chris Bergin on 27 Nov, 2009 16:12
• Questions we all already know the answer to, such as PLM on ISS via 133.
  
  Question about what Nicole will do to recover.
  
  Gerst -
  
   So introduction back to 1 G, such as no running, no driving for a while. Fairly structured activity.
  
   Question on the DAM for ISS due to Delta debris.
  
   Gerst -
  
   Waiting for a tracking update. Will carry out the DAM tomorrow if needed. Either raise or lower. Waiting for good tracking data. Got to be careful as it would affect Soyuz landing and the other Soyuz launch. Those are the three things to take into consideration. DAM will be less than a km.
  
   Q) How likely is the DAM?
  
   Gerst -
   
   Based on what I heard yesterday, I don't know. Will be based on tracking data today. It's not a big thing. We're always ready, we're always tracking.
  
   CBS New York guy loves NASA! Asks about such a great year, great mission.
  
   Gerst -
  
   We've been in this business long enough that there can be something out there. We're always careful not to say too much as we're supersistous.
• #223 by Chris Bergin on 27 Nov, 2009 16:17
• Any more questions that won't jinx us - Allard
  
  James Dean on flyout of manifest.
  
  Mike M -
  
   Last flight on Sept 16, 2010. Spacing looks good, odds wise the odds are high we'd make that, but we'd like that wiggle room.
  
   STS-129 was a month late based on a year ago. But that was after a number of hurdles.
  
   My job is to take the pressure away of having to cancel a flight. The cutouts on the launch schedule are the biggest challenge.
  
   Fully expects they'll get the check to fund a manifest stretch.
• #224 by Chris Bergin on 27 Nov, 2009 16:21

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• #225 by Chris Bergin on 27 Nov, 2009 16:30

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• #226 by Chris Bergin on 27 Nov, 2009 16:31
• Someone laughed, Brian tells them to "watch them to rollout".

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• #227 by Chris Bergin on 27 Nov, 2009 16:32
• The low at the 180 and 90 was expected.

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• #228 by Chris Bergin on 27 Nov, 2009 16:33

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• #229 by ChrisC on 27 Nov, 2009 16:52
• Chris B said a couple hours ago:
  "Atlantis to be towed back to OPF-1 at 2pm local."
  
  Is this still accurate?  I'm at the KSC VC and trying to time a bus tour to possibly catch a glimpse of her rolling on the towway.  I heard (from an unreliable source) that processing was running well later than 2pm.
  
• #230 by John44 on 27 Nov, 2009 16:53
•  STS-129 - POST-LANDING NEWS CONFERENCE
  http://www.space-multimedia.nl.eu.org/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=5561
  
   STS-129 - ENTRY FLIGHT CONTROL TEAM VIDEO REPLAY
  http://www.space-multimedia.nl.eu.org/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=5562
• #231 by Chris Bergin on 27 Nov, 2009 16:58
• Quote from: ChrisC on 27 Nov, 2009 16:52

  Chris B said a couple hours ago:
  "Atlantis to be towed back to OPF-1 at 2pm local."
  
  Is this still accurate?  I'm at the KSC VC and trying to time a bus tour to possibly catch a glimpse of her rolling on the towway.  I heard (from an unreliable source) that processing was running well later than 2pm.
  
  

  
  That's what George Diller said. No idea if that has changed since. If you hear more please post
• #232 by stockman on 27 Nov, 2009 17:38
• back to live shots

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• #233 by Tourmaline on 27 Nov, 2009 17:41
• I didn't hear the sonic booms or much of the usual comms on the landing coverage.  Was it talked over?  The NASA TV commentator seems to have a rather individual way with words.  Is there any coverage where the booms, usual comms etc are more apparent?  Thanks 
• #234 by ETEE on 27 Nov, 2009 17:42
• Looks like we might see the tow live for once?
• #235 by Chris Bergin on 27 Nov, 2009 17:43
• This will be the entourage for Atlantis for her tow back to OPF-1.

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• #236 by stockman on 27 Nov, 2009 17:43

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• #237 by Chris Bergin on 27 Nov, 2009 17:44
• Quote from: Tourmaline on 27 Nov, 2009 17:41

  I didn't hear the sonic booms or much of the usual comms on the landing coverage.  Was it talked over?  The NASA TV commentator seems to have a rather individual way with words.  Is there any coverage where the booms, usual comms etc are more apparent?  Thanks 
  

  
  Yep, we heard them on the NTV feed. PAO didn't talk over them.
• #238 by stockman on 27 Nov, 2009 17:45
• Quote from: ETEE on 27 Nov, 2009 17:42

  Looks like we might see the tow live for once?
  

  
  I hope so... I love it when they do that... It puts closure to the mission watching her get towed all the way back to where she started this mission...
• #239 by ETEE on 27 Nov, 2009 17:56
• Hatch access stairs have backed away