Shuttle

[Let'sgoflying!]

"Atlantis could stay out until Monday, but NASA wants a Sunday landing"
http://www.cnn.com/2009/TECH/space/05/24/space.shuttle.return/index.html

They make it sound like it has to come down soon....what is the limiting factor? Human needs, like O2? Surely the orbit will not decay for a long time.

Metars look good in the desert for the attempt 2hrs from now, but I guess that means a 747 ride $.

 

[silver-eagle]

What was reported on the news was power and food. They usually have supplies for 3 to 5 days beyond the mission. The news also indicated that an Edwards landing would cost about $2 mill in transport costs to get the shuttle back to Fla.
Unless that's direct costs (the 747 only), $2 mill seems insignificant considering the overall cost of the mission. (Of course, if they gave ME $2 mill, it wouldn't be insignificant to me and MY mission.)
Update: By the way, looks like NASA has decided Edwards is the place to go.

 

[fgcason]

Deorbit burn is complete. Landing at Edwards around 11:39am

Live coverage:
http://www.spaceflightnow.com/shuttle/sts125/status.html

 

[TangoWhiskey]

They track every data point.

Here are the landing times in Eastern Daylight Time and Mission Elapsed Time:

Main Gear Touchdown
11:39:05 a.m. EDT
MET: 12 days, 21 hours, 37 minutes, 9 seconds

Nose Gear Touchdown
11:39:15 a.m. EDT
MET: 12 days, 21 hours, 37 minutes, 19 seconds

Wheels Stop
11:40:15 a.m. EDT
MET: 12 days, 21 hours, 38 minutes, 19 seconds

 

[tonycondon]

wow, it rolls for a minute and 10 seconds!

 

[TangoWhiskey]

Here are more great pictures from that mission:

http://www.komonews.com/news/photos/45855337.html

 

[nddons]

Look at the two timers in the lower left hand corner of this picture. Do you think they got those from Sportys?

 

[ScottM]

Look at the two timers in the lower left hand corner of this picture. Do you think they got those from Sportys?

Those are NOT timers!!!

They are dual independent, human interfacable, programmable aerospace visual time measurement devices with aural warning capability!!

WAY more expensive than anything you can get at Sporty's

 

[tonycondon]

they need two of them because occasionally the power supply units in them die.

 

[JeffDG]

Deorbit burn is complete. Landing at Edwards around 11:39am

Live coverage:
http://www.spaceflightnow.com/shuttle/sts125/status.html

The impressive part was they were quoting a landing at Edwards at 11:40 or at KSC at 11:48...8 minutes difference for landings at opposite ends of North America!

 

[fgcason]

The impressive part was they were quoting a landing at Edwards at 11:40 or at KSC at 11:48...8 minutes difference for landings at opposite ends of North America!

What else could you expect from a vehicle that turns final at 10,000 MSL?

 

[mikea]

Look at the two timers in the lower left hand corner of this picture. Do you think they got those from Sportys?

Those are NOT timers!!!

They are dual independent, human interfacable, programmable aerospace visual time measurement devices with aural warning capability!!

WAY more expensive than anything you can get at Sporty's

Besides we get West Bend timers at Target for $7.99.

They get West Bend timers from Rockwell for $25,000 each.

 

[ScottM]

Besides we get West Bend timers at Target for $7.99.

They get West Bend dual independent, human interfacable, programmable aerospace visual time measurement devices with aural warning capability from Rockwell for $25,000 each.

Fixed that for ya!!

 

[SteveinIndy]

What else could you expect from a vehicle that turns final at 10,000 MSL?

Better in-flight beverage service?

 

[fgcason]

Better in-flight beverage service?

Better in-flight service?
They were up there for 13 days and didn't even get a place to sleep. They get hung on the wall like a picture. Then they're told to go outside and fix stuff.

 

[Doggtyred]

For those who are nosy, and never read John Deakins now archived article on the Rockwell STS on Avweb..

Here is the MLS 33 Approach to KSC Shuttle Landing Runway