Space Shuttle Discovery Landing Live Thread (06/14/08 11:02 AM EDT)

06/13/08 | Kevin Davis

[KevinDavis]

It was a good mission and I'm glad to see the ISS is taking shape. As for the object, not a big deal. My advice for everyone here, before going crazy over something minor or if something goes wrong, listen to NASA, not the media.

[KevinDavis]

[RightWhale]

listen to NASA, not the media

Which is the entertainment culture industry? Guess it isn't NASA.

[KevinDavis]

One thing I have learned is the media tends to overreact...

[Ladysmith]

mark

[RightWhale]

The media also tends to miss the point. They use the five w’s and the h to excess, especially the why, which should not be used at all. Damn Kipling.

[cripplecreek]

For the panic stricken.br>

[higgmeister]

bump

[colorado tanker]

Yep, I’d like to be on the list.

[Textide]

Got to see the shuttle trailing the ISS when I got home from work the other day. Two beautiful silent dots, illuminated by a freshly set sun, passed directly overhead against a darkening but starless deep blue sky.

Aside from a launch or the reentry, one of the cooler space things I've ever seen. Here's hoping for an uneventful entry tomorrow (Metal strap or no).

[RightWhale]

spaceflightnow.com

The shuttle Discovery is in good shape and ready for landing Saturday at the Kennedy Space Center to close out a successful space station assembly mission, entry Flight Director Richard Jones said today. The Spaceflight Meteorology Group at the Johnson Space Center in Houston is predicting near ideal conditions for the first of two landing opportunities Saturday.

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Not true the Shuttle is leaving a trail of trim parts and other debris like an old Dodge truck

[KevinDavis]

I think a sheppard’s prayer is being spoken right now and I’m talking the Alan Sheppard one..

[ETL]

From NASA.gov:

Discovery Cleared, Landing Set for Saturday

"After completing a standard day-before-landing test of the shuttle steering jets, the crew members indicated they had seen an object floating away from the shuttle from behind the rear portion of the right wing. Shortly afterwards, the crew members described what they called a 'bump' on the left side trailing edge of Discovery's rudder.

Experts on the ground examined images and video of the object and the 'bump' and determined that there were no concerns for entry and landing. Therefore, the Mission Management Team cleared the shuttle for entry."

http://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/shuttle/main/index.html

[colorado tanker]

Yeah, that’s what I saw reported on MSN this morning.

[RightWhale]

spaceflightnow.com

the shuttle will cross Central America and the Yucatan Peninsula, skirt the west coast of Cuba and cross the Florida coast south of Fort Myers. Approaching the Florida spaceport from the southwest, Kelly will guide Discovery through a sweeping left overhead turn to line up on runway 15 at the Kennedy Space Center. Touchdown is expected at 11:15 p.m.

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That would be 7:15 Alaska time, and the events should begin about an hour ahead of that.

[ETL]

Here are the ground tracks for the landing.
http://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/shuttle/shuttlemissions/sts124/news/landing.html

[AmusedBystander]

As for the object, not a big deal.

I always get a chuckle when something falls off and they say it doesn't matter. If it didn't matter why is there in the first place? An $8,000 clip that doesn't do anything.

[airforceF4]

I'd like to be on your list. Thank you. My dad knew several of the Mercury 7 since they were the best pilots and trained at Edwards AFB, where he also worked. Some of the fellas trained @ WPAFB, AFIT. Gus Grissom was a friend of the family.

[GRRRRR]

I think it lands on SAT AM...

From the NASA website:

Discovery is scheduled to land at Kennedy Space Center, Fla., at 11:15 a.m. EDT Saturday.

[Marak]

Please add me to the ping list.

[Calvin Locke]

If it didn't matter why is there in the first place? An $8,000 clip that doesn't do anything.

Congressional mandate, probably.

Old comment from when Mondale and Proxmire were screwing things up in the Senate: "NASA's big mistake is that they didn't figure a way to power rockets with milk and cheese".

[Textide]

Looks like they're already awake. Timeline from Spaceflightnow.com

EDT...........EVENT

Rev. 212 Deorbit to Kennedy Space Center

02:32 AM......Crew wakeup
05:12 AM......Group B computer powerup
05:27 AM......Inertial measurement unit alignment
06:10 AM......Begin deorbit timeline
06:25 AM......Radiator stow
06:35 AM......Mission specialists seat installation
06:41 AM......Computers set for deorbit prep
06:45 AM......Hydraulic system configuration
07:10 AM......Flash evaporator cooling system checkout
07:16 AM......Final payload deactivation
07:30 AM......Payload bay doors closed
07:40 AM......Mission control 'go' for OPS-3 entry software load
07:50 AM......OPS-3 transition
08:15 AM......Entry switch list verification
08:25 AM......Deorbit maneuver update
08:30 AM......Crew entry review
08:45 AM......Commander/pilot don entry suits
09:02 AM......IMU alignment
09:10 AM......CDR/PLT strap in; mission specialists suit don
09:27 AM......Shuttle steering check
09:30 AM......Hydraulic system prestart
09:37 AM......Toilet deactivation
09:45 AM......Vent doors closed for entry
09:50 AM......Mission control 'go' for deorbit burn
09:56 AM......MS seat ingress
10:05 AM......Single hydraulic power unit start

10:10:17 AM...Deorbit ignition
10:12:53 AM...Deorbit burn complete

10:43:37 AM...Entry interface
10:48:36 AM...1st roll command to left
10:50:21 AM...Start peak heating (approx)
11:00:21 AM...End peak heating (approx)
11:02:00 AM...C-band radar acquisition
10:58:33 AM...1st left to right roll reversal
11:08:46 AM...Velocity less than mach 2.5
11:11:00 AM...Velocity less than mach 1
11:11:50 AM...Shuttle banks to line up on runway 15
11:15:18 AM...Landing

Rev. 218 Deorbit to KSC
11:26 AM......Mission control 'go' for deorbit burn
11:32 AM......Mission specialists seat ingress
11:41 AM......Single hydraulic power unit start

11:46:32 AM...Deorbit ignition
11:49:09 AM...Deorbit burn complete

12:19:03 PM...Entry interface
12:23:59 PM...1st roll command to right
12:25:47 PM...Start peak heating
12:35:47 PM...End of peak heating
12:37:02 PM...1st right-to-left roll reversal
12:44:13 PM...Velocity less than mach 2.5
12:46:27 PM...Velocity less than mach 1
12:46:57 PM...Shuttle banks to line up on runway 15
12:50:44 PM...Landing

[Lokibob]

My choice for watching is NASA TV using WMP.  Yahoo web site here.

 

It is about 30 seconds slower than FOX news, but you do not get the talking empty heads.

 

Google "nasa tv" for the real player site.

 

BTW, as you get within 1 hour of the landing, it becomes difficult to get NASA TV on line.  Just a hint.  I guess a lot of people watch it on line.

 

......Bob

 

 

[FL_Native]

Good Morning from KSC,

The weather is absolutely beautiful here this morning, not a cloud in the sky. Looks like it’s a great day for a landing.

[FL_Native]

I believe they mean that part is not required for a safe landing. It may have been needed at launch or on orbit.

[FL_Native]

Oops, spoke too soon, it was clear @ 7:30 when I came in, now it’s clouding up some. Typical Florida weather, as the sea breeze builds clouds form on the coast and move inland. Still looks OK for the landing IMHO.

[Lokibob]

NASA just said “commence fluid loading to prevent vestibular effects during landing”.

Pompous ass.

I would have said “Drink something so you do not dehydrate”.

Southwest air would have said “coffee, tea or soda pop?”

....Bob

[AntiKev]

The bird is on her final revolution of the mission. Discovery was just given GO for de-orbit burn.

[AntiKev]

FYI, it’s not for dehydration completely. It’s partially for the vestibular system, mainly for the pilot and co-pilot. You don’t want a dizzy or disoriented pilot flying the shuttle.

[Lokibob]

He just mentioned STS-3 at WSMR. I was there, and watched it. Now THAT was cool.

I also saw the launch of Sen. Jake Garn. In shots of launches, I was standing by the countdown clock on the NASA causeway.

BTW, the shuttle made a complete orbit of the earth, before I could get back to my motel room 15 miles away.

.....Bob

[AntiKev]

Kinda gives you a real sense of how fast they’re going eh?

STS-3 was the only landing at Northrup field (White Sands Missile Range) I believe. It’s always the tertiary backup.

[RightWhale]

spaceflightnow.com

1415 GMT (10:15 a.m. EDT)

Sixty minutes to touchdown. Discovery is now maneuvering to the orientation for entry.

1412 GMT (10:12 a.m. EDT)

DEORBIT BURN COMPLETE. Discovery has successfully completed the deorbit burn for the trip back home. Landing is scheduled for 11:15 a.m. EDT at the Cape to conclude this 14-day space station assembly mission.

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Ready or not

[RightWhale]

spaceflightnow.com

1419 GMT (10:19 a.m. EDT)

Excess propellant reserves in the maneuvering thrusters on the shuttle’s nose will be dumped overboard. The dump time will be 37 seconds.

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Must be important or maybe nothing of interest is scheduled for this particular moment

[fatima]

Thanks Lokibob,I just clicked you link and have it up.Prayers for All.

[FL_Native]

I was standing next to Launch Control Center watching the last launch of Challenger. It was the first launch off Pad B after we had done the modifications to adapt it for the Shuttle. An experience I will never forget even though I have seen almost every launch and every landing, here at KSC, of the Shuttle.

[RightWhale]

www.spaceflightnow.com
1421 GMT (10:21 a.m. EDT)

While Discovery passes off the southwest coast of Australia, the convoy of landing support vehicles at Kennedy Space Center are en route to runway staging point for receiving Discovery.

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Things are happening fast now

[Lokibob]

I heard earlier that they do not have any backup landing sites active today, meaning that if it is not Florida today, the landing would be put off till tomorrow.

The salt flats at WSMR was not really a good alternative for the shuttle. If I recall correctly,they had to replace almost all of the heat shields due to erosion on landing.

John Young, the pilot, gave a talk to the elementary school at WASM about a week later. The principal had him autograph a sheet of memopaper (remember memo paper?, smelled like alcohol), and the principal ran off copies for all the kids. My youngest son still has it in a frame.

.....Bob

[Lokibob]

WASM = WSMR

Memo to self... do a real preview before posting.

....Bob

[fatima]

It’s getting close.

[FL_Native]

If they have done the deorbit burn, I believe they have, then they're coming down here. There is no turning back now.

[FL_Native]

Hey, if you see a guy standing around outside with a white shirt and a green ball cap it’s me, it would be in the long distance shots, I’m just east of the runway.

[RightWhale]

www.spaceflightnow.com
1431 GMT (10:31 a.m. EDT)

All three Auxiliary Power Units are up and running now.

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[fatima]

Hi FL_Native,I'll look for you.It will be on Fox I think.Gosh your there,how exciting:)

[RightWhale]

spaceflightnow.com
1435 GMT (10:35 a.m. EDT)

Now 40 minutes to touchdown. Onboard guidance has maneuvered Discovery from its heads-down, tail-forward position needed for the deorbit burn to the reentry configuration of heads-up and nose-forward. The nose will be pitched upward 40 degrees. In this new position, the black tiles on the shuttle’s belly and the reinforced carbon-carbon panels on the wing leading edges and nose cap will shield the spacecraft during the fiery plunge through the Earth’s atmosphere with temperatures reaching well over 2,000 degrees F. Discovery will begin interacting with the upper fringes of the atmosphere above the South Pacific at 10:43 a.m. EDT.

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[Lokibob]

You bet!!! They are coming your way, DUCKKKKK!!! LOL

Think about it, they put the wheels down a few seconds before touchdown. There is no coming around for a new try if the wheels do not come down. What a faith in technology.

If it were me, I would look at the shuttle and say “all of this was built by the lowest bidder”. ( do not correct me, I understand government contracting, I just think it is a funny line).

5.2 million miles this mission, think of the travel pay those guys get. LOL

....Bob

[Lokibob]

OK, time to start watching seriously and quit posting.

Back after wheels dry...

...Bob

[FL_Native]

I’ve worked at KSC for 25 years now and still get as excited as a school girl for all the launches and landings.

[Ladysmith]

http://video.csupomona.edu/LiveTwo-245.asx Live stream.

[SE Mom]

Starting to get butterflies now...

Waiting for the sonic booms!

[tiredoflaundry]

I know what you mean! I started praying about an hour ago!