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NASA Tracks Mystery Object Near Atlantis Shuttle
Space,com ^ | September 19, 2006

Posted on 09/19/2006 8:53:59 AM PDT by Kaslin

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – NASA mission controllers are tracking a mystery object hovering between the space shuttle Atlantis and Earth, and traveling at roughly the same speed as the orbiter, agency officials said Tuesday.

“Right now they’re just tying to figure out exactly what it is, how far away it is,” NASA spokesperson Kimberly Harle told SPACE.com. “It’s pretty much assessing the whole situation.”

arle said that at 2:45 a.m. EDT (0645 GMT), just after Atlantis completed a check of its reaction control thrusters, the instrumentation and communications officer at NASA’s shuttle Mission Control room at Johnson Space Center noted an object between the orbiter and Earth, and traveling at about the same speed of the spacecraft.

Flight controllers are now using video cameras mounted along Atlantis’ robotic arm and payload bay to survey visible areas of the orbiter, including its wing leading edges and other vital heat shield areas, Harle said.

“Everything is still under assessment,” Harle said.

For now, Atlantis’ STS-115 shuttle crew will not stow their Ku-band antenna – the primary video and data link to Earth – to allow flight controllers to continue to study the object.

NASA is broadcasting Atlantis’ STS-115 mission to the ISS live via NASA TV. You are invited to follow the shuttle's progress using SPACE.com's NASA TV feed, which is available by clicking here or using the button at the left.


TOPICS: News/Current Events; US: Florida; US: Texas
KEYWORDS: artbell
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To: esarlls3; Rb ver. 2.0
Does anyone have the website address that lists when the space station will be passing overhead of various US cities?

I happen to like this one:

http://www.heavens-above.com/

261 posted on 09/19/2006 3:05:45 PM PDT by My2Cents (A pirate's life for me.)
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To: Scarchin
It's Kucinich's house!

It's Kucinich's BASE.

262 posted on 09/19/2006 3:07:55 PM PDT by My2Cents (A pirate's life for me.)
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To: colorado tanker
Was just reading about him. Born in 1931 in Paris, his father was a Brit Army Officer and his mother was French. He grew up in London but speaks fluent French and is a very versatile character actor. His real name is Alfred de Turris.

He was great in "Day of the Jackal" as the eccentric police investigator.

Regards
263 posted on 09/19/2006 3:08:57 PM PDT by headstamp (Nothing lasts forever, Unless it does.)
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To: Las Vegas Dave

Is that view from earth or from the shuttle? A most curious image in any case.


264 posted on 09/19/2006 3:09:18 PM PDT by TigersEye (Visualize dead terrorists! (don't let the libs tell you it's against the Geneva Convention))
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To: Las Vegas Dave

book


265 posted on 09/19/2006 3:17:17 PM PDT by UCANSEE2 (It's turtles all the way down.)
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To: Las Vegas Dave
I think it looks like Ted Kennedy's cervical collar...
266 posted on 09/19/2006 3:19:28 PM PDT by Solamente (Let all the poisons that lurk in the mud hatch out...)
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To: TigersEye
Is that view from earth or from the shuttle?

From the link:
In these yet-to-be-publicly-released photographs taken by the STS-115 crew and obtained from a source by collectSPACE.com, a piece of debris is seen near the orbiter Atlantis. Credit: NASA, collectSpace.com

267 posted on 09/19/2006 3:22:02 PM PDT by Las Vegas Dave ("Liberals out of power are comical-Liberals in power are dangerous!"-Rush Limbaugh.)
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To: Las Vegas Dave

Thank you. It will be interesting to hear what they think it is. Perhaps they'll even positively identify it.


268 posted on 09/19/2006 3:28:19 PM PDT by TigersEye (Visualize dead terrorists! (don't let the libs tell you it's against the Geneva Convention))
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To: TigersEye

Sorry but I'm lost. What is the image we're talking about here? I've seen the video of the black object moving against a backdrop of Earth. Is there another image of another object available?


269 posted on 09/19/2006 3:47:43 PM PDT by ableLight
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To: TigersEye

Looks like some type of cover sleeve or cap.


270 posted on 09/19/2006 3:49:40 PM PDT by justa-hairyape
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To: dfwgator

Are you talking about the "Illudium PeeU-138 Explosive Space Modulator"?

I think they up-manifested one of those on an earlier flight...DoD I think...


271 posted on 09/19/2006 4:04:41 PM PDT by stevie_d_64 (Houston Area Texans (I've always been hated))
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To: Corin Stormhands
Then you should know First Contact doesn't happen until 2063.

They are among us. Especially at Trek conventions. LOL

272 posted on 09/19/2006 4:31:26 PM PDT by Professional Engineer (As a matter of fact, I have been to a Star Trek convention.)
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To: ableLight
Here. This is the object as photographed from the shuttle in post #230.
273 posted on 09/19/2006 4:32:30 PM PDT by TigersEye (Visualize dead terrorists! (don't let the libs tell you it's against the Geneva Convention))
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To: Las Vegas Dave; All

Sensors were reading hydraulic system activations during thruster checks. Drudge is spazzing out.


274 posted on 09/19/2006 4:33:28 PM PDT by Frank_Discussion (May the wings of Liberty never lose a feather!)
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To: justa-hairyape

It does look like a sheet like object that is folded into an interesting position. It adds to its unusual appearance that it's nearly transparent. Or seems to be.


275 posted on 09/19/2006 4:37:27 PM PDT by TigersEye (Visualize dead terrorists! (don't let the libs tell you it's against the Geneva Convention))
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To: Kermit the Frog Does theWatusi

276 posted on 09/19/2006 4:44:26 PM PDT by HowlinglyMind-BendingAbsurdity
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To: TigersEye

Thanks. I saw it earlier but I thought it was another humor post. It looks like something in the water...
Just saw the press conference and they think everything is peachy now. They're going to examine the underside early morning tomorrow to look for any TPS damage but they don't think there will be any. They think the other object is a tile shim.


277 posted on 09/19/2006 4:54:46 PM PDT by ableLight
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To: Frank_Discussion

Yep. They said in the press conference that there are exactly 8 movements of the hydraulics that cause a popping sound that can be heard inside the orbiter; which corresponds to the 8 events the sensors detected.


278 posted on 09/19/2006 4:56:11 PM PDT by ableLight
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To: Las Vegas Dave

Thanks for the ping LVD! Saw about this on TV, interesting!


279 posted on 09/19/2006 5:04:15 PM PDT by potlatch (Does a clean house indicate that there is a broken computer in it?)
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To: Quix

Heard about this on the radio driving home from work.

Interesting!

jm


280 posted on 09/19/2006 5:12:57 PM PDT by JockoManning (http://www.etpv.org/whatsnew.html)
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