Posted on 06/29/2007 11:48:39 AM PDT by BenLurkin
EDWARDS AFB - Personnel at NASA Dryden Flight Research Center are working around the clock to prepare the space shuttle for its ferry flight back home to Florida, expected this weekend. Atlantis landed at the backup site at Edwards Air Force Base on June 22, after stormy weather at Kennedy Space Center in Florida prevented its landing there.
The orbiter will be mounted atop the 747 shuttle carrier aircraft for the cross-country journey.
If all goes well, Atlantis may leave as early as 6 p.m. today, NASA officials said. Otherwise, the next opportunity will be shortly after sunrise Saturday morning.
Weather is a concern for the ferry flight, "because the weather's bad from about Texas east," Dryden spokesman Alan Brown said on Thursday.
The shuttle and 747 must avoid any hint of clouds, rain or turbulence. At flight speeds, the impact of moisture or raindrops can damage the shuttle's fragile tiles.
A pathfinder airplane flies about 15 to 20 minutes ahead of the 747, checking the route for weather and turbulence conditions and routing the carrier aircraft around any problems.
It takes seven to 10 days following a landing to prepare the shuttle for the ferry flight. Residual toxic gases and fluids are purged from the orbiter's lines, valves are sealed and the orbiter is secured for the flight.
(Excerpt) Read more at avpress.com ...
"The Atlantis space shuttle can be seen Wednesday on the Mate-Demate Device at NASA Dryden Flight Research Center at Edwards. The shuttle is expected to be mated with its 747 carrier to take off for Florida as early as 6 p.m. today." RON SIDDLE/Valley Press
Road trip to Lancaster!!!
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