Payload bay doors are closed

Space.com ^ | 18 Oct 2002 | Jim Banke

[Lokibob]

 

 

 

Payload bay doors are closed
Friday, Oct. 18, 2002 at 8:15 a.m. EDT

Landing is on schedule for this morning.

Shuttle Atlantis' payload bay doors were closed a few minutes ago and the crew is now reconfiguring the orbiter computer software to run the landing-related program.

The weather here is absolutely perfect, with sunny skies, light winds and cool temperatures that will make it a lot nicer to work out on the shuttle runway once Atlantis has touched down and rolled to a stop.

The shuttle is now scheduled to fire its twin braking rockets at 10:36 a.m. EDT and land at 11:44 a.m. EDT.

The landing will be on Runway 33, which means the shuttle will fly overhead, make a sweeping right-hand turn to line up with the concrete strip and fly an approach from the south to the north.

Local Space Coast residents will have an excellent chance to see Atlantis land, with the parking lot of the Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex being a particulary good spot to see the final approach.

Stay tuned to this page for confirmation of the de-orbit burn at 10:36 a.m. EDT.

-- Jim Banke, Senior Producer, Cape Canaveral Bureau

[Lokibob]

Space.com tv is already running. http://www.space.com/php/popup/mediaplayer/noad_player.php?

I though I saw live video for about 5 seconds from the nose of the shuttle last time it landed. Going to watch for it this time.

[Lokibob]

Sorry about the link. Got to www.space.com and click on the viewer.

[gridlock]

So, when is the earthquake?

[The_Victor]

Ground track will hug the Gulf Coast. If it's not too cloudy you should be able to see the shuttle overhead.

[r9etb]

Working Shuttle missions is one of the very few things I miss about Houston.....

[Chemist_Geek]

Go for deorbit burn, according to NASA TV...

[newgeezer]

I still have to chuckle at how some "conservatives" absolutely love the space program. To the extent that it exceeds what is necessary for national defense, it's just another example of unconstitutional, pork-barrel boondoggling, no better than the Nat'l Endowment for the Arts, PBS, the paving of West Virginia, the Department of Education, or LBJ's Great Society.

[Chemist_Geek]

Article 1, Section 8. Space exploration provides for the general Welfare of the United States.

Deorbit burn going!

[Lokibob]

The space program has also given us computer chips, communication advances, greater understanding of of the world (and universe) we live in.

NASA supports and encourages private business far beyond the space program. To read about sucesses, go here:
http://nctn.hq.nasa.gov/success/index.htm

[glock rocks]

i guess then that you don't use the interstate, right?

[Chemist_Geek]

Not to mention Article 1, Section 8, Clause 8. Congress may promote the Progress of Science and Useful Arts.

Good burn, no trim burns required!

[newgeezer]

Article 1, Section 8. Space exploration provides for the general Welfare of the United States.

Yep, that's exactly what the liberals point to when defending all their pet programs. "Useful Arts," too.

[newgeezer]

The space program hasn't "given" us anything we couldn't get from private enterprise. As for "greater understanding of the world (and universe) we live in": all I needed to know about that, I learned (and continue to learn) from the bible.

[Chemist_Geek]

Yep, that's exactly what the liberals point to when defending all their pet programs. "Useful Arts," too.

So? Have you ever driven on an Interstate Highway? How about a U.S. Highway?

Wx: Winds from NNE at 9 MPH, gusting to 20. Visibility 10 miles. Scattered clouds at 4,000 feet. Pressure 30.14 in.Hg.

Of course, the National Weather Service is un-Constituitional too, isn't it?

[The_Victor]

Article 1, Section 8. Space exploration provides for the general Welfare of the United States.???????

Interesting editing job since that's not what Chemist_Geek posted. Like it or not the constitution reads "Article 1, Section 8, Clause 8. Congress may promote the Progress of Science and Useful Arts."

[Chemist_Geek]

all I needed to know about that, I learned (and continue to learn) from the bible.

No one learned how to make a computer, connect to the Internet, or get to FreeRepublic from the Bible. It's not nearly "all (you) needed to know."

[FourtySeven]

Love space bump!

[Chemist_Geek]

There are two clauses in A1S8 which apply. Clause 1 is the General Welfare clause, and Clause 8 is the Progress of Science clause. I ended up posting both, but was distracted by a successful deorbit OMS burn.

[billbears]

Just because the interstate is supported by the national government doesn't mean it's anymore Constitutional than the space program. Heck, I could make a stronger argument for space exploration than I could for internal improvement plans and Clay's American System upon which they're based.

[newgeezer]

i guess then that you don't use the interstate, right?

Maybe I believe all highways should be the states' responsibility.

Or, the case could be made for the defense purpose of the highways (news flash: the National Defense (aka "Interstate") Highway System was allegedly built for that purpose). Also, they're funded through user fees (fuel taxes). They're also post roads (Article 1 Section 8).