The Atlantis astronauts are in the home stretch of their wildly successful Hubble Space Telescope servicing mission, and they have a big fan in the White House.
President Barack Obama put in a call to the orbiting crew Wednesday evening and congratulated the seven astronauts on their "incredible journey," a challenging mission that gave the storied observatory a new lease on life.
"I was moved by your observation that Hubble is more than just a satellite, but an iconic symbol of our quest for knowledge," Obama told Atlantis lead spacewalker John Grunsfeld during a long distance call Wednesday from the Oval Office. "I thought that captured accurately the work you guys are doing."
During five back-to-back spacewalks, the Atlantis astronauts outfitted Hubble with two new state-of-the-art science instruments, repaired two others and equipped the observatory to operate at least another five to 10 years in orbit.
Obama said his daughters, Malia, 10, and Sasha, 7, both were stoked by the spacewalking work.
"Well, I know you've excited my 10-year-old and my seven-year-old," Obama said.
Obama also hinted that he'll nominate a new NASA Administrator in the very near future.
"We're soon going to have a new NASA Administrator, and I can't disclose it to you, because I've got to have some hoopla on the announcement back here on Earth," he said.
"But I can assure you that it's been a high priority of mine to restore the intense wonder that space can provide, and to make sure that we've got a strong sense of mission not just within NASA but for the country as a whole."
Obama met Tuesday with former astronaut Charlie Bolden, who is said to be the leading candidate for the nomination.
Atlantis mission commander Scott Altman campaigned for Grunsfeld in a space-to-ground new conference and the presidential call.
The Atlantis astronauts today will check out critical systems in advance of atmospheric reentry and landing. The schedule:
++3:01 a.m.: Crew Wake.
++6:01 a.m.: Cabin stow.
++6:11 a.m.: Flight control system checkout.
++7:21 a.m.: Reaction Control System hot-fire.
++8:30 a.m.: Deorbit burn prep briefing.
++12:31 p.m.: Testify before Senate committee.
++2:41 p.m.: National media interviews.
++3:06 p.m.: Ku-band antenna stowage.
++6:01 p.m.: Crew sleep.
Obama also wished the astronauts a safe return to Earth.
Just when that happens, though, is highly dependent on the weather, and the outlook is pretty bleak on Friday.
The Atlantis astronauts aim to land at Kennedy Space Center at 10:01 a.m. Friday, and would have two opportunities to return to Florida's Space Coast later that day.
But the weather in Florida has been rainy, windy and nasty over the past two days and forecasters are calling for a chance of thunderstorms, lightning, rainshowers and low cloud decks on Friday.
Those conditions would prompt NASA to keep the shuttle and its crew in orbit an extra day in hopes that the weather might clear by Saturday.
The shuttle has enough power-producing capability to remain in orbit until at least Sunday.
The grim forecast prompted the astronauts to power down all but essential systems on Wednesday, and the conservation efforts might yield enough capability to remain in orbit until Monday in a worst case.
Shuttle Endeavour and a crew of four astronauts will remain on call for a potential rescue mission until Atlantis heads home.
Space news and analysis from Kennedy Space Center and Cape Canaveral 
3 comments:
No mention of Edwards AFB. Is it not an option this time? I can't believe they'd wait until Sunday to land at KSC unless ther was no other choice.
Are there any concerns that the weather could prohibit a rescue mission launch on Saturday?
Conor:
NASA does not plan to call up Edwards on Friday. Entry flight director Norm Knight would make a call on Edwards on Saturday if bad weather keeps the crew in orbit for a "bonus day." It will depend on the WX forecast at KSC for Sunday and whather power conservation efforts would leave enough electrical juice to stay up until Monday.
On the weather and a rescue mission: If required, I suspect all weather Launch Commit Criteria would be waived. With only a few days of power-generation capability left, NASA would truly be faced with a now-or-never situation, and I suspect they would fly through thunderstorms and lightning in a bid to go save the astronauts.
Tod ---
You just gave me visions of a scenario right out of "Marooned".
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