As Endeavour's crew works through what could be its last full day in orbit, NASA managers are monitoring less-than-perfect weather forecasts on the ground. Preliminary plans would give Endeavour two chances to land late Sunday at Kennedy Space Center, at 10:16 p.m. or 11:51 p.m.
Early forecasts by the Spaceflight Meteorology Group in Houston show a chance of showers that could violate landing rules, within 30 miles of the shuttle landing strip.
If a landing is waved off Sunday, two backup landing sites at Edwards Air Force Base in California and White Sands Space Harbor in New Mexico could be activated for Monday evening.
"What will likely happen is we might consider calling up all three available sites on Monday," Kwatsi Alibaruho, lead shuttle flight director for the mission, said this morning. "We'll plan our trajectory (Saturday) or on Sunday to give us the largest number of deorbit opportunities on that End of Mission Plus One day, which would be Monday."
Conditions may look worse at KSC on Monday, when the first of two landing opportunities was expected at 10:33 p.m. Showers, thunderstorms and crosswinds could pose problems.
Edwards and White Sands also show chances of showers Monday. But of course, the forecasts could change quickly.
"Specific decisions that will be made will start to take shape (Saturday) as we understand more about the weather," said Alibaruho. "Right now, the forecasts are a little bit sketchy in some areas."
The shuttle has enough oxygen and other consumables to stay aloft until Tuesday, but NASA typically would not wait to land until the last possible day unless there was a technical problem or no other option.
"It's highly likely that we're going to be focused on getting home either on Sunday, if there's a reasonable deorbit opportunity on Sunday, and certainly on Monday if that's at all possible," Alibaruho said.
After finishing a final heat shield inspection now in progress, Endeavour's crew will go to sleep around 7:15 a.m. today.
They'll awake around 3:15 p.m., and spend most of the day testing aerodynamic surfaces and thrusters to make sure they're ready for re-entry through the atmosphere, whenever that occurs.
Two more pre-landing media briefings are planned by early Sunday.
At 4:30 p.m. today, LeRoy Cain, deputy Shuttle Program manager, will discuss the results of the afternoon Mission Management Team meeting. At 1:30 a.m. Sunday, Entry Flight Director Norm Knight will provide the latest on the weather and landing plans.
4 comments:
What is this rag going to write about once BO closes the door on our Space Program ? Maybe fishing..yeah, that's right, fishing.
Time for Action
The date, time and venue for the rally have been set (Saturday, February 27th at BCC North Campus, Titusville, 3:00 p.m.). National AFL-CIO President Rich Trumka, presidents of national and international unions, Florida AFL-CIO President Mike Williams, elected officials and perhaps some celebrity guests will speak. However, this is not a union rally. This is a community event intended to protect local business, our schools and the quality of life we presently enjoy. Concerned citizens from across the state and country have already committed to join us. Now it's up to us to make the rally a resounding success. The future of manned space flight and our jobs depend on our ability to convince the administration and Congress that the budget, as proposed, is a grave mistake and threatens our world leadership in technological advancement while posing a risk to out national security. I will be needing seventy five volunteers the day of the rally to assist in parking control and aiding rally attendees. Additionally, we need help in leafletting Brevard merchants. We will be asking merchants to post flyers in their facility and publicize the rally on their marquees. This is a tremendous undertaking. A great deal of time and resources have been spent in making this event possible. Space supporters around the county have called and asked how they might help. Now it's your turn to step up and offer assistance.
Great...the same union thugs that helped elect this clown are now going to beg him for their jobs ? I'm a member of a union at the Space Center, and I want Constellation to proceed, but I think it's high time we started looking at our own inefficiencies. We are a well paid group and some of use even earn our money. It's the ones who don't that make me wonder why I pay dues. Oh, and the AFL-CIO ? Ummm, can you say corrupt ?
Guess my anti-union comment didn't jive with FT policy. Oh well.
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