Casual Astronomy, Spaceflight News and Lower California Weather 

'Go' for Deorbit Burn
Wed, 09 Mar 2011 09:28:55 AM CST

Flight controllers earlier gave Flight Director Tony Ceccacci their go-ahead for the deorbit burn. Now it's official: Discovery will start the journey home to Kennedy Space Center beginning with deorbit burn at 10:52 a.m. Touchdown is expected at 11:57:26 a.m. Coming up, Commander Steve Lindsey will put Discovery in position for the burn.

Morn' LC.

Discovery on her Final Mission,,to bring um on Home safely once again.



Lindsey Maneuvers Discovery to Deorbit Burn Attitude
Wed, 09 Mar 2011 09:36:12 AM CST

Commander Steve Lindsey has positioned Discovery for the upcoming deorbit burn. To slow the shuttle's orbital speed, the vehicle must fly tail-first and upside down during the burn, allowing the Orbital Maneuvering System engines to fire into the direction of travel -- in effect. Tapping the brakes. Instead of coming to a complete stop, however, the 2-minute, 31-second burn will slow the orbiter by 188 feet per second -- enough to start it on the journey home.

Yeah,was hoping for a Go round once but,,we will take it as it comes.

One APU Activated
Wed, 09 Mar 2011 09:48:58 AM CST

Pilot Eric Boe started one auxiliary power unit just to ensure one is working for entry. Shortly before Discovery meets the upper edges of Earth's atmosphere, he'll activate the other two. The APUs provide power to the hydraulic system that operate the orbiter's steering surfaces. The crew is pulling out their entry checklist with about four minutes left until the deorbit burn.

Ignition..

De-orbit burn in Works

Burn Complete,,Discovery now on Target for her Final Return to Earth today.

Boom, Boom...in an hour!

When I lived in Orlando, it would depend on the fight path to hear the sonic booms. Looks like today they will hear them.

Here, always.

Morning, LC ~ You just answered my question. I was looking at the radar and wondering what the shuttle's track was.

Discovery's Wheelstop Location to be Permanently Marked
Wed, 09 Mar 2011 10:06:21 AM CST

Discovery's landing track this morning will bring the shuttle over Florida at Sarasota, over Kissimmee in Central Florida, and then to Kennedy Space Center.

After the landing, when Discovery has rolled to a stop on the runway, the wheelstop location will be marked on the runway so a permanent marker can be installed, showing where Discovery's missions finally ended.

What are Sonic Booms?
Wed, 09 Mar 2011 10:19:26 AM CST

Since there won't be time to explain it close to touchdown, here's an explanation of the sonic booms heard during shuttle landings. The thunderous sound we hear on the ground originates when a fast-moving, airborne vehicle forcefully shoves air molecules aside. Shockwaves form around the vehicle's nose and tail, generating two loud booms as the vehicle passes by and the pressure buildup is abruptly released. This is the case for supersonic aircraft as well as the space shuttle. But most supersonic aircraft are so small, the sounds are normally heard as one. The shuttle, on the other hand, is large enough that its two sonic booms are distinct.

NASA's Dryden Flight Research Center offers a fact sheet providing more details. Ffor technical reasons, you'll need to copy and paste this link into your browser. http://www.nasa.gov/centers/dryden/news/FactSheets /FS-016-DFRC.html

Discovery reaches the Top layer of the Atmosphere now,,Entry interface at 400,000 ft.

Range to Kennedy: 3,200 Miles
Wed, 09 Mar 2011 10:33:45 AM CST

Discovery is flying at 16,700 miles per hour, or Mach 24. Range to Kennedy Space Center is 3,200 miles.

Bring um on Home Steve and Discovery...!

Landing Update
Wed, 09 Mar 2011 10:47:31 AM CST

CAPCOM Charlie Hobaugh has given Discovery's crew some last-minute control settings for landing, which is coming up in a little more than 10 minutes.

Sweet! Welcome home, Discovery!

On to the Smithsonian for her....

Indeed, Discovery has been the Fleet Workhorse for decades.

After 39 flights,2 that returned America to Space after Losses of Challenger and Columbia,,we give a Heavy Hearted thank you to her Builders,,crew's and especially those who have maintained her and it's systems for all those Wunderful years.


Thank You Discovery for your service to America and the Final Frontier.

Quoting Patrap:
Indeed, Discovery has been the Fleet Workhorse for decades.

After 39 flights,2 that returned America to Space after Losses of Challenger and Columbia,,we give a Heavy Hearted thank you to her Builders,,crew's and especially those who have maintained her and it's systems for all those Wunderful years.


Thank You Discovery for your service to America and the Final Frontier.

Well said, Pat!

Okay, with the earthquake that hit Japan the Earths axis has moved 10cm. Is that going to make some changes around here?

Hi all :)
GG, 10% is a LOT!

Cal, what do you think about the Super Moon on March 19th? Any special effect to be expected?

Well, it's not right that your blog is so quiet....all is well I hope?????

Lockheed Martin shows new test spaceship, trial site
Published: Tuesday, March 22, 2011, 12:37 PM Updated: Tuesday, March 22, 2011, 12:40 PM
The Associated Press By The Associated Press

Lockheed Martin Corp. on Monday showed off a test version of the Orion spacecraft, which was initially meant to return humans to the moon but may wind up being an escape vehicle for the International Space Station or taking astronauts beyond Earth orbit.


The company also unveiled a cavernous test facility at its Waterton Canyon site south of Denver, where full-size mock-ups of the space station and the front section of the Orion can be used to practice docking maneuvers.

Orion was originally part of President George W. Bush's $100 billion moon mission, called Constellation. President Barack Obama canceled Constellation last year, saying the space program would instead focus on more advanced rocket technology.

Obama revived the Orion portion of the project two months later, with administration officials saying it would be the space station's escape vehicle.

NASA is now considering at least two roles for future manned spacecraft, including servicing the space station in low Earth orbit and going on longer, more distant missions.

"Orion is going to evolve from what it was under the previous Constellation program into what it needs to become as part of the multipurpose crew vehicle," NASA spokesman Bob Jacobs said.

Lockheed Martin officials were more ambitious Monday, touting Orion as America's next generation spacecraft that could first explore the far side of the moon then land humans on asteroids and eventually take them to one of the moons of Mars, where they could control robotic instruments on the surface.

Orion includes a module for crew and cargo, a service module for propulsion, electrical power and other requirements, and a launch-abort system to carry the capsule to safety if the booster rocket fails. NASA successfully tested the launch-abort system two weeks ago at White Sands Missile Range, N.M.

Lockheed Martin is NASA's prime contractor for the Orion project. The company said it built the $35 million, 41,000-square-foot test facility, called the Space Operations Simulation Center, at company expense.

The first Orion capsule is being assembled in another building at Lockheed Martin's Waterton Canyon site. It will be used for ground testing and could possibly be launched into a suborbital test flight, said James Bray, Lockheed's crew and service module director.

Bray said the test results will be used in the engineering of the first Orion capsule to fly in space. Work on that capsule is expected to start in August.

Many of Orion's components can be re-used in subsequent flights, including some electronic systems, Bray said. The spaceship itself won't be reused because of the tremendous forces it endures on liftoff and re-entry, he said.

The first orbital space flight of an Orion capsule is expected in 2013, said John Karas, vice president and general manager for human space flight for Lockheed Martin Space Systems Co.

Rep. Ed Perlmutter and Sen. Michael Bennet, Colorado Democrats who pressed Obama to salvage the Orion project, said they were confident the spacecraft will fly, but neither discussed specifics in brief remarks at the dedication ceremony for the test building.

"The White House and the Congress both recognize the importance of this program," Perlmutter said.

Lockheed Martin employs nearly 10,000 people in Colorado.

50 years ago tomorrow,,a Russian test pilot Yuri Gagarin rode the Vostok Rocket to Orbit and returned safely to Earth for man's first Venture into Space.


I wunder how he felt this night before, being first, ready to see the Earth, whole from above.







Vostok 1 Launch April 12, 1961

Gagarin's flight lasted 108 minutes for a single orbit around the Earth. The mission was brought to a close with the de-orbit firing of the reentry rockets. Gagarin ejected from the capsule at 7 km altitude because the hard landing of the capsule was too dangerous for people. So he parachuted safely to the ground. April 12 has been celebrated as Cosmonautics Day in Russia every year since 1962. Vostok 1 was Gagarin's only flight.

It's a "Go" for Endeavour's Launch on April 29
Tue, 19 Apr 2011 03:53:52 PM CST


NASA managers announced that space shuttle Endeavour is ready to launch next week on its final flight to the International Space Station following a daylong Flight Readiness Review on Tuesday. Endeavour is scheduled to launch Friday, April 29, at 3:47 p.m. EDT.


"We had a very extensive and thorough review today," said Bill Gerstenmaier, NASA's associate administrator for Space Operations. "I think the things that impressed me the most is that the team is still continuing to really work issues and look at the vehicle performance on each and every flight just like they would during any normal mission."

"We're ready to go fly," Gerstenmaier said.

All analysis and inspections of External Fuel Tank-122 confirmed its integrity after repairs were made because of damage sustained during Hurricane Katrina, according to Gerstenmaier.

A iconic image of Endeavour Live from the Pad

Storm Possiblity Delays RSS Retract
Thu, 28 Apr 2011 04:38:38 PM CST

In anticipation of a storm that is predicted to pass over NASA Kennedy Space Center this evening, technicians at Launch Pad 39A will delay the opening of the rotating service structure (RSS) away from space shuttle Endeavour until approximately 8:30 p.m. EDT. Teams currently have begun support work that normally occurs following the RSS move, which allows the countdown to continue as planned to support Friday's 3:47 p.m. launch.

Shuttle Endeavor .

I got a placard for NASA causeway for this one. Wish me luck. 700,000 is expected to come out for the launch.

Shuttle Endeavour's external tank is filled with more than 500,000 gallons of liquid hydrogen & liquid oxygen. Tanking completed at 9:24a ET

Morning LC,,canceled my Jazz Fest Plans for today due to a Broken toe so I'll be round for the Launch this afternoon.

Good to see you again.

my little town is over run...good for the local economy which is suffering from over 2000 Space Coast layoffs. Some kinda wish it would be delayed to keep them spending another day.

I am working at the local ice cream shop 10 hours today starting at 1. Gotta love minimum wage...LOL
Pics to follow! I will be just across the river from the launch pad.

why scrub???

Well,,least the Beach will be full of tourists..

ACK!!

Scrub
Fri, 29 Apr 2011 11:16:41 AM CST

Shuttle Launch Director Mike Leinbach called off today's launch attempt, NASA Commentator George Diller reported. Diller said technicians will go into the aft compartment to investigate APU heaters that failed. "We know (launch) will be no earlier than Sunday," Diller said.

Scrub=no work...no I am within 1 mile-walking distance.

They must have just called it. I had the news on this morning (earlier) and it was a go! too bad! (except for blu!)