The Space Shuttle is landing today at Edwards Airforce Base in California!

AliceInWonderland · June 22nd, 2007, 01:59 PM

I wish I would have known sooner! but they always wait till the last minute to decide, cuz i sooooooo woulda been there. I think you even get to hear a sonic boom too!

beautiful im sure

NASA - NASA TV Landing Page watch it here though at about 12:30pm pacific time.

more info at CNN.com

some blog entries from today

(sorry but this stuff is so cool to me

)

Quote:

NASA's Landing Blog was activated: June 22, 2007 at 12 p.m. EDT

NOTE: Refresh/Reload your browser every few minutes to view blog updates. All times are in EDT unless otherwise stated.

1:57 p.m. - The landing time for Edwards would occur at 3:49 EDT, 12:49 PDT with deorbit burn a little less than an hour prior.

1:55 p.m. With NASA planning to land Atlantis at Edwards Air Force Base in California, the orbiter would fire its Orbital Maneuvering System engines at 2:43 p.m. EDT, 11:43 a.m. PDT.

1:50 p.m. - After assessing the weather data flight controllers had to wave off the second landing opportunity for Kennedy. The forecast for Edwards appears to be clear.

1:35 p.m. - Mission Control has given the crew the go ahead for fluid loading.

1:25 p.m. - If landing is scheduled for Edwards Air Force Base, a ferry flight to bring the orbiter back to Kennedy for processing could take place after about 7 days. NASA - NASA's Landing Blog - Mission STS-117

a pic of a previous ferry of the shuttle back (so cool

)

thats awesome!

HWBL · June 22nd, 2007, 02:10 PM

They saw some material flying by their window yesterday

I'm keeping my fingers crossed they won't do another Columbia.

Grimmlok · June 22nd, 2007, 02:10 PM

There's a hole in the head shield which wasnt repaired because it wasnt a big deal apparently.. lets hope the damn thing doesnt desintegrate on the way in :/

msdeb · June 22nd, 2007, 02:14 PM

i wish they have more landings at Edwards. the weather is always better. and its closer than florida for me

AliceInWonderland · June 22nd, 2007, 02:27 PM

I know

i'm excited, but I worry too. As someone w/ a severe phobia of flying; a space shuttle flight is enough to give me a heart attack just thinking about it

I think those ppl are sooo brave! Astronaut granted bond on*attempted*murder charge - CNN.com and apparantly sometimes crazy

AliceInWonderland · June 22nd, 2007, 03:04 PM

Does anyone know how far away you can hear a sonic boom from?!!!

updated blog:

Quote:

There are six main events in the landing sequence: deorbit burn, entry interface, maximum heating, exit blackout, terminal area and approach and landing.

2:56 p.m. - The crew of STS-117 will be dumping excess fuel overboard.

2:53 p.m. - The Atlantis crew is now maneuvering the shuttle to the best position for landing on Runway 22 at Edwards. The orbiter is less than an hour from touchdown.

2:48 p.m. - The convoy of landing support vehicles is moving to the staging point on the runway at Edwards.

2:46 p.m. - The orbiter will perform a series of roll maneuvers, banking first to the right and then to the left to help slow down its speed as it descends for a landing.

2:43 p.m. - DEORBIT BURN! Flight control confirms Atlantis' two engines are burning normally as the vehicle begins its descent toward Earth. During the burn, Atlantis flies upside down and backwards to decrease its speed.

2:30 p.m. - With less than 15 minutes left to go before the deorbit burn, Mission Control is in constant communication with astronaut Scott Altman, who is flying the Shuttle Training Aircraft, regarding the weather at Edwards.

2:23 p.m. - There are less than 20 minutes until the deorbit burn for Atlantis. The orbiter is being reoriented so its tail is in the direction of travel.

2:19 p.m. - Mission Control has given Atlantis the go for deorbit burn!

2:16 p.m. - Atlantis will shortly be given the command for deorbit burn scheduled for 2:43 p.m. EDT. The deorbit burn will slow Atlantis by 200 mph, causing it to fall out of orbit and begin the descent for landing.

2:12 p.m. - Fifty space shuttle missions have landed at Edwards Air Force Base. The most recent was STS-114, when Discovery landed at the California base in 2005.

lurkur · June 22nd, 2007, 03:34 PM

Alice, I think it has a pretty good range. If you're in LA, you should probably hear it. I heard it from over in Long Beach many years ago.

lurkur · June 22nd, 2007, 03:45 PM

I heard it!!!!! hehehehe

msdeb · June 22nd, 2007, 04:36 PM

we are in Imperial Beach, CA which is a couple of hours south and we heard it. it BOOMED the windows at different intervals. each window boomed right after the previous window. very loud!