STS-120/10A Mission thread (post launch)

[Testing]

Yes they can do it on their own but I believe it will be put off a bit. Analysis of the debris to tell them where to look. Formulation of a plan for cleanup. Delivery of cleanup supplies and such. The joint is not dead, so with restricted use they buy time to plan. <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> </div>

 

[bobblebob]

Im sure people said the same during the last mission's pics of the ISS. I believe its something to do with the sun and also what side of the array you can see. They're all all the same colour tho

 

[usn_skwerl]

Highlights up to today. To see faint ISS/orbiter complex flyover from my backyard, scroll towards the end. You'll barely be able to make out Venus and the moon too. <img src="/images/icons/smile.gif" /><br /><br />http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L7T6EoqxSKc <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> </div>

 

[docm]

I hear the reentry path will take it over the US Midwest. Anyone know if it'll be visible in Michigan and if so what time? <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> </div>

 

[usn_skwerl]

Media interview about to start; video check in progress. <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> </div>

 

[rybanis]

Hey, aren't you in California right now? <img src="/images/icons/smile.gif" /> <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> </div>

 

[Leovinus]

And I want to know if it can be seen or heard in daylight in the Denver area. <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> </div>

 

[MeteorWayne]

OK, here are tomorrow's landing opportunities.<br /><br />First landing chance on orbit 238 is at 1:02 EST (12:02 CST, 11:02 MST 10:02 AM PST, 18:02 UT) Whew.<br /><br />The path comes in from the west, crosses the US border over Montana and makes a gently right curve to get to KSC.<br />The path is pretty straight once it reaches Nebraska to KSC.<br /><br />I am not sure of the precise timing, but the US part should last 10 or 15 minutes. Someone will correct me I hope.<br /><br />The second chance is for a landing at 2:36 EST, one orbit later. Please do your own time zone conversiona. Just figure an hour and a half later.<br /><br />It enters the US near the Washington/Oregon border, heads to New Orleans fairly straight, the crosses the Gulf to KSC.<br /><br />That's the current data.<br /><br />Landing tracks are here <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> <p><font color="#000080"><em><font color="#000000">But the Krell forgot one thing John. Monsters. Monsters from the Id.</font></em> </font></p><p><font color="#000080">I really, really, really, really miss the "first unread post" function</font><font color="#000080"> </font></p> </div>

 

[rybanis]

Hey, same here. What part of WA are you in? <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> </div>

 

[MeteorWayne]

I'm researching accurate timing and altitude.<br /><br />Hope to be back with more details shortly.<br /><br />Just wanted to get the headlines out. They kind of indicated it might be a challenge where you are, but I know you'd like the time anyway to be out there.<br /><br />Wayne <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> <p><font color="#000080"><em><font color="#000000">But the Krell forgot one thing John. Monsters. Monsters from the Id.</font></em> </font></p><p><font color="#000080">I really, really, really, really miss the "first unread post" function</font><font color="#000080"> </font></p> </div>

 

[MeteorWayne]

Sorry to post so often, but I'm sharing facts as I find them.<br /><br />The burn is about 1 hour before landing.<br /><br />BTW, the current orbit is 216x143 miles, and gives two landing ops @ KSC on Wenesday and Friday.<br /><br />Edwards is not up for tomorrow, but would be for Friday.<br /><br />30 minutes before landing is entry interface (atmosphere) at about 80 miles, 5,000 miles away from KSC.<br /><br />At 5 minutes before landing it is 25 miles out and below the speed of sound. <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> <p><font color="#000080"><em><font color="#000000">But the Krell forgot one thing John. Monsters. Monsters from the Id.</font></em> </font></p><p><font color="#000080">I really, really, really, really miss the "first unread post" function</font><font color="#000080"> </font></p> </div>

 

[Testing]

Yes, SG is in California. We are having a test meeting in about 2.5 hours. The test article will be BEER. We will exchange experiences and verify that the test article meets requirments. <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> </div>

 

[MeteorWayne]

ROFL, I test BEER all the time <img src="/images/icons/smile.gif" /><br /><br />Can you describe what the acronym stands for? <img src="/images/icons/laugh.gif" /> <br /><br />Very happy two SDC'ers can intersect in the Universe. <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> <p><font color="#000080"><em><font color="#000000">But the Krell forgot one thing John. Monsters. Monsters from the Id.</font></em> </font></p><p><font color="#000080">I really, really, really, really miss the "first unread post" function</font><font color="#000080"> </font></p> </div>

 

[dougbaker]

Well for any testing you have to figure out the sample size to make the statistics valid. I am pretty sure a sample size of one beer would not be large enough, What is the minimum sample size? That depends on many factors.

 

[sirlight]

Hi everybody, <br /><br />I am wondering now that the P6 is off from the Z1, does this mean that there will be more KU time since there is basically nothing to block it as much?<br /><br />Sirlight

 

[CalliArcale]

Check out Heavens Above for pass predictions. I have no idea where you're located, so I set it for Detroit. You've got some nice opportunities coming up tomorrow morning, including a -2.0 mag opportunity at 6:36 in the morning. That's damn bright. If weather permits, give it a shot. <img src="/images/icons/wink.gif" /> Discovery will still be in space, so if the skies are clear, you'll be able to see 'em both. <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> <p> </p><p><font color="#666699"><em>"People assume that time is a strict progression of cause to effect, but actually from a non-linear, non-subjective viewpoint it's more like a big ball of wibbly wobbly . . . timey wimey . . . stuff."</em>  -- The Tenth Doctor, "Blink"</font></p> </div>

 

[Testing]

I figured that any test would involve extensive time given SG's vast knowledge and experience. I will apply due dilligence and hope to remember half of the test data. <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> </div>

 

[rybanis]

Godspeed in the testing, then. <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> </div>

 

[astrowikizhang]

The landing path comes from west heading south. is that a bit unusual? I think most post-columbia shuttle landing pathes were heading north.

 

[3488]

Hi everyone,<br /><br />I found these on YouTube. STS 120 SRB video & another here, full length with sound.<br /><br />STS-120/10A Discovery RPM video from ISS.<br /><br />Amazingly cool. <img src="/images/icons/cool.gif" /><br /><br />Lets hope Discovery makes it down safely. Looks like absolutely no reason why not. <img src="/images/icons/laugh.gif" /> <br /><br />This has been a great mission.<br /><br />Andrew Brown. <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> <p><font color="#000080">"I suddenly noticed an anomaly to the left of Io, just off the rim of that world. It was extremely large with respect to the overall size of Io and crescent shaped. It seemed unbelievable that something that big had not been visible before".</font> <em><strong><font color="#000000">Linda Morabito </font></strong><font color="#800000">on discovering that the Jupiter moon Io was volcanically active. Friday 9th March 1979.</font></em></p><p><font size="1" color="#000080">http://www.launchphotography.com/</font><br /><br /><font size="1" color="#000080">http://anthmartian.googlepages.com/thisislandearth</font></p><p><font size="1" color="#000080">http://web.me.com/meridianijournal</font></p> </div>

 

[3488]

Thanks MeteorWayne, for the landing times & your effort in keeping us informed <br />of Discovery's landing opportunities & options.<br /><br />18:02 UT. If so or the next one I will attempt NASA TV. <br /><br />DO not want to miss it. If not I will use Spaceflightnow.com & will look <br />for video links.<br /><br />This has been a real boon to the experience of contruction & repairing in space.<br /><br />Necessary experience as was also had with the HST servicing missions, except STS-120<br />had many unexpeted tasks on lengthy EVAs, if humans are to go on to Mars, NEAs, Callisto & <br />elsewhere distant within the Solar System.<br /><br />NASA really scored a big hit this time. Very well done to all involved, you can all <br />hold your heads up very high. <img src="/images/icons/laugh.gif" /><br /><br />Andrew Brown. <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> <p><font color="#000080">"I suddenly noticed an anomaly to the left of Io, just off the rim of that world. It was extremely large with respect to the overall size of Io and crescent shaped. It seemed unbelievable that something that big had not been visible before".</font> <em><strong><font color="#000000">Linda Morabito </font></strong><font color="#800000">on discovering that the Jupiter moon Io was volcanically active. Friday 9th March 1979.</font></em></p><p><font size="1" color="#000080">http://www.launchphotography.com/</font><br /><br /><font size="1" color="#000080">http://anthmartian.googlepages.com/thisislandearth</font></p><p><font size="1" color="#000080">http://web.me.com/meridianijournal</font></p> </div>

 

[thereiwas]

Wayne Hale explained the southbound landing. It gives them a daylight touchdown at this time of year, which Pam Melroy preferred. They can't do it in the summer because they want to avoid flying through the ice crystals in the noctilucent clouds that form at high altitudes then.<br /><br />Approaching from the north requires more propellant during deorbit burn because the air is thinner nearer the poles than over the equator so the orbiter does not slow down as much. There is more air over the equator due to centrifugal force from the Earth's rotation. I was surprised the effect is that large.

 

[3488]

Hi ThereIWas,<br /><br />The effect is very large indeed.<br /><br />In fact the Earth on average is 42 kilometres / 26 miles wider across the Equator <br />(12,756 kilometres / 7,926 miles), than through the Poles (12,714 kilometres / 7,900 miles), <br />due to the same reason.<br /><br />The atmosphere IIRC is nearly 50% deeper above the equator than over the poles.<br /><br />Andrew Brown. <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> <p><font color="#000080">"I suddenly noticed an anomaly to the left of Io, just off the rim of that world. It was extremely large with respect to the overall size of Io and crescent shaped. It seemed unbelievable that something that big had not been visible before".</font> <em><strong><font color="#000000">Linda Morabito </font></strong><font color="#800000">on discovering that the Jupiter moon Io was volcanically active. Friday 9th March 1979.</font></em></p><p><font size="1" color="#000080">http://www.launchphotography.com/</font><br /><br /><font size="1" color="#000080">http://anthmartian.googlepages.com/thisislandearth</font></p><p><font size="1" color="#000080">http://web.me.com/meridianijournal</font></p> </div>

 

[usn_skwerl]

I agree, I didnt think there was that much of a difference in the atmosphere between the poles and equator. Wow. <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> </div>

 

[erioladastra]

"I am wondering now that the P6 is off from the Z1, does this mean that there will be more KU time since there is basically nothing to block it as much? "<br /><br />Yes. Since the arrays were retracted Ku has been very high. Now of course, the arrays are blocking from their new location but not as much. Ku coverage should be about 50-60%.