STS-123 (1 J/A) Mission thread

[MeteorWayne]

<p><BR/>Replying to:<BR/><DIV CLASS='Discussion_PostQuote'>An APU should normally not produce flames, but probably that is due to the infrared cameras, that make it appear more dramatic than it is. However they also appear on obvious "normal" cameras. <br />Posted by Kwasi13</DIV></p><p><br />Exactly, they are not flames, just heat bursts. hat's what heat looks like in infrared.<br /></p> <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>

 

[sally_wrench]

<p>OK ... about all I can say is WOW !!!&nbsp; And a couple of questions ... how long will it be before the crew can disembark?&nbsp; Also, why do they have to orbit for such a long time before landing?</p><p>Thanks,</p><p>Sally</p><p>PS - I have a classroom full of computer students and we all watched with intense interest !!!</p>

 

[planet_z]

Here is a shot without infrared camera. Looks like flames coming out to me <br /><br />http://sitelife.space.com/ver1.0/Forums/#<br /><img src="http://sitelife.space.com/ver1.0/Content/images/store/13/13/9d3611cb-effb-4cce-bd37-3efe5c056b79.Medium.jpg" alt="" /><br /><br />http://sitelife.space.com/ver1.0/Forums/#

 

[earth_bound_misfit]

I think the flames are always there (I'm no eggspurt though), just not normally visible (hydrogen?). I was thinking myself&nbsp; that they better quell that fire quick <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> <p> </p><p> </p><p>----------------------------------------------------------------- </p><p>Wanna see this site looking like the old SDC uplink?</p><p>Go here to see how: <strong>SDC Eye saver </strong>  </p> </div>

 

[SpaceKiwi]

<p>Great to see Endeavour back on the ground, congratulations to all concerned once again.&nbsp; I had to watch the landing on the internet as I'm at work right now and, as Murphy would have it, I only saw about 5 minutes of coverage from the deorbit burn until wheels-stop..</p><p>Post-landing presser on right now.</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>SK&nbsp; <img src="http://sitelife.space.com/ver1.0/Content/images/store/14/14/de81585b-1748-44bd-aef4-1f8a0b5f2111.Medium.gif" alt="" /></p> <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> <p><em><font size="2" color="#ff0000">Who is this superhero?  Henry, the mild-mannered janitor ... could be!</font></em></p><p><em><font size="2">-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------</font></em></p><p><font size="5">Bring Back The Black!</font></p> </div>

 

[freya]

<p>Watched the landing over at my parents. They're 65+ now, I'm hitting 45. They where the ones getting me out of bed to watch the Apollo lunar landings, and have always had an abiding interest and fascination in manned spaceflight, this aroused the passion in me. The memories are strong, and the bravery of these people who have the audacity to do&nbsp;such things still makes us shake our heads in wonder.</p><p>We gave a little round of applause at wheel stop.</p><p>&nbsp;Congratulations to all involved.</p><p>Gaz</p><p>&nbsp;</p> <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> </div>

 

[MeteorWayne]

<p><BR/>Replying to:<BR/><DIV CLASS='Discussion_PostQuote'>OK ... about all I can say is WOW !!!&nbsp; And a couple of questions ... how long will it be before the crew can disembark?&nbsp; Also, why do they have to orbit for such a long time before landing?Thanks,SallyPS - I have a classroom full of computer students and we all watched with intense interest !!! <br />Posted by sally_wrench</DIV></p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>It's typically about an hour before they safe the vehicle, ensure there's npoisinous gases, etc, before they come out</p><p><br />As for orbit time after leaving the station, there's a lot of work to be done. Equipment must be stowed, normally there a final TPS (thermal protection system) inspection. Transfer of operations from orbiting to landing. In this case they also has to set up a special chair for the astronaut returning from the ISS (lying down, since he'd been in microgravity for quite a while) Then setting things up for landing. All in all it's a busy day or two.<br /></p> <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>

 

[Cygnus_X_1]

<p><BR/>Replying to:<BR/><DIV CLASS='Discussion_PostQuote'>An APU should normally not produce flames, but probably that is due to the infrared cameras, that make it appear more dramatic than it is. However they also appear on obvious "normal" cameras. <br /> Posted by Kwasi13</DIV></p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>An APU that decompose hydrazine would normally make flames as seen on the video</p> <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> </div>

 

[subisnack]

<p>Ok, done lurking here . Hopefully I can contribute something, and look forward to being a part of the community.</p><p>I was quite surprised at the obvious flames from the APU exhaust during landing. I never remember seeing anything like that (as was the first reporter during the post landing conference!). I went back and watched 6 previous night landing videos finding nothing close. I agree that when seen via infrared you can see the heat generated day or night. But this was different. </p><p>If this was normal, would you not see something similar during liftoff?</p><p>&nbsp;All that aside, great to see her back on the ground!</p> <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> </div>

 

[bpfeifer]

<p><BR/>Replying to:<BR/><DIV CLASS='Discussion_PostQuote'> If this was normal, would you not see something similar during liftoff? <br /> Posted by subisnack</DIV></p><p>No, This was venting of all remaining reactants to empty the tanks. This is not boil off venting like you have on the External Tank when the stack is sitting on the launchpad.&nbsp;</p> <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> Brian J. Pfeifer http://sabletower.wordpress.com<br /> The Dogsoldier Codex http://www.lulu.com/sabletower<br /> </div>