STS-131/19A Mission thread (after Launch)

[3488]

It looks like it will be a Tuesday landing Wayne, unless the weather prospects change for the better @ KSC. Or else a possible EAB landing & a Boeing 747 ride home for Discovery??

Andrew Brown.

 

[MeteorWayne]

I'm sure if a KSC landing is possible on Tuesday, they will wait for that, but with little time to spare, I'm sure they will activate at least one of the west coast sites that day.

From Spaceflightnow:
http://www.spaceflightnow.com/shuttle/s ... index.html

There are no technical issues of any significance with the space shuttle, but forecasters are predicting an overcast sky with a broken deck of clouds at 8,000 feet and a chance for rain showers within 30 nautical miles of the runway. Conditions are expected to improve slightly on Tuesday, but good weather is expected both days at Edwards Air Force Base, Calif., NASA's backup landing site.

NASA is not staffing Edwards Monday and if the weather prevents a Florida landing, Discovery's flight will be extended another day and the crew will try again Tuesday. In that case, Edwards would be staffed and available.

 

[3488]

Looks like there is only a chance of rain, it's not definite, so I guess its 50/50 for tomorrow for Discovery to land @ KSC. We should know more for certain later.

Andrew Brown.

 

[EarthlingX]

SDC : Discovery Astronauts Hope to Land Space Shuttle Monday

By Tariq Malik
SPACE.com Managing Editor
posted: 18 April 2010
09:20 am ET

This story was updated at 12:24 p.m. ET.



The seven astronauts on space shuttle Discovery are hoping for clear skies over Florida Monday morning so they can return to Earth, though there's a chance rainy weather may keep them in orbit an extra day.

Mission Control radioed Discovery's crew early Sunday to say that the chance of rain too close to their runway at NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida could delay their landing. The shuttle is due to land at the seaside space center in Cape Canaveral, Fla., at 8:48 a.m. EDT (1248 GMT) to wrap up a busy two-week delivery mission to the International Space Station.

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0RVXBP3r8XA[/youtube]

 

[newsartist]

A most unusual ground track may present reentry observation from a wide swath of the country tomorrow morning!

http://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/shutt ... nding.html

 

[EarthlingX]

SDC : Space Shuttle's Rare Landing Approach to be Visible Across United States

By Joe Rao
SPACE.com Skywatching Columnist
posted: 18 April 2010
01:51 pm ET



NASA's space shuttle Discovery will attempt a return to Florida's Kennedy Space Center Monday morning by taking a path across the contiguous United States, giving early-bird skywatchers a chance to see – and hear – the spacecraft as it streaks across the sky on the way to landing.

The space shuttle might be visible to keen eyes along the flight path, which runs from the northwest toward the southeast. And many people are likely to hear its sonic boom.

It is only the second time since NASA's tragic 2003 loss of the shuttle Columbia than returning shuttle will fly over the continental United States, and is also expected to be the last time, according to entry flight director Bryan Lunney.

 

[EarthlingX]

spacefellowship.com : STS-131 Flight Day 15 Planned Activities

Published by Klaus Schmidt on Sun Apr 18, 2010 10:04 am

4:21 GMT (12:21 am EDT) – Discovery Crew Wake Up
7:46 GMT (3:46 am EDT) – Deorbit Preparations Begin
9:03 GMT (5:03 am EDT) – Payload Bay Door Closing
11:43 GMT (7:43 am EDT) – Discovery Deorbit Burn
12:35 GMT (8:35 am EDT) – MILA C-Band Radar Acquisition Of Discovery
12:48 GMT (8:48 am EDT) – Discovery Landing

Weather Forecast for Landing Not Promising

Mon, 19 Apr 2010 04:46:36 AM GMT

The crew’s wakeup call at 12:21 a.m. EDT was “The Star Spangled Banner,” played for Commander Alan G. Poindexter, who is wrapping up his second spaceflight. A U.S. Navy captain, Poindexter served as a pilot on STS-122 in February 2008. Forecasts for a landing at Kennedy Space Center are not promising, calling for high overcast and two layers of scattered clouds, as well as a chance of showers in the area. If needed, on Tuesday there are landing opportunities at Kennedy and the backup runway at Edwards Air Force Base, Calif. Weather permitting, the first landing opportunity in Florida is scheduled for today at 8:48 a.m.

(Still shot clip)
[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-pZq9aGmmVE[/youtube]

STS-131 MET = 13:18:52:00 ( 05:13 GMT )

STS-131 MET = 13:19:25:00
(just finished Australia pass, i will try to make video clip )

Weather report coming soon, ground team landing shift coming next.

STS-131 MET = 13:20:01:00

Landing team shift.

STS-131 MET = 13:20:04:00

Coming over Europe, trying to get images of Iceland.

Still image video clip, images from NASA TV :

(Xvid compression)
[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-kVvkLUvIIg[/youtube]

STS-131 MET = 13:20:23:00

STS-131 MET = 13:20:51:00

STS-131 MET = 13:21:13:00
Weather report. Currently no-go for landing, but improving. Tomorrow more optimistic.

STS-131 MET = 13:22:07:00
Payload door closing preparation complete.

STS-131 MET = 13:22:15:00
Weather reconnaissance aircraft report optimistic about cloud cover.

STS-131 MET = 13:22:22:00

Coming over Australia.

STS-131 MET = 13:22:33:00
'Go' for cargo bay closing.

STS-131 MET = 13:22:42:00
Cargo bay closed.

STS-131 MET = 13:22:56:00

STS-131 MET = 13:23:01:00
Landing software being loaded into Discovery's computers.

STS-131 MET = 13:23:32:00

Weather Forecast Hopeful for Discovery Landing

Mon, 19 Apr 2010 09:53:50 GMT

Mission controllers are still hopeful that space shuttle Discovery can safely return to Kennedy Space Center this morning. They are looking at a northeasterly flow that may keep any rain offshore. Astronaut Chris Ferguson is flying weather reconnaissance at KSC.

The crew is on the deorbit prep timeline and has closed the payload bay doors. Landing times for the first and second opportunities in Florida today are 8:48 a.m. and 10:23 a.m. EDT.

STS-131 MET = 13:23:42:00

http://www.wunderground.com : Weather on KSC

STS-131 MET = 13:23:45:00

STS-131 MET = 13:23:56:00

STS-131 MET = 13:23:57:00

 

[EarthlingX]

Mission Controllers Monitoring Weather Conditions

Mon, 19 Apr 2010 10:19:57 GMT

Mission Control Entry Flight Director Bryan Lunney and his team are overseeing Discovery’s systems and monitoring weather conditions at Kennedy Space Center’s Shuttle Landing Facility. Currently, conditions are “no go” due to showers in the vicinity. Astronaut Chris Ferguson is flying weather reconnaissance and reporting the results to Mission Control. Lunney and his team are expected to make a “go/no go” decision for the deorbit burn at about 7:30 a.m.
The burn would occur at 7:43 a.m. followed by a landing at Kennedy’s runway 33 at 8:48 a.m.

STS-131 MET = 14:00:04:00 (10:25 GMT)

STS-131 MET = 14:00:26:00

Weather at KSC.

STS-131 MET = 14:00:37:00

STS-131 MET = 14:00:39:00

First landing opportunity is off, going for second.

http://www.nasa.gov : STS-131 Landing Ground Tracks

Deorbit to Kennedy on Orbit 223 :

STS-131 MET = 14:00:45:00

Discovery's First Landing Opportunity Waved Off

Mon, 19 Apr 2010 11:05:10 GMT

Mission Control Entry Flight Director Bryan Lunney has decided to wave off the first landing opportunity for space shuttle Discovery because of precipitation and cloud coverage at Kennedy Space Center’s Shuttle Landing Facility.

The shuttle’s next landing opportunity is at 10:23 a.m. EDT, which would call for a 9:17 a.m. deorbit burn.

SDC : NASA Skips First Space Shuttle Landing Attempt Today

By Tariq Malik
SPACE.com Managing Editor
posted: 19 April 2010
07:15 am ET



NASA ordered astronauts aboard the space shuttle Discovery to skip their first landing attempt Monday because of rain and low clouds at their Florida landing site, leaving the shuttle one more chance to try to return to Earth today.

Discovery's crew of seven astronauts is returning to Earth after resupplying the International Space Station with tons of fresh supplies and new science equipment. NASA hoped to land the shuttle at the Kennedy Space Center in Florida at 8:48 a.m. EDT (1248 GMT), but thick clouds obscured the runway and rain showers were creeping too close to allow Discovery's return.

"We're going to wave off for the first opportunity today," Mission Control radioed the shuttle astronauts.

The shuttle is now targeted to land in Florida at 10:23 a.m. EDT (1423 GMT), though only if Mother Nature gives Discovery's astronauts a break in the weather.

STS-131 MET = 14:01:03:00

STS-131 MET = 14:01:14:00

STS-131 MET = 14:01:58:00

STS-131 MET = 14:02:02:00
Start fluid loading.

STS-131 MET = 14:02:09:00

Weather looking better, still looking at the fogs.

STS-131 MET = 14:02:17:00
20 min waiting for 'go' to start APU. (i think)

STS-131 MET = 14:02:35:00
Weather report to crew. 'No go' for de-orbit burn. Landing tomorrow.

Monday Landings Waved Off

Mon, 19 Apr 2010 13:03:51 GMT

Mission Control Entry Flight Director Bryan Lunney has given Discovery's seven astronauts a "no go" to perform the deorbit burn and decided to wave off the 10:23 a.m. EDT landing opportunity because of continued low cloud coverage at Kennedy Space Center's Shuttle Landing Facility.

The first Kennedy landing opportunity Tuseday is on orbit 237 with a deorbit burn at 7:31 a.m. and landing at 8:33 a.m. Edwards Air Force Base also is expected to be called up for Tuesday landing opportunities.

Image above: Weather conditions partially obscure this view of the Shuttle Landing Facility at Kennedy Space Center in Florida. Image credit: NASA TV

STS-131 MET = 14:02:43:00
Discovery's crew getting her ready for one more night in the orbit - getting ready to open the cargo bay doors.

STS-131 MET = 14:03:00:00
Cargo bay doors opened, continuing procedures for orbital stay.

STS-131 MET = 14:03:32:00
Landing time is in flux, alternative options being considered.

Monday Landings Waved Off

Mon, 19 Apr 2010 13:03:51 GMT

Mission Control Entry Flight Director Bryan Lunney has given Discovery's seven astronauts a "no go" to perform the deorbit burn and decided to wave off the 10:23 a.m. EDT landing opportunity because of continued low cloud coverage at Kennedy Space Center's Shuttle Landing Facility.
The first Kennedy landing opportunity Tuesday is on orbit 237 with a deorbit burn at 6:28 a.m. and landing at 7:34 a.m. Edwards Air Force Base also is expected to be called up for Tuesday landing opportunities.

STS-131 MET = 14:04:10:00
Finished with Shuttle preparations for orbital stay.

STS-131 MET = 14:04:29:00
Ground team shift change.

STS-131 MET = 14:04:57:00

 

[MeteorWayne]

KSC forecast frrom the NWS:

Tonight: A 20 percent chance of showers before midnight. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 61. Northeast wind between 5 and 10 mph.

Tuesday: A 30 percent chance of showers after 2pm. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 75. East wind around 10 mph.

Forecast discussion:

TONIGHT...AS SUNSET APPROACHES AND GOES BY EXPECT CONVECTION TO
DISSIPATE. WITH RESIDUAL MOISTURE AROUND AND SOME PARTIAL CLEARING
BELIEVE OVERNIGHT PATCHY FOG IS POSSIBLE LOCALLY AND HAVE INCLUDED
IN THE GRIDS FOR INTERIOR COUNTIES. SOME POCKETS OF LOW LEVEL
STRATUS MAY ALSO PLAGUE A FEW LOCATIONS...MAINLY ACROSS THE INTERIOR
BY EARLY TUE MORNING. OVERNIGHT MINS IN THE UPPER 50S TO LOWER 60S.

TUE...A WEAK SURFACE LOW WILL TRAVEL EASTWARD OVER THE GULF COAST
STATES. WITH RESIDUAL MOISTURE AROUND AS WELL UPPER LEVEL IMPULSES
AND AFTERNOON SEA BREEZE CIRCULATIONS SCATTERED SHOWER ACTIVITY IS
EXPECTED TO DEVELOP OVER EAST CENTRAL FLORIDA.

Hourly weather graph:

http://forecast.weather.gov/MapClick.ph ... =graphical

I won't bother with the sat photograph, since low clouds would not show well on the infrared images available in advance of the landing decision. If the sun is bright enough to show some on the visible image by morning, I'll add them then.

Two local radars:

This is the Melbourne Loop:
http://www.intellicast.com/National/Nex ... imate=true

It gives a good look at low level activity, but can be plagued by ground clutter, especially in clear air mode. The radar is located just south of the Cape, which is the bump on the right side of the Florida coastline.

This is from the other side of the state, so has no ground clutter, and because of the angle of the beam shows activity higher up in the atmosphere:

http://www.intellicast.com/National/Nex ... imate=true

 

[Testing]

Don't look good here.

http://forecast.weather.gov/MapClick.ph ... tType=text

 

[EarthlingX]

Loop for South-East Sector, other are at the bottom of the linked page ( shift-reload to refresh ) :

http://radar.weather.gov/Conus/southeast_loop.php

Deorbit to Kennedy on Orbit 237

Deorbit to Kennedy on Orbit 238

http://radar.weather.gov/Conus/pacnorthwest_loop.php

Deorbit to Edwards on Orbit 238

Deorbit to Edwards on Orbit 239

Deorbit to Edwards on Orbit 240

 

[Zipi]

STS-131 Ascent Highlights: (480p)
[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qFWZERMNC1k[/youtube]

STS-131 Mission Video Highlights: (720p HD)
[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f9TLiR0LbGY[/youtube]

 

[EarthlingX]

SDC : Space Shuttle Discovery Lands Safely in Florida

By Robert Z. Pearlman
SPACE.com Contributor
posted: 20 April 2010
09:19 am ET

This story was updated at 9:15 a.m. ET.



CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – Space shuttle Discovery landed safely in Florida on Tuesday morning to wrap up a 15-day delivery mission to the International Space Station (ISS), one of NASA's few remaining shuttle flights before the orbiter fleet retires later this year.

Shuttle commander Alan Poindexter guided Discovery to a 9:08 a.m. EDT (1308 GMT) touchdown at the Shuttle Landing Facility at NASA's Kennedy Space Center, following a flight path that took the shuttle over much of North America before avoiding rain showers falling over most of central Florida. Twin sonic booms broke through the morning sky to announce the shuttle's homecoming after a 6 million-mile trip.

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=22-Ji8_kDwg[/youtube]

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7lbfwNlrBjY[/youtube]

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U6B2SfRLCTI[/youtube]

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MuKiaw-t-LM[/youtube]

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vuzCiuOIzMc[/youtube]

 

[EarthlingX]

http://www.universetoday.com : Discovery Landing Pics

April 22nd, 2010

Written by Nancy Atkinson

OK, America. Where were you and your cameras Tuesday morning?? We wanted to post pictures from anyone who captured a view of space shuttle Discovery during its cross-country swoop towards landing. We did get one description from Spokane, Washington, and the few pictures we received — while wonderful — were taken from Kennedy Space Center.

Discovery, with contrails, on approach for landing. Image credit: Jen Scheer

Discovery on course for landing on April 20, 2010. Credit: Alan Walters (awaltersphoto.com) for Universe Today

 

[EarthlingX]

A friend from my sailing board posted this link of the ground handling of the Shuttle Stack prior to the STS=131 mission.

Notice the gymnastics needed to swing the Orbiter around into the correct High Bay.

http://gizmodo.com/5544749/stellar-dslr-time-lapse-of-a-space-shuttle-launch

Very cool

 

[EarthlingX]

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lWlIkqwOasE[/youtube]

 

[EarthlingX]

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qyeq0_9D8Wg[/youtube]

 

[EarthlingX]

www.universetoday.com : Sunrise to Sunset: Time-Lapse View from the ISS

Sep 28th 2010

by Nancy Atkinson

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oRHOZpjbgGs[/youtube]

Those lucky enough to have gone to space have come back with a changed perspective and reverence for the planet Earth. Unlike the time of the first space explorers, we now have video and still cameras streaming back images from space, and we can get an inkling of what Earth must look like up there from orbit . The International Space Station orbits the Earth, completing one trip around the globe every 92 minutes. Cruising along at 27,700 km (17,200 miles) per hour, the astronauts experience 15 or 16 sunrises and -sets every day. This sequence of time-lapse photographs reveals the views from roughly half an orbit of the International Space Station, beginning with sunrise over Northern Europe to sunset southeast of Australia, on April 12, 2010. Visible is the visiting space shuttle Discovery, during the STS-131 mission.

...