STS 125

[David413]

Latest weather from SMG

Latest weather forecast from Spaceflight Met Group:

 

[DaveS]

Latest weather forecast from Spaceflight Met Group:

Well, I guess this will be the last day on-orbit. With only deteriorating weather conditions at KSC and EDW having a solid GO forecast, Atlantis will land at EDW today.

That's my take on the SMG's latest forecast.

 

[David413]

WAVE OFF! No landing on the first opportunity at KSC today...

---------- Post added at 12:35 PM ---------- Previous post was at 11:02 AM ----------

No landing today; we'll try again tomorrow.

 

[Netjetstech]

My guess is they REALLY want to land at KSC for quick turn-around.

They will land Sunday for sure, into Monday is pushing it in my opinion.

 

[David413]

SMG Forecast for 5/24

Here is the latest SMG forecast for today.

 

[David413]

And here is the latest observations at the Shuttle Landing Facility:

KTTS 240955Z 12002KT 10SM FEW015 FEW120 FEW300 22/22 A2997

 

[DaveS]

Landing will be at Edwards AFB as the weather is just too dynamic at KSC. So Atlantis will conclude the mission with a RWY22 landing at Edwards AFB.

 

[Andy44]

What time will the deorbit burn happen? (GMT)

EDIT: Got it. http://spaceflightnow.com/

1024 EDT/1424 Z Deorbit
1138 EDT/1538 Z Land

 

[DaveS]

What time will the deorbit burn happen? (GMT)

De-obit TIG is 1424 GMT, with landing at 1538 GMT.

 

[Andy44]

Burn start.

---------- Post added at 09:27 AM ---------- Previous post was at 09:25 AM ----------

Deorbit burn complete!

 

[Donamy]

Wow ! Atlantis looks pretty clean, after reentry.

 

[Andy44]

Rollout and wheelstop.

Awesome video, from over 80k ft to runway. It was also cool how you could see the vehicle's brakes grab at the end of the rollout and it rocked up and down on it's nose shock.

 

[myles]

Was the reentry from the original orbit altitude or did they lower their orbit?

 

[Donamy]

They lowered it.

 

[Omhra]

that was a perfect landing... wow Scooter...

 

[PaulG]

Question: In this video:

they show inspection of the orbiter. What are they inspecting and why are they breathing bottled air?

Also, why can't the rest of the crew start getting out of their suits? Why do they have to wait for the "go"?

 

[David413]

Was the reentry from the original orbit altitude or did they lower their orbit?

Following the release of the Hubble, after their two sep burns, they performed a significant burn (~234 fps retrograde) and lowered one side of the orbit. The approximate orbit was changed from Hubble's of 305 x 302 nm to one of 305 x 160 nm. Interestingly enough, the deorbit burn was performed nearer the apogee than the perigee. The orbit adjust was done mainly to lower the chances of a MMOD strike as there is more "stuff" at the higher altitude.

---------- Post added at 01:46 AM ---------- Previous post was at 01:43 AM ----------

What are they inspecting and why are they breathing bottled air?

Also, why can't the rest of the crew start getting out of their suits? Why do they have to wait for the "go"?

Initially the crew walks around the vehicle to make sure that there aren't any leaks of RCS fuel, etc. which produce hazardous vapors. The crew stays suited up for the same reason, once the 'all-clear' is provided the ground crew and the shuttle crew can then get out of their suits.

 

[Spicer]

David, just an FYI. Usually, in order to effect the PER, you would burn close to the APS. Simple orbital dynamics, my friend!

 

[tblaxland]

David, just an FYI. Usually, in order to effect the PER, you would burn close to the APS. Simple orbital dynamics, my friend!

The position in the orbit of the deorbit burn would be determined by the landing site position, not the apogee position. Granted, they might have tried to plan the initial orbit lowering manoeuvre so that it would leave the apogee near the predicted deorbit burn but it would be far from a sure thing, given weather delays.

 

[Pound4]

Space Shuttle woke up me and probably everyone else in the Antelope Valley yesterday... those sonic booms, landing the shuttle at 8:30 in the morning over here.

Great Job guys, and welcome home Atlantis!