Updates STS-133 Updates

[garyw]

Is anyone else hoping for a delay/extension so that endeavor is on the pad when discovery lands?

You got two days extension already. I think you'll need about two weeks for that to happen.

 

[Orbinaut Pete]

Two great FD-10 highlights videos from NASA, which include some great shots of PMM outfitting, HTV-2 trash loading, stowage reconfig, CDRA & OGS maintenance, and the COL1F2 ZSR transfer!

 

[Orbinaut Pete]

The hatches between the ISS & Discovery are now closed. Discovery will undock from the ISS for the final time tomorrow (Mon 7th) at 12:00 PM GMT.

Prior to hatch closure, the STS-133 crew conducted some Zero-G aerobatics in the now fully outfitted PMM, and then conducted the traditional farewell ceremony.

Video: STS-133 crew performs Zero-G aerobatics in PMM.​

Video: STS-133/Expedition 26 crew farewell ceremony.​

 

[orb]

Undocking in 1 hour. Here's calendar event for it.

Spaceflight Now:

• Shuttle crew gets 'Star Trek' sendoff before undocking
• Revision K of NASA TV schedule for STS-133 mission (PDF)
• NASA's humanoid Robonaut to be unpacked this month

 

[orb]

NASAtelevision:

• STS-133 Flight Day 11 Higlights - Shuttle Crew Bids Station Adieu:
  

  Flight Day 11 Higlights

• STS-133 Flight Day 12 Crew Wakeup - "Capt. Kirk" Wakes Discovery Crew:
  

  "Capt. Kirk" Wakes Discovery Crew

Ronsmytheiii:

• Undocking:
  

  STS-133 Space Shuttle Discovery leaves ISS for the last time

ReelNASA:

• Flyaround:
  

  STS-133 Flyaround

NASASpaceflight: STS-133: Discovery undocks for the final time, heads into Late Inspections

 

[orb]

Landing in 2 days. Landing at KSC15 is planned at 16:57:44 UTC / 11:57:44 a.m. EST on March 9. The second landing opportunity on that day is at 18:34:10 UTC / 1:34:10 p.m. EST.

Here's calendar event for landing, with start time set for deorbit burn on landing from orbit 202. It includes a couple of timers for major events between deorbit burn and landing and an alternate set for landing from orbit 203.
Here you can request a reminder for that calendar event.


NASA: Automated DOL PAD for STS-133

Converted STS-133 DOL PAD with metrical units, and UTC time:

[table="head;width=750"]{colsp=4}

Deorbit to KSC15 on orbit 202​

|{colsp=4}

Generated MET 065/21:40:05.819​

Event​

|{colsp=2}

Time​

|

Latitude​

|

Longitude​

|

Altitude​

|

Velocity​

|

Comments​

|

MET​

|

UTC​

|

D:M​

|

D:M​

|

km​

|

km/s​

|

TDRS-W AOS|12/17:56:24 |68/15:49:48 |

1:12 N​

|

86:00 E​

|

355.58​

| 7.68 VI|EI-36:09 [MM:SS]

Deorbit TIG|12/17:58:45|68/15:52:09|

6:05 S​

|

91:09 E​

|

356.70​

| 7.68 VI|ΔV = 84.12 m/s;

ΔT = 00:02:31;​

XR = R 53.7 km

EI|12/18:32:33|68/16:25:57|

28:47 S​

|

127:52 W​

|

121.58​

| 7.60 VREL|Range 8136 km

1st Roll Cmd. (R)|12/18:37:22|68/16:30:48|||| 7.62 VREL|80° roll

1st Roll Rev. (R2L)|12/18:44:38|68/16:38:04|||| 6.40 VREL|65° roll

2nd Roll Rev. (L2R)|||||| 3.35 VREL|

3nd Roll Rev. (R2L)|||||| 1.22 VREL|

MACH 2.5 TAEM|12/18:57:47|68/16:51:11|

28:09 N​

|

81:10 W​

|

25.48​

| 0.76 VREL|

MACH 1|12/18:59:59|68/16:53:23|

28:37 N​

|

80:47 W​

|

15.51​

| 0.27 VREL|HAC/IC-00:50 [MM:SS]

HAC I/C|12/19:00:49|68/16:54:13|

28:42 N​

|

80:42 W​

|

11.83​

| 0.24 VREL|Turn Angle 252°

Landing|12/19:04:20|68/16:57:44|

28:37 N​

|

80:42 W​

|

0.00​

||Runway KSC15[/table]

[table="head;width=750"]{colsp=4}

Deorbit to KSC15 on orbit 203​

|{colsp=4}

Generated MET 065/23:21:21.681​

Event​

|{colsp=2}

Time​

|

Latitude​

|

Longitude​

|

Altitude​

|

Velocity​

|

Comments​

|

MET​

|

UTC​

|

D:M​

|

D:M​

|

km​

|

km/s​

|

Deorbit TIG|12/19:36:00 |68/17:29:24 |

24:16 S​

|

82:24 E​

|

359.66​

| 7.68 VI|ΔV = 86.87 m/s;

ΔT = 00:02:36;​

XR = R 1518.6 km

TDRS-W AOS|12/19:36:45|68/17:30:09|

26:25 S​

|

84:26 E​

|

360.03​

| 7.65 VI|EI-31:49 [MM:SS]

EI|12/20:08:34|68/18:01:58|

14:46 S​

|

138:39 W​

|

121.62​

| 7.60 VREL|Range 7904 km

1st Roll Cmd. (R)|12/20:13:23|68/18:06:47|||| 7.62 VREL|80° roll

1st Roll Rev. (R2L)|12/20:30:29|68/18:23:53|||| 2.13 VREL|44° roll

2nd Roll Rev. (L2R)|||||| 1.22 VREL|

3nd Roll Rev. (R2L)||||||

N/A​

|

MACH 2.5 TAEM|12/20:34:10|68/18:27:34|

29:00 N​

|

81:23 W​

|

25.69​

| 0.76 VREL|

MACH 1|12/20:36:19|68/18:29:43|

28:43 N​

|

80:50 W​

|

16.06​

| 0.27 VREL|HAC/IC-00:12 [MM:SS]

HAC I/C|12/20:36:31|68/18:29:55|

28:42 N​

|

80:48 W​

|

15.24​

| 0.27 VREL|Turn Angle 328°

Landing|12/20:40:46|68/18:34:10|

28:37 N​

|

80:42 W​

|

0.00​

||Runway KSC15[/table]


[table="head"]{colsp=3}

Groundtracks - Click on images for larger versions​

{colsp=3}Deorbit to Kennedy on Orbit 202:

Long-range​

|

Mid-range​

|

Close-range​

||

{colsp=3}Deorbit to Kennedy on Orbit 203:

Long-range​

|

Mid-range​

|

Close-range​

||[/table]​

Check this out - Google Maps/Earth are currently showing Discovery at the pad, yet before rollback to VAB for external tank repairs (picture for the map taken on Dec. 6 2010):
[ame="http://maps.google.com/maps?ll=28.608292,-80.604031&spn=0.001183,0.001635&t=h&z=20"]Google Maps - LC-39A[/ame]

 

[Orbinaut Pete]

I just saw Discovery flying formation with the ISS. That was the last sighting opportunity for the UK before Discovery lands.

It was very emotional, knowing that was the last time I'll ever see her fly.

I want to say thank you to Discovery, thank you for all that you've done, and thank you for giving me my interest in space exploration.

So long, Discovery. I don't know when or where we'll meet again, but something tells me that we will.

 

[dougkeenan]

"We'll always have Orbiter."

 

[Fabri91]

Another video not to be left unseen!

[/youtube]

 

[Cairan]

I have to say Discovery was my favorite... for lots of reasons, but of course it has a little to do with the concept of going to space to discover new realms and expand both human knowledge and presence in this Universe; also because Discovery was twice the cowboy that jumped back on the horse after falls (post-Challenger and post-Columbia); and lastly because of the association with 2001/2010 movies and books...

Watching the ascent highlights makes me happy to be close to the SLF and to have the opportunity to be here when the airwaves carry for one last time "Discovery, wheel stop".

 

[Dambuster]

Same here - as long as I can remember (which isn't all that long, but meh!), Discovery's always been my favourite. I'll probably never know why she is, but I'll miss her!

 

[astrosammy]

My favourite seems to change with every mission. But I guess it will always be Discovery now.

 

[lindemherz]

Discovery - the first shuttle I saw being launched, back when I was a munchkin in '93. Saw her going up for 114 also, and it broke my heart not being there for her last launch.

I'm gonna cry like a baby when I hear that "wheel stop"

 

[orb]

SpaceVidsNet:

• Flight Day 13 Wakeup Call - "Blue Sky" performed live in the Space Shuttle Flight Control Room by Big Head Todd and the Monsters:
  

  Flight Day 13 Wakeup Call

Spaceflight Now:

• Shuttle Discovery astronauts enjoy 'live' wakeup call
• Revision L of NASA TV schedule for STS-133 mission (PDF)

CBS News Space: Discovery crew enjoys 'live' wakeup tune; packs for re-entry

Florida Today - The Flame Trench: Discovery Set For Final Full Day In Space

Florida Today: Discovery prepares for last trip home

 

[diogom]

Anyone else noticed they're landing on Yuri Gagarin's birthday?

 

[orb]

NASAtelevision:

• FD13 Mission Status Briefing - Discovery's Final Landing Preps Outlined:
  

  Discovery's Final Landing Preps Outlined

• Something I forgot to post earlier - Flight Day 12 Highlights - Discovery Heads for Home:
  

  Flight Day 12 Highlights

• Discovery Crew "Meets" Media on Way Home (updated with sound):
  

  Discovery Crew "Meets" Media on Way Home

SPACE.com:

• Amazing Skywatching Photos: Shuttle Discovery in Space for the Last Time
• Rock Band Serenades Discovery Astronauts With Out-of-This-World Music
• Astronauts Prepare Shuttle Discovery for One Last Landing

NASA: NASA Hosts STS-133 Song Contest Winner Live In Mission Control

NASASpaceflight: MAJESTIC Discovery celebrates one final day in orbit

CBS News Space: Discovery astronauts reflect on veteran shuttle's final voyage
/
Spaceflight Now: Shuttle crew reflects on the legacy of Discovery

Florida Today - The Flame Trench: Discovery heat shields cleared for return home

 

[Orbinaut Pete]

My personal pick of stunning flyaround images! Check out the views of HTV-2 and ATV-2 - just breathtaking! :thumbup:

Hi-res version.

Hi-res version.

Hi-res version.

Hi-res version.

Hi-res version.

Hi-res version.

 

[Cairan]

Ok so for the landing tomorrow, anyone around Central Florida going to get around KSC and the SLF to be "there" when it happens? I'm hesitating between going to the Pad observation platform east of the VAB that you can get to by tour bus from the KSC Visitor center; or go park at the intersection of Kennedy Pkwy and Max Brewer Pkwy... Any other ideas, or any one up to meet there?

 

[Dambuster]

Does anyone know what music was played for the crew this morning?

Edit: Just found it on NSF:

Wakeup song is "Coming Home" by Gwyneth Paltrow, for the entire crew, picked by the ISS flight control team.

 

[orb]

Payload bay doors are being closed now. Deorbit burn for 1st landing opportunity in 2 hours 35 minutes, and landing in 3 hours 40 minutes.




NASAtelevision:

• STS-133 Flight Day 13 Highlights - Shuttle Crew Preps for Wednesday Landing:
  

  STS-133 Flight Day 13 Highlights

CBS News Space:

• Shuttle cleared for Wednesday landing; good weather expected
• Shuttle Discovery prepped for final landing

Spaceflight Now:

• Shuttle Discovery heading home for Florida landing
• Flight Day 12 photo gallery (PHOTO GALLERY)

Florida Today - The Flame Trench:

• Discovery set for final return home today
• Discovery Prepped For Last Landing