Weather could delay shuttle landing
Posted: Thu, May 21, 2009, 8:29 PM ET (0029 GMT)
Poor weather at the Kennedy Space Center in Florida could keep the shuttle aloft for an extra day and possibly force it to land in California. Atlantis is scheduled to land at KSC at 10:01 am EDT (1401 GMT) Friday, but current forecasts call for clouds and rain that would prevent a landing. If weather conditions are unacceptable Friday, shuttle managers plan to keep the shuttle in orbit another day and try on Saturday to land either at KSC or Edwards Air Force Base in California, where weather conditions are forecast to be good. Atlantis has enough supplies to remain in orbit until Monday. Shuttle managers also decided to stop preparations for a contingency launch of the shuttle Endeavour in the event a "rescue" mission was needed for Atlantis. Inspections of Atlantis's tiles and panels have turned up no damage that would pose a risk to reentry, eliminating the need for the rescue mission.
Poor weather at the Kennedy Space Center in Florida could keep the shuttle aloft for an extra day and possibly force it to land in California. Atlantis is scheduled to land at KSC at 10:01 am EDT (1401 GMT) Friday, but current forecasts call for clouds and rain that would prevent a landing. If weather conditions are unacceptable Friday, shuttle managers plan to keep the shuttle in orbit another day and try on Saturday to land either at KSC or Edwards Air Force Base in California, where weather conditions are forecast to be good. Atlantis has enough supplies to remain in orbit until Monday. Shuttle managers also decided to stop preparations for a contingency launch of the shuttle Endeavour in the event a "rescue" mission was needed for Atlantis. Inspections of Atlantis's tiles and panels have turned up no damage that would pose a risk to reentry, eliminating the need for the rescue mission.
Related Links:
| <<previous article | next article>> |
|
news in brief
|
|
Space Force picks 14 companies for GEO surveillance program
Posted: Sat, Apr 11 10:34 AM ET (1434 GMT) |
|
news links
|
|
Thursday, April 23
Firefly Aerospace moves into 3 new buildings in Cedar Park
KVUE-TV Austin, TX — 4:24 am ET (0824 GMT) ESA Formalizes European Defense Agency Links
Aviation Week — 4:23 am ET (0823 GMT) Plato aces space-like tests
ESA — 4:23 am ET (0823 GMT) In ‘major win’ for Alabama, $565 million set aside for Space Command design, construction
Huntsville Times — 4:22 am ET (0822 GMT) Trump taps defense firm execs to lead space acquisition, NRO
Breaking Defense — 4:19 am ET (0819 GMT) |
