NASA - Space Shuttle - Missão STS-117

Vince

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Atlantis, STS-117 Crew Set to Return to Earth

Algumas fotos:


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http://spaceflight.nasa.gov/gallery/images/shuttle/


Atlantis, STS-117 Crew Set to Return to Earth

Landing day has arrived for space shuttle Atlantis and the STS-117 crew. Atlantis is scheduled to land at Kennedy Space Center, Fla., at 1:55 p.m. EDT.

Forecasters and flight controllers will be monitoring the weather closely today. There is a chance of thunderstorms of the Florida spaceport.

If flight controllers elect to take the 1:55 p.m. opportunity, Commander Rick Sturckow and Pilot Lee Archambault will perform the deorbit burn on Orbit 202 at 12:50 p.m. The other opportunity available on Thursday is Orbit 203, which calls for the deorbit burn at 2:25 p.m. and a 3:30 p.m. touchdown at Kennedy.

The STS-117 crew members are returning home from a construction mission to the International Space Station. They installed the Starboard 3 and 4 truss segment and conducted four spacewalks to activate it. During the third spacewalk, the crew repaired an out of position thermal blanket on the left orbital maneuvering system pod.

Atlantis also delivered a new station crew member, Flight Engineer Clayton Anderson. He replaced astronaut Suni Williams, who is the new record holder for a long-duration single spaceflight for a woman. She arrived at the station in December with STS-116.

STS-117 is the 118th shuttle mission and 21st mission to visit the space station. The next mission, STS-118, is slated to launch in August.


Deorbit to Kennedy on Orbit 202


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Deorbit to Kennedy on Orbit 203

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NASA TV

http://www.nasa.gov/multimedia/nasatv/index.html
 


Gerofil

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Aterragem de hoje do vaivém Atlantis comprometida por tempestades na Florida

O regresso do Vaivém Atlantis à Terra, prevista para hoje às 19:00 de Lisboa, está condicionado pelo aparecimento de tempestades na zona da aterragem na Florida, anunciou a NASA. A previsão meteorológica aponta para a formação de tempestades a 55 quilómetros e nuvens a 2,400 metros para a hora exacta da primeira oportunidade de aterragem do vaivém Atlantis no Kennedy Space Center.
O vaivém Atlantis tem outras seis oportunidades de aterrar em quatro dias. Na sexta-feira ou no sábado, as previsões meteorológicas apontam para uma melhoria das condições e abrem a possibilidade de aterragem na Florida. Caso as condições não sejam favoráveis serão activados locais de aterragem alternativos: sexta-feira na Califórnia ou sábado no Novo México.
A nave espacial tem energia suficiente para se manter em órbita até domingo, mas os responsáveis de voo querem que o Atlantis tenha aterrado até sábado. O voo só será prolongado até domingo, caso exista a necessidade de resolver problemas técnicos.
A missão na Estação Espacial Internacional estava prevista para durar 11 dias, mas foi alongada por mais dois por necessidade de reparar a cobertura térmica da nave que se descolou durante a descolagem.

LUSA
 

Vince

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O 1º slot das 18:54 (PT) não vai ser usado devido às nuvens e possibilidade de trovoada. Mas hoje há ainda mais uma oportunidade, às 20:29 (PT)

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First Landing Attempt Waved Off
Poor Weather Delays Landing; Next Opportunity at 3:30

An unfavorable weather forecast at Kennedy Space Center, Fla., forced flight controllers to pass on STS-117’s first landing opportunity. Hopes now turn to the day’s second opportunity at 3:30 p.m. EDT.

The culprit is thunderstorms in the vicinity of the Shuttle Landing Facility. Flight controllers and forecasters with the Spaceflight Meteorology Group continue to monitor weather conditions at and around the Shuttle Landing Facility at the Florida spaceport.

Chief Astronaut Steve Lindsey has been providing additional weather information while flying the Shuttle Training Aircraft in the vicinity of the landing facility.

If flight controllers give STS-117 the go-ahead to land on the second opportunity, Orbit 203, Commander Rick Sturckow and Pilot Lee Archambault will fire Atlantis’ thrusters at 2:25 p.m. to begin the descent to Florida.

If flight controllers wave off for a second time today, opportunities are available Friday in Florida and at Edwards Air Force Base in California.

Atlantis launched June 8 and arrived at the International Space Station June 10. While at the orbital outpost, the crew installed the Starboard 3 and 4 truss segment and conducted four spacewalks to activate it. During the third spacewalk, the crew repaired an out of position thermal blanket on the left orbital maneuvering system pod.

Atlantis also delivered a new station crew member, Flight Engineer Clayton Anderson. He replaced astronaut Suni Williams, who is the new record holder for a long-duration single spaceflight for a woman. She arrived at the station in December with STS-116.

STS-117 is the 118th shuttle mission and 21st mission to visit the space station. The next mission, STS-118, is slated to launch in August.


EDIT


2º slot também não foi usado. Aterragem adiada para amanhã às 19:18 (PT)

Bad Weather Pushes STS-117 Landing to Friday
The STS-117 crew is getting an extra day in space thanks to poor weather conditions at Kennedy Space Center, Fla. Space shuttle Atlantis has five landing opportunities available Friday, with the first at 2:18 p.m. EDT in Florida.

Thunderstorms in the vicinity of Kennedy forced flight controllers to wave off both opportunities today. Controllers and the Spaceflight Meteorology Group will closely monitor forecasts for Friday’s opportunities in Florida and at Edwards Air Force Base in California.

The first opportunity Friday is on Orbit 218 and calls for a deorbit burn at 1:16 p.m. The second is on Orbit 219, with the deorbit burn at 2:52 p.m. and landing at 3:54 p.m. at Kennedy.

If Florida weather does not cooperate, three opportunities are available at Edwards. The first is on Orbit 219. This afternoon, the crew will adjust Atlantis’ orbit to set the stage for this opportunity, which has the deorbit burn occurring at 2:46 p.m. and landing at 3:49 p.m.

The second opportunity for the California base is on Orbit 220. The deorbit burn would occur at 4:21 p.m. and landing at 5:24 p.m. The final opportunity is one orbit later which calls for the deorbit burn to occur at 5:58 p.m. and landing at 6:59 p.m.

Friday’s weather forecast for Kennedy calls for the threat of thunderstorms in the area and high winds are a possibility at Edwards. Opportunities are also available Saturday.

Atlantis launched June 8 and arrived at the International Space Station on June 10. While at the orbital outpost, the crew installed the Starboard 3 and 4 truss segment and conducted four spacewalks to activate it. During the third spacewalk, the crew repaired an out of position thermal blanket on the left orbital maneuvering system pod.

Atlantis also delivered a new station crew member, Flight Engineer Clayton Anderson. He replaced astronaut Suni Williams, who is the new record holder for a long-duration single spaceflight for a woman. She arrived at the station in December with STS-116.

STS-117 is the 118th shuttle mission and 21st mission to visit the space station. The next mission, STS-118, is slated to launch in August.
 

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Vaivém Atlantis tem hoje cinco oportunidades de aterragem

O vaivém Atlantis terá hoje cinco oportunidades de aterragem, depois de ter falhado na quinta-feira devido ao mau tempo na Florida, que obrigou a manter a equipa de sete astronautas no espaço por mais 24 horas. Além do Kennedy Space Center na Florida, o Atlantis poderá aterrar na Edwards Air Force Base, na Califórnia.
O vaivém terá a primeira oportunidade para aterrar às 19:18 (de Lisboa) na Florida e a última pelas 23:59 horas (de Lisboa) na Califórnia. Caso a aterragem falhe nestas cinco vezes, será activado outro local no Novo México para sábado.
As nuvens baixas e aguaceiros, que obrigaram o Atlantis a manter-se em órbita na quinta-feira, devem manter-se durante o dia de hoje e ventos fortes estão previstos para o longo do dia na Florida. A nave espacial tem energia suficiente para se manter em órbita até domingo, mas os responsáveis de voo querem que o Atlantis tenha aterrado até sábado. O voo só será prolongado até domingo, caso exista a necessidade de resolver problemas técnicos.
O local preferencial para a aterragem do Atlantis é na Florida, por tornar mais fácil e barata a próxima missão, agendada para Dezembro. O transporte da nave da Califórnia para a Florida custa 1,3 milhões de euros e é realizada num avião jumbo.

LUSA
 

Vince

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A NASA desistiu da Florida devido a esta situação da imagem e devido à presença do sistema extra-tropical a lest da Flórida seria pouco provável que a situação trouxesse melhoras para amanhã.

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Aterrar em Andrews envolve custos extra de mais de 1 milhão de dolares devido ao posterior transporte do Shuttle de regresso a Kennedy, mas a NASA prefere não arriscar.

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O Shuttle iniciou o processo de descida há uns minutos atrás, e vai aterrar em Andrews na Califórnia.


Mission Blog:
No mission blog vão explicando ao vivo as diversas manobras em curso, que basicamente são 6 fases distintas:

1) deorbit burn
2) entry interface
3) maximum heating
4) exit blackout
5) terminal area
6) approach and landing

http://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/shuttle/shuttlemissions/sts117/launch/index_Landing-blog.html

2:46 p.m. - The orbiter will perform a series of roll maneuvers, banking first to the right and then to the left to help slow down its speed as it descends for a landing.

2:43 p.m. - DEORBIT BURN!
Flight control confirms Atlantis' two engines are burning normally as the vehicle begins its descent toward Earth. During the burn, Atlantis flies upside down and backwards to decrease its speed.

2:30 p.m. - With less than 15 minutes left to go before the deorbit burn, Mission Control is in constant communication with astronaut Scott Altman, who is flying the Shuttle Training Aircraft, regarding the weather at Edwards.

2:23 p.m. - There are less than 20 minutes until the deorbit burn for Atlantis. The orbiter is being reoriented so its tail is in the direction of travel.

2:19 p.m. - Mission Control has given Atlantis the go for deorbit burn!

2:16 p.m. - Atlantis will shortly be given the command for deorbit burn scheduled for 2:43 p.m. EDT. The deorbit burn will slow Atlantis by 200 mph, causing it to fall out of orbit and begin the descent for landing.

2:12 p.m. - Fifty space shuttle missions have landed at Edwards Air Force Base. The most recent was STS-114, when Discovery landed at the California base in 2005.

The orbital maneuvering system engines are crucial for entry. The two engines housed in the pods at the end of the orbiter, act as a brake in space that allows the orbiter to fall into the atmosphere back to Earth.

1:57 p.m. - The landing time for Edwards would occur at 3:49 EDT, 12:49 PDT with deorbit burn a little less than an hour prior.

1:55 p.m. With NASA planning to land Atlantis at Edwards Air Force Base in California, the orbiter would fire its Orbital Maneuvering System engines at 2:43 p.m. EDT, 11:43 a.m. PDT.

1:50 p.m. - After assessing the weather data flight controllers had to wave off the second landing opportunity for Kennedy. The forecast for Edwards appears to be clear.

1:35 p.m. - Mission Control has given the crew the go ahead for fluid loading.

1:25 p.m. - If landing is scheduled for Edwards Air Force Base, a ferry flight to bring the orbiter back to Kennedy for processing could take place after about 7 days.

1:11 p.m. - Altman is flying a Shuttle Training Aircraft, a modified Gulfstream business jet. The aircraft is built to mimic the orbiter's glide to Earth. He can then relay to Atlantis what to expect if the orbiter should land at Edwards today.

12:53 p.m. - Astronauts Steve Lindsey and Scott Altman have taken to the skies on the east and west coast to monitor weather conditions for both Kennedy and Edwards landing opportunities.

Atlantis has two different runway options when landing at Kennedy: Runway 33 at the Shuttle Landing Facility is used when the orbiter comes in from the southeast and Runway 15 is used when it comes in from the northwest. The runway determination is largely based on wind direction and speed.

12:20 p.m. - Space Shuttle Atlantis is 213 statute miles above the Pacific Ocean in orbit around the Earth.

12:10 p.m. - The second landing opportunity at Kennedy would be at 3:55 p.m. and 3:49 p.m. EDT at Edwards. The flight controllers are weighing both options with Kennedy being the preferred landing site.

12:07 p.m. - Mission Control has waved off the first landing attempt at Kennedy. There are potential showers in the area of the landing facility violating weather constraints.

12 p.m. - Welcome to the coverage of the landing of Space Shuttle Atlantis, coming to you from the NASA News Center at Kennedy Space Center in Florida. The orbiter is set to land today after a challenging but successful mission to the International Space Station.

Both landing opportunities were waved off yesterday due to possible thunderstorm activity over the Florida landing site. There are five landing opportunities today; two at Kennedy and three at Edwards Air Force Base in California.
 

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NASA passes on second landing opportunity

NASA Mission Control says flight directors cannot get comfortable with the cloudy, rainy weather here at Kennedy Space Center and will be targeting landing at Edwards Air Force Base in California, reported the Florida Today space blog.
Deorbit burn would come at about 12:43 p.m. MDT for a 1:49 p.m. MDT landing at the Mojave Desert military base.
Updates to come.

El Paso Times

Vince
Obrigado pelo acompanhamento que fizeste da parte final. Não tinha ligação à internet mas tive a oportunidade de acompanhar a aterragem (20h50 em Portugal Continental) em directo pela EURONEWS.
Um abraço.
22.06.2007 (23h10)
Gerofil
 

Vince

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Faltam cerca de 8m para aterrar, já passou a fase mais complicada da reentrada.

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3:38 p.m - Atlantis is at 165,000 feet and traveling at 10,000 feet per second.

3:35 p.m. - Atlantis is traveling at a speed of 15,000 miles per hour.

3:29 p.m. - During reentry and landing, the orbiter is not powered by engines and flies like a high-tech glider, relying first on its steering jets and then its aerosurfaces to control the airflow around it.

3:25 p.m. - Atlantis is traveling at 16,500 miles per hour and will perform a series of roll maneuvers, banking first to the right and then to the left to help slow its speed as it descends toward landing. Early in this segment of reentry, the orbiter's orientation is controlled by the aft steering jets.

3:23 p.m. - Atlantis is traveling 25 times the speed of sound.

3:18 p.m. - Atlantis is approaching entry interface, which usually takes place at an altitude of about 80 miles and more than 5,000 statute miles from the landing site. At this point in the landing phase, the orbiter begins to feel the first effects of the Earth's atmosphere.

Sunita Williams is riding back to Earth lying on her back. She has lived in the weightless conditions aboard the International Space Station since December. It is common for astronauts returning from long-duration missions to recline during the return to Earth to ease the transition back to gravity.

3:10 p.m. - All APUs, or auxilliary power units are working normally. These units power pumps used to power Atlantis' hydraulic systems.

3:05 p.m. - After nearly two weeks in space, Atlantis and the crew are headed home.

There are six main events in the landing sequence: deorbit burn, entry interface, maximum heating, exit blackout, terminal area and approach and landing.

2:56 p.m. - The crew of STS-117 will be dumping excess fuel overboard.

2:53 p.m. - The Atlantis crew is now maneuvering the shuttle to the best position for landing on Runway 22 at Edwards. The orbiter is less than an hour from touchdown.

2:48 p.m. - The convoy of landing support vehicles is moving to the staging point on the runway at Edwards.

http://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/shuttle/shuttlemissions/sts117/launch/index_Landing-blog.html
 

Vince

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E acabou com sucesso a Missão STS-117...

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3:43 p.m. - The crew will now work through a checklist for shutting down the orbiter and "safing" the vehicle.

3:50 p.m. - Atlantis' wheels have come to a stop. Welcome home, Atlantis, after completing a journey of more than five million miles

3:49 p.m. - Touchdown! Atlantis has safely landed at Edwards Air Force Base in California.

3:43 p.m. - Commander Rick Sturckow is now controlling Atlantis and he has Runway 22 in sight
 

Minho

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O Video:


[VIDEO]mms://a1155.v18566a.c18566.g.vm.akamaistream.net/7/1155/18566/v0001/etouchsyst2.download.akamai.com/18355/wm.nasa-global/STS-117/ksc_062207_sts117_landing.wmv[/VIDEO]
 

Vince

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Se bem me lembra uma das ultimas missoes da discovery foi tb necessário aterrar na california. O que dá sempre uma imagem interessante, porém com alto custo...

E aqui está a foto do passado dia 1 de Julho do Atlantis à boleia dum 747 a descolar de Edwards para regressar à Florida.

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(c) Brian Lockett


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(c) NASA