Discovery's Payload Bay Doors are Closed
Wed, 09 Mar 2011 05:22:36 AM PST
Space shuttle Discovery’s payload bay doors are closed and everything continues to proceed on schedule for this morning’s landing attempt.
Weather currently is both forecast and observed “go.” Astronaut Rick Sturckow is flying weather reconnaissance at Kennedy Space Center , where winds are forecast to be high, but within limits for runway 15. Sturckow will fly runway approaches to assess conditions for Discovery’s landing. The winds from the southeast (130 degrees) are forecast to be 15 knots, peaking to 23 knots, providing a 10 knot crosswind and 21 knot headwind.
At this time, winds are only six knots, peaking to 12 knots. End of mission weather flight rules state that daylight crosswinds may not exceed 15 knots, headwinds may not exceed 25 knots and tailwinds may not exceed 15 knots. Also, peak winds may not be greater than 10 knots over the average wind.
At 8:22 a.m., Mission Control is expected to give a “go” for Discovery’s computers to begin running the Ops 3 entry software. At 8:52 a.m. a “go” is expected for crew suit up. The “go” for deorbit burn is expected by 10:32 a.m.
The deorbit burn is scheduled for 10:52:09 a.m. and will lead to a landing at 11:57:44.
Capcom to Commander, "The Weather Looks Great"
Wed, 09 Mar 2011 03:38:08 AM PST
Space shuttle Discovery’s crew continues to prepare for today’s expected landing at 11:57 a.m. EST at Kennedy Space Center ’s Shuttle Landing Facility (SLF). The entry team of flight controllers has been in Houston ’s Mission Control Center since 4:30 a.m. and deorbit preparations are scheduled to begin at 6:52 a.m.
Capcom Charlie Hobaugh told Discovery Commander Steve Lindsey, “The weather looks great.” Winds, the only issue, are within limits for runway 15, the northwest to southeast runway at the SLF.
Here is the updated forecast from Houston ’s Spaceflight Meteorology Group:
WEATHER SYNOPSIS:
High pressure over the eastern US will produce southeast winds gusting to 23 knots across KSC. These winds are within the flight rule limits for runway 15. Scattered low clouds will also be moving across the Shuttle Landing Facility.
Discovery Crew Gets Ready for Landing
Wed, 09 Mar 2011 12:43:21 AM PST
Space shuttle Discovery’s wakeup song for landing day was “Coming Home” by Gwyneth Paltrow, played for the entire crew and selected by the space station flight controllers in Mission Control.
Commander Steve Lindsey and his five crew members will begin deorbit preparations a little before 7 a.m. for their planned landing at 11:57 a.m. EST at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida .
Space Shuttle Mission : STS-133
Image above: The crew of space shuttle Discovery's STS-133 mission, the final flight for NASA's oldest active shuttle. The astronauts are, from left, Mission Specialists Nicole Stott and Michael Barratt, Pilot Eric Boe, Commander Steve Lindsey and Mission Specialists Alvin Drew and Steve Bowen. Image credit: NASA TV
› Larger Image
During space shuttle Discovery's final spaceflight, the STS-133 crew members delivered important spare parts to the International Space Station along with the Express Logistics Carrier-4.
Steve Bowen replaced Tim Kopra as Mission Specialist 2 following a bicycle injury on Jan. 15 that prohibited Kopra from supporting the launch window. Bowen last flew on Atlantis in May 2010 as part of the STS-132 crew. Flying on the STS-133 mission makes Bowen the first astronaut ever to fly on consecutive missions.
Additional STS-133 Resources
› STS-133 Press Kit (11.4 Mb PDF)
› STS-133 Mission Summary (778 Kb PDF)
› All the Orbiter News
STS-134 Mission Updates
› Latest News
STS-135 Mission Updates
› Latest News
Special Section: The Space Shuttle Era
› The Space Shuttle Era
› Space Shuttle Tribute Images
STS-133 Status Reports
· STS-133 MCC Status Report #27
03.09.11 - Discovery made its last landing this morning at Kennedy Space Center in Florida wrapping up a successful flight to the International Space Station and a 39-mission history covering 148.2 million miles during 365 days in space.
· STS-133 MCC Status Report #2603.09.11 - If the weather cooperates in Florida , Discovery will roll to its final wheel stop on Kennedy Space Center ’s Runway 15 this morning.
More: http://www.hsengine.com/s_TV+News.html
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