Mon, Jul 17, 2006
ANN REALTIME UPDATE 07.17.06 0915 EDT: These guys make it look
so easy... as moments ago, the shuttle Discovery came in for a
picture-perfect landing on Runway 15 at Kennedy Space Center in
Florida.
Next up for the shuttle program: the late September launch of
the shuttle Atlantis... and, Discovery should return to the skies,
as well, before the end of this year.
To everyone at NASA... way to go!
ORIGINAL REPORT
ANN REALTIME REPORTING 07.17.06 0815 EDT: Discovery has just
fired its main engines to slow its orbit around Earth, and is on
track for a 9:14 am EDT landing at the Kennedy Space Center in
Florida.
The engine firing followed the closing of Discovery’s
payload bay doors at 5:35 am.
Discovery is expected to touchdown at KSC in about an hour from
now. Flight controllers authorized Discovery to fire its engines
for the deorbit burn at the first opportunity, as skies within 30
miles of the Shuttle Landing Facility remain free of rain.
Some high cloudcover is evident in video feeds from NASA, but it
is not expected to pose a problem. NASA reports few clouds at
11,000 feet, with a slight quartering tailwind for landing on
Runway 33.
NASA also reports that despite problems with two of Discovery's
three auxiliary power units over the past few days, all three APUs
are functioning normally for reentry.
Over their 13-day mission that started July 4, Discovery and its
six astronauts visited the International Space Station. They
delivered supplies, equipment and a new Expedition 13 crew member
to the orbital outpost. During three spacewalks, the crew performed
maintenance on the station’s mobile transporter and tested
orbiter heat shield repair techniques.
More News
From 2023 (YouTube Version): Legacy of a Titan Robert (Bob) Anderson Hoover was a fighter pilot, test pilot, flight instructor, and air show superstar. More so, Bob Hoover was an i>[...]
Get The Latest in Aviation News NOW on Instagram Are you on Instagram yet? It's been around for a few years, quietly picking up traction mostly thanks to everybody's new obsession >[...]
Aero Linx: B-52H Stratofortress The B-52H Stratofortress is a long-range, heavy bomber that can perform a variety of missions. The bomber is capable of flying at high subsonic spee>[...]
Altimeter Setting The barometric pressure reading used to adjust a pressure altimeter for variations in existing atmospheric pressure or to the standard altimeter setting (29.92).>[...]
"Knowing that we play an active part in bettering people's lives is extremely rewarding. My team and I are very thankful for the opportunity to be here and to help in any way we ca>[...]