STS-125/HST SM-4 MISSION ARCHIVE (FINAL)
Updated through: 05/27/09
By William Harwood
CBS News/Kennedy Space Center
The following copy originally was posted on the Current Mission space
page at http://cbsnews.com/network/news/space/current.html.
Comments, suggestions and corrections welcome!
TABLE OF CONTENTS
5/24/09: Shuttle Atlantis lands in California
5/24/09: Atlantis diverted to Edwards Air Force Base
5/24/09: Atlantis landing delayed one orbit
5/24/09: Florida weather better, but still uncertain
5/24/09: Astronauts ready shuttle for third landing try
5/23/09: Deorbit timelines for Sunday
5/23/09: WAVEOFF - Atlantis crew told to delay landing to Sunday; Bolden nominated NASA administrator
5/23/09: Atlantis slips first Florida landing opportunity
5/23/09: Astronauts prepare for re-entry
5/22/09: Updated Saturday landing times; entry timeliness
5/22/09: Shuttle landing attempt called off; entry delayed to at least Saturday
5/22/09: WAVEOFF! Shuttle entry delayed by at least one orbit
5/22/09: Astronauts gear up for landing
5/21/09: Endeavour released from rescue duty; flight director outlines Atlantis landing strategy
5/21/09: Atlantis astronauts pack up, test re-entry systems
5/20/09: Atlantis heat shield cleared for entry; Obama hails successful Hubble repair
5/20/09: With rainy weather expected, astronauts conserve power in case Friday landing delayed
5/20/09: Astronauts enjoy off-duty day; crew news conference
5/19/09: Hubble scientist criticizes NASA's post-shuttle Constellation program; laments shuttle retirement
5/19/09: Hubble Space Telescope released from shuttle Atlantis
5/18/09: EVA No. 5 ends; Grunsfeld hails Hubble
5/18/09: Astronauts install insulation panels, complete Hubble servicing
5/18/09: Fine guidance sensor installed; astronauts press ahead with insulation panels
5/18/09: Hubble battery replacement complete
5/18/09: Spacewalk No. 5 begins
5/18/09: Astronauts prepare for final spacewalk
5/17/09: EVA No. 4 ends
5/17/09: Repaired spectrograph passes 'aliveness' test
5/17/09: Astronauts turn to plan C - muscle power - to free stuck bolt
5/17/09: Stripped bolt trips up Hubble instrument repair
5/17/09: EVA No. 4 begins
5/17/09: Astronauts prep for fourth spacewalk
05/16/09: Engineers evaluating data from ACS wide-field camera functional test
05/16/09: Grunsfeld pulls off tricky camera repair
05/16/09: End of one era, start of another: Cosmic Origins Spectrograph replaces COSTAR in Hubble Space Telescope
05/16/09: Spacewalk No. 3 begins
05/16/09: Grunsfeld, Feustel gear up for instrument installation, camera repair
05/15/09: Spacewalk No. 2 ends
05/15/09: Astronauts, behind schedule, agree to extend spacewalk to get Hubble battery pack installed
05/15/09: Two new gyro packs, one refurbished unit installed on Hubble
05/15/09: Spacewalk No. 2 begins
05/15/09: Massimino, Good prepare for EVA-2
05/14/09: Spacewalk No. 1 ends
05/14/09: Replacement science computer installed
05/14/09: New camera installed; passes 'aliveness' test
05/14/09: After high drama, astronauts remove old camera from Hubble
05/14/09: Spacewalk No. 1 begins
05/14/09: Astronauts set for first Hubble spacewalk
05/13/09: Shuttle tiles, blankets in good shape for entry; wing leading edge analysis continues
05/13/09: Shuttle Atlantis grapples Hubble Space Telescope
05/13/09: Shuttle enters final stages of Hubble rendezvous
05/13/09: Atlantis closes in on Hubble Space Telescope
05/12/09: NASA rules out focused inspection of damaged tiles
05/12/09: Atlantis tile damage assessed; initial indications not serious
05/12/09: Booster flame deflector damaged during Atlantis launch
05/12/09: Astronauts gear up for heat shield inspection
05/11/09: Shuttle in good shape after launch; no signs of impact damage
05/11/09: Shuttle Atlantis launches on Hubble servicing mission
05/11/09: Shuttle fueling complete; crew straps in
05/11/09: Shuttle fueling begins
05/10/09: Weather improves to 90 percent 'go'
05/9/09: STS-125 Mission Preview Package
05/9/09: Weather in Spain improves slightly; countdown proceeding smoothly
05/8/09: Engineers set to start shuttle countdown
04/30/09: NASA managers clear Atlantis for May 11 launch; first major shuttle retirement layoffs planned
04/24/09: Shuttle managers agree to retarget shuttle launch for May 11
04/24/09: Engineers assess tool impact on shuttle payload bay door radiator
04/22/09: NASA considers moving shuttle launch date up one day
04/17/09: Shuttle Endeavour hauled to pad 39B for Hubble rescue duty
04/16/09: Orbital debris risk for Hubble flight less severe than expected
04/13/09: NASA plans to stop work protecting option for shuttle extension past 2010 deadline; will focus on nine flights between now and end of calendar 2010
04/10/09: Shuttle Endeavour, Hubble rescue shuttle, moved to VAB
03/31/09: Shuttle Atlantis hauled to launch pad
10/30/08: Endeavour cleared for 11/14 launch; Hubble mission delayed to at least May
12/04/08: Hubble servicing mission officially retargeted for May 12
10/30/08: Endeavour cleared for 11/14 launch; Hubble mission delayed to at least May
10/23/08: Endeavour hauled from pad 39B to 39A
10/23/08: Hubble engineers restart payload computer; gear up for instrument power up in wake of glitches last week
10/21/08: Engineers not yet sure what to do about Hubble glitches
10/20/08: Atlantis moved back to VAB
10/17/08: Initial Hubble reboot goes smoothly but anomalies interrupt reactivation
10/14/08: Engineers gear up for critical commanding to switch Hubble to backup electronics
10/3/08: NASA shoots for Nov. 14 Endeavour launch
09/29/08: NASA assesses February - or later - launch for Hubble servicing mission; optimistic new repair can be added to busy mission
09/29/08: Hubble science data control system fails; NASA assesses shuttle servicing options (UPDATED at 2:30 p.m. with launch delay)
09/26/08: Launch window update
09/24/08: NASA delays next two shuttle missions to make up for time lost to Hurricane Ike
09/23/08: Shuttle commander says crew needs to make up training lost because of hurricane
09/22/08: Launch slip likely; shuttle crew preps for countdown test; Endeavour at pad 39B; Hubble payload delivered to pad 39A
09/17/08: Hubble instrument carrier contamination issue assessed; payload delivery delayed at least 24 hours
09/13/08: NASA assesses hurricane damage at Johnson Space Center
09/11/08: JSC braces for Hurricane Ike; backup control center activated; STS-125 readiness review delayed
09/11/08 Update: National Hurricane Center projected track of Hurricane Ike passing the Johnson Space Center
09/5/08: Launch delayed two days to accommodate Hubble payload processing
09/4/08: Shuttle Atlantis hauled to launch pad
08/29/08: Shuttle rollout delayed by Hurricane Hanna
08/24/08: Shuttle Atlantis moved to VAB; engineers discuss sound heard during STS-126 tank rotation
08/14/08: NASA sticks with Oct. 8 launch date for STS-125
07/25/08: NASA modifies launch date 'change request' to move up next two shuttle launchings
07/7/08: NASA unveils revised shuttle manifest; Shannon optimistic about completing program on time
06/26/08: Launch pad repair plan approved; no impact on Hubble servicing mission launch
06/16/08: Pad repair likely will involve brick removal, application of spray-on Fondu Fyre
1:15 PM, 5/24/09, Update: Shuttle Atlantis lands in California (UPDATED with quotes and details from post-landing news conference)
Delayed two days by stormy Florida weather, the shuttle Atlantis glided to a California landing today, closing out a successful mission to overhaul the Hubble Space Telescope with a picture-perfect Mojave Desert touchdown.
With commander Scott Altman and pilot Gregory C. Johnson at the controls, Atlantis crossed the coast of California northwest of Los Angeles on a steep descent to Edwards Air Force Base, rattling the countryside with twin sonic booms.
Taking over manual control at an altitude of about 50,000 feet, Altman guided the shuttle through a sweeping 200-degree left-overhead turn to line up on runway 22 at the fabled Air Force test center.
As Altman flared the shuttle's descent and pulled its nose up slightly on final approach, Johnson lowered the landing gear and Atlantis settled to a smooth touchdown at 11:39:05 a.m. EDT to close out NASA's final mission to Hubble.
Space shuttle Atlantis on final at Edwards Air Force Base (Photo: NASA TV)
"Houston, Atlantis, wheels stopped, Edwards, 22!" Altman radioed mission control at the Johnson Space Center as Atlantis rolled to a halt.
"Welcome home, Atlantis," astronaut Gregory H. Johnson replied from Houston. "Congratulations on a very successful mission, giving Hubble a new set of eyes that will continue to expand our knowledge of the universe."
"Thank you, Houston, it was a thrill from start to finish," Altman said. "We've had a great ride. It took a whole team across the country to pull it off. Our hats are off to you all. Thank you so much."
Mission duration was 12 days 21 hours 37 minutes and nine seconds for a flight covering 5.2 million miles and 197 complete orbits since blastoff May 11 from Florida's Kennedy Space Center.
"I didn't realize it was going to be so hard to get back to the Earth!" Altman said after a brief walk-around inspection of the shuttle. "We're all thrilled to have the mission complete."
Altman, Johnson, flight engineer Megan McArthur and spacewalkers John Grunsfeld, Michael Massimino, Andrew Feustel and Michael Good planned to fly back to Houston late today or early Monday for reunions with family and friends.
"Now and only now can we declare this mission a total success," said Ed Weiler, NASA's associate administrator for space science. "We've now entered the second chapter of the great American comeback story.
"This mission ... was canceled Jan. 16, 2004," he said, referring to post-Columbia safety concerns. "If you'd have told me on that day I'd be sitting here five years later with a totally successful five-EVA mission, with a brand new Hubble once again that will probably operate well into the third decade of its life, I wouldn't have bet you a penny. But Hubble is the great American comback story, chapter two."
Weiler said engineers at the Goddard Space Flight Center's Space Telescope Operations Control Center are in the process of testing Hubble's new instruments and subsystems and "everything is going very smoothly, no problems so far."
Landing in California will add a week to 10 days to Atlantis' processing for its next mission in November and cost NASA about $1.8 million. It also will delay access to an electronics box that failed at launch May 11. Engineers want to make sure a short circuit affecting the aerosurface actuator in question will not affect any systems aboard the shuttle Endeavour, scheduled for launch June 13.
Mike Moses, director of shuttle integration at the Kennedy Space Center, said he is confident the issue will be resolved in time for Endeavour's flight. Likewise, launch Director Mike Leinbach said Atlantis' diversion to Edwards will have no direct impact on Endeavour's processing.
Because Endeavour was on hot standby for launch on an emergency rescue mission in case the Atlantis astronauts ran into any major problems, much of its launch processing is already complete.
"One of the key things we did in the processing meetings was make sure we had a sufficient work force to go out to California, process Atlantis and get her ready to come home in addition to processing Endeavour here," he said. "When you think about it, there's not much left to do on Endeavour."
Engineers plan to move Endeavour from launch pad 39B to pad 39A next Friday. A flight readiness review is on tap June 3.
"A lot of the work on Endeavour's already done, we've got a good head start on that," Leinbach said. "Without a doubt, we have sufficient people to process them, make that 13th launch date. It's just not an issue for us."
Altman and company had hoped to close out the 126th shuttle mission Friday with a landing at the Kennedy Space Center. But low clouds and thundershowers at the Florida spaceport forced entry Flight Director Norm Knight to order a waveoff in hopes of better conditions Saturday.
The astronauts ran into more of the same Saturday. Knight considered diverting the crew to Edwards then, but ended up deciding the wave off another day in hopes of better weather Sunday. Atlantis had enough on-board supplies to remain in orbit through Monday and forecasters were predicting slightly better conditions in Florida for the crew's third attempt.
Conditions were, in fact, better but with offshore clouds and rain threatening to move into the landing zone, Knight ordered another waveoff and diverted the crew to Edwards to close out a high-stakes mission that left the Hubble Space Telescope in its best health since launch in 1990.
Over the course of five back-to-back spacewalks, the Atlantis astronauts installed two new instruments, repaired two others, replaced the observatory's six batteries and stabilizing gyroscopes, installed a new star sensor, a replacement science computer and three insulation panels.
Engineers at the Space Telescope Operations Control Center say it will take weeks to calibrate and test the new instruments and return Hubble to normal service. The first images from the refurbished telescope are expected in early September.
"Hubble has been a roller coaster ride going all the way back to the '80s," Weiler told CBS News. "It's mighty sweet to see (Atlantis' mission) happen, it's even sweeter to see it happen successfully."
The upgrades should permit Hubble to operate an additional five years, and possible 10, Weiler said.
"We've got new gyros, new instruments, old instruments that were dead and are now alive, what more could you ask for?" he said. "It's sad to know this is the end of an era. It's not the end of Hubble, it's the beginning of the new Hubble. But it's the last time we'll be servicing the Hubble with (the shuttle). And that's sad.
"But on the other hand, we've had a good ride. It was supposed to be a 10- to 15-year mission. We're in our 19th year, we may get 29 years. That's not a bad return on investment."
Atlantis' landing kicks off a busy few weeks for NASA. On Wednesday, at 6:34 a.m. EDT, the Russians plan to launch the Soyuz TMA-14 spacecraft from the Baikonur Cosmodrome carrying three additional astronauts and cosmonauts to the International Space Station, boosting the lab's crew to six for the first time.
Expedition 19 commander Gennady Padalka, flight engineer Michael Barratt, a NASA physician-astronaut, and Japanese astronaut Koichi Wakata will be joined by Roman Romanenko, a second-generation cosmonaut, European Space Agency astronaut Frank De Winne of Belgium and Canadian Space Agency astronaut Robert Thirsk.
At the Kennedy Space Center, meanwhile, engineers plan to follow the Soyuz launch with Endeavour's takeoff on a five-spacewalk assembly mission. Because of temperature constraints related to the station's orbit, NASA will only have one week to get Endeavour off the ground or the flight will be delayed to mid July.
10:05 AM, 5/24/09, Update: Atlantis diverted to Edwards Air Force Base
At 10:02 a.m., astronaut Gregory H. Johnson in mission control at the Johnson Space Center told the Atlantis astronauts to pass up a second and final chance to land at the Kennedy Space Center today and instead the prepare for a deorbit rocket firing at 10:24:41 a.m. Landing at Edwards Air Force Base in California's Mojave Desert is expected around 11:39 a.m. EDT.
Weather at the Kennedy Space Center was marginal today and while flight controllers initially held out hope of getting Atlantis home to Florida, entry Flight Director Norm Knight decided conditions were too unstable to reliably predict, and the crew was ordered to Edwards. The weather in California is ideal, with clear skies and light winds.
8:30 AM, 5/24/09, Update: Atlantis landing delayed one orbit
Despite better weather today in Florida, conditions were too unstable to reliably predict and entry Flight Director Norm Knight decided to delay the shuttle Atlantis return to Earth by one more orbit, setting the stage for a landing in either Florida or California.
"We are going to wave off this rev," astronaut Gregory H. Johnson radioed from mission control. "The weather is looking good at KSC, but not good enough for us to get comfortable. The atmosphere is unstable. As the temperature rises, it's going to approach the trigger point to trigger off thunderstorms. You've got a forecast of thunderstorms within 30 (nautical miles) and so we are going to target KSC and Edwards, we're going to keep both options open for the next rev."
"OK, Houston, we copy, we're waving off this rev. Thanks," commander Scott Altman called down from orbit.
The astronauts have an opportunity to land at Edwards Air Force Base, Calif., on the next orbit, at 11:38 a.m. EDT, and an opportunity to land at Kennedy, at 11:48 a.m. A decision must be made before the deorbit rocket firing to Edwards, targeted for 10:24 a.m.
7:45 AM, 5/24/09, Update: Florida weather better, but still uncertain
The weather is better today at the Kennedy Space Center as the shuttle Atlantis' first Florida landing opportunity approaches. A low deck of broken clouds has not yet materialized over the shuttle runway, but it's not yet clear whether off-shore clouds and showers will move on shore as predicted.
NASA flight rules forbid an entry attempt if rain is seen within 30 nautical miles of the runway and that is clearly an issue. The weather at NASA's backup landing site at Edwards Air Force Base, Calif., is ideal.
To make the first Florida landing opportunity, commander Scott Altman and pilot Gregory C. Johnson must fire Atlantis' twin orbital maneuvering system braking rockets for two minutes and 29 seconds starting at 8:57:06 a.m. That would set up a touchdown on runway 33 around 10:09:28 a.m.
If the weather doesn't cooperate, or if conditions are too dynamic to reliably predict, entry Flight Director Norm Knight will wave off the first landing attempt and send the crew around the planet again. Two landing opportunities will be available at that point, one at Edwards at 11:389 a.m. and the other at Kennedy at 11:48 a.m.
5:30 AM, 5/24/09, Update: Astronauts ready shuttle for third landing try
Delayed two days by stormy weather in Florida, the Atlantis astronauts rigged the shuttle for re-entry again today, prepared to head for California if necessary to finally close out their Hubble Space Telescope repair mission.
The crew has two opportunities to land at Florida's Kennedy Space Center today, the first at 10:09 a.m. and the second at 11:48 a.m., and two at Edwards Air Force Base, Calif., one at 11:38 a.m. EDT and the other at 1:17 p.m. EDT.
The astronauts were awakened shortly after 1 a.m. by a recording of Richard Wagner's "Ride of the Valkyries" beamed up from mission control by the overnight planning shift.
"And Houston, we want to take a minute before you guys go off shift to say thank you for staying with us through this weekend," commander Scott Altman said later. "I know it's meant a lot of folks spent the weekend in MCC (mission control center) instead of at the beach for the Memorial Day weekend. We appreciate the sacrifices that are being made to support us while we're continuing to go around. We surely do appreciate it."
The Spaceflight Meteorology Group at the Johnson Space Center in Houston is predicting a chance of thundershowers within 30 nautical miles of the Kennedy Space Center runway and a deck of broken clouds at 3,500 feet, both violations of NASA's entry flight rules. The forecast for Edwards Air Force Base in California's Mojave Desert calls for clear skies and light winds.
"We're marching into deorbit prep," astronaut Gregory H. Johnson radioed from mission control just before 5 a.m. "We've gotten an initial weather brief on KSC. It's a similar pattern to yesterday. We are going to march down just like we did yesterday to (payload bay) door closure (around 6:15 a.m.) and see where we get. We're also closely watching Edwards, orbit 197, that's the first opportunity into Edwards. So (we're) looking at KSC for the first rev and then your second orbit, we'll be looking at KSC and Edwards."
"OK, Houston," Altman replied. "That's kind of what I expected. Basically, look at the first orbit to KSC and then make a call on the second orbit for Edwards or KSC."
"Yes, and to wrap that up with a bow, Scooter, the weather at Edwards is looking great," Johnson said.
"OK, that's nice to know, that Edwards is solid as a backup."
"Roger, the sky is clear out there in California and the wind is right down the runway at about 17 knots."
"Sounds good," Altman said.
The astronauts originally hoped to land Friday, but low clouds and thundershowers from a low pressure system forced entry Flight Director Norm Knight to order a one-day wave off. Conditions were roughly the same Saturday and Knight considered diverting the crew to California. But in the end, despite a marginal forecast, he decided on another one-day wave off in hopes of better conditions today.
A landing in California would cost NASA's about $1.8 million and a week to 10 days of lost processing time. But another concern is getting access to an avionics box in the orbiter's engine compartment that failed right at liftoff May 11.
The aerosurface actuator control box is one of four redundant units used to format computer commands to the hydraulic actuators that move the shuttle's elevons and rudder/speedbrake. The failure in ASA-1 caused no problems for Atlantis, but NASA managers need to make sure it's not the result of some generic problem that could affect the shuttle Endeavour, scheduled for launch June 13.
If Atlantis is diverted to California, access to the failed unit will be delayed and engineers will not have as much time for troubleshooting. Endeavour's flight readiness review is planned for June 3.
7:10 PM, 5/23/09, Update: Deorbit timelines for Sunday (UPDATED at 3:20 a.m. with corrected times for rev 197 deorbit to KSC; corrected entry interface time for rev 196 deorbit to KSC)
Flight controllers at the Johnson Space Center in Houston have updated the shuttle Atlantis' deorbit and landing times for Sunday. The astronauts will have two landing opportunities at the Kennedy Space Center in Florida, the first coming at 10:09:28 a.m., and two at Edwards Air Force Base, Calif. Here are updated entry timelines for all four opportunities (in EDT; best viewed with fixed-width font):
EDT...........EVENT
Rev. 196 Deorbit to KSC
Deorbit ignition (TIG): 08:56:56 AM (dV: 171 mph; dT: 02:31)
Crossrange: 173 statute miles
Range to KSC at entry interface: 4,909 statute miles
Landing: 10:09:28 AM
04:56 AM......Begin deorbit timeline
05:11 AM......Radiator stow
05:21 AM......Mission specialists seat installation
05:27 AM......Computers set for deorbit prep
05:31 AM......Hydraulic system configuration
05:56 AM......Flash evaporator checkout
06:02 AM......Final payload deactivation
06:16 AM......Payload bay doors closed
06:26 AM......Mission control 'go' for OPS-3 software load
06:36 AM......OPS-3 entry software loaded
07:01 AM......Entry switchlist verification
07:11 AM......Deorbit maneuver update
07:16 AM......Crew entry review
07:31 AM......CDR/PLT don entry suits
07:48 AM......IMU alignment
07:56 AM......CDR/PLT strap in; MS suit don
08:13 AM......Shuttle steering check
08:16 AM......Hydraulic system prestart
08:23 AM......Toilet deactivation
08:36 AM......MCC 'go' for deorbit burn
08:42 AM......MS seat ingress
08:51 AM......Single APU start
08:56:56 AM...Deorbit ignition
08:59:27 AM...Deorbit burn complete
09:38:12 AM...Entry interface
09:42:39 AM...1st roll command to left
09:51:06 AM...1st right-to-let roll reversal
09:56:28 AM...C-band radar acquisition
10:03:02 AM...Velocity less than mach 2.5
10:05:12 AM...Velocity less than mach 1
10:05:28 AM...305-degree left turn to runway 15
10:09:28 AM...Landing
-----------------------------------------------
Rev. 197 Deorbit to EDW
TIG: 10:24:06 AM (dV: 182 mph; dT: 2:40)
Crossrange: 467 sm
Range to EDW at entry interface: 4,889 sm
Landing: 11:38:52 AM
10:04 AM......MCC 'go' for deorbit burn
10:10 AM......MS seat ingress
10:19 AM......Single APU start
10:24:06 AM...Deorbit ignition
10:26:46 AM...Deorbit burn complete
11:07:54 AM...Entry interface
11:12:23 AM...1st roll command to left
11:23:41 AM...1st left-to-right roll reversal
11:32:38 AM...Velocity less than mach 2.5
11:34:51 AM...Velocity less than mach 1
11:35:45 AM...205-degree left turn to runway 22
11:38:52 AM...Landing
-----------------------------------------------
Rev. 197 Deorbit to KSC
TIG: 10:40:56 AM (dV: 171 mph; dT: 2:32)
Crossrange: 632 sm
Range to KSC at entry interface: 4,878 sm
Landing: 11:48:16 AM
10:20 AM......MCC 'go' for deorbit burn
10:26 AM......MS seat ingress
10:35 AM......Single APU start
10:40:56 AM...Deorbit ignition
10:43:28 AM...Deorbit burn complete
11:17:07 AM...Entry interface
11:21:34 AM...1st roll command to left
11:34:26 AM...1st left-to-right roll reversal
11:41:53 AM...Velocity less than mach 2.5
11:44:02 AM...Velocity less than mach 1
11:44:16 AM...304 degree left turn to runway 15
11:48:16 AM...Landing
-----------------------------------------------
Rev. 198 Deorbit to EDW
TIG: 12:07:06 PM (dV: 168 mph; dT: 2:2 cool
Crossrange: 754 sm
Range to EDW at entry interface: 4,864 sm
Landing: 01:17:43 PM
11:47 AM......MCC 'go' for deorbit burn
11:53 AM......MS seat ingress
12:02 PM......Single APU start
12:07:06 PM...Deorbit ignition
12:09:35 PM...Deorbit burn complete
12:46:40 PM...Entry interface
12:51:06 PM...1st roll command to left
01:05:23 PM...1st left-to-right roll reversal
01:11:31 PM...Velocity less than mach 2.5
01:13:43 PM...Velocity less than mach 1
01:14:38 PM...200-degree left turn to runway 22
01:17:43 PM...Landing
08:55 AM, 5/23/09, Update: WAVEOFF - Atlantis crew told to delay landing to Sunday; Bolden nominated NASA administrator
Faced with dismal weather in Florida but a chance for improvement Sunday, the Atlantis astronauts were ordered to back out of landing preparations and to stay in orbit a second extra day in a row in hopes of getting back to Florida.
In Washington, meanwhile, the White House announced that former shuttle commander Charles F. Bolden Jr. will be nominated as NASA's next administrator, along with Lori Garver as his deputy, ending four months of speculation.
"These talented individuals will help put NASA on course to boldly push the boundaries of science, aeronautics and exploration in the 21st century and ensure the long-term vibrancy of America's space program," Obama said in a statement.
At the Johnson Space Center in Houston, flight controllers were in the process of revising their timelines and procedures to support a Sunday landing for Atlantis.
"Atlantis, the weather at KSC has not cooperated with us today," called astronaut Gregory H. Johnson from mission control in Houston. "There is a chance that we could land tomorrow at KSC and we're going to keep that option open. We are waving off for the day. Edwards remains good and it's a good option for both Sunday and Monday should the weather at KSC turn out to not favor us."
The astronauts will have two opportunities to land in Florida Sunday and two at Edwards. For first Florida opportunity, the astronauts would fire Atlantis' twin braking rockets at 8:58 a.m., setting up a landing around 10:11 a.m.
The astronauts had hoped to land Friday at the Kennedy Space Center, but rain, lightning and low clouds forced Knight to order a one-day waveoff in hopes of better conditions today. But Kennedy was socked in again, with low clouds and rain showers near the shuttle landing strip. The forecast for Sunday is marginal, with clouds and rain expected, but flight controllers are hopeful conditions will improve.
7:30 AM, 5/23/09, Update: Atlantis slips first Florida landing opportunity
Low clouds and rain at the Kennedy Space Center prompted entry Flight Director Norm Knight to pass up the shuttle Atlantis' first Florida landing opportunity today. The astronauts were told to take another 90-minute spin around the planet and to set up for landing opportunities at Edwards Air Force Base, Calif., or Kennedy if conditions improve.
"We've decided to wave off this rev," astronaut Gregory H. Johnson called from Houston just before 7 a.m. "KSC is observed and forecast no-go, it's got a very moist atmosphere, it's very dynamic and if there's any way we could get comfortable in the next 45 minutes of looking at it, we'd give it a chance. But we don't see that in our future. So we're going to hold off on fluid loading and we will get back with you."
"OK, Houston, understand, we will hold right where we are," commander Scott Altman replied from Atlantis.
The deorbit times for the crew's next two entry opportunities have changed slightly. The deorbit rocket firing for Edwards is targeted for 9:28:46 a.m. EDT, which would set up a landing around 10:45:09 a.m. Deorbit for Kennedy would come 15 minutes later, at 9:45:26 a.m., setting up a landing around 10:54:10 a.m.
4:20 AM, 5/23/09, Update: Astronauts prepare for re-entry
Commander Scott Altman and his crewmates, facing more stormy weather at the Kennedy Space Center, readied the shuttle Atlantis for a day-late re-entry Saturday while flight controllers assessed the forecast and options for landing in Florida or California.
The Atlantis astronauts have three landing opportunities in Florida and two in California on successive orbits, beginning with an 8:01:11 a.m. deorbit to the Kennedy Space Center for a touchdown at 9:15:15 a.m. One orbit later, the crew has a shot at an Edwards Air Force Base, Calif., landing at 10:44:56 a.m. and another Kennedy opportunity at 10:54:10 a.m.
"Unfortunately the weather pattern is very similar to yesterday," astronaut Gregory H. Johnson radioed from mission control just after 4 a.m. "But we're continuing to look at the weather. We'd call it marginal at this point. Our plan is to progress a little further into the deorbit prep timeline. We're thinking we're going to probably press down through (payload bay) door closure (around 5:20 a.m.). However, we're going to hold off suiting up for a little while until we can get a little more comfortable where we're headed."
"OK, copy that. Our tag-up points will be a little further along in the timeline and you plan on probably going through door closure," Altman replied. "But we appreciate the suit-up call."
The Spaceflight Meteorology Group at the Johnson Space Center in Houston is predicting a low, broken cloud deck at 4,000 feet and thundershowers within 30 nautical miles of the Kennedy runway. Flight rule violations include low ceilings, lightning, rain and thunderstorms. While the clouds are expected to lift a bit as the day wears on, thundershowers are expected in the vicinity during all three Kennedy opportunities.
The forecast for Edwards Air Force Base in California's Mojave Desert calls for generally clear skies and acceptable winds.
Atlantis has enough on-board supplies to remain in orbit through Monday. Entry Flight Director Norm Knight said Thursday he would consider keeping the astronauts in orbit until Sunday if the Florida forecast showed a clear, positive trend.
But the SMG is predicting more low clouds and thundershowers at Kennedy Sunday, raising the prospect of a diversion to Edwards later this morning. NASA managers try to avoid California landings if possible because it takes a week to 10 days to get a shuttle back to Florida and costs about $1.8 million. The primary issue, however, is the lost time processing the ship for its next flight. Atlantis is scheduled to fly again in November.
Seventy of NASA's 123 previous shuttle landings were at Kennedy while 52 were at Edwards. One shuttle mission ended at Northrup Strip, N.M., in 1982.
Repeating from Friday, here are timelines for the crew's first three landing opportunities today (in EDT; best viewed with fixed-width font):
EDT...........EVENT
Rev. 180 to KSC
TIG: 08:01:11 AM (dV: 174 mph; dT: 02:34)
Crossrange: 4.6 sm
Range to KSC at entry interface: 4,920 sm
Landing: 09:15:15 AM (KSC 15)
04:01 AM......Begin deorbit timeline
04:16 AM......Radiator stow
04:26 AM......Mission specialists seat installation
04:32 AM......Computers set for deorbit prep
04:36 AM......Hydraulic system configuration
05:01 AM......Flash evaporator checkout
05:07 AM......Final payload deactivation
05:21 AM......Payload bay doors closed
05:31 AM......Mission control 'go' for OPS-3
05:41 AM......OPS-3 transition
06:06 AM......Entry switchlist verification
06:16 AM......Deorbit PAD update
06:21 AM......Crew entry review
06:36 AM......CDR/PLT don entry suits
06:53 AM......IMU alignment
07:01 AM......CDR/PLT strap in; MS suit don
07:18 AM......Shuttle steering check
07:21 AM......Hydraulic system prestart
07:28 AM......Toilet deactivation
07:41 AM......Mission control center 'go' for deorbit burn
07:47 AM......Crew seat ingress
07:56 AM......Single APU start
08:01:11 AM...Deorbit ignition
08:03:45 AM...Deorbit burn complete
08:43:55 AM...Entry interface (76 miles)
08:48:24 AM...1st roll command to right
08:55:15 AM...1st right-to-let roll reversal
09:02:15 AM...C-band radar acquisition
09:09:49 AM...Velocity less than mach 2.5 (82,300 feet)
09:10:58 AM...Velocity less than mach 1 (47,500 feet)
09:11:19 AM...Shuttle on the HAC (42,300 feet; 298-degree left turn)
09:15:15 AM...Landing on runway 15
---------------------------------------
Rev. 181 Deorbit to EDW
TIG: 09:29:11 AM (dV: 188 mph; dT: 2:46)
Crossrange: 452 sm
Range to EDW at entry interface: 4,856 sm
Landing: 10:44:56 AM (EDW 22)
09:09 AM......MCC 'go' for deorbit burn
09:15 AM......MS seat ingress
09:24 AM......Single APU start
09:29:11 AM...Deorbit ignition
09:31:57 AM...Deorbit burn complete
10:14:06 AM...Entry interface
10:18:35 AM...1st roll command to left
10:29:38 AM...1st left-to-right roll reversal
10:38:43 AM...Velocity less than mach 2.5
10:40:54 AM...Velocity less than mach 1
10:41:53 AM...Shuttle on the HAC (197-degree turn)
10:44:56 AM...Landing
---------------------------------------
Rev. 181 Deorbit to KSC
TIG: 09:44:56 AM (dV: 165 mph; dT: 2:26)
Crossrange: 221 sm
Range to KSC at entry interface: 4,941 sm
Landing: 10:54:10 AM (KSC 15)
09:24 AM......MCC 'go' for deorbit burn
09:30 AM......MS seat ingress
09:39 AM......Single APU start
09:44:56 AM...Deorbit ignition
09:47:22 AM...Deorbit burn complete
10:22:48 AM...Entry interface
10:27:17 AM...1st roll command to left
10:36:19 AM...1st left-to-right roll reversal
10:47:46 AM...Velocity less than mach 2.5
10:49:54 AM...Velocity less than mach 1
10:50:08 AM...Shuttle on the HAC (310-degree turn
10:54:10 AM...Landing
6:45 PM, 5/22/09, Update: Updated Saturday landing times; entry timeliness
Flight controllers at the Johnson Space Center in Houston have updated the landing times for the shuttle Atlantis on Saturday. The astronauts have three possible shots at a Florida landing and three in California, but NASA would only take advantage of the best two or three of those after factoring in the weather. As of this writing, landing is targeted for the first Florida opportunity at 9:15:15 a.m.
Here are timelines for the first three landing opportunities, two at the Kennedy Space Center and one at Edwards Air Force Base, Calif. (in EDT; best viewed with fixed-width font). Timelines for all of the possible opportunities are available on the CBS News STS-125 Quick-Look page:
http://www.cbsnews.com/network/news/space/currentglance.html
EDT...........EVENT
Rev. 180 to KSC
TIG: 08:01:11 AM (dV: 174 mph; dT: 02:34)
Crossrange: 4.6 sm
Range to KSC at entry interface: 4,920 sm
Landing: 09:15:15 AM (KSC 15)
04:01 AM......Begin deorbit timeline
04:16 AM......Radiator stow
04:26 AM......Mission specialists seat installation
04:32 AM......Computers set for deorbit prep
04:36 AM......Hydraulic system configuration
05:01 AM......Flash evaporator checkout
05:07 AM......Final payload deactivation
05:21 AM......Payload bay doors closed
05:31 AM......Mission control 'go' for OPS-3
05:41 AM......OPS-3 transition
06:06 AM......Entry switchlist verification
06:16 AM......Deorbit PAD update
06:21 AM......Crew entry review
06:36 AM......CDR/PLT don entry suits
06:53 AM......IMU alignment
07:01 AM......CDR/PLT strap in; MS suit don
07:18 AM......Shuttle steering check
07:21 AM......Hydraulic system prestart
07:28 AM......Toilet deactivation
07:41 AM......Mission control center 'go' for deorbit burn
07:47 AM......Crew seat ingress
07:56 AM......Single APU start
08:01:11 AM...Deorbit ignition
08:03:45 AM...Deorbit burn complete
08:43:55 AM...Entry interface (76 miles)
08:48:24 AM...1st roll command to right
08:55:15 AM...1st right-to-let roll reversal
09:02:15 AM...C-band radar acquisition
09:09:49 AM...Velocity less than mach 2.5 (82,300 feet)
09:10:58 AM...Velocity less than mach 1 (47,500 feet)
09:11:19 AM...Shuttle on the HAC (42,300 feet; 298-degree left turn)
09:15:15 AM...Landing on runway 15
---------------------------------------
Rev. 181 Deorbit to EDW
TIG: 09:29:11 AM (dV: 188 mph; dT: 2:46)
Crossrange: 452 sm
Range to EDW at entry interface: 4,856 sm
Landing: 10:44:56 AM (EDW 22)
09:09 AM......MCC 'go' for deorbit burn
09:15 AM......MS seat ingress
09:24 AM......Single APU start
09:29:11 AM...Deorbit ignition
09:31:57 AM...Deorbit burn complete
10:14:06 AM...Entry interface
10:18:35 AM...1st roll command to left
10:29:38 AM...1st left-to-right roll reversal
10:38:43 AM...Velocity less than mach 2.5
10:40:54 AM...Velocity less than mach 1
10:41:53 AM...Shuttle on the HAC (197-degree turn)
10:44:56 AM...Landing
---------------------------------------
Rev. 181 Deorbit to KSC
TIG: 09:44:56 AM (dV: 165 mph; dT: 2:26)
Crossrange: 221 sm
Range to KSC at entry interface: 4,941 sm
Landing: 10:54:10 AM (KSC 15)
09:24 AM......MCC 'go' for deorbit burn
09:30 AM......MS seat ingress
09:39 AM......Single APU start
09:44:56 AM...Deorbit ignition
09:47:22 AM...Deorbit burn complete
10:22:48 AM...Entry interface
10:27:17 AM...1st roll command to left
10:36:19 AM...1st left-to-right roll reversal
10:47:46 AM...Velocity less than mach 2.5
10:49:54 AM...Velocity less than mach 1
10:50:08 AM...Shuttle on the HAC (310-degree turn
10:54:10 AM...Landing
8:10 AM, 5/22/09, Update: Shuttle landing attempt called off; entry delayed to at least Saturday
After waving off the shuttle Atlantis' re-entry by one orbit because of dismal weather, entry Flight Director Norm Knight threw in the towel shortly before 8 a.m., calling off a second attempt and retargeting landing for Saturday.
"We're going to formally wave off for the day," astronaut Gregory H. Johnson called from mission control around 7:50 a.m. "The weather at KSC is quite unstable. KSC is no-go and forecast no-go with (rain) within 30 (nautical miles) and low ceilings and showers are consistently popping up off shore and over land. We don't see any value in waiting two or three hours, so we're going to wave off for the day."
The Atlantis astronauts will have four possible landing opportunities Saturday, two at the Kennedy Space Center and two at Edwards Air Force Base, Calif., although no decision has been made as to whether Edwards would be used.
The Florida forecast calls for a chance of showers Saturday and possibly low ceilings, If that holds up, and if conditions Sunday look promising, the shuttle mission could be extended one more day in hopes of getting Atlantis back to Kennedy. Otherwise, the crew likely would head for Edwards on Saturday. But as of this writing, no decisions have been made.
Here are all the deorbit and landing times for Saturday (in EDT):
ORBIT...SITE...DEORBIT BURN...LANDING
180.....KSC....08:02 AM.......09:16 AM
181.....EDW....09:29 AM.......10:46 AM
........KSC....09:46 AM.......10:54 AM
182.....EDW....11:12 AM.......12:24 PM
6:00 AM, 5/22/09, Update: WAVEOFF! Shuttle entry delayed by at least one orbit
Dismal weather at the Kennedy Space Center prompted entry Flight Director Norm Knight to delay the shuttle Atlantis' planned re-entry by at least one orbit. The only remaining landing opportunity today calls for a de-orbit rocket firing at 10:33:41 a.m., setting up a landing on runway 15 at 11:39:18 a.m. If the weather or some other problem prevents a re-entry today, the crew will remain in orbit another 24 hours and try again on Saturday.
"We are going to ... wave off this attempt and we will pass you further words when we get them," astronaut Gregory H. Johnson radioed from mission control. "The weather just is not clearing up at the Cape at this point."
"OK, Houston, we appreciate you making the early call," replied shuttle commander Scott Altman. "Understand we can basically just hold here, don't need any de-orbit backout."
"That's affirmative," Johnson replied. "We will just proceed from here."
NASA has run into problems with one of its Tracking and Data Relay System communications satellites and Johnson warned Altman about possible breaks in radio coverage.
Here is a timeline of major entry events for the crew's second and final landing opportunity today (in EDT; best viewed with fixed-width font):
EDT...........EVENT
Rev. 166 Deorbit to KSC
10:13 AM......Mission control 'go' for deorbit burn
10:19 AM......Astronaut seat ingress
10:28 AM......Single hydraulic power unit start
10:33:41 AM...Deorbit ignition (dT: 2:34; dV: 173 mph)
10:36:15 AM...Deorbit burn complete (alt: 345 miles)
11:07:56 AM...Atmospheric entry (alt: 76 sm; range: 4,944 sm)
11:12:27 AM...1st roll command to left
11:22:01 AM...1st left-to-right roll reversal
11:32:54 AM...Velocity less than mach 2.5 (alt: 82,000 feet)
11:35:01 AM...Velocity less than mach 1 (alt: 47,800 feet)
11:35:17 AM...Shuttle banks to line up on runway (alt: 42,700 feet)
11:39:18 AM...Landing
5:00 AM, 5/22/09, Update: Astronauts gear up for landing
Keeping tabs on threatening weather, the Atlantis astronauts rigged the shuttle for re-entry and landing today to wrap up a successful mission to service the Hubble Space Telescope.
"Good morning, entry team," commander Scott Altman radioed mission control around 4 a.m., after the morning shift change. "Looking forward to doing it with you today."
"We are as well," astronaut Gregory H. Johnson replied from Houston. Despite a dismal forecast, he added "we are hopeful the weather will clear up nicely."
Altman, pilot Gregory C. Johnson, flight engineer Megan McArthur and spacewalkers John Grunsfeld, Michael Massimino, Andrew Feustel and Michael Good have two landing opportunities today at the Kennedy Space Center, the first at 10:00:39 a.m. and the second at 11:39:18 a.m.
There are no technical problems of any significance with Atlantis, but the morning forecast from the Spaceflight Meteorology Group at the Johnson Space Center called for a broken deck of clouds at 4,000 feet and thundershowers within 30 nautical miles of the runway, both violations of NASA's entry flight rules. The wind is expected to be out of the east at 12 knots, gusting to 19, producing crosswinds just below NASA's 15-knot limit.
"We have just talked to the weather folks and what we've got in Florida is a very dynamic situation," Johnson said just before 5 a.m. "There are thunderstorms that are stretching from the southeast over Bermuda to the northwest and going through the circle, the 30-nautical-mile circle around the Cape. There are some clear areas to the south and we think over time, that line could move a little north or it might stay the same. The air is saturated.
"We're also looking at ceilings, the crosswind is just right at the limit, so there are a lot of issues against us. However, it's a dynamic situation and we're going to keep our eyes on it closely. We view our next decision point, based on the weather, just prior to payload bay door closing (around 6:10 a.m.). And so, we'll get a better update on the weather at that point and our plan is to press on, at least up to that point, in deorbit prep. How copy?"
"Houston, copy that, understand the Cape weather system that's there and the dynamics that are involved," Altman replied. "We concur, we're pressing ahead, we'll have another tag-up at payload bay door closing."
Assuming they're cleared to close the doors, the entry day timeline calls for the astronauts to begin donning their bulky pressure suits just before 7:30 a.m.
"If it's clearly a no-go, we're not going to put the crew through suit-up just for practice," entry Flight Director Norm Knight said Thursday. "They know how to do it and we'll back out at the appropriate time, go around a rev (orbit) if needed, look at the next opportunity and make a decision if we think that's the rev we want to target or not.
"So it's really a function of what the weather's looking like, how bad it is and if we think we have a shot. If we think we have a shot, we'll march down all the way and execute the (deorbit) burn if it's the safe thing to do.
NASA is not staffing its backup landing site at Edwards Air Force Base, Calif., and if the weather or some other problem prevents a Florida landing today, the crew will remain in orbit another 24 hours and try again Saturday. In that case, Edwards would be staffed.
The shuttle has enough on-board supplies to keep the ship powered through Monday, but if the doesn't get home today, and if the forecast for Florida remains unfavorable through the weekend, Knight could opt to bring the crew down Saturday in California. The forecast for Edwards is "go" all weekend.
Repeating from Thursday, here is a timeline of major entry events for both of today's landing opportunities (in EDT; best viewed with fixed-width font):
EDT...........EVENT
Rev. 165 Deorbit to KSC
04:49 AM......Begin deorbit timeline
05:04 AM......Radiator stow
05:14 AM......Mission specialists seat installation
05:20 AM......Computers set for deorbit prep
05:24 AM......Hydraulic system configuration
05:49 AM......Flash evaporator cooling system checkout
05:55 AM......Final payload deactivation
06:09 AM......Payload bay doors closed
06:19 AM......Mission control 'go' for OPS-3 entry software load
06:29 AM......OPS-3 transition
06:54 AM......Entry switchlist verification
07:04 AM......Deorbit maneuver update
07:09 AM......Crew entry review
07:24 AM......CDR/PLT don entry suits
07:41 AM......IMU alignment
07:49 AM......CDR/PLT strap in; MS suit don
08:06 AM......Shuttle steering check
08:09 AM......Hydraulic system prestart
08:16 AM......Toilet deactivation
08:29 AM......Mission control 'go' for deorbit burn
08:35 AM......Astronaut seat ingress
08:44 AM......Single APU start
08:49:16 AM...Deorbit ignition (dT: 2:28; dV: 167 mph)
08:51:44 AM...Deorbit burn complete (alt: 345 miles)
09:29:09 AM...Atmospheric entry (alt: 76 sm; vel: 16,840 mph; range: 4,925 sm)
09:33:36 AM...1st roll command to right
09:40:23 AM...1st right-to-let roll reversal
09:48:00 AM...C-band radar acquisition
09:54:05 AM...Velocity less than mach 2.5 (alt: 82,000 feet)
09:56:13 AM...Velocity less than mach 1 (alt: 47,800 feet)
09:56:33 AM...Shuttle on the HAC (alt: 42,700 feet)
10:00:31 AM...Landing
Rev. 166 Deorbit to KSC
10:13 AM......Mission control 'go' for deorbit burn
10:19 AM......Astronaut seat ingress
10:28 AM......Single APU start
10:33:41 AM...Deorbit ignition (dT: 2:34; dV: 173 mph)
10:36:15 AM...Deorbit burn complete (alt: 345 miles)
11:07:56 AM...Entry interface (alt: 76 sm; range: 4,944 sm)
11:12:27 AM...1st roll command to left
11:22:01 AM...1st left-to-right roll reversal
11:32:54 AM...Velocity less than mach 2.5 (alt: 82,000 feet)
11:35:01 AM...Velocity less than mach 1 (alt: 47,800 feet)
11:35:17 AM...Shuttle on the HAC (alt: 42,700 feet)
11:39:18 AM...Landing
03:45 PM, 5/21/09, Update: Endeavour released from rescue duty; flight director outlines Atlantis landing strategy
With the shuttle Atlantis in good shape and no problems with its protective heat shield, NASA managers today released the shuttle Endeavour from stand-by duty for a possible launch on an emergency rescue mission.
Engineers at the Kennedy Space Center started a countdown Wednesday to preserve the option of launching Endeavour this weekend if some major problem developed that might prevent Atlantis from making a safe re-entry.
The Atlantis astronauts, launched into the Hubble Space Telescope's orbit, cannot seek "safe haven" aboard the International Space Station and NASA managers decided early on to prepare Endeavour for possible rescue duty in case of heat shield damage or some other major malfunction aboard Atlantis.
But Atlantis sailed through routine re-entry tests earlier today, its heat shield is in good condition and with bad weather threatening a landing delay to Saturday or possibly even Sunday, there was little point in continuing Endeavour's countdown.
For Endeavour to reach Atlantis now, it would have to take off Saturday or Sunday at the latest. Atlantis only has enough hydrogen and oxygen for its fuel cell system to make it through Monday and it would take Endeavour two days to complete a rendezvous. As a result of all that, mission managers released Endeavour from rescue stand by, clearing the way for normal processing toward launch June 13 on a space station assembly mission.
NASA managers never expected to actually need a rescue mission, saying improved post-Columbia damage detection and repair techniques could handle the sorts of heat shield damage that might be reasonably expected, even in Hubble's higher, more debris-littered orbit. As it turned out, no such damaged has been seen.
The Atlantis astronauts, meanwhile, spent the morning testing the shuttle's re-entry systems and preparing for landing Friday, weather permitting.
"That all checked out perfect, we're ready to go, the vehicle is clearly ready for entry," said entry flight director Norm Knight.
During launch May 11, a short circuit knocked out one of four redundant electronic boxes used to format computer commands to valves that provide hydraulic power to actuators that, in turn, drive the shuttle's elevons, body fly and rudder/speed brake. Flight controllers checked out the aerosurface actuators today and verified Atlantis has no problems of any significance.
"There are four of these ASAs, we've lost one of the four, we're still fully functional and ready to go," Knight said. "We checked the rest of the system out today and have no issues."
Because Atlantis has enough on-board supplies to remain in orbit through Monday, Knight said the agency did not plan to staff the shuttle's backup landing site at Edwards Air Force Base, Calif., on Friday. Instead, the crew will have just two landing opportunities at the Kennedy Space Center, one at 10:00:39 a.m. and the other one orbit later at 11:39:18 a.m. If the weather or some other problem prevents re-entry, the crew will stay in orbit another day and try again Saturday.
"The weather for KSC on Friday, I'll tell you it doesn't look great," Knight said. "There's a low pressure (system) sitting over Central Florida, it's been sitting there for several days, Florida's received quite a bit of rain and we're just waiting for that system to move out. So it's really a matter of timing as to when that system is going to move.
"We expect it's going to improve over the next couple of days, but again, it's just a matter of waiting and seeing. The entry strategy, based on the fact that we have end-of-mission-plus-three (days), is to target KSC only tomorrow, so we're not going to target Edwards, and then on Saturday we'll bring up Edwards, we'll look at both KSC and Edwards and really, based on how the weather is on Sunday, make a determination if Saturday is the day we're going to land."
The forecast for Edwards is "go" through the weekend, while rain is expected at NASA's other backup landing field, Northrup Strip, N.M.
7:35 AM, 5/21/09, Update: Atlantis astronauts pack up, test re-entry systems
The Atlantis astronauts tested the shuttle's re-entry systems early Thursday and began packing for landing Friday, weather permitting, to close out a successful mission to overhaul the Hubble Space Telescope. The flight plan calls for a de-orbit rocket firing at 8:49:16 a.m. Friday, setting up a landing on runway 15 at the Kennedy Space Center at 10:00:31 a.m. A second landing opportunity is available one orbit later, at 11:39:18 a.m.
With no major technical problems in orbit, the only question mark is the weather, with forecasters predicting a broken cloud deck at 4,000 feet, crosswinds above 15 knots and a chance of thundershowers within 30 nautical miles of the runway, all violations of NASA's landing weather flight rules.
High winds and torrential rains rumbled through the area overnight as severe thunderstorms lashed Florida's Space Coast. There is a 50 percent chance of heavy rain, high winds and thundershowers all day Thursday and more of the same expected overnight and Friday.
But the astronauts have conserved power and now have saved enough hydrogen and oxygen to power the ship's electricity producing fuel cells through Monday. As a result, NASA is not staffing backup landing sites Friday. If the weather or some other issue blocks the two available landing opportunities, the crew will stay in orbit an extra day and try again Saturday.
Hoping for the best, commander Scott Altman, pilot Gregory C. Johnson and flight engineer Megan McArthur tested Atlantis' re-entry systems, firing up a hydraulic power unit, exercising the orbiter's aerosurfaces and test-firing the ship's small maneuvering thrusters. There were no problems.
The crew plans to take a call from Sen. Barbara Mikulski, D-MD, at 12:31 p.m. to discuss the crew's overhaul of the space telescope. Mikulski, a long-time Hubble booster, represents the Goddard Space Flight Center in Greenbelt, MD, and the Space Telescope Science Institute at Johns Hopkins University in Baltimore.
Later in the day, starting at 2:41 p.m., the astronauts will participate in round-robin interviews with CBS News and other networks.
Today's mission status briefing with entry flight director Norm Knight is scheduled for 3:15 p.m., although it may be moved up to 1 p.m. The astronauts plan to go to bed at 6:01 p.m. and to get up Friday at 2:01 a.m. to begin landing preparations.
Here is an updated timeline of today's activity (in EDT and mission elapsed time; includes revision J of the NASA television schedule):
EDT........DD...HH...MM...EVENT
05/21/09
03:01 AM...09...13...00...Crew wakeup
06:01 AM...09...16...00...Cabin stow begins
06:11 AM...09...16...10...Flight control system checkout
07:21 AM...09...17...20...RCS hotfire
07:36 AM...09...17...35...Entry video setup
07:56 AM...09...17...55...PILOT landing practice
09:41 AM...09...19...40...Joint crew meal
09:51 AM...09...19...50...Deorbit review
10:41 AM...09...20...40...Cabin stow resumes
11:51 AM...09...21...50...L-1 comm check
12:31 PM...09...22...30...PAO event with Sen. Barbara Mikulski
12:51 PM...09...22...50...Crew photo
01:00 PM...09...22...59...Mission status briefing (presumed)
02:21 PM...10...00...20...Wing leading edge sensor system deactivation
02:21 PM...10...00...20...PGSC stow (part 1)
02:41 PM...10...00...40...CBS,ABC,NBC,FOX,CNN crew interviews
03:06 PM...10...01...05...Ergometer stow
03:06 PM...10...01...05...KU antenna stow
04:00 PM...10...01...59...LRO/LCROS lunar mission briefing on NTV
06:01 PM...10...04...00...Crew sleep begins
07:00 PM...10...04...59...Daily highlights reel on NTV
7:10 PM, 5/20/09, Update: Atlantis heat shield cleared for entry; Obama hails successful Hubble repair, promises new administrator 'soon'
President Barack Obama called the crew of the shuttle Atlantis late Wednesday and congratulated the astronauts on the successful overhaul of the Hubble Space Telescope. He also promised to name a new NASA administrator soon, although he provided no clues as to who might get the nod.
"We're soon going to have a new NASA administrator," Obama told the astronauts. "I can't disclose it to you because I've got to have some hoopla on the announcement back here on Earth. But I can assure you that it's a high priority of mine to restore that sense of wonder that space can provide and to make sure we've got a strong sense of mission, not just within NASA but to the country as a whole."
Atlantis commander Scott Altman jokingly asked the president, "just so we're sure, the new administrator's not any of us on the flight deck right now, is it?"
Obama laughed, and said "I'm not going to give you any hints."
"Thank you very much, fair enough, sir," Altman said.
Charles F. Bolden Jr., a former fighter pilot, Marine Corps major general and veteran space shuttle commander, is widely rumored to be the top candidate for the job. Bolden met with Obama at the White House on Tuesday.
During today's phone call to the Atlantis astronauts, Obama said "I wanted to personally tell you how proud I am of all of you and everything that you've accomplished."
"Like a lot of Americans, I've been watching with amazement the gorgeous images you've been sending back and the incredible repair mission you've been making in space," he said. "I think you're providing a wonderful example of the kind of dedication and commitment to exploration that represents America and the space program generally. These are traits that have always made this country strong and all of you personify them."
"Well thank you very much, sir," Altman replied. "I think you are exactly right, this mission has been an example of what our country can do as we work together. It's been the teamwork of all the folks on the ground, in addition to the folks outside spacewalking, making this all come together and work for us."
The president said watching the Hubble repair spacewalks was "amazing, and Dr. Grunsfeld, I was moved by your observation that the Hubble is more than just a satellite, but an iconic symbol of our quest for knowldge. I thought that captures accurately the work that you guys are doing."
Lead spacewalker John Grunsfeld told Obama "it's almost impossible to go into any K-through-12 classroom these days and not see Hubble images on the walls, inspiring kids to do great things and maybe some of them to become astronauts some day and push our frontiers even further."
"Well, I know you've excited my 10-year-old and my 7-year-old," Obama said. "By allowing Hubble to continue on its journey, you've really allowed all of us to continue on our journey of growth and exploration. You know, here in Washington, there's a lot of talk about clarifying our focus, our vision for where the country needs to go. And I really think that what you guys represent is an example of what 'vision' means.
"The space program's always described our willingness to stretch beyond current boundaries and to look at things in new ways," Obama said. "So in that way, you inspire us all and I'm hoping you guys recognize how important your mission is to the world as well as to this country."
NASA's Mission Management Team, meanwhile, completed a detailed review of imagery and laser scans from a late inspection of the shuttle Atlantis' heat shield Tuesday. MMT Chairman LeRoy Cain said the team gave Atlantis a clean bill of health and cleared the ship for re-entry and landing Friday, weather permitting.
"In the Mission Management Team (meeting) today, we had the opportunity to review the results," said MMT Chairman LeRoy Cain. "As you know, yesterday the crew performed the late inspection of the wing leading edge and the reinforced carbon carbon of the nose cap. They pored over all that data throughout the evening and this morning, and at the Mission Management Team today, they reviewed that data with us and the results are we don't have any issues as it relates to the thermal protection system ... So we have cleared the TPS and the vehicle for safe deorbit, entry and landing. That was a great milestone for us."
Landing currently is targeted for 10:01 a.m. Friday at the Kennedy Space Center. But forecasters are predicting a chance of low clouds and rain in the area and as a precaution, the astronauts were asked to power down non-essential equipment Wednesday to conserve hydrogen and oxygen used by the shuttle's fuel cell system to generate electricity.
As it now stands, the crew will have enough supplies to remain in orbit three days beyond Friday. NASA does not plan to staff its backup landing site at Edwards Air Force Base, Calif., on Friday, but depending on the weather, backup sites could be activated Saturday if necessary.
At the Kennedy Space Center, engineers are continuing to work through a countdown to ready the shuttle Endeavour for launch on an emergency rescue mission if a major problem crops up that might prevent a safe re-entry.
Because the Atlantis astronauts cannot reach the International Space Station for "safe haven," Endeavour has been prepped for a quick-response launch if needed.
Going into the Hubble Space Telescope repair mission, NASA managers planned to release Endeavour from rescue stand by duty after Atlantis' heat shield was cleared for entry.
But Cain said he decided to keep Endeavour on standby at least through Thursday and possibly as late as Atlantis' deorbit rocket firing Friday "because I can, and it doesn't affect (Endeavour's next flight in June)."
"I was willing to go as late as deorbit on Friday," he said. "I'm going to evaluate that again tomorrow."
Because Atlantis is near the end of its mission, most of its on-board supplies have been used up and even with the power downs implemented today, the crew will run out of oxygen for its fuel cells by some point late Monday or Tuesday. For Endeavour to have any chance of reaching the crew in time, should something prevent a normal re-entry, the rescue shuttle would have to take off by Saturday or Sunday at the latest.
Cain said mission managers do not anticipate any such problems and expect Atlantis to make a normal re-entry on its own. But in the meantime, NASA is protecting its options as planned.
1:20 PM, 5/20/09, Update: With rainy weather expected, astronauts conserve power in case Friday landing delayed
With rainy weather possible in Florida on Friday, the Atlantis astronauts were asked to power down less-critical equipment Wednesday to conserve hydrogen and oxygen for the shuttle's fuel cell system in case landing is delayed. Touchdown currently is planned for 10:01 a.m. Friday, but additional opportunities on both coasts are available Saturday and Sunday.
With the power downs, "that puts us about 21 hours above an 11 (days) plus two (extension days), which gives us a lot of margin down the road as we keep an eye on the weather," astronaut Dan Burbank radiod the crew. "Certainly, we're all hoping for the best here and that we'll get you home on Friday. That's still our hope."
The Spaceflight Meteorology Group at the Johnson Space Center in Houston is predicting scattered clouds at 4,000 feet at landing time Friday, a broken deck at 10,000 feet, a chance of broken clouds at 4,000 feet and a chance of thundershowers within 30 nautical miles of the shuttle runway.
NASA's Mission Management Team, meanwhile, is wrapping up analysis of a heat shield inspection carried out by the crew Tuesday. While the assessment was not yet officially complete, Burbank told commander Scott Altman there were no signs of trouble.
"We have one bit of good news," he reported. "All the imagery from the late inspection has been reviewed. Now, we still have to finish out the final reviews on it, but there are zero areas of interest."
"OK, copy, Houston, thanks. Zero areas of interest," Altman said.
During a traditional on-orbit crew news conference earlier Wednesday, Altman said he was confident Atlantis would be cleared for entry as is.
"We did a pretty complete survey yesterday," he told CBS News. "I was very happy with all the imageryand the activity that we had to make sure we got as good an inspection as possible. We used the sun to help us inspect both the wings to make sure we had better pictures of the leading edge of our wings for re-entry.
"So I feel very confident we have all the data that we need, I'm letting the experts crunch that (data) to make sure everything looks good. From our vantage point, we think it's probably looking very good for entry and we're looking forward to that."
LeRoy Cain, chairman of the MMT and deputy shuttle program manager at the Johnson Space Center, planned to brief reporters later today on the status of the on-going heat shield
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