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Author
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Topic: STS-121
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mjanovec
Member Posts: 3811
From: Midwest, USA
Registered: Jul 2005
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posted 12-12-2005 05:44 PM
   
What is the current estimate of when STS-121 will launch? NASA's website is saying no earlier than May 2006. Has anyone heard whether May is realistic or whether it will likely be pushed back even further?I was also a little surprised to see that STS-121 will again be a flight for Discovery. Last I remember, Atlantis was scheduled for that flight. |
spacegrl13
Member Posts: 122
From: Portland, Oregon, U.S.
Registered: Aug 2002
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posted 12-12-2005 06:42 PM
NASA said the earliest they would launch STS-121 is May 3rd.
cheers,
Helen |
DavidH
Member Posts: 1217
From: Huntsville, AL, USA
Registered: Jun 2003
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posted 12-13-2005 09:01 AM
The May date will probably remain as the planning date for launch at least through wind tunnel tests on the ET modifications, which will reveal how realistic the target date is.FWIW, Marshall is confident the changes won't cause delays.
http://tinyurl.com/8r94t ------------------
http://allthese worlds.hatbag.net/space.php
"America's challenge of today has forged man's destiny of tomorrow." - Commander Eugene Cernan, Apollo 17 Mission, 11 December 1972 |
Jacques van Oene
Member Posts: 861
From: Houten, The Netherlands
Registered: Oct 2001
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posted 12-13-2005 12:23 PM
quote:
Originally posted by mjanovec:
I was also a little surprised to see that STS-121 will again be a flight for Discovery. Last I remember, Atlantis was scheduled for that flight.
Atlantis is a lighter orbiter then Discovery, and STS-115 brings up the heavy solar panels, so Atlantis is used for that one...
---- Jacques 
www.spacepatches.nl
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Rob Joyner
Member Posts: 1308
From: GA, USA
Registered: Jan 2004
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posted 12-13-2005 03:08 PM
When I was at KSC Dec. 3rd, a cashier told me she had heard on the morning news that due to problems with the ET, STS-121 would probably be pushed back to a Sept launch.
Upon returning home, I couldn't find any news like that.
Anyone know about this or was the cashier way off base?
Thanks! |
Rodina
Member Posts: 836
From: Lafayette, CA
Registered: Oct 2001
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posted 12-14-2005 01:30 AM
What's the weight difference between the various orbiters? I know they got lighter as materials got better on through the assembly process, but how much weight are we talking about? |
DavidH
Member Posts: 1217
From: Huntsville, AL, USA
Registered: Jun 2003
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posted 12-14-2005 09:26 AM
There were rumors to that effect a few months ago.From Sept.:
quote:
MSNBC.com has obtained an “extremely preliminary” planning document written by Wayne Hale, NASA’s deputy shuttle program manager, in which he concludes: “Launch dates before the fall of 2006 may not be credible."
http://msnbc.msn.com/id/9241242/ Haven't heard anything substantial to that effect lately, though. ------------------
http://allthese worlds.hatbag.net/space.php
"America's challenge of today has forged man's destiny of tomorrow." - Commander Eugene Cernan, Apollo 17 Mission, 11 December 1972 |
RMH
Member Posts: 577
From: Ohio
Registered: Mar 2001
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posted 12-15-2005 01:07 PM
Rodina:I found these unloaded weights of the following shuttles. Unsure of the weights of Atlantis or Endeavor as the book I got these from was writen prior to their completion. Enterprise 149,600 lb
Columbia 152,128 lb
Challenger 149,642 lbDiscovery 147,980 lb
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november25
Member Posts: 646
From: Douglas, Isle of Man, UK
Registered: Feb 2004
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posted 12-17-2005 04:56 PM
Rob J- I heard the same thing-only this was from our Tour Guide on the ATX Thing.
Only we saw the components\models for STS121
waiting to be put into the cargo hold.
And was told the next shuttle would be a delay until the ETs were satifactory to standards etc. Funny this- as a member of staff in the JKSC shop said the same thing
about Sept,and from an Astronauts mouth-he said July. Who knows,think we shall have to wait for NASA to make up thereir minds.
Were you thinking about the AHOF induction for 2006 in May. We hope to be in Florida again late May?
Thank you for a great day we had together on 12\3\05
Regards from Brenda and Ted.
this was posted by november25 |
Rob Joyner
Member Posts: 1308
From: GA, USA
Registered: Jan 2004
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posted 12-24-2005 01:25 AM
I certainly do plan on attending the AHOF weekend in '06, however, it was announced at the latest one this year that it will now be held as close as possible to Shepard's first flight anniversary, May 5th, which will be on a Friday next year, and I'm assuming the night of the Gala Dinner! What a plus it would be to have Discovery launch that very same week!
Any chance you and Ted could come over early?
Rob
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snf13
Member Posts: 74
From: Houston
Registered: May 2004
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posted 01-03-2006 02:41 PM
To settle the why Discovery again issue...The truss flights are heavy and do require Atlantis. By not flying Atlantis now, it will be ready for the 12A flight and then 13A. 12A.1 is a lighter truss element and will be flown on Endeavour - at least that is the plan for now...  Per NASA press release 05-230 "The switch frees Atlantis to fly the remaining Space Station truss segments, which are too heavy for Discovery, in 2006. By changing the Orbiter line up, the Shuttle program will not have to do two back-to-back missions with Atlantis, as previously scheduled. " ------------------
Susan |
HouseDadX4
unregistered
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posted 01-13-2006 07:51 AM
I noticed that the launch window for STS 121 is May 3 - 23 and delivery of a new external tank to KSC around the 8th of March. What do y'all think?? Will NASA in May or wait until July?? It would be great if they were somehow able to launch in May around the time of the AHOF inductions, but don't know how realistic that is, or if it would be possible.. [This message has been edited by HouseDadX4 (edited January 13, 2006).] |
DavidH
Member Posts: 1217
From: Huntsville, AL, USA
Registered: Jun 2003
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posted 01-18-2006 01:25 PM
quote:
NASA Administrator Mike Griffin said Tuesday he is confident the shuttle fleet will return to flight in May or July, and then fly regularly enough to finish building the International Space Station before the orbiters retire in 2010. Griffin said the agency is close to picking a target date for the launch of shuttle Discovery on the second post-Columbia flight.
http://tinyurl.com/c75pq ------------------
http://allthese worlds.hatbag.net/space.php
"America's challenge of today has forged man's destiny of tomorrow." - Commander Eugene Cernan, Apollo 17 Mission, 11 December 1972 |
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