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Author
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Topic: STS-135: Viewing, questions, and comments
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Jay Chladek
Member Posts: 2272
From: Bellevue, NE, USA
Registered: Aug 2007
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posted 07-07-2011 11:49 AM
   
Welcome from wet and gray Florida as we just had some rain pass through at the press site. Some obvious thunder was booming in the background (I guess mother nature had to get a word in at the press conferences) and I am sufficiently soaked right now. But, I am here. The press area has more people than I've ever seen even for STS-121 (John Glenn's return mission probably had similar numbers). But, we are in a festive mood here. |
moorouge
Member Posts: 2454
From: U.K.
Registered: Jul 2009
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posted 07-07-2011 01:36 PM
Question - if tomorrow's weather has a 70% chance of preventing a launch, why haven't they already made the decision to launch on Sunday when, I believe, there is only a 30% chance of the weather being unfavourable? |
Robert Pearlman
Editor Posts: 42988
From: Houston, TX
Registered: Nov 1999
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posted 07-07-2011 01:47 PM
To quote mission management team chair Mike Moses, because "a forecast is just that, a forecast."We've launched when the forecast ha been 90% no go, and we've scrubbed due to weather when the forecast had been 80% go. The only weather that matters is what the actual conditions are at the time of tanking and then launch. |
Jay Chladek
Member Posts: 2272
From: Bellevue, NE, USA
Registered: Aug 2007
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posted 07-07-2011 02:58 PM
Other thing to keep in mind is on one previous occassion where they scrubbed a launch attempt because of forecasted weather, the weather turned out to be almost perfect. That was in late January, 1986. If only they had flown on that day...Likely NASA will use a launch attempt resulting in a weather scrub to act as a final dress rehersal for launch perparations to make sure the equipment is working properly (i.e. no problems pop up during tanking). That way, if all goes well for this attempt except for the weather, it should go just as well on Sunday if the weather is allows for it. |
Jay Chladek
Member Posts: 2272
From: Bellevue, NE, USA
Registered: Aug 2007
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posted 07-08-2011 06:51 AM
The astronaut bus just went by the press site. So it looks like they are going to take the count as far down as they can and hope the weather holds. |
drjeffbang
Member Posts: 110
From: Virginia
Registered: Nov 2009
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posted 07-08-2011 08:26 AM
We're sitting at KSC hoping for launch weather! Go Atlantis! |
Fezman92
Member Posts: 1031
From: New Jersey, USA
Registered: Mar 2010
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posted 07-08-2011 08:51 AM
Hope you guys are having a good time. |
Cozmosis22
Member Posts: 968
From: Texas * Earth
Registered: Apr 2011
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posted 07-08-2011 10:35 AM
Nice liftoff. Congratulations NASA! |
Jay Chladek
Member Posts: 2272
From: Bellevue, NE, USA
Registered: Aug 2007
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posted 07-08-2011 12:34 PM
Well, I am still here at the press site and we still have a lot of media members present, mainly because people know they can't move from here for at least another hour or two.I am still kind of giddy about the whole thing. I had two cameras set up near the flagpole and countdown clock. We were in front of the clock, so we couldn't see the 31 second hold (which I believe was an STS-2 thing if I recall correctly). But, we let out a cheer when they cleared the hold and went. I was on my knees when I was shooting my photos. So after shooting about 14, I pulled back and watched the stack disappear through a cloud as I shouted at the top of my lungs in a cry of joy, excitement and some sadness. Then I just rolled over, looked up at the sky and cried. Some of you watching ABC (I believe the local affiliate as opposed to national) you may see me as a camera reporter interviewed me on the spot when he saw my emotions. I tried to do my best to convey my thoughts as to why I was sad the shuttle program was ending and what it might mean for the local area while at the same time conveying the reasons why attending shuttle launches are (were?) the best things in the world to witness. As I sit here typing this, listening to the press conference, I am left with one quotable line which I can use to sum up this day and perhaps the end of the shuttle program as a whole. "On the day we did not expect it to go, it went" — Jay Chladek, July 8, 2011 Godspeed the crew of STS-135 and thank you Atlantis for your stellar years of service. |
Blackarrow
Member Posts: 3120
From: Belfast, United Kingdom
Registered: Feb 2002
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posted 07-08-2011 01:12 PM
A wonderful, poignant experience watching the Last Shuttle lifting off. Yes, the T-31 second "cut-off" took me back 30 years and 3 months to the First Launch...but with a better outcome! Beautiful! By the way, did anyone else notice the circular glow around the shadow of the shuttle cast on the clouds below? You can see the same circular glow around the shadow of an aircraft cast on clouds. I think it is called the "Brocken Spectre". |
drjeffbang
Member Posts: 110
From: Virginia
Registered: Nov 2009
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posted 07-08-2011 08:34 PM
What an incredible day!Can someone explain the T-31 second hold? |
Cozmosis22
Member Posts: 968
From: Texas * Earth
Registered: Apr 2011
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posted 07-08-2011 08:44 PM
quote:
Originally posted by drjeffbang:
Can someone explain the T-31 second hold?
One of the pad sensors indicated that the "beanie cap" vent arm had not fully retracted and triggered an automatic hold. After a quick padcam inspection (lasting only about two minutes) showed that it had indeed moved back out of the way; they resumed the countdown to launch from the 31 second mark. |
apolloprojeckt
Member Posts: 1447
From: Arnhem, Netherlands
Registered: Feb 2009
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posted 07-09-2011 03:13 AM
What do the people in the control center do as the crew sleeps? Check systems of the shuttle? |
ea757grrl
Member Posts: 729
From: South Carolina
Registered: Jul 2006
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posted 07-09-2011 08:20 AM
So help me, when it happened, my first thought was, "Well, in a program that's seen its share of holds in the count, what would the final launch be without one more for old times' sake?" Then it launched, and it was beautiful. I cheered like never before when I saw the last set of SRBs drop away (and I bet I'm not alone there), and at ET separation -- in both instances, what relief when it works! It was a glorious last launch for the program, and I'm glad I stayed in to watch. |
Robert Pearlman
Editor Posts: 42988
From: Houston, TX
Registered: Nov 1999
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posted 07-09-2011 08:42 AM
quote:
Originally posted by apolloprojeckt:
What do the people in the control center do as the crew sleeps?
There are three shifts of flight controllers during a shuttle mission, called Orbit 1, Orbit 2 and Planning (there are also dedicated ascent and entry teams).The Planning shift is on console while the crew sleeps. They monitor the shuttle systems, but they also plan any needed changes to the crew's next day of activities based on what transpired the day prior. The Planning shift flight director for STS-135 is Paul Dye. Capcom is Shannon Lucid. |
moorouge
Member Posts: 2454
From: U.K.
Registered: Jul 2009
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posted 07-09-2011 10:34 AM
Now the dust has settled - what was the piece that can be seen floating away as the ET separated? |
Robert Pearlman
Editor Posts: 42988
From: Houston, TX
Registered: Nov 1999
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posted 07-09-2011 11:14 AM
Probably ice, which is common during tank separation. (At that point in flight, it's of absolutely no safety concern.) |
Jay Chladek
Member Posts: 2272
From: Bellevue, NE, USA
Registered: Aug 2007
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posted 07-09-2011 01:45 PM
I shared a joke with "Shuttleman" over the phone that Lockheed Martin should have chartered an aircraft to fly over the predicted impact point for the ET and they could have dropped the door with the upside down logo in the water, then retrieved it with another plane and proclaimed "Hey, it really did fly and survive!"He got a nice laugh out of that one. |
jasonelam
Member Posts: 691
From: Monticello, KY USA
Registered: Mar 2007
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posted 07-09-2011 06:11 PM
Watched the launch on DVR (my work didn't take "shuttle launch" as a good enough excuse  ) It was a great launch, got a little choked up as I saw the liftoff. Have a question about something I saw during the launch. About ten seconds after SRB separation, something orange seemed to fly back over the right wing. Any ideas as to what is to what it was? Just caught my eye and I had to rewind the image several times and couldn't figure out what it was. |
BrianM
New Member Posts:
From:
Registered:
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posted 07-09-2011 10:19 PM
A few months ago I read that STS-135 Atlantis would land in the dark, but when the final schedule was announced it looks like we should be able to witness the final landing of the orbiter in early daylight: 7:06 a.m. on Wednesday, 2011 July 20. Will we really be able to see it well given the time? What are the alternate landing times of the orbiter the next couple days? |
GACspaceguy
Member Posts: 2475
From: Guyton, GA
Registered: Jan 2006
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posted 07-10-2011 08:03 AM
It was a spectacular launch and a nail bitter down to the last 31 seconds when they had to hold for a launch pad issue. It was resolved with 58 seconds left in the launch window and away it went. Weather looked no go for most of the morning but there was an hour or so of clear. Then it went cloudy again so they sneaked the last one in there. The traffic was bumper to bumper for miles but we only had to go into Titusville as that is where we were staying.
Here are our photos. Fred and Jackie from Guyton.  
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Jack Juka
Member Posts: 16
From: Titusville, Florida
Registered: Mar 2011
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posted 07-10-2011 08:10 AM
Shuttle getting ready to pierce the clouds... |
KSCartist
Member Posts: 2896
From: Titusville, FL USA
Registered: Feb 2005
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posted 07-10-2011 08:40 AM
I was at Space View Park in Titusville from 10-2 on Thursday afternoon and then again from 11:00 pm until 6:00 am parking cars and directing traffic. Then from 6:00 am to 1:00 pm selling my patches to help the Space Walk of Fame raise money. It was a great last tailgate party. I'm so glad Atlantis launched so all of our visitors were able to say they saw it.
I met Jason Ritter there. He along with actress Kate French was there to film a movie. Seems like a genuinely nice guy. He told me "The Event" which was canceled by NBC may be picked up by the SyFy Channel.
From the local Fox affiliate.  |
crash
Member Posts: 318
From: West Sussex, England
Registered: Jan 2011
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posted 07-10-2011 10:09 AM
I was determined not to take any pictures but to just stand and watch. I learned my lesson at STS-134. However, I weakened in the last minute or two. I lined up my mediocre camera by hand (no tripod) and just watched the launch without looking at the camera screen or viewfinder at all. At the right moment I clicked and dropped the camera to avoid trying to take any more. I was quite pleased with the outcome:  How many violations get waived, on average, at launch time? |
tncmaxq
Member Posts: 287
From: New Haven, CT USA
Registered: Oct 2001
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posted 07-10-2011 10:51 AM
quote:
Originally posted by Blackarrow:
A wonderful, poignant experience watching the Last Shuttle lifting off. Yes, the T-31 second "cut-off" took me back 30 years and 3 months to the First Launch...but with a better outcome! Beautiful! By the way, did anyone else notice the circular glow around the shadow of the shuttle cast on the clouds below? You can see the same circular glow around the shadow of an aircraft cast on clouds. I think it is called the "Brocken Spectre".
The clock first held at -31 prior to the first attempt on STS-2. With STS-1 I don't think they ever got beyond the 9 minute mark during the April 10 attempt. We've had it happen so often in the past but during the last several years, especially since STS-114, I don't think there has been a last second glitch like that so it did come as a surprise, and created much tension since I wanted launch to occur for the sake of all the people down there to see it. I was so relieved they were able to confirm the arm was retracted, and off she went. Drama almost to the last second! |
Tom
Member Posts: 1597
From: New York
Registered: Nov 2000
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posted 07-10-2011 11:08 AM
quote:
Originally posted by KSCartist:
Then from 6:00 am to 1:00 pm selling my patches to help the Space Walk of Fame raise money.
Great job, Tim. I just ordered "America's Pride" patch of the shuttle program.Do you have any photos of the launch to share? |
GACspaceguy
Member Posts: 2475
From: Guyton, GA
Registered: Jan 2006
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posted 07-10-2011 12:14 PM
We just saw Liberty Star bring in the R/H SRB here at Jetty Park. I will post photos as soon as I can.We need help though,we have heard times between 3 to 8 p.m. for Freedom Star and the L/H SRB. If anyone has info on the real time can they post it and email me. I am on a Blackberry and e-mail is easier to see. Thanks. |
Robert Pearlman
Editor Posts: 42988
From: Houston, TX
Registered: Nov 1999
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posted 07-10-2011 02:10 PM
quote:
Originally posted by KSCartist:
I met Jason Ritter there. He along with actress Kate French was there to film a movie.
Florida Today has more details on the movie they were filming. As space shuttle Atlantis lifted off Friday from Kennedy Space Center, another Atlantis was in the works across the Indian River at Space View Park in Titusville.A Los Angeles-based film crew, along with actors Jason Ritter and Kate French, were making the short film "Atlantis" -- the story of strangers who meet and fall in love during the buildup to the final space shuttle launch. The 14-person crew filmed the actors on a dock at Space View Park while the shuttle lifted off in the background. The stars said it was the first time they had seen a shuttle launch, and they were excited for the opportunity to be here, surrounded by the excitement. |
Blackarrow
Member Posts: 3120
From: Belfast, United Kingdom
Registered: Feb 2002
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posted 07-10-2011 04:02 PM
quote:
Originally posted by tncmaxq:
The clock first held at -31 prior to the first attempt on STS-2. With STS-1 I don't think they ever got beyond the 9 minute mark during the April 10 attempt.
I stand corrected! I've just retrieved my STS-1 cuttings from the attic and you're right. I must have been remembering several other aborted launches (including the most gut-wrenching* of them all: the Apollo 17 cut-off at T-30 seconds!) *speaking personally. Anyone who stood at the Cape waiting for a shuttle launch which didn't happen might disagree! |
mooncollector
Member Posts: 104
From: Alabama, USA
Registered: Feb 2011
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posted 07-10-2011 04:06 PM
I was also thrilled to learn about the planned 7 a.m. landing time and I am making preps to get down to Florida to view the landing.With all the talk now about extending the mission by an extra day, what would that do to planned landing times on July 21st or 22nd? I have tried to figure this out with published info and it appeared to me that any 24 hour delay in a mission event seemed to have the effect of making the said event happen about 30 minutes earlier on the next day, which obviously is cutting it close as far as visibility is concerned, with a 6:30 a.m. EDT sunrise during the period. I have seen many launches but never really watch the shuttle descend to landing clearly. Hoping that the times will be favorable now after all the hoops I have had to jump through to make a trip down there. Any words for us on revised landing times? |
Robert Pearlman
Editor Posts: 42988
From: Houston, TX
Registered: Nov 1999
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posted 07-10-2011 04:19 PM
quote:
Originally posted by mooncollector:
Any words for us on revised landing times?
These are not official; they will change: July 20- 7:02 a.m. EDT (25 minutes after sunrise)
- 8:39 a.m. EDT (62 minutes after sunrise)
July 21 - 6:07 a.m. EDT (30 minutes before sunrise)
- 7:44 a.m. EDT (65 minutes after sunrise)
July 22 - 5:08 a.m. EDT (90 minutes before sunrise)
- 6:44 a.m. EDT (5 minutes before sunrise)
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tncmaxq
Member Posts: 287
From: New Haven, CT USA
Registered: Oct 2001
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posted 07-10-2011 07:22 PM
quote:
Originally posted by Blackarrow:
the Apollo 17 cut-off at T-30 seconds!
The last minute hold on Apollo 17 was stunning to me since their on time record prior to that was pretty good. Besides the engine shutdown on Gemini 6 I can't recall if there were any other last second scrubs on Gemini but I don't think so. There were a number of delays though.As far as aborted shuttle launches I have had my share, unfortunately. I was at KSC during 3 of the 5 on pad engine cutoffs, including the first on 41D, which was to be the first launch I ever saw. Talk about disappointment. Though one time the clock held at T-31 where the delay was brief was on STS-70, the first launch I saw from the press site. That was rather heart stopping in those final seconds. But the problem was cleared in less than a minute and Discovery lifted off. One bit of trivia others have already noted: Atlantis is the only orbiter to never have an engine cutoff on the pad. |
dogcrew5369
Member Posts: 750
From: Statesville, NC
Registered: Mar 2009
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posted 07-10-2011 09:27 PM
I was initially bummed that I had to work all day Friday, but as fate had to intervene the power to my workplace and much of my town was knocked out by an equipment failure and I was gratefully sent home early to watch the final shuttle launch on tv. So glad this glitch wasn't fixed and the T-31 glitch was. Thank you Duke Energy for breaking your equipment and thank you NASA for a wonderful last launch LIVE. |
Ben
Member Posts: 1896
From: Cape Canaveral, FL
Registered: May 2000
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posted 07-10-2011 10:51 PM
Just updated my Shuttle Viewing Guide, the most popular on the web, for the final time. I'm going to miss updating it, and helping the dozens who email every launch, some from collectSPACE. Thank you to the hundreds of thousands over the years who helped make it what it was. |
tegwilym
Member Posts: 2331
From: Sturgeon Bay, WI
Registered: Jan 2000
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posted 07-10-2011 11:45 PM
quote:
Originally posted by Ben:
Thank you to the hundreds of thousands over the years who helped make it what it was.
We need to thank you also for the guide. It was helpful for my three successful launches (STS-117, STS-130, STS-133)! |
MarylandSpace
Member Posts: 1336
From:
Registered: Aug 2002
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posted 07-11-2011 12:07 PM
I had a great time viewing the STS-135 launch with three of my favorite collectSPACE friends: Jeff, Jennifer, and Abba Bang.Hopefully, SpaceX will safely develop the next U.S. manned launch capsule. |
Robert Pearlman
Editor Posts: 42988
From: Houston, TX
Registered: Nov 1999
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posted 07-11-2011 02:54 PM
STS-135 is now officially a 13-day mission. Landing is now scheduled for July 21 at 5:56 a.m. EDT. |
Cozmosis22
Member Posts: 968
From: Texas * Earth
Registered: Apr 2011
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posted 07-11-2011 03:08 PM
quote:
Originally posted by Robert Pearlman:
Landing is now scheduled for July 21 at 5:56 a.m. EDT.
Great, thanks for the update!  Could you please point us to a groundtrack map of the last few orbits on that day? |
Robert Pearlman
Editor Posts: 42988
From: Houston, TX
Registered: Nov 1999
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posted 07-11-2011 03:15 PM
The ground track is not released until a day or so before landing. |
mooncollector
Member Posts: 104
From: Alabama, USA
Registered: Feb 2011
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posted 07-11-2011 10:17 PM
Will we be seeing on STS-135 the striking solid rocket booster videos that the last few flights have featured so prominently? I know about the ET "DeathCam" film but I have not seen or heard anything about the four views of the ascending shuttle from the SRBs.For this last mission, surely they would have a lot of significance. |
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