Slimshady From United States, joined Dec 2007, 131 posts, RR: 0 Posted (6 months 9 hours ago) and read 2242 times:
What happened to the airspace around Southern California yesterday? Anything? Do they shut down the airspace for a short time around Southern California when the Space Shuttle is landing at Edwards?
Does the shuttle land on the sand in California? The paved runway looks like it is too short to handle an orbiter, and the only alternative is a longer runway in the lake bed.
..and what happens if the orbiter needs to go around?
RFields5421 From United States, joined Jul 2007, 2483 posts, RR: 1 Reply 4, posted (6 months 7 hours ago) and read 2045 times:
The shuttle is in commercial airspace altitude only a very short time.
It descends FAST and no go-arounds.
25 miles from landing it is going faster than the speed of sound. It descends 20 times faster than a commercial air-liner - read that as 15-30,000 FPM.
They start their flare 2,000 ft AGL.
The landing profile is they cross 10,000 ft AGL only 7 miles from the runway at almost 400 mph. That is just 90 seconds from touchdown.
Chrisair From United States, joined Sep 2000, 776 posts, RR: 6 Reply 6, posted (6 months 7 hours ago) and read 2024 times:
Quoting N867DA (Reply 3): ..and what happens if the orbiter needs to go around?
It doesn't. It doesn't have any capability to produce thrust once it's out of orbit. The commander does something like 1,000 approaches in a modified T38 (I think) and the sim before the mission.
One of their runways is 15,000+ feet long. They land it on the concrete.
Thank you. This is what I suspected too, since there's no real propulsion on the way down!
How do they work out the cost-benefit of waiting for a FL landing? Surely the price to orbit the earth is free (or close to it)?
Quoting C767P (Reply 5): Anyone have any info on the departure of the Shuttle? When (time and date) and how easy it is to see it depart (how close you can get)?
Judging by Google Maps, it looks like there are plenty of nearby public roads that offer a good view of the launch. They're distant, but I doubt a few trees can block a space shuttle launch if you're in the area. NASA gives information about off-site viewing here: http://www.nasa.gov/centers/kennedy/about/view/view_shuttle.html
C767P From United States, joined Oct 2008, 341 posts, RR: 1 Reply 9, posted (6 months 7 hours ago) and read 1952 times:
Quoting N867DA (Reply 8): How do they work out the cost-benefit of waiting for a FL landing?
I heard they had supplies to last them through today (Monday), so that and the forecast probably played a big roll in it. I am sure someone would know more details to that.
Quoting N867DA (Reply 8): NASA's site lists shuttle launches through September 2010, so there is plenty of time to get down to Florida.
Thanks, glad to see it is going through September 2010. However I am more curious at this time about it’s departure from Edwards on the back of a 747 and being able to see that, if it is possible…
Par13del From Bahamas, joined Dec 2005, 2410 posts, RR: 3 Reply 10, posted (6 months 6 hours ago) and read 1943 times:
Quoting C767P (Reply 9): However I am more curious at this time about it’s departure from Edwards on the back of a 747 and being able to see that, if it is possible…
Usually takes a couple days to prep the shuttle and load onto the 747, if my memory is clear, the 747 cannot make the ferry flight without a refuelling stop, they also divert or land for weather enroute
BMI727 From United States, joined Feb 2009, 3168 posts, RR: 1 Reply 13, posted (6 months 6 hours ago) and read 1907 times:
Quoting Spacepope (Reply 11): It's a Gulfstream II. Evidently when the thrust reversers are engaged at altitude, it has a similar flight profile to the orbiter.
It is. Just try one of the simulators next time you are at a space center. They water it down a lot though, even my dad landed it. But I flew a lot of flight simulators before, and I had to suppress my computer game instincts and keep the shuttle pointed down at what seems like a suicidal attitude. Not your average landing, that's for sure.
Why do Aerospace Engineering students have to turn things in on time?
Sinlock From United States, joined Dec 2000, 1474 posts, RR: 4 Reply 14, posted (6 months 3 hours ago) and read 1819 times:
Quoting N867DA (Reply 8): Judging by Google Maps, it looks like there are plenty of nearby public roads that offer a good view of the launch. They're distant, but I doubt a few trees can block a space shuttle launch if you're in the area. NASA gives information about off-site viewing here:
When they do a night launch and the sky is clear I can see the launches from my backyard.....in Ft Lauderdale 169.49 miles away and I only miss the first 24 seconds. A few years ago tracked an ISS mission launch with my binoculars till 1 min till MECO must have been a clear night from here to Maine.
Mir From United States, joined Jan 2004, 13060 posts, RR: 65 Reply 15, posted (5 months 4 weeks 1 day 10 hours ago) and read 1608 times:
Quoting N867DA (Reply 3): They must use Edwards only when there's no alternative!
They do. Atlantis was supposed to land on Friday. They waved off for two days because of weather at KSC, and only landed at EDW on Sunday because the consumables aboard Atlantis were going to run out on Monday (and then any little problem that prevented landing that day would have become a big one).
Quoting N867DA (Reply 3): Does the shuttle land on the sand in California? The paved runway looks like it is too short to handle an orbiter, and the only alternative is a longer runway in the lake bed.
The paved portion is 15,000ft+. It's long enough - about the same length as the runway at KSC.
Quoting N867DA (Reply 3): ..and what happens if the orbiter needs to go around?
It doesn't - it's a glider (and not a very good one at that).
Quoting Chrisair (Reply 6): The commander does something like 1,000 approaches in a modified T38 (I think)
A Gulfstream II, actually. They outfit half of the cockpit with a shuttle-like panel, and enable the thrust reversers at altitude.
This picture shows the old shuttle configuration - they have EFIS now:
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