STS-118: Omnibus Thread

Can a Floridian member try and snag some pics? It should come right up the coast with two big old sonic booms and cross right over KSC and loop back to One Five on the landing HAC cylinder. This will be exciting!

Vic

Sweet, I guess the worst is over.

*uncrosses toes*

There they are, woo hoo

It's not really over till wheel stop and the crew is clear. But the belly issue is over. The belly "looks" nominal. Two big booms... comin' in. Fingers-crossed.

Vic

[edit on 21-8-2007 by V Kaminski]

Yahoo! Down and safe. Show me a picture of the belly! Show me the crew! Excellent! Got an APU chugging thermal... no big deal.

Cheers and cheers! Time for a brewski! Yee-haw! Picture perfect.

Vic

Oh, what a relief that is!!!

I was really worried that this wasn't going to go well.

There is usually a post-landing news conference normally about two hours after the crew disembarks. I hope they have photos of the tile. I am interested to see what NASA may say about the immediate future and the External Tank LOX feedline bracketry and the effect on the schedule.

This mission had a number of first and marks the closure of some decades old issues and the opening of some newer ones. A big thumbs up for the Astronaut-Educator program! A big thumbs up for SSPTS! Hurrah for the crew of STS-118!

Cheers,

Vic

[edit on 21-8-2007 by V Kaminski]

Originally posted by V Kaminski
There is usually a post-landing news conference normally about two hours after the crew disembarks. I hope they have photos of the tile.

It would be nice if they have some nice clear, post-landing, tile damage , pics.

Wonder if they will play down the tile damage issue, now that landing
was successful.

I'm guessing, we won't hear about the bay door, sensor readings, for a day or so?

Pic:


No erosion! Amazing. So much for the Arc-Jet tunneling of the sim!

Vic

EDIT: For Jbird - day or so? How about ever? I think it depends on whether someone asks. Let's see what the Press Conference brings!

Cheers,

Vic

Two white tiles are apparently missing below the commander's side window on the nose.

[edit on 21-8-2007 by V Kaminski]

Astronaut Morgan has not departed from the crew transport vehicle as yet. Lotsa folks lookin' at the belly of Endeavour.

I hope Astronaut Morgan feels better soon. She'll be fine - likely has a mondo-headache and no land legs. Happens a bunch. No predicting who will have vestibular problems... not to mention the "rush" of the trip downhill for the first time!

Some more pics in a bit. A great day !!!!

Vic

Nice grab, Vic.

That is amazing.
Also, looks like minimal 'reaming' to the damaged area.
(doh, just noticed your picture caption.)

And no damage to the aluminum structure beneath/between the tiles, is even more astonishing.

Think we'll ever find out why JSC, was not, on board the decision to return, with no tile repair.

[edit on 21-8-2007 by Jbird]

I think it's safe to say that JSC ET are engineers - they "know" stuff, just ask them - they'll tell you. Engineering caution is something "built in". I like that. They also live and work closely with the astro's in Houston - they may have wanted to do everything possible to make OV-105 as safe for their friends and co-workers as they "knew" how. Engineers "fix" things it's a natural prediliction of the profession.

Some pics of the landing:







I don't have even a guess! LOL.

Vic

[edit on 21-8-2007 by V Kaminski]

Originally posted by V Kaminski

I don't have even a guess! LOL.

[edit on 21-8-2007 by V Kaminski]

Chase / escort plane?

It's size does look a little large, for chase plane , though.

I don't know Jbird. Really. I'm pretty sure that there should be nothing in the immediate airspace. It doesn't fly like a plane. Maybe a... "Nah"! I'll take a look at the video a few more times when I'm a little less tired. I'd have to cut it out of about an hour of video... they may show this clip again on the highlights anyway - you can't miss it. Not an airplane to my tired eyes at this point.

Cheers,

Vic

News conference is on...

"News" Politics aside - "surfactant" a surface-active agent, likely a lipo-protein/detergent/soap coating will be likely attempted on the existing ET's to reduce LOX feedline bracket icing. Tanking time will be minimized. OK.

Stacking on ET-120 might still be delayed. They have a few days to decide. Flight certification and clearing will be an obstacle. There are rules... rules take time to fulfill. It may be easier to do nothing. It may be safer. It may not.

Gloves are still an issue. Not pressing but "out there".

Cheers,

Vic

reply to post by Jbird


I had great apprehension that the hole in the heat resistant tile would cause a repeat of the Columbia disaster. Fortunately the research was correct, the hole was not significant.

This leaves us with the foam insulation on the main fuel tank problem. Repeating myself and others, the breaking off of foam has apparently been present from STS-1. It proved fatal only one time but caused alarm the first time we had the cameras able to monitor the lift-off.

There is one fix in the mill, changing the supports to titanium, but it is unclear to me how that would effect the foam problem.

I love the shuttle program and I am sorry to be approaching its end. I’d like to see 2-3 brand new shuttles constructed with state of the art techniques, instead of sending $12 b. a month down the rat hole of Iraq. But what the hey, you do what you have to do.

[edit on 8/21/2007 by donwhite]

Well, at the post touch down conference , Admin. Griffin , seemed very defensive, in general.

Almost on the verge of telling some of the reporters off. I guess, I'd chalk it up to stess.

You've got to hand it to , Barbara Morgan, though, toughing it out to make the press conference,
with the 'room spinning'.

And I have to admit, I've become a Dave Williams fan, after 'getting to know him',
throughout the mission, and reading some background.

His childlike enthusiasm and infectious, good nature, has to be a boost to the crew.
And not bad, with the press conferences, in space and on the ground.

Another great mission, and Thread.

Kudos , Vic.

There's nothing like being on-base for a landing - it's quite the spectacle. I surely miss living in Florida.

Griffin is an interesting fellow, who usually does tell the reporters off, which I like. He doesn't act like a politician and isn't diplomatic with the press, I think we need more people like this.

I just wanted to say thanks to Vic for the great coverage of STS-118.
You've done your usual fantastic job of staying on top of every issue, from pre-launch, to post landing briefings.

This is where I came for the most up to date news through the entire mission.
I'll also add my thanks to everyone else that contributed to the thread, but I have a gift for you Vic if you want it.

My brother just finished working on the repairs for the Sea Launch platform in Victoria, and now she's back at sea. One of the crew from the support ship gave him several stickers with their name and logo.

They look like this, but larger:




If you're interested Vic, u2u me a snail mail address and I'll put two in an envelope and send them to you as a way to say thanks for your dedication to this thread.

I'm just down the road in Hamilton, so you could have them in a couple days.

Originally posted by anxietydisorder
I just wanted to say thanks to Vic for the great coverage of STS-118.
You've done your usual fantastic job of staying on top of every issue, from pre-launch, to post landing briefings.

This is where I came for the most up to date news through the entire mission.
I'll also add my thanks to everyone else that contributed to the thread, but I have a gift for you Vic if you want it.

My brother just finished working on the repairs for the Sea Launch platform in Victoria, and now she's back at sea. One of the crew from the support ship gave him several stickers with their name and logo.

They look like this, but larger:




If you're interested Vic, u2u me a snail mail address and I'll put two in an envelope and send them to you as a way to say thanks for your dedication to this thread.

I'm just down the road in Hamilton, so you could have them in a couple days.

Wow. I mean: WOW. I am touched by your kindness anx'. Thanx so much for the kind words and thinking of others anx'. Wow. An increasing rarity these days... good on you anx'.

In lieu of sending those momentos to me (fossil) I would request that you find a deserving local young person and perhaps use those Sea-Launch momentos to "fire up" the imagination of a young lad or lass that might not otherwise have an interest... you are a winner anx' - big time.

Cheers of respect for you anx',

Vic

[edit on 24-8-2007 by V Kaminski]

I've taken your advice Vic and done as you requested.

The 9 year old boy next door now has a Sea Launch sticker on his lap-top, and we loaded NASA World Wind on his computer so he can explore the Universe.

I'll see my nephew on Sunday and do the same for him.

Who knows, these boys may have jobs off world some day.
They're young enough, and smart enough, that anything is possible.


Cheers Vic
And thank again.