Shuttle landing postponed till 10:23

Low cloud ceiling and showers force Discovery and seven astronauts to wave off today's first landing attempt at 8:48 a.m. Next opportunity is at 10:23 a.m.

live updates here - flametrench.flatoday.net...

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reply to post by prevenge


whats interesting here is theres not a mention on the news? Given the so called safety issues regarding airlines world wide you would think a shuttles re entry may atleast get a mention?


EDIT
No sooner than i posted this i was proved wrong. sorry.

[edit on 19-4-2010 by jazz10]

reply to post by jazz10


The shuttle isn't effected by the ash because it doesn't have jet engines.

It glides in to land.

reply to post by Chadwickus


Seriously? No power of its own just glides?
If you are correct then that changes everything.

reply to post by jazz10


On re-entry it is unpowered.

The angle and speed is extremely important as it enters the atmosphere.

Can I ask why this changes everything? The shuttle has been gliding in since it's creation.

reply to post by jazz10


Yep, it's a big glider and while it's choreographed all the way down they do have some specific maneuvers designed to kill altitude & speed.

When the shuttle enters successfully into the earth's atmosphere, it flies like an airplane. It is designed in such a way that it can generate lift with a small wing area. A series of s-shaped turns are made to slow the speed as it approaches the runway.

At 25 miles above, the shuttle's computer give the control to the commander. The commander flies the shuttle around an imaginary cylinder to line the orbiter with the runway and drop the altitude. During final approach, the commander steepens the angle of descent to minus 20 degree.

When the shuttle is 610m above the ground, the commander pulls the nose to slow the rate of descent. The pilot deploys the landing gear and the shuttle touches down. The commander applies brakes and the speed brake on the vertical tail opens up. A parachute is deployed from the back to stop the shuttle. The parachute and speed brakes increase the drag and stops the shuttle about the midway to three quarters down the runway.

It is a flying ceramic brick.

Second line not in the budget...

reply to post by IntelRetard


IntelRetard that was funny!!


Even though I live in Central Texas and not truly in the viewing field, the kiddos and I were all ready and waiting for it. Heck we even had the Monday Morning Chaos go off without a hitch! And were hoping we could at least hear the sonic boom as she zoomed across the sky.

just thought i would pass this on, great pics too, especially the 2 that have anomalies?
www.dailymail.co.uk...

Interesting read too

Originally posted by jazz10
reply to post by Chadwickus

 

Seriously? No power of its own just glides?
If you are correct then that changes everything.

Why do you think they call it a flying brick?

Please direct your comments to this ongoing Thread - posted on Sun Apr 18

Central USA expect to hear sonic booms 4/19 in a.m.

Thanks

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