Space Station and Shuttle Visible Together in Night Sky

[ljwf22]

I truly hope and pray that this shuttle comes home safely.

Me, too, Taximom. We saw it fly over tonight and my son and I said a prayer as it passed.

 

[CaliKid]

This is very scary. What are the odds that two shuttle liftoffs, the only two carrying civilian teachers, would have life-threatening damage. I hope the Endeavor crew can either find a way to fix it or stay up there until rescued.

 

[ljwf22]

This is very scary. What are the odds that two shuttle liftoffs, the only two carrying civilian teachers, would have life-threatening damage. I hope the Endeavor crew can either find a way to fix it or stay up there until rescued.

Barbara Morgan is no longer a classroom teacher. She joined NASA as a mission specialist, so she's a real astronaut.

 

[englishleigh]

I'm very worried about this. This is awful. If NASA can't do better than this, they need to stop sending up shuttles. There are issues with damage lately every time the shuttle flies. This time it is really scary and I heard the damage this time is similar to Columbia's, and we all know how that ended.

Very ironic that another teacher-in-space, real astronaut now or not, is on board this time.
Praying for them to get home safely.

 

[Taximom]

Barbara Morgan is no longer a classroom teacher. She joined NASA as a mission specialist, so she's a real astronaut.

Once a teacher, always a teacher! I think it's cool that she's now an astronaut.

I'm very worried about this. This is awful. If NASA can't do better than this, they need to stop sending up shuttles. There are issues with damage lately every time the shuttle flies. This time it is really scary and I heard the damage this time is similar to Columbia's, and we all know how that ended.

Very ironic that another teacher-in-space, real astronaut now or not, is on board this time.
Praying for them to get home safely.

My sentiments, exactly, englishleigh.

 

[Amraann]

One of my sons was there when it launched. I was happy to hear it all went down as planned as often its not..

 

[CaliKid]

Any news about whether they've been able to repair the shuttle?

 

[ljwf22]

Any news about whether they've been able to repair the shuttle?

HOUSTON -- A preliminary analysis of the gouged heat shield tile on the belly of NASA's space shuttle Endeavour shows promise that a spacewalk repair may not be required, but NASA will await additional tests to be sure, mission managers said late Tuesday.

Initial computer modeling of the small, but deep, ding on Endeavour's undercarriage found that the damaged area would not leave the orbiter vulnerable to the searing hot temperatures of reentry, they added.
Shannon said the preliminary computer analysis is undergoing an independent verification to ensure its accuracy. Meanwhile, more tests over the next 24 hours will use subject mockups of the tile damage to the same extreme temperatures Endeavour will face during landing, as another check of that initial study, he added.

A final decision on whether Endeavour's STS-118 spacewalkers will have to venture beneath the orbiter's underbelly for to make repairs is anticipated by late Wednesday, NASA said.

Link:http://news.yahoo.com/s/space/20070...notrequired;_ylt=AqdGOXljYOi.Awsplt8kVu0E1vAI

 

[Taximom]

I sure hope they are right.

 

[ljwf22]

I sure hope they are right.

Me too, Taximom, but it makes me very nervous.

 

[Taximom]

Me too, Taximom, but it makes me very nervous.

It's very sad to me that we have several men underground in dire straits, hopefully alive, and several people in outer space facing something unthinkable as well.

 

[Mygirlsadie]

The other space shuttle that had this problem that didnt make it back...did they know about this problem before re-entry? Sorry I can't think of dates & names right now but it was back in 2002 I believe? (somewhere around there)

 

[ljwf22]

The other space shuttle that had this problem that didnt make it back...did they know about this problem before re-entry? Sorry I can't think of dates & names right now but it was back in 2002 I believe? (somewhere around there)

That would be Columbia which disintegrated upon reentry February 1, 2003. That damaged tile was on the leading edge of a wing. Until that happened, I don't think NASA thought foam breaking off the fuel tank on liftoff would do that much damage. Endeavour's tile damage is thought to be in a less vulnerable spot.

 

[Taximom]

Well, we'll know today if that damage is significant or not.

http://www.businessweek.com/technol...=technology_technology+index+page_top+stories

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. — NASA has much to consider as the shuttle Endeavour heads back to Earth today, with seven astronauts and a worrisome gouge in the heat shielding under the right wing.
Late Monday, the shuttle's hurricane-shortened mission was on course to touch down at NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida at 11:32 a.m., CDT, or a backup opportunity at 1:06 p.m., CDT.

God bless the Endeavour crew and NASA staff today.

 

[Peter Hamilton]

yes, Let's hope they all get back safely today

 

[ljwf22]

Endeavour just got the 'go' for deorbit burn for landing at Kennedy Space Center at 12:32 EST.

 

[ljwf22]

Deorbit burn complete. Endeavour is on its way home. Entry into atmosphere expected just after noon EST over the Pacific Ocean. Landing 12:32.

 

[Liz]

460 miles to go. Passing over Cuba.

 

[Liz]

11 minutes till touchdown.

 

[Taximom]

Whew, Fox saying we are past the point where we have to worry about that gouge affecting this shuttle, for the most part.