posted on August 9, 2005 10:09:14 AM new
Space shuttle Discovery lands safely in California
Tue Aug 9, 2005 4:51 PM BST
By Nichola Groom
EDWARDS AIR FORCE BASE, Calif. (Reuters) - The space shuttle Discovery and its seven astronauts returned to Earth safely on Tuesday, successfully completing NASA's troubled resumption of human space flight 2 1/2 years after the Columbia disaster.
Discovery's mission eased some of NASA's woes after the deaths of Columbia's seven astronauts but it may also have been the last shuttle flight for some time. The U.S. space agency grounded the shuttle fleet after Discovery shed insulating foam at launch, the same problem that doomed Columbia.
Discovery made a fiery re-entry into Earth's atmosphere at 17,000 mph (27,000 kph), and swooped over the Pacific Ocean before gliding to a smooth predawn landing at Edwards Air Force Base in California.
NASA diverted the shuttle to California after skipping four chances to land at Discovery's home port, the Kennedy Space Center in Florida, because of menacing thunderstorms.
"Congratulations on a truly spectacular test flight," astronaut Ken Ham at Mission Control in Houston told the Discovery crew as the shuttle stopped on the runway. "Welcome home friends."
Discovery's crew, Eileen Collins, Jim Kelly, Steve Robinson, Soichi Noguchi, Andy Thomas, Wendy Lawrence and Charlie Camarda, performed a traditional walk-around to inspect the ship after landing. All appeared to be in good shape.
NASA accomplished its main goal for the mission -- safely launching and landing the aging shuttle. But when chunks of insulation flew off Discovery's fuel tank during launch, the U.S. space agency was disappointed to find it had failed to fix the problem that led to Columbia's demise on Feb. 1, 2003.
Investigators blamed Columbia's disintegration over Texas on a large piece of insulating foam that broke off the tank during launch and punched a hole in the orbiter's wing, allowing superheated gases to enter as the ship returned to Earth.
For Discovery's return, NASA had commander Collins adjust the shuttle's orbit so that it would not fly over the most heavily populated areas of Los Angeles in case of another accident. Columbia showered Texas and Louisiana with debris.
SONIC BOOMS OVER CALIFORNIA
Radio communications between the shuttle commander and mission control fell largely silent as the shuttle nosedived toward the Mojave Desert landing strip. Double sonic booms sounded over southern California as the shuttle dipped below the speed of sound.
Pilot Jim Kelly steered Discovery in a wide circle to burn off speed 30,000 feet above the runway -- a point in the flight Columbia never reached.
Collins took over the final maneuvers and gently eased the 100-ton spacecraft onto the concrete landing strip.
"We're happy to be back and we congratulate the whole team on a job well done," she said.
NASA scored some notable successes on its long-awaited return-to-flight mission, launched on July 26 after the agency spent $1 billion on repairs and safety upgrades. Discovery carried badly needed supplies and equipment to the space station and used new technology, including laser scanners, to search for damage on the outside of the shuttle.
Discovery's crew performed three successful spacewalks -- replacing a faulty steering gyroscope and reviving another on the space station.
But the crew also had to perform an unexpected repair with an unprecedented and risky spacewalk to the belly of the shuttle to remove bits of cloth filler protruding from the spacecraft's heat-shield tiles, which NASA managers feared could cause dangerous overheating on re-entry.
The fuel tank foam problem prompted NASA to ground the shuttle fleet until it can find a fix. The U.S. space agency has set Sept. 22 as a target for the next shuttle launch but NASA managers have said the date is unrealistic.
"We're going to try as hard as we can to get back in space this year, because we have a big construction project we're working on and we need the shuttle to do it," Griffin said. "So we're going to try as hard as we can but we're not going to go until we're ready to go."
The shuttle, scheduled to be retired in 2010, is the key to the future of the unfinished International Space Station because it is the only spacecraft capable of carrying large components into space.
(Additional reporting by Irene Klotz, Jim Loney and Deborah Zabarenko in Cape Canaveral)
posted on August 9, 2005 12:30:10 PM new
Yes, now all those who were holding their breath can breathe a sigh of relief. I know I was holding mine for them. After what happened last time....and all the reports of things going wrong plus concerns that popped up after they took off....it was a VERY welcome relief.
posted on August 9, 2005 12:41:41 PM new
we watched Steve Robinson remove one of the cloth filters-the video shots they got around the spacecraft were spectacular
posted on August 9, 2005 02:29:49 PM new
I was holding my breath also! Esp. when they had so many delays, and then having to repair some tile? when on the space station!
Its so great to here they made it back safely, and hopefully we will get back to more missions, and someday! a manned one to Mars!
(I'm pretty sure I won't be around for that, but sure hope they do it)
posted on August 9, 2005 02:38:42 PM new
OF COURSE I DONT SEE ANY LEFTIES MAKING ANY COMMENTS HERE-WHICH DOESNT SURPRISE ME.WHY WOULD THEY??-THEY'RE PROBABLY PISSED OFF SOMETHING HAPPENED GOOD UNDER THE BUSH ADMINISTRATION.
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Golfer:Stop checking your watch all the time,its too much of a distraction.
Caddy:Its not a watch, its a compass
posted on August 9, 2005 02:43:05 PM new
You know what, classic, you can shove your comment where the sun doesn't shine. Or, does it? Before this board, I had nothing against Republicans in general. In fact, I've voted for a couple in my lifetime. Now that I can see how you all truly are. . .
I'm very glad the shuttle came home safely and it was a pretty ignorant and assinine remark of yours to think we would wish otherwise.
posted on August 9, 2005 05:04:56 PM new
I don't post in every single thread, classic, and you know it. I haven't posted in the Christopher Reeves thread either.
posted on August 9, 2005 07:50:01 PM new
cheryl I wasnt pointing you out-it was lefties in general.Whenever something good happens to America,you never hear from the lefties,and guess what? This case is no different.
posted on August 9, 2005 08:02:46 PM new
Hey - I sat up Sunday night hoping to see the Shuttle landing, waited thru the first no go and the second one.
I'm not quite sure why you associate the Shuttles success or failure with the political administration. I am no more likely to assign credit to the Bush administration for a successful landing that I was to assign blame to his or Reagans administration for shuttle failures. The successes and failures belong soley to NASA and their contractors and last I heard... Bush was no rocket scientist
~~~ • ~~~ • ~~~ • ~~~ • ~~~
No, I'm saying -- I'm merely -- I'm saying what I'm saying. I don't know why I'm always having people say, are you trying to say -- you know what you can do if you want to know what I'm saying is listen to what I'm saying. What I'm saying is what I said ...
posted on August 9, 2005 08:27:48 PM new
Oh, I don't know about that fenix. If you recall there was a 'certain' moderate dem that questioned a republican about did she agree with the funding the President was considering putting into our space program.
Remember that? Questioning why in the world we'd be spending money in that area when there were so many other uses for it.....at that time.
"Whenever the nation is under attack, from within or without, liberals side with the enemy. This is their essence." --Ann Coulter
And why the American Voters chose to RE-elect President Bush to four more years. YES!!!
posted on August 9, 2005 08:33:24 PM new
LOL Linda!! It was the weirdest thing coming across that Tang recently!!
Remember the commercials said if you drank it you could grow up to be like an astronaut? lol!!!
Fenix, isnt it widely known *most democrats do not care for space exploration - they think its a waste of money, etc?
Classic, I think some are so busy complaining, they forget to be grateful for things that are successful. It's not quite as exciting as crucifying someone (say like for saying the word bull*sh*) or for some other trival thing.
posted on August 9, 2005 08:34:03 PM new
Hey - I don't deny that I think that spending money to go to Mars or build a Space Station on the moon is a ludicrous waste of funds considering our current budget deficits and the state of social security but once the money is allocated, the administration has nothing to do with the results of those allocations. And I'm going to say the same thing four years from now when Hillary is in charge.
~~~ • ~~~ • ~~~ • ~~~ • ~~~
No, I'm saying -- I'm merely -- I'm saying what I'm saying. I don't know why I'm always having people say, are you trying to say -- you know what you can do if you want to know what I'm saying is listen to what I'm saying. What I'm saying is what I said ...
- Ann Coulter
[ edited by fenix03 on Aug 9, 2005 08:39 PM ]
posted on August 9, 2005 08:36:33 PM new
Dbl - here's my take on it. Just because I buy a Porsche doesn't mean I created a great car.
~~~ • ~~~ • ~~~ • ~~~ • ~~~
No, I'm saying -- I'm merely -- I'm saying what I'm saying. I don't know why I'm always having people say, are you trying to say -- you know what you can do if you want to know what I'm saying is listen to what I'm saying. What I'm saying is what I said ...
- Ann Coulter
[ edited by fenix03 on Aug 9, 2005 08:39 PM ]
posted on August 9, 2005 08:42:24 PM new
If I am up on the news I think funding to NASA (or certain research) has even been cut somewhat lately. Seem to recall reading something to that effect....
posted on August 9, 2005 08:43:28 PM new
Funding has everything to do with space projects. Everything. IF the administration in office isn't supportive of space exploration....then they're not going to approve much/if any funding for it.
So...I just see it differently, surprise, surprise. Some Presidents have given huge sums of money so that all these space programs can continue....some very little. Nothing except paying salaries is accomplished on little amounts of funding.
And fenix, I don't want to see you disappointed when the party doesn't pick hillary as their nominee. Brace yourself, please.
"Whenever the nation is under attack, from within or without, liberals side with the enemy. This is their essence." --Ann Coulter
And why the American Voters chose to RE-elect President Bush to four more years. YES!!!
posted on August 9, 2005 09:04:39 PM new
THREESOME? DID SOMEONE SAY THREESOME????
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Golfer:Stop checking your watch all the time,its too much of a distraction.
Caddy:Its not a watch, its a compass
posted on August 9, 2005 09:08:36 PM new
I'm not so sure that you do get it Dblf but i am sure that Classic knows what i am talking about. and if ya'll still want we could have a threesome. Just put me in the middle and it'll be a tangwich.
All smiles here.
LOL