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Author
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Topic: Ferry Flight
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Jurg Bolli
Member Posts: 323
From: Albuquerque, NM
Registered: Nov 2000
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posted August 09, 2005 12:20 PM
   
Does anybody know when (day, time) the Shuttle will be ferried from Edwards to Florida?
Thanks.
JurgIP: Logged |
Robert Pearlman
Editor Posts: 12300
From: Houston, TX
Registered: Nov 1999
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posted August 09, 2005 12:47 PM
I do not believe it has been decided as of yet. Weather, among other concerns, will factor into the scheduling. Traditionally, the ferrys have landed at Ellington Field and performed a flyover of JSC. I hope to be there to photograph and report on their arrival, should that occur.IP: Logged |
christelle
Member Posts: 53
From: France, Côte d-Armor
Registered: Aug 2005
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posted August 09, 2005 04:10 PM
HelloJust because I'm so curious.
How many pilots constitute the Ferry flights team and what are their names Thanks Christelle IP: Logged |
OV-105
Member Posts: 278
From: Ridgecrest, CA USA
Registered: Sep 2000
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posted August 09, 2005 04:10 PM
In the past it takes about 7 days after landing to get the orbiter ready to leave Dryden. I looked at the sign-off paperwork on the RTF page and this will be the heaviest flights to be ferried they will have to use all the mid-deck weights. IP: Logged |
OV-105
Member Posts: 278
From: Ridgecrest, CA USA
Registered: Sep 2000
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posted August 09, 2005 04:12 PM
One other thing it also depends on the weather on the flight path across the country on when they start the flight. Gordon Fullerton is one of the SCA pilots.[This message has been edited by OV-105 (edited August 09, 2005).] IP: Logged |
pokey
Member Posts: 314
From: Houston, TX, USA
Registered: Aug 2000
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posted August 13, 2005 10:00 AM
We haven't had a shuttle at Ellington in quite some time. I had a chance meeting with a someone who knows more than most about Discovery's return to KSC. I asked him about the chances of having Discovery stop by Ellington. If it can come to Houston (barring rain) it will be in El Paso then would come to Houston/Ellington Field. Lots of JSC people are very hyped about even the remote possibility of having a shuttle come through town since it's been so long and we're all in the Return to Flight spirit! I hope the weather cooperates....... [This message has been edited by pokey (edited August 14, 2005).] IP: Logged |
Rob Joyner
Member Posts: 790
From: GA, USA
Registered: Jan 2004
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posted August 14, 2005 07:48 PM
Hi Jurg!
How ya doing?
When Discovery comes back to KSC, will she come in from the south or north? Since the Boing has working engines, I assume she could land from either end of the landing facility.
I might go down and get some video of the arrival if I knew which end she's scheduled to approach.
Thanks!
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OV-105
Member Posts: 278
From: Ridgecrest, CA USA
Registered: Sep 2000
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posted August 15, 2005 07:10 PM
This was on Dryden's web site. I hope Edwards didn't get hit with the hail like we just did. Space Shuttle Status Report - Sunday, August 14, 2005
With turnaround processing operations now running ahead of schedule at NASA's Dryden Flight Research Center in Southern California, the Space Shuttle Discovery could be back at its home at the Kennedy Space Center in Florida by mid-week. Departure of the Discovery atop one of NASA's modified Boeing 747 Shuttle Carrier Aircraft on its ferry flight back to Florida is expected to occur no earlier than early Tuesday, Aug. 16, although it could be later in the week.
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DavidH
Member Posts: 1154
From: Huntsville, AL, USA
Registered: Jun 2003
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posted August 16, 2005 09:25 AM
quote:
EDWARDS AIR FORCE BASE, Calif. The space shuttle Discovery is scheduled to be bolted to a modified Boeing 7-47 today, the final step before the spacecraft is ferried to Florida.
The mating process is expected to take about eight hours and the trip to the east coast could begin tomorrow morning.
http://www.whbf.com/Global/story.asp?S=3726071 ------------------
http://allthese worlds.hatbag.net/space.php
"America's challenge of today has forged man's destiny of tomorrow." - Commander Eugene Cernan, Apollo 17 Mission, 11 December 1972 IP: Logged |
DavidH
Member Posts: 1154
From: Huntsville, AL, USA
Registered: Jun 2003
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posted August 17, 2005 08:57 AM
Update: quote:
Alan Brown, a spokesman at NASA's Dryden Flight Research Center at Edwards, said the current plan is for Discovery to be mounted atop the 747 jet on Wednesday, with takeoff coming early Thursday to begin a "somewhat serpentine" flight back to Kennedy Space Center. The trip is projected to take two days, with three refueling stops at military bases, Brown said.The current route calls for the shuttle-carrying jet to fly cross-country over Arizona, New Mexico, Texas, Louisiana, Mississippi and points east on the way back. The precise itinerary and refueling schedule depends on the weight of the shuttle — including how much moisture Discovery's thermal blankets soaked up from the storm, Brown said.
If anybody sees the ground track or has any ideas where it might fly over, let me know. I have a friend in Mississippi who says he's pretty sure the Shuttle has flown over his town before, and he'd love to see it again if it's passing over again. ------------------
http://allthese worlds.hatbag.net/space.php
"America's challenge of today has forged man's destiny of tomorrow." - Commander Eugene Cernan, Apollo 17 Mission, 11 December 1972 IP: Logged |
DavidH
Member Posts: 1154
From: Huntsville, AL, USA
Registered: Jun 2003
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posted August 18, 2005 08:55 AM
quote:
CAPE CANAVERAL - Shuttle Discovery's flight home is delayed again, now set for takeoff from California on Friday at earliest.NASA says Discovery's precise departure time and arrival time here in Florida remain in flux.
Read the full article here.[This message has been edited by collectSPACE Admin (edited August 20, 2005).] IP: Logged |
Ben
Member Posts: 1706
From: Daytona Beach, FL
Registered: May 2000
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posted August 19, 2005 01:24 PM
Discovery's ferry flight began at 8:32am PT this morning from Edwards Air Force Base, Calif.Discovery and the STA will make two stops, the first in just under 20 minutes at Altus AFB in Oklahoma fo refueling; the second in Barksdale AFB, Louisiana for the night. It is scheduled to land back at KSC tomorrow mid-day. ------------------
-Ben www.LaunchPhotography.com IP: Logged |
Ben
Member Posts: 1706
From: Daytona Beach, FL
Registered: May 2000
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posted August 19, 2005 01:26 PM
Taken earlier:  IP: Logged |
Robert Pearlman
Editor Posts: 12300
From: Houston, TX
Registered: Nov 1999
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posted August 20, 2005 09:02 AM
From the Shreveport News: quote:
NASA Orbiter Discovery, which roosted overnight at Barksdale Air Force Base, will spend another night in the Ark-La-Tex.Concerns over weather between Louisiana and Florida today forced the delay, a caution by NASA officials, 2nd Bomb Wing spokesman Staff Sgt. Andrea Knudson said. Plans are for the orbiter and the modified Boeing 747 it uses as a ferry aircraft to leave the base about 6:30 a.m. Sunday.
Read the full article here.IP: Logged |
Robert Pearlman
Editor Posts: 12300
From: Houston, TX
Registered: Nov 1999
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posted August 21, 2005 10:24 AM
From NASA: quote:
Discovery is Home!The Space Shuttle orbiter Discovery successfully landed at Kennedy Space Center, Fla., today. Discovery, left Barksdale AFB, La., at about 7:20 a.m. EDT and arrived at Kennedy’s Shuttle Landing Facility at 10:00 a.m. EDT. Brevard County residents were able to see the shuttle riding atop the modified Boeing 747 Shuttle Carrier Aircraft as it circled for a landing.
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OV-105
Member Posts: 278
From: Ridgecrest, CA USA
Registered: Sep 2000
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posted August 24, 2005 08:33 PM
Now that we have had the Ferry flight this brings up an old question I have had for a long time. How do they get the tail cone back to Dryden? Anyone know and how many tail cones do they have? I would think two.IP: Logged |
karlitko
Member Posts: 87
From: Czech Republic
Registered: Aug 2005
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posted August 25, 2005 04:45 AM
I guess they use JSC Aircraft Ops' Super Guppy for tail cone transport.IP: Logged |
karlitko
Member Posts: 87
From: Czech Republic
Registered: Aug 2005
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posted August 29, 2005 04:26 PM
I have to correct my previous post.
Although the tail cone could probably fit into Super Guppy's belly, the truth is much more prosaic:
Once the Shuttle is returned to the Kennedy Space Center, the tailcone is removed and partially disassembled into five major sections. Those sections are then placed in specially-designed containers and loaded on trucks which then transport the tailcone overland back to the Dryden Flight Research Center. Once all the sections have arrived at Dryden, the tailcone is then reassembled and placed on a storage fixture until its next use.
Karel[This message has been edited by karlitko (edited August 29, 2005).] IP: Logged |
