STS-125 Mission Updates: Part 3

Touchdown! Atlantis Lands Safely in California
24 May 2009 11:39 a.m. EDT

Shuttle Atlantis has safely landed at Edwards AFB, California, ending a 13-day servicing mission to refurbish the Hubble Space Telescope.

Atlantis touched down at 11:39 a.m. EDT (1539 GMT) at the back-up landing site in California's Mojave Desert, where weather conditions were perfect for the spaceplane's return.

Mission commander Scott ‘Scooter’ Altman and pilot Gregory Johnson guided the 226,040-pound Orbiter on its fiery plunge through the atmosphere and hour-long free-fall descent back to Earth, then precisely executed a series of turns and banking maneuvers that slowed the vehicle for its powerless landing on the 15,013 feet long, 300 feet wide Edwards runway 22 – the northeast-to-southwest concrete runway.

Atlantis was diverted to the West Coast alternate landing site when continued instability in the Florida weather – offshore thunderstorms encroaching within 30 nautical miles of the Shuttle Landing Facility - forced NASA to wave-off both of today's possible landing opportunities at the Kennedy Space Center.

Led by Altman and Johnson, the STS-125 mission specialists were Megan McArthur (who also served as Atlantis' flight engineer), Michael Good, John Grunsfeld, Mike Massimino, and Andrew Feustel.

STS-125 is the 53^rd space shuttle mission to land at the California landing site. STS-125 also marked Atlantis' 30^th mission and the 126^th flight in shuttle program history.

The Orbiter will now be ferried back to the Kennedy Space Center on the back of a specially-modified 747 airliner, a procedure that takes about a week at a cost of over $1 million.

NASA is broadcasting Atlantis’ STS-125 mission to the Hubble Space Telescope on NASA TV. Click here for SPACE.com's NASA TV feed or follow the NASA TV link at the upper left of this page.

- Roger Guillemette

Atlantis on Final Approach for Landing
24 May 2009 11:28 a.m. EDT

Space shuttle Atlantis is on final approach for a landing at Edwards AFB, California. Touchdown is scheduled for 11:39 a.m. EDT (1539 GMT) and weather conditions are ideal for the spaceplane’s return to Earth.

All spacecraft systems are functioning normally and the vehicle is being tracked by radar and infrared cameras at the landing site.

Crossing the California coast near Santa Barbara on their approach to Edwards AFB, Atlantis commander Scott 'Scooter' Altman, pilot Gregory Johnson and flight engineer Megan McArthur have completed a series of four banking maneuvers that slowed the Orbiter’s velocity and dissipated heat from the vehicle’s protective tiles.

The Orbiter will make a 200-degree left overhead turn in the skies above the Mojave Desert, followed by a long gliding approach to Edwards runway 22 – the northeast-to-southwest concrete runway, 15,013 feet in length, 300 feet wide.

NASA is broadcasting Atlantis’ STS-125 mission to the Hubble Space Telescope on NASA TV. Click here for SPACE.com's NASA TV feed or follow the NASA TV link at the upper left of this page.

- Roger Guillemette

Atlantis Re-entering Earth's Atmosphere  
24 May 2009 11:08 a.m. EDT

Shuttle Atlantis is now transitioning from spacecraft to aircraft, encountering the upper fringes of Earth's atmosphere - known as 'Entry Interface' - at about 399,000 feet above the South Pacific Ocean as it begins its fiery descent and a long, gliding approach to its alternate landing site at Edwards Air Force Base, California.

All spacecraft systems are performing as expected. Touchdown on Edwards runway 22 – the northeast-to-southwest runway – is scheduled for 11:39 a.m. EDT (1539 GMT) and weather conditions in the Mojave Desert are described as "pristine" for the spaceplane's approach and landing this morning.

With the heat on its Thermal Protection System tiles building to 2,500 degrees F, Atlantis is headed on a northeasterly course over the Pacific Ocean toward the Southern California coast, then descending over the high desert on its final approach for landing. STS-125 will mark the 53^rd space shuttle mission to land at the California facility.

STS-125 commander Scott 'Scooter' Altman and pilot Gregory Johnson completed a 2-minute, 36-second firing of Atlantis's twin Orbital Maneuvering System engines, reducing the Orbiter's velocity sufficiently to drop it out of orbit and begin its hour-long free-fall descent back to Earth. Altman and Johnson will pilot the 226,040-pound vehicle through a series of wide sweeping turns and banking maneuvers, known as 'roll reversals', to slow the vehicle and then perform a 200-degree left overhead turn to properly align Atlantis with the runway for its powerless touchdown at Edwards AFB.

Veteran astronaut Chris Ferguson has been flying landing approaches to Edwards AFB in the Shuttle Training Aircraft – a specially modified Gulfstream jet that simulates the shuttle's handling characteristics – to evaluate the atmospheric conditions that Atlantis will encounter on its approach and landing.

Bands of offshore thunderstorms encroaching too close to the Orbiter's flight path forced NASA officials to wave-off both of today’s possible landing opportunities at the Kennedy Space Center. Flight controllers were previously forced to wave-off Florida landing opportunities on both Friday and Saturday, also due to inclement conditions.

NASA is broadcasting Atlantis’ STS-125 mission to the Hubble Space Telescope on NASA TV. Click here for SPACE.com's NASA TV feed or follow the NASA TV link at the upper left of this page.

- Roger Guillemette

Atlantis Heading Home to California
24 May 2009 10:28 a.m. EDT

Space shuttle Atlantis has ignited its braking rockets to initiate a fiery plunge through Earth's atmosphere and begin a long, gliding descent to its backup landing site - Edwards AFB, California.

Atlantis is scheduled to touch down at 11:39 a.m. EDT (1539 GMT) and weather conditions in the Mojave Desert are described as "pristine' for the spaceplane's approach and landing in the morning sunshine.

STS-125 mission commander Scott 'Scooter' Altman and pilot Gregory Johnson just completed a two minute, 36 second firing of Atlantis' twin Orbital Maneuvering System engines that began at 10:24:41 p.m. EDT (1424:41 GMT), reducing the shuttle's velocity by about 307 miles/hour (267 feet/sec), sufficient to drop it out of orbit and begin an hour-long free-fall descent back to Earth. At the time of the de-orbit burn, Atlantis was orbiting about 350 miles above the Southern Pacific Ocean.

Atlantis will cross the California coast near Santa Barbara, just south of Vandenberg AFB, on its approach to the landing strip. Altman and Johnson will then precisely execute a series of turns and banking maneuvers to bleed-off excess speed and slow the Orbiter for its powerless, gliding approach to Edwards< runway 22 – a concrete runway 15,013 feet in length, 300 feet wide. STS-125 will mark the 53rd space shuttle mission to land at the California facility.

Veteran astronaut Chris Ferguson has been flying landing approaches in the Shuttle Training Aircraft – a specially modified Gulfstream jet that simulates the shuttle's handling characteristics – to evaluate the atmospheric conditions that Atlantis would encounter on its approach and landing at Edwards AFB.

Bands of offshore thunderstorms encroaching too close to the Orbiter's flight path forced NASA officials to wave-off both of today’s possible landing opportunities at the Kennedy Space Center. Flight controllers were previously forced to wave-off Florida landing opportunities on both Friday and Saturday, also due to inclement conditions.

NASA is broadcasting Atlantis’ STS-125 mission to the Hubble Space Telescope on NASA TV. Click here for SPACE.com's NASA TV feed or follow the NASA TV link at the upper left of this page.

- Roger Guillemette

Atlantis to Land in California Today
24 May 2009 10:02 a.m. EDT

Space shuttle Atlantis will land in California this morning after flight controllers determined that weather conditions in Florida will remain too unstable to reasonably attempt a landing today.

Atlantis commander Scott 'Scooter' Altman and pilot Gregory Johnson are now slated to fire the shuttle’s twin Orbital Maneuvering System (OMS) engines for the de-orbit burn at 10:24:41 a.m. EDT (1424:41 GMT), resulting in an 11:39 a.m. EDT (1539 GMT) touchdown at the alternate landing site, Edwards Air Force Base in California's Mojave Desert.

Atlantis's twin Orbital Maneuvering System engines will be fired for 2 minutes and 36 seconds, high above the Pacific Ocean, to slow the Orbiter's velocity by about 267 feet/sec, sufficient to begin its fiery descent through Earth's atmosphere and a long, gliding approach to Edwards runway 22 – a concrete runway 15,013 feet in length, 300 feet wide. STS-125 will mark the 53^rd space shuttle mission to land at the California facility.

The STS-125 crew recently completed "fluid loading," a process where the astronauts drink quantities of fluids laced with salt and electrolytes to rehydrate themselves in preparation for their return to Earth's gravity.

A near-perfect forecast at Edwards AFB – breezy with just a few scattered clouds – made for an easy decision for Entry Flight Director Norm Knight to direct the STS-125 crew to begin preparations for a landing later this morning in the high desert of California.

Bands of offshore thunderstorms encroaching too close to the Orbiter's flight path forced NASA officials to wave-off both of today’s possible landing opportunities at the Kennedy Space Center. Flight controllers were previously forced to wave-off Florida landing opportunities on both Friday and Saturday, also due to inclement conditions.

Veteran astronaut Chris Ferguson has been flying landing approaches in the Shuttle Training Aircraft – a specially modified Gulfstream jet that simulates the shuttle's handling characteristics – to evaluate the atmospheric conditions that Atlantis would encounter on its approach and landing to Edwards AFB.

NASA is broadcasting Atlantis’ STS-125 mission to the Hubble Space Telescope on NASA TV. Click here for SPACE.com's NASA TV feed or follow the NASA TV link at the upper left of this page.

- Roger Guillemette

Atlantis Aims for Second Landing Opportunity
24 May 2009 8:30 a.m. EDT

Space shuttle Atlantis will not land at Florida's Kennedy Space Center on the first of its two possible landing opportunities today due to unacceptable weather conditions; however, flight controllers are keeping landing options open on both coasts to bring Atlantis home later this morning.

Click here for a look at today’s landing plans.

Entry Flight Director Norm Knight waved-off Atlantis' first landing opportunity at Florida's Kennedy Space Center after meteorologists observed and forecast thunderstorms encroaching too near the Orbiter's projected flight path – a violation of landing weather criteria.

Atlantis' crew, commanded by veteran astronaut Scott Altman, has been instructed to prepare for landing at Edwards AFB in California, but flight controllers will closely monitor the dynamic Florida weather conditions to see if they improve sufficiently for landing on the next orbit. Weather at Edwards AFB is near-ideal for a landing attempt today.

There are two landing options available on orbit 197 - the first at Edwards Air Force Base at 11:39 a.m. EDT (1539 GMT) and a second opportunity, just nine minutes later, at the Kennedy Space Center at 11:48 a.m. EDT (1548 GMT). The de-orbit burn for landing at Edwards would occur at approx. 10:24 a.m. EDT (1424 GMT); the de-orbit burn for a Florida landing would be about sixteen minutes later at 10:40 a.m. EDT (1440 GMT).

NASA chief astronaut Steve Lindsey has been flying landing approaches in the Shuttle Training Aircraft – a specially modified Gulfstream jet that simulates the shuttle's handling characteristics – closely monitoring the winds and thickening cloud deck, evaluating the weather conditions that Atlantis would encounter on its approach and landing to the Kennedy Space Center.

NASA is broadcasting Atlantis’s STS-125 mission to the Hubble Space Telescope on NASA TV. Click here for SPACE.com's NASA TV feed or follow the NASA TV link at the upper left of this page.

-          Roger Guillemette

Weather ‘Marginal’ for Florida Shuttle Landing
24 May 2009 8:19 a.m. EDT

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – There are blue skies over the Kennedy Space Center here for today’s Atlantis shuttle landing at 10:09 a.m. EDT (1409 GMT), but the weather is still “marginal” because of some developing rain showers within a 30-mile perimeter of the landing strip.

Mission Control has given the astronauts a tentative go to prepare to fire Atlantis’ engines at 8:57 a.m. EDT (1257 GMT) to begin its descent through Earth’s atmosphere.

Click here for a look at today’s landing plans.

- Tariq Malik

NASA is broadcasting Atlantis’ STS-125 mission to the Hubble Space Telescope on NASA TV. Click here for SPACE.com's NASA TV feed or follow the NASA TV link at the upper left of this page.

Astronauts ‘Go’ to Start Fluid Loading for Landing
24 May 2009 8:00 a.m. EDT

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – Mission Control has given the seven astronauts aboard shuttle Atlantis a go to begin a process called “fluid loading,” which calls for the spaceflyers to drink at least 32 ounces of liquid to prepare their bodies for the return to gravity. They can choose from a chicken consommi , orange and lemon-lime drinks, and salt tablets.

Mission Control told the astronauts they can pace themselves while drinking the extra fluids, as the weather over Florida may still thwart a 10:09 a.m. EDT (1409 GMT) landing. An 11:48 a.m. EDT (1548 GMT) touchdown in California is still on the table.

Click here for a look at today’s landing plans.

- Tariq Malik

NASA is broadcasting Atlantis’ STS-125 mission to the Hubble Space Telescope on NASA TV. Click here for SPACE.com's NASA TV feed or follow the NASA TV link at the upper left of this page.

Astronauts to Get Seated for Landing
24 May 2009 7:50 a.m. EDT

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – Astronauts aboard shuttle Atlantis should be climbing into their seats soon, starting at about 7:57 a.m. EDT (1157 GMT) as they prepare for today’s first landing attempt at 10:09 a.m. EDT (1409 GMT) here at the Kennedy Space Center.

Atlantis has a second landing opportunity today in California at 11:48 a.m. EDT (1548 GMT), and will land then if bad weather thwarts the first try in Florida. Developing rain showers to the southeast of the shuttle’s landing strip here are the main concern. They’re within the 30-mile perimeter, violating NASA flight rules.

Click here for a look at today’s landing plans.

- Tariq Malik

NASA is broadcasting Atlantis’ STS-125 mission to the Hubble Space Telescope on NASA TV. Click here for SPACE.com's NASA TV feed or follow the NASA TV link at the upper left of this page.

NASA Recons Weather for Shuttle Landing
24 May 2009 7:19 a.m. EDT

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – NASA’s chief astronaut Steve Lindsay will begin his weather recon flights over the Shuttle Landing Facility here at the Kennedy Space Center for Atlantis’ planned landing at 10:09 a.m. EDT (1409 GMT). If the weather cooperates, Atlantis would fire its twin Orbital Maneuvering System engines at about 8:56 a.m. EDT (1256 GMT) to begin the descent back to Earth.

Rain is still encroaching within the 30-mile (48-km) perimeter around the landing strip.

Click here for a look at today’s landing plans.

- Tariq Malik

NASA is broadcasting Atlantis’ STS-125 mission to the Hubble Space Telescope on NASA TV. Click here for SPACE.com's NASA TV feed or follow the NASA TV link at the upper left of this page.

Astronauts to Suit Up For Shuttle Landing
24 May 2009 7:00 a.m. EDT

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – Atlantis astronauts have been given the go-ahead to don their bright orange entry suits for today’s landing. They have closed the payload bay doors on Atlantis, indicating entry flight director Norm Knight’s hope to land here in Florida at 10:09 a.m. EDT (1409 GMT). A second attempt at the Edwards Air Force Base in California is available at 11:48 a.m. EDT (1548 GMT).

Click here for a look at today’s landing plans.

- Tariq Malik

NASA is broadcasting Atlantis’ STS-125 mission to the Hubble Space Telescope on NASA TV. Click here for SPACE.com's NASA TV feed or follow the NASA TV link at the upper left of this page.

Atlantis Astronauts Prepare for Landing
24 May 2009 6:00 a.m. EDT

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – Astronauts aboard shuttle Atlantis are again preparing to land for the third day in a row. Touchdown is targeted for 10:11 a.m. EDT (1411 GMT) here at the Kennedy Space Center, where weather conditions have improved slightly – although rain showers are still expected. A second opportunity arises at 11:48 a.m. EDT (1548 GMT), when Atlantis could land at a backup runway in California.

Click here for a look at today’s landing plans.

- Tariq Malik

NASA is broadcasting Atlantis’ STS-125 mission to the Hubble Space Telescope on NASA TV. Click here for SPACE.com's NASA TV feed or follow the NASA TV link at the upper left of this page.

Unstable Weather Scrubs Atlantis Landing Again
23 May 2009 8:40 a.m. EDT

Space shuttle Atlantis will remain in orbit for another day. Unstable weather conditions – low clouds in excess of acceptable limits and precipitation near the Orbiter’s projected flight path - forced NASA flight controllers to wave-off both of today’s possible landing opportunities at Florida's Kennedy Space Center.

Entry Flight Director Norm Knight made the 'wave-off' determination after meteorologists again forecast 'No-Go' conditions for today's second Florida landing opportunity.

Weather conditions in Florida are expected to improve for a landing opportunity on Sunday, while the alternate landing site at Edwards AFB, California is forecasting ideal weather.

Atlantis has sufficient consumables to remain in orbit until Monday.

NASA is broadcasting Atlantis’ STS-125 mission to the Hubble Space Telescope on NASA TV. Click here for SPACE.com's NASA TV feed or follow the NASA TV link at the upper left of this page.

- Roger Guillemette

Atlantis Aims for Second Landing Opportunity
23 May 2009 7:30 a.m. EDT

Space shuttle Atlantis will not land at Florida's Kennedy Space Center on the first of its two possible landing opportunities today due to unacceptable weather conditions; however, flight controllers are keeping landing options open on both coasts to bring Atlantis home later this morning.

Entry Flight Director Norm Knight waved-off Atlantis' first landing opportunity at Florida's Kennedy Space Center after meteorologists observed and forecast low cloud ceilings and rain showers near the Orbiter's projected flight path – both violations of landing weather criteria..

Atlantis' crew, commanded by veteran astronaut Scott Altman, has been instructed to prepare for landing in California on the next orbit, but flight controllers will closely monitor the dynamic Florida weather conditions to see if they improve sufficiently for landing. Weather at Edwards AFB is near-ideal for a landing attempt today.

There are two landing options available on orbit 181 - the first at California's Edwards Air Force Base at 10:45 a.m. EDT (1445 GMT) and a second opportunity, just nine minutes later, at Florida's Kennedy Space Center at 10:53 a.m. EDT (1453 GMT). The de-orbit burn for landing at Edwards AFB would occur at approx. 9:29 a.m. EDT (1329 GMT); the de-orbit burn for a Florida landing would be about fifteen minutes later at 9:44 a.m. EDT (1344 GMT).

NASA chief astronaut Steve Lindsey has been flying landing approaches in the Shuttle Training Aircraft – a specially modified Gulfstream jet that simulates the shuttle's handling characteristics – closely monitoring the winds and thickening cloud deck, evaluating the weather conditions that Atlantis would encounter on its approach and landing to the Kennedy Space Center.

NASA is broadcasting Atlantis’s STS-125 mission to the Hubble Space Telescope on NASA TV. Click here for SPACE.com's NASA TV feed or follow the NASA TV link at the upper left of this page.

- Roger Guillemette

Weather Prevents First Shuttle Landing Attempt, Another Chance Ahead
23 May 2009 7:09 a.m. EDT

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – Bad weather has again delayed the shuttle Atlantis’ landing today, with Mission Control forgoing the first opportunity because of nearby thunderstorms. The next landing opportunity is at 10:45 a.m. EDT (1445 GMT) in California, but NASA could press for a 10:54 a.m. EDT (1454 GMT) here at the Kennedy Space Center.

“We’re keeping our options open,” Mission Control told the crew. The astronauts are returning home after a 12-day mission to the Hubble Space Telescope.

Click here for a look at today’s landing plans.

The weather is the big issue here in Florida. It is spotty at best and just on the edge of being acceptable for today’s planned landing. Atlantis has more landing chances here and at Edwards Air Force Base later today.

- Tariq Malik

NASA is broadcasting Atlantis’ STS-125 mission to the Hubble Space Telescope on NASA TV. Click here for SPACE.com's NASA TV feed or follow the NASA TV link at the upper left of this page.

NASA Eyes Weather for Shuttle Landing
23 May 2009 6:45 a.m. EDT

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – Atlantis astronauts should soon be climbing into their seats for today’s 9:16 a.m. EDT (1316 GMT) landing attempt here at the Kennedy Space Center. Meanwhile, NASA’s chief astronaut Steve Lindsay is flying recon flights in a modified aircraft that mimics a shuttle during landing to take a better look at weather conditions.

Click here for a look at today’s landing plans.

The weather is the big issue here in Florida. It is spotty at best and just on the edge of being acceptable for today’s planned landing. Atlantis has more landing chances here and at Edwards Air Force Base later today.

- Tariq Malik

NASA is broadcasting Atlantis’ STS-125 mission to the Hubble Space Telescope on NASA TV. Click here for SPACE.com's NASA TV feed or follow the NASA TV link at the upper left of this page.

Shuttle Astronauts Suit Up for Landing
23 May 2009 6:12 a.m. EDT

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – Astronauts aboard shuttle Atlantis have begun donning their bright orange partial pressure suits for today’s planned 9:16 a.m. EDT (1316 GMT) landing here at the Kennedy Space Center. Lightning can be seen in the distance, but Mission Control reports that weather conditions are just on the border of acceptability. The shuttle may also land today in California and has enough supplies to stay in space through Monday.

Click here for a look at today’s landing plans.

- Tariq Malik

NASA is broadcasting Atlantis’ STS-125 mission to the Hubble Space Telescope on NASA TV. Click here for SPACE.com's NASA TV feed or follow the NASA TV link at the upper left of this page.