Cloudy weather delays space shuttle's return
April 20, 2010, Tuesday
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RAIN and overcast skies prevented space shuttle Discovery from returning to Earth yesterday, and Mission Control instructed the astronauts to spend a 15th day circling the world and awaiting better weather.
Mission Control radioed up the disappointing news after passing up two landing attempts. "The folks really worked it hard down here. There was a lot of cause for optimism ... but at the end of the day" the clouds remained too low and too thick, Mission Control radioed.
"We appreciate everything you've done," replied shuttle commander Alan Poindexter, "and we'll be hopeful for better weather tomorrow."
Clearer skies were expected over Florida's Kennedy Space Center today. If the clouds linger, however, NASA will try for the backup landing site in Southern California. Discovery and its seven astronauts can remain in orbit until tomorrow. They're wrapping up a resupply mission to the International Space Station.
If Discovery aims for Kennedy, it will cross the US on its way home, providing a rare visual treat. The streaking, glowing trail should be visible from the ground, weather permitting, as the shuttle passes over the Pacific Northwest and descends over America's interior.
The last time a returning shuttle flew over so much of the United States was in 2007. No further re-entries like this are planned as the shuttle program draws to a close. NASA has tried to keep continental flyovers to a minimum for public safety reasons, ever since space shuttle Columbia shattered over Texas in 2003.
Typically, a shuttle returns from the southwest, zooming up over the South Pacific, Central America, and the Gulf of Mexico. NASA changed Discovery's flight path before liftoff on April 5, to maximize the crew's work time in orbit and reduce fatigue.
A touchdown at Edwards Air Force Base in California would eliminate a coast-to-coast flyover.
The volcanic eruption in Iceland, at least, was not interfering with NASA's effort to bring Discovery home. The re-entry path does not go anywhere near European airspace threatened by volcanic ash.
Mission Control radioed up the disappointing news after passing up two landing attempts. "The folks really worked it hard down here. There was a lot of cause for optimism ... but at the end of the day" the clouds remained too low and too thick, Mission Control radioed.
"We appreciate everything you've done," replied shuttle commander Alan Poindexter, "and we'll be hopeful for better weather tomorrow."
Clearer skies were expected over Florida's Kennedy Space Center today. If the clouds linger, however, NASA will try for the backup landing site in Southern California. Discovery and its seven astronauts can remain in orbit until tomorrow. They're wrapping up a resupply mission to the International Space Station.
If Discovery aims for Kennedy, it will cross the US on its way home, providing a rare visual treat. The streaking, glowing trail should be visible from the ground, weather permitting, as the shuttle passes over the Pacific Northwest and descends over America's interior.
The last time a returning shuttle flew over so much of the United States was in 2007. No further re-entries like this are planned as the shuttle program draws to a close. NASA has tried to keep continental flyovers to a minimum for public safety reasons, ever since space shuttle Columbia shattered over Texas in 2003.
Typically, a shuttle returns from the southwest, zooming up over the South Pacific, Central America, and the Gulf of Mexico. NASA changed Discovery's flight path before liftoff on April 5, to maximize the crew's work time in orbit and reduce fatigue.
A touchdown at Edwards Air Force Base in California would eliminate a coast-to-coast flyover.
The volcanic eruption in Iceland, at least, was not interfering with NASA's effort to bring Discovery home. The re-entry path does not go anywhere near European airspace threatened by volcanic ash.
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