Bad Weather Keeps Discovery Flying
Discovery managed to dodge
unidentified space debris Sept. 10 but was unable to overcome stormy East Coast
weather as NASA called off the scheduled landing for the space shuttle
returning from its cargo mission to the International Space Station. Discovery
will remain in orbit at least another day as flight controllers study the
weather conditions around Kennedy Space Center. NASA
admitted it did not know the size of the object but the debris crept closer to
Discovery throughout the morning. By 1 p.m., NASA
estimated the unknown object would encroach within Discovery's security
perimeter that extends approximately 25 miles out and two miles above and below
the craft. "Based
on the latest tracking data, the object will move in and out of that box over
the course of 11 consecutive orbits," said NASA's Pat Ryan. Discovery
safely moved past the mystery debris by performing an orbital adjustment burn at 12:02
p.m. The mission, while successful, was
plagued throughout the scheduled 13-day trip by stormy launch weather
and faulty sensors.
Originally scheduled to land at 7:05 p.m., NASA waved off the landing due to
unstable and uncooperative weather conditions. When the weather did not
improve, NASA scratched an 8:42 p.m. landing attempt.
NASA is still undecided about switching landing sites on Sept. 11 to Edwards
Air Force Base in California. While that decision is still
being decided, NASA listed 5:48 p.m. and 7:23 p.m. as possible landing times Sept. 11
at Kennedy Space Center.
Earlier in the day as Discovery's seven-person crew prepared for landing after
their 13-day mission, which has been plagued with minor glitches from launch to
docking at the ISS, had to maneuver the craft to avoid a collision with what
NASA called "mystery orbital debris." NASA said the debris is believed to be from the
mission's third spacewalk.
During 8.5 days docked at the ISS, the Discovery's crew delivered and unpacked
more than seven tons of supplies, science racks and equipment, as well as
additional environmental hardware to sustain six crew members on the orbital
outpost. Discovery is returning to Earth with more than 5,000 pounds of trash,
surplus items and scientific experiments.
Over the course of three spacewalks, the Discovery crew replaced a large
coolant tank and retrieved experiments from the station's hull, in addition to
completing minor repair jobs.
The mission also marked a crew change at the space station with NASA astronaut
Nicole Stott replacing American Tim Kopra, who has completed a two-month tour
of duty aboard the ISS. Stott is scheduled for a three-month stay.
Discovery's crew also delivered the COLBERT (Combined Operational Load Bearing External Resistance
Treadmill) treadmill, an exercise device named after comedian Stephen
Colbert. Construction of the $5 million high tech treadmill will not begin
until after Discovery has departed.
