Shuttle returns to KSC next week by 747
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Below the Glidepath - not correcting
Joined: Jun 2005
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From: U.S.A.
Shuttle returns to KSC next week by 747
Current plans are for the Shuttle to be flown from Edwards back to KSC on Tuesday. Straight line distance just short of 2,000 Nm takes 2 days, due to the (not surprising) limits on range/speed and weather placed on the 747 when carying the shuttle. More details here (note - site does have a pop-up):
http://slate.msn.com/id/2124238/
http://slate.msn.com/id/2124238/
Joined: Sep 2004
Posts: 1,684
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From: Down at the sharp pointy end, where all the weather is made.
I was out on the airfield at Heathrow when the 747/Shuttle combo did the fly-by in the early eighties (09L approach & go-around) and the weather then was really grotty, low cloud, some rain in the air, not very good viz. Perhaps they impose greater limits these days or they just thought that was typical Eurpoean weather!!
Flew into Stansted (Mrs Odd One in command) a couple of days later to look at it in closeup - awesome!
Presumably it did the Atlantic crossing all in one go, so why not cross from Edwards to KFC, sorry KSC, all in one hop?
Cheers,
The Odd One
Flew into Stansted (Mrs Odd One in command) a couple of days later to look at it in closeup - awesome!
Presumably it did the Atlantic crossing all in one go, so why not cross from Edwards to KFC, sorry KSC, all in one hop?
Cheers,
The Odd One
Joined: Sep 2004
Posts: 1,684
Likes: 3
From: Down at the sharp pointy end, where all the weather is made.
AAIGUY,
So it does - was originally put off reading it by the threat of a pop-up!
I seriously question NASA's costs for a flight at $230,000. If it takes 2 x 747 (capital costs of purchase and modification, depreciated over 25 years) on standby and 170 people per mission, plus the depreciation on all the rest of the ground equipment at Edwards, plus all the HQ costs, it surely must be $millions per flight.
Creative accounting?
Cheers,
TOO
So it does - was originally put off reading it by the threat of a pop-up!
I seriously question NASA's costs for a flight at $230,000. If it takes 2 x 747 (capital costs of purchase and modification, depreciated over 25 years) on standby and 170 people per mission, plus the depreciation on all the rest of the ground equipment at Edwards, plus all the HQ costs, it surely must be $millions per flight.
Creative accounting?
Cheers,
TOO
Rainbow Chaser
Joined: Jul 2001
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From: At home, mostly!
Joined: Mar 2000
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From: On a radial
Joined: Mar 2005
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From: UK
I think you'll find the STAs work harder than you think...
They are used to carry the Shuttles back to Palmdale for refurbishment and upgrading....
So my guess is there is always one being 'used' as it were....the two are on a 'workshare' deal to minised the fatigue....
They are used to carry the Shuttles back to Palmdale for refurbishment and upgrading....
So my guess is there is always one being 'used' as it were....the two are on a 'workshare' deal to minised the fatigue....
