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Double Sonic Boom Wakens Floridians
As the Shuttle flew over the Florida peninsula at the speed of sound, Floridians from Naples to Orlando along it's flight path were awakened from sleep by the Shuttle's double sonic boom in the minutes before landing at the Kennedy Space Center.
"What a great ending to this really wonderful mission," said Bill Gerstenmaier, associate administrator for Space Operation. In regard to the Alpha Magnetic Spectrometer delivered by the STS-134 crew, Gerstenmaier said, "They're getting great data from their instrument on board the space station. It couldn't have gone any better for this mission."
"We've had a lot going on here," said Mike Moses, space shuttle launch integration manager, "Being able to send Atlantis out to the pad and then go out and land Endeavour was really a combination I ever expected to have."
Mike Leinbach, space shuttle launch director, added, "It's been a great morning at the Kennedy Space Center."
Endeavour's main gear touched down at 2:34:51 a.m. followed by the nose gear at 2:35:04 and wheels stop at 2:35:36 a.m. STS-134 was the 25th and final flight for Endeavour, which spent 299 days in space, orbited Earth 4,671 times and traveled 122,883,151 miles.
(Video: Night landing of the shuttle and welcome ceremonies for the last flight)
"What a great ending to this really wonderful mission," said Bill Gerstenmaier, associate administrator for Space Operation. In regard to the Alpha Magnetic Spectrometer delivered by the STS-134 crew, Gerstenmaier said, "They're getting great data from their instrument on board the space station. It couldn't have gone any better for this mission."
"We've had a lot going on here," said Mike Moses, space shuttle launch integration manager, "Being able to send Atlantis out to the pad and then go out and land Endeavour was really a combination I ever expected to have."
Mike Leinbach, space shuttle launch director, added, "It's been a great morning at the Kennedy Space Center."
Endeavour's main gear touched down at 2:34:51 a.m. followed by the nose gear at 2:35:04 and wheels stop at 2:35:36 a.m. STS-134 was the 25th and final flight for Endeavour, which spent 299 days in space, orbited Earth 4,671 times and traveled 122,883,151 miles.
(Video: Night landing of the shuttle and welcome ceremonies for the last flight)
I was watching the Endeavour land on NASA TV, and I heard the twin sonic booms! They were really fast, and not that loud on the TV channel but you could hear them clearly.
ReplyDeleteWas a great landing, textbook. The shuttle seemed flatter than usual, before coming down on the front wheel. Normally it lands at an angle with the back down. This time it appeared almost level to the ground before touching the final wheel down.
Welcome home, Endeavour! The final landing is really moving!
ReplyDeleteJust wait until the FINAL final landing of the Atlantis Space Shuttle during the next and final Space Shuttle Mission.
ReplyDeleteTalk about emotional; it will be the very last Space Shuttle Mission in American history.
At least in terms of Government NASA Missions. I have heard rumors that privately funded Space Shuttle Missions may be possible, but not part of the official NASA Space Program.
One of the Shuttles is already slated to be put on display in an LA Museum. I'm not sure what is happening with the other two.
Personally, I think one should go in the Smithsonian in Washington, DC; and the other auctioned off to the highest private bidder to help fund the NASA Space Program in the future..
Atlantis is going to KSC in Florida.
ReplyDeleteEndeavour will go to California Science Center in L.A.
Enterprise which is the test shuttle that never was launched currently on display at the National Air and Space Museum in D.C. will be replaced by Discovery.
Enterprise will go to the Intrepid Sea, Air and Space Museum in N.Y.C.
The various other subsystems such as simulators, compartments, seats, and such are destined to various institutions across the country. You can also buy a Thermal Tile which they have approx 7,000 in stock for I think 27.00 a piece.
Sadly, Houston was snubbed of all equipment and shuttles despite it being the nerve center of it all.
Thank you for that information, it was very helpful.
ReplyDeleteYes, I agree Houston should have had a Shuttle on display in their museum there, since they are Mission Control. I believe they still have one of the lunar landing modules on display.
But glad LA and DC are getting real Space Shuttles. Didn't know about buying the thermal tiles, that would be kind of cool. I bet they will show up in droves on Ebay, people buying them up and then waiting until they are harder to get and selling them for a higher price. I wouldn't mind having one myself, but right now $27 is a bit much for me.
Thanks again-very informative.