Space Shuttle Atlantis ends STS-117, landing at Edwards Air Force Base in California. The 14-day, 5.8 million-mile mission concluded a day late after weather prevented landing attempts in Florida. Download this image as a wallpaper.

Marc S. Posner
SOAR Magazine

The Space Shuttle Atlantis descended out of a pure blue sky and onto Runway 22 at Edwards Air Force Base in CA, at 12:39 p.m. PDT, ending a 14-day, 5.8 million mile construction mission to the International Space Station.

Poor weather in Florida delayed the landing a day and then an additional orbit today, forcing mission managers to opt for the California desert for the 51st time in the shuttle program’s history.

Riding aboard Atlantis for the trip home was Suni Williams, a member of the Expedition 15 crew, who spent 191 days in orbit that established a longevity record for consecutive time in orbit by a female. In another milestone, she also became the first person to run a marathon in orbit, participating in the Boston Marathon while aboard a treadmill on the International Space Station.

About 90 minutes after the landing, Atlantis’ other six crew members emerged from the space craft and posed for a commemorative photograph. Williams, who was still aboard the orbiter, did not join them.

While in orbit, the STS-117 crew members continued construction of the International Space Station. They installed the Starboard 3 and 4 (S3/S4) truss segment and conducted four spacewalks to activate it.

During the third spacewalk, the crew repaired an out of position thermal blanket on the left orbital maneuvering system pod.

Atlantis also delivered a new station crew member, Flight Engineer Clayton Anderson. He replaced Williams, who had arrived at the station in December with STS-116.

The shuttle blasted off into the twilight sky above Kennedy Space Center in Florida on June 8 on the first mission of 2007. STS-117 was delayed more than three months because of hail damage to the external tank.

In fact, so much time elapsed between the initial and actual launch dates that Williams was added to the crew. He was to have flown this summer to replace Williams, though that mission has been pushed back to August because of the STS-117 delay.

The mission was commanded by Rick Sturckow. Joining Sturckow on STS-117 were Pilot Lee Archambault and Mission Specialists Patrick Forrester, Steven Swanson, John “Danny” Olivas, Jim Reilly and Anderson.

Nearly two hours after the landing, the crew addressed a crowd here at Edwards.

“It’s great to be back on planet earth right now,” Sturckow said. “There wre a lot of challenges on this mission and they were all surmounted.”

For Forrester, landing in California was a homecoming of sorts.

“Back when i was a captain, I was actually stationed here and I would always come out and watch the shuttle landings,” he said.

Fellow spacewalker Reilly also appeared to enjoy the detour.

“Thanks for having us here in California,” he said. “I’m really glad to be part of the team with these gentlemen here behind me. Thanks for supporting what we do.”

STS-117 is the 118th shuttle mission and 21st mission to visit the space station.

Endeavour is scheduled to fly the next mission, STS-118, which is currently slated to launch in August.

Atlantis has landed at Edwards. More to follow.

I am headed to the runway at Edwards, as apparently is Atlantis.

The weather here is hot, dry, clear and the wind is still.

NASA has officially waived off the first two KSC landing attempts today.

By Marc S. Posner
SOAR Magazine

The threat of thundershowers and cloud cover persists at Florida’s Kennedy Space Center as NASA looks to bring Atlantis and STS-117 crew home from a 14-day construction mission to the International Space Station.

While still hoping for a Florida homecoming, mission managers figure to have better luck in California, calling the weather situation at Edwards Air Force Base “favorable” — with the best bet looking to be a landing opportunity that was created following yesterday’s two waived-off attempts at Kennedy. Following those scrubs, NASA ordered a change in Atlantis’s orbit to generate the possibility of landing in California at 3:49 p.m., EDT.

That opportunity, on orbit 219 of the mission comes about 90 minutes earlier than what was previously the first shot at an Edwards landing. The course change was important because winds at the California desert landing strip are forcast to pick up as the day goes on.

NASA managers want Atlantis home today, even if it means having to ferry the shuttle back to Florida atop a 747 at a cost of up to $1.7 million and potentially 10 days.

The alternative, however, is risking being forced into a landing at New Mexico’s White Sands base on Saturday — something space agency officials consider the absolute last resort. Atlantis could remain in orbit until Sunday, but only a technical issue would cause that scenario to play out.

In all, five landing opportunities are available today for space shuttle Atlantis and the STS-117 crew. Flight controllers and forecasters continue to monitor the weather at Kennedy Space Center, Fla., and Edwards Air Force Base, Calif.

Atlantis’ first landing opportunity is at 2:18 p.m. EDT on orbit 218. If controllers elect to take it, Commander Rick Sturckow will perform the deorbit burn at 1:12 p.m. to begin the descent to Kennedy. Orbit 219 provides opportunities at both landing sites — a 3:49 p.m. landing at Edwards and a 3:55 p.m. landing at Kennedy.

The second opportunity for the California base is on Orbit 220. The deorbit burn would occur at 4:18 p.m. with the landing at 5:23 p.m. The final opportunity is on Orbit 221 and it calls for the deorbit burn to occur at 5:56 p.m. with the landing at 6:59 p.m.

Thunderstorms in the vicinity of Kennedy forced flight controllers to wave off both opportunities Thursday. Today’s weather forecast for Kennedy calls for the threat of thunderstorms in the area and high winds are a possibility at Edwards. Opportunities are also available Saturday.

SOAR Magazine and NASA

There won’t be a summer-solstice landing for Atlantis and the seven-member crew.

Rather than returning home on the so-called longest day of the year, the STS-117 crew is getting an extra day in space thanks to poor weather conditions at Kennedy Space Center, Fla. Space shuttle Atlantis has four landing opportunities available Friday, with the first at 2:16 p.m. EDT in Florida.

Thunderstorms in the vicinity of Kennedy forced flight controllers to wave off both opportunities today. Controllers and the Spaceflight Meteorology Group will closely monitor forecasts for Friday’s opportunities in Florida and at Edwards Air Force Base in California.

The first opportunity Friday is on Orbit 218 and calls for a deorbit burn at 1:14 p.m. The second is on Orbit 219, which calls for the deorbit burn to begin at 2:50 p.m. and landing to occur at 3:51 p.m. at Kennedy.

Unlike today, NASA will also consider the primary back-up landing facility at Edwards. Mission managers want to have the shuttle home by Saturday, though there remains sufficient fuel and other consumable necessities to remain in orbit until Sunday.

If Florida weather does not cooperate, two opportunities are available at Edwards. The first is on Orbit 220. The deorbit burn would occur at 4:19 p.m. and landing at 5:21 p.m. The final opportunity is one orbit later with the deorbit burn at 5:55 p.m. and the landing at 6:56 p.m.

Opportunities are also available Saturday.

An unfavorable weather forecast at Kennedy Space Center, Fla., forced flight controllers to pass on STS-117’s first landing opportunity. Hopes now turn to the day’s second opportunity at 3:30 p.m. EDT.

The culprit is thunderstorms in the vicinity of the Shuttle Landing Facility. Flight controllers and forecasters with the Spaceflight Meteorology Group continue to monitor weather conditions at and around the Shuttle Landing Facility at the Florida spaceport.

Chief Astronaut Steve Lindsey has been providing additional weather information while flying the Shuttle Training Aircraft in the vicinity of the landing facility.

If flight controllers give STS-117 the go-ahead to land on the second opportunity, Orbit 203, Commander Rick Sturckow and Pilot Lee Archambault will fire Atlantis’ thrusters at 2:25 p.m. to begin the descent to Florida.

If flight controllers wave off for a second time today, opportunities are available Friday in Florida and at Edwards Air Force Base in California.

Landing day has arrived for space shuttle Atlantis and the STS-117 crew. Atlantis is scheduled to land at Kennedy Space Center, Fla., at 1:55 p.m. EDT.

Forecasters and flight controllers will be monitoring the weather closely today. There is a chance of thunderstorms at the Florida spaceport.

If flight controllers elect to take the 1:55 p.m. opportunity, Commander Rick Sturckow and Pilot Lee Archambault will perform the deorbit burn on Orbit 202 at 12:50 p.m. The other opportunity available on Thursday is Orbit 203, which calls for the deorbit burn at 2:25 p.m. and a 3:30 p.m. touchdown at Kennedy.

KSC is the only site NASA is considering for today’s landing. Opportunities are available tomorrow at both KSC and the primary back-up facility at Edwards Air Force Base in California.

NASA

During its scheduled final full day in space, the STS-117 crew prepared for landing. Two opportunities are available on Thursday for Space Shuttle Atlantis to land at Kennedy Space Center, Fla.

Wednesday’s preparations included stowing equipment and checking out systems that will be used to deorbit Atlantis and begin the descent to Earth. Also, the seven crew members took time out of their schedules to talk with reporters from NBC News, ABC News and CNN Live.

The first landing opportunity available is on Orbit 202, which calls for the deorbit burn to occur 12:50 p.m. EDT Thursday with a 1:55 p.m. touchdown. The final opportunity of the day is on the next orbit. It begins with the deorbit burn at 2:25 p.m. and ends with a 3:30 p.m. landing.

Weather forecasts call for a possibility of thunder showers in the area. Flight controllers and forecasters with the Spaceflight Meteorology Group will continue to monitor the weather at Kennedy.

The STS-117 crew members are returning home from a construction mission to the International Space Station. They installed the Starboard 3 and 4 (S3/S4) truss segment and conducted four spacewalks to activate it.

During the third spacewalk, the crew repaired an out of position thermal blanket on the left orbital maneuvering system pod.

Atlantis also delivered a new station crew member, Flight Engineer Clayton Anderson. He replaced astronaut Suni Williams, who is the new record holder for a long-duration single spaceflight for a woman. She arrived at the station in December with STS-116.

NASA

STS-117’s constructive stay at the International Space Station came to a close today when space shuttle Atlantis undocked. The two spacecraft parted ways at 10:42 a.m. EDT as they flew over the Coral Sea northeast of Australia.

After Pilot Lee Archambault backs the orbiter 450 feet from the station, he will perform a full fly-around to allow crew members to collect video and imagery of the station and its newly expanded solar wings. He will perform the final separation engine burn at 12:25 p.m.

Later in the day, Archambault and Mission Specialists Patrick Forrester and Steven Swanson will use the shuttle robot arm and the 50-foot long Orbiter Boom Sensor System to conduct a late inspection of the thermal protection system.

The crew will spend Wednesday preparing for landing. Atlantis’ first landing opportunity is at 1:54 p.m. Thursday at Kennedy Space Center, Fla.

During its stay at the station, which began June 10, the STS-117 crew continued the on-orbit construction of the station with the installation of the Starboard 3 and 4 (S3/S4) truss segment.

The crew installed the truss June 11 and conducted four spacewalks to activate the S3/S4 and assist in the retraction of solar array on the Port 6 truss. During the third spacewalk, the crew repaired an out of position thermal blanket on the left orbital maneuvering system pod.

Atlantis also delivered a new station crew member, Flight Engineer Clayton Anderson. He replaced astronaut Suni Williams, who is the new record holder for a long-duration single spaceflight for a woman. She arrived at the station in December with STS-116.

NASA

The STS-117 crew bid farewell Monday to the Expedition 15 crew before the hatches closed at 6:51 p.m. EDT between Space Shuttle Atlantis and the International Space Station. Attention now turns to Atlantis’ undocking from the station 10:42 a.m. Tuesday.

The STS-117 crew members are wrapping up a stay in which they continued the on-orbit construction of the station with the installation of the Starboard 3 and 4 (S3/S4) truss segment. The crew installed the truss June 11 and conducted four spacewalks to activate the S3/S4 and assist in the retraction of solar array on the Port 6 truss. During the third spacewalk, the crew repaired an out–of-position thermal blanket on the left orbital maneuvering system pod.

Atlantis also delivered a new station crew member, Flight Engineer Clayton Anderson. He replaced astronaut Suni Williams, who is the new record holder for a long-duration single spaceflight for a woman. She arrived at the station in December with STS-116.

Before Atlantis begins the journey home, Commander Rick Sturckow and Pilot Archambault will perform a fly-around to allow crew member collect video and imagery of the station and its newly expanded solar wings.

Atlantis is scheduled to land at Kennedy Space Center, Fla., at 1:54 EDT Thursday.