Atlantis’ seven astronauts will be coming home today. The questions of where and when, however, are yet to be determined.

NASA already has waived off one landing opportunity this morning for Florida’s Kennedy Space Center.

Mission Control will make a decision at approximately 10:10 a.m. ET whether to land at Kennedy or Edwards. Deorbit burn for Edwards is at 10:24 a.m. ET, with a landing at 11:40 a.m. A landing at Kennedy on the upcoming orbit would take place at 11:49 a.m. following a deorbit burn at 10:31 a.m.

The upcoming landing opportunities are coming on the 197th orbit of the mission. It also represents the final opportunity of the day to land at Kennedy. An additional opportunity at Edwards exists on orbit 198. That would take place at 1:19 p.m. ET.

“Weather is iffy at Kennedy Space Center,” agency officials noted. “Although the shuttle could stay in space until Monday, it will land today-at Edwards if needed.”

Atlantis crew is doing deorbit preps for today’s landing.They awoke at 1:01 a.m. ET to “The Ride of the Valkyries,” composed by Richard Wagner.

By Marc S. Posner
SOAR Magazine

Commander Mark Kelly guided space shuttle Discovery to a smooth landing this morning at the Kennedy Space Center, concluding STS-124, a 14 day mission highlighted by the installation of the Kibo laboratory on the International Space Station.

Landing came at 11:15 a.m., EDT, on runway 15 at the shuttle landing facility at the Kennedy Space Center in Florida following 217 orbits over 14 days.

It also marked the homecoming of Garrett Reisman, the Expedition 17 flight engineer, who spent 95 days aboard the International Space Station. Reisman joined the ISS crew following his own launch aboard Endeavour in March on STS-123.

Also aboard Discovery were pilot Ken Ham four mission specialists: Karen Nyberg, Ron Garan, Mike Fossum and Akihiko Hoshide. The fifth mission specialist, Greg Chamitoff, remained aboard the space station. he is scheduled to return during STS-126, targeted for November, 2008.

Discovery launched on May 31, 2008 on the 26th mission by a space shuttle to the International Space Station, and the 123rd of the shuttle program.

The primary purpose was the installation of Kibo, officially known as the Japanese Pressurized Module and the lab’s robitic arm system. At 36.7 feet long and and 14.4 feet in diameter, it was the largest payload ever delivered to the space station.

During three spacewalks, the crew also relocated the Japanese Logistics Module. The JLM had been installed by the STS-123 crew in a temporary location on the space station.

Discovery’s mission marked the 35th flight for what is now NASA’s oldest orbiter and the third mission of 2008.

Kibo — which means “hope” in Japanese —is the country’s major contribution to the station and will enjance the research capabilities of the International Space Station. The lab is one of three segments of Kibo.

The next space shuttle mission, STS-125, is scheduled for October and is the only remaining flight not headed to the International Space Station. Atlantis’ crew will conduct the final repair of the Hubble Space Telescope.

Discovery announces arrival in Florida…

Commander Mark Kelly performed the deorbit burn at 10:10 a.m. EDT to begin space shuttle Discovery’s descent to Kennedy Space Center for landing. Discovery is expected to land at 11:15 a.m. on runway 15 at the shuttle landing facility following 217 orbits over 14 days.

Forecasters predict good weather at the landing site.

Discovery is concluding the 26th mission by a space shuttle to the International Space Station and the 123rd of the shuttle program.

The highlight of Discovery’s STS-124 mission was the installation of the Kibo lab, a module provided by Japan, on the ISS.

HOUSTON — Discovery has been cleared for Saturday’s entry and landing at Kennedy Space Center on one of two opportunities at 11:15 a.m. or 12:50 p.m., EDT.

Imagery experts declared the shuttle’s heat shield healthy and safe for entry and landing during Friday’s Mission Management Team meeting. The report followed extensive review of imagery obtained by using the Orbiter Boom Sensor System Wednesday after Discovery undocked from the International Space Station.

The team also reviewed new imagery provided by Discovery’s crew of an object that was seen floating away from the vehicle Friday morning during the routine day-before-landing systems checkout to verify entry and landing system health.

Engineers concluded the object was a heat shield clip from the rudder/speed brake on the orbiter’s tail used as a heat barrier during launch only and not a concern for entry.

The crew also sent photographs of a perceived protrusion on the rudder/speed brake, but engineers quickly determined it is a normal feature of the tail’s heat shield and also not a concern for entry.

To prepare for landing, Discovery’s crew members spent a large part of the day stowing items in the crew cabin as the tests of Discovery’s flight control surfaces and reaction control system thrusters was ongoing. Both systems functioned well and are ready to support entry activities.

With a large high pressure system in place off the North Carolina coast, forecasters are calling for only scattered clouds and light winds in Florida for landing attempts Saturday and, if needed, Sunday at the Kennedy Space Center.

The crew was scheduled to go to sleep about 6:30 p.m. Friday and awaken at 2:32 a.m. Saturday to begin landing day preparations.

Space shuttle Discovery’s astronauts are completing their last full day in space and making preparations for landing Saturday at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center, Fla. The astronauts are scheduled to go to sleep at 6:32 p.m. EDT.

On Saturday, they awake at 2:32 a.m., close Discovery’s payload bay doors at 7:30 a.m. and perform the deorbit burn at 10:10 a.m. Landing is planned for 11:15 a.m. Should it be required, there is a second landing opportunity at Kennedy on Saturday. The deorbit burn would occur at 11:46 a.m. and landing at 12:50 p.m.

At 3:02 p.m. EDT, space shuttle Discovery Commander Mark Kelly was informed that the Mission Management Team has cleared the shuttle for entry.

By Marc S. Posner
SOAR Magazine

The problem aboard Discovery may not be a problem after all.

NASA has told the STS-124 crew that the agency has “no issues” with the status of Discovery’s rudder as preparations continue for a planned landing tomorrow.

Imagery experts have “concluded that we have no issues” for landing tomorrow, the space agency said.

What astronauts aboard Discovery reported this morning as a “bump” and “an unusual feature” in the spacecraft’s rudder is believed to be a normal feature of the tail, accentuated by an artifact of how it was lit as sunlight passed through a gap where it splits into an air brake utilized during landing.

An object observed floating away was identified as a clip that is used during the climb to orbit to help prevent overheating of the rudder, the agency said.

“It is not an issue for landing at all,” mission controllers said.

However, the data will be reviewed again by the Mission Management Team when they meet later today, the agency said.

By Marc S. Posner
SOAR Magazine

STS-124 Astronauts this morning reported seeing something float away from the orbiter and finding a “bump” on the spacecraft’s rudder.

It’s not immediately clear how this impacts tomorrow’s planned landing.

Imagery experts at Mission Control in Houston are examining the video and digital still photographs that were sent by the crew, who reported the problem at about 7:38 a.m., EDT.

After completing a standard day-before-landing test of the shuttle steering jets, the crew indicated they had seen a one-foot- to 1.5-foot-long rectangular object floating away from the shuttle from behind the rear portion of the right wing.

Shortly afterwards, the crew described what they called a “bump” on the left side trailing edge of Discovery’s rudder. Experts on the ground are examining images and video of the object and the “bump” while the crew continues to stow items in the cabin for Saturday’s planned landing.

Discovery is scheduled to land tomorrow at the Kennedy Space Center, though mission controllers yesterday adjusted the shuttle’s orbit to add an additional landing opportunity on Sunday.

Saturday opportunities at Kennedy are at 11:15 a.m. and 12:50 p.m., on orbits 217 and 218, respectively.

HOUSTON — The crew of Discovery has begun its last schedule full day in orbit.

Fittingly, the wake-up music was “Baby, Won’t You Please Come Home,” performed by Louis Prima and Keely Smith. The song was played at 3:02 a.m. EDT for Mission Specialist Garrett Reisman.

The crew will spend a large part of the day stowing away items in the crew cabin in advance of Saturday’s landing.

They also are scheduled to test Discovery’s flight control system, the flaps and rudder which will control the orbiter’s flight through the atmosphere, a little before 6:40 a.m. Subsequently, at about 7:50 a.m., they will test the spacecraft’s reaction control system jets, which control the shuttle’s orientation before the flight control system becomes effective.

Reisman’s recumbent seat will be set up on the mid-deck of the shuttle early this afternoon. This is a special reclining seat that helps returning Expedition crew members adjust to Earth’s gravity easier.

At the end of the crew’s day, the astronauts also will stow the Ku-band antenna. The high-data-rate KU-band system transmits, among other things, television signals.

The crew is scheduled to go to sleep at 6:32 p.m.

Yesterday, the crew of Discovery enjoyed some off-duty time 12 days into a busy mission to the International Space Station and turned its attention to returning to Earth Saturday.

After the rest period, robotic arm operators Karen Nyberg and Ron Garan stowed the orbiter boom sensor system inside the shuttle’s payload bay and powered down Discovery’s robotic arm.

The boom was used to inspect Discovery’s heat shield Wednesday. A review of the space shuttle tile imagery has not revealed any issues and the team is continuing to review imagery of the reinforced carbon-carbon material. A final report from analysis of the data is expected Friday.

The crew conducted an orbit adjustment burn at 3:20 p.m. using the right orbital maneuvering system engine. That adjustment enables an additional landing opportunity at the Kennedy Space Center on Sunday, if the shuttle is not able to land on the two opportunities on Saturday. Saturday opportunities at Kennedy are at 11:15 a.m. and 12:50 p.m., EDT.

Discovery undocked from the International Space Station today at 7:42 a.m. EDT, ending its almost nine-day stay at the orbital outpost.

STS-124 arrived at the station June 2, delivering the Japanese Pressurized Module, the second pressurized component of the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency’s Kibo laboratory, to the station.

In addition, the STS-124 astronauts delivered Expedition 17 Flight Engineer Greg Chamitoff, who replaced Garrett Reisman, now a mission specialist returning to Earth aboard Discovery.

The crew also performed three spacewalks while at the station.

Discovery is scheduled to land at Kennedy Space Center, Fla., Saturday.