Shuttle's Descent May Be Visible Across U.S

[underpants]

Source: ABC News

CAPE CANAVERAL, Florida (Reuters) - Early risers across the United States may have an unusual opportunity to see the space shuttle on Monday as it glides through the atmosphere, heading toward a landing at the Kennedy Space Center in Florida.


Its route back to Florida will take it over much of America's heartland. Touchdown is targeted for 8:48 a.m. EDT (1248 GMT), weather permitting.

But ice clouds weren't a concern at this time of year and returning to Florida via the northwest-to-southeast approach allowed NASA to squeeze in more hours for the crew to work at the station.

The supersonic glide through the atmosphere will overfly dozens of cities and towns, including Fort Peck Lake, Montana; Pierre, South Dakota; Sioux City, Iowa; St. Louis, Missouri; Tupelo, Mississippi; Birmingham, Alabama; and Jacksonville, Florida.

The shuttle is scheduled to enter Earth's atmosphere over the central Pacific Ocean at 8:17 a.m. EDT and should be visible over Montana about a half hour before landing.



Read more: http://abcnews.go.com/Technology/wireStory?id=10408749

[onehandle]

1. I was in a resort in Disneyworld once when the Shuttle was landing.

My wife and I were having breakfast with the doors open to the balcony when we heard a 'boom.'

We found out later that it was the Shuttle heading for Canaveral.

[Lost4words]

2. Here is a great site to get the exact time of fly over.

http://www.calsky.com

[underpants]

3. Cool!

I will be up (running) but I don't think we will be able to see it in Va.

[Lost4words]

5. I miss the Old Dominion,,,,,but not the humidity!

Later gator! :hi:

[mahatmakanejeeves]

22. I went out Saturday night

to see if I could see Mercury, which I hadn't seen in many months. I went to a playing field behind a nearby elementary school in Alexandria, VA. There, I know just where to stand and where to look to find Mercury. It took a while, but I found it. It was not visible (at least to me) with the naked eye. Venus and the Moon were easy to see, with the Pleiades between them. Look at things for April 17 to see what I saw.



Once Mercury was behind the trees, I turned my binoculars on other parts of the sky. Right around 8:45, as I was looking at Polaris, I saw a high-flying object, moving much too fast to be an aircraft. Channel 4 in DC had a meteorologist named Bob Ryan who always mentioned when the space station was visible, so I knew right away what I was looking at. Suddenly, it flared up, as the solar panels made just the right angle between me and the setting sun, now about an hour past local sunset. For a few seconds, it was as bright as Saturn, but not as bright as Venus. Then the flare dimmed, and the space station continued to head to the northeast.

That was a bonus. Now I need to find out what that cluster is that Mars is next to.

Edit: according to this, it's the Beehive Cluster.



I've never noticed it before. I don't know why not. I'll be looking for the Hyades cluster the next time I go out.

It was a wonderful night to view the stars.

[iris27]

13. Where did you find exact times on there?

The closest I found was:

4h03m STS-131 Space Shuttle Discovery (STS-131): PAYLOAD BAY DOOR CLOSING
6h43m STS-131 Space Shuttle Discovery (STS-131): DISCOVERY Deorbit Burn. From this time until landing, predictions by CalSky will not be correct.
7h48m STS-131 Space Shuttle Discovery (STS-131): DISCOVERY LANDING

[Captain Hilts]

4. 'Heartland'. There's that term .... again. Wish it was going over my 'hood. nt

[proteus_lives]

16. Given the diversity of the U.S. I'd use that term for any part of American soil.

[Captain Hilts]

19. Damned straight we should!!!

[RantinRavin]

6. Someone needs to check their math

Touchdown is targeted for 8:48 a.m. EDT
The shuttle is scheduled to enter Earth's atmosphere over the central Pacific Ocean at 8:17 a.m. EDT

should be visible over Montana about a half hour before landing.


Half hour before landing it will be over the Central Pacific Ocean.....

[Tejas]

11. Good catch!

ABC = lame stream media


:rofl:

[activa8tr]

23. I caught that, too! What the heck are they doing, time traveling?

It's all relative! LOL

[awoke_in_2003]

7. About 10 years ago...

I saw it come in. I worked 3rd shift and was out smoking. A bright orange contrail that streaked horizon to horizon in no time flat. It looked incredible.

[daylan b]

20. I remember that.

One of the most amazing things I've ever seen. I cannot imagine what it must have looked like to somebody who didn't know what was going on.

[awoke_in_2003]

21. it was amazing to me...

never seen anything like it, before or since

[Endangered Specie]

8. heh, hopefully not TOO visible.

[Sherman A1]

9. Thanks for Posting

I may have a shot at seeing it, unlikely as I will be at work, but one can try.

[BulletproofLandshark]

10. Sure gives a new meaning to "Flyover Country" n/t

[Joe Bacon]

12. I saw it overhead in Los Angeles as it landed at Edwards

Amazing that the sonic booms preceded it by about 30 seconds, then saw it overhead as it steered for Edwards. And I didin't have my camera or iPhone handy to take a pic :-(

[Lorien]

14. Guess I won't need an alarm in the morning

I live about 45 miles from the Cape.

[jpak]

15. I remember seeing the Shuttle and the Soyuz fly over side-by-side just before 4th of July fireworks

truly awe-inspiring

[Brother Buzz]

17. I saw it once from California and admired the sky for a minute or so after it passed

I went back in and listen to the radio and discovered - IT HAD ALREADY LANDED! Fast, them suckers are!

[neverforget]

18. If it can't land on Orbit 222, Orbit 223 I may be able to see it if the clouds

cooperate in Portland, OR.

Orbit 222


Orbit 223