Tue, Sep 19, 2006
Weather Also Unfavorable For Wednesday Return To KSC
ANN REALTIME REPORTING 09.19.06 1300 EDT:
Concerns over a piece of debris spotted during a routine
ground-tracking camera test, as well as an unfavorable weather
forecast at Kennedy Space Center, have led NASA to delay
Wednesday's planned landing of the shuttle Atlantis by at least one
day.
NASA's Mission Control Center in Houston, TX informed the
STS-115 crew about 10:45 am EDT that Wednesday's landing attempts
have been waved off due to an unfavorable weather forecast, coupled
with the possibility of additional inspections of Space Shuttle
Atlantis.
An object was observed by flight controllers using a TV camera
on the shuttle in close proximity to the spacecraft. It was
observed following standard tests of Atlantis' reaction control
system about 2:45 am today. Flight controllers continue to analyze
the situation -- but they are concerned the item may be something
that came off of Atlantis, as it is tracking the same orbit as the
shuttle.
Space Shuttle Program Manager Wayne Hale said engineers and
flight controllers are developing a plan for inspections that may
be performed on Wednesday to ensure that Atlantis is safe for
re-entry.
Atlantis has equipment aboard that can be used to thoroughly
inspect the heat shield and other areas. The orbiter's crew is
preparing to deploy the shuttle's robotic arm in order to snap
photographs of the area engineers believe the debris may have
separated from.
Landing opportunities for Atlantis on Thursday begin with a
potential 6:22 am EDT touchdown at the Kennedy Space Center,
FL.
The weather forecast at Kennedy Space Center calls for better
weather at the Shuttle Landing Facility on Thursday. Forecasters
will continue to monitor the situation. The weather forecast for
Wednesday had called for unacceptable thunderstorms and strong
winds at the potential landing time.
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