Space Shuttle Endeavor to make several flyovers

[captainofiron]

Space Shuttle Endeavor which is going to the LA California Science Center is going to be doing flyovers in different major cities and over NASA sites on the way from Florida to LA.

So far I know its going to flyover Houston and stop at JSC/Ellington for the 17th and 18th of September, I know its going to flyover El Paso/Las Cruces, then on to California where it will fly up to Dryden (19th) then go to San Fransisco and back to LAX (20th)

But from what I hear there is going to be plenty of photo-ops in Houston as its going to fly around downtown

http://www.nasa.gov/home/hqnews/2012...ry_Flight.html (http://www.nasa.gov/home/hqnews/2012/sep/HQ_M12-173_Endeavour_Ferry_Flight.html)

Its pretty impressive in real life
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WFLu1DShSsM

[TheJDMan]

If you have an opportunity to view this flyover by all means do it. It is a once in a lifetime event. I still get goose bumps from the Discovery flyover in DC. This shot was taken from the Smithsonian's Udvar-Hazy parking lot as Discovery made it's final aproach to Dulles on April 17.

https://static1.pt-content.com/images/noimg.gif

[Larry Callahan]

Oh man!!!!!!! I can't tell you how bad I want to take a day off work to see that.

I never got to see one fly. I was in Florida for a launch once and it was scrubbed.

I wonder if they will ever let people inside it? It would be cool to see some of the parts we made for it.

[Steve68]

Worked in all of them for 20+ years, there super cool, inside and out!!!

The only problem is that you should be seeing them on a launch pad going to the ISS, the only time you should see it on a 747 is a Ferry flight from CA to FL. but,

Take pics as many as you can!! tell your friends, coworkers, family, I saw Discovery on the way to DC, they flew it up and down Cocoa Beach, it was just as awsome then as the first time I saw it lift of in April of 81'

The crowds to see the Beach flyover was just like a regular launch day, sat in traffic for over an hour to get to work,

I was layed off from KSC in 2011,

[Samckitt]

Hey Steve, I believe I spoke to you when I was there for a trip for work back in 2008 ( I think). Sorry to hear you got layed off, hope you have found more work.

[MrQuick]

Fly over SF on the 20th....can't wait. Im taking the day off.

[captainofiron]

Oh man!!!!!!! I can't tell you how bad I want to take a day off work to see that.

I never got to see one fly. I was in Florida for a launch once and it was scrubbed.

I wonder if they will ever let people inside it? It would be cool to see some of the parts we made for it.

short answer is no

however the "Full fuselage trainer" that is going to Seattle will allow this, and it was a training tool at JSC, so its exactly the same as the real shuttles.

If you ever make it down to JSC in Houston, they have the orbiter "Explorer" which you can go inside and look at the crew cabin

[ProTourGSX]

I wonder how fast that 747 would go, if the Shuttle booster rockets were on!
Well, the C130's have booster rockets to help them take off! LOL

[novaderrik]

I wonder how fast that 747 would go, if the Shuttle booster rockets were on!
Well, the C130's have booster rockets to help them take off! LOL


probably not too fast, since the main engines would require a massive tank that's bigger than the 747 just to burn for 7 minutes, and the small thrusters used for deorbit don't really have that much onboard fuel..

[Steve68]

probably not too fast, since the main engines would require a massive tank that's bigger than the 747 just to burn for 7 minutes, and the small thrusters used for deorbit don't really have that much onboard fuel..

Mains need the tank, now if the solids lit off, if they could even be on there without the stack( all 3 components together), just say they could for fun!! remember once a solids lit it burns till its gone!!!

so if the 747 is flying along at 300 mph with the shuttle on top and the solids, and they were to be lit off, I would say the 747 would loose/get it wings ripped off in the first mile of solid ignition, LOL

basically it would go from 300 to 10,000 mph in 500 ft what a ride!!!

[Steve68]

Hey Steve, I believe I spoke to you when I was there for a trip for work back in 2008 ( I think). Sorry to hear you got layed off, hope you have found more work.


Hi Scott, that was me!!! no other real defense style jobs, any of those you have to fight 1000's of other layed off people for them, so I took a job 15 min from my house, working for Ski Nautique, doing interior work, yay me!!! not the best job, but it brings in some cash,

remember the world is great!!! food and gas is cheap, economys great, jobs are plentiful, wages are high!!!!!! I call BS on all of the above!!!!!!

[MrQuick]

Hi

remember the world is great!!! food and gas is cheap, economys great, jobs are plentiful, wages are high!!!!!!

yeah that was during the Clinton administration.

[Steve68]

oh sorry, I'm I wishing for the other administration,

[MrQuick]

LOL, looks like the Shuttle trip will be delayed a day due to weather. Anyone know if there is a schedule or times for viewing?

[captainofiron]

probably not too fast, since the main engines would require a massive tank that's bigger than the 747 just to burn for 7 minutes, and the small thrusters used for deorbit don't really have that much onboard fuel..

You could use the OMS since those are hypergolic and have the fuel and ox tanks inside of the pods.

those are good for 6,000 lb thrust each.

BUT each of the most powerful 747 engines are rated at ~60,000 lb of thrust

[captainofiron]

LOL, looks like the Shuttle trip will be delayed a day due to weather. Anyone know if there is a schedule or times for viewing?

if you look at the NASA.gov press releases they should say.

I havent gotten any updated emails but I will post if I find anything out.

[captainofiron]

LOL

right as I was writing that post, I got this email

"Stay tuned to this website for updates regarding Endeavour's stop in Houston:
http://www.nasa.gov/centers/johnson/home/endeavour_visit.html

NASA managers continue to evaluate the weather forecast for the planned ferry flight of space shuttle Endeavour atop the 747 Shuttle Carrier Aircraft (SCA). The flight is scheduled for sunrise Tuesday, Sept. 18. A low-pressure front in the northern Gulf of Mexico is generating thunderstorms along the predicted flight path between Houston and NASA's Kennedy Space Center, where the flight will originate. Managers will continue to assess the forecast and will hold a meeting early Tuesday before giving a "go" or "no go" for the flight."

[Steve68]

wednesday the 19th

[TomMLS1]

LOL, looks like the Shuttle trip will be delayed a day due to weather. Anyone know if there is a schedule or times for viewing?

Update....

After evaluating the weather, managers are planning a Space Shuttle Endeavour Houston stopover on Wednesday, Sept. 19, weather permitting, with departure for California on Thursday, Sept. 20. Stay tuned to this website for updates regarding Endeavour's stop in Houston:
http://www.nasa.gov/centers/johnson/home/endeavour_visit.html

Endeavour will be available for public viewing Sept. 19 until 9 p.m. Endeavour will depart Ellington at sunrise Sept. 20 to continue on its way to Los Angeles for permanent display.

On Wednesday, the SCA/Endeavour combo is planned to fly approximately 1,500 feet above various areas of Houston, Clear Lake and Galveston - including JSC -- between about 9 and 10:30 a.m. as it arrives in Houston from the Kennedy Space Center (KSC). Endeavour's Landing at Ellington is set for about 10:45 a.m. The specific route and timing of Endeavour's flight will depend on weather and operational constraints.


T,

[captainofiron]

Also you can see NASA tv on Ustream

http://www.ustream.tv/channel/nasa-jsc

[MrQuick]

I can't decide if I wanna see it do a low fly by the Golden Gate bridge or a Lower fly by at Moffet field. :dunno:

[captainofiron]

I can't decide if I wanna see it do a low fly by the Golden Gate bridge or a Lower fly by at Moffet field. :dunno:

That is a tough decision.

getting some pictures of it flying by the golden gate bridge would be pretty awesome though.

[captainofiron]

Endeavor just landed in Houston guys.

[captainofiron]

Email I got earlier today

All systems are go for the Space Shuttle Endeavour piggybacked aboard the modified Boeing 747 Shuttle Carrier Aircraft to make a flyover of WSMR, WSTF, and the City of Las Cruces tomorrow (Thursday, September 20, 2012). Look for updates on Twitter by following @EndeavourOverNM

https://twitter.com/EndeavourOverNM

Endeavour is expected to leave Houston around sunrise, and arrive at Biggs Army Airfield in El Paso for a refueling stop around 8:30am. Assuming favorable weather and no technical issues, Endeavour will depart Biggs, around 11:00am, perform a low flyover of the White Sands Missile Range main post area, then a double flyover of WSTF, before heading to Las Cruces for a low flyover for the city. Generally speaking they will come into Las Cruces from the northeast, head towards the university, and leave towards the airport. Everyone in town should get a good view.

As for timing, if they leave Biggs around 11:00 as expected, they will be over WSTF about 10 or 15 minutes later, then the city shortly after that. Sorry I can’t be more precise than that.

[TomMLS1]

Some pictures from the stop at Ellington...

T,

https://static1.pt-content.com/images/noimg.gif

https://static1.pt-content.com/images/noimg.gif

https://static1.pt-content.com/images/noimg.gif

https://static1.pt-content.com/images/noimg.gif

[MrQuick]

Awesome!!!

[captainofiron]

Great pictures Tom, do you work at JSC? or was the public allowed to view the shuttle and the sca at ellington?

Im curious because I have heard alot of grumbling from people about this being a waste of money and not even the public is allowed to see it.

[captainofiron]

Just flew over, talk about a million emotions.

10 years of my career just flew away. dang

[moreHP]

I know that the shuttle is supposed to fly over Vandenburg AFB and then down toward L.A.. I am hoping they fly along the coast and I can see it here in Ventura. Just looking at the pictures posted above is amazing. Talk about high shipping charges!!!

[captainofiron]

http://s977.photobucket.com/albums/ae258/javierandyana/Space%20Shuttle%20Endeavour%20flyover/?action=view&current=12090051_zps94879606.mp4

hope that video shows up.

To moreHP: its going to fly up from dryden to San Francisco then back to LAX

[Steve68]

10 years, I had 25 years of Shuttle Processing, but now they're museum pieces, and we're paying the Ruskys!!!

[MrQuick]

SF fly over was 9 am but has moved to 9:30AM to allow fog clearing. Fog cleared about 9:15AM today so it should be good.

It is scheduled to make a low pass at Moffet shortly after. Seating at Ames is sold out....bummer I wish I had known that they were opening the airstrip. Looks like im heading over to Marin headlands for a good look. I hoping for a 1000 - 1500 foot pass similar to this. :)

[xplane]

Pictures from Edwards AFB yesterday.
6478964790
Will post take off pictures from this morning.

[TomMLS1]

Great pictures Tom, do you work at JSC? or was the public allowed to view the shuttle and the sca at ellington?

Im curious because I have heard alot of grumbling from people about this being a waste of money and not even the public is allowed to see it.

Yes, Am a Maintenance supervisor for the prime subcontractor at JSC. In addition to site maintenance, we set up for special events such as this, and many other functions. Estimates were close to 200,00 people came out to see Endeavor, took me an hour to get out of Ellington back to site after setup. It was a madhouse......yeah, it's all abig waste of money, we should just throw it in the ocean and forget about being a global leader in anything ever again. (sarcasm)....really pi$$es me off.....

T,

[captainofiron]

Yes, Am a Maintenance supervisor for the prime subcontractor at JSC. In addition to site maintenance, we set up for special events such as this, and many other functions. Estimates were close to 200,00 people came out to see Endeavor, took me an hour to get out of Ellington back to site after setup. It was a madhouse......yeah, it's all abig waste of money, we should just throw it in the ocean and forget about being a global leader in anything ever again. (sarcasm)....really pi$$es me off.....

T,

yea all the money talk pisses me off too, I mean all this is supposed to be paid by the Museum to which each shuttle is heading, not to mention the route it is flying is the FLA to CAL approved flightpath for the shuttle and sca

its just because NASA is a big visible target and people dont realize that the budget is only 0.48% of the federal budget

[captainofiron]

Here is a picture of it flying over where I work

[MrQuick]

so awesome, snuck up behind us then made two passes.....so happy we were able to see it.

[MrQuick]

two "better" shots

[moreHP]

Cool pics!!

[captainofiron]

cool pics MrQuick, thats crazy that it had escort planes, is that a F-15?

here we only had a lead plane, which is a little gulfstream I think it was the STA

[MrQuick]

cool pics MrQuick, thats crazy that it had escort planes, is that a F-15?

here we only had a lead plane, which is a little gulfstream I think it was the STA

Thanks, it was a blast.
Most likely, I know they have 2 F-15E's here either at Oakland or SFO... There was another one tailing abit but at a higher altitude, you can barely see it in a few of my pictures. The 2nd was a bit lower on the first pass. Fleet week is a couple weeks away and I can't wait for that.

Edit, was told the one higher up was a NASA T-38 out of Moffet to take pictures and guidance.

[xplane]

The F-15 was a D model tail number 897, and is a support aircraft from NASA Dryden Flight Research Center. It's job was a path finder for the SCA to scout for unfavorable weather or turbulence.

[xplane]

Couple more pictures from the chase aircraft...64979

[MrQuick]

Thanks for that info and super shot from the D. Where did you get that pic?

Did the F-15 follow all the way to LAX?

[xplane]

I'm not sure how far the F-15 followed the flight path, I know one of our F-18 Hornets also participated. I know the photographers who flew back seat in both chase aircraft. They sent me some of the pictures taken during the Edwards AFB to LAX flight.

I am stuck on the east coast supporting a hurricaine study with our NASA global hawk.
https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2012/09/Global_Hawk_Outside_N159e_zpsc20aabbe-1.jpg
https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2012/09/WFF20IMG_7586e_zps3f7d55ce-1.jpg

[xplane]

Some more...
https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2012/09/150190_409787782414941_203571915_n_zpsc8-1.jpg
https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2012/09/304367_409786859081700_852226066_n_zpsf4-1.jpg
https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2012/09/271336_409524682441251_1054529268_o_zpsd-1.jpg

[xplane]

Over the Getty Museum...
https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2012/09/258224_409524845774568_2071592840_o_zpsd-1.jpg
https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2012/09/406457_409786065748446_1157240805_n_zps6-1.jpg

[72blackbird]

The 747 Mother ship and the Endeavor flew right over the house I was working on in Malibu yesterday- I was up high on some scaffolding doing some exterior trim when they passed overhead. A very impressive sight- sad to think she will never fly again.

Geno

[MrQuick]

The 747 Mother ship and the Endeavor flew right over the house I was working on in Malibu yesterday- I was up high on some scaffolding doing some exterior trim when they passed overhead. A very impressive sight- sad to think she will never fly again.

Geno It is but i hope they are on to bigger and better things. I have always loved the shuttle era. Grew up building models and actually did a few paintings of the Columbia on a 747 for art class in middle school. It was very important for me to have my son (15 mo) see one in person. Seeing the reaction on his face when it passed just put a great feeling of accomplishment for me. Strange but it did.

Stunning pictures Xplane, thank you. Is it ok if I facebook them to friends?

[xplane]

Stunning pictures Xplane, thank you. Is it ok if I facebook them to friends?

Of course!

[CarlC]

For me it's a bittersweet moment.

The public reaction to watching a three-decades old system is nothing short of amazing. If this does not show that there is an enormous amount of pent-up demand for NASA and the United States to continue with manned space flight, nothing will.

Yes, there are some fantastic things going on (Mars), but for our astronauts to have to ride to the Space Station atop of an ancient Russian rocket is like getting kicked in the crotch.

[MrQuick]

I believe opening the Space program to a public arena it going to propel it a bit faster. As we know the Government is motivated mostly by military defense and short rocket syndrome just to get something up before someone else does where as private exploration isn't.

Let the rich kids try it. I hear "THE MAN" Stehen Hawking and Bradjolina already have tickets for the future Virgin space plane trip. Once The Weyland-Yutani Corporation get into it the sky is no longer the limit.

I'm hopeful that it speeds it up. The shuttle program was set into place in 1969 as far as the public knows. The first flight was 1981.

[xplane]

Carl,

You have no idea how frustrating it is at NASA to work on very interesting programs associated with manned space flight, only to be given a new direction each time a new administration is elected.

That being said, the folks up in Mojave are making great progress in this area.

[BBC71Nova]

Thanks for sharing the pics. At MSFC we pulled the short stick I guess. Not even a fly by.

[LS6 Tommy]

I'm sad to see the program end. Not only for the people involved who have lost jobs, but for the end of one of the most successful programs in NASA history. Many people seem to forget that the original plan was to only fly the shuttles for 16 years... A friend's father was involved with the computer programming for the shuttle program when I was in school. IIRC his last name was Verheoff? IDK if he's still with NASA or not.

Wish I could see a flyover...

Tommy

[captainofiron]

I'm sad to see the program end. Not only for the people involved who have lost jobs, but for the end of one of the most successful programs in NASA history. Many people seem to forget that the original plan was to only fly the shuttles for 16 years... A friend's father was involved with the computer programming for the shuttle program when I was in school. IIRC his last name was Verheoff? IDK if he's still with NASA or not.

Wish I could see a flyover...

Tommy

Yea it was 15 years life span per shuttle originally, however that was at a much higher launch rate than what was possible in reality, add to that the Challenger accident and later the Columbia accident, the rate dropped significantly.

I cant remember where I remember this from, but each orbiter was rated originally for 100 flights. But what we got out of all 5 was 135.

[Steve68]

That was from NASA, when the initial design was released, they were to go 100 flights, one flight every thirty days,

There were also plans for a second VAB, and Launch Pads C, D, they had a good idea at first, but the maintenance part took more time, money, and manpower than expected.