Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

Skip to comments.

NASA Tracks Mystery Object Near Atlantis Shuttle
Space,com ^ | September 19, 2006

Posted on 09/19/2006 8:53:59 AM PDT by Kaslin

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – NASA mission controllers are tracking a mystery object hovering between the space shuttle Atlantis and Earth, and traveling at roughly the same speed as the orbiter, agency officials said Tuesday.

“Right now they’re just tying to figure out exactly what it is, how far away it is,” NASA spokesperson Kimberly Harle told SPACE.com. “It’s pretty much assessing the whole situation.”

arle said that at 2:45 a.m. EDT (0645 GMT), just after Atlantis completed a check of its reaction control thrusters, the instrumentation and communications officer at NASA’s shuttle Mission Control room at Johnson Space Center noted an object between the orbiter and Earth, and traveling at about the same speed of the spacecraft.

Flight controllers are now using video cameras mounted along Atlantis’ robotic arm and payload bay to survey visible areas of the orbiter, including its wing leading edges and other vital heat shield areas, Harle said.

“Everything is still under assessment,” Harle said.

For now, Atlantis’ STS-115 shuttle crew will not stow their Ku-band antenna – the primary video and data link to Earth – to allow flight controllers to continue to study the object.

NASA is broadcasting Atlantis’ STS-115 mission to the ISS live via NASA TV. You are invited to follow the shuttle's progress using SPACE.com's NASA TV feed, which is available by clicking here or using the button at the left.


TOPICS: News/Current Events; US: Florida; US: Texas
KEYWORDS: artbell
Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first previous 1-20 ... 41-6061-8081-100 ... 321-324 next last
To: Kaslin
Things just haven't been the same since he left his TIE fighter parked in orbit, broken down and out of gas...


61 posted on 09/19/2006 9:18:06 AM PDT by Dead Corpse (Quam terribilis est haec hora)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Kaslin

Is it a piece of duct tape?


62 posted on 09/19/2006 9:18:34 AM PDT by RockinRight (She rocks my world, and I rock her world.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Youngman442002

Now I love tribles!


63 posted on 09/19/2006 9:19:05 AM PDT by bluejean gal
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 53 | View Replies]

To: BookaT
It would have stayed in about the same orbit as the space station. The shuttle is now about 70 miles away from there.
64 posted on 09/19/2006 9:19:12 AM PDT by KarlInOhio (Dems - Your conduct is an invitation to the enemy, yet few of you have heart enough to join them.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 10 | View Replies]

To: Youngman442002

Enough of the joking now. Until we know what it is, this is serious.


65 posted on 09/19/2006 9:19:22 AM PDT by Wacka
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 53 | View Replies]

To: RockinRight

It is quite large, and can be seen from the ground as it catches the light.


66 posted on 09/19/2006 9:19:36 AM PDT by Cold Heat (I just analyze it, I did not create the mess...so go pound sand:-))
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 62 | View Replies]

To: Wacka
My sentiments exactly...

I do think that this is serious.

67 posted on 09/19/2006 9:20:21 AM PDT by Cold Heat (I just analyze it, I did not create the mess...so go pound sand:-))
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 65 | View Replies]

To: Wacka

Thanks for that comment. Nonsense has its place but not here.


68 posted on 09/19/2006 9:20:45 AM PDT by mcshot ("If it ain't broke it doesn't have enough features." paraphrased anon.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 65 | View Replies]

To: Kaslin

It's the 11th Imam. He is circling the wagons...er, the shuttles.


69 posted on 09/19/2006 9:21:04 AM PDT by MadeInAmerica (- If ILLEGAL means Undocumented - Then Breaking and Entering means Unannounced Visit)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Kaslin

I wish everybody would put a hold on the humor until we know the crew is not in mortal peril.


70 posted on 09/19/2006 9:21:41 AM PDT by Graymatter (TV-free and clean for 3 years, 4 months.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Kaslin
Unavailable for comment...

Photobucket - Video and Image Hosting

71 posted on 09/19/2006 9:23:47 AM PDT by GraniteStateConservative (...He had committed no crime against America so I did not bring him here...-- Worst.President.Ever.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Cold Heat

That's what I heard also.

Prayers for the crew.


72 posted on 09/19/2006 9:26:04 AM PDT by eyespysomething (http://crumbsandfun.blogspot.com/2006/09/ana-centeno-tribute.html)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 59 | View Replies]

To: Kaslin

I just heard on the 12:00 radio news that the object actually hit the shuttle. This is why further inspection of the exterior is needed.


73 posted on 09/19/2006 9:26:23 AM PDT by rawhide
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Kaslin

74 posted on 09/19/2006 9:26:49 AM PDT by TravisBickle (Are you talkin' to me?)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Graymatter
They are still in a very high orbit. They can remain in it for as much as three months or more, depending on food and other consumables. These things were implemented after the loss of the last shuttle as emergency measures.

The plan then would be to launch the next bird as a rescue and allow the wounded bird to burn up after setting a safe trajectory for re-entry.

I don't think the crew is in danger now, but the bird may not be coming back.

75 posted on 09/19/2006 9:27:59 AM PDT by Cold Heat (I just analyze it, I did not create the mess...so go pound sand:-))
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 70 | View Replies]

To: All

Does anyone have the website address that lists when the space station will be passing overhead of various US cities?


76 posted on 09/19/2006 9:28:15 AM PDT by Rb ver. 2.0
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 74 | View Replies]

To: Dark Skies
this is the best I could do - it is a tiny speck in the middle of large white dot. As you can see it about the size of the decimal point on the news ticker.

77 posted on 09/19/2006 9:28:36 AM PDT by stlnative
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 18 | View Replies]

To: Cold Heat

From foxnews.com: "The object, which is circling the Earth in the same orbit as the shuttle and is of undetermined size, probably came out of the shuttle's cargo bay because some jets had just been fired, shaking the orbiter, NASA spokesman Doug Peterson said."

Could be bad info...


78 posted on 09/19/2006 9:29:16 AM PDT by green iguana
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 75 | View Replies]

To: Kaslin

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1704278/posts


79 posted on 09/19/2006 9:29:49 AM PDT by patriot_wes (Infant baptism - the foundation of an unbelieving and unsaved church.....)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: takenoprisoner

If it is, I would think it would put the Astronauts in grave danger


80 posted on 09/19/2006 9:30:46 AM PDT by Kaslin (No matter what the left says. G.W. Bush will be remembered as the best president of this century)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 40 | View Replies]


Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first previous 1-20 ... 41-6061-8081-100 ... 321-324 next last

Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.

Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

FreeRepublic, LLC, PO BOX 9771, FRESNO, CA 93794
FreeRepublic.com is powered by software copyright 2000-2008 John Robinson