STS-130

[bradleyjs]

Thanks christra, that's exactly what I was looking for. I live in Orlando and if it approaches from the South we don't usually hear the sonic booms - but from the West we hear it everytime.

[desktopsimmer]

Just announced on NASA TV:
Looks like there's a forecast of low cloud cover and an elevated chance of rain at KSC.

[bradleyjs]

Hey,

Just heard about 10 mins ago that the de-orbit is a GO!

GL, STS-130

[neosonic2k]

Deorbit burn complete, they're on their way back home! Landing is at KSC, runway 15.

[bradleyjs]

Yep, now 17 mins to touchdown.

[bradleyjs]

YES!!! We just got te Sonic Booms!!!

[bradleyjs]

What's kind of wierd is the APU seems to be 'on fire" more than normal.... watch the landing...

[bradleyjs]

About damn time [APU Shutdown], I thoght that he APU was gonna cause a fire on the Shuttle.  Very strange behavior....

Oh well, only 4 missiions left......

[Moonwalker]

The APU exhaust really looks like fire this tine. But for now NASA did not mention anything.

[desktopsimmer]

I've just watched the replay, The APU 'flare' can be seen normally in IR, it's rare that it can been seen visually. Here's STS-123 Night Landing

STS-123 Landing
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ghvsDE_jgrY&
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/STS-123#March_27_.28Flight_day_17.2C_landing.29

STS-115 Landing
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w21UK5Q2wwo

[bradleyjs]

On my Twitter I follow Miles O'Brien (Spaceflightnow.com commentator) was tweeting about the APU and how the Public Affairs Officer didn't even mention it...

[desktopsimmer]

Miles O'Brien, the Trekkie fellow from DS9? He must get some stick with that name

It's strange how it has 'never' been seen before. Okay, the exhaust temperature is over 1000 Degs Celsius, and I think that the air would 'ignite' if there was a 'fuel' and oxygen present (most likely that they are).

However, to have at least a dozen night landing missions where it has never been seen and it's only just starting to happen, well, if I was a manager or a engineer associated to the APUs, I would be asking a lot of questions.

The only thing I can think of has the APU been modified to run a different mix of fuel recently?

[desktopsimmer]

Nice Picture taken from Cupola by Astro_Soichi

http://twitpic.com/14of2q

[bradleyjs]

Miles O'Brien, the Trekkie fellow from DS9? He must get some stick with that name

It's strange how it has 'never' been seen before. Okay, the exhaust temperature is over 1000 Degs Celsius, and I think that the air would 'ignite' if there was a 'fuel' and oxygen present (most likely that they are).

However, to have at least a dozen night landing missions where it has never been seen and it's only just starting to happen, well, if I was a manager or a engineer associated to the APUs, I would be asking a lot of questions.

The only thing I can think of has the APU been modified to run a different mix of fuel recently?

If I'm not mistaken, the APU runs on Hydrazine - which alone will kill you if inhaled. Seems to me that it might have had a slight leak or something to that effect.

And, I agree with you, if I were a manager/engineer, I would be looking into this "potential" issue/anomoly.

[Admin]

Nice Picture taken from Cupola by Astro_Soichi

http://twitpic.com/14of2q

Nice view!

/Admin