Bad weather forces scrub of Atlantis landing

Cloudy skies and thunderstorms forced NASA to delay landing of space shuttle Atlantis to Friday, when it will open Edwards Air Force Base in addition to Kennedy Space Center for landing opportunities.

Carpenter Newton reporting for Digital Journal –– As expected, entry flight director Norm Knight scrubbed today’s scheduled landing of space shuttle Atlantis at Kennedy Space Center due to low clouds and scattered thunderstorms. The crew aboard Atlantis was ordered to perform a rocket firing that will keep them in orbit for another day and give the shuttle chances to land Friday not only at Kennedy, but also Edwards Air Force Base in California. Friday presents two landing opportunities at Kennedy and three at Edwards. On orbit 218, NASA will only consider Kennedy for landing, which would happen at 2:18 p.m. EDT. On orbit 219, both sites will be considered for touch downs at 3:49 at Edwards and 3:54 for Kennedy. The last two looks will be solely devoted to Edwards. Tomorrow’s weather presents an almost identical situation at Kennedy as today. Edwards looks clear for an early landing opportunity but winds could play a factor on the later orbits. NASA’s entry team had the STS-117 crew perform the rocket firing to ensure a chance to land early at Edwards in the event weather becomes a problem. Scheduled landing attempts for Friday: 1:16 PM: Deorbit burn 2:18 PM: KSC landing 2:46 PM: Deorbit burn 3:49 PM: EDW landing 2:52 PM: Deorbit burn 3:54 PM: KSC landing 4:21 PM: Deorbit burn 5:24 PM: EDW landing 5:58 PM: Deorbit burn 6:59 PM: EDW landing