Updates STS-133 Updates

[N_Molson]

In line with the runway (15), final approach.

---------- Post added at 04:52 PM ---------- Previous post was at 04:51 PM ----------

Touchdown !!

 

[HarvesteR]

TOUCHDOWN!!

Farewell Discovery!!!

 

[N_Molson]

Wheels stop ! Awesome landing and superb mission ! :thumbup:

(for those who want to learn how to land a DG / a Shuttle, just watch this replay ! )

 

[orb]

Unofficial (NASA PAO) times:

• Main gear touch down at 16:57:17 UTC - MET: 12 days, 19 hours, 3 minutes, 53 seconds
• Nose gear touch down at 16:57:28 UTC - MET: 12 days, 19 hours, 4 minutes, 4 seconds
• Wheels stop at 16:58:14 UTC - MET: 12 days, 19 hours, 4 minutes, 50 seconds

 

[Dambuster]

I'm going to miss the sound of those APUs!

 

[halcyon]

I hope they put some type of plaque/plate marker on the runway where Discovery's nose wheel last stopped, and a marker for Endeavor and Atlantis as well.

 

[diogom]

Beautiful landing! A great end to a great machine.
I think the crew is leaving the Shuttle now.

 

[Topper]

Nice Landing, great mission!!!:11sign::11sign::11sign:
Now it's time to say goodbye Discovery,
it's time to say goodbye. :blackeye:

We will never forget you!!!

This was one of the most complex mashines mankind ever build!

And in my eyes, the most successful spacecraft ever!

 

[diogom]

The astronauts just got out in the open, they look fine, they're talking with several NASA folks.

 

[Wishbone]

A sigh of relief. This flying machine has performed well. Goodbye Discovery!

 

[Goth]

Crew talking.

 

[Eli13]

Great end to an illustrious career. Goodbye, Discovery

 

[Tycho]

I hope they put some type of plaque/plate marker on the runway where Discovery's nose wheel last stopped, and a marker for Endeavor and Atlantis as well.

Well, they do plan to. I'm not sure were I read it, but I'm fairly sure it was on the landing blog today (very luckily found just enough spare time to watch the magnificent landing).

Anyways, spectacular job to Discovery and her crew! We'll all surely miss you sorely, Discovery.

 

[Cairan]

We were at the Merritt Island Refuge visitor center on the Max Brewer road, got to see it glide to the east and north, pierce thru the clouds 2 times, from our perspective, and then hug the treeline and lost sight of it just as it deployed the landing gear.

As the CDR said: "Houston, Discovery, for one last time... Wheel stop."

 

[orb]

Reentry, landing, and post-landing

Reentry and landing - Behind the scenes:

• Entry Team Escorts Discovery Home at Space Shuttle Flight Control Room:
  

  Entry Team Escorts Discovery Home

STS-133 Landing replays:

• STS-133 Landing (from the final approach) [NASAKennedy]:
  

  STS-133 Landing (NASAKennedy)

• STS-133 Landing at Kennedy Space Center for the last time [from NASA-HD-TV by spacevidcast]
  

  STS-133 Landing (spacevidcast)

• Landing from different perspectives (Part 1) [from NASA-HD-TV by SpaceVidsNet]:
  

  [STS-133] Landing Replays (p1)

• Landing from different perspectives (Part 2) [from NASA-HD-TV by SpaceVidsNet]:
  

  [STS-133] Landing Replays (p2)

STS-133 Crew welcome at the runway:

• Discovery Crew walks down to the runway - STS-133 Landing Crew Comments:
  

  STS-133 Landing Crew Comments

Post-landing media briefings:

• Post-landing news conference - KSC Space Shuttle Program and Mission Managers:
  

  NASA Hails Return of Discovery and Crew

• STS-133 Shuttle Crew Briefs Media on Successful Mission:
  

  Shuttle Crew Briefs Media on Successful Mission

Spaceflight Now:

• Discovery's final landing marks beginning of the end
• Shuttle Discovery ends stellar space career (LANDING PHOTO GALLERY)
• Discovery rolls into retirement (TOWING PHOTO GALLERY)

NASA: Space Shuttle Discovery Returns Home After Final Mission

NASASpaceflight: Discovery’s final swansong – Perfect re-entry and landing

CBS News Space: Shuttle Discovery glides to final landing (UPDATED)

SPACE.com: Shuttle Discovery's Space Finale a Bittersweet End, Astronauts Say

The Huntsville Times: Shuttle landing viewed by 500 students, campers at U.S. Space Camp in Huntsville

Orlando Sentinel: Discovery touches down for the 39th and last time

 

[orb]

STS-133 Flight Summarized

If you prefer to watch everything summarized from the launch to the landing in one movie, than browse through this thread to view individual videos, here's almost an hour long "STS-133: The Highlights":

STS 133: The Highlights

​

 

[IronRain]

I've watched the whole video and it's worth watching! :thumbup:

 

[tpeace]

anaged to get a few shots of the shuttle as it was lining up for final approach.

Regards,
-tom

 

[Dambuster]

Nice shots! Somehow the photos have much more 'feel' to them when it's just an ordinary person taking them, rather than a paid photographer!

Also, where were you standing to get those?

 

[tpeace]

... where were you standing to get those?

DB, I was on one of the piers at the Space View Park in Titusville.

On Goggle maps: [ame="http://maps.google.com/maps?hl=en&sugexp=gsis&xhr=t&q=space+view+park+titusville&cp=16&bav=on.2,or.&um=1&ie=UTF-8&sa=N&tab=wl"]http://maps.google.com/maps?hl=en&sugexp=gsis&xhr=t&q=space+view+park+titusville&cp=16&bav=on.2,or.&um=1&ie=UTF-8&sa=N&tab=wl[/ame]

I had never tried this spot before. It seems to be about half the distance than Bennett Causeway, where I usually set up. This had a GREAT view of the launch pad used Saturday for the Atlas V launch and I think I'll try it for the next one of those I can get to.

There is also the bridge near-by (think its called Max Brewer Memorial Parkway) which look like a great vantage point for watching a landing, at least if it is a north to south landing.

Regards,
-tom