Uncooperative weather at Kennedy Space Center, Fla., forced flight controllers to pass on STS-117’s first landing attempt today. The crew and the Mission Control team have turned their attention to the next orbit, which has opportunities available in Florida and at Edwards Air Force Base, Calif.

Kennedy is the primary site and the next landing opportunity at the Florida spaceport is at 3:55 p.m. EDT. If flight controllers select this option, Commander Rick Sturckow and Pilot Lee Archambault will perform the deorbit engine burn at 2:50 p.m. to begin the descent to Florida. The Edwards landing opportunity is at 3:49, with the deorbit occurring at 2:43.

Just listening to NASA tv now and it seems like the weather is not improving too much!

I am not going to be near a PC for the next few hours (sadly I may well miss the landing) so I recommend you head to http://www.nasa.gov to check the progress of the site!

If I can update you I will!

A

All attempts to land the shuttle have been scrubbed for today as weather thwarts the teams at NASA.

The next landing opportunities are on Friday

“The first opportunity Friday is on Orbit 218 and calls for a deorbit burn at 1:16 p.m. The second is on Orbit 219, with the deorbit burn at 2:52 p.m. and landing at 3:54 p.m. at Kennedy.

If Florida weather does not cooperate, three opportunities are available at Edwards. The first is on Orbit 219. This afternoon, the crew will adjust Atlantis’ orbit to set the stage for this opportunity, which has the deorbit burn occurring at 2:46 p.m. and landing at 3:49 p.m.

The second opportunity for the California base is on Orbit 220. The deorbit burn would occur at 4:21 p.m. and landing at 5:24 p.m. The final opportunity is one orbit later which calls for the deorbit burn to occur at 5:58 p.m. and landing at 6:59 p.m.”

(all times are EDT)

More tomorrow!!

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An unfavorable weather forecast at Kennedy Space Center, Fla., forced flight controllers to pass on STS-117’s first landing opportunity. Hopes now turn to the day’s second opportunity at 3:30 p.m. EDT (8.30 p.m. BST).

There are currently thunderstorms in the area around the Shuttle Landing facility. Chief Astronaut Steve Lindsey is currently in the shuttle training aircraft relaying information to NASA officials.

If flight controllers wave off for second time today, opportunities are available Friday in Florida and at Edwards Air Force Base in California.

I’ll keep you posted on any further announcements!

A

UPDATE: thanks to Dave M for noticing my most heinous spelling of opportunity

The shuttle Atlantis and its crew left the international space station Tuesday and sailed into the homestretch of the mission with a landing on Thursday

The only issue facing the crew now is the weather. Should NASA give them an “All Clear” today then Atlantis is due to touchdown at 12.54pm CDT (18.54 BST).

The forecast includes showers, thunderstorms and low clouds for the prime landing opportunity in Florida and a backup opportunity at 2:29 p.m. Rain could damage fragile silica tiles that shield much of the spacecraft, and a lighting strike could disrupt the electronic gear that controls the shuttle’s flight.

According to NASA the crew has enough provisions to stay in space till Sunday!

I’ll keep my eyes peeled on the website and keep you posted on any developments.

A