space-shuttle return to florida

[Fly_Chick]

Yeah, and to add a little salt... I asked my student "did you get a weather brief" after they got off the phone with FSS, then I said "never mind, if the shuttle/shuttle is coming in, weather will not be a factor!" We were all set, even had the hold over COI all planned out for the best view...

Funny thing is about an hour into our flight (about 1hr 15 mins after shuttle landing) other people were asking approach about the arrival time of the shuttle so they could see it. Approach person stated they he just arrived on station and did not have any information.

Wonder what call sign they were under?

 

[Vector4fun]

They used to land at Biggs field fairly often. They used a NASA XXX call sign. They used to send another aircraft out ahead 20 minutes to keep tabs on the winds/ride as well.

I've got a framed photo at home of the wife, (We were dating at the time) standing in front of the 747/Shuttle on the Biggs ramp. The Biggs Tower chief got us out there to see it. They used to keep a half-dozen GIs around it with M-16s, but don't know if that's still the norm.

 

[rvsm410]

Security is always very high, this is a national asset. Even here at KSC, Discovery has been demated from the 747 but has not been towed to the OPF yet, Military Helo's are in 24/7 area coverage to prevent any kind of attack while she is in the open air of the Space Center.....All of us here at KSC realize that seeing the combo (Shuttle/747) flying home yesterday "could" be the last time we see this until the day(s) when the Fleet will be sent to the national Park system for public viewing...

 

[User546]

NASA has their own SWAT team that is posted and ready to respond at all times at KSC. When the astronauts are on the grounds they provide protective duty as well. They also have some pretty nice toys to play with as well. Some details are below:

http://www.nasa.gov/returntoflight/main/swat_feature.html
NASA SWAT Team Profile

http://www.airliners.net/open.file?id=894519&size=L
NASA SWAT Helo In Action

http://www.airliners.net/open.file?id=887223&size=L
NASA SWAT Helo On Guard

http://www.bartnet.net/~jmt/nasa_swat.jpg
NASA SWAT Armored Van Behind Astronauts Van

 

[erj-145mech]

http://www.bartnet.net/~jmt/nasa_swat.jpg
NASA SWAT Armored Van Behind Astronauts Van

Looks like some body tinkled on the right front tire. Too much duty time?

 

[Gutenberg]

check out the shuttle's approach plate into the runway. They fly an arc and theres a twenty degree glidepath. I don't have a link, but there's this thing called google...sorry for the teaser.