STS-117 Atlantis

THX 3417

“Riding the Sky” was this mornings wake up call for the (astronaut Clay Anderson).

The Space Shuttle Atlantis will dock with the ISS around Central Time 14.38 hours?

THX 3417

The range of Space Shuttle Atlantis, is now closing in on the ISS. Docking is due around 14:38 hours Central Time.



You can just make out a little spec of the ISS just below the centreline of the cross-section.

THX 3417

She nearing the ISS very slowly and she has to as the speed is unlike anything most of you’ve experienced, this is precision work!

7000 feet away!

1Hr 32 mins until soft docking.:p

THX 3417

This long distance shot taken from the ISS shows Atlantis nearing the ISS.

Around 2500 feet to go.:p

THX 3417

This a beautiful shot as Atlantis is passing over the Earth at 17.500 feet and slowly ascending upwards towards the ISS at a very slow rate.



Before actual docking the crew on the ISS will take digital pictures that will be sent down to mission control for analyst and then the go for no go for docking will commence.

THX 3417

Some nice shots here as Atlantis back flips though 360º pitch manoeuvre underneath the ISS while digital pictures are taken.

THX 3417

Well just popped over to the Co-Op FAST and got some lush red strawberries for this soft docking wow. Hmm sweet.:p

THX 3417

Capture Soft dock! At 20.36hours UK time.

This mission is so easy so far it’s been flawless.:p

Pablo

I would love to see one take off close up. My brother saw it (from as close as you can get with pass from United Tech) and said it was just unbelievable. He said you can hear and feel it like you were standing next to it.

I saw the very first shuttle take off. I was in Dayton watching it on TV (it's around 100 miles away). Then I decided to step outside, and there it was. Perfectly clear morning. It was great.

THX 3417

Well mate if you like to see the ISS passing over your area just follow the basic text below and who knows you might see her passing overhead to night?

ISS sitings and times over Bournemouth and here’s times and dates.

THE FOLLOWING ISS SIGHTINGS ARE POSSIBLE FROM WED JUN 06 TO MON JUN 18
SATELLITE LOCAL DURATION MAX ELEV APPROACH DEPARTURE
DATE/TIME (MIN) (DEG) (DEG-DIR) (DEG-DIR)

ISS Wed Jun 06/11:15 PM 5 79 10 above WSW 12 above ENE
ISS Thu Jun 07/00:50 AM 6 71 10 above W 10 above E
ISS Thu Jun 07/02:25 AM 5 49 10 above W 11 above SE
ISS Thu Jun 07/04:02 AM 1 11 10 above SW 10 above SSW
ISS Thu Jun 07/10:01 PM 5 41 10 above SW 10 above E
ISS Thu Jun 07/11:36 PM 5 74 10 above W 12 above E
ISS Fri Jun 08/01:11 AM 5 88 10 above WNW 12 above ESE
ISS Fri Jun 08/02:46 AM 1 19 10 above W 19 above WSW
ISS Fri Jun 08/10:21 PM 5 75 10 above WSW 12 above ENE
ISS Fri Jun 08/11:56 PM 5 70 10 above W 12 above E
ISS Sat Jun 09/01:31 AM 3 52 10 above W 52 above SSW
ISS Sat Jun 09/10:42 PM 5 76 10 above W 12 above E
ISS Sun Jun 10/00:17 AM 4 87 10 above WNW 24 above ESE
ISS Sun Jun 10/01:52 AM < 1 14 10 above W 14 above W
ISS Sun Jun 10/11:03 PM 5 70 10 above W 12 above E
ISS Mon Jun 11/00:38 AM 3 57 10 above W 53 above S
ISS Mon Jun 11/11:23 PM 5 84 10 above WNW 12 above E
ISS Tue Jun 12/00:58 AM 1 20 10 above W 20 above WSW
ISS Tue Jun 12/10:09 PM 5 70 10 above W 12 above E
ISS Tue Jun 12/11:44 PM 4 61 10 above W 36 above SE
ISS Wed Jun 13/10:29 PM 5 81 10 above WNW 12 above E
ISS Thu Jun 14/00:04 AM 2 31 10 above W 31 above SW
ISS Thu Jun 14/10:50 PM 5 65 10 above WNW 15 above ESE
ISS Fri Jun 15/00:25 AM < 1 13 10 above WSW 13 above WSW
ISS Fri Jun 15/11:10 PM 4 34 10 above W 24 above SSE
ISS Sat Jun 16/10:01 PM < 1 12 12 above ESE 12 above ESE
ISS Sat Jun 16/11:31 PM 2 17 10 above WSW 17 above SSW
ISS Sun Jun 17/10:16 PM 5 37 10 above W 12 above SE

To learn about when and where the ISS will pass over you’re area click on the link and follow the basic instructions happy viewing.

http://spaceflight1.nasa.gov/realdata/sightings/

Select the county then click on “Go to the county.” Then select the region or part of the state where you live at. It’s real easy.

Well looks like a full house tonight on the ISS.:D

THX 3417

I see from the time and date here they’ll be passing over Bournemouth in little over in around 20 minutes. BINGO I just checked the weather conductions I’m setting up the telescope for an overhead view. :cool:

ISS Sun Jun 10/11:03 PM 5 70 10 above W 12 above E
ISS Mon Jun 11/00:38 AM 3 57 10 above W 53 above S

THX 3417

WOW she passed right over my home right overhead. well next sighting is about…

ISS Mon Jun 11/00:38 AM 3 57 10 above W 53 above S

Its fairly bright and the speed was incredible at 17.500MPH, there was mild misty scatted could cover and as she moved outwards over the Southern waters of the English Channel slight cloud cover obscured her view.

THX 3417

Looks like a slight minor bit of damaged has been done towards the, aft ohms pod with the blanket that covers it the unit. Looks like this might add an extra day to the mission as there scheduled for return Monday 18th June so looks like an extra day added unless it can be done in less time to prevent extra EVA delaying the mission of installing the truss.

THX 3417

Here’s another shot of the ISS and the STS-117 Atlantis docked together and moving at 17.500MPH.:p



Note the Canada Arm in the left-hand part of picture.

THX 3417

Right on schedule at 00:38GMT passed slightly over a few miles from her last overhead first sighting yesterday evening. In fact that brightness of this pass was brighter than the last one. Wow the speed is incredible and just to think I’ve been looking at live pictures and then popping outside looking back up at them wild.:)