SPACE SHUTTLE

[apo...@northnet.com.au]

If you're quick folks, you can follow the space shuttle out of orbit
tonight. DISCOVERY is due home in the next couple of hours. As I type,
I'm listening to an audio feed from NASA containing communications
between mission control and the shuttle. I also have telemetry up on
screen showing a TAS we'd all love to get (about 17500 mp/h) as well as
the orbiter's track over the Earth. I know this isn't exactly
aus.aviation, but the space program interests most aviation enthusiasts
and Discovery has been orbiting over Australia every 90 minutes or so
for the past week and a bit! It's well worth a visit to the NASA site.
To get started, go to:

http://shuttle.nasa.gov/current/sounds/

This page has all the relevant links to allow you to follow Discovery
home. They have just waved off the first landing opportunity for today.
A second chance to de-orbit comes along about 1815 Australian EST
tonight (Friday), with landing about an hour afterwards. Good luck! JOE