Space Shuttle Columbia Houston Stopover Delayed
Due to rain and high winds in southern California, Space Shuttle
Columbia’s departure for Florida has been delayed until no earlier than
Saturday afternoon. There is still a chance that the orbiter atop its
747 Shuttle Carrier Aircraft will make a stopover at Houston’s Ellington
Field, but that will not occur before Sunday. Please call the NASA
Broadcast News Service at (281) 483-8600 for updates on the schedule.
Because of the strict weather criteria regarding shuttle ferry aircraft
flights, Columbia’s potential visit is subject to change or cancellation
up until only a few hours before its arrival. The public and media can
track the progress of Columbia’s cross-country flight and the potential
for a Houston stop by calling the NASA Broadcast News Service, (281)
483-8600. The recorded message will be updated frequently to provide the
latest information on the progress of Columbia’s flight.
If weather allows, the cross-country voyage of America’s first space
shuttle will begin with a departure Saturday afternoon or Sunday morning
and include a stopover at Ellington Field Sunday, arriving about 3 p.m.
CST. The 747 with Columbia on its back would park near NASA’s Hangar 990
on the north end of the field and remain overnight. The Ellington gate
at Hangar 990 will be opened to permit public viewing beginning about 45
minutes after landing and will remain open until dusk. Departure time
Monday will be assessed after Columbia’s arrival.
Media wishing to cover Columbia’s arrival will be allowed through the
gate at NASA Hangar 990, about 30 minutes before the anticipated landing
time. Media also will be allowed into Ellington about 30 minutes before
Columbia’s departure on Monday.
Fresh from a year and half at Boeing’s Palmdale, Calif., shuttle factory
for maintenance, inspections and upgrades, Columbia is being taken back
to the Kennedy Space Center, Florida, to prepare for its next space
flight, planned for launch this fall. The more than 100 improvements
made to Columbia make it safer and more capable than ever before, and
include a new ìglass cockpit” that has replaced mechanical instruments
with flat computer screens.
Other improvements included reducing Columbia’s weight by more than a
thousand pounds; increasing protection from space debris; intensive
wiring inspections and protective measures; thorough structural
inspections and maintenance; enhanced heat protection for the wing
edges; and preliminary preparations that could allow Columbia to make
flights to the International Space Station if needed.
Columbia has flown in space 26 times and is nearing the 20th anniversary
of its maiden voyage on the STS-1 mission, which launched April 12,
1981.
