Re: 747 Transport Sighting Opportunities?


Andrew Gray wrote:
> On 2005-08-09, Hi Ho Silver <24601@xxxxxxxxxx> wrote:
> > I can hope they might stop off in Houston at Ellington Field, which has been
> > done in the past. Am I remembering correctly that they are unable to make a
> > nonstop flight from Edwards to KSC, so they have to stop somewhere? I live
> > in Houston and would love to see it again.
>
> Because of the added weight, the laden range is only about a thousand
> miles between refullings, so yes, they have to stop en route. (They can,
> however, probably fly transcontinetal when *unladen* with no problems.)

It's not weight - it's drag.

First of all the shuttle has a giant surface area which has to be
pushed through the atmosphere. Second the crusing altitude with the
shuttle on back is much lower than normal for a 747, so that adds even
more drag.

I would be very surprised if they _didn't_ stop at Ellington Field if
the weather cooperated. NASA realizes the shuttle ferry is an important
PR opportunity because of all of the interest in the RTF and I would
suspect that they're going to go to great efforts to ensure that the
public and press know the possible routes and where it's going to be
going over any particular city, etc. And before coming in to the Cape
if the weather cooperates I expect that they might make a low pass over
Orlando and then come up the Spacecoast from Patrick AFB, by Cocoa
Beach and Cape Canaveral - again if the weather and lighting conditions
cooperate.

But of course that's all speculation on my part.

Alex Harris

.

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