When did the shuttle start landing in Houston?

[WritersBlock]

I never, ever trust the BBC on technical stories. This reminds me of the story in which they mentioned the "Cessna 152 jet" that was overturned by high winds at Edinburgh airport several years ago.

Saturday, 18 August 2007, 20:28 GMT 21:28 UK
Hurricane fears shorten spacewalk

Hurricane Dean has led Nasa to shorten a spacewalk by astronauts aboard the shuttle Endeavour to allow the shuttle to return to earth earlier.
The American space agency is concerned that, if Hurricane Dean veers towards the Texas coast, it could affect Endeavour's landing in Houston.

[tammywammy]

1. It doesn't

But they might need to move up the landing a day because of Hurricane Dean. Houston is in control of the shuttle till it touches down.

Here's another article on it http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/20327765/

[Spinzonner]

2. Why can't the English learn to ...

write English (Sorry Alan)

How about this:

Hurricane Dean has led Nasa to shorten a spacewalk by astronauts aboard the shuttle Endeavour to allow the shuttle to return to earth earlier.
The American space agency is concerned that, if Hurricane Dean veers towards the Texas coast, in Houston it could affect Endeavour's landing.

[krispos42]

3. Never, as far as I know

Mission Control is in Houston. The shuttle lands at Cape Canaveral in Florida, Edwards Air Force Base in California, or the missile range at White Sands, New Mexico.

Endeavour will not land in Houston unless there's some sort of massive emergency. At Mach 17,000 miles an hour it's about a four-minute difference between killing orbit to land in Florida and killing orbit to land in Texas.

[sniffa]

4. i think when the astros expansion team started pLay

then the rockets pLaying there, just made it a no-brainer.

[Blue State Bandit]

5. The shuttle's return path brings it right over Texas.

The instability and high winds over Texas could interfere with the shuttles trajectory, causing it to vere off course. Remember, the shuttle is basically a glider, and could not regain lost altitude or airspeed if it was hit by downdrafts, micro-bursts, or headwinds produced in a hurricane. It could end up in the Gulf of Mexico, god forbid.

[jaysunb]

6. great info !

I didn't realize all those things about the air over Texas and such. Thanks !

[A HERETIC I AM]

8. Not always.

Depends on the orbital path. It does not always cross the United States on it's way to Kennedy.

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/8839204/

[youngdem]

7. Mission Control is there. That's why Dean matters to the shuttle

If Mission Control's contact with the Shuttle is lost, that is VERY problematic for the Shuttle.

Plus, if essential personnel are needing to evacuate or protect their families, that should take precedence over another day in space.