Atlantis’ Payload Bay Doors are Closed for Landing

Space shuttle Atlantis’ payload bay doors are closed and everything continues to proceed on schedule for this morning’s landing.

Deputy Chief of the Astronaut Office Rick Sturckow is flying weather reconnaissance at Kennedy Space Center to provide real-time observations that will aid in the decision to land. Sturckow is reporting “severe clear” skies and no weather concerns. Weather is both observed and forecast “go.”

At 2:19 a.m., Entry Flight Director Tony Ceccacci is expected to give a “go” for Atlantis’ computers to begin running the Ops 3 entry software. At 2:49 a.m. a “go” is expected for crew suit up. The “go” for deorbit burn is expected by 4:29 a.m.

The deorbit burn is scheduled for 4:49:04 a.m. and will lead to a landing at 5:56:58 a.m.