3 ms·

Isn't it a bit pessimistic to call it a landing "attempt"?

• jballanc 17y ago
  Not at all! If you'd ever followed a shuttle landing, you'd know that a lot has to go just right for the landing to be successful. Specifically, flight controllers will be watching weather conditions at the landing site and along the entire reentry flight path for anything even mildly hazardous. If they decide to go ahead with the first "attempt", then the shuttle begins its deorbit burn around 7:30 AM. If they decide it's too risky, then they skip the first "attempt" and go for the second "attempt" on the next orbit. Typically there are 4 or 5 "attempts" per day, and after 2 or 3 days, if none of the KSC "attempts" were successful, they'll start looking at alternatives like Edwards AFB in California.