Space Shuttle Atlantis given GO to suit up for deorbit burn

A "go" was given for the 60-foot-long payload bay doors to be closed. Mission control then instructed the commander to go for "Ops 3," the portion of the orbiter's flight control software that manages entry and landing.

Mission Control Houston has given the Space Shuttle Atlantis the green light to put on their orange colored ascent and re-entry suits for the deorbit burn. Deorbit will happen in the mission time of 11 days 17 hour 59 minutes 28 seconds.

Atlantis will initiate the deorbit burn on orbit number 186 at 4:14am CST, with touch down set for 5:21am CST on runway 33 out of the east at the Shuttle Landing Facility at Kennedy Space Center. When the deorbit burn is initiated the shuttle will be 225 mile from International Space Station.

"Houston, final entry switch list is complete " "Roger Atlantis we copy"

"Houston Atlantis, begin fluid loading." The crew has been told to begin fluid loading, which means that they drink large amounts of fluids to aid them in their re-acclimation into Earth's gravity. Each crew member will drink approximately 40 ounces of water -- about eight ounces every fifteen minutes -- and take salt pills to help them increase their fluid volume. Crew members will drink chicken consume, orange-aid or water.

Weather conditions are favorable light winds and clear. The only concern is the falling dew point where any mosture could be turned into patches of fog.

4:45 a.m. -- Commander Brent Jett was given the go ahead to close the vent doors and seal the shuttle for re-entry.

So far, the weather at Runway 33 at Kennedy Space Center's Shuttle Landing Facility is still observed "go" for landing on the first opportunity.

Mission Control has given Atlantis the go for deorbit burn! The weather is forecast to be good for the 6:21 a.m. landing with only light winds and no cloud cover. The deorbit burn will slow Atlantis by 200 mph, causing it to fall out of orbit and begin the descent for landing.

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Image Credit: NASA