Atlantis space shuttle takes strange route from CA to FL

[sundevil777 93]

Why it would go to Amarillo, Texas, then up to Offutt air force base near Omaha, Nebraska, on its way to Florida?

I understand the 747 with the shuttle on its back doesn't have the range to go across the country, especially at the relatively low altitude it flies on the way. I cannot understand why it would go from Amarillo up to Omaha. It appears that both Amarillo and Omaha are about the same distance from their final destination in Florida.

Any insight would be appreciated. Perhaps it is doing a publicity tour?

Aviation Week story where I got the info on the stopovers:

http://www.aviationweek.com/aw/blogs/space/index.jsp?plckController=Blog&plckBlogPage=BlogViewPost&newspaperUserId=04ce340e-4b63-4d23-9695-d49ab661f385&plckPostId=Blog%3a04ce340e-4b63-4d23-9695-d49ab661f385Post%3a270c0d81-35b9-4601-af1f-e43536446e63&plckScript=blogScript&plckElementId=blogDest

People are sick and tired of being told that ordinary and decent people are fed up in this country with being sick and tired. I’m certainly not, and I’m sick and tired of being told that I am

[mx757 4]

My guess is they are going around thunderstorms and rain here in Texas...

[rapter 0]

I had to come in to work today, I work at Edwards AFB. got here just in time to watch it take off. Took most of the runway to get airborne. Really cool to see.

Only the good die young, so I have found immortality,

[Beerlight 0]

Has to go around the rain/storms. Lots of that in Texas/Ok today. It can survive 2000 degree heat on reentry, but no rain.

[skyboyblue 0]

we got to see this thing at about 9K ft getting vectors into offutt. we probably got about 7 miles from it. It was amazing to see.

[cloudseeker2001 0]

you were on the way to altitude?

"Some call it heavenly in it's brilliance,
others mean and rueful of the western dream"

[sundevil777 93]

Quote

Has to go around the rain/storms. Lots of that in Texas/Ok today. It can survive 2000 degree heat on reentry, but no rain.

At least that makes some sense. I would have thought it would go straight to Omaha instead of bothering to stop in Amarillo. It seems like it can't be much farther, but maybe it just doesn't quite have the range.

Remember how the Bond movie had it lighting its engines and going into orbit, straight from the 747 - fueled, ready to go, no need for solid rocket boosters or external tank! That ranks high in the category of most implausible Bond moments.

People are sick and tired of being told that ordinary and decent people are fed up in this country with being sick and tired. I’m certainly not, and I’m sick and tired of being told that I am