Shuttle managers have decided to delay rollout of Endeavour to Pad 39A until January 6 for her STS-130 mission. With rollover of the orbiter remaining on target for December 12, Endeavour will spend three weeks – and the Christmas holidays – in the Vehicle Assembly Building (VAB). The launch date has also slipped two days [...]
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Despite apparently failing to be short listed for President Obama’s upcoming decision on the forward path for NASA’s Human Space Flight program, the Ares I teams are pushing forward with new plans to follow up the Ares I-X test flight with a 2012 to 2013 flight of Ares I-X Prime – a replacement test launch [...]
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STS-129 has concluded with a homecoming to Florida, following a flawless mission for Atlantis and her crew. Landing at the Kennedy Space Center (KSC) was at 9:44am Eastern, following the go to take the opening deorbit burn opportunity at 8:37am. Atlantis was working no issues, and saw her Thermal Protection System (TPS) cleared for entry, despite [...]
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As Atlantis’ seven member crew enjoy a working Thanksgiving on orbit, preparations are in full swing to bring Atlantis home tomorrow morning after, what has been, an extremely successful mission to the International Space Station. Meanwhile, Flight Controllers are evaluating a potential thermal control issue on Atlantis should the vehicle still be on orbit come [...]
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Atlantis has undocked from the International Space Station (ISS), as she prepares to target a landing on Friday. Late Inspections took place later on Flight Day 10, although this should only be a formality – following the Damage Assessment Team (DAT) formally clearing the orbiter for entry during her docked phase of STS-129.
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STS-129 is spending its last full day on the International Space Station, ahead of Wednesday’s undocking. Flight Day 9 is focusing on transferring the remaining items on the manifests, including the Distilliation Assembly (DA) from the broken Urine Processing Assembly (UPA) – a task that required a large amount of debate, to ensure the large [...]
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Randy Bresnik and Robert Satcher have compelted the third and final EVA of STS-129’s mission, as work is already ramping up on the next mission to launch out of the Kennedy Space Center (KSC) – as STS-130 hits the milestone of mating the External Tank (ET-134) and Solid Rocket Boosters (SRBs). Endeavour is set to [...]
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A United Launch Alliance (ULA) Atlas V has launched at the second attempt with the Intelsat 14 communications satellite. Launch was delayed several times in the count due to upper level wind data requirements - eventually lifting off at 01:55am Eastern. The successful launch followed a scrub and rollback to repair a ORCA (Ordnance Remote Control Assembly) a week ago.
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STS-129 Spacewalkers Michael Foreman and Randolph Bresnik have concluded the second of three EVAs, which has been slightly replanned due to the success of EVA-1 and alarms on Station. Meanwhile, engineers have cleared Atlantis for a contingency redocking with the ISS – in the event of damage being found during post-undock Late Inspections – following [...]
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As part of NASA’s effort to stockpile the International Space Station with as many spare components as possible before the retirement of the Space Shuttle fleet, the Express Logistics Carriers are a vital part of that endeavor. With Flight Day 5 involving the removal of ELC-2 from Atlantis’ cargo bay, an interview with Boeing’s Eve [...]
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Spacewalkers Mike Foreman (EV1) and Robert Satcher (EV2) have completed the first of three EVAs on Flight Day 4, with tasks including installing a spare communications antenna, routing cables and lubricating parts of the mobile base system and Kibo robotic arm. Meanwhile, the Damage Assessment Team (DAT) have confirmed Atlantis will not require a Focused [...]
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With her Flight Day 2 (FD-2) Thermal Protection System inspections behind her, Atlantis has docked with the International Space Station (ISS) – following a visually stunning R-bar Pitch Maneuver (RPM). Docking came after engineers cleared a minor ring alignment issue on Atlantis’ Orbiter Docking System (ODS).
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STS-129’s crew have worked through the primary Flight Day 2 task of inspecting Atlantis’ Thermal Protection System via the Orbiter Boom Sensor System (OBSS), while the Mission Management Team (MMT) review ascent data and imagery of STS-129’s External Tank (ET-133). Post Sep ET Umbilical Well photography shows what appears to be one of the cleanest tanks on [...]
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Only three minor foam liberation events have been noted in initial ascent imagery evaluations, with External Tank ET-133 appearing to perform extremely well during launch. Further checks will take place via Flight Day 2’s opening Thermal Protection System (TPS) inspections which utilize the orbiter’s robotic arms for the first time during STS-129.
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With a smooth countdown behind her, Atlantis launched on her opening opportunity on the STS-129/ULF-3 mission to the International Space Station (ISS). Engineers only had to work one issue during the count – relating to noise on the H2 pump inside Fuel Cell 2.
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Atlantis continues to behave herself on Pad 39A, with no notable issues reported in the launch countdown. With the Mission Management Team (MMT) now meeting daily, the build-up to a “go” for tanking at 5am local time on Monday currently has no obstructions in its path. Meanwhile, engineering leads from the United Space Alliance and [...]
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T-43 hours and counting for the launch of Atlantis on her STS-129 mission to the International Space Station (ISS), as engineers begin a highly complex ballet of S0007 (Launch Countdown) operations. No issues are being worked at Pad 39A, while the clearance for launch is expected to receive a green light at next milestone of [...]
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The STS-129 ascent/entry flight control team and flight crew concluded the fourth and final integrated ascent simulation at the Johnson Space Center (JSC) on Tuesday. NASASpaceflight.com’s Philip Sloss was given a unique insight by observing the sim runs conducted by Flight Director Bryan Lunney and his team.
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As preparations at LC-39A continue for the start of the STS-129 Countdown at 1pm local time on Friday, engineers have successfully earned Flight Rationale acceptance for the Main Engine Ignition (MEI) acoustic over pressurization issue. Also, Atlantis has gained additional launch opportunities thanks to a weather delay incurred by the Delta IV rocket team earlier this week.
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When STS-129 launches next week, Atlantis will have one eye on the future, as she carries the CRS UHF Communication Unit (CUCU), a key element for the upcoming demonstration of SpaceX’s Dragon capsule, ahead of its debut arrival at the International Space Station (ISS) in 2010.
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