Space Shuttle News
Atlantis payload bay
The Atlantis crew have said their farewells to the International Space Station (
ISS) crew, and started their journey home.
The 11-day mission was a success, seeing the six-member crew fitting a new truss and solar array, in effect doubling the stations energy-generating capacity.
Atlantis is scheduled to touch down at 5:59 a.m. EDT Wednesday at the Shuttle Landing Facility at Kennedy Space Center, Fla. Landing will bring to an end STS-115’s successful mission to the International Space Station.
External Links:
Nasa Shuttle Website
Atlantis Launch Blog
Space Shuttle Atlantis docking
Space shuttle Atlantis has docked with the International Space Station (
ISS).
Atlantis made a slow docking at 10.48 GMT (06:48 EDT), and the crew recived a warm welcome from everybody onboard the ISS after first performing a back-flip to let the ISS crew check the underside for damage.
NASA said that some debris from the fuel tank did hit the orbiter during its launch, but no damage was detected.
A 11-day mission now awaits the Atlantis crew as they aim to double the station’s energy-generating capacity by fitting a new solar array.
External Links:
Nasa Shuttle Website
Atlantis Launch Blog
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The Space Shuttle Mission Management Team decided to postpone the launch of Space Shuttle Atlantis for at least 24 hours following the lightning strike to the lightning protection system on Friday.
The delay will give Nasa and the Mission Management Team time to asses whether anything was damaged as a result of the lightning strike.
The Mission Management Team are due to reconvene on Sunday, to review the data and decide if everything is A-OK for a Monday launch
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The Space Shuttle Atlantis is all set, and ready for a launch on Sunday 28th August.
The main goal of this mission is to add a new Solar Array to the International Space Station (ISS).
When fitted, the new solar array will double the amount of electricity currently being generated on the ISS, allowing for three new science laboratories and two new living chambers.
Atlantis is only the 3rd shuttle to have taken off since the loss of Columbia and her crew in 2003, and although Discovery had a very successful mission in July, Atlantis will still have to go through the same vigorous safety checks.
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From left: Pilot Christopher Ferguson, Mission Specialists Heidemarie Stefanyshyn-Piper and Joseph Tanner, Commander Brent Jett, and Mission Specialists Steven MacLean and Daniel Burbank. Photo credit: NASA/Cory Huston.
The final launch rehearsal is now competed and with the replacement of a few faulty bolts on the communication antenna, Atlantis is looking A-OK for its launch later this month.
Atlantis’ six crew members will install a second set of solar arrays on the space station, doubling the station’s ability to generate power from sunlight and adding an extra 17.5 tons to its total mass.
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The space shuttle Discovery uncoupled itself from the International Space Station (
ISS) yesterday, and started its journey home.
Discovery is due to land around 9.15am EDT on Monday, with the deorbit burn (re-entry) set for around 8am EDT. Nasa said weather forecasters predict a chance of showers at the landing site at the Kennedy Space Center, but shouldn’t hinder the landing.
Discovery’s landing will mark the end of a successful mission for the STS-121 astronauts. They delivered supplies, equipment and a new Expedition 13 crew member to the International Space Station.
