STS-129 (Atlantis) Mission Update thread

[rodsky]

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As of this posting, 15 hours to launch. All systems go as of this point in time.

-RODION

[rodsky]

For those who missed the launch...

YouTube - STS-129 Atlantis Launch 16 November 2009

-RODION

[gaevwa]

Hi sir, what's the significance of this mission?

sa wikipedia mao ra ni ako nakita na importante:

ELC2 will also carry MISSE-7, an experiment that will expose a variety of materials and coatings being considered for future spacecraft to the extreme conditions outside the space station. The materials are being evaluated for the effects of atomic oxygen, ultraviolet, direct sunlight, radiation, and extremes of heat and cold[12].

->The experimental findings will benefit better understanding, development and to test new materials suitable to better withstand the rigors of space environments with applications in the design of future spacecraft.

STS-129 - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

i dunno the significance of their primary payload though..ExPRESS Logistics Carriers 1 & 2
->sounds like an additional attachment to the ISS only..

[rodsky]

->sounds like an additional attachment to the ISS only..

Yes, because completion of the ISS is a primary objective.

-RODION

[0+1-1+1-0-1+1]

hi sir ask langko if bag-o ba ni siya na shuttle STS-129 Atlantis Launch...

[rodsky]

hi sir ask langko if bag-o ba ni siya na shuttle STS-129 Atlantis Launch...

The shuttle itself (Atlantis) is old. The mission (STS-129) is new, and is the 5th-to-the-last mission of the Shuttle (all shuttles will be retired in December next year).

-RODION

[gaevwa]

Yes, because completion of the ISS is a primary objective.

-RODION

a.ic. thanks sir..

hi sir ask langko if bag-o ba ni siya na shuttle STS-129 Atlantis Launch...

The shuttle itself (Atlantis) is old. The mission (STS-129) is new, and is the 5th-to-the-last mission of the Shuttle (all shuttles will be retired in December next year).

-RODION

just wanna add some useful and related info:

Space Shuttle Retirement
NASA's current plans call for the Space Shuttle to be retired from service in 2010, after nearly 30 years of service. Atlantis will be the first of NASA's three remaining operational space shuttles to be retired as the program winds down.[43] To fill the void left by the Shuttle's retirement, a new spacecraft is being developed to ferry not only passengers and cargo to the ISS but also to travel beyond Earth orbit to the Moon and Mars.[44] Originally called the Crew Exploration Vehicle, the concept has evolved into the Orion spacecraft and the project has been dubbed Project Constellation. This next-generation vehicle is targeted for first manned launch in 2014 at the earliest. Therefore, all crews traveling to and from the International Space Station during the intervening period will have to do so on board Russian spacecraft or possibly an American commercial spacecraft.

source->Space Shuttle - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

bali maki-hitch sa sila sa Russians or pwedi sad with a commercial spacecraft after mo-retire ang mga space shuttles..

[gaevwa]

Latest update:

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – Space shuttle Atlantis arrived at the International Space Station on Wednesday for a weeklong stay, and the astronauts quickly unloaded a huge platform full of spare parts needed to keep the outpost running for another decade.

The platform — 16 feet by 14 feet — contained pumps, storage tanks and other equipment weighing hundreds of pounds each. Robot arms did the heavy lifting, just hours after the two craft came together 220 miles above the Pacific, between Australia and Tasmania.

So far, all indications are the shuttle made it through Monday's liftoff just fine, NASA officials said. The astronauts surveyed their ship Tuesday for any signs of launch damage, and a quick look at the laser images shows everything in good shape. Experts will continue to analyze the data, as well as the approximately 300 digital photos that were taken Wednesday.

Atlantis will remain at the orbiting outpost until the day before Thanksgiving, enough time for the two crews — 12 astronauts total — to unload nearly 15 tons of spare parts. Half of that gear was moved from the shuttle to the station shortly after the docking.

Besides pumps and tanks, Atlantis is dropping off hefty gyroscopes, battery chargers and extra snares for the robot arm, as well as some small, fragile science experiments. Perhaps the most delicate are four butterfly larvae, a student experiment. The plan is for the larvae to develop into Painted Lady butterflies over the next week or two and return on the next shuttle flight in February.

The first of three spacewalks — to install a spare antenna and some cables — will take place Thursday.

From the net->Shuttle docks at space station, unloads parts - Yahoo! News

[rodsky]

TY for updates.

-RODION

[gaevwa]

A little trivia here:

Mission background
The STS-129 mission marks:

160th American manned space flight
129th shuttle mission since STS-1
31st flight of Atlantis
31st shuttle mission to the ISS
5th shuttle flight in 2009
104th post-Challenger mission
16th post-Columbia mission

Thanks..