STS-132 - ULF4

[neosonic2k]

STS-132 - ULF4 Mission

Details:

Shuttle: Atlantis (OV-104)
Launch time (as of May 9, 2010): May 14, 2010, 2:20:07PM ET
Primary payload: Russian Mini-Research Module (MRM1) "Rassvet" (Translation: Dawn), Integrated Cargo Carrier

Crew:

CDR: Ken Ham
PLT: Tony Antonelli
MS1: Garrett Reisman
MS2: Michael Good
MS3: Steve Bowen
MS4: Piers Sellers

-The following is from page 1 of the STS-132 press kit available here: http://www.nasa.gov/pdf/451029main_sts132_press_kit.pdf -

"The final planned mission of space shuttle Atlantis is scheduled for 12 days and begins at 2:20 p.m. EDT on Friday, May 14, with launch from the Kennedy Space Center. Its prime payloads destined for the International Space Station are the second of two Russian Mini-Research Modules and additional spare parts, including a set of batteries for the station's truss and a high-powered dish antenna assembly.

After launch on its 32nd mission, Atlantis will follow the standard two-day rendezvous profile leading to docking Sunday morning, May 16. On the way, the six-member crew will power up the Russian module and devote time inspecting the shuttle's Thermal Protection System for any damage that may have occurred during launch; check out spacesuits that will be used during three spacewalks; and test hardware used to assist with the rendezvous and docking."

[neosonic2k]

UPDATE FOR MONDAY, MAY 10, 2010

The STS-132 crew is due at KSC's Shuttle Landing Facility on Monday, May 10, 2010, at 7PM Eastern Time. You can watch it live on NASA TV or your favorite space news source, if their live feed is available at that point. Links to follow for easy access:

http://www.nasa.gov/ntv
http://www.spacevidcast.com/live
http://www.spaceflightnow.com/shuttle/sts132/status.html

The traditional "Call to Stations" is scheduled for tomorrow Tuesday, May 11, 2010 at 3:30PM ET, with the start of the countdown from T-43 hours just half an hour later. Everything looks good so far. Launch is scheduled for Friday, May 14, 2010 at 2:20:07PM ET as set by the agency-level Flight Readiness Review, and could change by a few seconds as the date nears and tracking data for the ISS is updated and is revealed to have impacted the launch window by said few seconds. As experience serves me, this will not affect scheduled times for pre-launch procedures. It will only affect the duration of the final T-9 minute hold, which will be adjusted to accommodate the new T-0 time as needed.

In other news unrelated to STS-132, Discovery's external tank for the STS-133 mission targeted for September has arrived at KSC this morning, and is now at the Vehicle Assembly Building.

[neosonic2k]

The STS-132 crew (quite a lively bunch) has arrived at Kennedy Space Center slightly earlier than anticipated. Atlantis's processing at the pad is going well. There was an issue reported at the FRR, but it was an issue that could be worked at the pad during normal launch preparations. No word yet on this issue actually impacting launch time, or if it's been nailed. Tomorrow is Call To Stations and Countdown Start day. Launch in 4 days!

[Moonwalker]

And the clock is running. Less than 2 days and 20 hours to go. I will follow almost any second of the mission, as it's the last flight of Atlantis very likely.

I'm curious if there will be emotional interviews after the mission. NASA admin Charles Bolden already had a hard time during an interview. It's very hard for those who work on the program for decades.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/8599671.stm

[Derrick]

Spectacular launch! Godspeed the crew of Atlantis!

[schmidtrock]

Godspeed Atlantis! Make the most of this historic mission!

[neosonic2k]

Atlantis safely in orbit and in the in-orbit ops phase. Currently playing catchup with the ISS. Tomorrow is OBSS survey day!

[commenderyoyo]

this is the last time I see you in orbit...
may your last mission be successful, and not tragic.
I think I speak for all of us, shuttle lovers, that in NASA.gov, or Airliners.com we will never see a scraped Space shuttle.
God Speed Atlantis!!!

and to honor Atlantis, I call everyone to retake the Atlantis missions on the Sim!!!

[lforet]

I was just at this launch, Could not have had more beautiful weather. I will be uploading video of the launch view from the visitors center to youtube as soon as I get back to Louisiana which will be on monday.

[neosonic2k]

Execute Packages for STS-132 (updated as Flight Days go)
http://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/shuttle/shuttlemissions/sts132/news/execute_packages.html

The comedy on the covers is gold.

Well, Flight Day 2 is over, OBSS survey was slightly problematic due to a snagged cable on the primary sensor package's camera, so they used the secondary sensor package, which had limitations, namely, only being useable in daylight, so they could only do it for every other 45 minutes. This caused MCC to decide to skip non-critical areas. OBSS survey was otherwise completed. All checkouts (and NC engine firing) leading to docking support were done as well.

Tomorrow is docking day!

[bradleyjs]

CONTACT AND CAPTURE!

[Admin]

MRM-1 being pressurized in anticipation of the hatch opening ceremony.

Oh, how ISS has grown since STS-88!

/Admin

[Moonwalker]

Yesterday, whilst watching the highlights, they again mentioned the ozonic "smell of space" when they opened the hatch and welcomed the two EVA heroes back. I would be very interested how it actually smells. Curious.

[Admin]

I think that is nothing more than "extreme cleanliness". IMO all residual material vapors which still exude from the space suit, is cleansed in space for about 8 hours. Maybe that's exactly what they smell.

Or, maybe it's a residual result of the interaction between space, radiation, temperature, etc. with the suit.

Or both.

Or somebody just happened to use the space toilet just before ingress - LOL!

/Admin

[Moonwalker]

Or somebody just happened to use the space toilet just before ingress - LOL!

LOL

They also make jokes on it occasionally, like Robert Behnken on STS-130 for example (it's the first question already):

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZPA4OEsUCPk

Another short smell of space description:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KtUNUdO2_1k

Maybe something that could be implemented in SSM2010?

No, seriously, that smell of space thing makes me really curious. I also wonder if the Apollo guys did actually smell the Moon dust after their EVAs. When they ingressed the Lunar Module again their space suits were literally filthy by Moon dust.