STS 129

[marvx]

Hi all, as its just 2 months till next Space Shuttle launch, i'd take the opportunity to open a thread bout it. STS 129 will be done by Space Shuttle Atlantis. Here is a summary of


STS 129 mission summary:

STS-129 (ISS assembly flight ULF3) is the next planned space shuttle mission to the International Space Station (ISS) which is expected to be flown by Space Shuttle Atlantis. The launch date for the mission is targeted for November 12, 2009

STS-129 will focus on staging spare components outside the station. The 11-day flight is scheduled to include at least three spacewalks. The payload bay will carry two large External Logistics Carriers holding two spare gyroscopes, two nitrogen tank assemblies, two pump modules, an ammonia tank assembly, a spare latching end effector for the station's robotic arm, a spare trailing umbilical system for the Mobile Transporter, and a high-pressure gas tank. The completion of this mission will leave five space shuttle flights remaining until the end of the program.



Crew will be:

Charles O. Hobaugh, Third spaceflight as CDR
Barry E. Wilmore, First spaceflight as PLT
Leland D. Melvin, Second spaceflightas MS1
Randolph Bresnik, First spaceflight as MS2, Flight Engineer
Michael Foreman, Second spaceflight as MS3
Robert Satcher, First spaceflight as MS4
On lauch there will be nor MS5, at landing Nicole Stott will be MS5, returning home.

This may eventually be the last time an ISS astronaut will be brought home from ISS, that didnt launch with it.

Payload:

The primary payload of STS-129 is scheduled to be the ExPRESS Logistics Carrier (ELC1) and the ELC2 holding two spare gyroscopes, two nitrogen tank assemblies, two pump modules, an ammonia tank assembly, a spare latching end effector for the station's robotic arm, a spare trailing umbilical system for the Mobile Transporter and a high-pressure gas tank.


EVAs scheduled:

EVA1, scheduled for November 15th, by Michael Foreman, Robert Satcher
EVA2, scheduled for November 17th, by Michael Foreman, Randolph Bresnik
EVA3, scheduled for November 19th, by Robert Satcher, Randolph Bresnik

Found on: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/STS_129#Spacewalks, adapted to the board.

Godspeed Atlantis!

/Marvx

[JLM]

Space shuttle Atlantis is now established on LC-39A for a launch attempt in November 2009.

[HMSEndeavorreborn]

Good to see Atlantis heading back to the ISS.

[marvx]

indeed

/Marvx

[ssjfb]

News from today :

NASA is targeting Nov. 16 for the launch of space shuttle Atlantis' STS-129 mission from the agency's Kennedy Space Center in Florida.

Senior managers met Monday and decided to adjust Atlantis' target launch date to optimize the agency's ability to launch both Ares I-X and Atlantis before the end of the year. The same launch team at Kennedy is supporting both the shuttle and the flight test of the Ares I-X rocket, which is targeted to lift off on Oct. 27.

Atlantis' new target launch date will give Ares I-X launch opportunities Oct. 27, 28 and 29. NASA has yet to schedule Atlantis' new target liftoff date on the Eastern Range.

The change to Atlantis' targeted launch will affect the launch countdown dress rehearsal for the shuttle's six astronauts. The astronauts arrived at Kennedy on Monday for the Terminal Countdown Demonstration Test and related training. The simulated countdown has been rescheduled to Nov. 3. The astronauts will practice emergency escape and other related training while they are at Kennedy this week and return there Nov. 2 to conclude their rehearsal work.

The agency's Flight Readiness Review meeting for STS-129 is set for Oct. 29. NASA will schedule an official launch date for Atlantis at that meeting

[JLM]

Can't wait to see it tommorow 8 minutes after scholl ends (yes, that is South Lake High School edumucation.)

[Moonwalker]

Fueling successfully. No further issues as well. And from what I've read this morning, the chances for a launch today are 90% from the standpoint of weather constraints. So, if there won't be any technical issues today, the STS-129 launch is going to become another one for the books

And here we go again, the NASA TV high bitrate stream: http://playlist.yahoo.com/makeplaylist.dll?id=1368163

Have fun

[Moonwalker]

The Crew has arrived at the pad.

[Moonwalker]

The crew now has entered the Shuttle. The hatch is going to be closed soon.

[Moonwalker]

Hatch closure under way.



However, there seems to be an issue with a noise of the fuel cells, which they believe depends on the fact that they are on the same electrical bus as the cabin lightning which is also on at the same time right now. It's not sure if they're going to look at it in orbit or on the ground. So in the worst case we might see an abort I think.

[Moonwalker]

The issue with the fuel cells has been determined to be likely related to the configuration of the cabin lightning. Troubleshooting is not necessary before launch.

[Pocci]

Hi Moon (and others) why don't you come over to the Teamspeak channel?
/Armin

[Moonwalker]

Thanks for the invitation. I have visitors so it would be a little bit too much together with TS

[Pocci]

You could at least post a picture of the ladies

[Moonwalker]

You could at least post a picture of the ladies

I would be glad if it would be ladies (I'm single since August 1996, no joke)