Launch countdown operations are on schedule with no issues to report, according to officials at NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida during the STS-129 prelaunch briefing. With the unfortunate scrub of the Atlas rocket from Cape Canaveral Air Force Station today, space shuttle Atlantis is cleared for launch at 2:28 p.m. EST Monday. "It was a really smooth meeting … Atlantis is ready to go," Mike Moses, space shuttle launch integration manager said. (There was) "a unanimous vote to proceed with the launch countdown." Mike Leinbach, space shuttle launch director said, "… We're right on the money. We're not tracking any issues with the vehicle, flight elements or ground systems. I'm happy to report we're ready to go."Shuttle Weather Officer Kathy Winters reported that the forecast continues to be very favorable for launch day with only a 10-percent chance that weather will be a concern for liftoff and the fueling of Atlantis' external tank. Weather also is looking good for the transatlantic abort, or TAL sites, where the shuttle could land in the unlikely event of an emergency. The only issue Winters mentioned was the possibility of some high seas where the solid rocket booster recovery ships are stationed. On Sunday at about 5:30 p.m., the Rotating Service Structure that protects the shuttle from inclement weather will be rolled away. Loading of propellants into the external tank is scheduled to begin at around 5 a.m. on Monday. Tune in tomorrow for the L-1 countdown status briefing at no earlier than 10 a.m. which will be aired on NASA TV and found on the Web at www.nasa.gov/ntv.
NASA Television will air a Prelaunch News Conference no earlier than 11 a.m. EST, at the conclusion of the L-2 Mission Management Team meeting. The briefing also will be available on the Web at www.nasa.gov/ntv.The weather forecast for launch day, according the shuttle weather officer Kathy Winters, is looking very favorable for both launch and fueling of the shuttle's external tank. There is only a 10-percent chance that weather will hinder any launch-related activities for Atlantis' Monday's 2:28 p.m. liftoff to the International Space Station.
NASA Television will air a Prelaunch News Conference no earlier than 11 a.m. EST, at the conclusion of the L-2 Mission Management Team meeting. The briefing also will be available on the Web at www.nasa.gov/ntv.The weather forecast for launch day, according the shuttle weather officer Kathy Winters, is looking very favorable for both launch and fueling of the shuttle's external tank. There is only a 10-percent chance that weather will hinder any launch-related activities for Atlantis' Monday's 2:28 p.m. liftoff to the International Space Station.
Image above: At the Shuttle Landing Facility at NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida, STS-129 Commander Charles O. Hobaugh and Pilot Barry E. Wilmore practice touch-and-go landings in a Shuttle Training Aircraft. Photo credit: NASA/Kim Shiflett
Atlantis and Crew Prepare for Flight
The STS-129 mission will be commanded by Charles O. Hobaugh and piloted by Barry E. Wilmore. Mission Specialists are Robert L. Satcher Jr., Mike Foreman, Randy Bresnik and Leland Melvin. Wilmore, Satcher and Bresnik will be making their first trips to space.
Atlantis and its crew will deliver two control moment gyroscopes, equipment and EXPRESS Logistics Carrier 1 and 2 to the International Space Station. The mission will feature three spacewalks.
The mission also will return station crew member Nicole Stott to Earth and is slated to be the final space shuttle crew rotation flight.
Atlantis will launch on the STS-129 mission at 2:28 p.m. EST Nov. 16.
Postagens
Nenhum comentário:
Postar um comentário