Shuttle Atlantis Being Readied For August Launch 34
DarkNemesis618 writes "The Space Shuttle Atlantis was moved into the Vehicle Assembly Building today to begin the mating process to it's external fuel tank and solid rocket boosters. Atlantis is scheduled to launch either August 27th or 28th, being only the 3rd launch since the Columbia tragedy in 2003. Atlantis is set to resume construction of the International Space Station by bringing up the second set of massive solar arrays needed for the laboratory modules that are to be added later on in the station's construction. Once the flight review is completed (Aug. 16), an exact date will be set for launch. Pending any problems, rollout to the launchpad is scheduled for July 31st."
Re:Planned repairs. (Score:1)
atlantis (Score:2)
Re:atlantis (Score:1)
And a very August launch it will be (Score:1)
Re:And a very August launch it will be (Score:1)
Try the veal.
oooh... Shiney (Score:1)
What about Endeavour? (Score:1)
I thought, Endeavour is their newest and hence most modern craft.
Re:What about Endeavour? (Score:3, Interesting)
Re:What about Endeavour? (Score:5, Informative)
Re:What about Endeavour? (Score:2)
Re:What about Endeavour? (Score:1)
I hear that. I'm still on my July 1/July 4 long weekend.
- RG>
P3/P4 Truss and Solar Arrays (Score:4, Interesting)
Since the station has always had power from the P5 truss while it has been inhabited it will have to depend on temporary power from another source (such as the solar arrays on the Zvezda service module or the Zarya control module). This may add additional time constraints in this spacewalk. For fans of spacewalks this will be a blast! It will definitely be one of the most complicated spacewalks ever performed.
If you aren't a fan of spacewalks and complicated juggling tricks in space, this might be a boring mission for you.
Re:P3/P4 Truss and Solar Arrays (Score:2, Informative)
Re:P3/P4 Truss and Solar Arrays (Score:2)
Re:P3/P4 Truss and Solar Arrays (Score:3, Informative)
They will, of course, hold off on relocating the P6 truss until after the P5 truss is installed, which isn't until STS116 (not yet scheduled). [nasa.gov]
Not as exciting as you were hoping for, perhaps, but at least they are hauling more big pieces up again. They will have enough power now for the European or the Japanese lab modules, though those are not going up until after the first set of PV
Re:P3/P4 Truss and Solar Arrays (Score:2)
You may be right, but people tend to forget the apollo lunar surface EVAs when they say that.
Re:P3/P4 Truss and Solar Arrays (Score:2)
Disclaimer: I watched the Apollo 11 landing live.
Re:P3/P4 Truss and Solar Arrays (Score:2)
So did I, but I can't remember it (damn)
Spacex vs. the shuttle (Score:2, Interesting)
Somewhere down the road, America needs to develop an automated system similar to progress.
Re:Spacex vs. the shuttle (Score:3, Interesting)
Re:Spacex vs. the shuttle (Score:3, Informative)
Europe will have one very soon. [bbc.co.uk]
Re:Spacex vs. the shuttle (Score:1)
Anyone getting the feeling that our (US) partners are starting to doubt our willingness, or far worse, our ability to deliver the lunch? That makes three independant mechanisms for supplying the ISS. I'm starting to think that maybe they just don't trust us (US) anymore. . .
Not really about the US. (Score:2)
The interesting, and far more difficult, automation is what DARPA did recently. That was trying to hoover around a craft without running into it. That will allow for a number of interesting capablities. The most useful (in terms of civil use) is true robotic assmebl
Re:Not really about the US. (Score:2)
Re:Spacex vs. the shuttle (Score:1)
Re:Spacex vs. the shuttle (Score:2)
Re:Spacex vs. the shuttle (Score:2)
I miss the good old days (Score:1)
These days it's a comment at the end of the news that something launched and everyone shrugs and mumbles 'so what'. A pity. We've totally lost sight of just what mankind has achieved in space.
Obviously it will eventually become normal stuff, it has to otherwise we'd all wet ourselves everytim
Re:I miss the good old days (Score:2)
HDNet has provided NASA with a number of HD cameras, not just for TV coverage, but to assist in the inspection of the shuttle for foam damage. A shuttle launch in 1080i is quite a sight -- I spent most of the July 4th weekend watching the HDNet coverage (remember there were 2 scrubs before the actual launch on the 4th). Missed the retur
A Little Disappointing (Score:1)