Gap in Atlantis' Thermal Blanket Studied from PhysOrg.com
(AP) -- With a 4-inch gap in the space shuttle Atlantis' heat-protecting blanket not appearing to be an urgent problem on Saturday, the crew readied themselves for what NASA called a delicate ballet with the international space station.^^^^^
Boring Star May Mean Livelier Planet, Astronomer Says from PhysOrg.com
“Boring” light from red dwarf star Gliese 581 means better odds for extraterrestrial life in that planetary system, according to University of British Columbia astronomer Jaymie Matthews.[...]
John Yembrick
Headquarters, Washington
202-358-0602
Tracy Young
Kennedy Space Center, Fla.
321-867-2468
MEDIA ADVISORY: 07-135
NASA'S SHUTTLE ATLANTIS BEGINS MISSION TO THE SPACE STATION
CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. -- The space shuttle Atlantis and its
seven-member crew lifted off Friday from NASA's Kennedy Space Center
at 7:38 p.m. EDT to continue construction of the International Space
Station.
Shortly before launch, on behalf of the entire crew, Atlantis'
Commander Rick Sturckow thanked the teams that help make this launch
possible, and then added, "See you in a couple of weeks."
During the 11-day mission, designated STS-117, the crew will add a new
structural component to the station, deploy a new set of solar arrays
and retract an existing array. Similar construction work was
conducted on the previous two shuttle missions.
The mission will deliver and install the 17.5 ton S3/S4 truss
segments. This latest addition to the station's backbone will extend
the right side of the truss and includes a new set of solar arrays.
When unfolded, the 240-foot arrays provide additional power to the
station in preparation for the arrival of new science modules from
the European and Japanese space agencies. The crew also will retract
a solar array to allow for the rotation of the new arrays to track
the sun.
The station's newest resident also is traveling aboard Atlantis.
Astronaut Clayton Anderson will join the Expedition 15 crew. Sunita
Williams, who has been aboard the station since December, will return
to Earth with the Atlantis crew. Anderson is scheduled to return to
Earth on space shuttle Discovery's STS-120 mission in October.
Atlantis' crew is Sturckow, Pilot Lee Archambault and mission
specialists Patrick Forrester, Steven Swanson, John "Danny" Olivas,
Jim Reilly and Anderson.
Atlantis originally was targeted for launch in March, but a hail storm
damaged foam insulation on the shuttle's external fuel tank and
forced managers to roll the spacecraft off the pad to make repairs.
For the latest information about the STS-117 mission and its crew,
visit:
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Katherine Trinidad
Headquarters, Washington
202-358-3749
James Hartsfield
Johnson Space Center, Houston
281-483-5111
MEDIA ADVISORY: M07-68
NASA TV AND WEB COVERAGE OF SPACE SHUTTLE ATLANTIS MISSION
HOUSTON - NASA is providing continuous television and Internet
coverage of space shuttle Atlantis' mission, STS-117, to the
International Space Station.
NASA Television features live mission events, daily mission status
news conferences and 24-hour commentary. NASA TV is webcast at:
NASA Web coverage of STS-117 includes current mission information,
interactive features and news conference images, graphics and videos.
Mission coverage, including the latest NASA TV schedule, also is
available on the main space shuttle Web site:
Daily news conferences with STS-117 mission managers take place at
NASA's Johnson Space Center, Houston. Reporters can ask questions
from participating NASA locations. Please contact your preferred NASA
facility by close-of-business daily to confirm its availability
before each event.
For information about other NASA missions and activities, visit:
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Allard Beutel
Headquarters, Washington
202-358-4769
James Hartsfield
Johnson Space Center, Houston
281-483-5111
RELEASE: 07-135
NASA UPDATES SHUTTLE TARGET LAUNCH DATE FOR HUBBLE MISSION
HOUSTON - NASA managers officially are targeting Sept. 10, 2008, for
the launch of the fifth and final space shuttle servicing mission to
the Hubble Space Telescope. During the 11-day flight, Atlantis' seven
astronauts will repair and improve the observatory's capabilities
through 2013.
Mission planners have been working since last fall, when the flight
was announced, to determine the best time in the shuttle manifest to
support the needs of Hubble while minimizing the impact to
International Space Station assembly. NASA also will support a
"launch on need" flight during the Hubble mission. In the unlikely
event a rescue flight becomes necessary, shuttle Endeavour currently
is planned to lift off from Launch Pad 39-B at NASA's Kennedy Space
Center, Fla. However, managers constantly are evaluating the manifest
to determine the best mission options.
Shuttle missions beyond the Hubble flight still are being assessed.
Shuttle and station program officials will continue to consider
options for the remainder of the shuttle flights to complete
construction of the space station by 2010, when the fleet will be
retired. Those target launch dates are subject to change. The
complete shuttle launch manifest is available online at:
http://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/station/structure/iss_manifest.html
The Hubble Space Telescope is an international cooperative project
between NASA and the European Space Agency. For more information
about Hubble, visit:
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Melissa Mathews/Beth Dickey
Headquarters, Washington
202-358-1272/2087
Kim Newton
Marshall Space Flight Center, Huntsville, Ala.
256-544-0034
RELEASE: 07-134
NASA ISSUES PROPOSAL REQUEST FOR ARES I AVIONICS UNIT
WASHINGTON - NASA has issued a request for proposal for key guidance,
navigation and control hardware for the new Ares I crew launch
vehicle. The upper stage instrument unit avionics will be used during
the Ares I ascent.
Proposals are due no later than 2 p.m. EDT July 30, with a selection
expected in November. The contract will be awarded through a full and
open competition.
The avionics unit will be mounted on the Ares I upper stage. It will
provide guidance, navigation and control for the entire launch
vehicle as it transports the Orion crew exploration vehicle to low
Earth orbit.
The request for proposal calls for the selected contractor to partner
with the NASA design team to provide engineering support during the
design phase. It also specifies that the contractor will produce
avionics for the development and flight program and will provide
sustained engineering support for the upper stage avionics system
through 2016.
The instrument unit is part of the Ares I upper stage, which includes
a separately procured upper stage engine. The first stage will
consist of a single reusable solid rocket booster and motor, similar
to those used on the space shuttle, with a fifth integrated motor
segment. The instrument unit with avionics installed will be mounted
on the Ares I at NASA's Michoud Assembly Facility in Louisiana. The
Ares I launch vehicle design and development is managed by NASA's
Marshall Space Flight Center in Huntsville, Ala.
For more information about the request for proposal, visit:
http://www.exploration.nasa.gov
For more information about NASA's Ares Projects, visit:
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Tank Lines Concern Shuttle Engineers from PhysOrg.com
(AP) -- NASA engineers were troubleshooting a possible problem Wednesday with lines connecting the external fuel tank to space shuttle Atlantis, the only remaining concern about the first shuttle flight of the year.[...]
