NASA Sets Launch Date For Final Space Shuttle Mission

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. — Space shuttle Atlantis’ Commander Chris Ferguson and his three crewmates are scheduled to begin a 12-day mission to the International Space Station with a launch at 11:26 a.m. EDT on July 8, from NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida. The STS-135 mission is the final flight of the Space Shuttle Program.

The launch date was announced Tuesday at the conclusion of a flight readiness review at Kennedy. During the meeting, senior NASA and contractor managers assessed the risks associated with the mission and determined the shuttle and station’s equipment, support systems and personnel are ready.

Atlantis’ STS-135 mission will deliver the Raffaello multi-purpose logistics module filled with supplies and spare parts to sustain space station operations after the shuttles are retired.

The mission also will fly the Robotic Refueling Mission (RRM), an experiment designed to demonstrate and test the tools, technologies and techniques needed to robotically refuel satellites in space – even satellites not designed to be serviced. The crew also will return an ammonia pump that recently failed on the station. Engineers want to understand why the pump failed and improve designs for future spacecraft.

The crew consists of Commander Ferguson, Pilot Doug Hurley, and Mission Specialists Sandy Magnus and Rex Walheim. They are scheduled to arrive at Kennedy on Monday, July 4, for final launch preparations.
STS-135 is the 135th shuttle mission, Atlantis’ 33rd flight and the 37th shuttle mission to the station.

 

STS-135 Crew Portrait

 

STS-135 Mission Patch

Managers Say Atlantis is “Go” for Launch

Tue, 28 Jun 2011 14:02:44 -0500

After the day-long Flight Readiness Review at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida, senior NASA and contractor managers voted unanimously to set space shuttle Atlantis’ STS-135 launch date as July 8 at 11:26 a.m. EDT.

NASA Television will air a news conference at 3:30 p.m. to discuss the meeting and preparations for Atlantis’ mission to the International Space Station. Participants will include Bill Gerstenmaier, assistant administrator for space operations, Mike Moses, Space Shuttle Program launch integration manager and Mike Leinbach, shuttle launch director.

Watch the news conference at www.nasa.gov/ntv.

NASA Online Videos Provide New Approach To Teach Science To Public

WASHINGTON — NASA’s new video series offers the public a fast and fun way to learn about scientific discoveries and facts about Earth, the solar system and beyond.

Called “ScienceCasts,” the videos are created by an astrophysicist and a team of agency narrators and videographers. The videos are posted online every Thursday afternoon at approximately 4 p.m. EDT. The format is designed to increase understanding of the world of science through simple, clear presentations.

“If you want entertaining, yet very informative, these videos are for you,” said Ruth Netting, manager for communications and public engagement in NASA’s Science Mission Directorate in Washington.

Future episodes will focus on citizen science research; the search for new galaxies; how to watch this summer’s Perseid meteor shower; and the causes of recent wild weather events in the United States.

NASA’s Science Mission Directorate seeks new knowledge and understanding of Earth, the sun, solar system and the universe. The directorate also constantly looks for inventive ways to reach out to the public via museums, classrooms, science centers and home schools.

To view the latest science videos online, visit:

http://www.youtube.com/user/scienceatnasa

For a complete list of ScienceCast episodes, visit:

http://sciencecasts.nasa.gov  

Neutron star bites off more than it can chew

28 June 2011

ESA’s XMM-Newton space observatory has watched a faint star flare up at X-ray wavelengths to almost 10 000 times its normal brightness. Astronomers believe the outburst was caused by the star trying to eat a giant clump of matter.
 
The flare took place on a neutron star, the collapsed heart of a once much larger star. Now about 10 km in diameter, the neutron star is so dense that it generates a strong gravitational field.

For the full article with animation.

Training for Expedition 28

Attired in a training version of his Extravehicular Mobility Unit spacesuit, NASA astronaut Mike Fossum participated in spacewalk training in the waters of the Neutral Buoyancy Laboratory near NASA’s Johnson Space Center. Divers in the water assisted Fossum in his rehearsal, which helps prepare him and his fellow astronauts for work on the exterior of the International Space Station.

Image Credit: NASA

Atlantis’ Flight Readiness Review Under Way Today

Tue, 28 Jun 2011 07:32:53 -0500

NASA managers are meeting at Kennedy Space Center in Florida today to conduct the final Flight Readiness Review, which is expected to confirm space shuttle Atlantis’ currently targeted launch date of July 8. For updates from the meeting, check www.twitter.com/nasa.

A few miles away, technicians at Launch Pad 39A will perform functional tests on the spacewalking suits the STS-135 crew will take on this final mission to the International Space Station. Also at the pad, the week-long process of closing Atlantis’ aft section continues.

NASA Twitter Followers Will Fly Shuttle Simulator During Tweetup At Johnson Space Center

HOUSTON — So you think you can pilot the space shuttle? NASA will give 30 of its Twitter followers a chance to test their skills at space shuttle ascent, rendezvous or landing aboard the same simulator astronauts use to train for their missions.

NASA’s Johnson Space Center is hosting a daylong Tweetup on July 19, during space shuttle Atlantis’ STS-135 mission to the International Space Station. Participants will get a behind-the-scenes tour at Johnson and a hands-on opportunity aboard the shuttle simulator to take control in a training scenario. The tour includes a look at the Mission Control Center and astronauts’ training facilities. Visitors also will have the opportunity to speak with flight directors, trainers, astronauts and managers.

Atlantis is targeted to launch from NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida at 10:26 a.m. CDT on July 8. If it launches as planned, the Tweetup will take place one day before the last orbiter of the shuttle fleet makes its final landing.

Tweetup registration opens at 11 a.m. on Tuesday, June 28, and closes 24 hours later at 11 a.m. on Wednesday, June 29. NASA will select 30 individuals randomly from the online registrants.

Reporters are invited to cover the Tweetup from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Media representatives planning to attend should contact Tammie Letroise-Brown at 281-483-4942.

For more information about the Tweetup and to register, visit:

http://www.nasa.gov/tweetup

 

Atlantis Closeout Under Way

Mon, 27 Jun 2011 07:52:09 -0500

Today at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida, technicians at Launch Pad 39A will begin the week-long process of closing space shuttle Atlantis’ aft section in preparation for its liftoff on the STS-135 mission to the International Space Station. Tomorrow, managers will meet at Kennedy to conduct the final Flight Readiness Review, which is expected to confirm the currently targeted launch date of July 8.

Over the weekend, teams at the pad completed a full retest of the No. 3 engine’s main fuel valve. They replaced the valve last week due to a suspected leak detected during a tanking test on June 15. In addition, engineers found no issues with the 21-foot long support beams on space shuttle Atlantis’ external fuel tank following X-ray scans of the stringers that were completed last week.

At NASA’s Johnson Space Center in Houston today, the STS-135 astronauts are set to practice an entry simulation as they continue to train for the final flight of the Space Shuttle Program.

NASA Space Couple in the U.K.

NASA Astronauts visiting the U.K in 2011

 The Space Shuttle, the Space Station and the Future in Space

 

Friday 17 June – 6pm      Previously titled Endeavour & Discovery

£8 (£6 conc, £1 U18) – Event code : PF02

NASA Astronauts Dr Andrew Thomas & Dr Shannon Walker at Action Stations, Portsmouth Historic Dockyard.

NASA astronauts, and husband and wife, Dr Andrew Thomas and Dr Shannon Walker will give a presentation about their experiences of life in orbit!  They each have distinguished careers in space flight and on board the International Space Station.  Dr Walker was co-pilot of the Russian spacecraft TMA-19 in 2010, on a mission spanning 163 days with 161 days aboard the International Space Station and is an expert on the Station.  Dr Thomas has been on several missions, the most recent covering 5.8 million miles over 2 weeks and will talk about the Shuttle.  A unique event not to be missed!

Dr Stephen K Robinson is unable to attend.