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Space shuttle Atlantis

Atlantis still 'go' for its last mission

Fri, 05/14/2010 - 10:37 by Rakhi

Houston -- NASA said Thursday the countdown for the launch of space shuttle Atlantis on its final planned mission into space was proceeding without any problems.

Atlantis was to lift off Friday from the Kennedy Space Center on its STS-132 mission to the International Space Station at 2:20 p.m. EDT.

"We've had a very clean countdown so far and we're currently on schedule, and we're not working on any issues," NASA Test Director Jeremy Graeber said Thursday.

On the eve of their launch, the shuttle's six crew members attended a systems and weather briefing with the ascent team of flight controllers at the Mission Control Center in Houston, the space agency said.‪

Atlantis undocks from space station

Wed, 11/25/2009 - 21:34 by Inderjit Singh

Houston -- Space shuttle Atlantis and its seven astronauts undocked from the International Space Station at 4:53 a.m. EST Wednesday, beginning the return to Earth.

Immediately after the undocking, shuttle pilot Barry Wilmore maneuvered Atlantis into an orbit circling the space station while station astronauts visually inspected the shuttle's heat shield for possible damage inflicted during its launch from the Kennedy Space Center.

After completing a full circle around the space station, NASA said Atlantis fired its thrusters twice to depart the station's vicinity at about 1 1/2 feet per second.

Last STS-129 spacewalk is completed

Tue, 11/24/2009 - 06:52 by harsheeb

Houston -- Space Shuttle Atlantis astronauts Randy Bresnik and Robert Satcher Jr. finished the last spacewalk of the STS-129 mission Monday in five hours and 42 minutes.

The spacewalk that started at 8:24 a.m. EST ended at 2:06 p.m. EST, with the spacewalkers completing, among other things, the transfer of an oxygen-filled high pressure gas tank to a spot on the outside the Quest Airlock.

The tank will be used to replenish atmosphere lost when spacewalkers enter and exit the station.

Atlantis, ISS crews greet each other

Thu, 11/19/2009 - 07:22 by harsheeb

Houston -- Space shuttle Atlantis and the International Space Station crews greeted each other Wednesday during a traditional welcoming ceremony.

The shuttle docked with the space station at 11:51 a.m. EST and, after lengthy leak and procedural checks, the hatches between the two spacecraft were opened at 1:28 p.m. EST.

NASA said the hatch opening ceremony also marked the end of astronaut Nicole Stott's 87-day tenure as an Expedition 21 flight engineer. As the hatch to the space station opened she automatically became a member of the STS-129 crew and will return to Earth aboard Atlantis.

Atlantis begins its 11-day Hubble mission

Tue, 05/12/2009 - 05:39 by harsheeb

Cape Canaveral, Fla., -- Space shuttle Atlantis lifted off Monday from the Kennedy Space Center in Florida, en route to provide the final servicing of the Hubble Space Telescope.

Veteran astronaut Scott Altman commands the STS-125 mission, with retired Navy Capt. Gregory Johnson serving as pilot. The crew also includes veteran spacewalkers John Grunsfeld and Mike Massimino, and first-time space fliers Andrew Feustel, Michael Good and Megan McArthur.

During the 11-day mission the National Aeronautics and Space Administration astronauts will perform five spacewalks, installing two new instruments, repairing two inactive ones and making component replacements that will keep the telescope functioning until at least 2014.

NASA to air HD coverage of Atlantis launch

Thu, 05/07/2009 - 12:58 by Salinder Kumar

Cape Canaveral, Fla., -- The U.S. space agency says it will air live high definition TV coverage of the launch of space shuttle Atlantis on its mission to the Hubble Space Telescope.

The National Aeronautics and Space Administration said the high definition feed will be available beginning Friday at 12 p.m., EDT, with live images from NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida. Launch coverage begins Monday at 8:30 a.m. EDT, with liftoff slated for 2:01 p.m.

NASA TV streaming video, downlink and scheduling information are available at http://www.nasa.gov/ntv.

Copyright 2009 by United Press International.

Atlantis is moved to its launch pad

Tue, 03/31/2009 - 23:44 by Shruti Sharma

Cape Canaveral, Fla -- Space shuttle Atlantis was moved Tuesday to Launch Pad 39A at the Kennedy Space Center in Florida in preparation for its scheduled May 12 launch.

The National Aeronautics and Space Administration said the move started at 3:54 a.m. EDT and ended at 11:17 a.m. when the spacecraft was securely fastened to the pad.

Atlantis' STS-125 crew will be making the final shuttle flight to NASA's Hubble Space Telescope. During the 11-day mission, the crew is to conduct five spacewalks to install two new instruments, repair two inactive ones and replace various components. NASA said the updates will extend the Hubble Space Telescope's operational lifespan through at least 2014.