Space News and Updates

Topics of the day:

  1. STS-129 MCC Status Report #01

----------------------------------------------------------------------

Date:    Mon, 16 Nov 2009 14:19:34 -0600
From:    info@JSC.NASA.GOV
Subject: STS-129 MCC Status Report #01

STS-129
Report #01
2 p.m. CST Monday, Nov. 16, 2009
Mission Control Center, Houston, Texas

HOUSTON – Space shuttle Atlantis launched at 1:28 p.m. CST on its way to store supplies onboard the International Space Station.

Commander Charles Hobaugh, Pilot Barry Wilmore and Mission Specialists Mike Foreman, Robert Satcher, Jr., Randy Bresnik and Leland Melvin reached orbit eight and a half minutes later as the space station flew 220 miles over the South Pacific Ocean.

Aboard the station watching Atlantis’ launch on a live feed from Mission Control were Commander Frank De Winne of the European Space Agency and Flight Engineers Jeffrey Williams, Nicole Stott, Roman Romanenko, Maxim Suraev and Robert Thirsk of the Canadian Space Agency.

Following Atlantis’ docking and hatch opening Wednesday, Stott officially becomes a shuttle crew member to return home aboard Atlantis after nearly three months aboard the station.

Shortly after reaching orbit, Atlantis’ crew began procedures to ensure the spaceship is healthy for on-orbit operations and is scheduled to open the payload bay doors at about 2:53 p.m.

The crew’s launch day ends with a thorough checkout of the robotic arm and survey of the payload bay before heading to bed about 7:28 p.m.

Following wakeup at 3:28 a.m. Tuesday, the crew will spend the majority of the day assessing the health of Atlantis wing leading edge panels and nosecap using the boom/sensor extension and checking out the spacesuits to be worn during three planned spacewalks later in the mission. The crew also will test rendezvous tools and prepare the docking system ahead of arrival at the station.

Atlantis’ mission is the 129th in shuttle program history and the 31st dedicated to station assembly, resupply and maintenance. The mission is focused on storing supplies on the exterior of the station to sustain operations after the space shuttle is retired.

The next shuttle status report will be issued after crew wakeup or earlier if warranted.

 

Crew Busy with Heat Shield Inspections
With a picture-perfect launch day under their belts, Atlantis’ crew members will spend their first full day in space taking pictures of what they hope will be a perfect heat shield.

Pilot Barry E. Wilmore, Commander Charles O. Hobaugh and Mission Specialists Leland Melvin and Randy Bresnik are using the 50-foot-long shuttle robotic arm and its 50-foot-long orbiter boom sensor system to get an up close look at the tiles of Atlantis’ wing leading edges and nose cap.

The inspection makes use of a suite of cameras and lasers on the end of the boom and gives experts on the ground 3-D views of the shuttle’s heat shield. Those photos, as well as others taken during various points in the mission, will be used to ensure that the shuttle did not sustain any damage during its launch on Monday.

This inspection will take about five hours. While it is going on, the crew’s spacewalkers – Mike Foreman and Robert L. Satcher Jr., with help from Bresnik when he’s not working on the inspection – will perform a checkout of the two spacesuits to be worn on the first of the mission’s three spacewalks and prepare the suits for transfer to the International Space Station.

In preparation for docking with the station on Wednesday, the crew also will set up the centerline camera, extend the Orbiter Docking System ring and check out other equipment that will be used during the rendezvous.

STS-129 Additional Resources
› STS-129 Mission Overview
› STS-129 Press Kit (15.5 Mb PDF)
› Mission Summary (518 kb PDF)
› More about STS-129 Crew
› Remaining Shuttle Missions (730Kb)

Orbiter Status
› About the Orbiters 
 

 Nov. 10, 2009

J.D. Harrington
Headquarters, Washington
202-358-5241
j.d.harrington@nasa.gov

Whitney Clavin
Jet Propulsion Laboratory, Calif.
818-354-4673
whitney.b.clavin@nasa.gov

MEDIA ADVISORY: M09-216

WISE STAR AND ASTEROID-HUNTING SPACECRAFT TOPIC OF NASA BRIEFING

WASHINGTON -- NASA will hold a media briefing on Tuesday, Nov. 17, at
noon EST, to discuss the upcoming launch of the Wide-field Infrared
Survey Explorer, or WISE, mission. WISE is scheduled to launch Dec.
7, from Vandenberg Air Force Base in California. Once in Earth orbit,
WISE will scan the entire sky at infrared wavelengths, unveiling
hundreds of thousands of asteroids and hundreds of millions of stars
and galaxies.

The briefing will take place in the James E. Webb Memorial Auditorium
at NASA Headquarters, 300 E St. S.W., in Washington. NASA TV will
broadcast the briefing on the NASA Education Channel.

Panelists will be:
-- Jon Morse, NASA's Astrophysics division director at NASA
Headquarters
-- Edward (Ned) Wright, WISE principal investigator at UCLA
-- William Irace, WISE project manager at NASA's Jet Propulsion
Laboratory in Pasadena, Calif.
-- Amy Mainzer, WISE deputy project scientist, JPL
-- Peter Eisenhardt, WISE project scientist, JPL

Reporters may ask questions from participating NASA locations or by
phone. To reserve a phone line, journalists should send an e-mail
listing name, media affiliation, and telephone number to:



j.d.harrington@nasa.gov


For NASA TV streaming video, schedules and downlink information,
visit:



http://www.nasa.gov/ntv


For the latest information about the WISE mission, visit:



http://www.nasa.gov/wise

   
-end-

There is 1 message totalling 70 lines in this issue.

Topics of the day:

  1. NASA RESEARCHERS TO SPEAK AT LUNAR EXPLORATION CONFERENCE

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Date:    Fri, 13 Nov 2009 15:47:25 -0600
From:    info@JSC.NASA.GOV
Subject: NASA RESEARCHERS TO SPEAK AT LUNAR EXPLORATION CONFERENCE

Nov. 13, 2009

William Jeffs   
Johnson Space Center, Houston
281-483-5111



Report #J09-029

NASA RESEARCHERS TO SPEAK AT LUNAR EXPLORATION CONFERENCE

HOUSTON – NASA researchers are among the participants who will present papers at the annual meeting of the Lunar Exploration Analysis Group Nov. 16-19 at the Lunar and Planetary Institute in Houston.

The workshop brings together academic, governmental and private sector interests to focus on the sustainability theme of the LEAG-coordinated Lunar Exploration Roadmap.
The program consists of contributed and invited oral presentations and contributed poster presentations centered on questions relevant to the workshop theme of sustaining lunar exploration.

The meeting will incorporate the results from the latest missions, especially the Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter/Lunar Crater Observation and Sensing Satellite mission, to ensure that the framework for a sustainable presence is established early in this next era of lunar exploration.

Media may attend. Media may register at no cost by contacting Linda Tanner at tanner@lpi.usra.edu or 281-486-2142.

A list of noteworthy NASA-related presentations is below.

Details about the meeting, including the preliminary program, can be found at:

http://www.lpi.usra.edu/meetings/leag2009/

HIGH-GRADING LUNAR SAMPLES FOR POTENTIAL RETURN TO EARTH
LEAD PRESENTER: Carlton Allen, NASA Johnson Space Center
Astronauts on long-duration lunar missions need the capability to “high-grade” their samples – to select the highest value samples for potential transport to Earth – and to leave others on the moon. The paper discusses studies that are being supported to define the “necessary and sufficient” measurements and techniques for high-grading samples at a lunar outpost.

DIVINER LUNAR RADIOMETER EXPERIMENT—TEMPERATURE, MINERALOGY, AND ROCK ABUNDANCE
LEAD PRESENTER: Carlton Allen, NASA Johnson Space Center
The paper discusses using the Diviner instrument on the LRO to support lunar science and exploration.

GEOHAZARDS ON THE MOON AND THE IMPORTANCE OF THE INTERNATIONAL LUNAR NETWORK
LEAD PRESENTER: Barbara Cohen, NASA Marshall Space Flight Center
Unexpected structural damage to a lunar habitat by strong lunar “moonquakes” could have devastating results. A long-lived, global lunar seismic network such as the International Lunar Network (ILN) would have great value to human exploration by characterizing lunar seismicity and establishing the origin, frequency and propagation of strong moonquakes. This talk will provide an update on ILN Anchor Node concept development and risk reduction activities.

AN OVERVIEW OF THE LUNAR CRATER OBSERVATION AND SENSING SATELLITE (LCROSS) MISSION IMPACT RESULTS
LEAD PRESENTER: Anthony Colaprete, NASA Ames Research Center
This talk will present the preliminary findings from the Oct. 9, 2009, LCROSS impacts into the Cabeus crater near the moon's south pole.

GEOLAB 2010: DESERT RATS FIELD DEMONSTRATION
LEAD PRESENTER: Cynthia Evans, NASA Johnson Space Center
In 2010, Desert Research and Technology Studies (Desert RATS), NASA’s annual field exercise designed to test spacesuit and rover technologies, will include a first-generation lunar habitat facility, the Habitat Demonstration Unit (HDU). A Geology Laboratory or GeoLab is included in the HDU design.

LUNAR BEAGLE: THE SCIENTIFIC PACKAGE FOR ANSWERING IMPORTANT QUESTIONS ABOUT LUNAR WATER AND POLAR VOLATILES
LEAD PRESENTER: Everett Gibson, NASA Johnson Space Center
The paper addresses how the Lunar Beagle package is the ideal payload to use on the lunar surface for determining the nature of hydrogen, water and lunar volatiles found in the polar regions of the moon.

SCIENCE SUPPORT ROOM OPERATIONS DURING DESERT RATS 2009
LEAD PRESENTER: Gary Lofgren, NASA Johnson Space Center
The paper discusses lessons learned in science support to the 2009 Desert Rats field exercise

EXPLORATION SUSTAINABILITY: BENEFITS AND HURDLES OF INCOROPORATING IN-SITU RESOURCE UTILIZATION
LEAD PRESENTER: Gerald Sanders, NASA Johnson Space Center
The paper is based on ongoing work with the International Architecture Working Group.


###

Guy Webster 818-354-6278
Jet Propulsion Laboratory, Pasadena, Calif.
guy.webster@jpl.nasa.gov

Dwayne Brown 202-358-1726
NASA Headquarters, Washington
dwayne.c.brown@nasa.gov

News release: 2009-164                                                                      Nov. 12, 2009

NASA to Begin Attempts to Free Sand-Trapped Mars Rover

The full version of this story with accompanying images is at: http://www.jpl.nasa.gov/news/news.cfm?release=2009-164

PASADENA, Calif. -- NASA will begin transmitting commands to its Mars exploration rover Spirit on Monday as part of an escape plan to free the venerable robot from its Martian sand trap.

Spirit has been lodged at a site scientists call "Troy" since April 23. Researchers expect the extraction process to be long and the outcome uncertain based on tests here on Earth this spring that simulated conditions at the Martian site.

"This is going to be a lengthy process, and there's a high probability attempts to free Spirit will not be successful" said Doug McCuistion, director of the Mars Exploration Program at NASA Headquarters in Washington. "After the first few weeks of attempts, we're not likely to know whether Spirit will be able to free itself."

Spirit has six wheels for roving the Red Planet. The first commands will tell the rover to rotate its five working wheels forward approximately six turns. Engineers anticipate severe wheel slippage, with barely perceptible forward progress in this initial attempt. Since 2006, Spirit's right-front wheel has been inoperable, possibly because of wear and tear on a motor as a result of the rover's longevity.

Spirit will return data the next day from its first drive attempt. The results will be assessed before engineers develop and send commands for a second attempt. Using results from previous commands, engineers plan to continue escape efforts until early 2010.

"Mobility on Mars is challenging, and whatever the outcome, lessons from the work to free Spirit will enhance our knowledge about how to analyze Martian terrain and drive future Mars rovers," McCuisition said. "Spirit has provided outstanding scientific discoveries and shown us astounding vistas during its long life on Mars, which is more than 22 times longer than its designed life. "

In the spring, Spirit was driving backward and dragging the inoperable right front wheel. While driving in April, the rover's other wheels broke through a crust on the surface that was covering a bright-toned, slippery sand underneath. After a few drive attempts to get Spirit out in the subsequent days, it began sinking deeper in the sand trap. Driving was suspended to allow time for tests and reviews of possible escape strategies.

"The investigations of the rover embedding and our preparations to resume driving have been extensive and thorough," said John Callas, project manager for Spirit and Opportunity at NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory in Pasadena, Calif. "We've used two different test rovers here on Earth in conditions designed to simulate as best as possible Spirit's predicament. However, Earth-based tests cannot exactly replicate the conditions at Troy."

Data show Spirit is straddling the edge of a 26-foot-wide crater that had been filled long ago with sulfate-bearing sands produced in a hot water or steam environment. The deposits in the crater formed distinct layers with different compositions and tints, and they are capped by a crusty soil. It is that soil that Spirit's wheels broke through. The buried crater lies mainly to Spirit's left. Engineers have plotted an escape route from Troy that heads up a mild slope away from the crater.

"We'll start by steering the wheels straight and driving, though we may have to steer the wheels to the right to counter any downhill slip to the left," said Ashley Stroupe, a JPL rover driver and Spirit extraction testing coordinator. "Straight-ahead driving is intended to get the rover's center of gravity past a rock that lies underneath Spirit. Gaining horizontal distance without losing too much vertical clearance will be a key to success. The right front wheel's inability to rotate greatly increases the challenge."

Spirit has been examining its Martian surroundings with tools on its robotic arm and its camera mast. The rover's work at Troy has augmented earlier discoveries it made indicating ancient Mars had hot springs or steam vents, possible habitats for life. If escape attempts fail, the rover's stationary location may result in new science findings.

"The soft materials churned up by Spirit's wheels have the highest sulfur content measured on Mars," said Ray Arvidson a scientist at Washington University in St. Louis and deputy principal investigator for the science payloads on Spirit and Opportunity. "We're taking advantage of its fixed location to conduct detailed measurements of these interesting materials."

Spirit and its twin rover landed on Mars in January 2004. They have explored Mars for five years, far surpassing their original 90-day mission. Opportunity currently is driving toward a large crater called Endeavor.

NASA's JPL manages the rovers for NASA's Science Mission Directorate in Washington.

For updates about Spirit's progress, visit: http://www.nasa.gov/rovers or http://marsrovers.jpl.nasa.gov/home/index.html

- end -

NASA Johnson Space Center Mission Status Reports and other information are available automatically by sending an Internet electronic mail message to listserv@listserver.jsc.nasa.gov.  In the body of the message (not the subject line) users should type "subscribe hsfnews" (no quotes).  This will add the e-mail address that sent the subscribe message to the news release distribution list.  The system will reply with a confirmation via e-mail of each subscription.  Once you have subscribed you will receive future news releases via e-mail. To unsubscribe, send an e-mail to listserv@listserver.jsc.nasa.gov with the following command in the body of your e-mail message: "unsubscribe hsfnews" (no quotes) or from another account, besides the account used to subscribe: "unsubscribe hsfnews youremail@yourdomain.com" (no quotes).

------------------------------

End of HSFNEWS Digest - 6 Nov 2009 to 14 Nov 2009 (#2009-123)
*************************************************************
 

Oct. 29, 2009

John Yembrick
Headquarters, Washington
202-358-1100
john.yembrick-1@nasa.gov

Allard Beutel
Kennedy Space Center, Fla.
321-867-2468
allard.beutel@nasa.gov

RELEASE: 09-255

NASA GIVES GO FOR SPACE SHUTTLE ATLANTIS LAUNCH ON NOV. 16

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. -- NASA's space shuttle Atlantis is targeted to
begin an 11-day flight to the International Space Station with a Nov.
16 launch from the Kennedy Space Center in Florida. Liftoff is
scheduled for 2:28 p.m. EST.

Atlantis' launch date was announced Thursday 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's equipment, support systems and
procedures are ready.

The Nov. 16 target date depends on the planned Nov. 14 launch of an
Atlas V rocket from nearby Cape Canaveral Air Force Station. The
Atlas has reserved the Eastern Range on Nov. 14 and 15. If the Atlas
launch is delayed to Nov. 15, the shuttle's liftoff will move to no
earlier than 2:02 p.m. on Nov. 17.

The STS-129 mission will focus on storing spare hardware on the
exterior of the space station. The flight will include three
spacewalks and install two platforms on the station's truss, or
backbone. The platforms will hold spare parts to sustain station
operations after the shuttle fleet is retired.

Commander Charlie Hobaugh and his crew of five astronauts are
scheduled to arrive at Kennedy at approximately 5 p.m. on Thursday,
Nov. 12, for final launch preparations. Joining Archambault on
STS-129 will be Pilot Barry Wilmore and Mission Specialists Leland
Melvin, Randy Bresnik, Mike Foreman and Bobby Satcher. Nicole Stott,
an astronaut who currently resides on the station, will return home
with the Atlantis crew after living in space for more than two
months. Her return on the shuttle is slated to be the final time it
is used to rotate space station crew members.

STS-129 will be Atlantis' 31st mission and the 31st shuttle flight
dedicated to station assembly and maintenance. For more information
about STS-129, visit:



http://www.nasa.gov/shuttle


Mission Specialist Bobby Satcher, an orthopedic surgeon, now is
sending updates about his training to his Twitter account,
Astro_Bones. He can be followed at:



http://www.twitter.com/Astro_Bones


For more information about the space station, visit:



http://www.nasa.gov/station

   
-end-
 

 Oct. 29, 2009

Dwayne Brown
Headquarters, Washington     
202-358-1726
dwayne.c.brown@nasa.gov

Paulette Campbell
Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory, Laurel, Md.
240-228-6792
paulette.campbell@jhuapl.edu

RELEASE: M09-208

NASA TO RELEASE NEW IMAGES AND FINDINGS FROM THIRD MERCURY FLYBY

WASHINGTON -- NASA will host a media teleconference at 1 p.m. EST on
Tuesday, Nov. 3, to announce scientific findings and release new
images from the third and final flyby of Mercury by the Mercury
Surface, Space Environment, Geochemistry and Ranging spacecraft,
known as MESSENGER.

The probe's cameras and instruments collected high-resolution and
color images of the planet on Sept. 29, unveiling another six percent
of Mercury's surface never before seen by a spacecraft.

The briefing participants are:
- Sean Solomon, principal investigator, Carnegie Institution of
Washington
- Ronald J. Vervack, Jr., participating scientist, The Johns Hopkins
University Applied Physics Laboratory (APL) in Laurel, Md.
- David J. Lawrence, participating scientist, APL
- Brett Denevi, imaging team member and postdoctoral researcher,
Arizona State University, Tempe

To participate in the teleconference, reporters should e-mail Sonja
Alexander at:



sonja.r.alexander@nasa.gov


Audio of the teleconference will be streamed live at:



http://www.nasa.gov/newsaudio


At the beginning of the briefing, related images will be available
online at:



http://messenger.jhuapl.edu/news_room

   
-end-

There is 1 message totalling 48 lines in this issue.

Topics of the day:

  1. NASA'S ARES I-X ROCKET COMPLETES SUCCESSFUL FLIGHT TEST

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Date:    Wed, 28 Oct 2009 13:59:17 -0500
From:    info@JSC.NASA.GOV
Subject: NASA'S ARES I-X ROCKET COMPLETES SUCCESSFUL FLIGHT TEST

October 28,2009

Lynnette Madison
Johnson Space Center, Houston
281-483-5111


Grey Hautaluoma/Ashley Edwards
Headquarters, Washington
202-358-0668/1756



Report #H09-252

NASA'S ARES I-X ROCKET COMPLETES SUCCESSFUL FLIGHT TEST

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. -- NASA's Ares I-X test rocket lifted off at 11:30 a.m. EDT Wednesday from NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida for a two-minute powered flight. The test flight lasted about six minutes from its launch from the newly-modified Launch Complex 39B until splash down of the rocket's booster stage nearly 150 miles down range.

"This is a huge step forward for NASA's exploration goals," said Doug Cooke, associate administrator for the Exploration Systems Mission Directorate at NASA Headquarters in Washington. "Ares I-X provides NASA with an enormous amount of data that will be used to improve the design and safety of the next generation of American spaceflight vehicles -- vehicles that could again take humans beyond low Earth orbit."

The 327-foot tall Ares I-X test vehicle produced 2.6 million pounds of thrust to accelerate the rocket to nearly 3 g's and Mach 4.76, just shy of hypersonic speed. It capped its easterly flight at a sub-orbital altitude of 150,000 feet after the separation of its first stage, a four-segment solid rocket booster.

Parachutes deployed for recovery of the booster and the solid rocket motor will be recovered at sea for later inspection. The simulated upper stage, Orion crew module, and launch abort system will not be recovered.

"The most valuable learning is through experience and observation," said Bob Ess, Ares I-X mission manager. "Tests such as this -- from paper to flight -- are vital in gaining a deeper understanding of the vehicle, from design to development."

Wednesday's flight offered an early opportunity to test and prove hardware, facilities, and ground operations - important data for future space vehicles. During the flight, a range of performance data was relayed to the ground and also stored in the onboard flight data recorder. The 700 sensors mounted on the vehicle provide flight test engineering data to correlate with computer models and analysis. The rocket's sensors gathered information in several areas, including assembly and launch operations, separation of the vehicle's first and second stages, controllability and aerodynamics, the re-entry and recovery of the first stage and new vehicle design techniques.

The Ares I-X efforts are led by the Ares I-X mission management office of the Constellation Program, based at NASA's Johnson Space Center in Houston, and NASA's Exploration Systems Mission Directorate in Washington. NASA's Glenn Research Center in Cleveland designed and built the vehicle's upper stage mass simulator. NASA's Langley Research Center in Hampton, Va., provided aerodynamic characterization, flight test vehicle integration and the crew module/launch abort system mass simulator. NASA's Marshall Space Flight Center in Huntsville, Ala., with contractor support, provided management for the development of Ares I-X avionics, roll control, and first stage systems. The Kennedy Space Center provided operations and associated ground activities and launch operations.

Contractors for Ares I-X include Alliant Techsystems, or ATK, of Salt Lake City for the first stage solid rocket booster and Teledyne Brown Engineering of Huntsville for the roll control system. Jacobs Engineering of Tullahoma, Tenn., supported by Lockheed Martin of Denver, provided the avionics systems. United Space Alliance of Houston and ATK Launch Systems support the ground systems and launch operations.

For information about Ares I-X, visit:

http://www.nasa.gov/aresIX


###

NASA Johnson Space Center Mission Status Reports and other information are available automatically by sending an Internet electronic mail message to listserv@listserver.jsc.nasa.gov.  In the body of the message (not the subject line) users should type "subscribe hsfnews" (no quotes).  This will add the e-mail address that sent the subscribe message to the news release distribution list.  The system will reply with a confirmation via e-mail of each subscription.  Once you have subscribed you will receive future news releases via e-mail. To unsubscribe, send an e-mail to listserv@listserver.jsc.nasa.gov with the following command in the body of your e-mail message: "unsubscribe hsfnews" (no quotes) or from another account, besides the account used to subscribe: "unsubscribe hsfnews youremail@yourdomain.com" (no quotes).

------------------------------

End of HSFNEWS Digest - 28 Oct 2009 to 29 Oct 2009 (#2009-121)
**************************************************************

Latest Space Shuttle News

http://www.nasa.gov/shuttle en-us
The group will thoroughly discuss how preparations are going for Atlantis' 11-day mission and they are expected to set an official launch date. Currently, Atlantis is targeted to liftoff at 2:28 p.m. EST Nov. 16.

Following the meeting, there will be a news conference broadcast on NASA TV no earlier than 6 p.m. EDT.

At Kennedy's Launch Pad 39A, technicians are continuing to prepare Atlantis for flight and for the mission payload that is expected to be transported to the pad tomorrow. The rotating service structure, which acts as weather protection and provides access to a shuttle, is scheduled to be opened today. This will allow techs to upload Atlantis' space station payload to the pad for installation into its cargo bay.

At NASA's Johnson Space Center in Houston, the six STS-129 astronauts are in the center's fixed based simulator today conducting an orbital simulation run.]]> Thu, 29 Oct 2009 13:08:05 GMT
The pad again will be reopened after launch, paving the way for technicians to continue their final check of systems in the aft, or back, section of Atlantis and to confirm that the waste collection system works.

The six STS-129 crew members will spend the day reviewing a variety of systems procedures and brushing up on photo and TV techniques at NASA's Johnson Space Center in Houston.

Tomorrow, NASA managers are traveling to Kennedy for the STS-129 mission's Flight Readiness Review meeting. After a thorough review, an official launch date is expected to be announced.

A post-meeting briefing will be broadcast on NASA TV and can be found at www.nasa.gov/ntv.

Space shuttle Atlantis' launch currently is targeted for 2:28 p.m. EST Nov. 16.]]> Wed, 28 Oct 2009 13:03:51 GMT
After the Ares I-X launch, technicians will be allowed to return to pad A to continue making final system checks in the aft, or back, section of Atlantis. The waste collection system also will be tested later today.

Meanwhile, STS-129 Commander Charles O. Hobaugh and Pilot Barry E. Wilmore are completing their payload-related tasks at Kennedy, and will fly their T-38 jets to Edwards Air Force Base in California for additional mission training.

The agency's Flight Readiness Review, or FRR, for Atlantis' flight to the International Space Station is set for Oct. 29 at Kennedy. NASA managers will announce an official launch date at a post-meeting briefing, which will be broadcast on NASA TV.

Space shuttle Atlantis' launch currently is targeted for 2:28 p.m. EST Nov. 16.]]> Tue, 27 Oct 2009 10:55:30 GMT
Also, a retest of Atlantis' main propulsion pressure valve system, or engine piping, will take place today. This "closeout" work will be in progress all week.

Meanwhile, the STS-129 astronauts will be practicing for the mission's third spacewalk in the massive swimming pool, called the Neutral Buoyancy Lab, near NASA's Johnson Space Center in Houston.

This afternoon, STS-129 Commander Charlie Hobaugh and Pilot Barry Wilmore will fly their T-38 jets to Kennedy for training associated with the mission's space station payload.]]> Mon, 26 Oct 2009 12:32:07 GMT
During the weekend, pad techs will perform hypergolic load cleaning before starting final checks of Atlantis' aft, or back, section planned for next week.

Today, the six STS-129 crew members will review spacewalking procedures and timelines at NASA's Johnson Space Center in Houston.

The agency's Flight Readiness Review, or FRR, for the STS-129 mission is set for Oct. 29 at Kennedy. Afterward, NASA will announce an official launch date and broadcast a post-meeting briefing on NASA TV.]]> Fri, 23 Oct 2009 13:07:51 GMT
Both of the units use hypergolic propellants, which are chemicals that burn on their own when they come in contact with each other. That is different from the oxygen and hydrogen mixture that fuels the shuttle's three main engines at launch.

Atlantis is being prepared for a launch targeted for 2:28 p.m. EST Nov. 16 from NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida.

The STS-129 astronauts continue practicing their launch routine, as well. They are rehearsing ascent procedures during part of the day in the motion base simulator at NASA's Johnson Space Center in Houston.]]> Thu, 22 Oct 2009 12:32:12 GMT
The crew members are scheduled to return to Kennedy to complete the Terminal Countdown Demonstration Test, or TCDT, on Nov. 2 and 3. At that time, they will participate in a full launch countdown exercise, safety briefings and payload bay walkdown.

Meanwhile at Kennedy's Launch Pad 39A, technicians continue to check systems to verify there was no damage to the space shuttle from a lightning strike at the pad last week. So far no damage has been found.

Also at the pad today, workers are testing the solid rocket booster hydraulic system and completing the shuttle interface test -- which means confirming the various components and connections are "talking" to each other.

The agency's Flight Readiness Review, or FRR, for the STS-129 mission is set for Oct. 29 at Kennedy. Afterward, NASA will announce an official launch date and broadcast a post-meeting briefing on NASA TV.]]> Wed, 21 Oct 2009 13:29:31 GMT
Space shuttle Atlantis Pilot Barry E. Wilmore reflected on the first shuttle flight he'll be flying.

"I can't begin to put into words how it feels," Wilmore said. "After being an astronaut for nine years and it's just now become my turn to go … and how exciting it was to fly by yesterday, look down and see Atlantis on the pad... knowing that all the efforts around this nation that have gone into preparing this vehicle for our launch. We're proud to be the folks to sit on the pointy end of it and get to launch on it."

"I'd do backflips for you," Wilmore continued. "It's been a thrilling time and a thrilling moment for all of us, and certainly for me being a first-time flier."

Peppered among mission-related questions was one answered by Atlantis' Commander Charles O. Hobaugh about the Constellation Program's next-generation spacecraft.

"We're ready to take the next step when it happens. For us, where we're at right now... we're focused on getting this mission off and doing our best job to make sure it happens," Hobaugh said. "Once we get back we'll jump into whatever the Augustine commission and the current administration decides is the proper course for NASA to take in its next generation."

"We are very lucky to be a participant in the space program," Hobaugh continued. "It's part of the bigger national interest and also part of an international effort and wherever our piece fits in I think all of us are more than happy to do our best part to make sure it occurs in the best way possible."

While at Launch Pad 39A today, the crew will practice emergency pad egress and other related safety training. They will return to NASA's Johnson Space Center in Houston tomorrow and then conduct the remainder of the launch dress rehearsal training at Kennedy on Nov. 2 and 3.]]> Tue, 20 Oct 2009 15:01:42 GMT
While at the pad, the crew will have a brief question-and-answer period with the media broadcast on NASA TV. The media event will begin at 9:40 a.m. EDT and can be accessed at www.nasa.gov/ntv.

In order to optimize NASA's ability to launch both Atlantis and the Constellation Program's Ares I-X flight test before the end of the year, the agency now is targeting Nov. 16 for the launch of Atlantis' STS-129 mission to the International Space Station. Therefore, the crew will cut this Terminal Countdown Demonstration Test, or TCDT, short and conduct the remainder of launch dress rehearsal training Nov. 2 and 3.

The same launch team at Kennedy is supporting both the shuttle and the Ares I-X flight test, which is targeted to lift off Oct. 27.]]> Tue, 20 Oct 2009 13:11:59 GMT
Senior managers met Monday and decided to adjust Atlantis' target launch date to optimize the agency's ability to launch both Ares I-X and Atlantis before the end of the year. The same launch team at Kennedy is supporting both the shuttle and the flight test of the Ares I-X rocket, which is targeted to lift off on Oct. 27.

Atlantis' new target launch date will give Ares I-X launch opportunities Oct. 27, 28 and 29. NASA has yet to schedule Atlantis' new target liftoff date on the Eastern Range.

The change to Atlantis' targeted launch will affect the launch countdown dress rehearsal for the shuttle's six astronauts. The astronauts arrived at Kennedy on Monday for the Terminal Countdown Demonstration Test and related training. The simulated countdown has been rescheduled to Nov. 3. The astronauts will practice emergency escape and other related training while they are at Kennedy this week and return there Nov. 2 to conclude their rehearsal work.

The agency's Flight Readiness Review meeting for STS-129 is set for Oct. 29. NASA will schedule an official launch date for Atlantis at that meeting.]]> Mon, 19 Oct 2009 21:59:27 GMT

• NASA Managers at Kennedy for FRR

  Thu, 29 Oct 2009 06:08:05 AM PDT
  
  

  Managers are gathered at NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida today for the agency's Flight Readiness Review meeting for space shuttle Atlantis’ STS-129 mission to the International Space Station.
  
  The group will thoroughly discuss how preparations are going for Atlantis' 11-day mission and they are expected to set an official launch date. Currently, Atlantis is targeted to liftoff at 2:28 p.m. EST Nov. 16.
  
  Following the meeting, there will be a news conference broadcast on NASA TV no earlier than 6 p.m. EDT.
  
  At Kennedy's Launch Pad 39A, technicians are continuing to prepare Atlantis for flight and for the mission payload that is expected to be transported to the pad tomorrow. The rotating service structure, which acts as weather protection and provides access to a shuttle, is scheduled to be opened today. This will allow techs to upload Atlantis' space station payload to the pad for installation into its cargo bay.
  
  At NASA's Johnson Space Center in Houston, the six STS-129 astronauts are in the center's fixed based simulator today conducting an orbital simulation run.

   

Latest Ares I-X Launch News

http://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/constellation/ares/flighttests/aresIx/index.html en-us
"I can't say enough about this team," said Doug Cooke, associate administrator for the Exploration Systems Mission Directorate at NASA Headquarters in Washington. "They've been together probably a little over three years now, and they went from a concept to flying this vehicle in that period of time, which is the first time this has been done by a human spaceflight team in a long time."

Referring to the weather, which was the only issue of the day, Constellation Program Manager Jeff Hanley said, "We were ready when Mother Nature was ready, and we took our opportunity and what a great outcome. We're very proud of the result."

"It was a spectacular day," said Bob Ess, Ares I-X mission manager. "The vehicle flew even better than we expected."

"It is just a fantastic day," said Launch Director Ed Mango. "The team really excelled. I can't say enough about the folks who worked together to go make this thing happen. It was a great team, and as you can tell, it was a great vehicle."

NASA's Ares I-X test rocket lifted off at 11:30 a.m. EDT Wednesday from NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida for a two-minute powered flight. The flight test lasted about six minutes from its launch from the newly modified Launch Pad 39B until splashdown of the rocket's booster stage nearly 150 miles downrange.]]> Wed, 28 Oct 2009 18:18:57 GMT
"This is a huge step forward for NASA's exploration goals," said Doug Cooke, associate administrator for the Exploration Systems Mission Directorate at NASA Headquarters in Washington. "Ares I-X provides NASA with an enormous amount of data that will be used to improve the design and safety of the next generation of American spaceflight vehicles -- vehicles that could again take humans beyond low Earth orbit."

The 327-foot tall Ares I-X test vehicle produced 2.6 million pounds of thrust to accelerate the rocket to nearly 3 g's and Mach 4.76, just shy of hypersonic speed. It capped its easterly flight at a suborbital altitude of 150,000 feet after the separation of its first stage, a four-segment solid rocket booster.

Parachutes deployed for recovery of the booster and the solid rocket motor will be recovered at sea for later inspection. The simulated upper stage and Orion crew module, and launch abort system will not be recovered.]]> Wed, 28 Oct 2009 16:28:13 GMT
The mission will last two minutes, during which constant data received from the rocket.

At about the T+2 minute point in the flight, the upper stage simulator and first stage will separate at approximately 130,000 feet over the Atlantic Ocean. The unpowered simulator will splash down in the ocean. The first stage will be fired for a controlled ocean landing with parachutes that will allow recovery by one of NASA's booster recovery ships, while the other ship tracks the upper stage.]]> Wed, 28 Oct 2009 15:30:38 GMT
At the T-28 second point, the auxiliary power units will start. At the T-0 mark, the explosive bolts holding the massive rocket to the pad will be blown, and the Ares I-X will begin its ascent with a maneuver to steer its path away from the launch tower to minimize pad damage.

Just moments now until liftoff of Ares I-X!]]> Wed, 28 Oct 2009 15:26:09 GMT Wed, 28 Oct 2009 15:11:30 GMT Wed, 28 Oct 2009 15:03:42 GMT Wed, 28 Oct 2009 14:54:27 GMT Wed, 28 Oct 2009 13:58:05 GMT
In addition to weather verification, during this built-in hold the Launch Authority Team is polled for a "go" or "no-go" for liftoff, and the launch test director conducts the final launch status verification. At this point, weather is the only issue standing in the way of liftoff.]]> Wed, 28 Oct 2009 13:12:32 GMT
During the hold, the launch team will receive weather verification, the Launch Authority Team will be polled for a "go" or "no-go" for launch, and the launch test director will conduct the final launch status verification.]]> Wed, 28 Oct 2009 12:00:42 GMT

Teamwork Brings About Successful Ares I-X Launch

Wed, 28 Oct 2009 11:18:57 AM PDT



Outstanding teamwork was the theme of the Ares I-X postlaunch news conference as the successful flight test was discussed.

"I can't say enough about this team," said Doug Cooke, associate administrator for the Exploration Systems Mission Directorate at NASA Headquarters in Washington. "They've been together probably a little over three years now, and they went from a concept to flying this vehicle in that period of time, which is the first time this has been done by a human spaceflight team in a long time."

Referring to the weather, which was the only issue of the day, Constellation Program Manager Jeff Hanley said, "We were ready when Mother Nature was ready, and we took our opportunity and what a great outcome. We're very proud of the result."

"It was a spectacular day," said Bob Ess, Ares I-X mission manager. "The vehicle flew even better than we expected."

"It is just a fantastic day," said Launch Director Ed Mango. "The team really excelled. I can't say enough about the folks who worked together to go make this thing happen. It was a great team, and as you can tell, it was a great vehicle."

NASA's Ares I-X test rocket lifted off at 11:30 a.m. EDT Wednesday from NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida for a two-minute powered flight. The flight test lasted about six minutes from its launch from the newly modified Launch Pad 39B until splashdown of the rocket's booster stage nearly 150 miles downrange.