Astronauts Move Supplies to Space Station
20 November 2009 12:12 p.m. EST
Astronauts
aboard the linked shuttle Atlantis and International Space Station are hard at
work moving supplies and equipment between their two spacecraft while one
member of the crew awaits word on the birth
of his daughter.
Watch
the mission live!
Earlier
today, the astronauts moved a massive carrier with tons of huge spare parts out
of Atlantis’ cargo bay and attached it to the station’s main truss. Astronaut
Randy Bresnik, meanwhile, is waiting to hear on the
birth of his daughter today. His wife Rebecca is back on Earth with her family.
The couple have one adopted son Wyatt from Ukraine,
who is 3 1/2 years old.
Click here to read more about Bresnik’s day in space.
-- Tariq
Malik
NASA will broadcast the STS-129 mission live on NASA TV. Click here for SPACE.com’s NASA TV feed or follow the
NASA TV link at the upper left on this page
Astronauts Wake Up to Sister Sledge
20 November 2009 6:00 a.m. EST
Astronauts
aboard the space shuttle Atlantis awoke to the song “We Are Family” by Sister
Sledge early Friday, a tune selected for mission specialist Leland Melvin. Watch
the mission live!
Today
is Flight Day 5 for Atlantis’ 11-day mission. The astronauts are expected to
spend to day moving cargo between the shuttle and space station.
-- Tariq
Malik
NASA will broadcast the STS-129 mission live on NASA TV. Click here for SPACE.com’s NASA TV feed or follow the
NASA TV link at the upper left on this page
Astronauts Wrap Up 1st Spacewalk
19 November 2009 4:05 p.m. EST
Astronauts
Mike Foreman and Robert Satcher,
Jr. have started repressurizing
the stations’ Quest airlock, officially ending today’s spacewalk outside the
space station at 4:01 p.m. EST (2101 GMT). Watch
it live!
Total
spacewalking time: 6 hours, 37 minutes.
The
spacewalk began at 9:24 a.m. EST (1424 GMT), with Foreman and Satcher working two hours ahead of schedule to finish their
main chores.
Click here for SPACE.com’s
wrap up of today’s orbital work.
-- Tariq
Malik
NASA will broadcast the STS-129 mission live on NASA TV. Click here for SPACE.com’s NASA TV feed or follow the
NASA TV link at the upper left on this page
Spacewalkers Return to Station
Airlock
19 November 2009 3:57 p.m. EST
Spacewalkers
Mike Foreman and Robert Satcher,
Jr. are back inside the Quest airlock as they near the end of today’s
successful work outside the International Space Station. Watch
it live!
The
astronauts accomplished all their main goals to install a spare antenna,
perform cable routing work and grease up robotic attachment points. They also
deployed a spare parts platform, an extra chore, because they were so far ahead
of schedule.
Today’s
spacewalk will officially end once the due begins to repressurize the Quest airlock.
Click here for a look at today’s spacewalk.
-- Tariq
Malik
NASA will broadcast the STS-129 mission live on NASA TV. Click here for SPACE.com’s NASA TV feed or follow the
NASA TV link at the upper left on this page
Spacewalkers Deploy Spare Parts
Platform
19 November 2009 3:43 p.m. EST
Spacewalkers
Mike Foreman and Robert Satcher,
Jr. have successfully deployed a swing-out platform on the station’s starboard
side that will ultimately be used to hold more spare parts. Watch
it live!
The
chore is the last task of the day for the astronauts, who began working outside
the station at 9:24 a.m. EST (1424 GMT).
Click here for a look at today’s spacewalk.
-- Tariq
Malik
NASA will broadcast the STS-129 mission live on NASA TV. Click here for SPACE.com’s NASA TV feed or follow the
NASA TV link at the upper left on this page
Spacewalkers Tackle Tough Bolt in
Extra Chore
19 November 2009 2:51 p.m. EST
After
some frustrating work, spacewalkers Mike Foreman and Robert Satcher, Jr. have finally freed a brace that is part
of the payload attach system they’re deploying on the station’s starboard side.
Foreman had to bang on it with a hammer while Satcher wiggled it in order to get it loose. They
will now proceed to swing out the spare parts
platform, before securing the brace back in place. Watch
it live!
-- Tariq
Malik
NASA will broadcast the STS-129 mission live on NASA TV. Click here for SPACE.com’s NASA TV feed or follow the
NASA TV link at the upper left on this page
Spacewalkers Get Extra Chores
19 November 2009 1:47 p.m. EST
Spacewalkers
Mike Foreman and Robert Satcher,
Jr. have successfully completed all of their
planned work
outside the space station today and are way ahead of schedule, at times about 2
hours. Foreman has recharged his spacesuit’s life support supplies and will
join Satcher for an extra
chore, the deployment of a payload attachement
system – a sort of orbital shelf for more spare parts. Watch
it live!
Today’s
spacewalk began at 9:24 a.m. EST (1424 GMT) and was slated to last 6 1/2 hours.
Click here for a look at today’s spacewalk.
-- Tariq
Malik
NASA will broadcast the STS-129 mission live on NASA TV. Click here for SPACE.com’s NASA TV feed or follow the
NASA TV link at the upper left on this page
Spacewalker Tackles Stubborn Cable on Station
19 November 2009 1:20 p.m. EST
As
today’s spacewalk continues, astronaut Mike Foreman has connected a stubborn
cable connector that refused to latch properly during a recent shuttle mission.
Foreman used a specially designed connector adapter to secure the cable in
place. Watch
it live!
“You’ve
just made a lot of people really happy,” crewmate Randy Bresnik said.
Meanwhile,
crewmate Robert Satcher,
Jr. is preparing for some get-ahead chores, one of which includes deploying an attachment
point for a spare parts platform on the station’s starboard side.
Click here for a look at today’s spacewalk.
-- Tariq
Malik
NASA will broadcast the STS-129 mission live on NASA TV. Click here for SPACE.com’s NASA TV feed or follow the
NASA TV link at the upper left on this page
Astronauts Speed Through
Spacewalk Chores
19 November 2009 12:42 p.m. EST
At
the mid-point of their planned 6
1/2-hour spacewalk,
astronauts Mike Foreman and Robert Satcher,
Jr. are well ahead of their schedule for today’s work outside the International
Space Station. Watch
it live!
Foreman
is tackling some cable routing work on the station, while Satcher is lubricating the end of a Japanese robotic
arm on the station’s Kibo laboratory. Today’s
spacewalk began at 9:24 a.m. EST (1424 GMT).
Click here for a look at today’s spacewalk.
-- Tariq
Malik
NASA will broadcast the STS-129 mission live on NASA TV. Click here for SPACE.com’s NASA TV feed or follow the
NASA TV link at the upper left on this page
Spacewalkers Split Up Outside Station
19 November 2009 11:47 a.m. EST
Spacewalkers
Mike Foreman and Robert Satcher,
Jr. have split up to work on different parts of the space
station. Satcher is still perched at the tip of the
station’s robotic arm and is adding some grease to a payload attachment
point. Foreman, meanwhile, is routing some new cables outside the station. Watch
it live!
The
astronauts are more than an hour ahead of scheduled for their planned 6
1/2-hour spacewalk, which began at 9:24 a.m. EST (1424 GMT).
-- Tariq
Malik
NASA will broadcast the STS-129 mission live on NASA TV. Click here for SPACE.com’s NASA TV feed or follow the
NASA TV link at the upper left on this page
Spacewalkers Install Spare Antenna on Station
19 November 2009 11:16 a.m. EST
Spacewalkers
Mike Foreman and Robert Satcher,
Jr. are now working to install the bulky S-band antenna on the exterior of the
International Space Station to serve as a spare. They are still well ahead of their
work schedule
for today’s 6 1/2-hour spacewalk. Watch
it live!
Click here for a look at today’s spacewalk.
Today is Flight Day 4 of Atlantis’ 11-day STS-129 mission to the space station.
-- Tariq
Malik
NASA will broadcast the STS-129 mission live on NASA TV. Click here for SPACE.com’s NASA TV feed or follow the
NASA TV link at the upper left on this page
Spacewalkers Ahead of Schedule in Antenna Install
19 November 2009 10:24 a.m. EST
Spacewalkers
Mike Foreman and Robert Satcher,
Jr. are nearly an hour ahead of schedule as they work to install a spare S-band
antenna on the International Space Station. Watch
it live!
Satcher
is hauling the 265-pound antenna to a storage point on the station’s main
truss. He is riding the station’s robotic arm. Foreman, meanwhile, is headed up
to the main truss to help Satcher
install the new antenna when he arrives. Today’s spacewalk began at 9:24 a.m.
EST (1424 GMT) and is expected to last about 6
1/2-hours.
Click here for a look at today’s spacewalk.
Today is Flight Day 4 of Atlantis’ 11-day STS-129 mission to the space station.
-- Tariq
Malik
NASA will broadcast the STS-129 mission live on NASA TV. Click here for SPACE.com’s NASA TV feed or follow the
NASA TV link at the upper left on this page
Spacewalkers Tackle First Orbital Tasks
19 November 2009 9:54 a.m. EST
Spacewalkers
Mike Foreman and Robert Satcher,
Jr. are tackling
their first chores
outside the space station. Watch
it live!
Satcher
is working to step into a perch at the tip of the space station’s robotic arm.
Foreman, meanwhile, is preparing a spare S-band antenna for removal from the
shuttle Atlantis’ payload bay. The two astronauts will work together to move
the antenna to a storage point on the space station to serve
as a spare.
Click here for a look at today’s spacewalk.
Today is Flight Day 4 of Atlantis’ 11-day STS-129 mission to the space station.
-- Tariq
Malik
NASA will broadcast the STS-129 mission live on NASA TV. Click here for SPACE.com’s NASA TV feed or follow the
NASA TV link at the upper left on this page
First Spacewalk Begins for Shuttle Crew
19 November 2009 9:26 a.m. EST
Atlantis
astronauts Mike Foreman and Robert Satcher,
Jr. have officially begun
the first spacewalk
of their mission after switching their NASA spacesuits to internal battery
power at 9:24 a.m. EST (1424 GMT). They have opened the outer hatch of the
station’s Quest airlock and are preparing to float outside
for today’s 6 1/2-hour service call. Watch
it live!
Chief
among their chores – installing a spare S-band antenna, some cable work and
greasy job to lubricate the grappling snares on the station’s Japanese robotic
arm and an attachment point.
Satcher
is making his first spacewalk and wearing an all-white NASA spacesuit. It is
Foreman’s fourth spacewalk and he is wearing a spacesuit with a red stripe. It
is the 134th spacewalk for station assembly and maintenance and the 228th U.S.
spacewalk in history.
Click here for a look at today’s spacewalk.
Today is Flight Day 4 of Atlantis’ 11-day STS-129 mission to the space station.
-- Tariq
Malik
NASA will broadcast the STS-129 mission live on NASA TV. Click here for SPACE.com’s NASA TV feed or follow the
NASA TV link at the upper left on this page
Astronauts Depressurize Airlock for Spacewalk
19 November 2009 9:14 a.m. EST
Atlantis
astronauts Mike Foreman and Robert Satcher,
Jr. are depressurizing the Quest airlock aboard the International Space Station
as they prepare for today’s spacewalk, which is due to start at about 9:18 a.m.
EST (1418 GMT).
Click here for a look at today’s spacewalk.
Today is Flight Day 4 of Atlantis’ 11-day STS-129 mission to the space station.
-- Tariq
Malik
NASA will broadcast the STS-129 mission live on NASA TV. Click here for SPACE.com’s NASA TV feed or follow the
NASA TV link at the upper left on this page
Astronauts Prepare to Begin 1st Spacewalk
19 November 2009 8:48 a.m. EST
Atlantis
astronauts Mike Foreman and Robert Satcher,
Jr. are poised to begin today’s
spacewalk outside the International Space Station,
a 6 1/2-hour service call on the orbiting lab. Watch
it live!
The
spacewalk is scheduled to begin at about 9:18 am EST (1418 GMT). The two
astronauts will install spare parts and performing some maintenance chores on
different parts of the space station.
It
will be the first spacewalk for Satcher,
who is making his spaceflight debut on this mission. But Foreman is a veteran,
poised to begin his fourth career spacewalk.
Click here for a look at today’s spacewalk.
Today is Flight Day 4 of Atlantis’ 11-day STS-129 mission to the space station.
-- Tariq
Malik
NASA will broadcast the STS-129 mission live on NASA TV. Click here for SPACE.com’s NASA TV feed or follow the
NASA TV link at the upper left on this page
Astronauts Suit Up for 1st Spacewalk
19 November 2009 7:28 a.m. EST
Atlantis
shuttle astronauts Mike Foreman and Robert Satcher, Jr. have climbed into their NASA-issue
spacesuits as they prepare for today’s
spacewalk,
the first of three for their 11-day mission to the International Space Station.
The spacewalk is due to begin just after 9:18 am EST (1418 GMT). Watch
it live!
Click here for a look at today’s spacewalk. Mission
Control roused the crew with the song “In Wonder” performed by The Newsboys, a
tune chosen for mission specialist Randy Bresnik
by his wife Rebecca, who is expected to give birth to their second child – a
baby girl – on Friday.
“Good
morning Houston! Thanks to my wonderful wife Rebecca for that song and the
wonder of creation that's going on inside of her and what's going to happen
tomorrow,” Bresnik radioed
Mission Control.
-- Tariq
Malik
NASA will broadcast the STS-129 mission live on NASA TV. Click here for SPACE.com’s NASA TV feed or follow the
NASA TV link at the upper left on this page
Cargo Platform Attached to Space Station
18 November 2009 3:28 p.m. EST
Astronauts aboard the International
Space Station have successfully installed a new spare parts carrier on the
orbiting laboratory. The platform was delivered by the newly-arrived space
shuttle Atlantis on a week-long resupply visit to the
station.
The new carrier, the Express
Logistics Carrier 1, holds extra hardware to outfit the station beyond when the
space shuttles retire in a year or two.
-- Clara Moskowitz
NASA will broadcast the STS-129
mission live on NASA TV. Click
here for SPACE.com’s NASA TV feed or
follow the NASA TV link at the upper left on this page
Astronauts Lift Cargo Carrier From Shuttle to Station
18 November 2009 3:22 p.m. EST
STS-129 astronauts Randy Bresnik and Leland Melvin are in
the process of transferring one of two giant cargo platforms from the shuttle
Atlantis' cargo bay to the International Space Station. The astronauts have
grabbed the carrier with the shuttle's robotic arm and plan to hand it off to
the station robotic arm.
The platform is loaded with spare
supplies to outfit the station beyond when the space shuttles retire in a year
or two.
-- Clara Moskowitz
NASA will broadcast the STS-129
mission live on NASA TV. Click
here for SPACE.com’s NASA TV feed or
follow the NASA TV link at the upper left on this page
Hatches Open Between Shuttle and Station
18 November 2009 1:29 p.m. EST
The six STS-129 crewmembers were
welcomed aboard the International Space Station with hugs and smiles after the
astronauts on both vehicles opened the hatches between the shuttle and station
at 1:29 p.m. EST (1829).
-- Clara Moskowitz
NASA will broadcast the STS-129
mission live on NASA TV. Click
here for SPACE.com’s NASA TV feed or follow
the NASA TV link at the upper left on this page
Leak Checks Completed Between
Shuttle and Space Station
18 November 2009 12:26 p.m. EST
Astronauts have finished checking
for leaks between the docked space shuttle Atlantis and the International Space
Station. The next step is to pressurize the area between the two spacecraft
before the crews open the hatches around 1:48 p.m. EST (1848 GMT).
-- Clara Moskowitz
NASA will broadcast the STS-129
mission live on NASA TV. Click
here for SPACE.com’s NASA TV feed or
follow the NASA TV link at the upper left on this page
Hard Mate Between Shuttle and Space Station
18 November 2009 12:06 p.m. EST
Astronauts aboard the space shuttle
Atlantis and the International Space Station have connected their vehicles in a
hard mate, and plan to check for leaks between them before opening the hatches
at around 1:48 p.m. EST (1848 GMT).
-- Clara Moskowitz
NASA will broadcast the STS-129
mission live on NASA TV. Click
here for SPACE.com’s NASA TV feed or
follow the NASA TV link at the upper left on this page
DOCKING! Shuttle Atlantis Arrives at
the International Space Station
18 November 2009 11:51 a.m. EST
The space shuttle Atlantis has
arrived at the International Space Station after a two-day orbital chase to
catch up. The astronauts will now check the seals between the two vehicles
before opening the hatches.
-- Clara Moskowitz
NASA will broadcast the STS-129
mission live on NASA TV. Click
here for SPACE.com’s NASA TV feed or
follow the NASA TV link at the upper left on this page
Atlantis 50 Feet From Space Station
18 November 2009 11:45 a.m. EST
The space shuttle Atlantis is only
50 feet away from the International Space Station, where it is set to dock
within the next 15 minutes or so.
-- Clara Moskowitz
NASA will broadcast the STS-129
mission live on NASA TV. Click
here for SPACE.com’s NASA TV feed or
follow the NASA TV link at the upper left on this page
Shuttle Atlantis Closing In on
Station
18 November 2009 11:34 a.m. EST
The space shuttle Atlantis is
closing in on the International Space Station — the two vehicles are now only
160 feet apart. Astronauts are still targeting a docking before noon, though it
may be a couple minutes after the planned link-up time of 11:53 a.m. EST (1653
GMT).
-- Clara Moskowitz
NASA will broadcast the STS-129
mission live on NASA TV. Click
here for SPACE.com’s NASA TV feed or
follow the NASA TV link at the upper left on this page
Shuttle Atlantis 'Go' for Station
Docking
18 November 2009 11:15 a.m. EST
NASA has given the space shuttle
Atlantis a "go" to dock with the International Space Station,
scheduled for 11:53 a.m. EST (1653 GMT). Atlantis is ferrying six astronauts
and a huge load of spare parts to the orbiting laboratory.
-- Clara Moskowitz
NASA will broadcast the STS-129
mission live on NASA TV. Click
here for SPACE.com’s NASA TV feed or
follow the NASA TV link at the upper left on this page
Space Shuttle Completes Back Flip
18 November 2009 11:02 a.m. EST
The space shuttle Atlantis steered
in a backward roll called the rendezvous pitch maneuver to give the station a
detailed view of the shuttle's back side. From inside the space station NASA
astronauts Williams and Nicole Stott captured several hundred photographs of
the shuttle's heat shield to send down to the ground where engineers will
analyze them for any signs of damage the orbiter may have suffered during
launch.
-- Clara Moskowitz
NASA will broadcast the STS-129
mission live on NASA TV. Click
here for SPACE.com’s NASA TV feed or
follow the NASA TV link at the upper left on this page
Atlantis 'Go' For Back Flip Maneuver
18 November 2009 10:26 a.m. EST
Mission controllers gave the space
shuttle Atlantis the go-ahead to proceed with docking preparations, including a
back flip roll called a rendezvous pitch maneuver, which affords the station a
detailed view of the shuttle's back side. That flip is scheduled to take place
at 10:52 a.m. EST (1552 GMT).
From inside the ISS NASA astronauts
Williams and Nicole Stott will capture several hundred photographs of the
shuttle's heat shield to be sent down to the ground where engineers will
analyze them for any signs of damage the orbiter may have suffered during
launch.
-- Clara Moskowitz
NASA will broadcast the STS-129
mission live on NASA TV. Click
here for SPACE.com’s NASA TV feed or
follow the NASA TV link at the upper left on this page
Shuttle One Mile Away from Space
Station
18 November 2009 10:17 a.m. EST
The space shuttle Atlantis is only a
mile away from the International Space Station,
where it is due to arrive at 11:53 a.m. EST (1653 GMT).
The shuttle completed another small
course correction burn to keep it on track to intercept the orbiting
laboratory.
"We're crashing the
party," Atlantis Commander Charlie Hobaugh
told the waiting station crew.
-- Clara Moskowitz
NASA will broadcast the STS-129 mission
live on NASA TV. Click
here for SPACE.com’s NASA TV feed or
follow the NASA TV link at the upper left on this page
Shuttle and Station Within Sight of Each Other
18 November 2009 10:02 a.m. EST
Astronauts aboard the space shuttle
Atlantis radioed the crew on the orbiting space station as the two craft get
closer and closer to each other in preparation for docking.
"You're just a little dot"
getting larger and larger, shuttle Commander Charlie Hobaugh said.
"We're looking forward to
seeing you guys," radioed back NASA astronaut Jeff Williams from the
station.
"Absolutely, catch you in a
bit," Hobaugh
responded.
-- Clara Moskowitz
NASA will broadcast the STS-129
mission live on NASA TV. Click
here for SPACE.com’s NASA TV feed or
follow the NASA TV link at the upper left on this page
Shuttle Burns Engines to Approach
the Space Station
18 November 2009 9:05 a.m. EST
The space shuttle Atlantis fired its
engines in a terminal initiation burn to put it on a direct approach course
toward the International Space Station, where it is set to dock at 11:53 a.m.
EST (1653 GMT).
-- Clara Moskowitz
NASA will broadcast the STS-129
mission live on NASA TV. Click
here for SPACE.com’s NASA TV feed or
follow the NASA TV link at the upper left on this page
Atlantis Astronauts Wake for Third
Day in Space
18 November 2009 4:34 p.m. EST
The sound of Steve Wonder woke up
the six astronauts aboard the space shuttle Atlantis Wednesday to begin their
third day in space, when they plan to dock with the International Space
Station.
The song was Wonder's "Higher
Ground," played especially for first-time spaceflyer Robert Satcher, Jr..
"Just wanted to thank my wife D'Juanna for that song," Satcher said. "That’s great
wake-up music from Stevie Wonder. We're looking
forward to a good day. Thanks a lot."
"And we're looking for a great
day too," responded capcom
Aki Hoshide from mission
control in Houston.
The astronauts plan to catch up with
the International Space Station at 11:53 a.m. EST (1653 GMT).
-- Clara Moskowitz
NASA will broadcast the STS-129
mission live on NASA TV. Click
here for SPACE.com’s NASA TV feed or
follow the NASA TV link at the upper left on this page
Shuttle Astronauts Complete Heat
Shield Scan
17 November 2009 2:33 p.m. EST
The six astronauts on shuttle
Atlantis have completed their day-long
inspection of their orbiter’s heat shield. They have stowed away their
sensor-tipped inspection pole (which doubles the reach of the shuttle’s robotic
arm). Later today, they will work to grapple one of two massive cargo carriers
Atlantis is hauling to the space station. Watch
live.
Today is Flight Day 2 of Atlantis’
11-day mission to the International Space Station.
-- Tariq Malik
NASA will broadcast the STS-129
mission live on NASA TV. Click
here for SPACE.com’s NASA TV feed or
follow the NASA TV link at the upper left on this page
Atlantis Astronauts Survey Shuttle
17 November 2009 10:27 a.m. EST
Astronauts aboard the shuttle
Atlantis are in the middle of a day-long
inspection of their spacecraft’s vital heat shield. The standard inspection
began early Tuesday and is expected to take up to six hours. Watch
live.
The shuttle crew has used Atlantis’
sensor-tipped inspection boom to scan the orbiter’s starboard wing edges and
will survey the nose cap. A scan of the port wing will round out the survey.
Click
here for a look at today’s work in space.
Today is Flight Day 2 of Atlantis’
11-day mission to the International Space Station.
-- Tariq Malik
NASA will broadcast the STS-129
mission live on NASA TV. Click
here for SPACE.com’s NASA TV feed or
follow the NASA TV link at the upper left on this page
Atlantis Astronauts Discard Shuttle
Fuel Tank
16 November 2009 2:40 p.m. EST
WASHINGTON – The STS-129 astronauts
aboard the space shuttle Atlantis have discarded the 15-story external tank
that fed the orbiter's 8 1/2-minute launch into space.
With the tank jettisoned, Atlantis
is now in orbit. Astronauts will photograph the departure of the external tank
and prepare to open the shuttle's payload bay doors at about 3:53 p.m. EST
(2053 GMT).
Analysts at Mission Control in
Houston's Johnson Space Center will search for any signs of foam loss during
launch, and its potential as a debris hazard to Discovery's heat shield.
-- Clara Moskowitz
NASA will broadcast the STS-129
mission live on NASA TV. Click
here for SPACE.com’s NASA TV feed or
follow the NASA TV link at the upper left on this page
Atlantis' Engines Shut Down as
Planned
16 November 2009 2:39 p.m. EST
WASHINGTON – The five engines
boosting Atlantis and its external tank towards orbit have shut down as planned
about 8 1/2 minutes into flight.
The milestone, known as Main Engine
Cut Off (MECO) The spacecraft
is flying towards its intended orbit, with the next major task aimed at
discarding the shuttle's external tank.
-- Clara Moskowitz
NASA will broadcast the STS-129
mission live on NASA TV. Click
here for SPACE.com’s NASA TV feed or
follow the NASA TV link at the upper left on this page
Solid Rocket Boosters Separate
16 November 2009 2:31 p.m. EST
WASHINGTON – The twin solid rocket
boosters assisting Atlantis' launch into space have separated as planned from
the shuttle's external tank.
The reusable boosters separate about
two minutes and five seconds after liftoff and fall back toward the Atlantic
Ocean, where they will land under parachutes and be retrieved by recovery
ships. They are equipped with cameras to record the performance of Atlantis'
external tank and any foam loss seen during today's ascent.
-- Clara Moskowitz
NASA will broadcast the STS-129
mission live on NASA TV. Click
here for SPACE.com’s NASA TV feed or
follow the NASA TV link at the upper left on this page
Liftoff! Shuttle Atlantis Launches Toward Space Station
16 November 2009 2:28 p.m. EST
WASHINGTON – The space shuttle
Atlantis launched into space and has cleared the launch tower as it heads toward
the International Space Station. Liftoff occurred at 2:28 p.m. EST (1928
GMT).
Riding spaceward aboard Atlantis are
STS-129 commander Charlie Hobaugh,
shuttle pilot Butch Wilmore and mission specialists Leland Melvin, Randy Bresnik, Mike Foreman, Robert Satcher, Jr.. It should take Atlantis about 8 1/2 minutes to
ferry its six-astronaut crew into orbit.
-- Clara Moskowitz
NASA will broadcast the STS-129
mission live on NASA TV. Click
here for SPACE.com’s NASA TV feed or
follow the NASA TV link at the upper left on this page
Shuttle Atlantis 'Go for Launch'
16 November 2009 2:19 p.m. EST
Shuttle Atlantis has been cleared
for launch from Kennedy Space Center's pad 39-A on its 31st mission
- the 129th space shuttle flight and the 31st shuttle
mission to the International Space Station.
The
countdown has just picked up following the planned T-9 minute hold as final
launch preparations are rushed to completion.
Atlantis’ preferred launch time is
2:28:10 p.m. EST (1928:10 GMT) – near the midpoint of a 10-minute launch window
that closes at 2:32:38 p.m. EST.
The mission
management team has been polled and all have reported 'Go for launch.' The six
STS-129 astronauts, led by mission commander Charlie Hobaugh and pilot Barry Wilmore, are strapped into their seats, running
through their pre-launch checklists and are closely monitoring spacecraft
systems for their ascent to orbit.
No
technical or vehicle issues are being worked at this time, with very little
chatter on the internal communication loops.
Weather
at the launch site is observed 'Green' or 'Go' on all fronts with no
constraints to launch. Conditions at the Trans-Oceanic Abort Landing (TAL)
sites in Spain and France are also 'Go' to support a launch.
The
Eastern Range is reporting 'Clear for launch.' The two Solid Rocket Booster
recovery ships are on-station about 140 miles northeast of Cape Canaveral, off
the coast of Jacksonville and about 7 miles away from the predicted impact
point of the spent boosters.
Over
the next nine minutes, the Orbiter's access arm will be retracted, the
hydraulic power system (APU) started, the liquid hydrogen and oxygen tanks
pressurized, Atlantis' internal flight computers will take control of the
countdown and a booster steering test will be conducted. The three space
shuttle main engines will ignite at T-minus 6.6 seconds and the twin solid
rockets boosters will light at T-minus zero resulting in liftoff.
All
spacecraft systems are reported 'Go'. 9 minutes to launch.
-- Roger Guillemette
NASA will broadcast
Atlantis' STS-129 mission to the International Space Station live on NASA TV
during launch and the flight. You are invited to follow the mission using SPACE.com’s NASA TV feed, which is available by clicking
here or using the button at the upper left
on this page.
Shuttle
Atlantis Ready for Launch
16 November 2009 1:58 p.m. EST
Shuttle
Atlantis' hatch has been closed and latched for flight, the six STS-129
astronauts are strapped into their seats and final preparations are progressing
smoothly for this afternoon's launch attempt from Kennedy Space Center's pad
39-A.
Launch is scheduled for 2:28:10 p.m.
EST (1928:10 GMT) – near the midpoint of a 10-minute launch window.
As the countdown enters its final 30
minutes, the launch team is not currently working any technical issues. The
countdown clock is currently halted at the T-minus 9-minute mark – a scheduled
built-in hold lasting approx. 45 minutes.
Weather
conditions along Florida's Space Coast have improved as the countdown
progressed; Launch Weather Officer Kathy Winters has upgraded the official
forecast to an 80 percent probability of acceptable conditions at launch
time. Weather at the three Trans-Oceanic Abort Landing (TAL) sites in
Spain and France are also observed and forecast 'Green' or 'Go' to support a
launch attempt.
The
astronauts are running through their pre-launch checklists and are closely monitoring
their spacecraft systems in preparation for their ascent to orbit. The
close-out crew has finished breaking down the 'White Room' access platform
surrounding the Orbiter's hatch and departed the launch pad.
Veteran of two shuttle missions,
astronaut Charlie Hobaugh
is commander of STS-129 accompanied by rookie pilot Barry Wilmore. STS-129
mission specialists are Leland Melvin, Randy Bresnik (who will serve as Atlantis' flight
engineer), Mike Foreman and Robert “Bobby” Satcher. Atlantis will also return astronaut Nicole
Stott to Earth following her three-month stint as Flight Engineer aboard the
International Space Station.
At the time of launch, the
International Space Station will be orbiting about 220 miles above the South
Pacific Ocean, east of New Zealand.
-- Roger Guillemette
NASA will broadcast
Atlantis' STS-129 mission to the International Space Station live on NASA TV
during launch and the flight. You are invited to follow the mission using SPACE.com’s NASA TV feed, which is available by clicking
here or using the button at the upper left
on this page.
Weather Improves For Atlantis Launch
16 November 2009 1:13 p.m. EST
The
countdown is proceeding smoothly for this afternoon's launch of shuttle
Atlantis on a mission to the International Space Station. The countdown clock
has just entered the T-minus 20-minute hold - a planned built-in hold to allow
the launch team to catch up on any final preparations.
Launch is scheduled for 2:28:10 p.m.
EST (1928:10 GMT) – the midpoint of a 10-minute launch window. A final
adjustment may be made at the T-9 minute hold to more precisely align with the
orbit of the International Space Station.
The
launch team is not currently working any technical issues as the countdown
enters its final hour and Launch Weather Officer Kathy Winters has just
upgraded the official forecast to an 80 percent probability of acceptable
conditions at launch time.
The close-out crew is breaking down
the 'white room' access platform that surrounds the Orbiter's hatch and will
soon depart from the launch pad.
Atlantis'
hatch has been closed and latched for flight, the six STS-129 astronauts are
strapped into their seats and final preparations are progressing for this
afternoon's launch attempt from Kennedy Space Center's Pad 39-A.
-- Roger Guillemette
NASA will broadcast Atlantis' STS-129 mission to the International
Space Station live on NASA TV during launch and the flight. You are invited to
follow the mission using SPACE.com’s NASA TV feed,
which is available by clicking
here or using the button at the upper left
on this page.
Atlantis'
Hatch Closed for Launch
16 November 2009 12:32 p.m. EST
Shuttle
Atlantis' hatch has been closed and latched for flight, the six STS-129
astronauts are strapped into their seats and final preparations are progressing
smoothly for this afternoon's launch attempt from pad 39-A at Florida's Kennedy
Space Center.
Launch
is scheduled for 2:28:11 p.m. EST (1928:11 GMT) – the midpoint of a 10-minute
launch window. A final adjustment may be made at the T-9 minute hold to more
precisely align with the orbit of the International Space Station.
The
STS-129 crew - led by veteran mission commander Charlie Hobaugh and rookie pilot Barry Wilmore – just
completed the final series of air-to-ground communications checks to ensure
that the astronauts can talk to flight controllers and each other during the
spacecraft's ascent to orbit.
Atlantis's
massive External Tank is now filled with a half-million gallons of
super-chilled liquid hydrogen and liquid oxygen and will continue to be topped-off
until launch.
The launch team is not working any
technical issues at this time. The official weather forecast remains pegged at
an optimistic 70 percent probability of acceptable conditions at launch time –
the primary concern is for a low cloud ceiling.
Weather
conditions at the three Trans-Oceanic Abort Landing (TAL) sites in Spain and
France are observed and forecast 'Green' or 'Go' to support a launch attempt.
STS-129
will be the 31st shuttle mission to the International Space Station
and the 11-day flight will include three spacewalks.
-- Roger Guillemette
NASA will broadcast
Atlantis' STS-129 mission to the International Space Station live on NASA TV
during launch and the flight. You are invited to follow the mission using SPACE.com’s NASA TV feed, which is available by clicking
here or using the button at the upper left
on this page.
Atlantis
Astronauts Strapped-in for Launch
16 November 2009 11:59 a.m. EST
The
six STS-129 astronauts are now securely strapped into their seats onboard
shuttle Atlantis and are beginning final preparations for this afternoon's
launch attempt from Kennedy Space Center's Pad 39-A..
Launch is scheduled for 2:28:11 p.m.
EST (1928:11 GMT) – the midpoint of a 10-minute launch window.
Led by veteran commander Charlie Hobaugh (making his third
spaceflight) and rookie pilot Barry Wilmore, the STS-129 mission specialists
are Leland Melvin, Randy Bresnik
(who will serve as Atlantis' flight engineer), Mike Foreman and Robert
“Bobby” Satcher.
STS-129 will be Melvin and Foreman's
second spaceflight; Bresnik
and Satcher will be making
their first trips to space. Atlantis will also return astronaut Nicole Stott to
Earth following her three-month stint as Flight Engineer aboard the
International Space Station.
The
astronauts are now engaged in a series of communications checks between the
spacecraft, the launch team and Mission Control in Houston.
The official weather forecast
remains pegged at an optimistic 70 percent probability of acceptable conditions
at launch time – the primary concern is the possible formation of a low cloud
ceiling that may violate Return-To-Launch-Site (RTLS) abort constraints.
-- Roger Guillemette
NASA will broadcast
Atlantis' STS-129 mission to the International Space Station live on NASA TV
during launch and the flight. You are invited to follow the mission using SPACE.com’s NASA TV feed, which is available by clicking
here or using the button at the upper left
on this page.
Shuttle
Astronauts Board Spacecraft
16 November 2009 11:40 a.m. EST
Five astronauts are already strapped
onboard the space shuttle Atlantis, with the remaining sixth astronaut, Randy Bresnik, preparing to board now.
STS-129 commander Charlie "Scorch" Hobaugh and mission specialists Barry
"Butch" Wilmore, Mike Foreman, Leland Melvin and Robert Satcher, Jr. are already inside
the spacecraft.
-- Clara Moskowitz
NASA will broadcast
Atlantis' STS-129 mission to the International Space Station live on NASA TV
during launch and the flight. You are invited to follow the mission using SPACE.com’s NASA TV feed, which is available by clicking
here or using the button at the upper left
on this page.
Atlantis
Commander Enters Spacecraft
16 November 2009 11:07 a.m. EST
NASA mission commander Charlie
‘Scorch’ Hobaugh has
climbed onboard shuttle Atlantis for this afternoon's planned launch attempt at
2:28:11 p.m. EST (1728:11 GMT). STS-129 will be Hobaugh's third spaceflight.
No
technical issues are currently being worked and the official weather forecast
remains an optimistic 70 percent probability of acceptable conditions for
launch; however, conditions at the launch site are currently ‘Red’ or ‘No Go’
for low clouds.
At
this time, shuttle Atlantis is fully fueled for launch and the vehicle is in
"stable replenish" mode, with propellants being topped-off until
launch time. Earlier today, technicians loaded Atlantis' 15-story external fuel
tank with the super-chilled liquid hydrogen and liquid oxygen that will feed
its three main engines during the 8.5-minute ascent into space. Fueling
operations ended at 8:00 a.m. EST (1300 GMT) with more than 500,000 gallons of
cryogenic propellant loaded into the fuel tank.
Atlantis' 31st mission
will include three spacewalks and the installation of two platforms to the
station’s truss, or backbone. The platforms will hold spare parts to sustain
station operations after the shuttles are retired.
-- Roger Guillemette
NASA will broadcast
Atlantis' STS-129 mission to the International Space Station live on NASA TV
during launch and the flight. You are invited to follow the mission using SPACE.com’s NASA TV feed, which is available by clicking
here or using the button at the upper left
on this page.
Astronauts Arrive At Launch Pad
16 November 2009 10:55 a.m. EST
The six STS-129 astronauts, led by commander Charlie Hobaugh, have arrived at Launch
Pad 39A. Soon they will begin entering the space shuttle Atlantis in
preparation for their planned launch this afternoon.
Click here
for SPACE.com's launch
preview story.
-- Clara Moskowitz
NASA will broadcast the STS-129 mission
live on NASA TV. Click
here for SPACE.com’s NASA TV feed or
follow the NASA TV link at the upper left on this page.
Atlantis
Astronauts Depart for Launch Pad
16 November 2009 10:38 a.m. EST
The
crew of space shuttle Atlantis, clad in their bright orange launch-and-entry
pressure suits, has departed the Operations & Checkout (O&C) Building
at the Kennedy Space Center. The six astronauts, riding in their silver 'Astro Van', are now en route to
the seaside pad 39A where the shuttle is poised for launch, framed by blue
skies with streaks of white clouds.
After
a 25-minute ride to the launch pad, the STS-129 astronauts will enter Atlantis
one by one, beginning with veteran shuttle commander Charlie Hobaugh, to prepare for this
afternoon's launch attempt.
Atlantis' mid-afternoon launch is
scheduled for 2:28:11 p.m. EST (1728:11 GMT).
No
technical issues are currently being worked and the final inspection or 'ice'
team has departed the launch pad without finding any conditions that might be
cause for concern.
The
official weather forecast remains an optimistic 70 percent chance of acceptable
conditions for launch.
-- Roger Guillemette
NASA will broadcast
Atlantis' STS-129 mission to the International Space Station live on NASA TV
during launch and the flight. You are invited to follow the mission using SPACE.com’s NASA TV feed, which is available by clicking
here or using the button at the upper left
on this page.
Astronauts Suit Up for Shuttle
Launch
16 November 2009 10:15 a.m. EST
The six astronauts slated to launch aboard
the space shuttle Atlantis today are donning their orange launch and entry
space suits. The spaceflyers, led by commander Charlie Hobaugh, are scheduled to walk
out of the Operations and Checkout Building in about 15 minutes and ride down
the road to Launch Pad 39A.
Click here
for SPACE.com's launch
preview story.
-- Clara Moskowitz
NASA will broadcast the STS-129
mission live on NASA TV. Click
here for SPACE.com’s NASA TV feed or
follow the NASA TV link at the upper left on this page.
Clouds Hover Over Shuttle Launch Pad
16 November 2009 10:02 a.m. EST
Preparations for the space shuttle Atlantis'
planned launch this afternoon are going well, though NASA is watching the
weather very closely in hopes that a ceiling of clouds currently hovering over
the launch pad will move off before liftoff time.
NASA plans to send aircraft into the
sky starting at around 11:30 a.m. EST to monitor the cloud situation from the
air and to measure how thick the clouds are. There is still a 70 percent chance
that a break in the clouds will appear to let the shuttle fly.
"We're hopeful that things will
improve and we'll have a successful launch today," said Lt. Colonel
Patrick Barrett of the 45th Weather Squadron.
Click here
for SPACE.com's launch
preview story.
-- Clara Moskowitz
NASA will broadcast the STS-129
mission live on NASA TV. Click
here for SPACE.com’s NASA TV feed or
follow the NASA TV link at the upper left on this page.
Shuttle Launch Countdown Going
Smoothly
16 November 2009 9:30 a.m. EST
The space shuttle Atlantis is fully
fueled, and the countdown toward launch is proceeding on schedule.
The main threat now is the weather,
with forecasters predicting a 30 percent chance that a cloud ceiling will move
in over the launch pad to thwart a liftoff, planned for 2:28 p.m. EST (1928
GMT).
Click here
for SPACE.com's launch
preview story.
-- Clara Moskowitz
NASA will broadcast the STS-129
mission live on NASA TV. Click
here for SPACE.com’s NASA TV feed or
follow the NASA TV link at the upper left on this page.
Space Shuttle Fueling Almost
Complete
16 November 2009 7:27 a.m. EST
Ground crews are almost finished
filling the external fuel tank on the space shuttle Atlantis in preparation for
launch today.
Super-chilled liquid hydrogen
propellant is 98 percent fully loaded, and liquid oxygen is nearing the full
point as well. The tanking process has passed the point where some gas leak
issues occurred during earlier launches this year.
"That is not the case this
morning," spokesman Allard Beutel
said. "The launch team is not working any issues right now that would
prevent us from launching on time."
Click here
for SPACE.com's launch
preview story.
-- Clara Moskowitz
NASA will broadcast the STS-129
mission live on NASA TV. Click
here for SPACE.com’s NASA TV feed or
follow the NASA TV link at the upper left on this page.
Space Shuttle Tanking Proceeding
Smoothly
16 November 2009 6:40 a.m. EST
Fueling of the space shuttle
Atlantis is about halfway through, and is proceeding smoothly.
"The launch team is not working
any issues that would prevent us from launching on time," a NASA
spokesperson said.
The main concern for liftoff now is
a chance of cloud ceilings above the launch pad. The weather forecast predicts
a 70 percent chance of favorable conditions at launch time, 2:28 p.m. EST (1928
GMT).
Click here
for SPACE.com's launch
preview story.
-- Clara Moskowitz
NASA will broadcast the STS-129
mission live on NASA TV. Click
here for SPACE.com’s NASA TV feed or follow the
NASA TV link at the upper left on this page.
Fueling Begins on the Space Shuttle
Atlantis
16 November 2009 5:05 a.m. EST
Technicians have started filling the
space shuttle Atlantis' massive orange external fuel tank with its
super-chilled liquid propellants in preparation for the vehicle's planned
launch today.
The weather outlook for liftoff has
been downgraded from a 90 percent chance of good conditions to a 70 percent
chance of clear skies. The possibility of low cloud ceilings poses the main
risk for preventing a launch.
Atlantis is set to lift off from
Launch Pad 39A at Kennedy Space Center in Cape Canaveral, Fla. at 2:28 p.m. EST
(1928 GMT).
Click here
for SPACE.com's launch
preview story.
-- Clara Moskowitz
NASA will broadcast the STS-129
mission live on NASA TV. Click
here for SPACE.com’s NASA TV feed or follow the
NASA TV link at the upper left on this page.
Countdown Still on Track For Monday Shuttle Launch
15 November 2009 11:11 a.m. EST
The countdown toward launch of the
space shuttle Atlantis on Monday at 2:28 p.m. EST (1928 GMT) is proceeding
smoothly.
"After many, many months of
hard work, STS-129 Atlantis and her crew are nearly ready to fly," said
NASA test director Steve Payne Sunday. "We've had a clean countdown to
date and are currently on schedule with no problems to report."
The rotating service structure that
shields the shuttle from bad weather while sitting on the launch pad is set to
be removed this evening at around 5:30 p.m. EST (2200 GMT). Ground teams plan
to begin filling the shuttle's massive external fuel tank with its super-cooled
liquid propellants Monday morning at around 5:00 a.m. EST (1000 GMT).
SPACE.com will begin providing live
coverage of the launch on Monday at 9:30 a.m. EST.
-- Clara Moskowitz
NASA will broadcast the STS-129
mission live on NASA TV. Click
here for SPACE.com’s NASA TV feed or follow the
NASA TV link at the upper left on this page.
NASA Clears Space Shuttle Atlantis
for Monday Launch
14 November 2009 12:00 p.m. EST
NASA gave the space shuttle Atlantis
a "go" for launch on Monday as planned. Mission managers met this
morning and gave the final approval after an unmanned Atlas V rocket failed to
lift off early Saturday, clearing the way for Atlantis to proceed.
"It was a really smooth meeting
… Atlantis is ready to go," said Mike Moses, chair of the shuttle mission
management team. The managers gave "a unanimous vote to proceed with the
launch countdown," he said.
Atlantis is slated to lift off on its
STS-129 mission Nov. 16 at 2:28 p.m. EST (1928 GMT).
-- Clara Moskowitz
NASA will broadcast the STS-129
mission live on NASA TV. Click
here for SPACE.com’s NASA TV feed or follow the
NASA TV link at the upper left on this page.
Astronauts Gear Up for Shuttle
Launch
13 November 2009 9:30 a.m. EST
The STS-129 astronauts are gearing up
for their planned shuttle launch Monday. Commander Charlie "Scorch" Hobaugh and pilot Barry Wilmore
practiced landing at Kennedy Space Center this morning in a Shuttle Training
Aircraft — a Gulfstream II jet modified to simulate
the shuttle controls and handling.
Meanwhile ground crews are making
final preparations on the orbiter, and plan to close Atlantis' payload bay
doors today. Liftoff is scheduled for Nov. 16 at 2:28 p.m. EST (1928 GMT).
-- Clara Moskowitz
NASA will broadcast the STS-129
mission live on NASA TV. Click
here for SPACE.com’s NASA TV feed or follow the
NASA TV link at the upper left on this page.
Shuttle Astronauts Due to Arrive in
Florida Today
12 November 2009 10:00 a.m. EST
The six astronauts set to fly aboard
the space shuttle Atlantis on its STS-129 mission Nov. 16 are due to arrive at
NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Cape Canaveral, Fla. today. The crew, led by commander Charles Hobaugh, is slated to fly in on
Shuttle Training Aircraft at about 12 p.m. EST (1700 GMT).
-- Clara Moskowitz
NASA will broadcast the STS-129
astronauts' arrival live on NASA TV. Click
here for SPACE.com’s NASA TV feed or follow the
NASA TV link at the upper left on this page.