Shuttle Astronauts
Say Goodbye to Space Station
24 November 2009 12:49 p.m. EST
With hugs and farewells all around, the seven astronauts set
to depart on the shuttle Atlantis Wednesday said goodbye to the five remaining
spaceflyers on the International Space Station. The astronauts are now closing
the hatches between the two spacecraft.
Before giving the shuttle crew the okay to go ahead, Mission
Control wanted to make sure they had transferred over their last piece of cargo
— item 914, A.K.A. astronaut Nicole Stott, who is joining the shuttle crew for
the ride home on Atlantis. As a joke, the crew taped a "914" sign to
her back to make sure not to forget her.
-- 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
Command of Space Station
Changes Over
24 November 2009 10:13 a.m. EST
Space station Expedition 21 commander Frank DeWinne of
Belgium officially handed over command to NASA astronaut Jeff Williams.
"It has been an honor, a pleasure, and a privilege to
be able to work with this exceptional crew," DeWinne said. "As the
first European commander, it has been a great honor to be able to fulfill this
role."
The astronauts decided to hold the ceremony today, rather
than wait until DeWinne departs from the station next week, as is usual, because
they wanted to include Expedition 21 flight engineer Nicole Stott, who is due
to ride home to Earth with the STS-129 crew aboard Atlantis.
Click
here for a preview of today's activities in space.
-- 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 Wake to Marine
Corps Music
24 November 2009 5:29 a.m. EST
The seven STS-129 crewmembers awoke early this morning for
their last day docked at the International Space Station. The spaceflyers were
roused by the "The Marine Corps Hymn," performed by the Marine Corps
Band. The song was played especially for commander Charlie Hobaugh.
Click
here for a preview of today's activities in space.
-- 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 Complete Third
Spacewalk
23 November 2009 2:06 p.m. EST
Spacewalkers Satcher and Bresnik are back inside the
station, and have closed and locked the hatch, wrapping up the mission's third and
final spacewalk. Bresnik took time to thank his wife Rebecca for giving birth
to the couple's first daughter Saturday.
"I got to see my little girl for the first time
yesterday," Bresnik said at the end of his spacewalk. "Thank you to
my wonderful wife for bringer her into the world. That is the most beautiful
thing I've seen since I left Earth."
-- 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
Spacewalkers Head Back to the
Airlock
23 November 2009 1:47 p.m. EST
Satcher and Bresnik have taken some final snapshots in space
and have been told to head back to the Quest airlock to wrap up their
spacewalk.
-- 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
All Primary Spacewalk Tasks
Completed
23 November 2009 1:26 p.m. EST
The two spacewalkers have finished all their primary
spacewalk tasks and are doing some final work before getting ready to head back
into the space station to wrap up the mission's third spacewalk.
The astronauts are trying to account for a small object that
appeared to float away from Satcher's workstation earlier, though they think it
is likely just a small wire tie and poses no major problem.
-- 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
Spacewalkers Work on Station
Maintenance Chores
23 November 2009 12:48 p.m. EST
The spacewalkers are continuing to run ahead of schedule.
Randy Bresnkik is now working on attaching insulating covers to cameras on the
station's robotic arm. Bobby Satcher is doing some chores outside the Express
Logistics Carrier 1, a large cargo platform the shuttle Altantis delivered to
the station last week.
-- 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
Spacewalkers Move to Complete
Separate Tasks
23 November 2009 12:08 p.m. EST
Satcher and Bresnik are parting company to work on separate
chores. Satcher will release a bolt on an ammonia tank assembly to prepare for
a future spacewalk to install a replacement tank.
Meanwhile Bresnik will install some equipment on the
station's truss railing.
-- 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 Tie Down Orbital
Debris Shields
23 November 2009 11:42 a.m. EST
The astronauts have almost
completed the job of tying down some micrometeoroid and orbital debris shields
on top of an external cargo stowage platform. The shields will protect the
cargo from being hurt by small pieces of trash or rock orbiting in space.
-- 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
Spacewalkers Running Ahead of
Schedule
23 November 2009 11:20 a.m. EST
The spacewalkers have almost finished
their work at the oxygen tank, and are breezing through their major tasks for
the day. They are currently running about 20 minutes ahead of schedule.
-- 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
Spacewalkers Add Massive Gas
Tank to Station
23 November 2009 10:58 a.m. EST
Spacewalkers Randy Bresnik and
Robert Satcher are finishing up attaching a huge pressurized oxygen gas tank
near the space station's Quest Airlock. The station's robotic arm just released
its hold on the tank. Satcher is now taking pictures of the work being done.
-- 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 Attach New Science
Experiment
23 November 2009 10:27 a.m. EST
Spacewalker Randy Bresnik has
successfully installed a new experiment – the seventh Materials International
Space Station Experiment, or MISSE 7, on the space station.
-- 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
Spacewalkers Work to Install
New Equipment
23 November 2009 10:07 a.m. EST
While an oxygen gas tank is being
transported via robotic arm to its destination near the Quest airlock, Satcher
is already in place helping to pave the way for its installation there.
Meanwhile Bresnik is still
working to deploy two experiment boxes on the Express Logistics Carrier 2, a
cargo platform that Atlantis delivered to the station last week.
-- 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
Spacewalkers Transfer Gas Tank
to Robotic Arm
23 November 2009 9:37 a.m. EST
Satcher and Bresnik have
successfully transferred the new oxygen tank to the space station's robotic
arm, which is being operated by mission specialist Leland Melvin from inside
the station. Melvin will now move the tank to its permanent home on the station.
-- 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
Astronaut Carries New
Experiment to Station Truss
23 November 2009 9:21 a.m. EST
Spacewalker Randy Bresnik has
strapped two boxes of a science experiment onto his back to carry them to their
new home on the International Space Station.
"Hey, Wyatt, I look just
like Spiderman," Bresnik called, addressing his young son, Wyatt, at home
in Houston with Bresnik's wife Rebecca and their new baby daughter, Abigail,
who was born Saturday after Bresnik completed his first career spacewalk.
-- 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
Spacewalkers Work to Install
New Experiment
23 November 2009 8:55 a.m. EST
Bresnik is working now to install
the seventh Materials International Space Station Experiment, or MISSE 7, on
the space station.
Meanwhile, Satcher has moved over
to a cargo pallet attached to the station's truss, where an oxygen gas tank is
attached. He and Bresnik plan to transfer the tank to a spot near the Quest
airlock where the spacewalkers recently exited the station.
Click
here for a preview of today's spacewalk.
-- 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 Exit Space Station
Hatch
23 November 2009 8:39 a.m. EST
Spacewalkers Randy Bresnik and
Robert Satcher have stepped out of the station's Quest Airlock Hatch and moved
into space to begin today's spacewalk.
The astronauts' first major task
of the day will be to install a new oxygen gas tank on the station.
Click
here for a preview of today's spacewalk.
-- 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
Spacewalk Officially Begins!
23 November 2009 8:24 a.m. EST
STS-129 mission specialists Randy
Bresnik and Robert Satcher have opened the hatch on the International Space
Station and switched their spacesuits to battery power, officially beginning
the mission's third spacewalk.
Bresnik and Satcher plan to
install a new oxygen gas tank, a materials experiment and complete other tasks.
Click
here for a preview of today's spacewalk.
-- 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 Begin
Depressurizing Airlock
23 November 2009 7:55 a.m. EST
Astronauts have begun to
depressurize the Quest airlock on the International Space Station to prepare
for Randy Bresnik and Robert Satcher to open the hatch and step out into space
for their mission's third spacewalk.
The outing is set to begin today
at 8:18 a.m. EST (1318 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 Prepare to Begin
Spacewalk
23 November 2009 7:13 a.m. EST
Mission specialists Randy Bresnik
and Robert Satcher are proceeding smoothly with preparations to begin today's
spacewalk, the third planned for their docked STS-129 mission at the space
station.
The two spacewalkers are still
about an hour behind schedule after taking time off to fix an issue with the
drink bag in Satcher's suit. Since then, preparations have been on track. They
plan to switch their suits to battery power and officially begin the spacewalk
today at 8:18 a.m. EST (1318 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
Spacesuit Problem Repaired
23 November 2009 6:44 a.m. EST
Astronauts have successfully
repaired the problem on Bobby Satcher's spacesuit by replacing the loose valve
on his drink bag. He should be all set to proceed with suiting up and checking
the pressurized suit for leaks, though the work has put the astronauts behind
schedule. They may be able to make some of the time up, though.
-- 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
Spacesuit Issue Delays
Spacewalk Today
23 November 2009 6:35 a.m. EST
Astronauts aboard the
International Space Station are helping Bobby Satcher and Randy Bresnik don
their pressurized spacesuits for a planned spacewalk today. However, the
astronauts ran into an issue with the drink bag in Satcher's suit, which allows
him to drink water during the spacewalk. The valve attached to it came loose
and they are working to replace it.
This minor glitch should be
fixable, but has delayed the planned start time of today's spacewalk to 8:18
a.m. EST (1318 GMT), an hour later than planned.
-- 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 Suit Up for
Spacewalk
23 November 2009 6:21 a.m. EST
Astronauts Randy Bresnik and
Robert "Bobby" Satcher are suiting up for their mission's third
spacewalk, set to begin at 7:18 a.m. EST (1218 GMT).
The spaceflyers are having some
trouble with a drink valve on Satcher's suit, which may set them back on the timeline.
-- 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 to Take Time Off,
Celebrate Baby’s Birth
22 November 2009 8:03 a.m. EST
Astronauts aboard the linked
shuttle Atlantis and International Space Station have some much-deserved time
off on their schedule today, with one of them – spaceflyer Randy Bresnik –
reveling in the birth
of his baby daughter Abigail Mae.
Click
here for the full story on Bresnik’s daughter.
Mission Control roused the crew
early Sunday with the song “Butterfly Kisses” by Bob Carlisle, a tune about a
father and daughter beamed to Bresnik at the request of his wife Rebecca.
-- 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
Astronaut Still Awaits News of
Baby Daughter's Birth
21 November 2009 5:12 p.m. EST
Astronaut Randy Bresnik, who
completed his first spacewalk today, has been expecting any minute to hear
about the birth of a baby to his wife Rebecca, who was induced into labor
Friday. NASA said there is still no word, but that everyone is eagerly awaiting
good news.
"The Bresnik launch
countdown clock has got some unpredictable and variable holds in it," said
lead flight director Brian Smith during a briefing. "We certainly wish
them all the best and hope that soon their baby is born."
-- 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
Spacewalkers Close Hatch to
Complete Spacewalk
21 November 2009 3:33 p.m. EST
Both Mike Foreman and Randy
Bresnik have come back inside the space station's Quest airlock and closed the
hatch behind them, capping of this second STS-129 spacewalk.
The outing lasted about six
hours, and the spacewalkers completed all the tasks on the checklist, plus some
get-ahead work.
-- 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
Foreman Back Inside the
Airlock
21 November 2009 3:18 p.m. EST
Spacewalker Mike Foreman has
completed his excursion outside the space station and come back inside the Quest
Airlock. His crewmate Randy Bresnik (who's call sign is "Comrade") is
on his way.
"Come on in, Comrade,
water's fine," Foreman called.
-- 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
Spacewalkers Head Back Inside
21 November 2009 3:00 p.m. EST
The two astronauts outside the
International Space Station are headed back inside the spacecraft after
spending about six hours on a spacewalk. Mission specialists Mike Foreman and
Randy Bresnik completed all the tasks scheduled for them ahead of their
timeline, and even had time to take on some extra work.
-- 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
Spacewalkers Install Second
Cargo Fixture
21 November 2009 2:07 p.m. EST
The two astronauts outside the
International Space Station have completed their installation of a second
system to attach cargo to the station's railing. This task was a get-ahead job
that was originally planned to be undertaken during the mission's third
spacewalk on Monday. The astronauts breezed through the job, though.
"This is the STS-129
contribution to the station," said mission specialist Robert
"Bobby" Satcher from inside 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
Astronauts to Tackle Another
Cargo Fixture Attachment
21 November 2009 1:21 p.m. EST
Spacewalkers Mike Foreman and Randy
Bresnik did so well installing a first empty cargo platform on the space
station that Mission Controllers decided to have them tackle another, since
they are running far ahead of schedule.
The idea to complete another
cargo pallet attachment was shuttle commander Charlie Hobaugh's.
"Great work, you and Comrade
both," Hobaugh told Foreman, referring to Bresnik by his call sign.
"Way to kick butt."
-- 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
Spacewalkers Finish Attaching
a New Cargo Platform
21 November 2009 1:01 p.m. EST
Astronauts Mike Foreman and Randy
Bresnik have successfully installed an empty cargo platform on the space
station meant to hold spare parts to be delivered on future shuttle missions.
The spacewalkers are continuing
to run about an hour ahead of schedule, so Mission Control is considering
assigning them some "get-ahead" tasks to tack on to the end of their
excursion.
"They're really kicking butt
on the timeline here," said STS-129 commander Charlie Hobaugh from inside
the station. He asked the two spacewalkers if they'd be up for another job
nearby their position on the station's S3 truss, and they said they were good
to go.
-- 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
Spacewalkers Installing a
Cargo Holder on the Station
21 November 2009 12:19 p.m. EST
Foreman and Bresnik have moved on
to the S3 segment of the truss, where they are working to install a new cargo
attachment system to the station where future crews can store spare parts.
-- 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 Successfully Move
Antenna Box
21 November 2009 11:37 a.m. EST
The spacewalkers have
successfully moved an antenna box, called the Floating Potential Measurement
Unit, from the starboard to port side of the space station's metal truss frame.
They are still moving a bit ahead of schedule and Mission Control is
considering adding some get-ahead tasks for the astronauts to work on if they
finish their scheduled jobs early.
-- 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
Spacewalkers Relocate Station
Part
21 November 2009 11:02 a.m. EST
Bresnik and Foreman have
completed their work at the Columbus lab and have moved over to the station's
S-1 backbone-like truss, where they will move a box from the starboard to port
side to make way for future equipment to be added.
The spacewalk is going smoothly,
though Foreman has been having some trouble hearing Mission Control clearly
through his communication system. So far they have been able to work around the
issue, though.
-- 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 Ahead of Schedule
on Spacewalk
21 November 2009 10:36 a.m. EST
The two astronauts conducting a
spacewalk outside the International Space Station today are moving about 40
minutes ahead of schedule and have accomplished all their tasks so far with no
issues.
Mission specialist Mike Foreman
is attaching cables and routing power wires, while Randy Bresnik works to
secure a new antenna to the Columbus 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
Spacewalkers Work At Columbus
Laboratory
21 November 2009 10:18 a.m. EST
Spacewalkers Randy Bresnik and
Mike Foreman have moved over to the station's European Columbus laboratory to
work at installing a new set of antennas there.
The spacewalk is progressing
smoothly so far, and the spacewalkers are even running a bit ahead of schedule.
-- 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 Gather New
Equipment
21 November 2009 10:04 a.m. EST
Spacewalkers Randy Bresnik and Mike
Foreman are at the shuttle Atlantis' payload bay collecting new equipment from
a tool box there that they plan to install on the International Space Station.
Bresnik, who is making his first
career spacewalk, admired the view from outside the spacecraft.
"Other than seeing my wife
for the first time, I don’t think I've ever seen a more beautiful sight,"
he said.
-- 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
Spacewalkers Exit Space
Station
21 November 2009 9:48 a.m. EST
Spacewalkers Randy Bresnik and
Mike Foreman have stepped out of the International Space Station on the second
spacewalk planned for their STS-129 mission.
This is Bresnik's very first
spacewalk, and the first of two he plans to undertake on this trip. In another
first for the day, his wife Rebecca is set to give birth to their first
daughter today.
Click
here for a look at today’s spacewalk.
-- 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 Begin Second
Spacewalk
21 November 2009 9:33 a.m. EST
Mission Specialists Randy Bresnik
and Mike Foreman switched their spacesuits onto battery power, officially
beginning the second spacewalk of their STS-129 mission.
The spaceflyers plan to spend
about six hours outside of the International Space Station to install new video
antennas and other equipment.
Click
here for a look at today’s spacewalk. Today is Flight Day 6 of
Atlantis’ 11-day STS-129 mission to the space station.
-- 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 Depressurize
Airlock for Spacewalk
21 November 2009 9:03 a.m. EST
Astronauts Randy Bresnik and Mike
Foreman are depressurizing the space station's Quest airlock in preparation for
their planned spacewalk today at 9:38 a.m. EST (1438 GMT).
The two spacewalkers plan to
spend about six hours outside the lab to attach some new parts and do maintenance
on the orbiting laboratory. The spacewalk is delayed about half an hour due to
a false alarm that woke the astronauts from sleep last night.
Click
here for a look at today’s spacewalk. Today is Flight Day 6 of
Atlantis’ 11-day STS-129 mission to the space station.
-- 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 Work to Don
Spacesuits
21 November 2009 7:18 a.m. EST
Mission specialists Randy Bresnik
and Mike Foreman are in the station's Quest airlock, working to put on their
white pressurized spacesuits to wear when they venture into the vacuum of
space.
Their spacewalk is set to begin
at 9:38 a.m. EST (1438 GMT) and last about six hours.
Meanwhile, the space station's
robotic arm has just grabbed onto the cargo platform being moved from the
shuttle Atlantis' payload bay. It was first lifted out by the shuttle's robotic
arm, and has now been transferred onto the station arm, which will carry it to
the truss, or backbone, of 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
Shuttle Astronauts Lift Spare
Parts Platform From Cargo Bay
21 November 2009 6:48 a.m. EST
Astronauts aboard the shuttle
Atlantis have lifted a massive cargo platform out of their vehicle's cargo bay
using the shuttle's robotic arm. They plan to transfer this platform, loaded
with giant spare parts for the space station, over to the station's robotic
arm, which will attach it to the truss, or backbone, of the orbiting
laboratory.
Meanwhile, mission specialists
Randy Bresnik and Mike Foreman are in the station's Quest airlock preparing to
step out for the second of three spacewalks planned during their mission.
-- 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
False Alarms Wake Astronauts
Again
21 November 2009 2:07 a.m. EST
False alarms rang out on the
International Space Station for the second night in a row late Friday, waking
the 12 astronauts aboard the outpost and linked shuttle and stalling a
pre-spacewalk campout by astronauts Randy Bresnik and Mike Foreman. Watch
the mission live!
The alarms sounded at about 10
p.m. EST (0300 Sat. GMT) while all 12 astronauts on the linked station and
shuttle Atlantis were sleeping. Bresnik and Foreman were camping out in the
station’s Quest airlock, a process that allows them to sleep at a lower
pressure than the station to purge their bodies of nitrogen in order to prevent
developing the bends while working outside in their low-pressure NASA
spacesuits.
Because of the alarms, the
station automatically interrupted that pre-spacewalk campout and equalized the
pressure between the airlock and space station. Ventilation fans shut off too,
kicking up dust that set off a smoke alarm in the airlock, but all the
astronauts were safe at all times.
But the time required to reset the
station’s systems meant Bresnik and Foreman had to stop their campout. They
will now have to spend time early Saturday exercising while wearing oxygen
facemasks to purge their bodies of nitrogen ahead of the spacewalk. The
exercise method is a tried and true method for spacewalk preparation.
NASA engineers believe the false
alarms, which also sounded late Thursday, are related to a new Russian module
called Poisk, which arrived at the station earlier this month and serves as a
research area, docking port and airlock.
-- 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 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.
