Tag: STS-129
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Delta IV may yield to Atlantis – SSP Flight Readiness Review complete
As engineers continue to prepare Shuttle Atlantis for her NET (No Earlier Than) November 16 launch, negotiations to secure a longer launch window for STS-129 (the launch window is currently one day long) are underway between NASA and the Department of Defense. Meanwhile, the SSP Flight Readiness Reviews (FRRs) has concluded with a recommendation to…
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STS-129 slips to November 16 after Atlas wins Range battle
Atlantis has been reduced to just one launch attempt – on November 16 – after STS-129 lost the battle for the Eastern Range to two satellite launches from Cape Canaveral. A second launch attempt on November 17 is being negotiated, prior to standing down for a Delta IV launch. The previous opening launch attempt on…
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STS-129: Atlantis in preps for TCDT – SSME nozzle flight rationale
Atlantis is enjoying a relatively smooth pad flow, with only three issues being worked, as engineers prepare the shuttle for the Terminal Countdown Demonstration Test (TCDT) next week. Flight rationale has also been produced for Atlantis’ SSMEs (Space Shuttle Main Engines), following small leaks on both Endeavour and Discovery engine nozzles during the previous two…
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STS-129 may slip several days due to Range battle with Atlas launch
From an official standpoint, STS-129 is continuing to target a November 12, though Shuttle manager John Shannon noted on Thursday that Atlantis will likely aim for a window between November 17-19 – due to an Eastern Range conflict with an Atlas V launch. Meanwhile, engineers are evaluating the shuttle and pad’s electrical systems, following “multiple…
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Atlantis arrives at Pad 39A – FRR to be aided by clean STS-128 mission
The STS-129 stack has completed rollout from the Vehicle Assembly Building (VAB) to Pad 39A Wednesday, ahead of the Flight Readiness Review (FRR) season – which begins with the MOD FRR on Thursday – that will clear the vehicle to launch on November 12. The STS-128 In Flight Anomaly (IFA) review will make up a…
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STS-129: Atlantis arrives in VAB for mating – SSME mystery
Atlantis is preparing to mate with her External Tank (ET-133) and twin Solid Rocket Boosters (SRBs), following rollover to the Vehicle Assembly Building (VAB) on Tuesday morning. Meanwhile, engineers are finaling plans to protect the Space Shuttle Main Engine (SSME) nozzles at the pad, following leaks on the last two missions, and an observation of…
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Atlantis tracking Tuesday rollover – Two more ETs due at KSC this year
STS-129 is pressing ahead with the next processing milestone, with Atlantis preparing to roll over from her Orbiter Processing Facility (OPF-1) for the short journey to the Vehicle Assembly Building (VAB) on Tuesday. Meanwhile, the shipping dates have been set for the next two External Tanks (ETs) – both scheduled to arrive at the Kennedy Space…
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Discovery arrives back home at KSC – STS-129 ET/SRB mate
Discovery has returned to her home port of the Kennedy Space Center (KSC) on top of one of NASA’s Shuttle Carrier Aircraft (SCA). The two day cross country journey involved two stops in Texas, and an overnight stay in Louisiana. She joins her two sisters who are deep in processing for the next two missions,…
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Ares I-X undergoing ordnance installation – I-X/STS-129 conflict evaluations
The Ares I-X test vehicle is continuing to undergo the business end of processing inside the Vehicle Assembly Building (VAB) – which includes the installation of its ordnance over the weekend. Meanwhile, Shuttle and Constellation managers are debating its October 31 launch date, due to the proximity of Atlantis’ preparations for her STS-129 launch from…
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NASA evaluates options for Atlantis’ STS-129 Launch Window in November
After nearly two years, orbiter Atlantis is set to make her return to the International Space Station (ISS) in November following her extremely successful flagship mission (STS-125) to repair the Hubble Space Telescope in May 2009. However, meetings have been taking place on Wednesday to discuss the target launch date due to a number of constraints. STS-129…