Next Shuttle launch - August 27th

[alanb]

Latest info on the Next Shuttle Launch:


Mission: STS-115 - 19th International Space Station Flight (12A) -
P3/P4 Truss Segment and Solar Arrays
Vehicle: Atlantis (OV-104)
Location: Launch Pad 39B
Launch Date: Aug. 27, 2006, 4:30 p.m. EDT
Crew: Jett, Ferguson, Tanner, Burbank, MacLean and Stefanyshyn-Piper Inclination/Orbit Altitude: 51.6 degrees/122 nautical miles

At Launch Pad 39B, hypergolic propellant loading is being completed today. Following a decision by Space Shuttle Program managers to remove and replace two Ku-band antenna actuator bolts in the forward section of the orbiter payload bay, workers are preparing access platforms and will complete the task over the weekend. The bolts will be replaced with longer versions to ensure adequate thread engagement. Ordnance installation is now scheduled for Sunday evening, pending completion of the bolt replacement.

Earlier this week, flight crew systems workers installed extravehicular maneuvering units in the crew cabin. The suits are worn by shuttle crew members for spacewalks.

In Houston, the STS-115 crew is completing its final prelaunch physicals and a final flight data file review today, before heading into quarantine this weekend for the Aug. 27 launch.

LAUNCH COUNTDOWN BEGINS AUG. 24 FOR SPACE SHUTTLE ATLANTIS

NASA will begin the countdown for the launch of Space Shuttle Atlantis on mission STS-115 at 6 p.m. EDT Thursday, Aug. 24, at the T-43 hour point. During this mission, Atlantis' crew will resume the construction of the International Space Station, which is the goal of the remaining space shuttle flights in the program.

The Kennedy Space Center launch team will conduct the countdown from the newly renovated Firing Room 4 of the Launch Control Center. The countdown includes 27 hours, 24 minutes of built-in hold time leading to a preferred launch time at about 4:30 p.m. on Sunday, Aug. 27, with a launch window extending about five minutes.

This mission is the 116th space shuttle flight, the 27th flight for orbiter Atlantis, and the 19th U.S. flight to the International Space Station. STS-115 is scheduled to last 11 days with a planned KSC landing at about 12:02 p.m. EDT on Sept. 7.

Atlantis rolled into KSC's Orbiter Processing Facility on Oct. 18, 2002, after returning from its last mission, STS-112. Its next mission was planned to be STS-114; however, during the program delays following the loss of orbiter Columbia, Atlantis was reassigned to mission STS-115. The orbiter rolled out of the facility's bay 1 and into the Vehicle Assembly Building on July 24. While in the building's high bay 3, Atlantis was mated to its modified external tank and solid rocket boosters. The entire space shuttle stack was transferred to Launch Pad 39B on Aug. 2.

The STS-115 crew includes Commander Brent Jett, Pilot Chris Ferguson, and Mission Specialists Joe Tanner, Dan Burbank, Heidemarie Stefanyshyn-Piper and Steve MacLean of the Canadian Space Agency.

During mission STS-115, Atlantis will dock with the station and the crew will perform three spacewalks. The astronauts will deliver and install the 17.5-ton, bus-sized P3/P4 integrated truss segment to the station's girder-like truss backbone. The new piece will include a second set of giant solar arrays, batteries and associated electronics. Together, the trusses and solar arrays will provide one-fourth of the total power-generation capability of the completed station.

To prepare for the extravehicular activities, the spacewalkers will perform a new "campout pre-breathing exercise." These crew members will reside in the station's airlock overnight, where the pressure will slowly be reduced. Harmful gases will thereby be removed from their blood, allowing them to gradually acclimate to the lower pressure they will encounter outside the station. Provisions are onboard to support as many as three additional spacewalks, if required to complete mission objectives.

[alanb]

Shuttle update 21st August

At Launch Pad 39B, workers have completed hypergolic propellant loading of the orbiter and solid rocket boosters. Following a decision by Space Shuttle Program managers to remove and replace two Ku-band antenna actuator bolts in the forward section of the orbiter payload bay, workers spent the weekend preparing access platforms, performing the bolt replacement and then removing the temporary access equipment. The bolt replacement was completed early Sunday.
Later on Sunday, the orbiter's payload bay doors were closed and ordnance installation was initiated, with completion early on Monday.
Technicians are now closing out the orbiter's aft compartments and pressurization of the orbiter's maneuvering system, reaction control system and main propulsion system will begin tomorrow. Stowage of flight crew equipment in the crew module is ongoing.

In Houston, the STS-115 crew began their health stabilization period in preparation for the Aug. 27 launch.

[alanb]

Update

Mission: STS-115 - 19th International Space Station Flight (12A) -
P3/P4 Truss Segment and Solar Arrays
Vehicle: Atlantis (OV-104)
Location: Launch Pad 39B
Launch Date: Aug. 27, 2006, 4:30 p.m. EDT
Crew: Jett, Ferguson, Tanner, Burbank, MacLean and Stefanyshyn-Piper Inclination/Orbit Altitude: 51.6 degrees/122 nautical miles

At Launch Pad 39B, closeout of the orbiter's aft compartments continues, and pressurization of the orbiter's maneuvering system, reaction control system and main propulsion system is under way.
Stowage of flight crew equipment in the crew module is ongoing.
Payload bay preparations will resume Wednesday. Final closeouts on the solid rocket boosters and the external fuel tank will be completed today.

In Houston, the STS-115 crew is conducting the final ascent simulation today. The crew will arrive at Kennedy Space Center on Thursday.

[alanb]

Update

LAUNCH COUNTDOWN BEGAN AUG. 24 FOR SPACE SHUTTLE ATLANTIS

NASA began the countdown for the launch of Space Shuttle Atlantis on mission STS-115 at noon EDT Thursday, Aug. 24, at the T-43 hour point. During this mission, Atlantis' crew will resume the construction of the International Space Station, which is the goal of the remaining space shuttle flights in the program.

The Kennedy Space Center launch team will conduct the countdown from the newly renovated Firing Room 4 of the Launch Control Center. The countdown includes 33 hours, 24 minutes of built-in hold time leading to a preferred launch time at about 4:30 p.m. on Sunday, Aug. 27, with a launch window extending about five minutes.

This mission is the 116th space shuttle flight, the 27th flight for orbiter Atlantis, and the 19th U.S. flight to the International Space Station. STS-115 is scheduled to last 11 days with a planned KSC landing at about 12:02 p.m. EDT on Sept. 7.

Atlantis rolled into KSC's Orbiter Processing Facility on Oct. 18, 2002, after returning from its last mission, STS-112. Its next mission was planned to be STS-114; however, during the program delays following the loss of orbiter Columbia, Atlantis was reassigned to mission STS-115. The orbiter rolled out of the facility's bay 1 and into the Vehicle Assembly Building on July 24. While in the building's high bay 3, Atlantis was mated to its modified external tank and solid rocket boosters. The entire space shuttle stack was transferred to Launch Pad 39B on Aug. 2.

The STS-115 crew includes Commander Brent Jett, Pilot Chris Ferguson, and Mission Specialists Joe Tanner, Dan Burbank, Heidemarie Stefanyshyn-Piper and Steve MacLean of the Canadian Space Agency.

During mission STS-115, Atlantis will dock with the station and the crew will perform three spacewalks. The astronauts will deliver and install the 17.5-ton, bus-sized P3/P4 integrated truss segment to the station's girder-like truss backbone. The new piece will include a second set of giant solar arrays, batteries and associated electronics. Together, the trusses and solar arrays will provide one-fourth of the total power-generation capability of the completed station.

To prepare for the extravehicular activities, the spacewalkers will perform a new "campout pre-breathing exercise." These crew members will reside in the station's airlock overnight, where the pressure will slowly be reduced. Harmful gases will thereby be removed from their blood, allowing them to gradually acclimate to the lower pressure they will encounter outside the station. Provisions are onboard to support as many as three additional spacewalks, if required to complete mission objectives.

[alanb]

Update

ission: STS-115 - 19th International Space Station Flight (12A) -
P3/P4 Truss Segment and Solar Arrays
Vehicle: Atlantis (OV-104)
Location: Launch Pad 39B
Launch Date: Aug. 27, 2006, 4:30 p.m. EDT
Crew: Jett, Ferguson, Tanner, Burbank, MacLean and Stefanyshyn-Piper Inclination/Orbit Altitude: 51.6 degrees/122 nautical miles

At Launch Pad 39B, closeout of the orbiter's aft compartments is complete and the aft doors have been installed. Technicians have finished performing the aft confidence test, which involves powering up and testing all of the aft systems, such as the main propulsion system circuits. The payload bay doors will be closed today for flight.

The start of the launch countdown was moved from 6 p.m. to noon Eastern time today to allow for earlier loading of fuel for the power reactant storage and distribution system. The goal is to finish the system loads before the predicted afternoon thunderstorms on Friday.
Additional hold time will be added at the T-19 hour mark, extending the hold from four hours to 10 hours. After T-19, the schedule will proceed as normal, culminating in a launch on Sunday at 4:30 p.m.
Eastern time.

The STS-115 crew arrived at 11:30 a.m. today at the Shuttle Landing Facility from Johnson Space Center in Houston. They will spend the next days prior to launch going over their flight plans.

U.S. Air Force weather officers are forecasting a 30-percent chance of weather prohibiting a launch attempt on Sunday. The primary weather concerns are anvil clouds, showers and thunderstorms within 20 nautical miles of the Shuttle Landing Facility.

[alanb]

Update

NASA'S SPACE SHUTTLE PROCESSING STATUS REPORT

Note: NASA's Kennedy Space Center issues Space Shuttle Processing Status Reports periodically and is the source for information regarding processing activities associated with the vehicles and payloads. This report does not necessarily reflect the chronological order of future space shuttle missions. If you are a member of the media and would like further information, visit:
http://www.nasa.gov/centers/kennedy/news/index.html

Mission: STS-115 - 19th International Space Station Flight (12A) -
P3/P4 Truss Segment and Solar Arrays
Vehicle: Atlantis (OV-104)
Location: Launch Pad 39B
Launch Date: Aug. 27, 2006, 4:30 p.m. EDT
Crew: Jett, Ferguson, Tanner, Burbank, MacLean and Stefanyshyn-Piper Inclination/Orbit Altitude: 51.6 degrees/122 nautical miles

At Launch Pad 39B, final launch preparations continue. The payload bay doors were closed for flight last night, and loading of the fuel for the power reactant storage and distribution system is now under way.
Weather delays interrupted the PRSD loading earlier this afternoon, but the task is expected to be completed later this evening. No impact to the remaining schedule is expected. Also, the Tyvek ring covers have been installed on the forward reaction control system thrusters. These covers protect the thrusters from inclement weather.
They are designed to release from the orbiter shortly after launch, as the shuttle clears the tower.

Mission managers met at KSC this afternoon to further discuss progress made and give final approval to continue with launch activities. No problems were discussed that would prevent an on-time launch on Sunday.

Weather forecasters indicate the launch day probability of weather prohibiting launch is 40 percent. A Bermuda high pressure ridge located over the Florida Straits is creating a southwesterly flow over Central Florida, bringing afternoon thunderstorms for the next two days. The primary concerns on Sunday are anvil clouds, showers and thunderstorms within 20 nautical miles of the Shuttle Landing Facility.

[MrB]

Ok the above is fine . But what time UK is the launch due for and has someone got a link to the NASA launch video site?

[alanb]

Check out the other potsings and you'll find the TV link - US is 5 hrs behind UK time.

On launch day, NASA TV will begin broadcasting mission commentary at 10:30 a.m. For detailed television scheduling information, visit the Web at:

http://www.nasa.gov/ntv

[alanb]

Update

The Mission Management Team decided today to postpone the launch of Shuttle Atlantis on mission STS-115 for 24 hours. Launch is now scheduled for 4:04 p.m. Eastern time on Monday, Aug. 28. On Friday, at about 1:49 p.m., a lightning strike occurred on the pad's lightning protection system. Managers determined additional time was required to be assured all systems on the shuttle and the pad were not affected.

Mission managers will meet again Sunday morning to further assess launch readiness. The countdown clock is currently in an extended hold at T-11 hours.

At Launch Pad 39B, launch preparations continue. Loading of the fuel for the power reactant storage and distribution system was completed Friday night, following a six-hour weather delay. Closeouts of the pad systems and final stowage of flight crew items is under way.

U.S. Air Force weather officers are forecasting a 20-percent chance of weather prohibiting a launch attempt on Monday. The primary weather concern is for the probability of showers within 20 nautical miles of the Shuttle Landing Facility.

[alanb]

The next launch attempt is currently set for Tuesday, Aug. 29, at 3:41 p.m. EDT.