Shuttle program managers this morning will begin a review of Atlantis' readiness for a targeted May 14 launch to the International Space Station. Meeting by video conference from various NASA centers, representatives will discuss any issues related to the orbiter, solid rocket boosters, external tank, ground systems or payloads.
The meeting is scheduled to run into Thursday, but recent flight readiness reviews have wrapped up in a day because there have been few problems to discuss.
This review will recommend a launch date that will be forwarded to an agency-level review May 5, when the date officially will be set. A May 14 launch would be scheduled for 2:20 p.m., the middle of a 10-minute window.
Atlantis and a crew of six plan to fly a 12-day mission to deliver a Russian module and spare parts to the space station orbiting more than 200 miles above Earth.
At launch pad 39A today, crews will close the orbiter's payload bay doors around that cargo, which was installed last weekend.
Later today, NASA anticipates a nice opportunity to see the station and its crew of six fly overhead, weather permitting, at 8:45 p.m.
The outpost will travel almost directly overhead during a four-minute pass, approaching from the southwest and moving toward the northeast, NASA says. Click here for more on local sighting opportunities.
IMAGE: On launch pad 39A at Kennedy Space Center on April 22, United Space Alliance workers in the cab of the rotating service structure prepare to close it around space shuttle Atlantis. This mobile structure provides protected access to the shuttle for installation and servicing of payloads at the pad, as well as servicing access to certain systems on the shuttle. Photo credit: NASA/Jack Pfaller.
1 comment:
We're finally in the beginning of all the "lasts" as this is the last flight of Atlantis. It has to be so difficult for the workers, not only because they know they're going to lose their jobs, but because these events they love to be part of are coming to a close. It has to be depressing. Atlantis will be stacked for a possible rescue mission of the last shuttle flight. Assuming there is no rescue mission, the last official duty of the live space shuttle program will be de-stacking Atlantis and rolling her out of the VAB to begin her mothballing process. That will be a sad day indeed.
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