STS-129: Atlantis to ISS

[Rick]

Atlantis crew gears up for Monday launch

The crew of space shuttle Atlantis has arrived at Kennedy Space Center ahead of Monday's slated launch of mission STS-129 to the International Space Station.

More: http://www.theregister.co.uk/2009/11/13/atlantis_crew/

Butterflies In Spaaaace!

NASA boffins have announced plans to fly a suitcase full of live butterflies up to the International Space Station, in a project appropriately named "Butterflies In Space".

Scientists in charge of Butterflies In Space have announced that a special space insect habitat will be launched into orbit aboard space shuttle Atlantis next week. In the "suitcase-sized" Commercial Generic Bioprocessing Apparatus (CGBA) will travel Monarch and Painted Lady "butterflynauts", as well as larvae which will pupate and then emerge fully-fledged while actually in space.

More: http://www.theregister.co.uk/2009/11/11/nasa_butterflynauts/

[Rick]

From: http://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/shuttle/main/index.html

Launch on Schedule, Tanking Complete
Mon, 16 Nov 2009 01:11:55 PM GMT+0000

Space shuttle Atlantis' external tank has been loaded with about 535,000 gallons of liquid hydrogen and liquid oxygen, the propellants that will power the shuttle's three main engines during launch. The fueling operation went smoothly and a fill-and-drain valve inside Atlantis functioned properly throughout the process. Pumps at the launch pad will continue to trickle in a small amount of super-cold chemicals to replace the amount that boils off during the countdown.

Fueling of the external tank was completed at 8 a.m. and the countdown has entered 2 1/2 hour hold.

The Final Inspection Team and Closeout Crew will head out to the pad shortly for their specialized tasks. The inspection team will look for signs of debris or ice buildup, while the Closeout Crew will ready Atlantis for its six-member astronaut crew.

[Mac]

The official press kit.
http://www.nasa.gov/pdf/398418main_sts129_press_kit.pdf

worth the download. 15Meg.

Mac.

[Mike]

I can't wait to see the butterflies trying to fly in low G

[Ian]

I can't wait to see the butterflies trying to fly in low G

how will you tell if they fail?

[mickw]

If a butterly flaps it wings in space, will that divert the solar wind 

[mickw]

Two astronauts will step out of the International Space Station today on the first of three spacewalks to stock the orbiting lab with spare parts.

Veteran spacewalker Mike Foreman and rookie astronaut Bobby Satcher plan to exit the station at 9:18 a.m. EST (1418 GMT). The two NASA spaceflyers are slated to spend about 6 1/2 hours floating outside to install a spare antenna and complete other station maintenance tasks.

"To go outside — and it's a great view from inside the shuttle — but outside with just your helmet and that visor in front of you, and panoramic view of the Earth and the heavens, it's just amazing," Foreman said of spacewalking, during a preflight interview.

Foreman and Satcher arrived at the orbiting laboratory Wednesday along with four other crewmembers flying aboard the space shuttle Atlantis' STS-129 mission, led by commander Charlie Hobaugh. The shuttle launched Monday to begin the 11-day spaceflight


More:   http://www.space.com/missionlaunches/091119-sts129-first-spacewalk-preview.html?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+spaceheadlines+%28SPACE.com+Headline+Feed%29

[Rick]

A US astronaut on board the space shuttle Atlantis is literally walking on air, with the news of the birth of a daughter back on Earth.

Randolph Bresnik, who is on his first space flight, became a father for a second time when baby Abigail was born back home in Houston, Texas.

More: http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/sci/tech/8372997.stm

[Mac]

A US astronaut on board the space shuttle Atlantis is literally walking on air, with the news of the birth of a daughter back on Earth.

That's a pig of a decision to make,

Hmmm "fly on the shuttle" or "see the birth of your daughter".

I hope he sent his wife a card from the shuttle,

[Ian]

well, he can always make another kid. There's only a handful of seats left on the shuttle missions...