STS 135 is GO!!

cyrusdvirus

Well, if Nasa can get the money.

apologies if this has been covered in here already

http://today.msnbc.msn.com/id/41181902/ns/technology_and_science-space/

WASHINGTON — NASA doesn't know yet where it will get the money, but on Thursday the space agency officially added another space shuttle launch to its schedule — the final one for the fleet.

The space agency set a target launch date of June 28 for the shuttle Atlantis and started preparations for the 135th and last shuttle flight. The four-member crew will take up supplies to the International Space Station, make one spacewalk, and return a faulty pump that has bedeviled engineers.

Now three missions remain before NASA retires its shuttle fleet this year. The shuttle Discovery's last mission is slated for Feb. 24, and Endeavour's is set for April.

Thursday's move allows different parts of the shuttle program to start work on Atlantis' 12-day flight, including astronaut training and mission planning, NASA spokesman Michael Curie said.

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Atlantis was originally planned as an emergency-only rescue mission if needed for the Endeavour crew, and it will continue to serve as a backup shuttle for that mission, as "STS-335." But if Endeavour's flight proceeds normally, Atlantis will then be prepared for its own resupply mission, STS-135.

Last year, the Obama administration and Congress clashed over the future of the human space program and came up with a compromise that authorized one extra flight of the shuttle — the Atlantis mission. But Congress never gave NASA the few hundred million dollars needed for the extra flight. That left NASA in a quandary about whether the flight was real or not.

The initial money is coming from the space shuttle program's regular budget, but that can't provide the big dollar amounts needed for a shuttle flight, Curie said.
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"We're optimistic that the funding will be there," Curie said, but he couldn't give details about where the money will come from. The current scenario calls for Congress to appropriate the funds in March.

NASA was under the gun to start preparations. Otherwise, the Atlantis mission wouldn't have been able to launch in late June, Curie said.

The final flight will be commanded by Christopher Ferguson and includes Douglas Hurley, Sandra Magnus and Rex Walheim. It's been decades since a four-person crew flew on the shuttle, but STS-135 will have a minimal crew for safety's sake. If Atlantis is unable to return from space for any reason, the crew members would be rescued from the station using Russian Soyuz spacecraft.

The extra flight means that Mark Kelly — the husband of wounded U.S. Rep. Gabrielle Giffords — will not command the final shuttle flight even if he stays on the Endeavour mission. With his wife's expected long rehabilitation, Kelly asked for a backup commander to be named in case he couldn't fly as scheduled in April.

After the fleet's final flight, the shuttles would be retired and distributed to three museums around the country. NASA would have to rely on other countries' spacecraft as well as commercial spacecraft currently under development for its station transport needs. Eventually, NASA would turn to a new generation of spaceships for long-term exploration.

Plug

Theres a big thread on it here I think:pac:

cyrusdvirus

Plug wrote: »

Theres a big thread on it here I think:pac:

i did only give the first 2 pages a quick glance....:o

Beeker

gatecrash wrote: »

i did only give the first 2 pages a quick glance....:o

No problem, we have been expecting the decision for a long time. Funding was promised and NASA want the flight but other problems with external tanks and Congress might yet stop it. However it is looking good.

Launch is due June 28 at 20:48 Irish time.

cyrusdvirus

Beeker wrote: »

No problem, we have been expecting the decision for a long time. Funding was promised and NASA want the flight but other problems with external tanks and Congress might yet stop it. However it is looking good.

Launch is due June 28 at 20:48 Irish time.

I'd be more of a lurker in this particular forum, more of an interest in space flight than astronomy per se.....

Always thought they'd manage one more flight.... Aftet all 135 is a much nicer, more rounded number than 134

Beeker

gatecrash wrote: »

I'd be more of a lurker in this particular forum, more of an interest in space flight than astronomy per se.....

Always thought they'd manage one more flight.... Aftet all 135 is a much nicer, more rounded number than 134

Perhaps, but of course STS-200 would be even better:D
By the way don't lurk, join in!

cyrusdvirus

Will do.

Are they gonna have one on the pad for a LON? Or will this be back to the good old days of single flights?

Beeker

gatecrash wrote: »

Will do.

Are they gonna have one on the pad for a LON? Or will this be back to the good old days of single flights?

No LON shuttle this time. If anything prevents Atlantis from returning, the crew will wait on the Space Station and return on Russian Soyuz craft. Only 4 crew will fly on STS-135.

Beeker

The main engines for Atlantis to fly on 135 have been installed.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IsRm11sRi5E

Beeker, could you tell me what the approx cost of tickets to a launch event would be?

Thanks

Beeker

Jake1 wrote: »

Beeker, could you tell me what the approx cost of tickets to a launch event would be?

Thanks

Prices depend on where you wish to view the launch and how you plan to get there. To view from Titusville is free. Titusville is the nearest town to the KSC and offers you a unobstrusted view of the launch pad, but it is about 13 miles away. You can buy a ticket to view from inside the KSC visitor center, tickets about $30 in think. You are about 6 miles from the launch pad but do not have a direct view of the pad. You see the launch a few seconds into flight as it clears the tree tops. The best option is a ticket for the NASA causeway. Again about 5-6 miles from the pad but get an unobstructed view. Tickets about $50-60 if I remember.
The best option is to go through one of the local travel companys who will sell you a ticket and provide transport to and from the launch, a little more expensive but worth the money. Someone like Gator Tours.
http://www.gatortours.com/MAIN.asp

Hope that helps. Lord Lucan used this company I think in 2009 for the launch of STS-129. he may be able to provide more detail:)

Beeker

Beeker wrote: »

Prices depend on where you wish to view the launch and how you plan to get there. To view from Titusville is free. Titusville is the nearest town to the KSC and offers you a unobstrusted view of the launch pad, but it is about 13 miles away. You can buy a ticket to view from inside the KSC visitor center, tickets about $30 in think. You are about 6 miles from the launch pad but do not have a direct view of the pad. You see the launch a few seconds into flight as it clears the tree tops. The best option is a ticket for the NASA causeway. Again about 5-6 miles from the pad but get an unobstructed view. Tickets about $50-60 if I remember.
The best option is to go through one of the local travel companys who will sell you a ticket and provide transport to and from the launch, a little more expensive but worth the money. Someone like Gator Tours.
http://www.gatortours.com/MAIN.asp

Hope that helps. Lord Lucan used this company I think in 2009 for the launch of STS-129. he may be able to provide more detail:)

Cheers Beeker, thanks a million for that. great info. Ill be in Florida in April. Looking in to options

Beeker

Jake1 wrote: »

Cheers Beeker, thanks a million for that. great info. Ill be in Florida in April. Looking in to options

Good stuff! Tickets go on sale a few weeks befor the launch so keep an eye open on the Gator site and the KSC site. STS-134/Endeavour is due to launch on April 19 but of course is always open to delays. best of luck:)

thecommander

Beeker wrote: »

Hope that helps. Lord Lucan used this company I think in 2009 for the launch of STS-129. he may be able to provide more detail:)

I used Gator too for STS132 in May of this year. Seemingly the STS133 tickets for the tour sold out fairly quickly so keep an eye on their site for info.

KSC have a lottery now for tickets, you apply and they mail you if you've been successful. Too many issue previously with sever crashes etc.

The tour tickets are slightly dearer, but its worth it imo.

lord lucan

Gwan Atlantis!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!



I'd highly recommend using Gator Tours,takes the hassle out it all. I stayed in Orlando on I-Drive and all i had to do was turn up for the bus and they took care of the rest. They bring you out to KSC and then on to the Causeway for the launch. About 15 minutes after launch you're on the bus and on your way back to Orlando.

As the Commander said above,the next launch,STS-133 sold out in super quick time. The remaining 2 missions will be no different as people scramble to see a launch before the end of the programme. Keep an eye on their Twitter for on sale dates: http://twitter.com/GrayLineOrlando

lord lucan

lord lucan wrote: »

Gwan Atlantis!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!



I'd highly recommend using Gator Tours,takes the hassle out it all. I stayed in Orlando on I-Drive and all i had to do was turn up for the bus and they took care of the rest. They bring you out to KSC and then on to the Causeway for the launch. About 15 minutes after launch you're on the bus and on your way back to Orlando.

As the Commander said above,the next launch,STS-133 sold out in super quick time. The remaining 2 missions will be no different as people scramble to see a launch before the end of the programme. Keep an eye on their Twitter for on sale dates: http://twitter.com/GrayLineOrlando

Thanks a million folks. Its only slightly more than a pipe dream at mo' but I am trying to swing things

It will be gut wrenching leaving Florida, and missing this

clln

G,wan outta that Lord Lucan!
a person would think you had a personal stake in Atlantis

It seems to me that the shuttle lovers here do not love the Astronauts so much?

If you have been following the details how can you support the 133's ET ?
It has got to the stupid point that for the sake of three more launch's the fact that its external tank is now more like a patchwork quilt than a safe booster to launch people on.

as i have mentioned before the ET choosen for 134 is the one that was damaged by Katrina,it is one of the older heavier one's, trusting that tank is as difficult IMO!
the ET for 135 has no known issue's and 135's payload packed with spares for the ISS is the most important of all,IMO


Finally as there is no more ET's available i think a rethink is needed about payloads, 135's should get priority,spares for the ISS.
133's payload of the PLM,formely Leanardo should move over to allow 135's payload of spares go first.

134's payload of the Alpha Magnetic Spectrometor should be a high priority IMO but the spare parts for iss is the most needed,so as not to have used all those STS missions for nothing, ie at least still have the ISS!

whatever happens you gents and ladie's know very well the history since Augustine,then the old congress agreeing to the senates version of the bill,then the lame duck congress shaving less than expected from fy 2011's budget from NASA,now the problems with 133's ET not to mention the newly sworn in congress wanting to cut spending to 2008 levels.

This flight was used as a political football all along as was NASA's future.
another truth is that despite this anouncement from NASA it can still be reversed if they are not allocated 800 million dollars from the budget in March this year from the appropiations commitee,and the truth is that in order to maxamise the benifit of 135 to the ISS both ISS and STS managers preferred launch date is November 2011

sorry for the rant but i feel very strongly about this and the shoddy way NASA/Astronauts have been treated.

Godspeed 135!

clln

Beeker wrote: »

Perhaps, but of course STS-200 would be even better:D
By the way don't lurk, join in!

Beeker Should'nt the STS be up about STS-6000 by now given that it was planned to have one every two weeks and STS-1 was launched in 1981!

Plug

Can I ask a question? Is it very loud when taking off from the view point? Stupid question I suppose:D

lord lucan

Plug wrote: »

Can I ask a question? Is it very loud when taking off from the view point? Stupid question I suppose:D

From 6 miles away(the NASA causeway) it's pretty loud. It sounds like popcorn popping and takes about 30 seconds for the sound to travel to the causeway,at which point the Orbiter is already heading downrange at an incredible rate.

This video i found gives a good idea of the sound. Ignore the sound at ignition,that's from the NASA TV audio being relayed over the speakers. Depending on wind direction it can be incredibly loud,like this video,or a little less if the wind isn't favourable. And the ground does actually rumble.:)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TQJsTyBgg5o

thecommander

Plug wrote: »

Can I ask a question? Is it very loud when taking off from the view point? Stupid question I suppose:D

From the causeway. Sound hits a 2:20 or so. Camera mic picked up a bit of it, but there was a sub bass rumble that shook your chest.

http://vimeo.com/11872808

Beeker

clln wrote: »

Beeker Should'nt the STS be up about STS-6000 by now given that it was planned to have one every two weeks and STS-1 was launched in 1981!

Yeah 30 years with 25 launches a year we should be at STS-750:) Just imagine:eek: It was never going to happen.

Beeker

clln wrote: »

G,wan outta that Lord Lucan!
a person would think you had a personal stake in Atlantis

It seems to me that the shuttle lovers here do not love the Astronauts so much?

If you have been following the details how can you support the 133's ET ?
It has got to the stupid point that for the sake of three more launch's the fact that its external tank is now more like a patchwork quilt than a safe booster to launch people on.

as i have mentioned before the ET choosen for 134 is the one that was damaged by Katrina,it is one of the older heavier one's, trusting that tank is as difficult IMO!
the ET for 135 has no known issue's and 135's payload packed with spares for the ISS is the most important of all,IMO


Finally as there is no more ET's available i think a rethink is needed about payloads, 135's should get priority,spares for the ISS.
133's payload of the PLM,formely Leanardo should move over to allow 135's payload of spares go first.

134's payload of the Alpha Magnetic Spectrometor should be a high priority IMO but the spare parts for iss is the most needed,so as not to have used all those STS missions for nothing, ie at least still have the ISS!

whatever happens you gents and ladie's know very well the history since Augustine,then the old congress agreeing to the senates version of the bill,then the lame duck congress shaving less than expected from fy 2011's budget from NASA,now the problems with 133's ET not to mention the newly sworn in congress wanting to cut spending to 2008 levels.

This flight was used as a political football all along as was NASA's future.
another truth is that despite this anouncement from NASA it can still be reversed if they are not allocated 800 million dollars from the budget in March this year from the appropiations commitee,and the truth is that in order to maxamise the benifit of 135 to the ISS both ISS and STS managers preferred launch date is November 2011

sorry for the rant but i feel very strongly about this and the shoddy way NASA/Astronauts have been treated.

Godspeed 135!

You make some very good points there and I hope your fears are groundless. Like I said before I do not believe NASA would use the tanks unless they were convinced it will be safe to do so. Nobody wants another accident and I am convinced that the delays to 133 show how carefull NASA are being with these last flights.

clln

Beeker wrote: »

You make some very good points there and I hope your fears are groundless. Like I said before I do not believe NASA would use the tanks unless they were convinced it will be safe to do so. Nobody wants another accident and I am convinced that the delays to 133 show how carefull NASA are being with these last flights.

well yes i have got the colly-wobbles about the remaining 2/3 flights,i want it to end with pride like i think everybody here does.

i know most of the Challenger story and i feel those people lost their lives because of political pressure and NASA getting complacent and bullying of the srb's makers just hours before the launch by the then NASA top people.

If the Gucp had not failed so badly on the launch attempt of 132 NOV 2010,it is possible that that the Ice team may have not spotted the cracks in the foam and the underlying cracks in the stringers, IMO 133 would have been lost in that event! now i did say possible about the ice team:)
It is a bit annoying around the space forums on the internet that anybody who questions NASA's ability to safely launch these flights is shot down ,the love for the thing should not blind people to the facts or try to deny that it is more difficult for NASA to launch safely now than it was this time last year


So many people with the expertise had been laid off i feel a bit better that NASA actually brought back people it had laid off to deal with 133's ET.

We hired back, because of the metal work that was required on the tank, I think it was 22 people that were previously either moved back inside the Lockheed Martin corporation, or had gone out on the street. And they came back very happily and very willingly, and they're working down at KSC on the tank and they'll be used on whatever repairs we decide to do on ET-138.

I just think it was irresponsible to let them go until 135 was safely home.
source: http://www.cfnews13.com/article/news/2011/january/193448/Space-shuttle-layoffs-stay-on-plan-if-not-on-schedule?cid=rss

and this from Charles Bolden in support of STS-135,yes Bolden,wonder what is in it for him now?

Administrator Bolden says:

No, we have planned for 135 for quite some time. When we found we would probably need an extra flight. And I call it buying down risk. As I said before, we really want to facilitate the success of the commercial entities, and if we can provide enough supplies on station to last over a period of time in case anything happens, then I think it buys down some of the risk and it improves the chances of the commercial entities being successful on time, or even sooner.

Bolden says STS-135 is scheduled for June. However, at the moment, it doesn't show up on the manifest, which is NASA's official list of what's ahead with target dates.

source:

http://www.cfnews13.com/article/news/2011/january/190601/NASA-Administrator-confident-STS135-will-fly?cid=rss

clln

Sneak preview of 135s mission patch even though for now it only exists on paper as the flight has still not been added to the launch manifest!

http://www.spaceflight.nasa.gov/gallery/images/shuttle/sts-135/html/sts135-s-001.html

Beeker

clln wrote: »

Sneak preview of 135s mission patch even though for now it only exists on paper as the flight has still not been added to the launch manifest!

http://www.spaceflight.nasa.gov/gallery/images/shuttle/sts-135/html/sts135-s-001.html

I like the look of it. It has the look of the STS-1 patch in it to complete the circle.

clln

Beeker wrote: »

I like the look of it. It has the look of the STS-1 patch in it to complete the circle.

Well i've shown you mine so you show me yours,we can compare them.
sts-1s mission patch i hasten to add!
and no Crippen cribbing about it young man!

lord lucan

STS-1



STS-135



The Omega symbol was a nice touch. Really loving the STS-135 patch.

clln

Ah i see what Beeker is on about,thats a first!:)
as thecommander would say 10/10 for him noticing it!
cue Buller to subtract marks for some reason!:)

yes now it looks nicer with the benifit of comparison to the 1st one.

Beeker

clln wrote: »

Ah i see what Beeker is on about,thats a first!:)
as thecommander would say 10/10 for him noticing it!
cue Buller to subtract marks for some reason!:)

yes now it looks nicer with the benifit of comparison to the 1st one.

Thanks clln:) I have'nt lost my touch just yet. Thanks to LL for posting the STS-1 patch in my absence.
I must say I do like this patch.

clln

: President Obama presents his proposed 2012 budget to Congress on Monday. NASA will provide the specifics on the agency's budget at a 2 p.m., EST, press briefing. The briefing will be broadcast on NASA TV.

7 PM in Ireland.

Just may'be they will finally give this flight a GO?

Beeker

clln wrote: »

7 PM in Ireland.

Just may'be they will finally give this flight a GO?

Looks like it will fly regardless:)

http://www.nasaspaceflight.com/2011/02/nasa-insist-sts-135-will-fly-payload-options-assessment/

clln

Beeker wrote: »

Looks like it will fly regardless:)

http://www.nasaspaceflight.com/2011/02/nasa-insist-sts-135-will-fly-payload-options-assessment/

That is great News Beeker as you know i think 135s payload is the most important one left,just gotta have at least the ISS left or i will go Crazy!:eek:

Beeker

clln wrote: »

That is great News Beeker as you know i think 135s payload is the most important one left,just gotta have at least the ISS left or i will go Crazy!:eek:

:D You and me both:D:D

clln

Beeker wrote: »

:D You and me both:D:D

We will become ShuttleNUTS!

Beeker

"The Final Four" during training.

lord lucan

weeps

Turtwig

Seeing those pics almost brings a tear to my eye. I dare say, I dunno what I'm going to be like when it finally launches yet alone when it lands. These are indeed sad times.:(

Beeker

lord lucan wrote: »

weeps

Very cool....love it:)....hate it:(.....walks away to cry:(:(

Beeker

Stacking started yesterday on the final set of solid rocket boosters to be used for a Space Shuttle launch.

thecommander

http://www.wftv.com/brevardcounty/27362277/detail.html

Beeker

thecommander wrote: »

http://www.wftv.com/brevardcounty/27362277/detail.html

Keep the faith...keep the faith:)

clln

thecommander wrote: »

http://www.wftv.com/brevardcounty/27362277/detail.html

I would ignore that for now thecommander.
STS-135 will carry enough supplies of food and other essential supplies to give the private companies an extra year to reach their goals.

without 135 the crew of the ISS would have to be stood down to three for sometime.

NASA signed a further contract with Roscosmo's for Soyuz seats until 2017.was only until 2013 before that,shows how much confidence they have that any new vehicle will be ready before then!

Obama's budget for 2011 sent to Congress in Feb 2010 has still not been passed,but how the money they have is spent by Continuing Resolution votes in Congress is at the discretion of NASA.
NASA has put other projects on hold,stopped all non essential overtime and no weekend work to live within the budget they have.

April 6th is next time that Congress can refuse a CR and leave NASA without funding.

a deal will be done,it is all just party politics and brinksmanship IMO.

Tenger

I know that the 1st few launches had the ET painted white until NASA decided the weight wasn't worth the effort. What would be the chance of the last launch getting a white ET to complete the circle? I assume a big No on that.

I would guess as its the last launch they will cram as much weight in supplies for the ISS into STS-135?


On a related point: STS-134 is due on April 19th. I just found out I'm going to Orlando on the 21st. I can do the KSC tour on the 22nd. So close........

ceejay

There was mention a while back that the payload for STS-135 wouldn't be ready for June 28th - has there been any update on that? Spaceflight Now posted a detailed schedule for Atlantis's flight that still shows takeoff on the 28th:

http://www.spaceflightnow.com/shuttle/sts135/fdf/135flightplan.html

I need to look at booking flights, etc., soon enough if I want to get to see this launch, so knowing if it's delayed or not is important!

thecommander

ceejay wrote: »

I need to look at booking flights, etc., soon enough if I want to get to see this launch, so knowing if it's delayed or not is important!

You won't know if theres going to be a delay until the delay is announced.

I waited until about 2 weeks before to book flights, same with the launch on the 19th April. I know its cheaper to book in advance, but you're fecked if the date changes and it costs a fortune to rebook. If you can book flights that will allow you change date then all the better.

As for hotels, I booked the night of the launch in a hotel nearby. They have 24 hour cancelation policies, so if I didn't go or it was moved I wouldn't be charged when canceled.

lord lucan

This was only uploaded yesterday but obviously put together last year.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hTkIimQux74

Beeker

Tenger wrote: »

I know that the 1st few launches had the ET painted white until NASA decided the weight wasn't worth the effort. What would be the chance of the last launch getting a white ET to complete the circle? I assume a big No on that.

I would guess as its the last launch they will cram as much weight in supplies for the ISS into STS-135?

.

Like you said a big No:D

clln

The Fab four checks out Atlantis Cargo bay:



Three of them are on Twitter:

Chris Ferguson (@Astro_Ferg).

Doug Hurley (@Astro_Doug).

Sandy Magnus (@Astro_Sandy).

lord lucan

What a cargo bay!

*****Swoons*******





















:pac::pac::pac::pac::pac:

Beeker

Too much to do and not enough time to do it in.:(

We need an STS-136:D
http://www.nasaspaceflight.com/2011/04/troubled-sts-135-mission-timeline-under-review/