STS-129: Processing Latest (Pad 39A to S0007)

• #160 by Chris Bergin on 19 Oct, 2009 17:09
• Initial article - will add more:
  
  http://www.nasaspaceflight.com/2009/10/sts-129-slips-to-november-16-after-atlas-wins-range-battle/
• #161 by K466 on 19 Oct, 2009 17:31
• You'd think the SPP would have gotten the priority since they have to get 6 more flights done by the end of Sept. 2010. Perhaps they are counting on a SPP extension? I don't see how they will make it otherwise.
• #162 by rdale on 19 Oct, 2009 17:37
• Per Friday's presser - moving to December is only a two week hit on the manifest.
• #163 by ChrisGebhardt on 19 Oct, 2009 19:25
• Quote from: K466 on 19 Oct, 2009 17:31

  You'd think the SPP would have gotten the priority since they have to get 6 more flights done by the end of Sept. 2010. Perhaps they are counting on a SPP extension? I don't see how they will make it otherwise.
  

  
  Number of flights left on the manifest has nothing to do with priority.
  
  Remember, since the Hubble change up that gave Atlantis this flight, STS-129 has been holding pretty steady in mid-November. Atlas and Delta have slipped out of their initial windows and are either losing money from their costumers or very close to losing money from their costumers as a result. Furthermore, and this has been been discussed numerous times on this site, Atlas and Delta waited to book the Range until Shuttle made its decision on Atlantis' launch date. Shuttle decided on Nov. 9 and Atlas booked for Nov. 14 and Delta for Nov. 18 and 19. Then, Shuttle got dumped by Russia for MRM-2 and here we are.
• #164 by fredm6463 on 19 Oct, 2009 21:15
• Quote from: Chris Bergin on 19 Oct, 2009 16:19

  http://www.nasaspaceflight.com/2009/10/sts-129-slips-to-november-16-after-atlas-wins-range-battle/
  

  
  Wouldn't you think that a human space flight mission, would take precedence over any unmanned rocket launches, given that the Shuttle's launch window, ISS beta angle. etc. is far more a limiting factor as to when the Shuttle can launch?
• #165 by Chris Bergin on 19 Oct, 2009 21:19
• I would have, Fred - but as Chris G explained this all in the post above yours about as well as I've seen.
• #166 by K466 on 19 Oct, 2009 21:20
• Good explanation Chris, makes sense now.
  
  I'm curious why the need 36 to 48 hours between the launches, seems like they could squeeze down to 24 hours in a case like this.
• #167 by Ford Mustang on 19 Oct, 2009 21:32
• Pictures of the STS-129 crew arriving at KSC today are now surfacing at the Kennedy Media Gallery:
  
  http://mediaarchive.ksc.nasa.gov/search.cfm?cat=4

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• #168 by psloss on 19 Oct, 2009 21:54
• Quote from: K466 on 19 Oct, 2009 21:20

  Good explanation Chris, makes sense now.
  
  I'm curious why the need 36 to 48 hours between the launches, seems like they could squeeze down to 24 hours in a case like this.
  

  Earlier discussion...start here:
  http://forum.nasaspaceflight.com/index.php?topic=15996.msg374489#msg374489
  
  And read the subsequent responses...
  
• #169 by psloss on 20 Oct, 2009 13:44
• The flight crew is doing the traditional media Q&A out at Pad A right now...also on NASA TV.
  
• #170 by aquarius on 20 Oct, 2009 18:31
• If Atlas launch slips, will they be able to move up 129 launch to November 12?
  
  Thanks.
• #171 by psloss on 20 Oct, 2009 18:42
• Quote from: aquarius on 20 Oct, 2009 18:31

  If Atlas launch slips, will they be able to move up 129 launch to November 12?
  

  In all likelihood, no.
  
• #172 by Chris Bergin on 21 Oct, 2009 05:22
• Quote from: aquarius on 20 Oct, 2009 18:31

  If Atlas launch slips, will they be able to move up 129 launch to November 12?
  
  Thanks.
  

  
  They've pretty much ruled that out per latest info.
  
  Lots of articles coming over the coming couple of week as the SSP FRR was packed (meeting today and tomorrow - L2 has the presentations). Will create a standalone thread for those specific articles. Flow updates will go into here.
• #173 by Ronsmytheiii on 21 Oct, 2009 17:24
• ELC-1 is now in the payload canister and also ELC-2:
  
  http://mediaarchive.ksc.nasa.gov/search.cfm?cat=4

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• #174 by Chris Bergin on 22 Oct, 2009 18:21
• Delta IV may yield to Atlantis – Second Flight Readiness Review complete - by Chris Gebhardt:
  
  http://www.nasaspaceflight.com/2009/10/delta-yield-atlantis-flight-review-complete/
• #175 by robertross on 23 Oct, 2009 01:04
• Great article Chris G.
  
  Wow, a big hats off to the D4's customer if they yield the range to Atlantis; very decent of them!
• #176 by DaveS on 23 Oct, 2009 04:14
• Quote from: robertross on 23 Oct, 2009 01:04

  Great article Chris G.
  
  Wow, a big hats off to the D4's customer if they yield the range to Atlantis; very decent of them!
  

  Which is the same as the owner of the Range, the USAF. Payload is WGS-3.
• #177 by Chris Bergin on 23 Oct, 2009 14:24
• According to notes via Mr Shannon and Mr Moses on L2, it's going to be a three day launch window for Atlantis. Will write it up, but posting the update here to help people who are booking travel etc.
• #178 by Dapholine on 23 Oct, 2009 22:24
• KSC put a helicopter shot of pads 39A&B online. Atlantis has seen quite a change from her view of 39A:
  
  As her role in STS-125 with Endevour in the background:
  http://mediaarchive.ksc.nasa.gov/detail.cfm?mediaid=37482
  
  
  Still as her role in STS-125 again with Endevour in her STS-400 role.
  http://mediaarchive.ksc.nasa.gov/detail.cfm?mediaid=40840
  
  
  And now 39B has finally transformed into her Constellation role with Ares I-X. What a nice view Atlantis has had.
  http://mediaarchive.ksc.nasa.gov/detail.cfm?mediaid=43780
  
• #179 by Sesquipedalian on 24 Oct, 2009 02:07
• Atlantis is covering her face in embarrassment at the ugly girl sitting right next to her.