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#300 by jacqmans on 31 May, 2007 19:36
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RELEASE: 07-127
NASA GIVES "GO" FOR SPACE SHUTTLE LAUNCH ON JUNE 8
CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. - On Thursday, NASA senior managers selected June
8 as the official launch date for space shuttle Atlantis. Commander
Rick Sturckow and his six crewmates are scheduled to lift off at 7:38
p.m. EDT on the STS-117 mission to the International Space Station.
During the 11-day mission and three spacewalks, the crew will work
with flight controllers at NASA's Johnson Space Center, Houston, to
install a 17-ton segment on the station's girder-like truss and
deploy a set of solar arrays. The mission will increase the
International Space Station's power capability in preparation for the
arrival of new science modules from the European and Japanese space
agencies.
Atlantis' launch date was announced at the Flight Readiness Review.
During the two-day meeting, top NASA and contractor managers assess
any risks associated with the mission and determine whether the
shuttle's equipment, support systems and procedures are ready for
flight. The first Flight Readiness Review for STS-117 was held Feb.
27-28. A hail storm on Feb. 26, however, damaged Atlantis' external
fuel tank and delayed the planned mid-March launch.
"While we cannot control the weather, this team can ensure that when
we do launch, it will be as safely as possible," said Associate
Administrator for Space Operations Bill Gerstenmaier, who chaired the
meetings. "This second Flight Readiness Review was as thorough as the
first. The discussions were open, healthy, and are evidence of a team
that is ready for a complicated and important station assembly
mission."
Joining Commander Sturckow on STS-117 will be Pilot Lee Archambault
and mission specialists Patrick Forrester, Steven Swanson, John
"Danny" Olivas, Jim Reilly and Clayton Anderson. Anderson will
replace current station crew member Sunita Williams, who has lived on
the station since December. Williams will return to Earth on
Atlantis.
For more information about the STS-117 mission, including images and
interviews with the crew, visit:
http://www.nasa.gov/shuttle
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#301 by eeergo on 31 May, 2007 19:48
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This launch will qualify as a day launch throughout all its phases, including ET sep and post-separation images.
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#302 by Jim on 31 May, 2007 19:51
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Quote
ShuttleDiscovery - 31/5/2007 2:08 PM
QuoteMichael22090 - 31/5/2007 6:49 PM
Latest shot of the SRB. Wonder what those two guy's job is? Wish I could be that close!
Mee too. It must be a real treat for the pad workers when they have a shuttle there!
Treat? It is the same as an icecream shop worker. It is just work after awhile. I was gunhoe space fanatic since 3rd grade, ate and drank anything space, Apollo and shuttle. Now as I approach my 25 year in the business, the shuttle has lost some of its luster. I now look for new things, CEV and ELV spacecraft that is where is it at.
The work on the shuttle is divided by shuttle components not work location, so a orbiter tech would work on the shuttle no matter if it was in the OPF, VAB or Pad.
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#303 by ShuttleDiscovery on 31 May, 2007 19:54
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Quote
Jim - 31/5/2007 8:51 PM
QuoteShuttleDiscovery - 31/5/2007 2:08 PM
QuoteMichael22090 - 31/5/2007 6:49 PM
Latest shot of the SRB. Wonder what those two guy's job is? Wish I could be that close!
Mee too. It must be a real treat for the pad workers when they have a shuttle there!
Treat? It is the same as an icecream shop worker. It is just work after awhile. I was gunhoe space fanatic since 3rd grade, ate and drank anything space, Apollo and shuttle. Now as I approach my 25 year in the business, the shuttle has lost some of its luster. I now look for new things, CEV and ELV spacecraft that is where is it at.
The work on the shuttle is divided by shuttle components not work location, so a orbiter tech would work on the shuttle no matter if it was in the OPF, VAB or Pad.
Ok Jim, i get your point!
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#304 by Far Reach on 31 May, 2007 21:57
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Seems crazy that we're only a week away from a launch!
What is the next milestone for launch preps? -
#305 by psloss on 31 May, 2007 22:07
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Quote
Far Reach - 31/5/2007 5:57 PM
The staff here is keeping us posted; Chris posted this earlier today:
What is the next milestone for launch preps?
http://forum.nasaspaceflight.com/forums/thread-view.asp?tid=7916&start=271&mid=141699#M141699
Mike Leinbach also spoke about current status at the press briefing, which hopefully will be up on the Space-multimedia site soon. (John44 usually posts here when that's ready.)
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#306 by psloss on 31 May, 2007 22:12
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Watching a replay of the press briefing, an interesting question from Bill Harwood about TAL site availability. Moron won't be available until around the middle of June, due to runway maintenance.
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#307 by Austin on 31 May, 2007 23:52
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Quote
eeergo - 31/5/2007 12:48 PM
This launch will qualify as a day launch throughout all its phases, including ET sep and post-separation images.
Makes sense, as sunset on Friday, June 8 at Cape Canaveral will not occur until 8:18pm, and launch is set for 7:38pm. -
#308 by astrobrian on 01 Jun, 2007 02:30
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Do we think Atalantis will be far enough over the Earths shadow to see that green glow again like on 116?
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#309 by nathan.moeller on 01 Jun, 2007 04:44
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astrobrian - 31/5/2007 9:30 PM
Do we think Atalantis will be far enough over the Earths shadow to see that green glow again like on 116?
Very doubtful. But it's going to be an interesting view nonetheless, as she will be heading into orbital darkness. I'm definitely looking forward to it. -
#310 by Gekko0481 on 01 Jun, 2007 09:30
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I'm determined to be able to see this one, even if it means getting up at 0030 on June 9, I missed 116 :angry:
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#311 by Celebrimbor on 01 Jun, 2007 10:30
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For myself, I'll be in China. I'm not sure what websites will be available over there. But I think the time will be 0738 on June 9th, so I might get into a wangba (internet cafe). I know some people get sick of hearing this kind of thing but I may not get another chance:
Best wishes to Atlantis and crew! -
#312 by Mark Dave on 01 Jun, 2007 11:20
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So this will be a sunset launch like STS-98?
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#313 by eeergo on 01 Jun, 2007 12:30
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MarkD - 1/6/2007 1:20 PM So this will be a sunset launch like STS-98?
No, I've quoted Hale a few posts ago saying that it'll be a daylight launch throughout all its phases, including post-ET separation photographing. The shuttle certainly won't catch the last sunbeams once high enough, because she'll be catching them all the way from liftoff!
Austin has given the times for sunset above, too, and at ground level sunset is expected an hour after predicted liftoff time.
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#314 by on 01 Jun, 2007 18:18
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STS-117 BRIEFING & EVENTS SCHEDULE
(All times are Eastern)
All briefings are held inside the Kennedy Press Site auditorium and will be carried live on NASA TV unless otherwise noted. Questions will only be taken from media at Kennedy.
L-4 Days - Monday, June 4
6:30 p.m. - STS-117 crew arrival at Shuttle Landing Facility
L-3 Days - Tuesday, June 5
10 a.m. - Countdown Status Briefing
- Steve Payne, NASA test director
- Kathy Winters, shuttle weather officer
9 p.m. - Launch countdown officially begins (Not on NASA TV)
L-2 Days - Wednesday, June 6
10 a.m. - Countdown Status Briefing
- Jeff Spaulding, NASA test director
- Robbie Ashley, STS-117 payload manager
- Kathy Winters, shuttle weather officer
4 p.m. (No Earlier Than) - STS-117 Launch Readiness News Conference
- LeRoy Cain, launch integration manager, Space Shuttle Program
- Mike Leinbach, NASA launch director
- U.S. Air Force Lt. Col. Pat Barrett, 45th Weather Squadron
L-1 Day - Thursday, June 7
10 a.m. - Countdown Status Briefing
- Steve Payne, NASA test director
- Robbie Ashley, STS-117 payload manager
- Kathy Winters, shuttle weather officer
1 p.m. - Exploration Update
- Scott Horowitz, associate administrator for Exploration
- Jeff Hanley, Constellation Program manager
10:30 p.m. - Rotating Service Structure moves to launch position
Launch Day - Friday, June 8
9:42 a.m. - Tanking commences (Not on NASA TV)
1:30 p.m. - Live launch commentary begins
Launch Day Crew Activities: (Times may vary slightly)
10 a.m. -- Crew wakes up (Not on NASA TV)
1:45 p.m. -- Crew photo opportunity
3:07 p.m. -- Weather briefing (CDR, PLT, MS2) (Not on NASA TV)
3:17 p.m. -- Astronauts don flight suits
3:47 p.m. -- Depart for launch pad
4:17 p.m. -- Arrive at white room and begin ingress
5:32 p.m. -- Close crew hatch
7:38 p.m. -- Launch
Launch + 1 hour - Post-launch News Conference
- Rex Geveden, NASA associate administrator
- Bill Gerstenmaier, associate administrator for Space Operations
- John Shannon, chairman, Mission Management Team
- Mike Leinbach, NASA launch director
Kennedy News Center office hours for STS-117
(Hours may be adjusted for in-flight events)Monday, June 4 (Launch minus 4 days) 8 a.m. - 7 p.m. Tuesday, June 5 (Launch minus 3 days) 8 a.m. - 4:30 p.m. Wednesday, June 6 (Launch minus 2 days) 8 a.m. - 7 p.m. Thursday, June 7 (Launch minus 1 day) 8 a.m. - 4:30 p.m. Friday, June 8 (Launch) Flight day 1 8 a.m. – 11 p.m. June 9 - 18 Flight days 2 - 11 8 a.m. - 4:30 p.m. (except weekends) Tuesday, June 19 (Landing) Flight day 12 8 a.m. - 4:30 p.m. -
#315 by jacqmans on 01 Jun, 2007 18:18
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MEDIA ADVISORY: M07-61
NASA STARTS SPACE SHUTTLE ATLANTIS COUNTDOWN JUNE 5
CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. - NASA will start the launch countdown for space
shuttle Atlantis' STS-117 mission at 9 p.m. EDT Tuesday, June 5, at
the T-43 hour point. The countdown includes 27 hours, 32 minutes of
built-in hold time leading to a preferred launch time at
approximately 7:38 p.m. EDT Friday, June 8. The launch window extends
an additional five minutes.
During the 11-day mission, Atlantis' crew will resume construction of
the International Space Station, working with the station crew to
install the girder-like S3/S4 truss segment, unfold a new set of
solar arrays and retract one array on the starboard side of the
station.
A detailed list of launch countdown milestones and times is available
at:
http://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/shuttle/news/index.html
This mission is the 118th space shuttle flight, the 28th flight for
Atlantis and the 21st U.S. flight to the International Space Station.
STS-117 is scheduled to land at NASA's Kennedy Space Center, Fla., on
Tuesday, June 19.
Atlantis' last mission was STS-115 in September 2006. For the upcoming
STS-117 mission, Atlantis rolled out to Launch Pad 39-A from
Kennedy's Vehicle Assembly Building on May 15. Atlantis originally
was targeted for launch in March, but a hail storm damaged foam
insulation on the shuttle's external fuel tank and forced managers to
roll the spacecraft back into the Vehicle Assembly Building to make
repairs. With the refurbishment of Pad 39-A, this launch will be the
first from the pad in four years.
STS-117 Commander Rick Sturckow, Pilot Lee Archambault and mission
specialists Jim Reilly, Patrick Forrester, Steven Swanson, John
"Danny" Olivas and Clayton Anderson are scheduled to arrive at the
Kennedy Space Center on June 4.
Expedition 15 Flight Engineer Sunita Williams will return to Earth
from the space station aboard Atlantis. The flight will carry
Expedition 15/16 Flight Engineer Clayton Anderson to the station. He
will return home aboard space shuttle Discovery on mission STS-120.
For more information about the STS-117 crew and mission to the space
station, visit:
http://www.nasa.gov/shuttle
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#316 by jacqmans on 01 Jun, 2007 18:59
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MEDIA ADVISORY: M07-62
NASA UPDATES SPACE SHUTTLE ATLANTIS PRELAUNCH EVENTS
CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. - News conferences, events and operating hours
for NASA's Kennedy Space Center News Center are set for the scheduled
June 8 launch of space shuttle Atlantis on the STS-117 mission to the
International Space Station. Liftoff is slated for 7:38 p.m. EDT.
On Monday, June 4, the seven Atlantis crew members are scheduled to
arrive at the Kennedy Space Center at 6:30 p.m. EDT. Media planning
to cover the event must be at the News Center by 5 p.m. for
transportation to the Shuttle Landing Facility. Commander Rick
Sturckow will make a brief statement to the media. NASA Television
will air live coverage of the arrival and Sturckow's remarks.
NASA TV also will broadcast live countdown status briefings and news
conferences June 5-8. Complete listings of news briefing times,
participants, Kennedy News Center and media credentialing hours of
operation are available in the online version of this media advisory
at:
http://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/shuttle/news/index.html
For NASA TV streaming video, scheduling and downlink information,
visit:
http://www.nasa.gov/ntv
For the latest information about the STS-117 crew and mission, visit:
http://www.nasa.gov/shuttle
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#317 by Endeavour118 on 01 Jun, 2007 19:11
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one question but idk if it has been mentioned what TAL sites are avilable for use @ launch time
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#318 by DaveS on 01 Jun, 2007 19:19
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Endeavour118 - 1/6/2007 9:11 PM
For the June 8 launch? Zaragoza AB; Spain and Istres Le-Tube, France. Normally Moron AB in Spain is also available, but due to runway maintenance, it isn't available for the June 8 launch attempt.
one question but idk if it has been mentioned what TAL sites are avilable for use @ launch time
Acronyms for the different landing sites:
Zaragoza = ZZA
Moron = MRN
Istres = FMI -
#319 by psloss on 01 Jun, 2007 19:20
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Endeavour118 - 1/6/2007 3:11 PM
For the first "set" of attempts, they'll have Zaragoza and Istres available as sites. (They'll evaluate weather here, there, and everywhere necessary, as usual, during the count.) According to Wayne Hale from yesterday's briefing, the Moron runway work should be done by the middle of the month and then Moron would be available as a TAL site after that.
one question but idk if it has been mentioned what TAL sites are avilable for use @ launch time
