* Astronomy

Members Login
Username 
 
Password 
    Remember Me  
Home -> Astronomy News -> Mission News -> STS-115 Launch
Post Info TOPIC: STS-115 Launch
Blobrana


L

Posts: 131433
Date:
RE: STS-115 Launch
Permalink  
 

The space shuttle Atlantis is returning to Earth, ending a twelve-day mission that re-started construction of the International Space Station (ISS).

Nasa has given Atlantis' six-strong crew the all-clear for a return to Earth at 0621 EDT (1021 GMT).

A planned landing on Wednesday was postponed after astronauts spotted several mysterious objects floating in space outside the orbiter.
But inspections found no damage to the spacecraft from the nearby debris.
And the US space agency was happy that none of the items posed a risk to the vehicle.
At 09:14 GMT Atlantis initiated a three-minute engine burn to commit the spacecraft for the trip back to Earth.
The "de-orbit" burn slows the shuttle's velocity by about 329km/h, just enough to slip the craft out of orbit and begin the plunge through Earth's atmosphere.
As the shuttle falls towards Earth, temperatures outside will reach nearly 1,650 C. Atlantis will touch down at Nasa's Kennedy Space Centre in Florida.

Source

__________________
Blobrana


L

Posts: 131433
Date:
Permalink  
 

The space shuttle Atlantis has been cleared to return to Earth by Nasa after inspections found no damage to the spacecraft from several small orbiting objects that were spotted nearby to the orbiter.

The US space agency is confident that the orbiting debris pose no risk to the vehicle.
The first landing opportunity will be at the Kennedy Space Centre in Florida at 10:21 GMT (0621 EDT) on Thursday.

__________________
Blobrana


L

Posts: 131433
Date:
Permalink  
 

The US space agency's Atlantis shuttle has had its Wednesday landing postponed after an unidentified object was seen floating near the vehicle.

The delay will give engineers an opportunity to investigate the incident - and time for poor weather at the Florida landing strip to pass.

"The mission management team has decided to keep Atlantis 24 more hours in orbit" - Nasa spokesman.

The first opportunity for a touchdown at the Kennedy Space Center is now 0615 EDT (1015 GMT) on Thursday.

Read more

__________________
Blobrana


L

Posts: 131433
Date:
Permalink  
 

The space shuttle Atlantis has undocked from the International Space Station (ISS), after a mission described as one of the most complex in recent years.

During the 11-day mission, astronauts made three spacewalks, installing solar panels on the space station.
The panels - which weigh 17 metric tons and span more than 70m - will eventually supply the station with a quarter of its electrical power.
The shuttle is expected to return to Earth on Wednesday.
The hatch connecting Atlantis to the ISS was closed and sealed at 10:28 GMT after the shuttle astronauts said goodbye to their colleagues.

Read more

__________________
Blobrana


L

Posts: 131433
Date:
Permalink  
 

Atlantis astronauts guided a robotic sensor arm along the outside of the shuttle today to check for damage from the launch.
No damage found.

__________________
Blobrana


L

Posts: 131433
Date:
Permalink  
 

The faint vapour trail from the Atlantis shuttle can be seen in this GEOS 12 satellite image.

visablr090906goes12
Expand (90kb, 560 x 446)

__________________
Blobrana


L

Posts: 131433
Date:
Permalink  
 

STS115 ORBIT 033
Expand (71kb, 600 x 375)

TLE Data
STS-115
1 29391U 06036A   06252.66299270  .00002495  11506-4  69765-5 0    14
2 29391 051.6324 112.4071 0042079 185.7416 352.7333 16.06426244    08


__________________
Blobrana


L

Posts: 131433
Date:
Permalink  
 

STS115 Launch
Expand (357kb, 1992 x 3000)
Credit NASA

__________________
Blobrana


L

Posts: 131433
Date:
Permalink  
 

Orbital manoeuvre burn complete.

sts115launch_016
Expand (40kb, 560 x 378)

sts115padleftlarge_011
Expand (36kb, 560 x 380)

__________________
Blobrana


L

Posts: 131433
Date:
Permalink  
 

L plus 35 minutes.

All systems nominal.

Atlantis is on course to dock with the international space station on Monday at 12:45 GMT

sts115large_015
Expand (47kb, 560 x 444)

-- Edited by Blobrana at 16:51, 2006-09-09

__________________
«First  <  1 2 3 4 … 8  >  Last»  | Page of 8  sorted by
 
Quick Reply

Please log in to post quick replies.
Home -> Astronomy News -> Mission News -> STS-115 Launch


Create your own FREE Forum
Report Abuse 		Powered by ActiveBoard