Tag: STS-135
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STS-135: Enabling a new era of robotic satellite refuelling in space
As Space Shuttle Atlantis prepares to blast off to the International Space Station (ISS) for her STS-135 mission on Friday, signalling the end of the Space Shuttle era, a new era in robotic satellite refuelling will just be beginning, as Atlantis will transport to the ISS a payload designed to demonstrate and evaluate the technologies and…
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STS-135: Enabling a new era of robotic satellite refuelling in space
As Space Shuttle Atlantis prepares to blast off to the International Space Station (ISS) for her STS-135 mission on Friday, signalling the end of the Space Shuttle era, a new era in robotic satellite refuelling will just be beginning, as Atlantis will transport to the ISS a payload designed to demonstrate and evaluate the technologies and…
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STS-135: Atlantis moving through S0007 tasks – Weather a concern for launch
Atlantis and her engineers are now working through the complex set of tasks relating to S0007 – better known as the launch countdown – with no major issues currently under evaluation. However, Friday’s countdown does have at least one challenge to overcome, related to the stormy weather which is expected to roll in over the…
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STS-135: Atlantis on track for Tuesday’s S0007 launch countdown
Atlantis is continuing to behave on Pad 39A as preparations for entering S0007 tasks – otherwise known as the three day launch countdown – remain on track, with the clock’s scheduled to start ticking backwards at 1pm local on Tuesday. STS-135 will mark the final scheduled Space Shuttle mission, although the actual duration of the…
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STS-135: FRR sets July 8 Launch Date for Atlantis – Debris misses ISS
The Agency Flight Readiness Review (FRR) has – as expected – approved the July 8 launch date, after all outstanding issues were confirmed to be out of Atlantis’ path for what will be the final Space Shuttle mission. Meanwhile, the International Space Station (ISS) crew were put through a contingency event on Tuesday, following a…
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STS-135: Amended Systems Abort-Once-Around practiced before launch
As all teams continue to track a July 8 launch of STS-135, an important final milestone was reached this month with the final integrated launch and mission simulations (sims) with the Flight Crew and their Flight Control Team. Particularly, these sims gave the crews a chance to practice a modified Systems Abort-Once-Around abort, an abort procedure…
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STS-135: Engineers retest MFV – ET-138 stringer inspections completed
Following its replacement on Atlantis’ SSME-3 (Space Shuttle Main Engine), the new Main Fuel Valve (MFV) underwent testing at Pad 39A – with a slight delay to its completion due to a hydraulic leak – aimed at providing confidence the hardware will perform as required during the launch countdown. Meanwhile, inspections on ET-138’s stringers have been completed…
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STS-135: Atlantis completes TCDT – External Tank death camera ready
With her team ably dealing with the usual pad flow hiccups, Atlantis is heading towards her July 8 launch date with no major issues, with the Terminal Countdown Demonstration Test (TCDT) completed on Thursday. While inspections continue on the numerous stringers on Atlantis’ External Tank (ET-138), work on the camera modification – designed to film…
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STS-135: Atlantis completes TCDT – External Tank death camera ready
With her team ably dealing with the usual pad flow hiccups, Atlantis is heading towards her July 8 launch date with no major issues, with the Terminal Countdown Demonstration Test (TCDT) completed on Thursday. While inspections continue on the numerous stringers on Atlantis’ External Tank (ET-138), work on the camera modification – designed to film…
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STS-135 Special Topics, Mission Timeline Get-wells Reviewed
As the flight crew and engineers close in on the targeted July 8 launch of Space Shuttle orbiter Atlantis and the STS-135/ULF7 mission to the International Space Station, mission managers are continuing their Flight Readiness Review process with a thorough review of the new operations, special topics, items of interest, and mission timeline get-wells from…