September 2006 - Sarex (INACTIVE)

Liftoff! Atlantis is Space Station Bound
by Arthur Rowe 09 Sep '06

09 Sep '06

SUBMITTED BY ARTHUR N1ORC - AMSAT A/C #31468 *Liftoff! Atlantis is Space Station Bound * / Sept. 9, 11:15 a.m. EDT (1515 UTC)/ Space Shuttle Atlantis lifted off from Kennedy Space Center and charged into the midday Florida sky on a mission to boost power on the International Space Station. The launch was on time, with liftoff at 11:15 a.m. EDT. Over the 11-day mission, the six-member crew will perform three spacewalks to install the P3/P4 integrated truss and solar arrays on the station, doubling the current power generating capability of the orbiting outpost. NASA TV will carry a post-launch news conference at approximately one hour after liftoff. + Watch NASA TV <http://www.nasa.gov/multimedia/nasatv/index.html>

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Atlantis In Final Hold of Countdown
by Arthur Rowe 09 Sep '06

09 Sep '06

SUBM.ITTED BY ARTHUR N1ORC - AMSAT A/C #31468 *Atlantis In Final Hold of Countdown* / Sept. 9, 10:55 a.m. EDT / The countdown to launch of Space Shuttle Atlantis is currently in the final 40-minute "hold," freezing the clock at nine minutes to go. The hold gives the crew and controllers time to make any last minutes checks of the weather and vehicle functions before starting the final countdown to fire the space shuttle's engines. The clock will begin ticking again at 11:06 a.m. and signal the handover of the countdown from launch control to Atlantis' systems and a special computer called the Ground Launch Sequencer. Follow our live coverage today! + NASA's Launch Blog <http://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/shuttle/launch/sts-115/launch-vlcc.html> + NASA TV <http://www.nasa.gov/multimedia/nasatv/index.html>

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Atlantis and Astronauts are Sealed Tight, Ready for Flight
by Arthur Rowe 09 Sep '06

09 Sep '06

SUBMITTED BY ARTHUR N1ORC - AMSAT A/C #31468 *Atlantis and Astronauts are Sealed Tight, Ready for Flight* / Sept. 9, 9:10 a.m. EDT (1310 UTC)/ The hatch into Atlantis' crew cabin has been sealed for flight following the strapping in of all six STS-115 astronauts inside the ship. Commander Brent Jett and his crew are now setting switches and bringing the orbiter's systems online as the countdown to an 11:15 a.m EDT (1515 UTC) launch ticks on. Today's weather around Kennedy Space Center is nicely suited for a space shuttle launch. The current temperature is approaching 80 degrees, with light winds and only a few scattered clouds dotting the sky. Follow our live coverage today! + NASA's Launch Blog <http://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/shuttle/launch/sts-115/launch-vlcc.html> + NASA TV <http://www.nasa.gov/multimedia/nasatv/index.html>

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Astronauts Entering Atlantis
by Arthur Rowe 09 Sep '06

09 Sep '06

SUBMITTED BY ARTHUR N1ORC - AMSAT A/C #31468 *Astronauts Entering Atlantis* / Sept. 9, 8:10 a.m. EDT (1210 UTC)/ The STS-115 crew members are now climbing into Atlantis' crew cabin. Four of the six astronauts will enjoy the view of today's launch from the cockpit, while the two remaining crew members are going to be seated below in the middeck. Once in place, the crew will begin powering up Atlantis' systems and getting the ship configured for launch. NASA's Freedom Star and Liberty Star solid rocket booster retrieval ships are reported to be in position out in the Atlantic Ocean. The recovery ships are there to find and tow a space shuttle's spent solid rocket boosters back to Kennedy Space Center after they splash down in the ocean. The boosters will then be refurbished and used for another shuttle launch. Follow our live coverage today! + NASA's Launch Blog <http://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/shuttle/launch/sts-115/launch-vlcc.html> + NASA TV <http://www.nasa.gov/multimedia/nasatv/index.html>

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Atlantis' Crew Fuels for Flight
by Arthur Rowe 09 Sep '06

09 Sep '06

SUBMITTED BY ARTHUR N1ORC - AMSAT A/C #31468 *Atlantis' Crew Fuels for Flight* / Sept. 9, 6:00 a.m. EDT (1000 UTC)/ The STS-115 astronauts are currently eating their traditional launch-day breakfast in the crew quarters, located in the Kennedy Space Center's Operations and Checkout Building. After some final checks and a weather briefing, the crew will begin the process of "suiting up" in the familiar bright orange launch and entry suits. Following suit-up, the crew will hop into the silvery Astrovan for a 20-minute ride to the launch pad. Meanwhile, out at the launch pad liftoff preparations are going smoothly. Atlantis' external tank is now pumped full of propellants and its sensor systems continue to function normally. The countdown continues to tick away to a launch time of 11:15 a.m. EDT.(1515 UTC) Follow our live coverage today! + NASA's Launch Blog <http://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/shuttle/launch/sts-115/launch-vlcc.html> + NASA TV <http://www.nasa.gov/multimedia/nasatv/index.html>

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Atlantis Set for Launch Today, Tanking Begins
by Arthur Rowe 09 Sep '06

09 Sep '06

SUBMITTED BY ARTHUR N1ORC - AMSAT A/C #31468 *Atlantis Set for Launch Today, Tanking Begins * / Sept. 9, 5:10 a.m. EDT (0910 UTC)/ At Launch Pad 39B, the loading of Space Shuttle Atlantis' orange external tank with about 528,000 gallons of liquid oxygen and hydrogen began on time at 1:15 a.m. EDT today. The "topping off" of propellants into the tank will continue until liftoff. All systems onboard the space shuttle, including the four engine cut-off (ECO) sensors, are functioning normally and are ready for launch at 11:15 a.m. EDT.(1515 UTC) Throughout the morning, the STS-115 astronauts will prepare for launch in the Operations and Checkout Building's crew quarters before taking the 20-minute ride to the launch pad later this morning aboard the Astrovan. Yesterday the launch was postponed when launch controllers detected a problem with one of the ECO sensors inside the liquid hydrogen section of the space shuttle's orange external tank. The sensor system is one of several that protect the shuttle's main engines by triggering their shut down if fuel runs unexpectedly low. + See ECO Sensor Description <http://www.nasa.gov/images/content/157006main_122488main_ECO_sensors.jpg> The Mission Management Team decided to wait another 24 hours before launching to give the engineers more time to study the sensor data. Follow our live coverage today! + NASA's Launch Blog <http://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/shuttle/launch/sts-115/launch-vlcc.html> + NASA TV <http://www.nasa.gov/multimedia/nasatv/index.html> *Atlantis' Crew and Mission * The STS-115 crew consists of Commander Brent W. Jett Jr., Pilot Christopher J. Ferguson and Mission Specialists Heidemarie M. Stefanyshyn-Piper, Joseph R. Tanner, Daniel C. Burbank and Steven G. MacLean, who represents the Canadian Space Agency. + Learn more about the crew <http://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/shuttle/shuttlemissions/sts115/index.html> With this mission, NASA is ready to get back to building the International Space Station, marking the first time in almost four years that a space station component has been added to the orbiting outpost. That also means the shuttle program is coming up on some of the most challenging space missions ever. + Learn more about the mission <http://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/shuttle/shuttlemissions/sts115/mission_ov…> During their three spacewalks, crew members of Atlantis will install the P3/P4 integrated truss and a second set of solar arrays on the space station, doubling the station’s current ability to generate power from sunlight and adding 17.5 tons to its mass. + Learn more about the truss <http://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/station/behindscenes/truss_segment.html>

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SuitSat-1 (AO-54) SK
by Frank H. Bauer 08 Sep '06

08 Sep '06

All, On September 7, 2006 at 16:00 GMT, SuitSat-1 re-entered about 1400 km south-southwest of Western Australia. For more details, including the winners of the Chicken Little Contest, please go to: http://www.amsat.org/amsat-new/ariss/suitsatContest.php I want to thank all who made SuitSat-1 the phenomenal event that it was. Your hard work and dedication paid off. In just 3 weeks the SuitSat team developed and delivered a safe satellite system that has gained the confidence of the international space agencies. The web and PR team were able to garner unprecedented press coverage of our ham/educational outreach activity, including over 9 million hits on www.suitsat.org in February. Students around the world had the opportunity to participate in a 7 month "school spacewalk" with the artwork, pictures, signatures and voices on-board. And the "super-sleuth" ham radio operator extraordinaires were able to pull a significant amount of data from the satellite despite of its low signal strength. And my congratulations to the students and adults who won the Chicken Little contest!! Next for SuitSat-1--the commemorative certificates/diplomas. And at the AMSAT-NA symposium/ARISS meeting we will discuss our thoughts and plans for a potential SuitSat-2. Stay tuned! 73, Frank H. Bauer, KA3HDO AMSAT V.P. for Human Spaceflight Programs ARISS International Chairman

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Atlantis' Launch Scrubbed Due to ECO Sensor Problem
by Arthur Rowe 08 Sep '06

08 Sep '06

SUBMITTED BY ARTHUR N1ORC - AMSAT A/C #31468 *Atlantis' Launch Scrubbed Due to ECO Sensor Problem* / Sept. 8, 10:54 a.m. EDT (1454 UTC)/ The launch of Space Shuttle Atlantis has been scrubbed until Saturday due to a problem with one of the vehicle's fuel system sensors. The new launch time is targeted for 11:14 a.m. EDT. Earlier in today's countdown, launch controllers detected a problem with one of the four ECO sensors inside the hydrogen section of the space shuttle's orange external tank. The sensors monitor hydrogen levels inside of the tank and trigger the orbiter's engines to shutdown when gas levels drop below a specified level. + See ECO Sensor Description <http://www.nasa.gov/images/content/157006main_122488main_ECO_sensors.jpg> NASA Launch Director Mike Leinbach explained the issue to the crew adding that the launch weather for Saturday looks good and controllers will just have watch to see how the shuttle responds once the tank is again fueled for flight. Follow along with the countdown: + NASA's Launch Blog <http://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/shuttle/launch/sts-115/launch-vlcc.html> + NASA TV <http://www.nasa.gov/multimedia/nasatv/index.html>

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Atlantis' Hatch Sealed for Launch
by Arthur Rowe 08 Sep '06

08 Sep '06

SUBMITTED BY ARTHUR N1ORC - AMSAT A/C #31468 *Atlantis' Hatch Sealed for Launch* / Sept. 8, 9:50 a.m. EDT(1350 utc)/ The hatch into Atlantis' crew cabin has been locked and sealed for flight following the seating of all six STS-115 astronauts inside the ship. The crew members continue to flip switches and power up the orbiter's systems as the countdown to an 11:41 a.m. launch marches on. The weather in the Kennedy Space Center area is pleasant with temperatures in the upper 70s and only wispy clouds fanning across the sky. The launch team has reported that an ECO sensor on the hydrogen side of the external tank has failed. At this time the team is pressing forward with launch preparations. Mission Management Team members are meeting to determine if they will consider launching with three working sensors or if it will be necessary to de-tank and come back tomorrow. + See ECO Sensor PowerPoint Slide <http://www.nasa.gov/ppt/156987main_ET%20Project_SSP%20FRR_June272005_B-3.ppt> Launch weather remains at 70 percent "go" for launch, with the primary concern for rain within 20 miles of the Shuttle Landing Facility. No other issues are being addressed by the launch team at this time.

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STS-115 Crew Seated Inside Atlantis
by Arthur Rowe 08 Sep '06

08 Sep '06

SUBMITTED BY ARTHUR N1ORC - AMSAT A/C #31468 *STS-115 Crew Seated Inside Atlantis* / Sept. 8, 8:36 a.m. EDT (1136 utc)/ The STS-115 crew members are now taking their seats inside Atlantis as the space shuttle awaits liftoff atop Launch Pad 39B at Kennedy Space Center in Florida. The four of the six astronauts are set to sit in the cockpit, while the two remaining crew members are going to be seated below in the middeck. Once in place, the crew will begin powering up Atlantis' systems and getting the ship configured for launch. The launch team has reported that an ECO sensor on the hydrogen side of the external tank has failed. At this time the team is pressing forward with launch preparations. Mission Management Team members are meeting to determine if they will consider launching with three working sensors or if it will be necessary to de-tank and come back tomorrow. + See ECO Sensor PowerPoint Slide <http://www.nasa.gov/ppt/156987main_ET%20Project_SSP%20FRR_June272005_B-3.ppt>

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