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>
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>
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>
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>
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
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>
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.
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>
SUBMITTED BY ARTHUR N1ORC - AMSAT A/C#31468
*STS-115 Crew Seated Inside Atlantis*
/ Sept. 8, 8:23 a.m. EDT (1223 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 mid-deck. 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>
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.
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>
SUBMITTED BY ARTHUR N1ORC - AMSAT A/C #31468
*STS-115 Crew Heads to the Launch Pad *
/ Sept. 8, 7:50 a.m. EDT (1150 UTC)/
The astronauts walked out of the Operations and Checkout Building to
cheers and applause from a crowd of workers wishing them well on mission
STS-115. They boarded the silver Astrovan that took them on the
20-minute trip to Launch Pad 39B. Through the White Room, located at the
195-foot level of the pad, the astronauts will enter Atlantis one by one
and be strapped into their seats before going through final checks in
preparation for liftoff.
NASA's Freedom Star and Liberty Star are in position in the Atlantic
Ocean for launch. Both recovery ships are currently stationed out in the
Atlantic Ocean to tow the solid rocket boosters back to Kennedy Space
Center after they separate from the orbiter during ascent. The boosters
will then be refurbished and reused for other shuttle launches.
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.
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>
