Courtesy Photo | Space Shuttle Atlantis begins lifting off the pad as it begins Shuttle mission...... read more read more
Subscribe
by Spc. Chris Erickson
U.S. Central Command Public Affairs
KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA – Space Shuttle Atlantis began its 27th flight recently, roaring away from a launch pad here where the only hang-ups were a few clouds that deterred spectators and press from an unobstructed view.
September 9, 2006 marked the 116th space shuttle flight, which had been delayed by natural and artificial means including a lightning strike, Tropical Storm Ernesto and an issue with a fuel cut-off sensor system.
The goal of the STS-115 mission is to resume construction on the International Space Station. This trip will mark the 19th flight to the station.
According to a NASA news release, during STS-115, Atlantis will dock with the station and the crew will perform three spacewalks. The astronauts will deliver and install the 17.5 ton, bus-sized P3/P4 integrated truss segment to the station's girder-like truss backbone, the release stated. The new piece will include a second set of giant solar arrays, batteries and associated electronics. Together, the trusses and solar arrays will provide one-fourth of the total power-generation capability of the completed station.
The 35,000-pound truss will be the first major addition to the station since late 2002.
The release went on to say that the spacewalkers will prepare for the extravehicular activities by performing a new "campout pre-breathing exercise." These crew members will reside in the station's airlock overnight, where the pressure will slowly be reduced. Harmful gases will thereby be removed from their blood, allowing them to gradually acclimate to the lower pressure they will encounter outside the station.
The crew for the STS-115 mission is: Commander Brent Jett, Pilot Chris Ferguson, Mission Specialists Joe Tanner, Dan Burbank, Heidemarie Stefanyshyn-Piper and Steve MacLean, the latter of the Canadian Space Agency.
| Date Taken: | 09.09.2006 |
| Date Posted: | 09.13.2006 12:56 |
| Story ID: | 7721 |
| Location: |
| Web Views: | 1,137 |
| Downloads: | 925 |
This work, Shuttle Atlantis launches on STS-115 mission, by Chris Erickson, identified by DVIDS, must comply with the restrictions shown on https://www.dvidshub.net/about/copyright.
No keywords found.
