The successfulspace shot marked the 116 th shuttle launch for NASA and Atlantis' 27 thtrip into Earth orbit. "We're confident that over the next few weeks, and few years for that matter, NASA is going to prove to our nation, our partners and our friends around the worth that it was worth the wait and the sacrifice," Jett said of resuming ISS construction.Īboard theISS, Expedition 13 commander Pavel Vinogradov and flight engineers JeffreyWilliams and Thomas Reiter are awaiting the shuttle's arrival. NASA comprises less than one half of one percent of the federal budget, yet it’s an enormous benefit to our nation,” she noted in a press statement.Shuttlepilot ChrisFerguson and mission specialists JosephTanner, DanielBurbank, HeidemarieStefanyshyn-Piper and StevenMacLean - of the Canadian Space Agency - rode Atlantis into orbit withJett.Ītlantis' astronautcrew are hauling a 17.5-tonload of trusses and wing-like solar arrays to the ISS to mark NASA's firstISS construction flight since the 2003Columbia accident. “Our leaders at the time wisely continued to invest in developing the shuttle and these investments have paid off handsomely. “It’s worth recalling that in 1972, when the shuttle program was approved, the war in Vietnam was raging and our nation was on the verge of both stagflation and the energy crisis,” said Aerospace Industries Association (AIA) President and CEO Marion C. Over the past thirty years, the space shuttle has had soaring successes including sending more than 350 astronauts from 20 nations into space, servicing the Hubble Space Telescope, linking up with the then Soviet Union’s Mir Space Station and building the International Space Station. The Atlantis STS-135 mission is slated to roll to a stop back here on July 20, the 42nd anniversary of the first human landing on the Moon – the Apollo 11mission in July 1969. It marks an end to a lengthy list of flights by Atlantis, along with Endeavour, Discovery, Columbia and Challenger – albeit a track record that, sadly, includes the loss of Challenger and Columbia and their respective crews. Twelve days later, the crew of four will steer the venerable space workhorse back to Earth and into retirement. Once attached to the ISS, tons of supplies are to be transferred to the huge orbiting complex from the Raffaello multi-purpose logistics module tucked inside Atlantis. The four-person crew of space shuttle Atlantis – Chris Ferguson, commander, Doug Hurley, pilot Rex Walheim and Sandra Magnus, both mission specialists - are headed for the International Space Station (ISS). Just unbelievable,” said one witness to the liftoff.Ītlantis left a huge, billowing plume of smoke – then disappeared from ground view as it broke through the cloud deck. Due to low cloud cover, the vibrating sound rolled over the press site. The solid rocket boosters and engines of Atlantis quickly drowned out applause and whoops. “Final liftoff of Atlantis…America will continue the dream,” a voice from mission control declared. Thousands and thousands of onlookers, both here at the center and in neighboring public viewing sites, cheered as the craft shot off its pad. Troublesome weather that plagued the final shuttle takeoff finally settled down – enough to allow a “go” for Atlantis to head spaceward. The flawless countdown leading to the Atlantis liftoff was slightly delayed for 2 ½ minutes as engineers assured themselves that part of the pad’s infrastructure – a gaseous vent arm - had swung safely into place. KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, Florida – Space Shuttle Atlantis roared off its launch pad here, crackling its way skyward into orbit. Atlantis liftoff signals end of shuttle era.
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. ArchivesCategories |