Space Shuttle, STS 122 Atlantis, Scheduled For Launch Thursday, February 07, 2008

Space Shuttle STS 122 Atlantis
Scheduled For Launch
Thursday, February 07, 2008
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Space Shuttle, STS 122 Atlantis, is scheduled for launch early Thursday afternoon at 2:45 p.m. EST from NASA's Florida launch base.
(Note: This post next to top today - Scroll for newer post below) Photo credit: NASA file photo by George Shelton
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* NASA.gov had this report out this morning and it goes like this...

After suiting up, the astronauts made their way out of the Crew Quarters in the Operations and Checkout Building to the cheers and applause from the crowd of well-wishers as they head for the silver Astrovan that will take them to Launch Pad 39A where Atlantis waits. Already at the launch pad, members of the Closeout Crew are inside Atlantis as they prepare the crew compartment for the astronauts' arrival. This crew helps the astronauts strap into their seats and prepare for launch.

Liftoff is scheduled for 2:45 p.m. EST, which is the middle of the 10-minute launch window. The timing is precise so Atlantis can catch up and dock with the International Space Station.

Forecasters expect a cold front to move over Kennedy around launch time, bringing with it clouds and storms, resulting in only a 30-percent chance of good weather for liftoff. Further, there is a possibility that the front may stall over Central Florida, providing only slightly better chances for acceptable weather for launch attempts on Friday or Saturday.

NASA has strict flight rules for weather that include limits on cloud height, storms in the area and clouds that could produce lightning. The criteria are set in part by the conditions a shuttle would need if it has to make an emergency landing soon after liftoff.

The good news for Atlantis and crew is that no technical issues are reported.

NASA astronaut Steve Frick commands a crew of six, including Pilot Alan Poindexter and Mission Specialists Leland Melvin, Rex Walheim, Stanley Love and the European Space Agency's Hans Schlegel and Leopold Eyharts. This is the first spaceflight for Poindexter, Love and Melvin.

During the 11-day mission, the crew's prime objective is to attach the European Space Agency's Columbus Laboratory to the International Space Station, adding to the station's size and capabilities.

Expedition 16 Flight Engineer Daniel Tani, who arrived at the station aboard Discovery in October, will return to Earth with the Atlantis crew as Eyharts takes his place on the station

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Read the latest up to date Info on
Launch/Spacewalks/Mission
* HERE *
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Watch Launch and Mission LIVE
at NASA TELEVISION...
Click HERE To View
I’m watching it in Full Screen right now!
(To view coverage in FULL SCREEN, right click on video window, Click ZOOM - then on Full Screen)
ENJOY!!!
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* STS-122 Interactive Timeline - Click Here *

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I’ll be posting on the Space Shuttle Atlantis Launch
and its Mission over the next so many days...
So check back!!!
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UPDATE: 2:00pm CST
Cheers and shouts could be heard throughout the space center as Atlantis, carrying the STS-122 crew and Columbus Laboratory, roared off the launch pad into the mid-afternoon sky to begin the 24th mission to the International Space Station.
Congratulations on another successful launch of the Space Shuttle, Atlantis
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GOD SPEED to the Crew of STS 122 Atlantis...
AubreyJ.........
(I don’t know about you -- but I love this stuff!!!)

Space Shuttle Launch and Mission Update

Space Shuttle Launch
And Mission Update
Friday, December 07, 2007
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Launch of Atlantis

will now take place no earlier than

Saturday, December 8th, at 3:43pm EST
If Then!

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Friday, December 7, 2007 - 8:45am EST
The launch of NASA's space shuttle Atlantis will take place no earlier than Saturday, Dec. 8, at 3:43 p.m. EST. Thursday's scheduled liftoff from NASA's Kennedy Space Center, Fla., was postponed because of a problem with a fuel cutoff sensor system inside the shuttle's external fuel tank.
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The fuel cutoff sensor system is one of several that protect the shuttle's main engines by triggering their shut down if fuel runs unexpectedly low. Launch Commit Criteria require that three of the four sensor systems function properly before liftoff.
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Space Shuttle Program managers will hold a Mission Management Team meeting Friday at 2 p.m. to discuss the issue and determine the steps necessary to start a new launch countdown. A news conference will be held at about 5 p.m. after the meeting's conclusion.
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On Thursday morning, two of the four engine cutoff, or ECO, sensors inside the liquid hydrogen section of the tank failed a routine prelaunch check. Following the launch postponement, the tank's liquid oxygen and liquid hydrogen were drained. While the tank was being emptied, engineers monitored and collected data on the liquid hydrogen sensors that failed. During that process, another sensor gave a false reading, indicating that the tank was "wet," when it was dry. All ECO sensors are now indicating dry as they should be.
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During Atlantis' 11-day mission to the International Space Station, the shuttle and station crews will work with ground teams to install and activate the European Space Agency's Columbus laboratory. The new lab will expand the station's scientific research capabilities.

Info from NASA.gov website
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About Photo: Atlantis stands on Launch Pad 39A at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida
Photo credit: NASA, George Shelton, 12-06-07
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Saturday UPDATE:
December 8th - 6:15pm EST

Space shuttle Atlantis is scheduled to launch Sunday, December 9th, at 3:21 p.m. EST, from NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida. Shuttle program managers made the liftoff decision after three days of reviewing data on a problem with fuel sensors.

Atlantis' scheduled launch on Thursday was delayed after two of the four engine cutoff, or ECO, sensors in the shuttle's external fuel tank gave false readings. A third sensor failed after the tank was drained of fuel. The sensor system is one of several that protect the shuttle's three main engines by triggering their shut down if fuel runs unexpectedly low.

During a Mission Management Team meeting Saturday, NASA leaders decided to fuel the tank Sunday and monitor the status of the sensor system. If all four ECO sensors inside the liquid hydrogen section of the tank perform as expected, the countdown will proceed toward the planned liftoff. NASA Television coverage of the tank loading will start Sunday at 6 a.m., with launch coverage beginning at 10 a.m.

During Atlantis' 11-day mission to the International Space Station, the astronauts will install and activate the European Space Agency's Columbus laboratory, which will expand the station's scientific research capabilities. Crew members for the STS-122 mission are Commander Steve Frick, Pilot Alan Poindexter, mission specialists Leland Melvin, Rex Walheim, Stanley Love and European Space Agency astronauts Hans Schlegel from Germany and Leopold Eyharts from France.
Info from NASA.gov website

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Sunday UPDATE:
December 9th - 7:30a EST
Today's launch of Space Shuttle Atlantis has been officially scrubbed. [Sorry... but at this time... I am not sure when the next launch date/time is scheduled – Will update when I find out]

Of the four engine cutoff sensors, ECO sensor number three gave false readings. NASA's current Launch Commit Criteria require that all four sensors function properly. The sensor system is one of several that protect the shuttle's main engines by triggering their shut down if fuel runs unexpectedly low.

Atlantis' scheduled launch on Thursday was delayed after two of the four engine cutoff, or ECO, sensors in the shuttle's external fuel tank gave false readings. A third sensor failed after the tank was drained of fuel.

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UPDATE: 11:30am EST
Next targeted launch will be no earlier than January 2nd.

Liftoff date depends on the resolution of a problem in a fuel sensor system...
Info from NASA.gov website

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Read Latest News and Updates +

Countdown/Mission Elapsed Time Clock

at NASA.gov

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**********************************
I’ll be posting on the Space Shuttle Atlantis Launch
and its Mission over the next so many days...
So check back!!!
AubreyJ.........

Space Shuttle Launch and Mission Live

Space Shuttle Launch

and Mission Live
Thursday, December 06, 2007

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Watch Space Shuttle Launch and Mission LIVE

On NASA TELEVISION

About photo: Taken 12-05-07 - Space Shuttle Atlantis stands bathed in lights
atop a mobile launch platform
Photo credit: NASA - Kim Shiflett)
(Note: This post on top today - Scroll for newer post below)
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Today’s Launch Was Try #ONE
And I’m sorry to say that
today’s LAUNCH WAS SCRUBBED
this morning at 9:56am EST
Next launch attempt is tomorrow, (Friday)
at 4:09 pm EST

More info below...
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December 6th, 10 a.m. EST: During tanking, two of four LH2 Engine Cutoff (ECO) sensors failed to respond appropriately, which is a Launch Commit Violation. The requirement to proceed calls for 3 of 4. The launch was scrubbed at 9:56 a.m. EST on the recommendation of Launch Director Doug Lyons.

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Mission Management Team Chairman LeRoy Cain concurred following a short briefing on the issue. The ice inspection team will proceed with an abbreviated vehicle inspection prior to offloading the LO2 and LH2 and recycle for a launch attempt tomorrow, at 4:09 p.m.

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A press briefing is tentative scheduled for 3 p.m. An update is forthcoming on NASA TV.
Info from NASA.gov website

Read Latest News and Updates +
Countdown/Mission Elapsed Time Clock
at NASA.gov
...
Watch Launch and Mission LIVE
at NASA TELEVISION...
Click HERE to view
ENJOY!!!
.
* STS-122 Interactive Timeline - Click Here *
...
I’ll be posting on the Space Shuttle Atlantis Launch
and its Mission over the next so many days...
So check back!!!
..

GOD SPEED to the Crew of STS-122 Atlantis...
AubreyJ.........

Space Shuttle, STS 122 Atlantis, Scheduled For Launch Thursday, December 06, 2007

Space Shuttle STS 122 Atlantis
Scheduled For Launch
Thursday, December 06, 2007

Space Shuttle, STS 122 Atlantis, is scheduled for launch Thursday afternoon at 4:31 p.m. EST from NASA's Florida launch base.
About Photo: A technician monitors the closure of the payload bay doors on space shuttle Atlantis during launch preparations at NASA's Kennedy Space Center. The European-built Columbus laboratory is bolted inside the cargo bay and will be attached to the International Space Station during mission STS-122.

Photo credit: NASA/George Shelton
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* Space.com has this great read at link below...
Astronaut Trio Primed for Space Station Construction
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* NASA.gov has this report and it goes like this...

The launch team at NASA's Kennedy Space Center is continuing its steady march toward a lift off Thursday afternoon for space shuttle Atlantis. The countdown is proceeding smoothly, NASA Test Director Jeff Spaulding said Wednesday.

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Mission STS-122 is scheduled to launch at 4:31 p.m. EST from NASA's Florida launch base. Atlantis will carry the European-developed Columbus laboratory and attach it to the International Space Station. Seven astronauts, including two from the European Space Agency, will fly aboard Atlantis.

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Technicians and engineers at the launch pad have several steps ahead of them Wednesday. The most visible milestone will come in the evening when the Rotating Service Structure is moved to its launch position where it will be out of the way of Atlantis. The gantry encloses much of the shuttle while it is on the launch pad and gives workers access to critical areas of the shuttle and its payload.

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The weather forecast calls for a 90 percent chance of acceptable conditions at launch time. "The vehicle's looking good and the weather's looking good, too," Weather Officer Kathy Winters said.

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* Read the latest updates on Launch HERE *

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I’ll be posting on the Space Shuttle Atlantis Launch

and its Mission over the next so many days...

So check back!!!
AubreyJ.........