STS-129 Shuttle Mission to the International Space Station Launches Monday 19:28 GMT

Cosimo

Cosimo

Cosimo

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STS-129: Stocking the Station

The spare parts delivered to the International Space Station by Atlantis during the STS-129 mission will mean spare years on the station’s life once the space shuttle fleet is retired.

With only one U.S. module left to deliver, the Space Shuttle Program is turning its attention to helping the space station build up a store of replacement parts. There are only half a dozen flights left in the shuttle’s manifest before they stop flying, and as the only vehicle large enough to carry many of the big pieces of equipment into space, several of the flights are devoted to the task. This is the first, however, and as the first this mission is dedicated to taking up the spares of the highest priority.
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From NASA

I’m sure that many of you will want to watch this. Scheduled for launch at 19:28 GMT (14:28 EST) on Monday 16th of November, here is the standard NASA TV link.

Here is a better stream: 1200kbps ​


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There are 6 remaining shuttle missions including STS-129.​

:)
 
Thx, hope the weathers good. I went to the space center for a launch a few years ago but it was cancelled due to a fault:(

Gutted i'm never going to see the shuttle launch now
 
Countdown for launch is now underway, it started yesterday at 18:00 GMT. Loading of hydrogen/oxygen reactants for the shuttle’s fuel cells will start tonight.

Should the launch be scrubbed on the 16th, further windows are available from 17th to 19th of November. There is no launch window between the November 20th and December 5th. The December launch window is from the 6th to the 11th.
 
Weather doesn't look too bad (I have the Titusville added to my iPhone weather app, though obviously that's not as accurage as the SMG :)).

I probably won't be watching much of this one online sadly as I have rather more pressing issues to deal with this time, but I'll still watch what I can and try to catch the launch if possible.
 
The management team have given the “Go” for launch tomorrow, there are no issues and the countdown continues.


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The rotating service structure that protects the shuttle from bad weather will be rolled away at about 22:30 GMT tonight. The loading of liquid hydrogen/oxygen into the external tank is scheduled to begin at around 10:00 GMT tomorrow.
 
Hot off the press:


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The forecast for tomorrow remains at 90% both for the fuelling of the external tank and launch.

:)
 
The rotating service structure has been rolled away and the shuttle waits for launch from Pad 39A:


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Currently there are no issues and the launch is still on schedule. The mission management team will meet at 09:30 GMT to give the go ahead for tanking. Tanking is scheduled to begin at 10:00 GMT.
 
Stupid question I know, but how does the shuttle go from the tracked machine that brings it from the hangar to the launch pad?
 
Nikumba said:
Stupid question I know, but how does the shuttle go from the tracked machine that brings it from the hangar to the launch pad?
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Timelapse video here and have a read here may help you out a bit :)

reading up on the crawler it is pretty impressive, and the pic:

800px-Crawler-Transporter.jpg


With a few alterations coud become:

uef_fatboy1--screenshot_large.jpg


:D
 
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The countdown continues with the crew getting ready for transfer to the launch pad at around 15:40. The forecast is now showing 30% probability of cloud cover postponing the launch.

We have just under 4hrs 2mins to go.
 
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