The astronauts of STS-115 spent a second day outside the International Space Station working to connect up the new P3/P4 truss element. During the 7-hour spacewalk Dan Burbank and Steve MacLean had to remove insulation covers and hundreds of bolts from the truss. The final test will come on Thursday, when the new electricity-generating solar panels are unfurled to their full 13.7-metre (45-foot) length. Once operating, the new panels will double the amount electricity available to the station. The third and final spacewalk will occur on Friday.
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Astronauts Complete First Spacewalk
NASA astronauts completed the first of three spacewalks this morning, as part of mission STS-115. Mission Specialists Joe Tanner and Heidemarie Stefanyshyn-Piper exited the station at 0917 GMT (6:17 am EDT) and completed several tasks that will prepare for the installation of the new P3/P4 truss. As part of their 5-hour spacewalk, the astronauts installed power and data cables, and released the launch restraints that held the huge solar arrays safe during launch. The solar arrays will be completely unfurled on Thursday, and will double the station’s electricity.
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Atlantis Links Up with the Station
The Space Shuttle Atlantis caught up with the International Space Station this morning, linking up at 1048 GMT (6:48am EDT). After 2 hours of preparations, the airlock was opened, and the astronauts were greeted by the current station residents. As one of the first tasks of the day, the Atlantis crew used their robotic arm to transfer the P3/P4 integrated truss from the shuttle’s cargo bay to the robotic arm on the station. The STS-115 crew will conduct three spacewalks during their mission to connect and configure the truss for permanent operations.
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Space Shuttle Atlantis Blasts Off
After 4 delays, the Space Shuttle Atlantis finally lifted off from Cape Canaveral on Saturday, September 9, beginning its 11-day mission to return to the International Space Station. The main objective for Atlantis and its six astronaut crew will be to deliver and install the P3/P4 truss to the station. This 15.5-tonne structure includes the station’s giant solar arrays that will double its power capacity. Atlantis is currently catching up with the station, and is expected to dock on Monday.
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Atlantis Launch Delayed to Saturday
The delays to STS-115 – the Space Shuttle Atlantis mission to the space station – continue to mount. The latest issue is a malfunctioning fuel cut-off sensor designed to protect the shuttle’s main engines if they unexpectedly run out of fuel. NASA’s rules require that the shuttle tank be completely drained to test the fuel sensors before it can be filled up again. This has pushed the launch back to 1515 GMT (11:15 am EDT) on Saturday.
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Fuel Cell Problem Delays Atlantis Launch
NASA postponed today’s launch of the Space Shuttle Atlantis after problems emerged during the activation of one its electricity-producing fuel cells. During preparations for launch, controllers detected a voltage spike in the fuel cell’s cooling pump, and decided it posed enough of a risk to push back the launch. Managers will be meeting on Wednesday afternoon to discuss the issue, and determine when the shuttle will be ready for launch again.
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Atlantis Will Ride Out Ernesto
NASA managers decided on Tuesday that Tropical Storm Ernesto won’t pose a threat to the Space Shuttle Atlantis, so they rolled it back out to the launch pad. There will still be high winds, so Atlantis will be locked down to the launch pad on Tuesday evening. If all goes well, Atlantis could launch as early as next week, returning to the International Space Station to continue its construction. The Kennedy Space Center will remain closed until Thursday, depending on the storm’s track.
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Storm Delays Shuttle Launch
NASA has pushed back the launch of the Space Shuttle Atlantis because of Tropical Storm Ernesto, currently threatening the East Coast of the United States. The agency has made the decision to roll the shuttle back to its hanger, to protect it from potential damage from the storm. If the rollback does occur, the shuttle won’t be able to fly before its September launch window ends, so it’ll have to be pushed back to October.
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STS-115 Brings More Power to the Station
STS-115 is an ambitious mission that returns the focus of human spaceflight to building the International Space Station, bringing new capabilities to the ISS. While a song by John Lennon asserts that revolution will bring power to the people, it will be a new set of solar arrays and its ability for rotation that will provide more power to the space station.
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Atlantis Scheduled for August 27 Launch
NASA has announced that the space shuttle Atlantis is scheduled to lift off on August 27, 2006. If all goes well, the shuttle will blast off from Cape Canaveral at 2230 GMT (4:30 pm EDT) and return to the International Space Station, finally continuing its construction. Over the course of three spacewalks, the shuttle crew will install the P3/P4 truss onto the station, which contains a set of giant solar arrays, batteries, and electronics.
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