Updates STS-135 Updates

[Orbinaut Pete]

It is also understood that some unique views of the International Space Station (ISS) will be observed during Atlantis’ undocking from the orbital outpost, given the Station will be in a different attitude than normal during the flyaround.

The ISS’ attitude will be under a yaw of 90 degrees, placing the Y-axis in the Velocity Vector (+/-YVV). As a result, this will provide some unique side-on views of ISS during Atlantis’ post-undocking manuever.

These photos are going to be amazing. I think this calls for some Donamy screenshots!

 

[orb]

Spaceflight Now: Stacking of final shuttle rocket boosters underway

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[IronRain]

 

[orb]

Florida Today - The Flame Trench: Last shuttle crew training at KSC:

The four-person crew of the last scheduled shuttle mission is visiting Kennedy Space Center for two days of training ahead of a planned June 28 launch.

Mission commander Chris Ferguson, pilot Doug Hurley and mission specialists Sandy Magnus and Rex Walheim will be getting more familiar with spacecraft systems and the payload they'll fly to the International Space Station.

The veteran crew will climb inside the cockpit of Atlantis in Orbiter Processing Facility-1 and inspect the Italian-built cargo module Raffaello in the Space Station Processing Facility.

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[Orbinaut Pete]

Three of the four STS-135 crewmembers are now on Twitter! Follow along as they prepare for the final Shuttle flight! :thumbup:

Chris Ferguson (@Astro_Ferg).

Doug Hurley (@Astro_Doug).

Sandy Magnus (@Astro_Sandy).

 

[Orbinaut Pete]

While the Soyuz flyabout has been cancelled for STS-134, fear not - planning has moved to STS-135! Although I have to say, it's not looking good so far...

My latest NASASpaceflight article: STS-134 Soyuz Flyabout Cancelled – Planning switched to STS-135.

 

[Kyle]

The Russians are sure as heck against this!

 

[orb]

Spaceflight Now: Final shuttle crew checks out Atlantis (PHOTO GALLERY)

 

[Fabri91]

The Russians are sure as heck against this!

It sure looks that way, but to be honest I can't really blame them, a failed redocking could have some pretty severe consequences, according to the article linked above, even a complete evacuation of the station.

 

[N_Molson]

Yep, and if something goes wrong (a collision, a hard docking), that will be the Soyuz fault (since it will be the flying spacecraft). And for now, this spacecraft is vital for the international manned space program.

 

[orb]

Spaceflight Now: Schedule mapped out to final space shuttle launch

 

[IronRain]

 

[agentgonzo]

It sure looks that way, but to be honest I can't really blame them, a failed redocking could have some pretty severe consequences, according to the article linked above, even a complete evacuation of the station.

Yeah, in fairness the Russians are being asked to do something with a lot of risk for an entirely cosmetic reason. We all want photos of the shuttle docked with the stack but it will afford us zero new scientific information.

That said, the human race is built upon indulgence and romanticism so hopefully they will see the cultural benefit of adorning a million desktops with a new backdrop

 

[Orbinaut Pete]

I found this great blog at the Houston Chronicle - "Final Mission", a behind-the-scenes look at the STS-135 crew training. :thumbup:

 

[dougkeenan]

Can't believe we don't have some stupid little camera bot by this point.

 

[GoForPDI]

The Chinese used a remote camera to take photos of their craft during Shenzhou 7. It was as simple as a little tiny sub-sat attatched to the orbital module.

 

[Orbinaut Pete]

It aint' looking good for the Soyuz flyabout.

NASASpaceflight: "Troubled STS-135 mission timeline under review".

 

[orb]

Florida Today - The Flame Trench: Last shuttle boosters completed at KSC

 

[orb]

Spaceflight Now:

• Booster stacking finished for final shuttle flight
• SRB Case History (PDF - 196 KB)

 

[orb]

Spaceflight Now: Federal budget pays for summer shuttle flight

NASASpaceflight: STS-135: Atlantis tracking May 12 rollover – Final Shuttle milestones:

Atlantis is pressing towards a May 12 rollover to the Vehicle Assembly Building (VAB) as her engineers work on resolving a few minor Interim Problem Reports (IPRs) on the vehicle. Atlantis’ STS-135 processing flow is marking what is likely to be the final milestones to be worked by the Shuttle teams, with the last ever mating of an External Tank and Boosters expected on Monday.

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