Updates STS-135 Updates

[Orbinaut Pete]

It's getting closer...

SpaceRef: "NASA Extends Contract With United Space Alliance".

Florida Today's "The Flame Trench" Blog: "NASA extends USA shuttle operations contract".

 

[orb]

NASASpaceFlight: SSP remaining cautious over political decision on funding STS-135:

A major milestone is upcoming for Atlantis’ final role with the Space Shuttle Program (SSP), with the crew selection of four – from a pool of 11 – astronauts, set to take place in less than two week’s time. However, SSP manager John Shannon outlined caution on STS-135 biggest milestone – becoming funded, as the prospect of a Continuing Resolution (CR) adds a level of uncertainty.
...

 

[Orbinaut Pete]

Spaceflight Now: "Decision on extra shuttle flight remains in limbo".

 

[Kyle]

STS-335/135's crew should be announced tomorrow whether it is internally or not.

 

[Orbinaut Pete]

Houston, we have a flight crew! :woohoo:

CDR: Chris "Fergie" Ferguson.
PLT: Doug Hurley.
MS1: Sandy Magnus.
MS2: Rex Walheim.

I'm so pleased that I successfully predicted Fergie & Hurley! :thumbup:


NASA Assigns Crew for Final Launch on Need Shuttle Mission.

NASA announced the four astronauts who will make up the crew of STS-335, the rescue mission that would fly only if needed to bring home the members of space shuttle Endeavour's STS-134 mission, currently the final scheduled shuttle flight.

Chris Ferguson, a retired U.S. Navy captain and veteran of two previous shuttle missions, would command the flight. Astronaut and U.S. Marine Col. Doug Hurley would serve as pilot, and astronauts Sandy Magnus and retired U.S. Air Force Col. Rex Walheim would be the mission specialists.

Based on recommendations made after the loss of space shuttle Columbia in February 2003, NASA has trained a launch on need crew to be ready to fly in the event of irreparable damage to a shuttle while in orbit. Typically, the next crew to fly serves as the rescue crew for the current mission. The STS-335 crew will prepare for a potential rescue mission and preserve flexibility if another shuttle flight is added to the launch manifest.

“These astronauts will begin training immediately as a rescue crew as well as in the baseline requirements that would be needed to fly an additional shuttle flight," said Bill Gerstenmaier, associate administrator for NASA's Space Operations Mission Directorate in Washington. "The normal training template for a shuttle crew is about one year prior to launch, so we need to begin training now in order to maintain the flexibility of flying a rescue mission if needed, or alter course and fly an additional shuttle mission if that decision is made."

If required, the STS-335 rescue mission would launch on shuttle Atlantis in June 2011 to bring home the STS-134 crew from the International Space Station. STS-134 currently is scheduled to lift off on Feb. 26, 2011, from NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida. If converted to an additional shuttle flight, STS-335 would be redesignated STS-135 and targeted to launch in June 2011.

Ferguson, who was born in Philadelphia, flew on two prior shuttle missions, STS-115 in 2006 and STS-126 in 2008. Hurley, who was born in Endicott, N.Y., but considers Apalachin, N.Y., his hometown, served as the pilot on STS-127 in 2009. Magnus, of Belleville, Ill., flew on STS-112 in 2002 and launched to the space station in 2008 on STS-126, where she served four and a half months as a flight engineer and science officer on Expedition 18 before returning to Earth on STS-119 in 2009. Walheim was born in Redwood City, Calif., and considers San Carlos, Calif., his hometown. He flew on STS-110 in 2002 and STS-122 in 2008.

---------- Post added at 11:52 PM ---------- Previous post was at 11:36 PM ----------

Spaceflight Now: "Crew assigned for possible final space shuttle mission".

 

[orb]

NASASpaceFlight: NASA managers carry out further STS-335 to STS-135 alignment evaluations:

NASA managers are continuing to work the alignment process between the STS-335 LON (Launch On Need) rescue role of Atlantis – in support of STS-134 – and the yet-to-be-funded STS-135 mission. The process – which ranges from requirements on the International Space Station (ISS), to the External Tanks – allows for a smooth transition to baselining STS-135, when funded.
...

 

[Orbinaut Pete]

Florida Today: "Bet on one more shuttle mission".

 

[Kyle]

Anyone think it is possible we'll get a patch to boot?

 

[Orbinaut Pete]

Anyone think it is possible we'll get a patch to boot?

STS-335 would use this patch (obviously with STS-335 in place of STS-400, and Endeavour + STS-125 removed).

I should imagine that STS-135 patch designs are currently "in work". If 135 isn't approved, I should imagine the designs will be released on collectSPACE, as unapproved/unofficial designs are legally the property of the artist, not NASA.

 

[Orbinaut Pete]

Now this is some good reading! :thumbup:

NASA Engineering and Safety Center Technical Assessment Report: Assessment of NASA's Approach to STS-135 with Soyuz Crew Rescue (PDF, 749.13 KB).

 

[Orbinaut Pete]

NASASpaceFlight: "NASA faces tough decisions to plan STS-135 ahead of funding appropriation".

 

[Kyle]

Now that the president signed the bill, is STS-135 official?

Also out of curiosity, what's STS-135's launch time?

 

[Orbinaut Pete]

Here's a preliminary STS-135 flight plan from CBS News!

 

[orb]

Florida Today: NASA seeks delay of extra space shuttle launch.

WESH.com: Final Shuttle Launch Could Be Delayed 1 Year.

 

[Orbinaut Pete]

SPACE.com: "NASA's Extra Shuttle Flight Hangs In The Balance".

There's also some interesting STS-135 content in this video.​

 

[Kyle]

Noticed in the video how pessimistic they are about STS-135. The bill got passed, it pretty likely they'll get the funding for STS-135 once the appropriation bill is passed.

 

[Orbinaut Pete]

Aviation Week: "Panel Says STS-135 Decision Merits Urgency".

 

[orb]

NASASpaceflight: ASAP and Shuttle Program concerned over continuing STS-135 uncertainty:

Members of the Aerospace Safety Advisory Panel (ASAP) have echoed Shuttle workforce concerns from Space Shuttle Program (SSP) manager John Shannon about prolonging the current uncertainty about the status of the proposed STS-135 mission. Lawmakers authorized NASA to fly Atlantis’ mission, though it continues to lack the appropriation of funding.

...

 

[Orbinaut Pete]

Orlando Sentinel: "Budget cuts may doom extra shuttle launch".

Will the speculation ever end?

 

[Orbinaut Pete]

Bolden is on-board! :yes:

Space News: "Bolden Says Extra Shuttle Flights Needed As Hedge Against Additional COTS Delays".