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Author
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Topic: STS-117: Atlantis moves forward
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Robert Pearlman
Editor Posts: 42988
From: Houston, TX
Registered: Nov 1999
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posted 02-07-2007 10:14 AM
   
From NASA.gov:  quote:
Space shuttle Atlantis was transported to the Vehicle Assembly Building on Wednesday. The rollover marks the start of the journey to Pad 39A. First motion was at 6:19 a.m.After arrival in the transfer aisle in the VAB, the orbiter will be fitted with two bridge cranes that will lift it to a vertical position for mating to the external fuel tank and solid rocket boosters already in place on the mobile launcher platform. The flight of Atlantis to the International Space Station on STS-117 has been targeted for March 15, a day earlier than originally planned.
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8-ball
New Member Posts:
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Registered:
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posted 02-08-2007 11:39 AM
It is my understanding that this Launch is to go off SLC-39A. There have been a flury of contractors refurbishing this pad. I started work as a DESIGN ENGINEER with PRC way back in 1977 on PAD 39A (umbilicals, OAA, Gox Vent Hood, GH2 Vent Line, etc). There are two people alive that worked on the original design of the MID-BODY Umbilical System. Just to show you how mature the program is. |
Robert Pearlman
Editor Posts: 42988
From: Houston, TX
Registered: Nov 1999
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posted 02-12-2007 11:43 PM
Space Shuttle Atlantis was mated to the orange external tank and twin solid rocket boosters last week. The entire assembly is stacked on the mobile launcher platform and is targeted to roll out to Launch Pad 39A on February 15.  The rollout marks the next milestone for Mission STS-117 and will be the first launch from Pad 39A in four years. On Monday, the canister carrying the STS-117 payload was lifted up to the changeout room on the rotating service structure on Pad 39A.
 The canister contains the S3/S4 integrated truss. Once inside, the S3/S4 arrays will be transferred into Atlantis' payload bay after the vehicle has rolled out to the pad. The changeout room is the enclosed, environmentally controlled portion of the rotating service structure that supports cargo delivery to the pad and subsequent vertical installation into the orbiter's payload bay. [Edited by Robert Pearlman (February 13, 2007).] |
ShuttleDiscovery
Member Posts: 152
From:
Registered: Feb 2007
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posted 02-15-2007 02:59 PM
Hi there!Atlantis is now at pad 39A ready for mission STS-117 slated for March 15th 2007!!  |
Robert Pearlman
Editor Posts: 42988
From: Houston, TX
Registered: Nov 1999
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posted 02-15-2007 05:45 PM
 Atlantis arrived at Pad 39A at Kennedy Space Center in Florida, at 3:09 p.m. EST on Thursday, February 15, riding atop the crawler transporter. The next milestone for the upcoming mission, STS-117, is a full launch dress rehearsal as the six-member crew prepares to continue building the International Space Station. The transporter began carrying Atlantis out of the Vehicle Assembly Building at 8:19 a.m. It traveled just under 1 mph during the 3.4 mile journey. While at the pad, the shuttle will undergo final testing, payload installation and a "hot fire" test of auxiliary power units. When testing is completed, the rotating service structure will be moved around the vehicle for protection.  |
tegwilym
Member Posts: 2331
From: Sturgeon Bay, WI
Registered: Jan 2000
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posted 02-16-2007 01:41 PM
Awesome!Ok, question. Say I went nuts, jumped on a plane and went to Florida to see the launch and hope to find a good 'non-official' viewing site (since I didn't get a ticket for the causeway or anything). Is there a good site or do I just try again next mission? (I have easy access to airline tickets through a pilot friend - so I can do silly thing like this on a whim if I feel the need!) Tom
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Robert Pearlman
Editor Posts: 42988
From: Houston, TX
Registered: Nov 1999
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posted 02-16-2007 01:47 PM
Tom, see the discussion about viewing the launch here and in particular, the link provided by Ben Cooper to his launch viewing tips website. |
James Brown
Member Posts: 1287
From: Atlanta, Georgia, USA
Registered: Jun 2000
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posted 02-16-2007 09:07 PM
I also just returned home from the rollout. What a spectacular morning and afternoon we had. I have posted some of my photos:
http://www.freewebs.com/robmed/sts117.htm James |
Ben
Member Posts: 1896
From: Cape Canaveral, FL
Registered: May 2000
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posted 02-16-2007 09:20 PM
Very nice photos, and great seeing you again. Wish I could have been there for the middle portion of the roll.I've posted mine here:
http://www.launchphotography.com/STS-117_rollout.html PS: good thing you didn't stay for the launch ;-) ------------------
-Ben www.LaunchPhotography.com |
AmirBer
Member Posts: 24
From: Be'er Sheva, Israel
Registered: Dec 2006
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posted 02-17-2007 06:30 AM
why is it that the cargo is only being put on after the shuttle is at the launch pad? is it so that the center of mass remains low?also - where can i find pic's of the crawler? Amir |
KSCartist
Member Posts: 2896
From: Titusville, FL USA
Registered: Feb 2005
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posted 02-17-2007 07:31 AM
Hello Amir-When I worked at a parochial school in Merritt Island we hosted visits by students from Be'er Sheva. Were you among that group? In response to your question, most major payloads for the orbiter are transferred to the Pad seperately. It is much safer to do that instead of loading the orbiter then hoisting it to vertical in the VAB for stacking and then rolling it out to the pad. You wouldn't want that extra weight during stacking procedures as well as during rollout.
Once the RSS is moved into position around the orbiter at the Pad it is a "relatively simple" procedure to then move the payload into the bay and then close the bay doors for flight. Tim |
tegwilym
Member Posts: 2331
From: Sturgeon Bay, WI
Registered: Jan 2000
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posted 02-17-2007 10:20 PM
quote:
Originally posted by Robert Pearlman:
Tom, see the discussion about viewing the launch here and in particular, the link provided by Ben Cooper to his launch viewing tips website.
Thanks. Yeah, I've seen Ben's site in the past with that info. I need to go refresh my memory and read his guide all over again. Tom |
James Brown
Member Posts: 1287
From: Atlanta, Georgia, USA
Registered: Jun 2000
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posted 02-20-2007 09:03 AM
I have added a few more photos that I shot from last week's rollout to my site, if anyone is interested:
http://www.freewebs.com/robmed/sts117.htm James |
Madon_space
Member Posts: 667
From: uk
Registered: Sep 2002
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posted 02-20-2007 10:38 AM
Some great Photo's there guys, you have no idea how much i would love the opportunity to go to a Rollout and take Photo's like that.
------------------
Best Wishes
ROB
http://www.picturetrail.com/madon_space |
Ashy
Member Posts: 157
From: Preston, England
Registered: Mar 2004
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posted 02-21-2007 05:47 AM
I'll be over on holiday for the STS 117 launch and the Atlas launch, (but kicking myself for missing Autographica this year) and was wondering if anyone can give me some advice. I was going to take a long exposure for the launches but as I've only attended a daylight launch before, I could do with some advice as to what f stop, ISO rate and exposure time to use. I'll be using a Nikon D70 with most likely, the standard lens, 28-70mm. Si |
irish guy
Member Posts: 287
From: Kerry Ireland
Registered: Dec 2001
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posted 02-22-2007 10:51 AM
Thanks to all of u,for the great Pictures.There are a few special ones on this roll out.They bring all of us,who cant be there,a little closer.They are so appreciated.Thanks guys looking forward to march 16...eamonn |
James Brown
Member Posts: 1287
From: Atlanta, Georgia, USA
Registered: Jun 2000
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posted 02-22-2007 12:25 PM
Si,Are you looking to do a "streak" shot, or are you just looking for night time launch exposure information? With the D70, the lowest ISO you can use is 200. That will work just fine for a night launch. For a "streak" shot, you will need to set your apature on F/22, and use the B setting with your camera on a tripod. James |
Ben
Member Posts: 1896
From: Cape Canaveral, FL
Registered: May 2000
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posted 02-22-2007 02:52 PM
The d70 is not sufficient to do a streak even at f/22 unfortunately (I have seen teh results). If you must use that camera, pick up an ND 4 filter. Where will you be watching each launch? If you want more detailed info, feel free to email me. ------------------
-Ben www.LaunchPhotography.com |
Ashy
Member Posts: 157
From: Preston, England
Registered: Mar 2004
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posted 02-23-2007 10:38 AM
Cheers James and Ben!The only other launch I've attended was a daylight one, (tragically the STS 107 launch), which my family and I watched from Cocoa beach. If the D70 is not up to the streak type photo I will have to bring an additional 35mm camera for that one. I really fancied that type of pic, and not knowing what type of quality the D70 would bring it might be best!
Ben - as to were to watch the launches from, I viewed your site and looked at the options, but not knowing the area and having my kids in tow, I'm open to good and safe suggestions. I will email you. Si
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