STS-132 Pre Launch Discussion (Target date May 14)

[MeteorWayne]

It has been pointed out that news is starting to break on this mission, so here is the place for pre launch activities!

MW

(Thanx Zipi)

Launch Target:
May 14, 2010
Orbiter:
Atlantis
Mission Number:
STS-132
(132nd space shuttle flight)
Launch Window:
10 minutes
Launch Pad:
39A
Mission Duration:
11 days

Primary Payload:
34th station flight (ULF4), Integrated Cargo Carrier (ICC), Mini Research Module (MRM1)

Crew:
Commander Ken Ham
Pilot Tony Antonelli
Mission Specialists Stephen Bowen, Michael Good,
Garrett Reisman and Piers Sellers

 

[Zipi]

Re: STS-132 Pre Launch Discussion

Thanks MW!

Atlantis' last fuel tank reaches launch site

The external fuel tank for space shuttle Atlantis' final flight arrived at the Kennedy Space Center on Monday to begin preparations for launch in May.

Lots of more images and the whole article from Spaceflight Now: http://www.spaceflightnow.com/shuttle/s ... 00301tank/

 

[Zipi]

Re: STS-132 Pre Launch Discussion

STS-132 Mission Pages: http://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/shutt ... ns/sts132/



Primary Payload Rassvet Wikipedia Article: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rassvet_(ISS_module)
Novosti-Kosmovantiki Article: http://translate.google.com/translate?u ... uage_tools
(without Google translate: http://www.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/cont ... 3/15.shtml)

Pressurized hull of cancelled Science Power Platform which was used as basis for Rassvet:

Shuttle Cargo Bay Configuration:
http://www.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/cont ... 93/sts.jpg

Rassvet's Transfer from Cargo Bay to Its Berthing Port:

MRM1 "Rassvet" Carries Parts for MLM "Nauka":

Rassvet's Carried Parts Installed to Nauka:

 

[Zipi]

Re: STS-132 Pre Launch Discussion

Rassvet 3D model with explanations: http://www.flightglobal.com/blogs/hyper ... M1%20A.JPG

SiberianTiger's Rassvet Page: http://orbiter-forum.com/showthread.php?p=140703

Rassvet Construction Photo Reports by Energia:

http://www.energia.ru/eng/iss/mim1/photo_08-07.html
http://www.energia.ru/rus/iss/mim1/photo_08-18.html
http://www.energia.ru/eng/iss/mim1/photo_08-24.html
http://www.energia.ru/eng/iss/mim1/photo_08-28.html
http://www.energia.ru/rus/iss/mim1/photo_08-31.html
http://www.energia.ru/eng/iss/mim1/photo_09-03.html
http://www.energia.ru/rus/iss/mim1/photo_10-08.html
http://www.energia.ru/rus/iss/mim1/photo_12-07.html
http://www.energia.ru/rus/iss/mim1/photo_12-28.html

 

[Zipi]

Re: STS-132 Pre Launch Discussion

Rassvet Preparations:
[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jPkPTy1HtKI[/youtube]

Some Rassvet videos at the bottom of this page: http://news.rambler.ru/Russia/science/4594015/
(lets see if I post more specific links tomorrow, but now I really have to go to sleep. It is 1:48AM here in Finland :roll

United Space Alliance's Payload Integration Page: http://www.unitedspacealliance.com/icd/ ... tents.html
(huge load of technical material in PDF format)

In case someone wants to do Googling, these might be good words: МИМ Рассвет
(at least I have used those)

 

[EarthlingX]

Re: STS-132 Pre Launch Discussion

Thanks for Googling tip and extremely awesome posts
I snatched this picture from 3.0 PHYSICAL INTERFACES (Sections 3.0 thru 3.0.4) :

 

[ozspace]

Has anyone have knowledge of a possible reschedule of STS-132 launch to May 20, window 11:53 a.m. - 12:04 p.m.? I have heard talk of schedule crunch and the time between 131 and 132 pad turn around.

Peter

 

[Zipi]

STS-132 related images from KSC Media Gallery can be found with this search tool:
http://mediaarchive.ksc.nasa.gov/search.cfm
(use sts-132 as search criteria)

 

[EarthlingX]

From OnOrbit :

Mini Research Module MRM1 (Rassvet) Integration Begins

Submitted by keithcowing on Fri, 03/12/2010 - 14:46.
RSC Energia: Specialists from the S.P.Korolev Rocket and Space Corporation Energia continue their work at Kennedy Space Center (KSC), FL, USA on the processing for launch of the Mini Research Module MRM1 (Rassvet). At the SPPF facility of the Astrotech company (formerly Spacehab) stand-alone electrical tests and leak tests of the module and the airlock which is to be delivered on it have by now been completed.

 

[Zipi]

Energia's MRM1 photoreport:

http://www.energia.ru/en/iss/mim1/photo_03-05.html
(same images as OnOrbit article posted by EarthlingX)

EDIT: I spotted one new photo:

 

[3488]

Does anyone whow if the Friday 14th May 2010 launch date still on?

BTW it is one day after the Northern Summer / Southern Winter Solstice on Mars.

Andrew Brown.

 

[Zipi]

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Kr80vrFe3Bw[/youtube]

 

[Zipi]

Spaceflight Now's STS-132 Article: http://www.spaceflightnow.com/shuttle/s ... 25rassvet/

It has also lots of photos by Ben Cooper:

 

[EarthlingX]

http://www.universetoday.com/ : Russians Unveil Science Beauty in Florida

March 25th, 2010
Written by Ken Kremer

Russian space managers unveiled a science beauty today (March 25) in Florida, namely the ‘Rassvet’ research room which serves as Russia’s newest contribution to the International Space Station. Although ‘Rassvet’ was built entirely in Russia, the module is hitching a ride aboard the American Space Shuttle Atlantis as the primary cargo for the STS 132 station assembly mission slated to blast off soon in May 2010. ‘Rassvet’ translates as ‘Dawn’.

Russian built Mini Research Module MRM-1 set to launch aboard US Space Shuttle Atlantis in May 2010 undergoes final prelaunch processing inside clean room at Astrotech Space Operations Facility in Florida. Credit: Ken Kremer

Russian built Mini Research Module MRM-1 set to launch aboard Shuttle Atlantis in May 2010 undergoes final prelaunch processing in Florida. Credit: Ken Kremer

Russian MRM 1 managers: Mikhail Kas-hitsyn, (problem with site protection) Deputy Technical Manager Head of MRM 1 Prelaunch Processing and Sergey Saveliev, Deputy Project Manager for MRM1. from the Design Bureau division of RSC Energia at Astrotech for press briefing on March 25, 2010. Credit: Ken Kremer

“All preparations will be completed in about 1 week. It’s wonderful we have this cooperation with our American colleagues and I want to express my thanks to the US and NASA for their help and mutual understanding,” added Mr. Kashitsyn.

“MRM 1 will be the largest piece of Russian space hardware ever to launch on an American rocket,” Kashi-tsyn told me. “The last large piece of Russian space equipment to launch from the US was the Mir docking module for the Mir space station”.
“Several thousand people worked on MRM 1 in Russia and it took about 2 years to build. About 100 are involved in the pre launch preparations here at Port Canaveral”.

“Furthermore, the interior of the module will also be loaded with 1.5 tons of NASA cargo and supplies for the ISS, including items such as food, lithium hydroxide canisters, computers and printers”, according to Kash-itsyn.

“This will be the last payload for Atlantis,” said Robert Ashley, the NASA ISS manager responsible for the STS 132 payload processing. “This will be my last mission as a station mission manager. It’s bittersweet. There will be a lot of lasts for a lot of people on these final shuttle missions”.

 

[Zipi]

ET+SRBs mated together, Spaceflight Now article: http://www.spaceflightnow.com/shuttle/s ... etsrbmate/

 

[Zipi]

Rassvet photo collection: (with very "powerful" russian song as sound track)
[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iog40I3chSc[/youtube]

Includes also a short clip from NASA TV at the end of the video.

 

[EarthlingX]

Rassvet photo collection: (with very "powerful" russian song as sound track)

You have future in advertising, i guess

I go watch now .. :arrow:
(Hoy - hoy- hay - HO - HO - la - la la ..)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iog40I3chSc

Includes also a short clip from NASA TV at the end of the video.

Nice idea to show a gallery in a small place, and i prefer that music to many other i muted.

 

[Zipi]

Atlantis leaves hangar:
http://www.spaceflightnow.com/shuttle/s ... index.html

Orbiter rolls to VAB:
http://www.spaceflightnow.com/shuttle/s ... ndex2.html

 

[EarthlingX]

:shock: WoW ! To send Ben Cooper into space would be of benefit to humankind, and Stephen Clark cuts pretty close too

M-hm


Photo credit: Ben Cooper/Spaceflight Now

 

[Zipi]

Atlantis lifted up inside VAB: http://www.spaceflightnow.com/shuttle/s ... index.html

 

[EarthlingX]

 

[Zipi]

Russian space station module shipped to NASA's space shuttle launch pad

While shuttle Atlantis was inside the Vehicle Assembly Building getting hooked up with its external fuel tank and solid rocket boosters, the mission's payloads drove by the landmark facility Thursday evening en route to the launch pad.

Packed within a special transport canister shaped like the shuttle's 60-foot-long payload bay, Russia's Mini Research Module 1 and an American cargo-carrying pallet destined for the International Space Station arrived atop NASA's seaside pad at nightfall.

Full article with more photos: http://www.spaceflightnow.com/shuttle/s ... 15payload/

 

[EarthlingX]

Khm . .

 

[MeteorWayne]

Rollout from the VAB to the pad is scheduled for 8PM Monday.

Pre Flight News briefings scheduled for May 3 (My Mom's Birthday)

 

[bobble_bob]

The volcano in Iceland that is causing all this trouble over here (Uk), and in Europe. If it eruptes again around the launch time of STS132, could it effect the launch? The TAL sites in Spain and France could have a large ash cloud over them. Do Nasa even have a launch criteria for ash?