STS-135: The new "last" shuttle mission!

[EarthlingX]

STS-135 under evaluation

http://www.nasaspaceflight.com : STS-135: June 24, 2011 under evaluation for extra shuttle mission

June 8th, 2010

by Chris Bergin

Wide-ranging evaluations are taking place for the closeout of the shuttle program, with STS-133 and STS-134 potentially swapping their flight order via realigned launch dates in October/November and February, 2011 – while engineering departments have been asked to evaluate impacts to a June 24, 2011 launch of STS-135 – in the event of the additional mission being approved.

“Did you know that in the year from May 11, 2009 to May 14, 2010, the Shuttle and ISS teams launched seven Space Shuttle flights? If you add STS-119 in March of 2009, we have launched eight flights in 14 months (15 March 2009 to 14 May 2010),” noted Mr Shannon’s address.

 

[Gravity_Ray]

Re: STS-135 under evaluation

An extra mission or two are very do-able. The hardware is made. Only alteration will have to be reducing the size of the crew to 3 so that in case of emergency they can take refuge on ISS and then come back down with a Soyuz. The extra missions can be simple supply missions to the ISS for large ORU's and also to reduce dependency on Russian flights for other supplies.

 

[shuttle_guy]

Re: STS-135 under evaluation

An extra mission or two are very do-able. The hardware is made. Only alteration will have to be reducing the size of the crew to 3 so that in case of emergency they can take refuge on ISS and then come back down with a Soyuz. The extra missions can be simple supply missions to the ISS for large ORU's and also to reduce dependency on Russian flights for other supplies.

Actually if STS-135 is flown the crew size will be 4. Two Soyuz vehicles would be required to bring them home. (A russian pilot must fly with every Soyuz) if they require rescue.

 

[scottb50]

Re: STS-135 under evaluation

Actually if STS-135 is flown the crew size will be 4. Two Soyuz vehicles would be required to bring them home. (A russian pilot must fly with every Soyuz) if they require rescue.

Since a fully functional Dragon is now being planned to dock to the ISS and return later this year I would wonder just how long it would take to fly a manned version, empty, or with cargo, to the ISS and leave it as a lifeboat. Manned launches will take more data obviously but launch of one would provide data as well as backup additional Shuttle flights. Since it would be an emergency situation and landing of Dragon would have been demonstrated it would only make sense. Not only would it accelerate the manned Dragon program at the least it would provide additional cargo to the ISS sooner.

 

[Gravity_Ray]

Re: STS-135 under evaluation

I stand corrected Shuttle_guy... Actually can the STS crew be just 2? That way only one soyuz will be needed.

Scottb50 dont they have to build the crew capsule for the dragon? They need seats at least... Actually you have a good idea there, because if your just bringing astronauts down and not up you will not need the crew escape system for the Dragon.

 

[RVHM]

Re: STS-135 under evaluation

I stand corrected Shuttle_guy... Actually can the STS crew be just 2? That way only one soyuz will be needed.

Scottb50 dont they have to build the crew capsule for the dragon? They need seats at least... Actually you have a good idea there, because if your just bringing astronauts down and not up you will not need the crew escape system for the Dragon.

Learn some history... How many astronauts did you think flew in the first missions, 42? :roll:

 

[Zipi]

Re: STS-135 under evaluation

I stand corrected Shuttle_guy... Actually can the STS crew be just 2? That way only one soyuz will be needed.

Scottb50 dont they have to build the crew capsule for the dragon? They need seats at least... Actually you have a good idea there, because if your just bringing astronauts down and not up you will not need the crew escape system for the Dragon.

Learn some history... How many astronauts did you think flew in the first missions, 42? :roll:

Learn about the situation today... At those early days of shuttle program OBSS inspections were not needed. Nowadays those are needed and it will take 4 astronauts to do all the inspections quick enough to complete mission on time. With 4 astronauts it will take one extra day before docking to ISS since they need to have that much of extra situation awareness when moving shuttle arm and OBSS boom.

 

[shuttle_guy]

Re: STS-135 under evaluation

I stand corrected Shuttle_guy... Actually can the STS crew be just 2? That way only one soyuz will be needed.

Scottb50 dont they have to build the crew capsule for the dragon? They need seats at least... Actually you have a good idea there, because if your just bringing astronauts down and not up you will not need the crew escape system for the Dragon.

The ascent and entry min desirable crew is 3. (CDR, PLT and Flt engineer). Two could do the job however the help with the checklists that the Flt engineer gives is very useful.

Scott50: The cargo version of the Dragon is not configured for a crew. Sas far as I know SpaceX has not defined what is missing for the general public. I do know that several systems for the manned version are still in development with some "challenges" Environmental control sys, launch escape sys etc.

 

[scottb50]

Re: STS-135 under evaluation

Scott50: The cargo version of the Dragon is not configured for a crew. Sas far as I know SpaceX has not defined what is missing for the general public. I do know that several systems for the manned version are still in development with some "challenges" Environmental control sys, launch escape sys etc.

The launch escape system would not be needed, it would go up with only cargo, environmental control and passenger accomodations would be the biggest obstacle. I would think an acceptable system could be put together in a reasonable amount of time especially if the next launch is planned to be a rehearsal of a normal supply mission.

Like Soyus it would undock and land in a short span of time so environmental concerns would be fairly simple.

 

[shuttle_guy]

STS-335/135

Currently STS-335 is the Launch On Need (LON) mission for STS-134. The STS-335 mission will only be flown if the STS-134 crew cannot return to Earth in their Shuttle Orbiter. If the STS-335 Shuttle Orbiter is also damaged and unable to attempt a re-entry the STS-134 and the STS-335 crews would come back in Soyuz spacecraft with Russian commanders as the pilots.
STS-335 could be changed to STS-135 to supply more cargo to the ISS if a STS-335 mission is not needed. The STS-135 mission would probably be flown the summer of 2011.
The decision to have or not have the STS-135 mission is expected next month.
The selection of the STS-335/135 crew is expected to be announced next week. We still expect a crew of four to be named.
If the Shuttle Orbiter is damaged and unable to attempt a re-entry the STS-135 crew would come back in 2 Soyuz spacecraft with Russian commanders as the pilots. (There will be no LON vehicle for this last flight).

 

[stevekk]

Re: STS-335/135

There was an article today about them shipping the last production ET up from Michoud. Now, they are working on repairing ET-122, which was damaged during Katrina. What the article said, is that if STS-135 gets approved, then it gets the new tank, and STS-134 gets the repaired tank.


I don't know why they would switch tanks, other than to guarantee the last flight gets the last ET. I can't imagine switching astronaut crews that late in the game, and the astronauts will actually be around after the mission is over. There is nothing to recover from an ET after the flight, correct ?

 

[shuttle_guy]

Re: STS-335/135

There was an article today about them shipping the last production ET up from Michoud. Now, they are working on repairing ET-122, which was damaged during Katrina. What the article said, is that if STS-135 gets approved, then it gets the new tank, and STS-134 gets the repaired tank.


I don't know why they would switch tanks, other than to guarantee the last flight gets the last ET. I can't imagine switching astronaut crews that late in the game, and the astronauts will actually be around after the mission is over. There is nothing to recover from an ET after the flight, correct ?

The only reason to switch ETs at this point would be to match the lightest ET (ET-138) with the mission with the lowest payload margin. Sicnce the ET goes all the way to orbit every pound saved allows a ound of payload to be carried in the Orbiter.


Some of the ET does survive re-entry however they are targeted for a remote Pacific Ocean site. As far as I know nothing has been recovered.

 

[PJay_A]

Well, it is now almost certain that there will be at least one additional shuttle mission.... STS-135 (probably Atlantis) for next June. This flight has been written into both the House and Senate appropriation bills for NASA, so it's like 100% certain that it will remain in the final bill that the President without a doubt will sign. The only thing that may prevent this additional flight from happening is if Hell freezes over - and with Global Warming happening in the future over the horizon, rest assured Hell isn't going to freeze over for a long time!

Let's start floating some ideas that maybe ESA and the Italian Space Agency (ISA) can began campaigning NASA for! Since STS-135 would carry an MPLM and there will be two MPLM left, let's put one more to work permanently at ISS. Let's turn it into a second PLM!

Not enough ports once we do this, you say? Answer is simple. Before the Columbia accident, NASA did plan on launching a "Node X" module that would have doubled as a propulsion module. It is identical to Unity (Node 1). In fact, it was originally a Node test article and was designated as "Node 1". Structural damage caused NASA to disgard it and make a duplicate that was later used and named Unity. As a propulsion module, its structural damage has been fixed. The completed module has remained in storage, where it is 'till this day. My proposal is to to convert STS-135's MPLM to PLP-2 and attach Node X to it for its flight up on the shuttle (where it could be detatched for permanent placement on ISS).

 

[Zipi]

Well, it is now almost certain that there will be at least one additional shuttle mission.... STS-135 (probably Atlantis) for next June. This flight has been written into both the House and Senate appropriation bills for NASA, so it's like 100% certain that it will remain in the final bill that the President without a doubt will sign. The only thing that may prevent this additional flight from happening is if Hell freezes over - and with Global Warming happening in the future over the horizon, rest assured Hell isn't going to freeze over for a long time!

Let's start floating some ideas that maybe ESA and the Italian Space Agency (ISA) can began campaigning NASA for! Since STS-135 would carry an MPLM and there will be two MPLM left, let's put one more to work permanently at ISS. Let's turn it into a second PLM!

Not enough ports once we do this, you say? Answer is simple. Before the Columbia accident, NASA did plan on launching a "Node X" module that would have doubled as a propulsion module. It is identical to Unity (Node 1). In fact, it was originally a Node test article and was designated as "Node 1". Structural damage caused NASA to disgard it and make a duplicate that was later used and named Unity. As a propulsion module, its structural damage has been fixed. The completed module has remained in storage, where it is 'till this day. My proposal is to to convert STS-135's MPLM to PLP-2 and attach Node X to it for its flight up on the shuttle (where it could be detatched for permanent placement on ISS).

Well if some sort of accident happens at STS-133 or STS-134 it is pretty sure that we won't see STS-135. Of course I personally wish everything goes well and STS-135 is flown.

What comes to Node-X... It has nowadays planned to be used as DHS (docking hub system): http://www.nasaspaceflight.com/2010/06/ ... -addition/

Based on what I have heard, DHS is still very early at its planning process. There is no possibility that it will be ready as STS-135 goes up and even it would be ready shuttle cannot fly MPLM and Node-X/DHS at the same time. I don't have facts about how DHS have been planned, but I believe all Node-X docking ports would be converted to LIDS/"new internation open standard docking mechanism". Personally I would be very happy to see DHS to fly with STS-135 even without MPLM you planned..

 

[3488]

Ideally STS 135 Atlantis should go ahead & use this as an opportunity to take up to the ISS as much as is possible on one mission. it makes logical sense. Literally put as much in the payload bay as is safely possible.

Andrew Brown.

 

[shuttle_guy]

Ideally STS 135 Atlantis should go ahead & use this as an opportunity to take up to the ISS as much as is possible on one mission. it makes logical sense. Literally put as much in the payload bay as is safely possible.

Andrew Brown.

We always do Andrew! We do not wase any up mass at all.

 

[PJay_A]

Thank you for the info on Node 4 as that is news to me! So, this would be attached to where the PMA is on Node 2? Where would the PMA be relocated? I wish someone would make a 3D graphic showing the completed station plus all the proposed modules (including the 3 proposed Russian modules and whatever else is out there that's still being considered)! With so much invested, it would be foolish to ever deorbit the station and makes a bunch of sense to continuously improve it, rehab it, and expand it over time. If this happens, ISS may become a true orbital space city!

Well, it is now almost certain that there will be at least one additional shuttle mission.... STS-135 (probably Atlantis) for next June. This flight has been written into both the House and Senate appropriation bills for NASA, so it's like 100% certain that it will remain in the final bill that the President without a doubt will sign. The only thing that may prevent this additional flight from happening is if Hell freezes over - and with Global Warming happening in the future over the horizon, rest assured Hell isn't going to freeze over for a long time!

Let's start floating some ideas that maybe ESA and the Italian Space Agency (ISA) can began campaigning NASA for! Since STS-135 would carry an MPLM and there will be two MPLM left, let's put one more to work permanently at ISS. Let's turn it into a second PLM!

Not enough ports once we do this, you say? Answer is simple. Before the Columbia accident, NASA did plan on launching a "Node X" module that would have doubled as a propulsion module. It is identical to Unity (Node 1). In fact, it was originally a Node test article and was designated as "Node 1". Structural damage caused NASA to disgard it and make a duplicate that was later used and named Unity. As a propulsion module, its structural damage has been fixed. The completed module has remained in storage, where it is 'till this day. My proposal is to to convert STS-135's MPLM to PLP-2 and attach Node X to it for its flight up on the shuttle (where it could be detatched for permanent placement on ISS).

Well if some sort of accident happens at STS-133 or STS-134 it is pretty sure that we won't see STS-135. Of course I personally wish everything goes well and STS-135 is flown.

What comes to Node-X... It has nowadays planned to be used as DHS (docking hub system): http://www.nasaspaceflight.com/2010/06/ ... -addition/

Based on what I have heard, DHS is still very early at its planning process. There is no possibility that it will be ready as STS-135 goes up and even it would be ready shuttle cannot fly MPLM and Node-X/DHS at the same time. I don't have facts about how DHS have been planned, but I believe all Node-X docking ports would be converted to LIDS/"new internation open standard docking mechanism". Personally I would be very happy to see DHS to fly with STS-135 even without MPLM you planned..

 

[Yuri_Armstrong]

Any news on this? What are the chances of STS-135 actually launching barring any type of disaster? And have they selected the crew yet.

 

[MeteorWayne]

It is not on the Shuttle manifest, or NASA launch schedule.

AFAIK, it has not been funded, or directed to take place.

So it's still theoretical.

Maybe s_g can give us some scuttlebut...

 

[EarthlingX]

SDC : NASA Selects Astronaut Crew for Possible Extra Shuttle Flight

By SPACE.com Staff

posted: 14 September 2010
08:34 pm ET

This story was updated at 10:28 p.m. ET.



NASA has announced the four astronauts who would fly the last-ever space shuttle mission next summer, should Congress approve the extra flight.

Currently, only two shuttle missions remain: the STS-133 mission aboard Discovery, which is scheduled to launch this November, and STS-134 on Endeavour in February 2011. However, NASA approved a final mission, STS-135, which would fly to the International Space Station on Atlantis next June. Congress is still mulling whether to approve the extra flight.

If Congress gives the thumbs-up to STS-135, the shuttle Atlantis would be commanded by Chris Ferguson, a retired U.S. Navy captain and veteran of two previous shuttle missions. 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.

 

[MeteorWayne]

Good timely catch, EX. Thanx!