Human Spaceflight
Dedicated to Humans in Space
| Main Menu |
|---|
| Space Facts | ||
|---|---|---|
|
||
| STS 125: May 11 2009 19:01 GMT |
|---|
|
|
| STS 125 Mission / Videos |
|---|
|
|
Atlantis lands safely at Edwards Air Force Base.
Atlantis roars from KSC on it's way to Hubble.
Last Mission to Hubble
| Polls |
|---|
| Time Zone Clock |
|---|
|
|
| Who's Online |
|---|
| Atlantis Lands Safely at Edwards, California |
|
|
|
| Written by Web Master | |
 Space shuttle Atlantis landed at Edwards Air Force Base in California at 4:39 p.m. BST, completing a 13-day journey of approximately 5.3 million miles in space. During a press conference held at NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida, Associate Administrator for NASA’s Science Mission Directorate Ed Weiler said, "Now, and only now can we declare this mission a total success -- the astronauts are safely on the ground." Weiler called NASA's Hubble Space Telescope the great comeback story. He said the public continues to be captivated by the telescope's images of the universe and he hopes to see Hubble operate into its third decade of service. NASA Launch Integration Manager Mike Moses agreed that this was a fantastic mission. "It's good to have Atlantis back here on the ground," said Moses. He also said the crew did a great job trying to get the shuttle back to Kennedy, even though the weather wouldn't cooperate. Mike Leinbach, NASA space shuttle launch director, congratulated the STS-125 crew and also commended the crew members who were ready and standing by in case space shuttle Endeavour was needed for a rescue mission. He also said NASA still is targeting June 13 for Endeavour's mission to the International Space Station. Landed: Sunday, May 24, 2009, 11:39 a.m. EDT Landing Site: Edwards Air Force Base Mission Elapsed Time: 12 days, 21 hours, 37 minutes, 9 seconds Official Landing Times Main gear touchdown: 11:39:05 a.m. EDT Nose gear touchdown: 11:39:15 a.m. EDT Wheels stop: 11:40:15 a.m. EDT Total miles: 5.276 million View Live Nasa TV Crew Completes Shuttle Inspection - 12th May 2009  Atlantis’ crew completed a planned survey of the shuttle heat shielding today, noting some damage in tiles that experts will continue to analyze. Flight Director Tony Ceccacci said that upon an initial look, damage found during the inspection appeared to be minor and likely not a concern, but he said experts would analyze it as is normal to be certain the shuttle’s heat shielding is in good shape. The damage included small dings along an area of about 21 inches spanning four of the shuttle’s thermal tiles located on the starboard side of the spacecraft where the wing blends into the forward fuselage. Atlantis continues to close in on the Hubble Space Telescope, heading toward a rendezvous and capture of the observatory at 5:54 p.m. BST Wednesday. The crew members plan to check out the equipment they will use for the final phase of the rendezvous today while telescope controllers plan to close the aperture door of the instrument in preparation for the shuttle’s arrival. Atlantis en route to Hubble - Monday 11th May 2009  Space shuttle Atlantis lifted off from NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida Monday, rising on twin columns of fire to embark on STS-125, the final shuttle mission to service NASA's Hubble Space Telescope. Liftoff was right on time at 7:01 p.m. GMT following a countdown that proceeded relatively smoothly throughout the day. Late in the countdown, launch managers had to evaluate an unexpected ice formation on the liquid hydrogen umbilical, and a buildup of cumulus clouds threatened the favorable weather forecast. But those issues were quickly resolved, and in a post-launch press conference, NASA managers praised the launch team for its expertise and efficiency. "The teams here at (Kennedy Space Center) gave us a great vehicle, and ascent was good," said Bill Gerstenmaier, NASA's associate administrator for Space Operations. "It was a great start to a very challenging mission." During the 11-day mission's five spacewalks, astronauts will install two new instruments, repair two inactive ones and perform the component replacements that will keep the telescope functioning into at least 2014. Veteran astronaut Scott Altman is serving as Atlantis' commander, and retired Navy Capt. Gregory C. Johnson will serve as pilot. Mission specialists rounding out the crew are: veteran spacewalkers John Grunsfeld and Mike Massimino, and first-time space fliers Andrew Feustel, Michael Good and Megan McArthur. In addition to the originally scheduled work, Atlantis also will carry a replacement Science Instrument Command and Data Handling Unit for Hubble. Astronauts will install the unit on the telescope, removing the one that stopped working on Sept. 27, 2008, delaying the servicing mission until the replacement was ready. Atlantis ready for Launch - Sunday 10th May 2009  Veteran astronaut Scott Altman will command the final space shuttle mission to service NASA's Hubble Space Telescope, and retired Navy Capt. Gregory C. Johnson will serve as pilot. Mission specialists rounding out the crew are: veteran spacewalkers John Grunsfeld and Mike Massimino, and first-time space fliers Andrew Feustel, Michael Good and Megan McArthur. During the 11-day mission's five spacewalks, astronauts will install two new instruments, repair two inactive ones and perform the component replacements that will keep the telescope functioning into at least 2014. In addition to the originally scheduled work, Atlantis also will carry a replacement Science Instrument Command and Data Handling Unit for Hubble. Astronauts will install the unit on the telescope, removing the one that stopped working on Sept. 27, 2008, delaying the servicing mission until the replacement was ready. |
|
| Last Updated ( Monday, 25 May 2009 ) |
| < Prev | Next > |
|---|
| Video Gallery |
|---|
|
|
| Visitors by Country | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Visitors | ||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|