Updates STS-134 Updates

[Yoda]

It flew with a bat logo before, albeit for a short time. :rofl:

:rofl::rofl::rofl::rofl:
Now THAT's funny !

http://img838.imageshack.us/i/shuttlebat.jpg/

 

[orb]

Florida Today - The Flame Trench: Shutdown would halt most shuttle work at KSC:

Most government and contractor employees at Kennedy Space Center would be forced to stop working if the federal government shuts down Friday night, but any impact to Endeavour's April 29 launch depends on the length of a shutdown.

A relatively small number of personnel deemed "essential" would continue working to keep shuttle hardware safe, including Endeavour on launch pad 39A.

But the majority of about 2,100 NASA civil servants and 10,500 contractors -- the approximate total after previously planned layoffs effective on Friday -- would not be allowed to work.

"There will be personnel needed to keep the shuttle in a stable configuration, but the majority of work on the shuttle will come to a halt," said Allard Beutel, a KSC spokesman.

KSC's ability to support an April 29 launch of Endeavour's final flight wouldn't be affected unless a shutdown dragged on beyond next week.

As of today, launch teams have nine contingency days available to absorb any unexpected delays, a total that includes four weekend days when no work is currently planned.

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CBS News Space: NASA braces for possible government shutdown / Spaceflight Now

 

[orb]

NASASpaceflight: STS-134: SSMEs ready to fly – Stack cleared following more bad weather:

Endeavour is happily moving through her pad flow, despite having to endure yet more bad weather over her launch pad – resulting in additional inspections for hail damage this week. Thankfully, no new observations of damage have been noted on the External Tank (ET-122). Meanwhile, the Flight Readiness Review (FRR) for the Space Shuttle Main Engines (SSME) has been completed without issue.

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[Orbinaut Pete]

The Soyuz flyabout is cancelled.

NEWSFLASH: Soyuz Flyabout during STS-134 - http://tinyurl.com/3m5gxa4 - has been officially cancelled. We write it up.

 

[Yoda]

The Soyuz flyabout is cancelled.

What a load of c..p !
YET another "safety" concern I presume ??:WTF:

 

[Orbinaut Pete]

For those wanting an explanation as to why the STS-134 Soyuz flyabout was cancelled....

My latest NASASpaceflight article: STS-134 Soyuz Flyabout Cancelled – Planning switched to STS-135.

 

[IronRain]

Another great STS-134 mission video

 

[orb]

ESA:

• Roberto Vittori’s DAMA mission to Space Station
• DAMA mission section

 

[Orbinaut Pete]

Additional Day Added to STS-134 Mission
Wed, 13 Apr 2011 04:50:49 PM GMT

Shuttle managers have officially added an additional day to space shuttle Endeavour's STS-134 mission making it a 15-day flight. With launch targeted on April 29, landing at Kennedy's Space Shuttle Landing Facility would be on Saturday, May 14 at 9:51 a.m. EDT.

The extra day will be put in after Flight Day 9 as a new Flight Day 10 to accommodate work on the U.S. carbon dioxide removal system and other International Space Station tasks.

The Flight Readiness Review for Endeavour's flight to the space station will be held on Tuesday, April 19. NASA managers will announce the official launch date during a briefing at the conclusion of the meeting.

Source.

 

[orb]

NASASpaceflight: STS-134: Endeavour heading towards S0007 preparations – mission extended:

With a large amount of contingency in her pad flow, Endeavour’s processing pace has slowed down this week. The flow is expected to ramp up on Friday as preparations begin for S0007 (Launch Countdown) operations. While the feared government shutdown was averted, memos pre-empting the possibility revealed some insight into the latest launch window planning and mission duration.

{...}

 

[Orbinaut Pete]

Hmmm, back to 14 days now.... :idk:

Flight Planning Returns to a 14-Day Mission
Fri, 15 Apr 2011 05:42:29 PM GMT

Space shuttle managers have decided to keep shuttle Endeavour’s STS-134 mission as a 14-day flight and possibly extend the mission as many as two days while Endeavour is in space.

The program had extended the mission one day on Wednesday, but managers determined late yesterday that they will keep it at a 14-day flight for the time being. Once Endeavour is in space, managers will evaluate the shuttle’s performance and other mission objectives and then decide whether to add another day or two to the flight to support operations aboard the International Space Station.

The first landing opportunity at Kennedy is Friday, May 13 at 9:28 a.m. EDT. All schedules will be discussed at Tuesday’s Flight Readiness Review meeting at Kennedy.

Launch remains targeted for April 29 at 3:47 p.m.

 

[Orbinaut Pete]

Check this out - an incredible 360 degree interactive panorama of AMS in Endeavour's Payload Bay! :thumbup:

 

[IronRain]

 

[orb]

NASASpaceflight: STS-134: Endeavour ordnance installation on tap – Mission still being tweaked:

Following a relatively relaxed week at Pad 39A, Endeavour is preparing to enter Ordnance installation tasks on Monday and Tuesday, as the youngest orbiter in the fleet heads into her final week prior to the launch countdown. With the Flight Readiness Review (FRR) also set to take place on Tuesday, managers are making their final refinements to the baselined STS-134 mission.

{...}

 

[orb]

Spaceflight Now:

• Reviewers clear shuttle Endeavour for April 29 launch
• Ascent Timeline and Abort Boundaries

CBS News Space: Shuttle Endeavour cleared for April 29 launch

NASASpaceflight: STS-134 Agency FRR approves April 29 launch – Storm damage evaluations:

Managers at the Agency Flight Readiness Review (FRR) have – as expected – approved April 29 as the launch date for STS-134. The meeting also discussed the health of Endeavour’s External Tank (ET-122), following a bout of severe storm weather at Pad 39A at the end of March – resulting in high wind loads on the stack, lightning events and minor hail damage, all of which has been cleared as no concern for flight.

{...}

ESA: Last Shuttle ride to ISS for ESA astronaut with ‘dark matter’ hunter

 

[orb]

Florida Today: Shuttle Endeavour's parts get the all-clear

 

[Star Voyager]

The Obama's are coming! The Obama's are coming!

http://spaceflightnow.com/shuttle/sts134/110420obama/

http://space.flatoday.net/2011/04/obama-will-be-at-ksc-for-endeavour.html

 

[agentgonzo]

The Obama's are coming! The Obama's are coming!

http://spaceflightnow.com/shuttle/sts134/110420obama/

http://space.flatoday.net/2011/04/obama-will-be-at-ksc-for-endeavour.html

They were just looking for an excuse not to attend Will-and-Kate's wedding. I'm intrigued why the second link had an image with the moon landings on it though.

 

[IronRain]

SpaceFlight Now: Endeavour to chart new ground in rendezvous demo

It's a test pilot's dream. Use an existing vehicle to try out technology for its replacement. The U.S. military does it with fighter planes, and now NASA plans to demonstrate an important piece of space navigation equipment next month on the shuttle Endeavour's last mission.

 

[orb]

I'm intrigued why the second link had an image with the moon landings on it though.

In my opinion, it's nothing special. Before Obama's visit to KSC a year ago, they have used this picture at least twice then, too.