SFS News: Astronauts Begin Prelaunch Training Milestone

Klaus Schmidt · Posted on: Tue Sep 23, 2008 2:12 am

(NASA) - The seven astronauts for space shuttle Atlantis' STS-125 mission to NASA's Hubble Space Telescope are at Kennedy Space Center to participate in the STS-125 terminal countdown demonstration test, concluding with a countdown rehearsal Sept. 24. During the three-day event, the astronauts and ground crews participate in various simulated countdown activities, including equipment familiarization and emergency training for the fifth and final shuttle flight to service the telescope.

Crew members spent most of their first day in briefings. Monday evening, Commander Scott Altman and Pilot Gregory Johnson will fly simulated landings in the Shuttle Training Aircraft, while Mission Specialists Michael Good, Megan McArthur, John Grunsfeld, Michael Massimino, and Andrew Feustel check the fit of their orange launch-and-entry suits.

Tuesday's activities include a question-and-answer session with the media and emergency egress training at Launch Pad 39A.

Image above: STS-125 crew, from left are, mission specialist Megan McArthur, pilot Gregory C. Johnson, mission specialist Mike Massimino, commander Scott Altman, and mission specialists Andrew Feustel, John Grunsfeld and Michael Good. Photo credit: NASA/Kim Shiflett

Meanwhile, at Launch Pad 39A, technicians continue to prepare space shuttle Atlantis for its upcoming launch, targeted for Oct. 10 at 12:43 a.m. EDT. The canister carrying flight hardware for the telescope now is in the pad's payload changeout room, where it awaits installation in the orbiter's payload bay.

On Friday morning, space shuttle Endeavour successfully completed its slow 4.2-mile trek from the Vehicle Assembly Building to Launch Pad 39B. The journey took less than 8 hours, and the shuttle was securely fastened to the pad just before sunrise. Endeavour will be on standby in the unlikely event that a rescue mission for the Atlantis's crew would be necessary. After Endeavour is cleared from its duty as a rescue vehicle, workers will move it to pad 39A in preparation for liftoff on mission STS-126 to the International Space Station in November.

Feel free to discuss this article in this topic.

Author	Message
Klaus Schmidt Space Station Commander Joined: Wed Dec 08, 2004 12:55 pm Posts: 506 Location: Germany	SFS News: Astronauts Begin Prelaunch Training Milestone Posted on: Tue Sep 23, 2008 2:12 am (NASA) - The seven astronauts for space shuttle Atlantis' STS-125 mission to NASA's Hubble Space Telescope are at Kennedy Space Center to participate in the STS-125 terminal countdown demonstration test, concluding with a countdown rehearsal Sept. 24. During the three-day event, the astronauts and ground crews participate in various simulated countdown activities, including equipment familiarization and emergency training for the fifth and final shuttle flight to service the telescope. Crew members spent most of their first day in briefings. Monday evening, Commander Scott Altman and Pilot Gregory Johnson will fly simulated landings in the Shuttle Training Aircraft, while Mission Specialists Michael Good, Megan McArthur, John Grunsfeld, Michael Massimino, and Andrew Feustel check the fit of their orange launch-and-entry suits. Tuesday's activities include a question-and-answer session with the media and emergency egress training at Launch Pad 39A. Image above: STS-125 crew, from left are, mission specialist Megan McArthur, pilot Gregory C. Johnson, mission specialist Mike Massimino, commander Scott Altman, and mission specialists Andrew Feustel, John Grunsfeld and Michael Good. Photo credit: NASA/Kim Shiflett Meanwhile, at Launch Pad 39A, technicians continue to prepare space shuttle Atlantis for its upcoming launch, targeted for Oct. 10 at 12:43 a.m. EDT. The canister carrying flight hardware for the telescope now is in the pad's payload changeout room, where it awaits installation in the orbiter's payload bay. On Friday morning, space shuttle Endeavour successfully completed its slow 4.2-mile trek from the Vehicle Assembly Building to Launch Pad 39B. The journey took less than 8 hours, and the shuttle was securely fastened to the pad just before sunrise. Endeavour will be on standby in the unlikely event that a rescue mission for the Atlantis's crew would be necessary. After Endeavour is cleared from its duty as a rescue vehicle, workers will move it to pad 39A in preparation for liftoff on mission STS-126 to the International Space Station in November. Feel free to discuss this article in this topic.
Back to top

gaetanomarano Space Station Member Joined: Thu Jan 12, 2006 12:28 am Posts: 363 Location: Italy	STOP the Hubble Servicing Mission 4 now!!! Posted on: Tue Sep 23, 2008 1:49 pm . STOP the Hubble Servicing Mission 4 now!!! It's TOO dangerous!!! There's no ISS "safe haven" near the Hubble!!! Do you want TWO Shuttles and 11 astronauts LOST in space??? It could be THE END of the Shuttle program and (perhaps) THE END of ALL manned space programs for LONG, LONG time!!! There are SEVERAL (much safer!!!) ways to upgrade the Hubble WITHOUT risk to lose 11 astronauts lives and make 11 widow(er)s and 20+ orphans!!! . _________________ . Why the suborbital space tourism is TOO DANGEROUS . ghostNASA.com . gaetanomarano.it .
Back to top

Rob Goldsmith Moon Mission Member Joined: Fri Jan 09, 2004 11:52 am Posts: 1268 Location: Exeter, Devon, England	Posted on: Tue Sep 23, 2008 4:35 pm here we go _________________ > http://www.fullmoonclothing.com > http://www.facebook.com/robsastrophotography > robgoldsmith@hotmail.co.uk
Back to top
Display posts from previous: Sort by