OMEN
07-11-2009, 11:57 AM
After two previously scrubbed liftoffs, NASA looks to get started on space station mission
Despite forecasts of inclement weather, NASA today said it is moving ahead with preparations to launch the space shuttle Endeavour Saturday evening.
Tomorrow marks the third scheduled launch for Endeavour and its seven-member crew. The first two scheduled launches last month were scrubbed by NASA because of gaseous hydrogen leaks in an outer tank. NASA announced earlier this month that the leaks had been repaired and the shuttle is ready for liftoff.
NASA noted in an online report today that the latest scheduled launch has a 40% chance of taking off due to expected showers, thunderstorms and cloud cover. Nonetheless, NASA said pre- launch work is continuing on schedule.
If all goes as planned, the Endeavour shuttle is expected to blast off at 7:39 p.m. on Saturday.
Endeavour's crew is prepared to conduct a 16-day mission to expand the Japanese laboratory housed on the International Space Station. NASA has called the operation one of its most technical missions yet, one that will call on the power of three separate robots.
The highly complex mission will include five spacewalks, the use of three robotic arms -- two working together and one that will "walk" across the outside of the space station.
Holly Ridings, lead space station flight director for the Endeavour mission, said in a previous interview that their mission goals couldn't be reached without the use of NASA's robotics technology.
"The length of the mission, the five spacewalks, the robotics used almost every single day and 13 crew members makes it a big puzzle and all those pieces need to fit together correctly to get everything done," said Ridings, adding that NASA space missions will become increasingly dependent on robots.
Compworld
Despite forecasts of inclement weather, NASA today said it is moving ahead with preparations to launch the space shuttle Endeavour Saturday evening.
Tomorrow marks the third scheduled launch for Endeavour and its seven-member crew. The first two scheduled launches last month were scrubbed by NASA because of gaseous hydrogen leaks in an outer tank. NASA announced earlier this month that the leaks had been repaired and the shuttle is ready for liftoff.
NASA noted in an online report today that the latest scheduled launch has a 40% chance of taking off due to expected showers, thunderstorms and cloud cover. Nonetheless, NASA said pre- launch work is continuing on schedule.
If all goes as planned, the Endeavour shuttle is expected to blast off at 7:39 p.m. on Saturday.
Endeavour's crew is prepared to conduct a 16-day mission to expand the Japanese laboratory housed on the International Space Station. NASA has called the operation one of its most technical missions yet, one that will call on the power of three separate robots.
The highly complex mission will include five spacewalks, the use of three robotic arms -- two working together and one that will "walk" across the outside of the space station.
Holly Ridings, lead space station flight director for the Endeavour mission, said in a previous interview that their mission goals couldn't be reached without the use of NASA's robotics technology.
"The length of the mission, the five spacewalks, the robotics used almost every single day and 13 crew members makes it a big puzzle and all those pieces need to fit together correctly to get everything done," said Ridings, adding that NASA space missions will become increasingly dependent on robots.
Compworld