STS-132

STS -132 (English Space Transportation System) is the name of the 32nd spaceflight mission of the U.S. Space Shuttle Atlantis ( OV- 104), NASA.

The launch took place on May 14, 2010. It was the penultimate flight of Atlantis.

Team

On 6 May 2009 the team was named.

  • Tony Antonelli ( second space flight), Pilot
  • Michael Good ( second space flight), Mission Specialist
  • Piers Sellers ( 3 space flight), Mission Specialist
  • Stephen Bowen ( second space flight), Mission Specialist
  • Garrett Reisman ( second space flight), Mission Specialist

Originally Karen Nyberg was assigned as mission specialist, but was replaced on 11 August 2009 from unexplained medical reasons by Good.

This is since December 2000 ( STS -97 ), the first shuttle flight without a space novice.

Mission overview

The mission STS -132 (ISS - ULF4 ) brought the Russian-built extension module Rassvet, which was docked at the Zarya module to the International Space Station. On board was also home to the Integrated Cargo Carrier (ICC - VLD). This brought six new batteries to the ISS, the same number in the old P6- segment replace. Furthermore, a new Ku-band antenna has been installed. There were three spacewalks.

Preparations

After the end of the last mission of Atlantis ( STS -129 ), the Space Shuttle on 27 November 2009 was moved to the Orbiter Processing Facility and started the follow-up.

Rassvet reached on 17 December 2009 with an Antonov An - 124, the Kennedy Space Center. In the following months it was prepared in the Astrotech Space Operations facility in Titusville for the start. The end of March it was loaded into a transport container transported to the Space Station Processing Facility.

On March 1, came the external tank for STS -132, the ET- 136 in Florida. After careful examination, he was married from 29 March with the two Solid Rocket Boosters (SRB ). The Atlantis followed on 13 April in the VAB. In the next few days she was there mounted on the external tank. On April 22, the roll-out took place for the launch site LC - 39A.

The team met on April 20 in preparation for a the next day beginning Terminal Countdown Demonstration Test at the Kennedy Space Center (KSC ). During this two-day exercise, the crew simulated the final hours of the countdown. In addition, the escape from the launch pad was rehearsed in a dangerous situation. The TCDT ended with a simulated launch abort for the crew and the control team. Subsequently, the crew flew back to Houston.

Mission History

Start

On May 10, the crew reached after further preparation at the Johnson Space Center in Houston, Kennedy Space Center. The countdown for the mission began the following day at 22:00 UTC in the T-43 hour mark. As planned, launched the Atlantis on May 14 at 18:20 UTC clock. 8 minutes and 32 seconds after launch, the three main engines ( SSME ) were abandoned, another 15 seconds later, the outer tank is no longer required was dropped.

More than 39,000 spectators watched the launch from the Kennedy Space Center. Among them was the Russian Deputy Prime Minister Sergei Ivanov and the head of the Russian space agency Roskosmos, Anatoly Perminov.

Inspection and coupling

One of the first tasks after the start was to open the cargo bay doors, on the inside of the radiators to heat radiation are. It was further extended Ku- band antenna can be transferred with the larger amounts of data to ground stations.

Flight day 2, the first full day in orbit, the astronauts began at 8:20 UTC. The plan was, inter alia, a detailed analysis of critical points of the heat shield with the Orbiter Boom Sensor System. Even before the start of the investigations a problem with a cable was detected on the sensor head. Then had to be switched to the less efficient backup system.

On flight day 3 (16 May ) the Atlantis reached the ISS. Before docking, the Rendezvous Pitch Maneuver (RPM ) was performed to ensure that the ISS crew could photograph the heat shield to locate possible damage.

14:28 UTC the Atlantis docked at 350 km over the South Pacific at the coupling adapter PMA -2. About two hours later at 16:18 UTC, the hatches between ISS and Atlantis were opened. After a brief welcome ceremony, the standard safety briefing followed by the commander of the ISS Oleg Kotov.

Work on the ISS

On the same day, the transfer of goods first began on the ISS, including there were also the spacesuits for the following three extra-vehicular activity ( EVA ). Outside, Canadarm2 was used to carry the Integrated Cargo Carrier from the payload bay of the shuttle on the Mobile Base System. In preparation for the first spacewalk the next day, Mission Specialists Reisman and Bowen spent the night at reduced air pressure in the Quest airlock. This decompression sickness is prevented due to nitrogen supersaturation.

Flight day 4 was marked by the first external deployment of this mission. After Garrett Reisman and Stephen Bowen had their spacesuits changed at 11:54 UTC clock to internal power supply, they left the Quest airlock and went first to the ICC cargo pallet. From there they took a 2.7 -meter antenna mast, which was then attached to the Z1 element of the station. Reisman, who had latched on Canadarm2, was driven back to the cargo pallet to get the antenna dish from there and be attached to the already mounted mast. This was not complete, since the connecting bolts were not tighten completely, which is why the starting brackets that should prevent movement of the antenna, were not solved. The new Ku-band antenna is used as a substitute for the likewise mounted on the main antenna element Z1. Then Reisman attached a spare parts platform for the Dextre robot hand to the module Destiny. Since both were good in time, additional functions have been added in the preparation of the second alighting. Thus, for example, a portion of the screws secured in the new batteries to the ICC cargo pallet dissolved. Then they both went back to the airlock, where ended after seven hours and 25 minutes of the exit.

The main task of the next day ( flight day 5) was the coupling of the new Rassvet module to the station. After the module by the robot arm of the Atlantis had been lifted from the cargo bay, it was handed over to the Canadarm2. This brought it to the intended docking point. 12:50 UTC Rassvet was finally coupled with Zarya. Then Michael Good and Steve Bowen prepared their tools for the second exit. At the end of the day they went again for a campout in the Quest airlock.

The second EVA on the sixth day of flying started 25 minutes earlier than planned at 10:38 UTC clock. First, the two astronauts attached to a cable loop on tilt swivel mechanism of the OBSS, so the main system was fully functional again. Main task was the replacement of three of the six batteries at the B- part of the P6 element. Each 165 kg heavy batteries of the A-side had already been replaced during STS -127. First, an old battery was removed and stored. Then each was a new from the ICC cargo pallet in the P6 element installed and the old stored on the pallet. Both astronauts were progressing so well that a battery could be changed more than planned, so for the third EVA, only two were left. After this task was completed, they both went to the new Ku-band antenna on the Z1 element to complete the assembly. Having the connection screws fully tightened, which was not successful in the first exit, they removed the shipping brackets and prepared the antenna for their assignment. Then they returned after seven hours and six minutes back in the Quest airlock and ended the exit.

On flight day 7, the hatches were opened to Rassvet and the crew entered the module for the first time. Later in the day, Michael Good and Garrett Reisman submitted before for the third outdoor use and went to the campout in the Quest airlock.

The third and final exit was first to install an ammonia jumper cable between the P3 and P4 element. Thereafter, Good and Reisman exchanged the two remaining batteries of the P6 element and fortified the old to the ICC cargo pallet. After this work was completed, they both went into the cargo bay of Atlantis to get a grip holder for the Canadarm2. This brought them into the Quest airlock. The bracket should be mounted at a later outdoor use of the ISS Expedition at the Zarya module. As an additional task they stowed tools at their designated place at the Z1 element. After six hours and 46 minutes, the last exit this mission and the last of a Atlantis crew ended up in the Quest airlock.

On the ninth day of flying the ICC cargo pallet was initially packed with the Canadarm2 back into the cargo bay of Atlantis. Later work found the transfer take place from mid-deck of the shuttle and back to the station. In addition, the astronauts answered questions from students.

By the tenth day of flying ended the joint activities of the station and shuttle crew. After breakfast, the traditional farewell ceremony of the two teams took place. Once the hatch had been closed for Atlantis at 12:43 UTC clock, put the Atlantis at 15:22 UTC clock of the station from. The last time the station crew rang the ship's bell for the Atlantis, on this eleventh ISS visit was the last. After that, the traditional Flyaround took place, in which the Atlantis with the ISS once orbited before a thruster firing took place, the Atlantis and the ISS split up for good.

Return

On the 11th day of flying, the crew examined again part of the heat shield of Atlantis with the OBSS, which include its wing leading edges and nose included. In addition, the astronauts stowed the space suits.

During the last full day in space ( flight day 12), the aerodynamic control flaps of Atlantis and the control nozzles of the Reaction Control Systems were tested in preparation for the landing. Further, no more needed items were stowed and retracted the Ku- band antenna of the space shuttle.

The 13th flight day began with the closing of the payload bay doors. With the brake ignition of the two OMS engines at 11:42 UTC the landing maneuver for the first landing opportunity was initiated. After an hour descent through the atmosphere of the 32nd flight of Atlantis ended at 12:48:11 UTC on track 33 of the Shuttle Landing Facility at the Kennedy Space Center. After the crew had gotten out that Atlantis was transferred to the Orbiter Processing Facility (OPF ).

In the OPF, the Atlantis was being prepared for a possible rescue mission (STS -335 ). With the space flight STS -135, the final mission of the shuttle, thus ending their career. It long remained an open question whether the flight should be performed at all.

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