Atlantis' last flight set for May 14
by Steve Ragan - May 6 2010, 11:00Space shuttle Atlantis will launch for the final time on May 14 at 2:20p.m. EDT. The mission, STS-132 will head to the International Space Station to deliver the Russian-made Mini Research Module-1 "Rassvet".
John Shannon, Space Shuttle Program manager, called the final mission exciting in a statement, adding that this mission will have a bit of everything. “Twelve days, three [spacewalks], tons of robotics... We're putting on spares that make us feel good about the long-term sustainability of the ISS, replacing batteries that have been up there for a while, and docking a Russian-built ISS module,” he said.
After its final flight, Atlantis will be prepped as a rescue shuttle, should it be needed, for Endeavour, which has its launch in November. Endeavour's mission to deliver spare parts to the International Space Station will be NASA's very last shuttle flight. Space shuttle Discovery will make its final launch in September.
The twelve-day mission for Atlantis is centered on the MRM-1 installation, which will provide extra storage space, and a new docking port for Russian Soyuz and Progress spacecraft. MRM-1 will be permanently attached to the bottom of the Zarya module on the ISS, and carry a radiator, airlock, and robotic arm.
The six-man crew will also deliver station hardware to be stored inside a cargo carrier. As mentioned, the hardware includes replacement batteries, in addition to spare parts for the Canadian Dextre robotic arm, and a Ku-band antenna. Those will be placed during the three planned spacewalks.
The countdown to Atlantis' launch will begin May 11 at 4:00p.m. EDT. when countdown clocks at the oceanside launch complex begin ticking backward from the T-43 hour mark.
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