KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FL - Space shuttle Atlantis roared into space today to begin NASA's fifth and final shuttle mission of the year. The picture-perfect launch marked the beginning of an eleven day mission to deliver 15 tons of supplies and spare parts to the International Space Station and return outgoing Expedition 21 flight engineer Nicole Stott after three months onboard the orbiting complex.
STS-129 MISSION ARCHIVE STS-129 PHOTO GALLERIES WATCH FREE VIDEO: NOVEMBER 16, 2009 WATCH: ASCENT FLIGHT CONTROL TEAM LAUNCH REPLAY WATCH: CREW CABIN WINDOW CAMERA REPLAYS OF LAUNCH WATCH: OUR VIDEO OF STS-129 CREW WALKOUT WATCH: HANHELD VIDEO OF EXTERNAL TANK AFTER SEPARATION WATCH: STS-129 FLIGHT DAY ONE HIGHLIGHTS WATCH: ATLANTIS LIFTS OFF ON MISSION STS-129 WATCH: STS-129 LAUNCH REPLAYS WATCH: OUR VIDEO OF ATLANTIS LAUNCH FROM THE KSC PRESS SITE WATCH: STS-129 POSTLAUNCH NEWS CONFERENCE NOVEMBER 15, 2009 WATCH: L-1 COUNTDOWN STATUS BRIEFING WATCH: ISS SCIENCE BRIEFING WATCH: TIMELAPSE VIDEO OF RSS ROLLBACK NOVEMBER 14, 2009 WATCH: STS-129 BEHIND THE SCENES - VOLUME 4 WATCH: PRELAUNCH NEWS CONFERENCE NOVEMBER 13, 2009 WATCH: STS-129 BEHIND THE SCENES - VOLUME 3 WATCH: COUNTDOWN STATUS BRIEFING NOVEMBER 12, 2009 WATCH: CREW ARRIVAL FOR LAUNCH NOVEMBER 10, 2009 WATCH: STS-129 MISSION OVERVIEW NOVEMBER 5, 2009 WATCH: STS-129 BEHIND THE SCENES - VOLUME 2 WATCH: STS-129 TCDT ACTIVITIES OCTOBER 30, 2009 WATCH: STS-129 BEHIND THE SCENES - VOLUME 1 WATCH: STS-129 PAYLOAD IS TRANSPORTED TO LAUNCH PAD OCTOBER 20, 2009 WATCH: LAUNCH PAD CREW Q&A WATCH: STS-129 ASTRONATUS ARRIVE FOR TCDT OCTOBER 17, 2009 WATCH: STS-129 CREW TRAINING - PART 1 WATCH: STS-129 CREW TRAINING - PART 2 OCTOBER 16, 2009 WATCH: STS-129 PRELAUNCH CREW NEWS CONFERENCE WATCH: STS-129 MISSION OVERVIEW BRIEFING WATCH: STS-129 PROGRAM OVERVIEW BRIEFING WATCH: STS-129 SPACEWALK OVERVIEW BRIEFING WATCH: STS-129 VIDEO FILE OCTOBER 14, 2009 WATCH: ROLLOUT HIGHOLIGHTS CLIP WATCH: TIMELAPSE VIDEO OF ROLLOUT WATCH: ATLANTIS IS MATED TO EXTERNAL TANK OCTOBER 6, 2009 WATCH: ATLANTIS ROLLOVER TO THE VAB PREFLIGHT CREW INTERVIEWS WATCH: CHARLIE HOBAUGH, COMMANDER WATCH: BARRY WILMORE, PILOT WATCH: LELAND MELVIN, MISSION SPECIALIST WATCH: MIKE FOREMAN, MISSION SPECIALIST WATCH: RANDY BRESNIK, MISSION SPECIALIST WATCH: ROBERT SATCHER, MISSION SPECIALIST ALL-ACCESS SUBSCRIBER VIDEO DOWNLOAD: NOVEMBER 16, 2009 DOWNLOAD VIDEO: ASCENT FLIGHT CONTROL TEAM LAUNCH REPLAY DOWNLOAD VIDEO: CREW CABIN WINDOW CAMERA REPLAYS OF LAUNCH DOWNLOAD VIDEO: OUR VIDEO OF STS-129 CREW WALKOUT DOWNLOAD VIDEO: HANHELD VIDEO OF EXTERNAL TANK AFTER SEPARATION DOWNLOAD VIDEO: STS-129 FLIGHT DAY ONE HIGHLIGHTS DOWNLOAD VIDEO: ATLANTIS LIFTS OFF ON MISSION STS-129 DOWNLOAD VIDEO: AUDIO REPLAY OF LAUNCH: L-20 THROUGH ET SEPARATION DOWNLOAD VIDEO: COMPLETE NASA TV LAUNCH COMMENTARY, 500 KBPS VIDEO - 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PART 1 DOWNLOAD VIDEO: STS-129 CREW TRAINING - PART 2 OCTOBER 16, 2009 DOWNLOAD VIDEO: STS-129 PRELAUNCH CREW NEWS CONFERENCE DOWNLOAD VIDEO: STS-129 MISSION OVERVIEW BRIEFING DOWNLOAD VIDEO: STS-129 PROGRAM OVERVIEW BRIEFING DOWNLOAD VIDEO: STS-129 SPACEWALK OVERVIEW BRIEFING DOWNLOAD VIDEO: STS-129 VIDEO FILE OCTOBER 14, 2009 DOWNLOAD VIDEO: ATLANTIS IS MATED TO EXTERNAL TANK DOWNLOAD VIDEO: ROLLOUT HIGHOLIGHTS CLIP DOWNLOAD VIDEO: TIMELAPSE VIDEO OF ROLLOUT DOWNLOAD VIDEO: ATLANTIS ROLLOUT - PART 1 DOWNLOAD VIDEO: ATLANTIS ROLLOUT - PART 3 DOWNLOAD VIDEO: ATLANTIS ROLLOUT - PART 4 DOWNLOAD VIDEO: ATLANTIS ROLLOUT - PART 4 DOWNLOAD VIDEO: ATLANTIS ROLLOUT - PART 5 OCTOBER 6, 2009 DOWNLOAD VIDEO: ATLANTIS ROLLOVER TO THE VAB PREFLIGHT BRIEFING ANIMATIONS DOWNLOAD VIDEO: FLIGHT DAY 2 - TPS SURVEYS - A DOWNLOAD VIDEO: FLIGHT DAY 2 - TPS SURVEYS - B DOWNLOAD VIDEO: FLIGHT DAY 2 - TPS SURVEYS - C DOWNLOAD VIDEO: FLIGHT DAY 2 - TPS SURVEYS - D DOWNLOAD VIDEO: FLIGHT DAY 2 - TPS SURVEYS - E DOWNLOAD VIDEO: FLIGHT DAY 2 - TPS SURVEYS - F DOWNLOAD VIDEO: FLIGHT DAY 2 - TPS SURVEYS - G DOWNLOAD VIDEO: FLIGHT DAY 2 - TPS SURVEYS - H DOWNLOAD VIDEO: FLIGHT DAY 2 - TPS SURVEYS - I DOWNLOAD VIDEO: FLIGHT DAY 3 - APPROACH AND RENDEZVOUS DOWNLOAD VIDEO: FLIGHT DAY 3 - RENDEZVOUS PITCH MANEUVER DOWNLOAD VIDEO: FLIGHT DAY 3 - DOCKING DOWNLOAD VIDEO: FLIGHT DAY 3 - SHUTTLE ARM GRAPPLES AND HANDS OFF ELC1 TO STATION ARM DOWNLOAD VIDEO: FLIGHT DAY 4 - SPACEWALK ACTIVITIES DOWNLOAD VIDEO: FLIGHT DAY 6 - SHUTTLE ARM GRAPPLES AND HANDS OFF ELC2 TO STATION ARM DOWNLOAD VIDEO: FLIGHT DAY 8 - SPACEWALK ACTIVITIES DOWNLOAD VIDEO: FLIGHT DAY 10 - UNDOCKING AND FLYAROUND DOWNLOAD VIDEO: FLIGHT DAY 10 - LATE INSPECTION OF THERMAL PROTECTION SYSTEM DOWNLOAD VIDEO: EXPRESS LOGISTICS CARRIER 1 DOWNLOAD VIDEO: EXPRESS LOGISTICS CARRIER 2 DOWNLOAD VIDEO: PAYLOAD OVERVIEW PREFLIGHT CREW INTERVIEWS DOWNLOAD VIDEO: CHARLIE HOBAUGH, COMMANDER DOWNLOAD VIDEO: BARRY WILMORE, PILOT DOWNLOAD VIDEO: LELAND MELVIN, MISSION SPECIALIST DOWNLOAD VIDEO: MIKE FOREMAN, MISSION SPECIALIST DOWNLOAD VIDEO: RANDY BRESNIK, MISSION SPECIALIST DOWNLOAD VIDEO: ROBERT SATCHER, MISSION SPECIALIST HI-DEFINITION VIDEO NOVEMBER 16, 2009 DOWNLOAD VIDEO: EXTENDED HD LAUNCH VIDEO DOWNLOAD VIDEO: ATLANTIS LAUNCH - 1080i (.MOV FORMAT) DOWNLOAD VIDEO: ATLANTIS LAUNCH - 720p (.MOV FORMAT) DOWNLOAD VIDEO: ATLANTIS LAUNCH - 480i (.MOV FORMAT) (DOWNLOAD ALL FIVE PARTS BELOW THEN USE WINZIP TO JOIN AND UNCOMPRESS THE VIDEO) DOWNLOAD VIDEO: LAUNCH REPLAYS - PART 1 DOWNLOAD VIDEO: LAUNCH REPLAYS - PART 2 DOWNLOAD VIDEO: LAUNCH REPLAYS - PART 3 DOWNLOAD VIDEO: LAUNCH REPLAYS - PART 4 DOWNLOAD VIDEO: LAUNCH REPLAYS - PART 5 NOVEMBER 15, 2009 DOWNLOAD VIDEO: STATIC SHOT OF ROTATING SERVICE STRUCTURE AND ATLANTIS The countdown for Atlantis' launch was extremely smooth and, once again, the only significant concern was Florida's fickle weather. A cold front moving through the area brought with it low clouds, rain showers and windy conditions. However, as launch time approached, the weather began to clear, leaving only partly cloudy skies as the countdown reach T-0. "We're excited to take this incredible vehicle for a ride and meet up with another incredible vehicle, the International Space Stationm" said mission commander Charlie Hobaugh minutes before launch. Right on time, the space shuttle's three main engines roared to life at T-6 seconds, rocking the shuttle back and forth slightly in the familiar "twang" motion. As the main engines reached full thrust, the two solid rocket boosters ignited. Explosive charges inside the eight giant bolts anchoring the shuttle to its launch platform detonated to release the vehicle for liftoff at 2:20:10 p.m. EST at the start of its eight and a half minute climb to orbit. Six seconds after liftoff, Atlantis cleared the launch pad gantry and rolled about onto its back to line up with a precise trajectory beginning a two-day race to catch up with the International Space Station. Two minutes after launch, the solid rocket boosters exhausted their propellant and jettisoned to fall into the Atlantis Ocean where they will be recovered, refurbished and reused on future launches. The three liquid fueled main engines shut down six and a half minutes later, safely placing Atlantis in a preliminary orbit. As is standard practice post-Columbia, cameras were mounted on the outside of the external tank and solid rocket boosters, and new cameras mounted in the *such language*pit window of Atlantis to spot any foam or ice debris breaking off the vehicle during its high-speed ride to space. At first glance, nothing of obvious concern could be seen coming of the shuttle stack during ascent. In fact, only three small pieces of debris were visible liberating from the shuttle, all of them too small or coming off too high in the atmosphere to be considered significant. Launch managers described the shuttle's flight as "picture-perfect", one of the cleanest yet. Although STS-129 doesn't have the perceived glamour associated with flights dedicated to assembly of the space station or bringing up new laboratory modules, the flight is still important to NASA's plans for operating ISS in the years after the shuttle fleet is retired. In its payload bay, Atlantis is carrying over 30,000 pounds of the most critical spare parts for the complex - components that can only be delivered by the shuttle. "We're going to warehouse parts that only the shuttle can deliver in large volume to the International Space Station for the pending retirement of the space shuttle, roughly a year from now," said Flight Director Mike Sarafin. "When and if some of the hardware that's required to sustain the power production and thermal environment on board the space station eventually fails, we've got that hardware there and available and we don't need another vehicle to bring it to the space station." "We're looking for the long-term outfitting of Station," Hobaugh remarked before launch. "Our flight is one of the first flights that externally will provide a lot of those spare parts and long-lead type replacement items that are required to keep it healthy and running for quite some time." Assisting Hobaugh on the flight deck will be pilot Barry Wilmore. The six-person crew is rounded out by mission specialists Leland Melvin (MS-1), Randy Bresnik (MS-2), Mike Foreman (MS-3) and Robert Satcher (MS-4). Current space station Expedition 21 flight engineer Nicole Stott (MS-5), who has been living aboard ISS since August, will return to Earth on Atlantis at the end of the mission as the seventh member of the STS-129 crew. This will be Atlantis' 31st flight, the 129th space shuttle mission in the 28 year history of the program and the 31st shuttle flight in support of assembly and maintenance of the International Space Station. Two days after launch, on Flight Day 3, Atlantis will dock with the forward Pressurized Mating adapter on the Harmony connecting node at 11:56 a.m. EST. A couple hours later, hatches between the orbiter and station will be opened and the station and shuttle crews will greet each other and conduct a short safety briefing. After the briefing, the astronauts will immediately get down to the business of STS-129 / ULF 3 when mission specialists Leland Melvin and Randy Bresnik will use the shuttle's robotic arm to grapple the first payload to be moved to the station, the ExPRESS Logistics Carrier 1 (ELC-1) and hand it off to the station's larger arm. Operating the station's arm will be mission specialist Barry Wilmore and ISS Expedition 21 flight engineer Jeff Williams. Together, they will install ELC-1 on the P3 truss segment on the port side of the station's backbone. The 13,850 pound ELC-1 platform houses several important spare Orbital Replacement Units that will be kept on standby in case of hardware failures on the space station after the shuttle retires next year. The spares are specifically designed to be launched on the space shuttle, so it's critical to deliver them to ISS while the shuttle is still flying. "This flight, and a couple of the other shuttle flights that come later, really set us up very well for kind of the end of the shuttle servicing era," said Bill Gerstenmaier, NASA's director of space operations. (The Spacearium / SpaceflightNews.net)
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