Mission: STS-129

Orbiter: Atlantis

Launch Pad: 39A

Launch Date: NET Nov 16, 2009, 2:28 pm EST (18:48 UT)

Landing: NET Nov 27, 9:57 am EST (13:57 UT)

Orbital Altitude: 122 nautical miles (140 miles)

Orbital Insertion: 191 nautical miles (220 miles)

Orbital Inclination: 51.6 degrees

Primary Payload: ExPRESS (Expedite the Processing of Experiments to the Space Station) Logistics Carriers ELC1 and ELC2:-

ExPRESS Logistics Carrier-1 manifest:- Ammonia Tank Assembly; Battery Charge Discharge Unit; Space Station Remote Manipulator System Latching End Effector; Control Moment Gyro; Nitrogen Tank Assembly; Pump Module; Plasma Contactor Unit; two empty Passive Flight Releasable Attachment Mechanisms.

ExPRESS Logistics Carrier-2 manifest:- High Pressure Gas Tank; Cargo Transport Container 1 (CTC-1) mounted to a Small Adapter Plate Assembly; Mobile Transporter/Trailing Umbilical System; Control Moment Gyro; Nitrogen Tank Assembly; Pump Module; Utility Transfer Assembly (UTA) Flight Support Equipment (FSE); one empty Payload Passive Flight Releasable Attachment Mechanism.

Crew:- Commander: Charles O. Hobaugh; Pilot: Barry E. Wilmore; Mission Specialists:- MS1 Leland D Melvin, MS2 Randolph Bresnik, MS3 Michael Foreman, MS4 Robert Satcher, MS5 (landing) Nicole Stott.

Pad 39A, KSC: STS-129 crew after completion of Terminal Countdown Demonstration Test. Behind them, Atlantis’ external tank & nose cone of a solid rocket booster. From left: Mission Specialists Leland Melvin, Randy Bresnik; Pilot Barry Wilmore; Commander Charles Hobaugh; Mission Specialists Mike Foreman, Robert Satcher – credits: NASA/Kim Shiflett



At NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida, the work week begins with the installation of new equipment at Launch Pad 39A. Technicians will install instruments in both the mobile launcher platform’s tail service mast and in space shuttle Atlantis’ aft section. The equipment will record the sound pressure and vibration at liftoff — which recently were determined to be stronger than originally thought. The testing of the “main engine acoustic environment” using microphones and sensors will continue with launch. Yesterday, workers completed final ordnance installation and connections in the shuttle. At NASA’s Johnson Space Center in Houston, the six STS-129 mission astronauts will enter quarantine tonight after a day of administrative duties. They’ll be housed in a germ-free environment until they fly to Kennedy on Thursday for Atlantis’ launch to the International Space Station. Liftoff is set for 2:28 p.m. EST Nov. 16 and the countdown to launch begins 1 p.m. EST Friday.

– courtesy of NASA