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==Crew==
==Crew==
NASA announced the STS-335/135 crew on September 14, 2010.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.nasa.gov/home/hqnews/2010/sep/HQ_10-222_LON_Annc.html|title=NASA Assigns Crew for Final Launch on Need Shuttle Mission |author=NASA|date=September 14, 2010|accessdate=September 14, 2010}}</ref> It will be the only time that a crew of four will fly to the International Space Station. The last shuttle mission to fly with just four crewmembers onboard launched on 4 April 1983, 28 years before STS-135, aboard {{OV|99}}. The reason for selecting a crew of four is so that NASA can maximize the amount of payload carried to the ISS. A crew of four will also allow for a rescue by [[Soyuz (spacecraft)|Soyuz]] to be performed if needed—thus limiting the crew selection to astronauts who conform to Soyuz physical requirements.
NASA announced the STS-335/135 crew on September 14, 2010.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.nasa.gov/home/hqnews/2010/sep/HQ_10-222_LON_Annc.html|title=NASA Assigns Crew for Final Launch on Need Shuttle Mission |author=NASA|date=September 14, 2010|accessdate=September 14, 2010}}</ref> It will be the only time that a crew of four will fly to the International Space Station. The last shuttle mission to fly with just four crewmembers onboard was [[STS-6]], launched on 4 April 1983, 28 years before STS-135, aboard {{OV|99}}. The reason for selecting a crew of four is so that NASA can maximize the amount of payload carried to the ISS. A crew of four will also allow for a rescue by [[Soyuz (spacecraft)|Soyuz]] to be performed if needed—thus limiting the crew selection to astronauts who conform to Soyuz physical requirements.


{{Spaceflight crew
{{Spaceflight crew

Revision as of 23:56, 31 October 2010

STS-135
COSPAR ID2011-031A Edit this at Wikidata
SATCAT no.37736Edit this on Wikidata
End of mission

STS-135 is the final planned Space Shuttle mission.[2] [1] It will use the hardware from STS-335, and will only be flown if that launch on need rescue mission, designated to support STS-134, is not needed.[3] Space Shuttle Atlantis is planned to fly the 11 day mission scheduled to launch no earlier than 28 June 2011. It will carry a four person crew (the smallest of any shuttle mission since April 1983 on STS-6) and the Multi-Purpose Logistics Module (MPLM) Raffaello and a Lightweight Multi-Purpose Carrier (LMC). The mission is included in NASA's 2011 authorization,[4] signed into law on 11 October 2010, but funding is dependent on a subsequent appropriation bill.

Crew

NASA announced the STS-335/135 crew on September 14, 2010.[5] It will be the only time that a crew of four will fly to the International Space Station. The last shuttle mission to fly with just four crewmembers onboard was STS-6, launched on 4 April 1983, 28 years before STS-135, aboard Space Shuttle Challenger. The reason for selecting a crew of four is so that NASA can maximize the amount of payload carried to the ISS. A crew of four will also allow for a rescue by Soyuz to be performed if needed—thus limiting the crew selection to astronauts who conform to Soyuz physical requirements.

Position Astronaut
Commander Christopher Ferguson
Third spaceflight
Pilot Douglas Hurley
Second spaceflight
Mission Specialist 1 Sandra Magnus
Third spaceflight
Mission Specialist 2 Rex Walheim
Third spaceflight

Authorization

With support from both the House of Representatives and the Senate, the authorization of STS-135 is anticipated to move forward into the fall of 2010 with lawmakers working out how to pay for converting the mission from launch on need to a real mission.[1]

On 15 July 2010 a U.S. senate committee passed the 2010 NASA authorization bill authored by Senator Bill Nelson to direct NASA to fly an extra space shuttle mission (STS-135) pending a review of safety concerns.[6] The bill still needs the final approval of the full U.S. Senate. However, a draft NASA Reauthorization Bill being considered by the House Science Committee originally did not provide for an extra space shuttle mission.[7]

On 22 July 2010 Congresswoman Suzanne Kosmas, during a meeting of the House Science & Technology Committee, successfully amended the House version of the 2010 NASA Reauthorization Bill to add an additional Shuttle mission to the current manifest.[8]

On 5 August 2010 U.S. senate passed their version of the NASA authorization bill just before lawmakers left for the traditional August recess.[9][10] On 20 August 2010, NASA managers approved STS-135 mission planning targeting a 28 June 2011 launch.[1]

On 29 September 2010 the U.S. House of Representatives approved the Senate-passed bill on a 304-118 vote.[11] The bill, approved by the U.S. Congress went to President Barack Obama for his signature.[12]

On 11 October 2010 President Obama signed the legislation into law, allowing NASA to move forward with STS-135.[2][13]

Mission timeline

Atlantis would rendezvous with the ISS on Flight Day 4 as opposed to the typical Flight Day 3 because the small crew will create more demand on each individual crew-member that cannot be met with existing timelines.[14]

Flight hardware

The external tank that would be used in this mission would be ET-122 or possibly ET-138.[15] ET-122 had been damaged by Hurricane Katrina when concrete from the roof fell onto the tank, and was consequently removed from the flight manifest.[16] However, the Michoud Assembly Facility is refurbishing the tank to return it to service in time for the potential STS-335 rescue mission.[14] In addition, three partially-built tanks, ET-139, ET-140, and ET-141, have been prepared for accelerated completion in the event that Congress approves a shuttle extension.[15][17] Finally, a previous-generation tank, ET-94, is currently in storage, but a mission using this tank would have a somewhat lower cargo upmass capability.[15]

Payload

Atlantis would ferry extra supplies to the International Space Station. Since the ISS program has a strong likelihood of being extended to 2020, it is probable that the station will require more spare supplies after the shuttle retires. The shuttle extension would allow for the crew to maintain the completed space station, but an ISS extension is not a guaranteed shuttle program extension. Therefore, the more delivery of excess supplies for the station, the better.[18]

Multi-Purpose Logistics Module

Multi-Purpose Logistics Module (MPLM) Raffaello would make up the majority of the payload. The MPLM will be filled with 16 resupply racks, which is the maximum that it can handle.

Lightweight Multi-Purpose Carrier

The Lightweight Multi-Purpose Carrier (LMC) will also be flown on this mission. The External Thermal Cooling System (ECTS) Pump Module (PM) which failed and was replaced on orbit in August 2010 is planned to have a ride home on the LMC, for a failure analysis on the ground. It has not been determined what if anything will ride up to the station on the LMC.[1]

Down-mass payload

The failed ammonia pump module that was replaced in August 2010 is expected to be returned inside Atlantis' payload bay.

References

  1. ^ a b c d e f Chris Bergin. "NASA managers approve STS-135 mission planning for June 28, 2011 launch". NASASpaceflight.com. Retrieved 20 August 2010.
  2. ^ a b "Obama signs Nasa up to new future". BBC. 11 October 2010.
  3. ^ "Additional Shuttle Mission Almost Guaranteed". Universe Today.
  4. ^ "An Act To authorize the programs of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration for fiscal years 2011 through 2013, and for other purposes". US Government Printing Office. 29 September 2010. p. 53. {{cite web}}: |access-date= requires |url= (help); Missing or empty |url= (help); Unknown parameter |http://frwebgate.access.gpo.gov/cgi-bin/getdoc.cgi?dbname= ignored (help)
  5. ^ NASA (14 September 2010). "NASA Assigns Crew for Final Launch on Need Shuttle Mission". Retrieved 14 September 2010.
  6. ^ Stephen Clark (15 July 2010). "Compromise NASA bill gets bipartisan endorsement". Spaceflight Now. Retrieved 24 July 2010.
  7. ^ Stehphen Clarke. "House legislation would undo White House's NASA wish list". Spaceflight Now. Retrieved 24 July 2010.
  8. ^ Keith Cowing (22 July 2010). "STS-135 Is Almost A Certainty". NASA Watch. Retrieved 24 July 2010.
  9. ^ Stephen Clark (6 August 2010). "Senate approves bill adding extra space shuttle flight". Spaceflight Now. Retrieved 12 August 2010.
  10. ^ Chris Bergin (10 August 2010). "Payload planning pre-empts an imminent NASA decision on STS-135". NASAspaceflight.com. Retrieved 12 August 2010.
  11. ^ Jim Abrams (29 September 2010). "NASA bill passed by Congress would allow for one additional shuttle flight in 2011". Associated Press. Retrieved 30 September 2010.
  12. ^ "NASA Administrator Thanks Congress for 2010 Authorization Act Support". NASA. Retrieved 30 September 2010.
  13. ^ William Harwood (11 October 2010). "President Obama signs space program agenda into law". Spaceflight Now. Retrieved 12 October 2010.
  14. ^ a b Bergin, Chris (7 December 2009). "NASA managers evaluating STS-135 as an addition to the shuttle manifest". NASAspaceflight.com.
  15. ^ a b c Bergin, Chris (24 August 2010). "Managers delay STS-134 ET/SRB mate ahead of tank allocation options". NASAspaceflight.com.
  16. ^ Bergin, Chris (11 September 2008). "Endeavour begins mating ops – MAF praise for ET schedule boost". NASAspaceflight.com.
  17. ^ Bergin, Chris (11 February 2009). "Downstream shuttle planning: CLFs, AMS noted, MAF working on extra ETs". NASAspaceflight.com.
  18. ^ Atkeison, Charles (14 February 2010). "NASA to add extra shuttle flight". SpaceLaunch News.

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