Brian McGaffney sent in this great image of Comet C/2009 P1 Garradd’s flyby of M71. It was taken from his own Nutwood Observatory in Ontario, Canada on August 26th at 11pm (EDT). Brian used a 14 inch astrograph (a telescope specifically for use in astrophotography) and an Apogee U16M CCD camera.

“We’re not ending the journey today….We’re completing a chapter of a journey that will never end. ..Let’s light this fire one more time.” Comments uttered by Commander Ferguson just before the final launch of Shuttle Atlantis. The launch was delayed at the 31 second mark due to last minute verification that the launch pad support equipment had been completely retracted adding suspense to a hurried and limited launch schedule. Atlantis will deliver a year’s supply of necessary items to the ISS as equipment will be transported by the Soviets in a much smaller vehicle for about the next five years. On return, Atlantis will be displayed at Kennedy Space Center.

UPDATE : “You are clear to launch Atlantis” Atlantis is go for launch!

T-9 : 45 minute hold. Everything is “Go For Launch” pending weather and the “Close Out Crew” have been cleared from the launch area. There are close to 750 thousand Earthlings present at KSC viewing areas to observe this historical launch. (Usually the area is invaded by a mere 150-250 thousand tourists.)

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Launch Day!

As NASA’s Mission Control comments: “Launch chances are always 50/50 due to weather and other potential issues which may occur during countdown. The crew is seated and ready to contribute their part to the Shuttle’s final mission taking Atlantis passed it’s already accrued 115 million miles, on its 33rd flight to the ISS. The next possible launch date, should Atlantis not launch this weekend, is July 16, 2011.”

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Atlantis- STS 135 scheduled for Friday, 8 July, 2011 11:26 a.m. EDT is the final Shuttle mission to the International Space Station transporting the Raffaello multipurpose logistics module in addition to necessary supplies and logistics. Atlantis will return carrying a failed ammonia pump module on its twelve day excursion. Atlantis also will transport “a system to investigate the potential for robotically refuelling existing spacecraft”. Mission Control is monitoring a potential weather threat located in the Caribbean, expected to bring high winds and rain to the launch area. In preparation for the launch Commander Chris Ferguson and Pilot Doug Hurley continue to perform touch and go landings at Kennedy Space Center Shuttle Landing Facility. Atlantis’s crew of four also include Mission Specialists Rex Walheim, and Sandy Magnus.

Atlantis -STS-135 Crew

While firefighters tapped out a grass fire across the road from Johnson Space Center and Space Center Intermediate School, Kennedy Space Center slated Shuttle Atlantis for its final journey to the ISS . Shuttle Atlantis’s preliminary launch date is set for 11:40 a.m. EDT on July 8, 2011. Atlantis still must pass the Flight Readiness Review scheduled for June 28, 2011 after which the official launch date will be announced.

The Atlantis crew:  Commander Chris Ferguson, Pilot Doug Hurley, Mission Specialist Rex Walheim and Mission Specialist Sandy Magnus, call themselves “The Final Four”.  Why only four instead of six or seven space travelers for the shuttle’s final journey? In the event of an emergency rendering the Shuttle Atlantis useless as a return vehicle, the crew of four have been retrofitted with a Russian Sokol pressure suit and molded Soyuz seat liner for a safe return aboard a Soyuz capsule.

Atlantis’s goal is to transport the Raffaello multipurpose logistics module along with supplies and space parts to the ISS.

Note on JSC grass fire: JSC and the Intermediate School were not in danger of burning and the fire, carried across the field by warm southerly winds,  is contained at this time. There are no injuries.

Endeavour lands safely at KSC

Space Shuttle Endeavor arrived safely early this morning from its eventful last journey to the ISS. Mission Control thanked Commander Kelly and the shuttle crew for “122 million miles flown during 25 challenging spaceflights….. Your landing ends a vibrant legacy for this amazing vehicle that will long be remembered. Welcome home, Endeavour. ” Commander Kelly replied to Mission Control in stating: “It’s sad to see her land for the last time, but she really has a great legacy.” Endeavour’s landing was witnessed by Atlantis’s crew in addition to a large crowd at KSC.
Endeavour logged 122.8 million miles on 299 days in space, completing 4,672 Earth orbits and transported 170 crew members.

CDR M. Kelly & Nobel Laureate Sam Ting

Endeavour arrived at the International Space Station this morning on its twelfth and final visit serenaded by the Space Station crew ringing the on board welcoming bell. The main goal of Endeavor’s journey is the installation of the 7-ton Alpha Magnetic Spectrometer which will begin beaming information on the presence of dark and anti matter withing two hours of activation. About the size of a bus, costing two billion dollars, the AMS uses a magnet to detect cosmic ray particles which will then be analysed for the presence of antimatter and other particles. The entire project was cancelled in October 2005 after the Columbia accident in 2003, however after review by the National Academy of Sciences, Nobel Laureates, and all countries involved, the AMS was deemed of such importance that NASA agreed to find another transporter.

The AMS project is chaired by its principle investigator: Massachusetts Institute of Technology Nobel Laureate Samuel Ting.
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Just before commanding Endeavour into space, Commander Mark Kelly had a few words:
“It’s in the DNA of our great country to reach for the stars and explore. We must not stop. To all the millions watching today, including our spouses, children, family and friends, we thank you for your support.”

Endeavour is Ready

Updates:
This was another perfect launch for the history of space flight and science. Watching the Shuttle program coming to an end brings back pleasant memories of visiting NASA with my uncle in the 70s and listening to the tour operator explain the ambitious plan of the future Shuttle programme.  We toured the facility where training would take place and had a look at the diagrams and mock ups of the shuttle. What seemed sci-fi and high tech then may be considered “routine” now. We have quite a few articles here on Astronomy Today about the Shuttle and Space programme.  Now that you have a minute, you may want to have a read. Check out our posted interviews as well.
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