CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. - FEBRUARY 8, 2008 — Space shuttle Atlantis blasted off Thursday en route to the International Space Station, bringing with it Europe’s main contribution to the outpost in the sky — a research laboratory.
The shuttle launched from Kennedy Space Center on schedule at 2:45 p.m. EST and it entered orbit eight and a half minutes later.
During the countdown, a newly designed connector in the shuttle's fuel sensor system performed normally. The STS-122 mission was twice delayed in December 2007 after false readings occurred in that system while Atlantis' external fuel tank was being filled.
Commander Steve Frick and his six crewmates will install the European Space Agency's Columbus laboratory on the station during the 11-day STS-122 mission. Columbus will expand the research facilities of the station and provide scientists around the world with the ability to conduct a variety of life, physical and materials science experiments.
It represents the latest international addition to a facility already made of structures from the United States, Russia and Canada.
“It shows that there is a real partnership between communities,” NASA Administrator Mike Griffin said.
“Today we are opening a new chapter for ESA,” said Jean-Jacques Dordain, the European Space Agency director general. “Just as Columbus discovered the New World, with Columbus, we are discovering a whole new world.”
The launch came seven years to the day after Atlantis carried NASA’s science laboratory named Destiny to the space station.
There will be three spacewalks during the flight so astronauts can attach the Columbus lab and connect its power and fluid lines. In addition, Atlantis will also deliver a new crewmember to the station, European Space Agency astronaut Leopold Eyharts, and return astronaut Dan Tani, who has lived on the outpost since October.
Atlantis is scheduled to dock with the ISS at 12:25 pm EST Saturday, and return to Florida on Feb. 18.
Live coverage on NASA TV
NASA Television features live mission events, daily mission status news conferences and 24-hour commentary. To go to the Webcast, click here.
|
|
Against a backdrop of blue Atlantic Ocean, space shuttle Atlantis with its crew of seven astronaut rise from Launch Pad 39A at NASA's Kennedy Space Center to start the STS-122 mission to the International Space Station. Liftoff was on time at 2:45 p.m. EST. Photo credit: NASA/Jim Grossmann
The STS-122 crewmembers pause alongside NASA's Astrovan to wave farewell to onlookers before heading for Launch Pad 39A. From left are Mission Specialists Leopold Eyharts, Stanley Love, Hans Schlegel, Rex Walheim, Leland Melvin, Pilot Alan Poindexter and Commander Steve Frick. Photo credit: NASA/Kim Shiflett
An artist’s rendition of he Columbus laboratory in space.
|
News Archive | Air Shows & Events | KidVenture | Young Eagles Newsletter
EMAIL
STORY
PRINTER
FRIENDLY
Privacy Policy 