William Atkins
Tuesday, 16 June 2009 19:36
Science -
Space
Page 2 of 3
Consequently, it was decided by NASA that it would launch on Wednesday, which was the previous launch day of LRO/LCROSS. Its launch day was delayed one day to allow Endeavour and its STS-127 crew to liftoff.
Endeavour only has one opportunity to launch on Wednesday.
NASA states that,
“If Thursday's liftoff of LRO and LCROSS is postponed 24 hours, the launch times Friday are 6:41 p.m., 6:51 p.m. and 7:01 p.m. Saturday's opportunities are 8:08 p.m., 8:18 p.m. and 8:28 p.m. [NASA: “
NASA Sets New Launch Dates for Space Shuttle, LRO and LCROSS”]
The 16-day STS-127 mission goes to the International Space Station so its astronauts can perform five spacewalks for its further construction. The Kibo laboratory, by the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA), will be completed as spacewalkers attach an outside platform to the Japanese laboratory.
The platform will allow experiments to be conducted in the environment of outer space. They will also replace aging solar array batteries and mount critical spare parts on the space station.
The STS-127 crewmembers consist of commander Mark Polansky, pilot Doug Hurley and mission specialists Dave Wolf, Christopher Cassidy, Tom Marshburn, Tim Kopra and Canadian Space Agency astronaut Julie Payette.
Kopra will join the space station crew and replace Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) astronaut Koichi Wakata. Wakata will return to Earth on Endeavour to conclude a three-month stay at the station.
Page three concludes.
