Shuttle Crew Inspects Heat Shield

SHUTTLE NEWS

A camera aboard Space Shuttle Atlantis captured this view of the payload bay shortly before the start of the inspection of the shuttle's heat shield. Photo Credit: NASA TV

by Staff Writers
Houston TX (SPX) Sep 19, 2006
The STS-115 crew stretched out Space Shuttle Atlantis' arm on Monday to conduct orbiter heat shield inspections. The crew used the robotic arm and boom sensor system to check out Atlantis' leading wing edges and nose cap. Post-docking inspections are designed to ensure that the orbiter's heat shield did not receive damage from space junk and micrometeoroids.

The six-member crew also began stowing items in preparation for the return to Earth. Otherwise, it was a light day of duty for the crew members.

Atlantis is scheduled to touch down at 5:59 a.m. EDT Wednesday at the Shuttle Landing Facility at Kennedy Space Center, Fla. Landing will bring to an end STS-115's successful mission to the International Space Station.

Atlantis delivered the P3/P4 integrated truss to the station on Sep. 11. The STS-115 and Expedition 13 crews used the shuttle and station robotic arms to attach the truss to the orbital outpost. Then, STS-115 astronauts conducted three spacewalks in four days to prepare the truss and its solar arrays for operation. Atlantis departed the station at 8:50 a.m. Sunday.

The weather forecast at Kennedy Space Center calls for a chance of thunderstorms in the vicinity, high cross winds and low cloud ceilings.

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SHUTTLE NEWS

Atlantis Leaves The International Space Station

Houston (AFP) Sep 17, 2006
The shuttle Atlantis undocked from the International Space Station Sunday after astronauts successfully installed new solar panels in the first ISS construction work since the 2003 Columbia disaster.

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