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The Mission




Orbiter: Atlantis
Mission: STS-129
Payload: ISS ULF 3
Launch: Nov. 16, 2009
Time: 2:28 p.m. EST
Site: Pad 39A, Kennedy Space Center
Landing: Nov. 27 @ 9:44 a.m.
Site: KSC's Shuttle Landing Facility

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Summaries of remaining space shuttle flights
BY SPACEFLIGHT NOW
Posted: November 17, 2009

Nov. 16, 2009 -- Atlantis (STS-129 / ULF-3) is flying on its 31st mission to stage spare components outside the station. The 11-day flight includes three spacewalks. The payload bay is carrying two large ExPRESS Logistics Carriers holding two spare gyroscopes, two nitrogen tank assemblies, two pump modules, an ammonia tank assembly, a spare latching end effector for the station's robotic arm, a spare trailing umbilical system for the Mobile Transporter and a high-pressure gas tank. NASA astronaut Nicole Stott will return home aboard Atlantis with its crew, which is led by commander Charlie Hobaugh. Joining Hobaugh aboard the shuttle are pilot Butch Wilmore, Stott, and mission specialists Leland Melvin, Randy Bresnik, Mike Foreman and Bobby Satcher. STS-129 marks the 31st shuttle mission devoted to station assembly.

Feb. 4, 2010 -- Endeavour (STS-130 / 20A) will open 2010 with its 24th mission to deliver the final connecting node, Node 3, and the Cupola, a robotic control station with six windows around its sides and another in the center that provides a 360-degree view around the station. At least three spacewalks are planned during the 12-day mission. The 32nd station assembly mission by a shuttle will be led by George Zamka. Pilot Terry Virts and mission specialists Kay Hire, Steve Robinson, Nick Patrick and Bob Behnken will also fly on Endeavour.

March 18, 2010 -- Discovery (STS-131 / 19A) begins its 38th mission as the second flight in 2010, carrying a Multi-Purpose Logistics Module filled with science racks that will be transferred to laboratories of the station. The 12-day mission will include at least three spacewalks to attach a spare ammonia tank assembly outside the station and return a European experiment that has been outside the Columbus module. It will be the 33rd shuttle mission to the station. The crew includes commander Alan Poindexter, pilot Jim Dutton, and mission specialists Rick Mastracchio, Dorothy Metcalf-Lindenburger, Clay Anderson, Stephanie Wilson and Naoko Yamazaki, a Japanese astronaut.

May 14, 2010 -- Atlantis (STS-132 / ULF-4) will carry an integrated cargo carrier to deliver maintenance and assembly hardware on its 32nd and final mission. The equipment includes spare parts for space station systems. In addition, the second in a series of new pressurized components for Russia, called Mini-Research Module 1, will be permanently attached to the bottom port of the Zarya module. The Russian module also will carry U.S. pressurized cargo. Mini-Research Module 2, or Poisk launched to the station on a Soyuz rocket in November 2009.

Additionally, at least three spacewalks are planned to stage spare components outside the station, including six spare batteries, a boom assembly for the Ku-band antenna and spares for the Canadian Dextre robotic arm extension. A radiator, airlock and European robotic arm for the Russian Multi-purpose Laboratory Module also are payloads on the flight. The laboratory module is scheduled for launch on a Russian rocket in 2011. The 11-day flight marks the 34th shuttle mission to the station. The STS-132 crew is led by Ken Ham. Other astronauts slated for the flight are pilot Tony Antonelli and mission specialists Steve Bowen, Mike Good, Piers Sellers and Garrett Reisman

July 29, 2010 -- Endeavour's (STS-134 / ULF-6) 25th mission will carry the Alpha Magnetic Spectrometer instrument and critical spare components that will be placed on the outside of the station. AMS will detect cosmic rays to search for dark matter and antimatter. The spare parts will be attached to ExPRESS Logistics Carrier 3. At least three spacewalks are planned to be carried out by the crew, which is headed by commander Mark Kelly. The pilot will be Greg H. Johnson and mission specialists will include Mike Fincke, the European Space Agency's Roberto Vittori, Drew Feustel and Greg Chamitoff. The 12-day mission will be the 35th shuttle flight to the International Space Station. It will also be the final flight of shuttle Endeavour.

Sept. 16, 2010 -- Discovery's (STS-133 / ULF-5) 39th mission will carry critical spare components that will be placed on the outside of the station. Those will include two S-band communications antennas, a high-pressure gas tank, additional spare parts for Dextre and micrometeoroid debris shields. Discovery will also deliver a Multi-Purpose Logistics Module and ExPRESS Logistics Carrier 4 to the station. Veteran astronaut Steve Lindsey will lead the crew of five. Other crew members include pilot Eric Boe, Al Drew, Mike Barratt, Tim Kopra and Nicole Stott. The 10-day mission will be the 36th visit of a shuttle to the international outpost. It will be the 134th and final space shuttle mission since 1981.

Spaceflight Now Plus
Additional coverage for subscribers:
VIDEO: FLIGHT DAY 1 HIGHLIGHTS MOVIE PLAY
VIDEO: LAUNCH REPLAYS: EXTERNAL TANK CAMERA PLAY
VIDEO: POST-LAUNCH PRESS CONFERENCE PLAY
VIDEO: LIFTOFF OF SPACE SHUTTLE ATLANTIS! HI-DEF
VIDEO: ASTRONAUTS LEAVE CREW QUARTERS HI-DEF
VIDEO: CREW FINISHES GETTING SUITED UP HI-DEF
VIDEO: NARRATED REVIEW OF SHUTTLE'S PREPARATIONS HI-DEF
VIDEO: NARRATED REVIEW OF PAYLOADS' PREPARATIONS HI-DEF
VIDEO: STUNNING SUNSET ROLLBACK OF PAD GANTRY PLAY | HI-DEF
VIDEO: A LOOK AT SPACE STATION SCIENCE RESEARCH PLAY
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