DailyTech - Space Shuttle Atlantis Successfully Launches

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Science Space Shuttle Atlantis Successfully Launches
Michael Hoffman (Blog) - June 8, 2007 4:14 PM

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18 comment(s) - last by McTwist.. on Jun 11 at 1:03 PM

NASA successfully launched its first shuttle of the year

Commanded by astronaut Rick Sturckow, the shuttle Atlantis has successfully lifted off from the NASA Kennedy Space Center in Florida. The first shuttle launch of the year took place at 7:38 p.m. EDT. Cheers of joy filled the Kennedy Space Center after the ship lifted off into space on time.

The shuttle entered orbit around 10 minutes after launch, and will conduct a rendezvous pitch and thermal shield protection test soon. The shuttle will be ready to dock with the International Space Station in about three days time.

There were no technical difficulties before launch.

The seven astronauts will deliver and work on a pair of large truss segments and new solar wings, which will be installed during the planned 11-day mission at the ISS. NASA still hopes to be able to finish construction on the ISS before the current generation of shuttle technology is retired in 2010. The payload onboard the shuttle is the heaviest payload to ever head to the ISS -- one part measuring 45-feet long, 35,678 pounds.

Astronaut Sunita Williams, the first woman to be in space for six months, will return back to Earth on June 19, as her job of engineering and support on the ISS has come to an end.

The shuttle launch was delayed after a hail storm in February which left large dents in the shuttle's fuel tank. NASA originally anticipated two U.S. shuttle launches this late in the year.

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New spacecraft

By JoeBanana on 6/9/2007 3:27:54 AM , Rating: 2

It's about time. There are always problems with current shuttle. Though
it can carry the heaviest load it is expensive and unreliable. Just look at Soyuz which went ten times in space without all the media buz when space shuttle was postponing all the time.
I hope that the new spacecraft will be the next good thing that comes along...

RE: New spacecraft

By Fenixgoon on 6/9/2007 1:19:21 PM , Rating: 2

I didn't know that going into space was as easy as driving a car.

Honestly, I think people expect space flight to be that easy and the truth is is that it simply isn't, especially when you're using the most complex machine on the face of the planet. I cannot, for the life of me, understand why people don't seem to realize this.

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RE: New spacecraft

By AlexWade on 6/9/2007 2:28:43 PM , Rating: 2

It is time for a new spacecraft, but it isn't as easy as designing a car or an airplane. Give it time.

I always get nostalgic when I see the shuttle go up. If it is on TV, I'll watch it every time. If I was in Florida, I would go see it every time. It is simply amazing. It also reminds me of all the things NASA invented. And many of their inventions filter down to us. Sure, going to space isn't cheap, but it does some much good.

Yesterday, as I watch the launch on HD Net, I got to thinking how much CO2 the shuttle actually let out. And some NASA scientists, especially the ones who fund John Kerry political campaigns (look it up), are very vocal global warming proponents. Why don't they complain about the shuttle's pollution?

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RE: New spacecraft

By 91TTZ on 6/9/2007 4:39:38 PM , Rating: 2

Yesterday, as I watch the launch on HD Net, I got to thinking how much CO2 the shuttle actually let out. And some NASA scientists, especially the ones who fund John Kerry political campaigns (look it up), are very vocal global warming proponents. Why don't they complain about the shuttle's pollution?

Because the space shuttle only launches a few times per year. If there were millions of space shuttles, then I'd imagine that it would be an issue.

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RE: New spacecraft

By Ringold on 6/9/2007 6:19:06 PM , Rating: 3

True, except that the SSME's react liquid hydrogen and oxygen. And what does that produce? Lots and lots of steam. Looks like smoke, but it's not.

The SRB's use, um, Ammonium Perchlorate Composite Propellant. Calling Masher or other qualified individual to let us know if that stuff kills kittens.

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RE: New spacecraft

By McTwist on 6/11/2007 1:03:48 PM , Rating: 2

The SRBs produce potassium chloride and aluminum oxide. Potassium chloride is a salt and is added to energy drinks and "smart" waters for electrolytes. Aluminum oxide isn't a big deal either. The only part of the Space Shuttle system that one would need to worry about is the reaction control system which uses hypergolics. This system uses a nasty substance called hydrazine to keep the Shuttle pointed in the right direction. However, this system is relatively small and isn't used all that much during a nominal launch.

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RE: New spacecraft

By 91TTZ on 6/9/2007 4:37:31 PM , Rating: 3

1. Soyuz cannot carry the load that the space shuttle can. It lifts smaller and lighter objects into orbit.

2. The US also uses conventional rockets like Russia's Soyuz. You just don't hear about them, because like you said, they launch without the media buzz of the shuttle.

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RE: New spacecraft

By lompocus on 6/10/2007 3:14:08 AM , Rating: 1

Wow, lol, I had assumed everyone knew we were not wholly based on the shuttle! I thought everyone (or at least me) knew about our other rockets!
E.G. I live about 5 miles from Vandenburg AFB, in Cali, and I see rockets launched all the time. It was freaking amazing to see the 'oomf' the last Titan V (or was it IV) had when it took off.

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The Shuttle is amazing

By hellokeith on 6/9/2007 11:06:33 PM , Rating: 1

They are breaking up the ferrying and freight tasks between two rockets, which will make it safer for the astronauts and quadruple the amount of cargo per mission.

But nothing is like the Shuttle. It is a shining testimony that the USA is the undisputed leader in space technology. It will be a long, long time - possibly never - before another spacecraft with so many different capabilities will be built.

I really hope the people in D.C. don't give away all the money needed for the necessary space exploration to illegal aliens with their hands out and people who refuse to work.

RE: The Shuttle is amazing

By lompocus on 6/10/07, Rating: 0

RE: The Shuttle is amazing

By FITCamaro on 6/10/2007 4:49:47 PM , Rating: 2

I'd rather pay $1.25 for celery and have every illegal alien in the country go home? Anyone else?

And illegals bleed out far more money than they ever give back.

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RE: The Shuttle is amazing

By Fire404 on 6/11/2007 2:39:18 AM , Rating: 2

Please, this is crazy. At least TRY and stay on topic.

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RE: The Shuttle is amazing

By MrBungle123 on 6/11/2007 11:19:05 AM , Rating: 2

any household with children that does not bring in atleast 40K a year is a net drain on our social system, they do not pay enough in taxes to make up what they cost us.

we would have much better schools, our medical system wouldn't be taxed to the breaking point, and our crime rate would go down if we could just get those people to go home.

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RE: The Shuttle is amazing

By FraG AU on 6/10/2007 12:29:42 PM , Rating: 2

Undisputed leader?
Lets not forget Columbia, or Challenger.

The tech IS VERY VERY OLD, Althought back in its day it was state of the art the Shuttle should have been grounded long ago. Seriously its like flying a biplane into space.

We have come so far in Technology, but without the cold war the US can't justify spending the $$ to produce the next big thing.

Anyway, i remember watching all the launches as a kid, and when i was 9 (Living in Poland) i cried in 1986 when the challenger failed. :~(

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RE: The Shuttle is amazing

By djc208 on 6/11/2007 7:50:15 AM , Rating: 3

But if something more modern doesn't exist then it's still state of the art. The shuttle design may be old, but there's still nothing else out there more advanced that can do what it does.

Our aircraft carrier designs are over 30 years old, but until the CVN-21 comes along it's still the most advanced aircraft carrier in the world. They get lots of technology updates like the shuttles but it's still old tech at it's core.

Even the planned replacement is just a modern version of an old design. But like you said, there's not money to finish the space plane because there's no political reason to do so. Let China start showing us up in space tech and that might change.

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RE: The Shuttle is amazing

By rykerabel on 6/11/2007 11:27:55 AM , Rating: 2

um, no. You're forgetting that all other launchers are disposable. So in fact, the space shuttles are the only rockets ever made with greater than 1 success rate. But thats not an accurate comparison because the others don't have to survive multiple launches. Basically, you are comparing apples to rockets.

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Almost her last act

By Ringold on 6/9/2007 6:24:40 PM , Rating: 2

Atlantis' final mission will be September 2008, according to a Christian Science Monitor article I read earlier. This makes it almost her final act.. After which point the poor girl will be cannabalized for spare parts.

I just hope they dont strip her too badly. It'd be nice to have whichever orbiter has been upgraded with the most modern equipment to exist almost completely intact in a muesem.