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{{MobileMode}} [[Space Shuttle Atlantis-Mobile]]
 
{{wikipedia}}
 
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=Atlantis=
 
=Atlantis=
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<br />
'''Space Shuttle ''Atlantis''''' is one of the three currently operational [[Space Shuttle orbiters]] in the [[Space Shuttle]] fleet of [[NASA]], the space agency of the United States; (The other two are ''[[Space Shuttle Discovery]]'' and ''[[Space Shuttle Endeavour]]''.) ''Atlantis'' was the fourth operational shuttle built. "Atlantis" is named after a two-masted sailing ship that operated from 1930 to 1966 for the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institute
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<font color="silver" size="7" face="David">'''S'''</font>'''pace Shuttle ''Atlantis''''' is one of the three currently operational [[Space Shuttle orbiters]] in the [[Space Shuttle]] fleet of [[NASA]], the space agency of the United States; (The other two are ''[[Space Shuttle Discovery]]'' and ''[[Space Shuttle Endeavour]]''.) ''Atlantis'' was the fourth operational shuttle built. "Atlantis" is named after a two-masted sailing ship that operated from 1930 to 1966 for the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institute
   
 
In early 2008, NASA officials decided to keep ''Atlantis'' flying until 2010, the projected end of the Shuttle program
 
In early 2008, NASA officials decided to keep ''Atlantis'' flying until 2010, the projected end of the Shuttle program
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==Current status==
 
==Current status==
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<br />
''Atlantis'' is currently in its [[Orbiter Processing Facility]] being prepared for launch on [[STS-125]], the final shuttle mission to service the [[Hubble Space Telescope]] as early as May 12, 2009.
 
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<font color="silver" size="7" face="David">''A''</font>''tlantis'' is currently retired after STS-135 in 2011. It is on display at Kennedy Space Centre.
   
 
==History==
 
==History==
 
===First Flight===
 
===First Flight===
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<br />
The first flight of ''Atlantis'', [[STS-51-J]], took place during October 1985. The mission was one of five flights during which crews conducted classified military activities. ''Atlantis'' flew one other mission, [[STS-61-B]], before the [[Space Shuttle Challenger disaster]] temporarily grounded the shuttle fleet in 1986.
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<font color="silver" size="7" face="David">T</font>he first flight of ''Atlantis'', [[STS-51-J]], took place during October 1985. The mission was one of five flights during which crews conducted classified military activities. ''Atlantis'' flew one other mission, [[STS-61-B]], before the [[Space Shuttle Challenger disaster]] temporarily grounded the shuttle fleet in 1986.
 
===Other Flights===
 
===Other Flights===
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<br />
''Atlantis'' was used for ten flights between 1988 and 1992. Two of these, both flown in 1989, deployed planetary probes ([[Magellan probe|Magellan]] on [[STS-30]] and [[Galileo probe|Galileo]] on [[STS-34]]). Another mission, [[STS-37]] flown in 1991, deployed the [[Compton Gamma Ray Observatory]].
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<font color="silver" size="7" face="David">''A''</font>''tlantis'' was used for ten flights between 1988 and 1992. Two of these, both flown in 1989, deployed planetary probes ([[Magellan probe|Magellan]] on [[STS-30]] and [[Galileo probe|Galileo]] on [[STS-34]]). Another mission, [[STS-37]] flown in 1991, deployed the [[Compton
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Gamma Ray Observatory]].
 
====Mir Missions====
 
====Mir Missions====
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<br />
Beginning in 1995 with [[STS-71]], ''Atlantis'' made seven straight flights to [[Mir]] (a Russian [[space station]]) as part of the [[Shuttle-Mir Program]].
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<font color="silver" size="7" face="David">B</font>eginning in 1995 with [[STS-71]], ''Atlantis'' made seven straight flights to [[Mir]] (a Russian [[space station]]) as part of the [[Shuttle-Mir Program]].
   
After [[STS-86]], the seventh flight of ''Atlantis'' to Mir, the orbiter underwent a series of refitting operations. From November 1997 to July 1999, about 165 modifications were made to ''Atlantis'', including the installation of the ''Multifunction Electronic Display System'', or [[glass cockpit]]. In May 2000 ''Atlantis'' returned to service for [[STS-101]], a flight to the [[International Space Station]] (ISS).
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After [[STS-86]], the seventh flight of ''Atlantis'' to Mir, the orbiter underwent a series of refitting operations. From November 1997 to July 1999, about 165 modifications were made to ''Atlantis'', including the installation of the ''Multifunction Electronic Display System'', or glass cockpit. In May 2000 ''Atlantis'' returned to service for [[STS-101]], a flight to the [[International Space Station]] (ISS).
 
<!-- Why are these missions notable?
 
 
====Other Notable Missions====
 
====Other Notable Missions====
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<br />
In October 2002 a six-person crew aboard ''Atlantis'' completed an 11-day mission to the [[International Space Station]] (ISS) that involved three space walks.
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<font color="silver" size="7" face="David">I</font>n October 2002 a six-person crew aboard ''Atlantis'' completed an 11-day mission to the [[International Space Station]] (ISS) that involved three space walks.
NASA scheduled the 27th launch for ''Atlantis'' for September 2005, during the window of [[September 9]]-[[September 24]]. It was ruled unsafe to fly the mission and the launch window was missed, due to the complications during ''Discovery'''s launch of mission [[STS-114]] and NASA's subsequent suspension of all future shuttle launches. ''Atlantis'' was the designated [[STS-300]] rescue orbiter for the STS-114 mission.
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NASA scheduled the 27th launch for ''Atlantis'' for September 2005, during the window of September 9-September 24. It was ruled unsafe to fly the mission and the launch window was missed, due to the complications during ''Discovery'''s launch of mission [[STS-114]] and NASA's subsequent suspension of all future shuttle launches. ''Atlantis'' was the designated [[STS-300]] rescue orbiter for the STS-114 mission.
-->
 
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The first mission flown by ''Atlantis'' after the [[Space Shuttle Columbia disaster]] was [[STS-115]], conducted during September 2005. The mission carried the [[ISS Truss|P3/P4 truss]] segments and solar arrays to the ISS.
 
The first mission flown by ''Atlantis'' after the [[Space Shuttle Columbia disaster]] was [[STS-115]], conducted during September 2005. The mission carried the [[ISS Truss|P3/P4 truss]] segments and solar arrays to the ISS.
   
The longest mission flown using ''Atlantis'' -- [[STS-117]] during June 2007 -- lasted almost 14 days. Because ''Atlantis'' is not equipped to take advantage of the [[Station-to-Shuttle Power Transfer System]], missions cannot be extended by making use of power provided by ISS.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/shuttle/shuttlemissions/sts122/interview_love.html |title=Preflight Interview: Stan Love, Mission Specialist |publisher=NASA |date=2007-11-19}}</ref>
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The longest mission flown using ''Atlantis'' -- [[STS-117]] during June 2007—lasted almost 14 days. Because ''Atlantis'' is not equipped to take advantage of the [[Station-to-Shuttle Power Transfer System]], missions cannot be extended by making use of power provided by ISS.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/shuttle/shuttlemissions/sts122/interview_love.html |title=Preflight Interview: Stan Love, Mission Specialist |publisher=NASA |date=2007-11-19}}</ref>
   
=== Withdrawal ===
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===Withdrawal===
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<br />
NASA had planned to withdraw ''Atlantis'' from service in 2008, as the orbiter would have been due to undergo the scheduled Orbiter Maintenance Down Period (OMDP); this is a major program of refit and maintenance which would have lasted at least a year. Because of the final retirement of the shuttle fleet in 2010, this was deemed uneconomic. It was planned that ''Atlantis'' would be kept in near flight condition to be used as a parts hulk for ''Discovery'' and ''Endeavour''. However, with the significant planned flight schedule up to 2010, the decision was taken to extend the time between OMDPs, allowing ''Atlantis'' to be retained for operations. ''Atlantis'' has been swapped for one flight of each of the other orbiters in the flight manifest. As of March 2008, ''Atlantis'' is now projected to fly at least three more missions prior to the end of the shuttle program:<ref>
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<font color="silver" size="7" face="David">N</font>ASA had planned to withdraw ''Atlantis'' from service in 2008, as the orbiter would have been due to undergo the scheduled Orbiter Maintenance Down Period (OMDP); this is a major program of refit and maintenance which would have lasted at least a year. Because of the final retirement of the shuttle fleet in 2010, this was deemed uneconomic. It was planned that ''Atlantis'' would be kept in near flight condition to be used as a parts hulk for ''Discovery'' and ''Endeavour''. However, with the significant planned flight schedule up to 2010, the decision was taken to extend the time between OMDPs, allowing ''Atlantis'' to be retained for operations. ''Atlantis'' has been swapped for one flight of each of the other orbiters in the flight manifest. As of March 2008, ''Atlantis'' is now projected to fly at least three more missions prior to the end of the shuttle program:<ref>
 
{{cite web | url = http://www.nasaspaceflight.com/2007/06/atlantis-avoids-early-retirement-will-keep-flying-to-2010/ | title = Atlantis avoids early retirement - will keep flying to 2010 | publisher = NASASpaceflight.com |author=Bergin, Chris| date = [[2007-06-23]]}}</ref>
 
{{cite web | url = http://www.nasaspaceflight.com/2007/06/atlantis-avoids-early-retirement-will-keep-flying-to-2010/ | title = Atlantis avoids early retirement - will keep flying to 2010 | publisher = NASASpaceflight.com |author=Bergin, Chris| date = [[2007-06-23]]}}</ref>
 
* [[STS-125]] - final [[Hubble Space Telescope|Hubble]] servicing mission
 
* [[STS-125]] - final [[Hubble Space Telescope|Hubble]] servicing mission
 
* [[STS-129]] - ISS assembly mission ([[EXPRESS Logistics Carriers 1 & 2]]''ELC1 & ELC2'')
 
* [[STS-129]] - ISS assembly mission ([[EXPRESS Logistics Carriers 1 & 2]]''ELC1 & ELC2'')
 
* [[STS-131]] - ISS logistics mission ([[Multi-Purpose Logistics Module]]''Raffaello'')
 
* [[STS-131]] - ISS logistics mission ([[Multi-Purpose Logistics Module]]''Raffaello'')
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==References==
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{{Reflist}}
 
[[Category:Space Shuttle]]
 
[[Category:Space Shuttle]]
 
[[Category:Retired]]
 
[[Category:Retired]]

Revision as of 00:43, 31 January 2018

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Atlantis


Space Shuttle Atlantis is one of the three currently operational Space Shuttle orbiters in the Space Shuttle fleet of NASA, the space agency of the United States; (The other two are Space Shuttle Discovery and Space Shuttle Endeavour.) Atlantis was the fourth operational shuttle built. "Atlantis" is named after a two-masted sailing ship that operated from 1930 to 1966 for the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institute

In early 2008, NASA officials decided to keep Atlantis flying until 2010, the projected end of the Shuttle program This reversed a previous decision to retire Atlantis in 2008

Current status


Atlantis is currently retired after STS-135 in 2011. It is on display at Kennedy Space Centre.

History

First Flight


The first flight of Atlantis, STS-51-J, took place during October 1985. The mission was one of five flights during which crews conducted classified military activities. Atlantis flew one other mission, STS-61-B, before the Space Shuttle Challenger disaster temporarily grounded the shuttle fleet in 1986.

Other Flights


Atlantis was used for ten flights between 1988 and 1992. Two of these, both flown in 1989, deployed planetary probes (Magellan on STS-30 and Galileo on STS-34). Another mission, STS-37 flown in 1991, deployed the [[Compton Gamma Ray Observatory]].

Mir Missions


Beginning in 1995 with STS-71, Atlantis made seven straight flights to Mir (a Russian space station) as part of the Shuttle-Mir Program.

After STS-86, the seventh flight of Atlantis to Mir, the orbiter underwent a series of refitting operations. From November 1997 to July 1999, about 165 modifications were made to Atlantis, including the installation of the Multifunction Electronic Display System, or glass cockpit. In May 2000 Atlantis returned to service for STS-101, a flight to the International Space Station (ISS).

Other Notable Missions


In October 2002 a six-person crew aboard Atlantis completed an 11-day mission to the International Space Station (ISS) that involved three space walks. NASA scheduled the 27th launch for Atlantis for September 2005, during the window of September 9-September 24. It was ruled unsafe to fly the mission and the launch window was missed, due to the complications during Discovery's launch of mission STS-114 and NASA's subsequent suspension of all future shuttle launches. Atlantis was the designated STS-300 rescue orbiter for the STS-114 mission.

The first mission flown by Atlantis after the Space Shuttle Columbia disaster was STS-115, conducted during September 2005. The mission carried the P3/P4 truss segments and solar arrays to the ISS.

The longest mission flown using Atlantis -- STS-117 during June 2007—lasted almost 14 days. Because Atlantis is not equipped to take advantage of the Station-to-Shuttle Power Transfer System, missions cannot be extended by making use of power provided by ISS.[1]

Withdrawal


NASA had planned to withdraw Atlantis from service in 2008, as the orbiter would have been due to undergo the scheduled Orbiter Maintenance Down Period (OMDP); this is a major program of refit and maintenance which would have lasted at least a year. Because of the final retirement of the shuttle fleet in 2010, this was deemed uneconomic. It was planned that Atlantis would be kept in near flight condition to be used as a parts hulk for Discovery and Endeavour. However, with the significant planned flight schedule up to 2010, the decision was taken to extend the time between OMDPs, allowing Atlantis to be retained for operations. Atlantis has been swapped for one flight of each of the other orbiters in the flight manifest. As of March 2008, Atlantis is now projected to fly at least three more missions prior to the end of the shuttle program:[2]

  • STS-125 - final Hubble servicing mission
  • STS-129 - ISS assembly mission (EXPRESS Logistics Carriers 1 & 2ELC1 & ELC2)
  • STS-131 - ISS logistics mission (Multi-Purpose Logistics ModuleRaffaello)

References