STS-115

Launch, orbit & landing data: Designation  29391 / 06036A Launch date - time  09 Sep 2006 - 15:14:55 UT Launch site  KSC, LC39B Launch vehicle  Space Shuttle (#116) Orbiter  Atlantis #27 Primary payload  ITS-P3/4 Mass (kg)   Docking date - time  11 Sep 2006 - 10:48 UT Target spacecraft/port  ISS/xx Earth orbit :    - Perigee / Apogee  229 x 285 km    - Inclination  51.6°    - Period  89.6 min Undocking date - time  17 Sep 2006 - 12:50 UT Landing date - time (wheel stop)  21 Sep 2006 - 10:22:16 UT Rollout time  46 sec Landing location  KSC, runway 33 Flight Duration (d:hr:min)  11d 19h 07m 21s Nbr orbits  186 Landing crew    (crew S-)

Flight Crew

Summary: ISS-19-12A P3/P4 Arrays. Delivery of supplies to ISS. Delivery and mounting of solar array truss P3/P4.

Mission report:

• First launch attemp was on Aug 27, 2006.
• Do to Tropical Storm Ernesto, Atlantis had to rollback to VAB on Aug 29, but when the weather forecast improved, the rollback was stopped and Atlantis was returned to PAD 39B.
• Launch reset for Sept 6.

For the second time, the crew of STS-115 walks to the Astro-Van for the 20 minute trip to Pad 39B. Credit: W.G.Hartenstein

• OV-104 Atlantis was launched at 1514:55 UTC on Sep 9, 2006. The RSRM-94 solid rocket boosters separated at 15:17 UTC and the Orbiter's main engines shut down at 15:23 UTC, followed by separation of external tank ET-118. ET-118 and Atlantis were then in a 58 x 220 km x 51.6 deg orbit. ET-118 made one partial orbit of the Earth, re-entering over the Pacific. Atlantis fired its OMS engines at apogee at 15:52 UTC to raise the orbit to 228 x 285 km.
• Atlantis carries the P3/P4 truss segments to the Station, including a large new set of solar panel arrays. P3 carries a rotary joint to rotate the solar arrays, and an attachment point for external payloads. P4 carries two Solar Array Wings, and an Integrated Equipment Assembly with batteries and controllers as well as a thermal control system radiator. P3 and P4 were attached to each other on the ground and form a single unit; P3 will be connected to the end of the P1 segment on the Station (P2 was the name for a segment which was intended for an earlier version of the Station design but was never built).
• In the payload bay, the cargo is:

   Location       Cargo                            Mass
   Bay 1-2        Orbiter Docking System           1800 kg?
   Bay 3P         APC with SPDU                      20 kg?
   Bay 3-12       Truss segment P3/P4             15821 kg
   Sill           OBSS 201                          450 kg?
   Sill           RMS 301                           390 kg
   --------------------------------------------------------
   Total cargo:                                   18481 kg?
  
  

  
  
• Atlantis docked with the Station at 10:48 UTC on Sep 11. The Shuttle RMS grappled the P3/P4 solar array truss assembly and unberthed it. At 14:52 UTC the Station arm grappled the P3/P4 and at 15:03 UTC it was released by the Shuttle arm. P3/P4 was connected to the P1 truss at 07:27 UTC on Sep 12, with the bolts tight by 08:35.
• 
  First EVA by Tanner and Stefanyshyn-Piper on 12.09.2006 (6h 26m) for installation of power and data cables between the P1 and P3/P4 structures in preparation for solar array deployment.
• Second EVA by Burbank and MacLean on 13.09.2006 (7h 11m) to continue work to prepare the International Space Station’s P3/P4 integrated truss for operation; MacLean became the first Canadian to perform an EVA. The solar array wings were deployed on Sep 14.
• Third and final EVA by Tanner and Stefanyshyn-Piper on 15.09.2006 (6h 42m) to perform final tasks required for activation of the Solar Alpha Rotary Joint (SARJ); the SARJ is an automobile-sized joint that will allow the station′s solar arrays to turn and point toward the sun; they also prepared the P3/P4 truss and its solar arrays for operation by setting the stage for deployment of the truss' radiator; Tanner has performed than 7 EVA's in his career; later on the solar arrays were fully unfolded; Stefanyshyn-Piper retrieved the materials on the International Space Station Experiment 5; the materials science experiment tests the effects of the space environment on prospective spacecraft materials. The airlock was repressurized at 16:43 UTC.
• Other work of the crew were: a talk of MacLean with the Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper and other press meetings, transferring cargo, including water, between the shuttle and the space station, removal of the ('Rechargeable EVA Battery Assembly') REBA, Rechargeable EVA Battery Assembly, photo shootings; after undocking from the ISS, the heat shield was inspected; additional inspections were necessary, when a video from cameras aboard the shuttle showed a piece of debris in close proximity to the vehicle, but engineers found no issues of concern during the survey.
• The Shuttle undocked from the Station′s PMA-2 port at 12:50 UTC on Sep 17. Atlantis landed safely at Kennedy Space Center′s runway 33 on Sep 20 at 10:21 UTC after a one-day delay due to weather and concerns over a debris object which was probably a plastic tile shim. The deorbit burn was at 09:14 UTC.

Astrophilately covers:

Launch cancel KSC. Credit: J. Vd Dr.

Landing cancel KSC. Credit: J. Vd Dr.