Training and Shuttle Preps Highlight the Day

Technicians at NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida have completed Atlantis' crew module final prep work and side hatch closure in anticipation of the vehicle's rollover from Orbiter Processing Facility-1 to the Vehicle Assembly Building, scheduled for Oct. 6.

Atlantis will be lowered on its wheels today and then weighed. A center-of-gravity check will be performed to make sure the shuttle is balanced properly for the move.

An exercise known as Mode II-IV also is taking place at Kennedy today. The exercise involves NASA fire rescue personnel, astronauts with simulated injuries, helicopters and personnel from the U.S. Air Force's 920th Rescue Wing, and medical trauma teams at three Central Florida hospitals.

The Space Shuttle Program and Air Force hold this emergency-simulation drill to allow teams to practice emergency response at Launch Pad 39A, including helicopter evacuation to local hospitals.

At NASA's Johnson Space Center in Houston, the six STS-129 mission astronauts will take part in a long-simulation exercise today, practicing docking procedures in the fixed based simulator.

The crew spends many hours training with dials and controls identical to that of the shuttle computer and screens that animate the view from outside the shuttle's window. Johnson technicians program the simulator's software to throw various problem situations at the crew to make sure they can cope with anything while in flight.

Image above: STS-129 crew members participate in a training session in the Space Vehicle Mock-up Facility at NASA's Johnson Space Center. Pictured (counter-clockwise) are astronauts Charlie Hobaugh, commander; Leland Melvin, Mike Foreman and Randy Bresnik, all mission specialists; along with Barry Wilmore, pilot; and Robert L. Satcher Jr., mission specialist. Photo credit: NASA/JSC

Preparations for STS-129 Mission in Full Swing

The STS-129 mission will be commanded by Charlie Hobaugh and piloted by Barry Wilmore. Mission Specialists are Robert Satcher, Mike Foreman, Randy Bresnik and Leland Melvin. Wilmore, Satcher and Bresnik will be making their first trips to space.

Atlantis and its crew will deliver parts to the space station, including a spare gyroscope. The mission will feature three spacewalks.

Atlantis also will return station crew member Nicole Stott to Earth and is slated to be the final space shuttle crew rotation flight.

Launch of Atlantis on the STS-129 mission is targeted for 4:04 p.m. EST Nov. 12.

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