[sarex] NASA Aims for Possible Shuttle Launch Attempt Friday

[Arthur Rowe]

SUBMITTED BY ARTHUR N1ORC - AMSAT A/C #31468



	

NASA Aims for Possible Shuttle Launch Attempt Friday

NASA is targeting a possible launch of Space Shuttle Atlantis on Friday, 
Sept. 8 because of a problem associated with one of the spacecraft's 
electricity-producing fuel cells. Shuttle program managers at NASA’s 
Kennedy Space Center decided Wednesday afternoon additional time was 
needed to evaluate fuel cell flight history and potential causes of the 
malfunction.

Mission managers will hold another meeting Thursday at 1 p.m. EDT to 
assess the issue. There will be a news conference on NASA Television at 
the conclusion of that meeting. If the team decides to "go" for launch 
Friday, lift-off would be at 11:41 a.m. EDT.

Tuesday night as ground teams were preparing for Atlantis’ scheduled 
launch Wednesday, a voltage spike in the motor of Atlantis’ fuel cell #1 
coolant pump was observed during the activation of the shuttle's three 
fuel cells. The coolant pump flows Freon through the fuel cell to 
prevent it from overheating during flights.

During Atlantis' mission, STS-115, astronauts will deliver and install a 
girder-like structure, known as the P3/P4 truss, aboard the station. The 
35,000-pound piece includes a set of giant solar arrays, batteries and 
associated electronics. The arrays eventually will double the station's 
power capability.

Atlantis' crew, Commander Brent Jett, Pilot Chris Ferguson and mission 
specialists Dan Burbank, Heide Stefanyshyn-Piper, Joe Tanner and Steve 
MacLean, a Canadian Space Agency astronaut, will remain at Kennedy Space 
Center while the fuel cell evaluation continues.

For the latest information about the STS-115 mission and its crew and 
more information about space shuttle fuel cells, visit:

http://www.nasa.gov/shuttle 
<http://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/shuttle/main/index.html>