Backgrounder: Mission STS-127 and Canadian Astronaut Julie Payette (Forwarded)

Canadian Space Agency

February 11, 2008

Backgrounder

Mission STS-127 and Canadian Astronaut Julie Payette

Set for launch in April 2009, mission STS-127 on Space Shuttle Endeavour is
the 126th mission to the International Space Station. The crew of six will
include Canadian Space Agency astronaut Julie Payette, Mission Specialist.

Role of Canadian Space Agency astronaut Julie Payette

Julie Payette will act as a mission specialist for STS-127.

This will be the second space flight for Canadian astronaut Julie Payette.
In 1999, she took part in mission STS-96, serving as a mission specialist
responsible for the Station systems, and operating the Shuttle's Canadarm.

Selected as a member of the Canadian astronaut corps by the Canadian Space
Agency in 1992, Julie Payette has also worked as a technical advisor for the
Mobile Servicing System, and as a CapCom, or capsule communicator, with
Mission Control in Houston.

Objectives of the mission

STS-127 will launch the remaining components of Kibo, an experiment facility
built by the Japanese Space Agency (JAXA). Crew will install the Japanese
Experiment Module Exposed Facility and Experiment Logistics Module Exposed
Section.

Once complete, the facility will provide a platform for experiments exposed
to the space environment. It comprises external logistics modules, and a
pressurized module with a robotic arm attached it that can position
experiments outside the Station. Kibo has 10 external payload storage areas.

This 15-day mission will include five spacewalks for the crew, whose other
members are NASA astronauts Mark L. Polansky, Commander, Douglas G. Hurley,
Pilot, Christopher J. Cassidy, Mission Specialist, Thomas, H. Marshburn,
Mission Specialist, and David A. Wolf, Mission Specialist.

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