Andrew Yee[_1_]
February 7th 08, 04:02 AM
ESA News
http://www.esa.int
6 February 2008
Countdown to Columbus launch
The countdown continues towards Thursday's launch of the European Columbus
laboratory on board Space Shuttle Atlantis. Weather forecasts for the launch
site in Florida currently predict a 70 percent chance of unfavourable
weather at launch time. Atlantis is scheduled for liftoff at 20:45 CET
(19:45 UT).
A weather front which caused devastation in other areas of the United States
overnight is predicted to move through Florida in the next days bringing low
cloud cover and possibly lightning storms -- both of which would delay the
launch.
Should lift-off be delayed on Thursday, the forecast is slightly improved
for Friday and Saturday with a 40 percent and 30 percent chance of
unfavourable weather respectively.
Atlantis' main objective during its STS-122 mission to the International
Space Station is to install and activate the Columbus laboratory, which will
provide scientists around the world the ability to conduct a variety of
life, physical and materials science experiments.
ESA astronauts Hans Schlegel and Lpold Eyharts are part of the STS-122 crew
responsible for bringing Columbus into orbit. Schlegel will play a key role
in two of the three spacewalks scheduled for the mission.
Eyharts will remain on board the ISS as a member of the permanent Expedition
16 crew -- he will oversee the installation, activation and in-orbit
commissioning of Columbus and its experiment facilities.
The Columbus launch was delayed early December 2007 following a failure in
the External Tank's engine cut-off sensor system. The problem was located to
a feed-through connector in the wall of the External Tank. NASA engineers
have implemented a fix of the connector to resolve the problem.
http://www.esa.int
6 February 2008
Countdown to Columbus launch
The countdown continues towards Thursday's launch of the European Columbus
laboratory on board Space Shuttle Atlantis. Weather forecasts for the launch
site in Florida currently predict a 70 percent chance of unfavourable
weather at launch time. Atlantis is scheduled for liftoff at 20:45 CET
(19:45 UT).
A weather front which caused devastation in other areas of the United States
overnight is predicted to move through Florida in the next days bringing low
cloud cover and possibly lightning storms -- both of which would delay the
launch.
Should lift-off be delayed on Thursday, the forecast is slightly improved
for Friday and Saturday with a 40 percent and 30 percent chance of
unfavourable weather respectively.
Atlantis' main objective during its STS-122 mission to the International
Space Station is to install and activate the Columbus laboratory, which will
provide scientists around the world the ability to conduct a variety of
life, physical and materials science experiments.
ESA astronauts Hans Schlegel and Lpold Eyharts are part of the STS-122 crew
responsible for bringing Columbus into orbit. Schlegel will play a key role
in two of the three spacewalks scheduled for the mission.
Eyharts will remain on board the ISS as a member of the permanent Expedition
16 crew -- he will oversee the installation, activation and in-orbit
commissioning of Columbus and its experiment facilities.
The Columbus launch was delayed early December 2007 following a failure in
the External Tank's engine cut-off sensor system. The problem was located to
a feed-through connector in the wall of the External Tank. NASA engineers
have implemented a fix of the connector to resolve the problem.