STS-129 crew members participate in a food tasting session in the Habitability and Environmental Factors Office at NASA's Johnson Space Center. Pictured from the left are Pilot Barry E. Wilmore, Mission Specialist Mike Foreman, Commander Charles O. Hobaugh, Mission Specialists Leland Melvin, Robert L. Satcher Jr. and Randy Bresnik. Photo credit: NASA/JSC
Mon, 09 Nov 2009 02:51:20 PM GMT+0000
At NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida, the work week begins with the installation of new equipment at Launch Pad 39A.
Technicians will install instruments in both the mobile launcher platform’s tail service mast and in space shuttle Atlantis’ aft section. The equipment will record the sound pressure and vibration at liftoff — which recently were determined to be stronger than originally thought.
The testing of the “main engine acoustic environment” using microphones and sensors will continue with launch.
Yesterday, workers completed final ordnance installation and connections in the shuttle.
At NASA’s Johnson Space Center in Houston, the six STS-129 mission astronauts will enter quarantine tonight after a day of administrative duties. They’ll be housed in a germ-free environment until they fly to Kennedy on Thursday for Atlantis’ launch to the International Space Station.
Liftoff is set for 2:28 p.m. EST Nov. 16 and the countdown to launch begins 1 p.m. EST Friday.