space mission fifth final space shuttle mission space launch occurred landing occurred mission lasting total days atlantis carried new instruments space cosmic origins camera mission replaced fine guidance battery unit allow continue function crew installed new thermal blanket panels provide improved thermal protection soft capture mechanism aid safe spacecraft end operational lifespan mission carried camera crew documented progress mission movie crew included previous experience visited commander fourth mission serviced twice performing total served performed service nasa managers engineers declared mission complete success completion major objectives considered vital upgraded advanced state launch nineteen years powerful upgrades help deeper universe farther past closer time visit space atlantis previously serviced twice discovery columbia mission 30th flight atlantis years visit space station crew mission history fifth mission originally scheduled launch late early january nasa administrator sean canceled mission future missions citing safety constraints imposed announcement stated decision recommendation departments decision widely criticized media science community nasa maryland senator member senate oversees nasa budget publicly accused making decision outside transparency process wishes science community stated work reverse decision march representative introduced bill house_of_representatives requested independent panel experts review decision cancel mission march director released results ultra deep field survey entire science community helped public important science data showed deepest images taken revealed approximately likely dated universe million years old released data scientific community said results think amazing continue stand joining advocate nasa chief scientist physicist present meeting announced cancellation mission veteran astronaut shuttle missions including missions devoted years disappointed canceled mission briefly considered retiring nasa realized stayed continue advance physics ways instead dedicated finding alternate ways service possibly sending robot orbit job announced resignation administrator december days committee opposed position media science community saw hope mission reinstated replacement took months appointment announce disagreed decision consider sending shuttle repair engineer griffin previously worked construction respected discoveries brought science community agreed robotic mission feasible said light return flight changes following columbia accident shuttle mission repair successes return flight missions lessons learned improvements following missions managers engineers worked plan allow shuttle service safety requirements october griffin announced mission reinstated scheduled announced crew fly mission included senator expressed delight news stating greatest invented gone look places universe didn know existed new_yorker dedicated new_york_mets fan brought home plate mission forced slightly alter plate allow fit locker designated memorabilia presented plate management return threw pitch plate display field mission mission added new instruments instrument sensitive installed far channel times sensitive previous instruments near twice sensitive second instrument wide field camera wide field camera record wide range including infrared visible light atlantis carried installed enable spacecraft sent assist safe orbit end life circular mechanism containing structures targets aid docking infrastructure upgraded replacing fine guidance controls directional system installing set new replacing batteries installing new outer blanket layer provide improved bay elements held wide field camera new batteries stored cosmic origins instruments flight support structure held repairs held support equipment relative navigation experiment items flown shuttle missions mission patches flags personal items crew official harlem basketball basketball played university_of_chicago returned earth harlem basketball placed memorial basketball hall fame ball returned university_of_chicago flew reprint library alma mater mit movie end september corporation announced cooperation nasa camera travel bay atlantis production new film chronicle story camera stationed launch number movies centered space including destiny space dream alive mission magnificent walking moon trip movie released march media astronaut twitter document training preparations mission mentioned like try sending twitter updates space duty time update read orbit launch awesome feeling great working hard enjoying magnificent views adventure lifetime begun person use twitter space mission background mission marked nasa manned space flight shuttle mission 30th flight atlantis 53rd shuttle landing edwards air force base mission 13th mission shuttle processing assigned discovery launch date earlier originally moved mission ahead flight delays shuttle missions resulted change mission ordering changed atlantis january crew atlantis went early july allowed crew familiar hardware flight launch delays august delay following tropical storm atlantis rolled external fuel tank solid rocket stack problems encountered mating process poor weather caused delay atlantis launch pad normally seven days pushed october manufacturing delays external tanks future space shuttle missions experienced delays production changes new external tanks enhancements recommended making impossible produce tanks mission atlantis emergency rescue mission necessary time original august launch date occurred september september unit space failed importance nasa postponed launch september failed unit replaced atlantis rolled october october nasa announced atlantis removed solid rocket external tank stack sent await targeted launch time stack turned mission instead march atlantis new stack rolled march april nasa managers issued request launch day change official flight readiness review april reason cited change add day launch window days mission timeline flight day launch following smooth countdown atlantis launched time immediately launch ascent flight systems reported problems hydrogen tank circuit breaker crew immediately advised disregard resultant continue orbit post launch news conference nasa managers said initial early review launch video showed obvious debris events thorough analysis performed ensure sustained significant damage ascent working post launch crew opened bay doors deployed band antenna moved robotic activities portion day included survey bay crew cabin survey robotic arm post launch inspection foot area north flame found damage heat resistant coating came following launch severe damage seen pad bricks walls nasa officials stated damage launch nearly severe impact launch june flight day following morning wake crew set right work day tasks centered inspection heat shield shuttle robotic arm crew went detailed inspection thermal protection system tile reinforced carbon carbon surfaces inspection engineers ground noticed small area tile forward area shuttle right wing appeared suffered damage ascent mission managers called crew alert find advising wing leading edge sensors recorded debris event ascent seconds following cause damage seen area advised crew damage initially appear assured crew image analysis team reviewing imagery engineers ground analyzing determine focused inspection required flight day execute package ground engineers provided information circuit breaker failure seen launch breaker shuttle guidance navigation control systems failure impact mission redundant systems addition survey heat shield crew gathered inspected tools mission prepared flight support system flight day flight day following crew post sleep activities went work performing rendezvous operations included burning engines approach following delays communications issues johnson guided feet successfully utc safely bay atlantis later day good mass worked preparing day gathering tools checking suits equipment briefing chairman reported damage assessment team cleared tiles blankets expected clear portion flight day stated focused inspection required noted debris event recorded wing leading edge sensors far force indicate problem impact mission late inspection routinely performed prior entry additional information stated concerned kind damage concern certainly critical damage mission status briefing lead flight director noted camera survey equipment bay team noticed fine matter box containing wide field camera asked crew additional images higher resolution camera ground teams assess later confirmed dust present prior launch likely shaken loose thick blankets inside bay launch team advised crew avoid possible use caution working container avoid debris significant concern flight day following crew wake set work preparing mission suited assistance counterparts good officially began switched suits battery power utc start provided managers ground visual inspection report matter seen earlier box reporting ground team don particles particles little whitish grey looking real small low density getting tools equipment set removed old wide field camera installed mission replaced new wide field camera initially trouble removing bolts old camera years space required remove expected multiple attempts managers ground decided allow apply force exceeding specific point bolt release concern bolt shear camera unable removed happened finally managers approved remove apply force safely thought release bolt successful new camera allow large scale extremely clear detailed photos wider range colors old camera installation controllers space flight center sent commands camera perform test passed indicating camera installed correctly task remove replace computer sends commands science instruments formats science data transmission ground item failed september delaying engineers prepared replacement mission crew trained new task failure disable replacing unit final major task install includes inch wide low impact docking system allow spacecraft future dock safely orbit end life installed center kits locks opening closing large access doors easier remaining officially ended utc time seven hours minutes nineteenth devoted brought total time thirty hours thirty minutes length delay beginning crew hour scheduled timeline day worked post activities evening activities problems got sleep slightly scheduled time mission status briefing project senior scientist noted relieved camera replaced successfully noted problems bolt caused concern don normally reveal age going tell years older came work morning sleep pretty tonight knowing accomplished flight day following wake atlantis crew set right work preparing second mission good assistance preparing team ground informed crew passed overnight functional tests indicating good working order preparations underway completed robotic survey small row heat shield tiles sufficiently day inspection following analysis survey managers cleared systems pre landing inspection mission second officially began utc pair set work removing replacing rate sensing units unit contains allow point unit replaced problems attempted replace second unit unit align guide seat equipment bay managers decided unit originally intended bay bay installed problems pair attempted install second unit final bay unit seat properly unable install instead decided additional unit carried spare placed final bay spare unit removed mission refurbished ground installation units critical objective mission failed electrical issues experiencing issues performance ground controllers space flight center confirmed new battery passed preliminary tests problems seating second set timeline approximately hours asked good felt replied felt fine continue flight controllers ground evaluated decided suit oxygen pair safely continue battery installation moving battery unit site good removed original battery replaced new unit batteries provide power passes earth shadow solar exposed sun officially ended utc time seven hours minutes twentieth service bringing total time hours minutes mission status briefing lead officer manager explained spare impact life fully refurbished ground improvements incorporated newer models difference projected longevity observatory years small don significant observatory tremendous accomplishment noted lead flight director noted length resulting slip timeline crew sleep shift moved hour later allow proper rest rest docked timeline shifted forward hour flight day awakening crew set work preparing mission considered challenging uncertain highest priority items scheduled tasks remove obsolete replacement originally installed correct spherical mirror install repair advanced camera surveys failed june electrical issue restored partially failed electrical short designed serviced repaired space task considered challenging mission running managers ground prepared unexpected issues arise complicated repair work began utc problems pair worked timeline efficiently hour ahead point removing bay installed moved repair specially designed tools removed access panel replaced camera circuit boards installed new power supply completed hours thirty minutes passed initial tests seventh moving fourth record book time previous day mission status briefing space senior project scientist prediction considered straightforward run issues difficult repair mission prediction said going difficult challenging predict going smoothly mission think version murphy law going lead direction initial testing functional tests managers engineers noted repairs designed photo channels wide field channel issues high resolution channel resolved designed fix functional testing wide field channel passed issues seen high resolution channel indicating power issue farther upstream electronic circuits repair addressed additional testing performed program manager noted fix designed power high resolution channel paths connected wide field channel feasible possibility short circuit damage area corrected planned repair high resolution channel unable restored considered important bulk science output undertaken wide field channel channel solar blind channel passed overnight functional testing issues flight day beginning mission fourth utc good went work repairing space imaging failed blown power supply designed intention space major challenges remove cover plate held tight screws specially designed tool called capture plate designed trap screws prevent floating space removed preparing capture plate encountered issues removed accommodate capture plate stripped bolt preventing released trying multiple options success managers ground advised use force remove proceed removal cover plate procedure tested space flight center prior approving showing stripped bolt broken safely force working inside walked procedure slowly advising tape tape prevent parts breaking flying loose aware reaction force watch sharp edges removal removed went work capture plate ran additional problems battery power tools failed instructed return retrieve spare tool suit oxygen reserves allow completion repair rest repair work completed problems nearly hours scheduled timeline managers ground decided postpone task installing new outer blanket layers outer shell originally scheduled hours thirty minutes ended utc time hours minutes time sixth longest history second devoted fourth bringing total time thirty hours minutes mission status briefing chief stellar space flight center noted repair major victory mission science community performed unique functions helping scientists understand materials planets composed looking things like motion stars black holes initial testing showed issues taken functional testing issues seen safe mode low thermal limit ground controllers restart testing thermal limit normal range believed component good shape flight day completing fifth planned successfully installed second battery removed replaced fine guidance number worked efficiently hour ahead timeline giving time remove degraded panels bays install new outer blanket layers beginning utc pair worked removing aging battery module replaced new pack combined battery replacement performed second gave new hydrogen batteries moved removal replacement fine guidance unit number improving focus stability imaging nasa engineers new able laser beam focused coin away new batteries passed functional testing mission final concluded utc seven hours minutes total time spent mission extra activity thirty hours minutes final service brought total time spent working hours minutes lead flight director noted final planned shuttle likely accumulated hours thirty minutes minutes list time completion major objectives considered vital upgraded advanced state launch nineteen years ago powerful upgrades help deeper universe farther past closer time importance science seen dramatic images provides volume work generated average fourteen scientific articles published week based data gathered officially upgrades extend life space senior scientist david noted prior mission mission objectives successful easily longer large scheduled launched infrared visible near infrared capabilities operational great benefit scientific community flight day awakening utc crew set work preparing release bay atlantis shuttle robotic arm utc lifted bay prepare release good standing ready perform event went wrong deployment working prepare release managers ground gave release utc successfully released vehicles flew africa performing small separation burn johnson backed away called managers ground confirming deployment commending crew said released safely journey exploration begin steps conclude went planned planned way work team pulling able incredible things continue exploring bringing home head home days thank new equipment upgraded systems tested months prior resuming operation tests successful operation resume early september following separation burn crew set work performing standard late inspection thermal protection system robotic arm johnson worked procedures inspect wing leading edge panels reinforced carbon carbon nose cap heat shield tiles evaluating weather reports managers ground slightly refined schedule landing opting bring shuttle home orbit early try avoid possibility showers prevent landing friday new landing opportunity bring crew home flight day busy week crew atlantis majority day giving time rest prepare landing took traditional orbit crew portrait spoke reporters world news conference crew opportunity speak expedition crew board conference routed satellites station crew congratulated successful mission crew atlantis expressed gratitude station crew work long duration stays station predicting favorable weather friday landing managers asked crew power non critical systems help conserve power event able land saturday evaluating imagery sent late inspection ground team officially cleared thermal protection system entry initially nasa planned releasing stand status following late inspection managers ground decided wait atlantis performed orbit burn standing rescue mission officially going sleep crew took phone president barack_obama congratulated successful mission joked asking house chicago expressed pride crew obama told crew like lot americans watching gorgeous images sending incredible repair mission making space said think providing wonderful example kind dedication commitment exploration represents america space program generally traits country strong flight day crew spent day preparations friday landing working post sleep activities johnson performed check flight control surfaces performed reaction control system hot fire went communications checks managers ground rest crew worked away items mission crew held preparations briefing ground teams johnson worked board run series landing afternoon crew shuttle crew testify live orbit united_states senate hearing chairman justice astronaut senator florida spoke crew importance repair person testimony space testified june member expedition board crew atlantis later spoke reporters major networks cnn abc nbc cbs fox going sleep weather florida continued look grim landing friday managers ground advised crew proceed preparations planned weather cleared morning nasa managers stated friday focus landing friday backup sites weather favorable friday landing edwards air force base activated saturday atlantis stay orbit monday late thursday managers officially released stand state atlantis cleared damage heat shield good shape return earth flight day crew worked procedures entry friday managers ground closely examined weather patterns florida favorable crew advised low clouds thunderstorms conditions violated landing criteria managers waived opportunity second opportunity taken weather improved entry flight director called edwards air force base shortly decision delay saturday crew total saturday landing opportunities location flight day crew atlantis possible landing opportunities saturday managers evaluated best opportunities day try bring home saturday landing opportunity kennedy space center waived poor weather forecasts observed weather violations landing criteria evaluating weather patterns florida managers ground chose second opportunity wait day attempt florida sunday weather california excellent forecasts attempts sunday land florida successful shuttle able land edwards air force base weather issue flight day landing atlantis crew florida return opportunities day california landing giving managers time evaluate weather use california necessary choosing pass opportunity evaluate second managers ground decided weather florida dynamic risk bringing opted land edwards air force base instead orbit burn initiated utc burn shuttle engines brought orbit begin earth atmosphere atlantis successfully landed edwards air force base runway space distance approximately million miles working safely power crew performed traditional walk shuttle met employees nasa speaking briefly press following walk joked didn realize going hard earth thrilled mission complete post landing briefing declared mission total success noting rocky road took mission completed said considered mission great american comeback story chapter mission canceled january told day sitting years later totally successful mission brand new probably operate decade life wouldn bet penny great american comeback story chapter post landing following standard post landing processing edwards air force base atlantis lifted air mate device attached modified boeing called shuttle carrier aircraft return flight florida departing california june flight overnight stop texas june stops san_antonio texas columbus mississippi refuel performing coast landed kennedy space center june heavier return flights atlantis carrying cargo mission bay weighed approximately quarter million pounds combined total weight vehicle approximately thousand pounds atlantis removed towed late june extra activity planned mission originally scheduled hours thirty minutes fifth scheduled hours minutes conducted successfully total time activity thirty hours minutes wake calls nasa began tradition playing music program wake flight crew apollo track specially chosen families usually special meaning individual member crew applicable daily activities mission planned shuttle mission columbia accident launched low orbit allow rendezvous orbit parameters atlantis unable use international space station safe haven event structural mechanical failure preserve nasa requirement having shuttle rescue capability flight designation given shuttle crew support mission flown event atlantis disabled atlantis performed late inspection cleared entry officially released stand status thursday media nasa article incorporates public domain material websites documents universe mirror universe mirror saga princeton isbn
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