Lastest News from NASA - Atlantis closing in on Space Station

LASTEST NEWS FROM NASA

Atlantis Closing in on Space Station

Image above: Astronaut Christopher J. Ferguson, STS-115 pilot, on the flight deck of Atlantis during the first day in space for the STS-115 crew. Photo Credit: NASA

Space Shuttle Atlantis is close to reaching its destination, the International Space Station. Atlantis was 50,000 feet behind the station at 4:08 a.m. EDT when Commander Brent Jett fired the orbiter's engines for the terminal initiation burn to close the gap. The two vehicles are scheduled to link up at 6:46 a.m.

Atlantis and the STS-115 crew are delivering the P3/P4 truss and a new set of solar arrays to the station. After the truss is attached to the station, the crew will conduct three spacewalks to outfit and prepare the truss and arrays for operation. STS-115 is the first station assembly mission since STS-113 in late 2002.

The STS-115 astronauts will enter the station for the first time about 7:55 a.m., where they will be greeted by the Expedition 13 crew. The two crews will quickly begin preparations for Tuesday’s installation of the truss and the first spacewalk. The crews will use the shuttle robotic arm to hand off the truss to the station arm at about 10:45 a.m.