STS-129

•   Charles Hobaugh (3rd space flight) - crew commander;
•   Barry Wilmore ( English Barry 'Butch' Wilmore ) (1) - pilot;
•   Michael Foreman (2) - Flight Specialist
•   Robert Satcher (1) - Flight Specialist
•   Randolph Bresnik (1) - Flight Specialist
•   Leland Devon Melvin (2) - Flight Specialist

Crew ISS-21 (landing)

•   Nicole Stott (1) - Flight Engineer

The Atlantis crew includes three newcomers to spaceflight: Barry Wilmore, Robert Thatcher and Randolph Breznik. Six astronauts went into orbit in the Atlantis shuttle. Seven astronauts returned to Earth, along with six crew members Nicole Stott, flight engineer of the 21st ISS expedition, returned to Earth. Stott arrived at the station on August 31, 2009 on the Discovery Shuttle STS-128 .

During the flight, three spacewalks were carried out.

• Exit 1 - Foreman and Thatcher
• Objectives : installation of a spare antenna on the main farm ; installation of ammonia line fasteners on the Unity block ; payload capture system lubrication on a mobile base system (MBS); lubrication of grips on a Japanese robotic arm.
• Start : November 19, 2009 - 14:24 UTC
• End : November 19 - 21:01 UTC
• Duration : 6 hours 37 minutes.

This is the 134th spacewalk associated with the ISS.

This is the 4th space exit for Foreman and the 1st space exit for Satcher.

• Exit 2 - Foreman and Breznik
• Objectives : installation of GATOR adapter mounts at the Columbus laboratory ; installation of an additional amateur radio antenna; moving block measurements of floating electrical potentials; the use of cargo fasteners on the main farm.
• Start : November 21, 2009 - 14:31 UTC
• End : November 21 - 20:39 UTC
• Duration : 6 hours 8 minutes.

This is the 135th spacewalk associated with the ISS.

This is the 5th space exit for Foreman and the 1st exit for Breznik.

• Exit 3 - Satcher and Breznik
• Objectives : installation of an additional oxygen tank on the Quest module ; installation of a new kit for the MISSE-7A and 7B materials research project on the ELC-2 block; work with heating cables for the docking unit of the Tranquility module (whose launch is scheduled for February 2010) on the Unity module; work with other goods.
• Start : November 23, 2009 - 13:24 UTC
• End : November 23 - 19: 6 UTC
• Duration : 5 hours 42 minutes.

This is the 136th spacewalk associated with the ISS.

This is the 2nd space exit for Satcher and the 2nd exit for Breznik.

By the end of 2010, six shuttle flights to the ISS are planned. These remaining flights must be delivered to the ISS by equipment, spare parts and modules, which, due to their size, can only be delivered to the station by shuttles. After the shuttle flights cease, the station will be supplied with Russian "Progress" , European and Japanese ATV and HTV trucks. With the help of these ships, only goods that can pass through the access hatch connecting the trucks and the interior of the station are delivered to the station. The STS-129 mission is the first of these final shuttle missions, the task of which is to deliver large-sized and critical spare nodes and devices to the station. Such devices include, in particular, orientation gyroscopes and tanks of station cooling systems. At the time of Atlantis’s launch, NASA’s plans assumed that the ISS would last until 2015 , but there was a greater likelihood that the station’s operation would be extended until 2020 . To extend the life of the station, it is especially important to provide the station with spare equipment, on which the successful operation of the ISS depends.

The payload delivered by the shuttle to the station is secured on two experimental transport platforms (ExPRESS Logistics Carrier, ELC-1, ELC-2), which were placed in the cargo compartment of the shuttle. Two orientation gyroscopes were delivered to the station, a high-pressure tank with oxygen for the gateway module , tanks with nitrogen and ammonia, and a pump for the station's cooling system. Among the payloads are also spare parts for the robot manipulator and the Dextre manipulator, spare power cables for the transport trolley, a device for charging and discharging solar batteries , a device to protect the station from possible electrical discharges between the station and the upper layers of the Earth’s atmosphere . Spare S-band antenna kit, a set of equipment for amateur radio communications and equipment for tracking ships on the high seas.

During the planned spacewalks, two experimental transport platforms were fixed on specially designed places for them on the S3 and P3 segments of the station truss . Devices that are located on experimental transport platforms are connected to the ISS power and information circuits.

In total, the weight of the cargo delivered to the ISS was about 14 tons (30,000 pounds ).

On Atlantis, ISS crew member Nicole Stott returned to Earth, who arrived at the station in late August on the Discovery shuttle STS-128 . This was the last shuttle flight associated with the replacement of the ISS crew. After that, for at least six years, all astronauts will arrive at the station, and return to Earth only on Russian Soyuz spacecraft . For each place on the Soyuz spacecraft, NASA is forced to pay $ 50 million to the Russian side.

September 3, 2008 the names of crew members became known (so far unofficially). Crew commander Charles Hobo, pilot Barry Wilmore, flight specialists Michael Foreman, Robert Thatcher, Randolph Breznik and Leland Melvin.

On September 30, 2008, NASA officially approved the crew for the STS-129 mission: commander Charles Hobo, pilot Barry Wilmore, flight specialists Robert Thatcher, Michael Foreman, Randy Breznik, Leland Melvin. On the Atlantis, together with crew members, Canadian astronaut Robert Tersk, flight engineer of the ISS long-term expedition, will return to Earth.

On October 6, 2009, the Atlantis shuttle was transported from the hangar to a vertical assembly building , where it will be connected to an external fuel tank and two solid fuel boosters. The transportation began at 11 am GMT (7 am local time). At 12.15 a.m. Atlantis was in a vertical assembly building. The removal of Atlantis to the launch pad is scheduled for October 13, where it will prepare for the STS-129 mission, the launch of which is scheduled for November 12.

On October 14, the Atlantis shuttle was removed from the vertical assembly building and installed on launch pad 39A. Export began at 10 hours 38 minutes GMT (6 hours 38 minutes summer time on the east coast of the United States). At 17.31 a.m., Atlantis was installed on the launch pad.

On October 19, NASA managers agreed to postpone the launch of Atlantis to November 16. This is due to the busy schedule of personnel serving launches at the Cape Canaveral cosmodrome. At this time, for NASA, the first test flight of the new Ares I-X rocket , which is being reimbursed as part of the Constellation program, has become the top priority launch. Therefore, all the efforts of specialists are aimed specifically at ensuring successful testing of the Ares I-X rocket. The new time for the launch of the Atlantis mission STS-129 is November 16, 19 hours 28 minutes GMT (14 hours 28 minutes time on the east coast of the United States). The window for launching the Atlantis from November 16 to 19, if the launch does not take place these days, the next window for launching will open on December 6 and close on December 11, since the launch of the Russian Soyuz TMA-17 ship with another ISS crew

On October 29, it was officially confirmed that Atlantis should start on November 16 at 19 hours 28 minutes GMT (14 hours 28 minutes according to the east coast of the USA). Two days, November 14 and 15, are reserved for launching the Atlas V rocket from the air base at Cape Canaveral. If Atlas V starts on November 14, Atlantis will be launched on November 16, if the start of Atlas V is postponed to November 15, then the start of Atlantis will move to November 17 at 19 hours 2 minutes GMT.

On November 3, two transport structures (Express Logistics Carrier) were placed in the cargo compartment of the Atlantis, on which the payload was placed, which will be delivered to the ISS. The total payload weight is 12.7 tons (28,000 pounds ).

On November 12, the Atlantis crew arrived at Kennedy Space Center from Houston.

Start and first day of flight

19:28 November 16 - 01:28 November 17

On November 16, 2009, the Atlantis shuttle launched at 19 hours 28 minutes GMT (14 hours 28 minutes after the east coast of the United States). 90 seconds after launch, the shuttle's weight was only half of its starting weight. Solid fuel boosters burn 335 kg (11,000 pounds) of fuel per second. The engines of the shuttle itself burn about 500 kg of liquid fuel per second.

Solid fuel boosters separated in 2 minutes 10 seconds after the start.

After 3 minutes and 40 seconds, Atlantis reached an altitude of 88 km (55 miles), the distance from the launch site was 190 km (120 miles), and the speed was 6.5 thousand km / h (4.000 miles / hour).

8.5 minutes after launch, the shuttle entered orbit, the shuttle's engines were turned off, and the external fuel tank was disconnected. Atlantis reached an orbital speed of 28,000 thousand km / h (17,400 mph).

After entering orbit, at 21 hours 13 minutes the shuttle cargo compartment was opened. The astronauts brought the robotic arm into working condition and prepared it for the Atlantis thermal protection coating inspection scheduled for the next day.

Second Day of Flight

09:28 November 17 - 01:28 November 18

On this day, astronauts conduct an examination of the heat-shielding coating of their ship. Such an examination became a standard procedure after the crash of the shuttle Columbia on February 1, 2003. The examination is carried out using a camera and a laser scanner, mounted on the end of a fifteen-meter extension cord of a robotic arm. The examination began at 13 hours 20 minutes and lasted until 18 hours 52 minutes. The robotic arm was controlled by Barry Wilmore, he was assisted by Charles Hobo and Leland Melvin.

Astronauts Foreman, Satcher and Breznik prepared spacesuits for the first spacewalk for transport to the station.

Astronauts rechecked the shuttle systems that will be involved in docking with the ISS.

Third Day of Flight

09:28 November 18 - 01:28 November 19

The crew of the Atlantis was awakened at 9 hours 28 minutes. At that time, the shuttle was 80 km (50 miles ) from the station. The final phase of the shuttle's approach to the station began at 14.5 hours, when the distance between them was 15 km (9.2 miles). Atlantis was approaching the ISS from behind and from below. At 14 hours 33 minutes, Atlantis was 13 km (8 miles) from the station. At 15 hours 34 minutes, the Atlantis was 300 meters (1,000 feet) from the station.

At 15 hours 52 minutes, when the shuttle was 180 meters (600 feet) below, under the station, under the control of ship commander Charles Hobo, he began a standard coup, during which ISS crew members Geoffrey Williams and Nicole Stott through the windows Russian module "Star" , using digital cameras equipped with four hundred and eight hundred mm lenses, photographed the bottom of the shuttle. At this time, the shuttle and the station were over South America . At 16 o’clock the coup was over. Hundreds of images of the shuttle’s thermal barrier were received and sent to Earth for damage analysis. After the coup, Atlantis entered a position in front of the station for final rapprochement and docking. The nose of Atlantis is directed into space, respectively, its stern is directed to the Earth, it flies the bottom forward, and its cargo compartment, in which the docking station is located, is opened in the direction of the ISS Harmony module. At 16.31 a.m., Atlantis was 60 meters (200 feet) in front of the station. At 16 hours 44 minutes, Atlantis was 15 meters (50 feet) in front of the station. The approach speed was 4 cm / s (0.14 ft / s). At 16 hours and 50 minutes, Atlantis was 1.5 meters (5 feet) in front of the station.

The docking of the Atlantis shuttle with the International Space Station took place at 16 51 minutes, when they flew over the Tasman Sea . After checking the tightness of the joint, at 18 hours 28 minutes a hatch was opened between the station and the shuttle. In orbit, six ISS crew members (Frank De Vine (Belgium), Maxim Suraev (Russia), Roman Romanenko (Russia), Jeffrey Williams (USA), Nicole Stott (USA), Robert Tirsk (Canada) and six crew members met Atlantis. " After the hatch opens between the shuttle and the station, Nicole Stott transfers to the Atlantis crew. Five astronauts remain members of the ISS crew.

Two and a half hours after docking, astronauts Breznik and Melvin, using the shuttle's robotic arm, pulled out the first experimental transport platform (ELC-1) from the cargo compartment. At 20.25 hours, the raised platform was intercepted by the station's robotic arm, which was controlled by Wilmore and Williams. The experimental platform, weighing 6.3 tons (13.850 pounds) and measuring 4.9 × 4.3 meters (16 × 14 feet), was transferred to segment P3 on the left branch of the station's truss. At 21 hours 27 minutes, the experimental platform was installed at the intended location, on the P3 segment. On the upper surface of this platform are fixed: orientation gyro (180 kg), a device for charging and discharging solar batteries, a device to protect the station from possible electrical discharges between the station and the surrounding space, spare parts for the robotic arm. On the lower surface of the ELC-1 platform are fixed: tanks with nitrogen (170 kg) and ammonia (520 kg) and a pump (240 kg) for the station cooling system.

Astronauts Foreman and Satcher prepared their spacesuits, equipment and tools that they would need during their first spacewalk, the next day.

Fourth day of flight

09:28 November 19 - 00:58 November 20

Nicole Stott celebrates his forty-seventh birthday in orbit.

After analyzing the images of the shuttle’s heat-shielding coating, it was found that additional, more thorough examinations of suspicious coating sites were not required. A more thorough examination was planned on the fifth day of the flight (November 20). Since no additional examinations were required, astronauts will have more time to relax.

Day of the first spacewalk. The output was carried out by Michael Foreman and Robert Thatcher. For Foreman, this was the fourth spacewalk; he made the first three exits in March 2008 during a visit to the ISS on the STS-123 shuttle Endeavor . For Satcher, who makes the first space flight, this was the first spacewalk. Coordinated the work of astronauts overboard Randolph Breznik. The robotic arm of the station was controlled by Leland Melvin and Barry Wilmore.

At the time of the exit, astronauts had to install an S-band antenna on the Z1 segment of the station truss, as well as perform maintenance on the gripping mechanism of the station's robot manipulator and the Kibo Japanese module robotic arm.

Exit began at 14 hours 24 minutes. Robert Thatcher was mounted on a robotic arm. Michael Foreman went to the cargo bay of the shuttle, where he removed the transport brackets from the S-band antenna kit and handed it to Setcher at 3.20 p.m. Satcher with the antenna moved to the Z1 segment. Foreman also proceeded to the Z1 segment. At 16 hours and 24 minutes, the astronauts completed work on installing the antenna. Astronauts installed the antenna 80 minutes earlier than anticipated on schedule.

Then, Satcher was engaged in the maintenance of locks (latches) on a Japanese robotic arm and on a transport trolley.

At the same time, Foreman was installing cables for connecting to the antenna on the Destini module, and also installed a handrail with cable fasteners on the Unity module and installed an anti-meteor shield.

At 6.30 p.m. Foreman and Satcher completed all the main planned work 2 hours earlier than planned. The astronauts returned to the gateway module, took the tools they needed to do the extra work. Foreman also replenished his oxygen supply in the suit. In addition to the main work, astronauts discovered a mechanism for securing cargoes (Payload Attach System (PAS) on the S3 segment on the right branch of the truss station. This mechanism could not be opened during the last shuttle flights. This time, with the help of a hammer, the astronauts managed to to do this This work was planned for a second spacewalk.

At 20 hours 58 minutes, the astronauts returned to the gateway module. Exit ended at 21 hours 01 minute. The duration of the output was 6 hours 37 minutes. It was 134 spacewalk associated with the ISS since 1998.

Inside the station, astronauts carried out preparatory work in the Harmony module before arriving at the Tranquility module, which will be delivered to the station in February 2010 on the STS-130 shuttle Endeavor and will be docked to the left docking station of the Unity module.

At 1 hour 36 minutes, half an hour after the start of sleep, the crew was awakened by an erroneous alarm - “depressurization”. This signal causes the station ventilation system to shut down. When the ventilation was turned off, a certain amount of dust fell into the smoke sensors in the Columbia module, which in turn triggered a fire alarm. After rechecking, it was found that the pressure inside the station is normal. The cause of the false alarm was possibly a malfunction in the ventilation system. ISS crew commander Frank De Vine said that perhaps a false alarm arose in the Russian module “Search” , which was recently docked to the station.

According to the reports of the shuttle crew and the station, and according to the results of checking the station systems from the flight control centers: the station is in normal condition, there is no danger to the crews. However, it will take at least an hour to restore normal ventilation.

At 2 hours and 15 minutes, the shuttle astronauts went to bed. The ISS crew continued to restore the station’s ventilation system and went to bed only an hour later.

Fifth Day of Flight

08:58 November 20 - 00:28 November 21

After a night alarm, the crew continued to work according to the previously outlined plan.

Astronauts transferred cargo from the shuttle to the station, and vice versa - the results of experiments done at the station, for shipment to Earth.

Astronauts brought the robotic arm to the second experimental platform (ELC-2), which will be installed on the S3 segment of the station the next day.

In the afternoon, Charles Hobo, Barry Wilmore, Leland Melvin and Robert Thatcher answered questions from correspondents on various US television channels.

Inside the station, astronauts continued preparatory work in the Harmony module before arriving at the Tranquility module at the station.

Michael Foreman and Radi Breznik were preparing to go into outer space, which should take place the next day.

The second night in a row (at 2 hours 53 minutes, November 21), the crew was awakened by a false alarm: “depressurization”. As a result of this alarm, the adaptation process of the astronauts Foreman and Breznik was interrupted, which, before the next day's spacewalk, were in the Quest module under reduced pressure (0.7 atm = 10.2 psi). An alarm triggered the automatic process of boosting the Quest module to normal pressure (1 atm = 14.7 psi), which is maintained at the station. Sleep in the Quest module under reduced pressure helps remove nitrogen from the blood. This is the standard procedure adopted for American astronauts preparing to go into space. . Since sleep under reduced pressure was interrupted, the astronaut Foreman and Breznik had to leave before going out in order to clear the blood of excess nitrogen, wear oxygen masks for 2 hours 20 minutes and exercise on an exercise bike.

The depressurization signal caused the ventilation to turn off, and again, like last night, the fire alarm went off in the European Columbia module and in the Quest module.

The reason for the false response of the depressurization signal is in the new Russian module “Search”.

The time for sleep was extended to 8 hours 58 minutes, and the beginning of spacewalk was postponed to 14 hours 38 minutes.

Sixth day of flight

08:28 November 21 - 23:58 November 21

Day of the second spacewalk. The output was carried out by Michael Foreman and Randolph Breznik. The astronauts had to install two (one for the marine navigation system and the second for amateur radio) antennas on the Columbia module. Then Foreman and Breznik go to the S3 segment, where they were to reveal another Payload Attach System (PAS). Next year during the Endeavor mission STS-134 , a magnetic alpha spectrometer will be installed on this mechanism (Alpha Magnetic Spectrometer.) Then the astronauts had to install an antenna for wireless video transmission. Then Forman and Breznik were to reveal another mechanism for securing cargo on the S3 segment. Next year, the next experimental platform will be installed here (ELC-4) Due to the delayed start of the exit caused by the night alarm, the duration of the exit is reduced by half an hour.

Exit began at 14 hours 31 minutes.

After exiting the airlock module, the astronauts headed for the shuttle cargo compartment, took the necessary tools and headed for the Columbia module, where they installed a set of antennas (GATOR). At 15 hours 53 minutes this work was completed.

Then the astronauts rearranged the potential probe from segment S1 to segment P1. This was done in order to make room for the installation of a magnetic alpha spectrometer.

At 16 hours 58 minutes, the astronauts replenished the oxygen supply in their spacesuits and went to the S3 segment. At 17 57 hours, a mechanism was discovered for fixing a magnetic alpha spectrometer.

Astronauts have begun installing a wireless video transmission system. Using this system, signals from video cameras mounted on helmets of astronauts in outer space will be transmitted to the station. At 18 hours 18 minutes this work was completed.

Astronauts are working at a good pace and are ahead of schedule. At 19 hours 3 minutes, the astronauts discovered another mechanism for securing cargo on the S3 segment. Next year, the ELC-4 platform will be installed here.

At 20 hours 33 minutes, the astronauts returned to the gateway module.

Exit ended at 20 hours 39 minutes. The duration of the output was 6 hours 8 minutes. It was a 135 spacewalk associated with the ISS since 1998.

The astronauts had to install a second experimental platform (ELC-2), delivered to the station, on the truss structure of the station. On this platform are fixed: a second spare orientation gyroscope, a high pressure tank with oxygen, a spare tank with nitrogen, and a pump for the station cooling system. The payload on the platform is 4.5 tons (9.900 pounds).

Leland Melvin and Nicole Stott using the shuttle robotic arm at 11 35 minutes lifted the experimental platform (ELC-2) from the cargo compartment of the shuttle. At 12 hours and 12 minutes, the platform was intercepted by a robot-manipulator station, controlled by Jeffrey Williams and Frank De Winne. The platform was moved to its place of attachment on the S3 segment and installed there at 14 hours 8 minutes.

Seventh Day of Flight

07:58 November 22 - 23:28 November 22

On this day, astronauts had more time to relax.

Randolph Breznik heard from the flight control center that on November 22, his wife gave birth to a daughter.

Barry Wilmore, Leland Melvin, Robert Satcher and Nicole Stott answered questions from American radio and television channels, and talked with students at the University of Technology at Tennessee, who is graduated by Wilmore.

Astronauts Satcher and Breznik prepared their spacesuits and tools for the final spacewalk, which will take place the next day.

Eighth Day of Flight

07:28 November 23 - 22:58 November 23

Day of the third spacewalk. The output was carried out by Robert Satcher and Randolph Breznik. Astronauts were supposed to mount an oxygen tank on the Quest gateway module and install experimental materials (Materials International Space Station Experiment, MISSE 7) on the outer surface of the station. The station's robotic arm during the exit was controlled by Leland Melvin and Barry Wilmore.

The exit began at 13 hours and 24 minutes. The exit began an hour late, due to problems with the valve on the drinking water tank on Setcher's suit.

Robert Satcher headed for the S3 segment, where the ELC-1 platform was installed, on which an oxygen tank was mounted. Thatcher removed the tank from the platform, the tank was captured by a robot-manipulator station. With the help of the manipulator, the tank was moved to the designated place on the Quest module.

Randolph Breznik headed for the shuttle's cargo compartment, where he picked up the experiment block (MISSE 7), transferred it to the ECL-2 experimental platform, and installed it there (16 hours 32 minutes). This is the first block of experimental materials that is installed on the experimental platform, and which receives power from the station, and information about the experiment from which is transmitted directly to the station in real time.

Setcher and Breznik moved to the Quest module and installed an oxygen tank there (17 hours 36 minutes). The high pressure oxygen tank measures 1.5 × 1.9 × 1.4 m (5 × 6.2 × 4.5 ft) and weighs about 560 kg (1,240 lbs). The weight of the compressed (under 170 bar, 2.450 psi) oxygen in the tank is 100 kg (220 pounds).

In addition to the main planned work, astronauts dismantled anti-meteorite shields on the Quest module. Setcher prepared for the dismantling of the ammonia tank, which will be replaced during the STS-131 Discovery flight. Breznik installed jumpers on the pipeline cooling system of the station.

At 18 55 hours, the astronauts returned to the gateway module. Exit ended at 19 hours 6 minutes. The duration of the exit was 5 hours 42 minutes. It was 136 spacewalk associated with the ISS since 1998.

Ninth Day of Flight

06:58 November 24 - 22:28 November 24

Using the shuttle's engines, the station’s orbit was raised 1.5 km (0.9 miles).

After Atlantis leaves the station, the composition of the ISS expedition changes. Instead of six, five astronauts remain at the station, so the expedition number changes from 21 to 22, respectively, the commander: expedition commander 21 Frank De Winne transferred his authority to the expedition commander 22 Jeffrey Williams. The transfer took place at 15 hours.

At 1740 hours the shuttle and ISS crew members gathered in the Harmony module and said goodbye to each other. The shuttle crew members transferred to Atlantis with Nicole Stott, who spent almost three months on board the ISS. At 18 hours 12 minutes the passage between the shuttle and the station was closed.

Tenth day of flight

06:28 November 25 - 22:28 November 25

The undocking of Atlantis from the ISS took place at 9 hours 53 minutes. At this time, the shuttle and the station flew over the area northeast of New Guinea . The duration of the joint flight of the shuttle and the station was 6 days 17 hours 2 minutes. After undocking, the shuttle made a traditional round-trip of the station. The flight began at 10 hours 18 minutes and ended at 11 hours 4 minutes. During the flight, the shuttle was at a distance of 180-200 meters (600-650 feet). At 11 hours and 11 minutes, Atlantis was 300 meters (1000 feet) above the station.

At 11 36 hours the shuttle engines were turned on and he finally left the station.

In the cargo compartment of the shuttle, 950 kg (2,100 pounds) of cargo are returned to Earth. Among the cargoes returned to Earth, the failed centrifuge of the water recovery system. This centrifuge will be repaired and sent back to the station next year.

There was a problem with the liquid waste storage tank on the shuttle. The capacity of the tank is designed for 70 kg (160 pounds), according to calculations to date, about 35 kg (80 pounds) should accumulate in it. However, the sensors show that the tank is full. Using a camera mounted on a robotic arm, astronauts examined the hole on the left side of the shuttle's fuselage, through which liquid waste is ejected outward. Nothing suspicious was found. Suspected clogging in the pipes leading to the tank.

At 2 p.m., astronauts began conducting an inspection of the shuttle's thermal barrier coating. This inspection is carried out to confirm that while in orbit, the heat-shielding was not damaged by collisions with micrometeorites or debris from space debris. The inspection was completed at 18 hours 19 minutes.

Eleventh Day of Flight

06:28 November 26 - 21:58 November 26

Astronauts rechecked the shuttle systems involved in landing. Astronauts packed their belongings and tools before landing.

Thanksgiving is a national holiday in the United States. The Atlantis astronauts did not prepare specifically to celebrate this holiday in orbit. If the launch took place on November 12, as planned, then the astronauts would have celebrated the holiday already on Earth.

After viewing the images received from the shuttle during yesterday’s inspection, flight director Brian Lani said the shuttle’s heat-insulating layer was in excellent condition and there were no obstacles to a successful landing.

From 14 hours 15 minutes, astronauts answered questions from correspondents of ABC radio and the television channels WTVT-TV and KCBS.

Twelfth Day of Flight

06:28 November 27 - 14:44 November 27

The Atlantis shuttle had two landing options at a space center in Florida:

• at 171 turns, the brake impulse at 13:37, the landing at 14:44
• at 172 turn, brake impulse at 15:16, landing at 16:19

The weather was good in Florida, so the flight management did not plan a backup landing option in California at Edwards Air Force Base .

At 11 hours 1 minute, the cargo compartment of the shuttle was closed. At 12 hours and 20 minutes, the astronauts began to wear spacesuits. At 12 hours and 37 minutes they took their places in the chairs. At 13 hours 14 minutes a command was sent from the flight control center to turn on the Atlantis brake engines.

At 13 hours and 37 minutes, the engines for braking were turned on. The engines lasted 2 minutes and 47 seconds. At this time, the Atlantis flew over the Indian Ocean , over the area west of Indonesia . At 14 hours 12 minutes, Atlantis entered the upper atmosphere. The speed of the Atlantis is 25 M. At 14 hours 22 minutes the Atlantis was at an altitude of 73 km (240,000 feet), its speed is 25.7 thousand km / h (16,000 mph). At 14 hours 27 minutes, Atlantis flies over El Salvador . At 2:30 p.m., the Atlantis was 55 km (181,000 ft) high, with a speed of 14,500 km / h (9,000 mph). At 14 hours 34 minutes the Atlantis over the coast of Florida, its height is 40 km (130,000 feet), its speed is 6.4 thousand km / h (4.000 mph). 14 hours 42 minutes, the Atlantis was 4.9 km (16.000 ft) high, with a speed of 570 km / h (355 mph).

Atlantis landed on runway No. 33 at 14 hours 44 minutes 23 seconds (9 hours 44 minutes 23 seconds according to the east coast of the USA). The flight duration was 10 days 19 hours 16 minutes 13 seconds. Atlantis made 171 orbits around the Earth and covered a distance of 7.2 million km (4.49 million miles).

On Saturday (November 28), the Atlantis crew will leave for Houston . Shuttle Atlantis will be preparing for its latest flight STS-132 , which is scheduled for May 2010.

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