Atlantis Blasts Off On Final Mission

shuz writes "Space shuttle Atlantis lifted off today on its STS-132 mission to the International Space Station — the final flight for the venerable vehicle. The mission involves three spacewalks over 12 days (PDF), during which the team will replace six batteries on the port truss which store energy from solar panels on that truss, bolt on a spare space-to-ground Ku-band antenna, and attach a new tool platform to Canada's Dextre robotic arm." NASA has video of the historic launch and reader janek78 adds this quote from the mission summary: "Atlantis lifted off on its maiden voyage on Oct. 3, 1985, on mission 51-J. Later missions included the launch of the Magellan probe to Venus on STS-30 in May 1989, Galileo interplanetary probe to Jupiter on STS-34 in October 1989, the first shuttle docking to the Mir Space Station on STS-71 in June1995, and the final Hubble servicing mission on STS-125 in May 2009."

Comments

12 days?

[ivandavidoff]

Replace six batteries, bolt on a spare antenna and attach a new tool platform? If only my honey do list for tomorrow was that easy.

Re:12 days?

[Anonymous Coward]

Yeah, but try it in the equivalent of a snow suit worn over a wetsuit, with hockey gloves on, and goggles. While hanging from the ceiling.

If nothing else, you'll give your honey a good laugh.

Re:I outlasted Atlantis

[Kozz]

He installed the only remaining non-depleted Zero Point Module. (There's just not enough Naquadriah to go around.)

Re:Perspective

[Locke2005]

Better yet, how many people are still driving a car with 115 million miles on the odometer?

Re:Perspective

[Chris Burke]

Al Bundy, but that's it.