SPACE SHUTTLE TO DELIVER NEXT INTERNATIONAL SPACE STATION CREW
NEW ORLEANS, LA., November 7th, 2002 -- When Space Shuttle Endeavour lifts off sometime between 11 p.m. Sunday, November 10 and 3 a.m. Monday, November 11 CDT, it will carry the Expedition 6 crew to the International Space Station (ISS) for a crew exchange. (Editor’s Note – An oxygen leak postponed shuttle launch. Shuttle subsequently launched at 7:49 p.m. EST Saturday, November 23.)
In addition to the seven astronauts, the first port truss segment will be delivered to the orbital outpost, becoming the backbone for four solar wing assemblies. Accompanying the structure into space is the second Crew and Equipment Translation Aid railcart (CETA), NASA’s equivalent of a high-tech flatbed truck.
CETA is one of the largest pieces of extravehicular activity equipment built for the ISS. Lockheed Martin and NASA engineered a solid 2,500-pound block of aluminum into a 142-pound frame with over 1,100 parts.
During the 11-day mission, the crew will conduct three space walks to install the structure as well as perform a host of maintenance duties necessary to keep the ISS operational.
Lockheed Martin builds the latest version of the External Tank, the Super Lightweight Tank, at the NASA Michoud Assembly Facility in New Orleans. The tank carries the liquid propellants used in the orbiter’s three main engines and powers the Space Shuttle to orbit.
Marion LaNasa will be at the Michoud facility for the launch and can be reached at 257-1307 or by pager at 800-341-2162.
NASA Television will carry the launch “live” on GE-2, Transponder 9C at 85 degrees west longitude, vertical polarization, with a frequency of 3880 Mhz, and audio of 6.8 Mhz.
Opportunities to view the Space Shuttle in orbit can be located at: http://spaceflight.nasa.gov/realdata/index.html
Harry Wadsworth, 504-257-0094 or harry.wadsworth@maf.nasa.gov
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