TCEP Space
The launch of the space shuttle Atlantis on mission STS-122 to delivery the European Space Agency's Columbus Laboratory to the International Space Station, the twenty-fourth flight to the ISS, occurred 7 February at 7:45pm GMT. The launch countdown began at 10pm GMT on 4 February at T-43 hours. The countdown included twenty-six hours and thirty-one minutes of built-in hold time. The launch window extends for an additional five minutes. This is the one hundred and twenty-first space shuttle launch and the twenty-ninth of Atlantis. The first International Space Station laboratory Destiny was launched by Atlantis seven years ago to the day.
You can watch the videos of the launch and external fuel tank jettison in orbit. The rendezvous pitch manoeuvre back flip video shows the check for damage.
The Interactive Mission Timeline explains the activities for each day. There is also complete mission timeline showing the ISS's construction.
The mission schedule includes three spacewalks to install and prepare the research laboratory module ready for use. Look up the dates and times here.
The launch was originally due to occur on 4 December but two of the four fuel shut-off sensors in the hydrogen section of the external fuel tank failed a pre-launch test. On draining the hydrogen and oxygen tanks, another sensor continued to show wet when it should have shown dry. A fourth sensor gave a false reading when the hydrogen tank was refilled. Three of the four sensors are required to work under the Commit To Launch Criteria safety guidelines.
Pictured left to right in the front row are Commander Steve Frick, European Space Agency's Mission Specialist Leopold Eyharts and Pilot Alan Poindexter. Front the left in the back row are mission specialists Leland Melvin, Rex Walheim, Stanley Love and ESA's Hans Schlegel.
The illustrated NASA STS-122 press pack outlines the mission. When you have read the pack, try answering NASA's interactive mission planner questions.
ESA Columbus Laboratory video and Press Kit with amendments.
Resources courtesy of NASA/Johnson Space Centre and ESA.
Copyright Richard West. Page updated 23 October 2011.