This artistic representation shows ISS’s Dextre robot (right) performing a robotic refueling task on the Robotic Refueling Mission (RRM). Credit: NASA
KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, Florida – Thousands upon thousands of people are expected to arrive here to witness the final NASA space shuttle mission – the flight of Atlantis.
So far, the only bit of negative news is the increasing prospect of foul weather delaying the STS-135 mission liftoff.
But given the moods of Florida weather – no telling what Friday’s sky may look like.
Packed within Atlantis’ payload bay is the Raffaello Multi-Purpose Logistics Module. This large cargo carrier will be filled with 8,640 pounds of supplies for the International Space Station and its six crew members.
The mission also will fly the Robotic Refueling Mission (RRM) – an experiment designed to demonstrate and test the tools, technologies and techniques needed to robotically refuel satellites in space.
Satellite servicing
The RRM is to be attached to the International Space Station. Once outfitted to the orbiting outpost, the RRM will be used to hone in-space capabilities of refueling satellites – particularly spacecraft not designed to be serviced.
RRM is a joint effort between NASA and the Canadian Space Agency. This first-on-orbit attempt to test robotic refueling will engage Canada’s twin-armed Dextre.
RRM is designed to eliminate and lessen risks or robotic servicing, said Frank Cepollina, project manager, Satellite Servicing Capabilities Office at NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center in Greenbelt, Maryland. “It’s a risk-reduction technology demonstration.”
The data accumulated and the technological lessons-learned, Cepollina added, will be made available to help accelerate, mature, and provide confidence to potential developers of satellite servicing.
STS-135 is the 135th and final shuttle mission and the 33rd flight of Atlantis.
While the weather remains iffy, Atlantis is still on schedule for liftoff on Friday, July 8 at 11:26 a.m. (Eastern Daylight Time).
For further updates, stay tuned to this CSE website.
By Leonard David