Oct 29, 2009

Allard Beutel Kennedy Space Center, Fla 321-867-2468 allard beutel@nasa gov

John Yembrick Headquarters, Washington 202-358-1100 john yembrick-1@nasa gov

RELEASE: 09-255

NASA GIVES GO FOR SPACE SHUTTLE ATLANTIS LAUNCH ON NOV 16

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla -- NASA’s space shuttle Atlantis is targeted to begin an 11-day flight to the International Space Station with a Nov 16 launch from the Kennedy Space Center in Florida Liftoff is scheduled for 2:28 p m EST

Atlantis' launch date was announced Thursday at the conclusion of a flight readiness review at Kennedy During the meeting, senior NASA and contractor managers assessed the risks associated with the mission and determined the shuttle's equipment, support systems and procedures are ready

The Nov 16 target date depends on the planned Nov 14 launch of an Atlas V rocket from nearby Cape Canaveral Air Force Station The Atlas has reserved the Eastern Range on Nov 14 and 15 If the Atlas launch is delayed to Nov 15, the shuttle’s liftoff will move to no earlier than 2:02 p m on Nov 17

The STS-129 mission will focus on storing spare hardware on the exterior of the space station The flight will include three spacewalks and install two platforms on the station's truss, or backbone The platforms will hold spare parts to sustain station operations after the shuttle fleet is retired

Commander Charlie Hobaugh and his crew of five astronauts are scheduled to arrive at Kennedy at approximately 5 p m on Thursday, Nov 12, for final launch preparations Joining Hobaugh on STS-129 will be Pilot Barry Wilmore and Mission Specialists Leland Melvin, Randy Bresnik, Mike Foreman and Bobby Satcher Nicole Stott, an astronaut who currently resides on the station, will return home with the Atlantis crew after living in space for more than two months Her return on the shuttle is slated to be the final time it is used to rotate space station crew members

STS-129 will be Atlantis' 31st mission and the 31st shuttle flight dedicated to station assembly and maintenance For more information about STS-129, visit:

http://www nasa gov/shuttle

Mission Specialist Bobby Satcher, an orthopedic surgeon, now is sending updates about his training to his Twitter account, Astro_Bones He can be followed at:

http://www twitter com/Astro_Bones

For more information on the space station, visit:

http://www nasa gov/station

-end-

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