Page 24 - Orbiter News Today

Length of the orbiter as "atlantis" heads into orbit on its 32nd voyage into space. >> reporter: "atlantis" still on course headed for its orbit. will be about 200 miles high when it reaches it. it left here five minutes ago. everything right ontrack. >> "atlantis" can reach orbit on two engines should one fail at this point. however, all three are still in great shape. weve got a report that the flash evaporator system providing cooling to all of the systems is also operating normally. "atlanti...

>> the nominal shutdown on all three, you will be go for the plus x, go for the pitch. >> copy. >> reporter: mission control -- >> go for plus x, go for the pitch. >> good readback. >> on that roll the heads up provides a good satellite communications link with "atlantis" continuing its travel into space approaching seven minutes into the flight. >> "atlantis" you are single engine press 104. >> the single engine press 104. >> reporter: one minute to reach orbit. >> "atlantis" can reach orbit on...

The orbiter systems in good shape as are the fuel cells providing electricity to the systems onboard. 20 miles traveling 2,500-mile-per-hour. the twin solid rocket boosters burn out and separate from the orbiter. >> booster separation confirmed. the onboard guidance system has done its job of settling out any of the dispersions introduced at the booster separation. atlantis performance thus far is exactly as planned as atlantis head into orbit. wings level into an historic

Government says 72% of sent back their forms. about the same amount at this point last census in 2 thour. a 40-year-old russian relic found on the surface of the moon. nasa launched an order to scout out location for a new lunar landing and the project was scrapped. but the orbiter is there working overtime and scientists say it located a moon rover which landed in november of 1970 and drove around almost a year before the soviets lost contact with it, its an old photo of where it touched down, ...

Government says 72% of sent back their forms. about the same amount at this point last census in 2 thour. a 40-year-old russian relic found on the surface of the moon. nasa launched an order to scout out location for a new lunar landing and the project was scrapped. but the orbiter is there working overtime and scientists say it located a moon rover which landed in november of 1970 and drove around almost a year before the soviets lost contact with it, its an old photo of where it touched down, ...

A given. >> right. >> now what were looking at is how do we move forward to do more exciting things. so, the -- the cancellation of the constellation vehicle has caused a lot of consternation. what constellation was never going to do was never going to get us into low earth orbit in time not to have to rely on some other kinds of carriers. thats a really important thing. and the other piece -- >> are you concerned -- >> okay. >> one of the things i read its not maybe a bad idea what the presiden...

Of the line with no idea of whats next. we get to know one of them with the help of cnn all platform journalist jonathan cowells. >> were now standing underneath the right-hand wing of atlantis. i carry the model because theres no place in this building you can step back and see the entire orbiter. >> liftoff. >> we knew from the beginning that the orbiter was designed to fly 100 flights, so it wasnt some piece of spacecraft that was going to keep going on forever and ever. all the gray ones wer...

To take crews and cargo deep into space. you know, with only three more shuttle missions scheduled, thousands of nasa employees are wondering whats next? well get to know one of them with the cnn of cnn at platform journalest join cowel. >> we are stand under the right hand wing of atlantis. i carry this model because there is no place that you can step back and see the entire orbiter. >> we knew from the beginning that the orbiter was designed to fly 100 flights so it wasnt some piece of spacec...

Left which has thousands of nasa employees looking at the end of the line with no idea of whats next. we get to know one of them with the help of cnn all platform journalist john cowel. >> we are now standing underneath the righthand wing of atlantis. i carry the model because theres no place in the building that you can step back and see the entire orbiter. >> liftoff -- >> will knew from the beginning that the orbiter was designed to fly 100 flights. so it wasnt some piece of spacecraft that w...

And what they do is they capture things like foam falling off the external fuel tank. take a look at video here, what we saw, and again, its the timing thats important here, because around four minutes into the mission, four minutes after launch, we see pieces of debris, pieces of the external fuel tank, foam were thinking, ripping off the external fuel tank and floating by the belly of the orbiter. did it strike the belly of the orbiter, were not sure. nasa is looking into it. but again, it hap...