CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. - Space shuttle Atlantis and its crew landed at 9:07 a.m. EST Wednesday at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center, Fla., after completing a 13-day journey of nearly 5.3 million miles in space. The STS-122 mission expanded the size and research capabilities of the International Space Station with the delivery of the European Space Agency’s Columbus laboratory.

Associate Administrator for Space Operations Bill Gerstenmaier described STS-122 as one of the program’s most successful space station construction missions.

“These missions are extremely challenging, and a great deal of preparation and teamwork are required to get these vehicles ready to fly,” Gerstenmaier said. “We’re focused on completing assembly and moving into the full utilization phase of the station. This mission opens the door for another one of our international partners to join in the important work and science on the space station.”

Steve Frick commanded the flight and was joined by Pilot Alan Poindexter, Mission Specialists Leland Melvin, Rex Walheim, Stanley Love and European Space Agency astronauts Hans Schlegel from Germany and Leopold Eyharts from France. Eyharts remained aboard the space station, replacing Expedition 16 Flight Engineer Dan Tani, who returned to Earth on Atlantis after nearly four months on the station. Eyharts will return on shuttle Endeavour’s STS-123 mission, currently targeted for launch on March 11, 2008.

The mission included three spacewalks to outfit Columbus with power, data and cooling cables, installation of two science experiments on the lab’s exterior, replacement of an expended nitrogen tank on the space station’s cooling system, and retrieval of a failed space station control moment gyroscope — a device that helps control the orientation of the station — for its return to Earth.

Several inspections in orbit revealed no damage to Atlantis, and the shuttle’s thermal protection system was declared safe for re-entry on Tuesday. Workers immediately will begin processing the Atlantis for its next flight to service the Hubble Space Telescope, targeted for Aug. 28.

STS-122 was the 121st space shuttle flight, the 29th flight for shuttle Atlantis and the 24th flight to the station.

With Atlantis and its crew safely home, the stage is set for the next phase of station assembly. The STS-123 mission will deliver the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency’s Kibo logistics module and Canada’s new robotics system, Dextre, the Special Purpose Dexterous Manipulator, to the station.

The STS-122 crew completed today’s scheduled inspections of Space Shuttle Atlantis’ heat shield and prepared for tomorrow’s arrival at the International Space Station.

Shuttle Commander Steve Frick along with Mission Specialists Leland Melvin and Stanley Love wrapped up the heat shield inspections about 2:35 p.m. EST. They used Atlantis’ robotic arm and an attached boom extension to check the spacecraft’s underside, nose cap and leading edges of the wings as well as hard to reach shuttle surfaces.

The inspections started about 9:40 a.m. and were performed to check for damage that may have occurred to the heat shield during the climb to orbit that began when Atlantis lifted off Thursday from Kennedy Space Center, Fla. Over the next few days, engineers and flight controllers will analyze the data collected by the STS-122 crew.

The continuing preparations for Saturday’s activities include the extension of the shuttle’s docking ring at 5 p.m. today and the check out of tools the astronauts will use to rendezvous and link up with the station. Docking is set for 12:25 p.m. tomorrow.

The STS-122 crew also is checking out spacesuits to be used during the mission’s three scheduled spacewalks at the space station. The main objective of these spacewalks is to install the European Space Agency’s Columbus research laboratory and prepare it for use.

STS-122 is also delivering to the station European Space Agency astronaut Leopold Eyharts, who will replace Expedition 16 Flight Engineer Daniel Tani.

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. - Space shuttle Atlantis and its seven-member crew lifted off at 2:45 p.m. EST on Thursday, Feb. 7 from NASA’s Kennedy Space Center to begin the STS-122 mission to the International Space Station.

“Lift off of space shuttle Atlantis as Columbus sets sail on a voyage of science to the space station,” came the call from the launch control center.

During the 11-day flight, Commander Steve Frick and his six crewmates will install the European Space Agency’s Columbus laboratory on the station. Columbus will expand the research facilities of the station and provide scientists around the world with the ability to conduct a variety of life, physical and materials science experiments. The mission will include three spacewalks, delivery of a new crew member to the station and the return of another astronaut after nearly four months aboard the complex.

Space shuttle Atlantis and its crew of seven astronauts launched on spectacular plumes of gold-tipped smoke today carrying Europe’s primary contribution to the International Space Station – the Columbus science laboratory.

The lab is filled with racks for experiments and research euipment and has fixtures on its exterior to also host research exposed to the vacuum of space. It represents the latest international addition to a facility already made of structures from the United States, Russia and Canada.

“It shows that there is a real partnership between communities,” NASA Administrator Mike Griffin said.

The launch was crucial for the European Space Agency because the Columbus lab represents a cutting edge research facility for Europe and the continent’s first manned spacecraft.

“Today we are opening a new chapter for ESA,” said Jean-Jacques Dordain, the European Space Agency director general. “Just as Columbus discovered the New World, with Columbus, we are discovering a whole new world.”

The launch came seven years to the day after Atlantis carried NASA’s science laboratory named Destiny to the space station.

“It’s great to have two laboratories in space,” said Bill Gerstenmaier, NASA’s associate administrator for space operations.

Atlantis’ liftoff came despite concerns that a weather front would interfere. But those concerns did not materialize and the launch team sent Atlantis aloft at the appointed time.

“We did set ourselves up to be ready, to be prepared,” said Leroy Cain, chairman of the Mission Management Team.

The crew of Atlantis will now check out its systems and inspect the heat shield while chasing down the space station. It is to dock with the station Saturday. There will be three spacewalks during the flight so astronauts can attach the Columbus lab and connect its power and fluid lines.

While the inspections are routine, following the loss of Columbia five years ago this month, Mission Control informed the STS-122 that debris was spotted falling from the external tank during ascent.

Shortly before launch, Frick thanked the teams that helped make the launch possible.

“We’re looking forward to a great flight and coming back to see our families in two weeks,” Frick said. “It looks like today’s a good day, and we’re ready to go fly.”

Joining Frick on STS-122 are pilot Alan Poindexter and mission specialists Leland Melvin, Rex Walheim, Stanley Love and European Space Agency astronauts Hans Schlegel and Leopold Eyharts. Eyharts will replace current station resident Dan Tani, who has lived on the outpost since October. Eyharts will return to Earth on shuttle Endeavour’s STS-123 mission, which is currently targeted for launch on March 11, 2008.

During the countdown, a newly-designed connector in the shuttle’s fuel sensor system performed normally. The STS-122 mission was twice delayed in December 2007 after false readings occurred in that system while Atlantis’ external fuel tank was being filled. Tests revealed that open circuits in the external tank’s feed through connector were the most likely cause. A modified connector, designed with pins and sockets soldered together, was installed for the mission. The sensor system is one of several that protects the shuttle’s main engines by triggering their shut down if fuel runs unexpectedly low.

NASA is providing continuous television and Internet coverage of Atlantis’ mission, which is the 121st shuttle flight, the 29th for Atlantis and the 24th shuttle mission to the station.

NASA Television features live mission events, daily mission status news conferences and 24-hour commentary. NASA TV is webcast at: http://www.nasa.gov/ntv

WASHINGTON - NASA senior managers completed a review Wednesday of space shuttle Atlantis’ readiness for flight. Pending closure of an issue with a shuttle radiator hose, the STS-122 mission will launch Feb. 7 at 2:45 p.m. EST.

During an inspection of Atlantis Tuesday, one of four hoses that carry Freon to the shuttle radiators in the payload bay was found bent and not properly retracted in its storage box. The others were fully retracted into their storage boxes, as expected. Teams are continuing to gather data and assess any potential forward work. Managers will convene Saturday to further review and analyze what, if any, remaining work is required before launch.

During the 11-day mission, Commander Steve Frick and his six crewmates will install the European Space Agency’s new Columbus laboratory on the International Space Station. Columbus will expand the research facilities of the station and provide scientists around the world with the ability to conduct a variety of life, physical and materials science experiments. The mission will include three spacewalks, delivery of a new crew member to the station and the return of another astronaut after nearly four months aboard the complex.

Atlantis’ launch date was announced at the conclusion of Wednesday’s executive-level Flight Readiness Review. The one-day video teleconference meeting was led from NASA Headquarters in Washington. Top NASA and contractor managers assessed any risks associated with the mission and determined whether the shuttle’s equipment, support systems and procedures are ready for flight. The first executive-level Flight Readiness Review for STS-122 was held Nov. 30.

The STS-122 mission was delayed in December 2007 after failures occurred in a fuel sensor system while Atlantis’ external fuel tank was being filled. A tanking, or fueling, test on Dec. 18, 2007, revealed that open circuits in the external tank’s feed-through connector were the most likely cause of false readings in the system during launch attempts on Dec. 6 and Dec. 9. A modified connector was designed with pins and sockets soldered together. Both the original and modified connector configurations were subjected to testing that verified that the new design corrects the open circuits found in the original connector.

The sensor system is one of several that protect the shuttle’s main engines by triggering their shutdown if fuel runs unexpectedly low. NASA’s current Launch Commit Criteria require that three of the four engine cutoff, or ECO, sensors function properly before liftoff from the Kennedy Space Center in Florida.

Joining Commander Frick on STS-122 will be pilot Alan Poindexter and mission specialists Leland Melvin, Rex Walheim, Stanley Love and European Space Agency astronauts Hans Schlegel and Leopold Eyharts. Eyharts will replace current station crew member Dan Tani, who has lived on the outpost since October. Eyharts will return to Earth on shuttle Endeavour’s STS-123 mission, currently targeted for launch on March 11, 2008.

HOUSTON - NASA Friday announced Feb. 7 as the target launch date for shuttle Atlantis’ STS-122 mission to the International Space Station and mid-March for the launch of Endeavour on STS-123. Liftoff of Atlantis from NASA’s Kennedy Space Center, Fla., will be at 2:47 p.m. EST.

A decision by the Russian Federal Space Agency to move up its Progress launch from Feb. 7 to Feb. 5 enables both STS-122 and STS-123 to launch before the next Russian Soyuz mission in early April. This allows astronauts assigned to the space station’s Expedition 16 crew to complete the tasks they have trained for, including support of the launch and docking of Jules Verne, the first European Space Agency Automated Transfer Vehicle. Targeting Feb. 7 also allows time to complete modifications to the engine cutoff sensor system that postponed two shuttle launch attempts in December.

Atlantis’ main objective during its STS-122 mission to the station is to install and activate the European Space Agency’s Columbus laboratory, which will provide scientists around the world the ability to conduct a variety of experiments in life, physical, and materials science, Earth observation and solar physics.

Shuttle Endeavour’s STS-123 mission will deliver Kibo, the first section of the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency’s laboratory module, and Dextre, Canada’s new robotics system to the space station.

NASA managers will meet in the coming weeks to address the schedule of remaining shuttle flights beyond STS-123.

The launch of space shuttle Atlantis has been rescheduled for no earlier than Jan. 2, 2008. The postponement will give engineers time to evaluate false readings from the engine cutoff sensor system that measures liquid hydrogen in the external tank.

Of the four engine cutoff sensors, ECO sensor number three gave false readings during Sunday’s launch attempt. The sensor system is one of several that protect the shuttle’s main engines by triggering their shut down if fuel runs unexpectedly low.

Atlantis’ scheduled launch on Thursday was delayed after two of the four engine cutoff, or ECO, sensors in the shuttle’s external fuel tank gave false readings. A third sensor failed after the tank was drained of fuel.

… decision was made this afternoon. Launch time set for 3:21 p.m., EST. 

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. - NASA is targeting the launch of space shuttle Atlantis no earlier than Sunday, Dec. 9, at 3:21 p.m. EST from the Kennedy Space Center, Fla. Shuttle program managers made the decision after a meeting Friday to review data on a problem with a fuel cutoff sensor system inside the shuttle and its external fuel tank.

Because of the length of the meeting, the managers agreed that targeting Sunday would allow the launch and management teams appropriate time to rest and prepare. The Mission Management Team will meet Saturday at 1 p.m. to decide whether to make a Sunday attempt. A news conference will be held after the meeting’s conclusion.

Atlantis’ scheduled launch Thursday was delayed after two ECO sensors gave false readings. A third sensor failed after the tank was drained of fuel. The fuel cutoff sensor system is one of several that protects the shuttle’s main engines by triggering their shut down if fuel runs unexpectedly low.

During Atlantis’ 11-day mission to the International Space Station, the shuttle and station crews will work with ground teams to install and activate the European Space Agency’s Columbus laboratory. The new lab will expand the station’s scientific research capabilities.

Sensor problems persist.

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. - The launch of NASA’s space shuttle Atlantis will take place no earlier than Saturday, Dec. 8, at 3:43 p.m. EST. Thursday’s scheduled liftoff from NASA’s Kennedy Space Center, Fla., was postponed because of a problem with a fuel cutoff sensor system inside the shuttle’s external fuel tank.

The fuel cutoff sensor system is one of several that protect the shuttle’s main engines by triggering their shut down if fuel runs unexpectedly low. Launch Commit Criteria require that three of the four sensor systems function properly before liftoff.

Space Shuttle Program managers will hold a Mission Management Team meeting Friday at 2 p.m. to discuss the issue and determine the steps necessary to start a new launch countdown. A news conference will be held at approximately 5 p.m. after the meeting’s conclusion.

On Thursday morning, two of the four engine cutoff, or ECO, sensors inside the liquid hydrogen section of the tank failed a routine prelaunch check. Following the launch postponement, the tank’s liquid oxygen and liquid hydrogen were drained. While the tank was being emptied, engineers monitored and collected data on the liquid hydrogen sensors that failed. During that process, another sensor gave a false reading, indicating that the tank was “wet,” when it was dry. All ECO sensors are now indicating dry as they should be.

During Atlantis’ 11-day mission to the International Space Station, the shuttle and station crews will work with ground teams to install and activate the European Space Agency’s Columbus laboratory. The new lab will expand the station’s scientific research capabilities.