STS-135 T-2 Days - 2 - NASA countdown is underway

STS-135 will be making the final US supply mission to the ISS.  The ISS picture was taken on the most recent shuttle mission.  Mir was departing while Endeavor STS-134 was still docked at the ISS.  Before re-entering, the astronauts in the Soyuz capsule took the first ever pictures of an Orbiter docked with the ISS.  Endeavor is inverted at the top of the picture.

We are days away from STS-135.  The official countdown is underway.  Atlantis is undergoing final preparations for launch.  In the Atlantis STS-135 photo, the gantry on the left has been rolled away from the shuttle for launch.  A few days ago, it was rolled up to Atlantis to load the cargo container into the payload bay and perform other Orbiter servicing.  See the water tower on the right.  Just prior to the engine start, the water from that tower will start dumping onto the launch pad to keep it cool and to suppress noise and vibration from the rocket exhaust that could damage the shuttle. Check the current count at http://countdown.ksc.nasa.gov/shuttle/countdown/cdt/ 

The major milestones on the countdown are shown at http://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/shuttle/news/135_countdown_milestones.html

For example about the time you get this at 9am, they will be restarting the countdown after a planned hold that started at 5 am to remove all non-essential personnel from the launch pad.  They will begin loading liquid hydrogen ad oxygen into the orbiter fuel cell at this time.

Here in Hampton, NH, we have our own countdown going.  Mallory arrived today, from college, to prepare for her trip to Kennedy Space Center and then on to Prague for a five week school term.  Our countdown resumes tomorrow evening with packing of folding lawn chairs, binoculars, and many other items on our checklist.  A final readiness call to Julia, Andy, and Ayesha to verify we have our timetables aligned and we will hold for the last good night's sleep before the launch. We all arrive in Orlando on Thursday evening.  After a little resting, we will depart the hotel a in the wee early hours to go stake out a place to catch a few winks and watch the launch at 11:26 on Friday.  Here's hoping for favorable weather and no last minute snags.

http://www.nasa.gov/pdf/566071main_135_press_kit2.pdf