STS-129 Mission Specialist Randy Bresnick, second from right, answers a question from the audience as fellow crew members look on, Monday, Jan. 11, 2010, during a presentation to staff and middle school students from the Congressional Schools of Virginia at NASA Headquarters in Washington. Photo Credit: (NASA/Paul E. Alers)
STS-129 Pilot Barry Wilmore, left, answers a question from the audience as Mission Specialist Leland Melvin, looks on, Monday, Jan. 11, 2010, during a presentation to staff and middle school students from the Congressional Schools of Virginia at NASA Headquarters in Washington. Photo Credit: (NASA/Paul E. Alers)
STS-129 Mission Specialist Robert Satcher, lower right, interacts with the audience as he and fellow crew members sign autographs, Monday, Jan. 11, 2010, following a presentation to staff and middle school students from the Congressional Schools of Virginia at NASA Headquarters in Washington. Photo Credit: (NASA/Paul E. Alers)
STS-129 Mission Specialist Leland Melvin, answers a question as fellow crew members look on, Monday, Jan. 11, 2010, during a presentation to staff and middle school students from the Congressional Schools of Virginia at NASA Headquarters in Washington. Photo Credit: (NASA/Paul E. Alers)
Twitter users Risa Wechster from Stanford University, left, and Daniel Holz from Los Alamos, both twitter for @cosmicvariance during a two-day NASA Tweetup event held at NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Cape Canaveral, Fla, Sunday, Nov. 15, 2009. NASA Twitter followers in attendance will have the opportunity to take a tour of NASA's Kennedy Space Center, view the STS-129 space shuttle launch and speak with shuttle technicians, engineers, astronauts and managers. Photo Credit: (NASA/Carla Cioffi)
Mike Massimino, NASA Astronaut, known on twitter as @Astro_Mike, speaks during a two-day NASA Tweetup event held at NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Cape Canaveral, Fla, Sunday, Nov. 15, 2009. NASA Twitter followers in attendance will have the opportunity to take a tour of NASA's Kennedy Space Center, view the STS-129 space shuttle launch and speak with shuttle technicians, engineers, astronauts and managers. Photo Credit: (NASA/Carla Cioffi)
Wayne Hale, NASA strategic program planning manager, is seen on video camera as he speaks during a two-day NASA Tweetup event held at NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Cape Canaveral, Fla, Sunday, Nov. 15, 2009. NASA Twitter followers in attendance will have the opportunity to take a tour of NASA's Kennedy Space Center, view the STS-129 space shuttle launch and speak with shuttle technicians, engineers, astronauts and managers. Photo Credit: (NASA/Carla Cioffi) 
NASA Twitter followers wave to the Astro van as it passes by en route to launch pad 39A with the crew of STS-129, Monday, Nov. 16, 2009 at Kennedy Space Center in Cape Canaveral, Fla. The Twitter users were part of a unique two-day NASA Tweetup at Kennedy Space Center. Photo Credit: (NASA/Carla Cioffi)
Attendees at a two-day NASA Tweetup at Kennedy Space Center twitter live about their impressions during the Tweetup in Cape Canaveral, Fla., Sunday, Nov. 15, 2009. NASA Twitter followers in attendance will have the opportunity to take a tour of NASA's Kennedy Space Center, view the STS-129 space shuttle launch and speak with shuttle technicians, engineers, astronauts and managers. Photo Credit: (NASA/Carla Cioffi) 
Miles O'Brien, veteran space reporter, known on twitter as @milesobrien, speaks during a two-day NASA Tweetup event held at NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Cape Canaveral, Fla, Sunday, Nov. 15, 2009. NASA Twitter followers in attendance will have the opportunity to take a tour of NASA's Kennedy Space Center, view the STS-129 space shuttle launch and speak with shuttle technicians, engineers, astronauts and managers. Photo Credit: (NASA/Carla Cioffi)
Veronica McGregor, NASA public affairs officer, known on twitter as @veronicamcg, speaks during a two-day NASA Tweetup event held at NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Cape Canaveral, Fla, Sunday, Nov. 15, 2009. NASA Twitter followers in attendance will have the opportunity to take a tour of NASA's Kennedy Space Center, view the STS-129 space shuttle launch and speak with shuttle technicians, engineers, astronauts and managers. Photo Credit: (NASA/Carla Cioffi)
Ares I-X Deputy Mission Manager Jon Cowart shows a space shuttle solid rocket booster (SRB) separation bolt during a two-day NASA Tweetup event held at NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Cape Canaveral, Fla, Sunday, Nov. 15, 2009. NASA Twitter followers in attendance will have the opportunity to take a tour of NASA's Kennedy Space Center, view the STS-129 space shuttle launch and speak with shuttle technicians, engineers, astronauts and managers. Photo Credit: (NASA/Carla Cioffi)
Attendees at a two-day NASA Tweetup at Kennedy Space Center twitter live about their impressions during the Tweetup in Cape Canaveral, Fla., Sunday, Nov. 15, 2009. NASA Twitter followers in attendance will have the opportunity to take a tour of NASA's Kennedy Space Center, view the STS-129 space shuttle launch and speak with shuttle technicians, engineers, astronauts and managers. Photo Credit: (NASA/Carla Cioffi)
Ann Marie Cunningham, center, along with other NASA Twitter followers wave to the Astro van as it passes by en route to launch pad 39A with the crew of STS-129, Monday, Nov. 16, 2009 at Kennedy Space Center in Cape Canaveral, Fla. The Twitter users were part of a unique two-day NASA Tweetup at Kennedy Space Center. Photo Credit: (NASA/Carla Cioffi)
Guests at NASA's Kennedy Space Center view the launch of space shuttle Atlantis in Cape Canaveral, Fla., on Monday, Nov. 16, 2009. Space shuttle Atlantis and its six-member crew began the 11-day STS-129 mission to the International Space Station. The shuttle will transport spare hardware to the outpost and return a station crew member who spent more than two months in space. Photo Credit: (NASA/Carla Cioffi)
Twitter user Dave Gibson from Lawrenceville, GA, who goes by the twitter name @davecgibson, listens to a guest speaker during a two-day NASA Tweetup event held at NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Cape Canaveral, Fla, Sunday, Nov. 15, 2009. NASA Twitter followers in attendance will have the opportunity to take a tour of NASA's Kennedy Space Center, view the STS-129 space shuttle launch and speak with shuttle technicians, engineers, astronauts and managers. Photo Credit: (NASA/Carla Cioffi)
Wayne Hale, NASA strategic program planning manager speaks during a two-day NASA Tweetup event held at NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Cape Canaveral, Fla, Sunday, Nov. 15, 2009. NASA Twitter followers in attendance will have the opportunity to take a tour of NASA's Kennedy Space Center, view the STS-129 space shuttle launch and speak with shuttle technicians, engineers, astronauts and managers. Photo Credit: (NASA/Carla Cioffi)
NASA mission managers monitor the launch of the space shuttle Atlantis from firing room four of the NASA Kennedy Space Center, Monday, Nov. 16, 2009, Cape Canaveral, FL. Space shuttle Atlantis and its six-member crew began the 11-day STS-129 mission to the International Space Station. The shuttle will transport spare hardware to the outpost and return a station crew member who spent more than two months in space. Photo Credit: (NASA/Bill Ingalls)
NASA Associate Administrator Chris Scolese monitors the launch of the space shuttle Atlantis from firing room four of the NASA Kennedy Space Center, Monday, Nov. 16, 2009, Cape Canaveral, FL. Space shuttle Atlantis and its six-member crew began the 11-day STS-129 mission to the International Space Station. The shuttle will transport spare hardware to the outpost and return a station crew member who spent more than two months in space. Photo Credit: (NASA/Bill Ingalls)
NASA mission managers monitor the launch of the space shuttle Atlantis from firing room four of the NASA Kennedy Space Center, Monday, Nov. 16, 2009, Cape Canaveral, FL. Space shuttle Atlantis and its six-member crew began the 11-day STS-129 mission to the International Space Station. The shuttle will transport spare hardware to the outpost and return a station crew member who spent more than two months in space. Photo Credit: (NASA/Bill Ingalls)
NASA Associate Administrator Chris Scolese monitors the launch of the space shuttle Atlantis from firing room four of the NASA Kennedy Space Center, Monday, Nov. 16, 2009, Cape Canaveral, FL. Space shuttle Atlantis and its six-member crew began the 11-day STS-129 mission to the International Space Station. The shuttle will transport spare hardware to the outpost and return a station crew member who spent more than two months in space. Photo Credit: (NASA/Bill Ingalls)
NASA Associate Administrator Chris Scolese monitors the launch of the space shuttle Atlantis from firing room four of the NASA Kennedy Space Center, Monday, Nov. 16, 2009, Cape Canaveral, FL. Space shuttle Atlantis and its six-member crew began the 11-day STS-129 mission to the International Space Station. The shuttle will transport spare hardware to the outpost and return a station crew member who spent more than two months in space. Photo Credit: (NASA/Bill Ingalls)
NASA Associate Administrator Chris Scolese monitors the launch of the space shuttle Atlantis from firing room four of the NASA Kennedy Space Center, Monday, Nov. 16, 2009, Cape Canaveral, FL. Space shuttle Atlantis and its six-member crew began the 11-day STS-129 mission to the International Space Station. The shuttle will transport spare hardware to the outpost and return a station crew member who spent more than two months in space. Photo Credit: (NASA/Bill Ingalls)
NASA mission managers monitor the launch of the space shuttle Atlantis from firing room four of the NASA Kennedy Space Center, Monday, Nov. 16, 2009, Cape Canaveral, FL. Space shuttle Atlantis and its six-member crew began the 11-day STS-129 mission to the International Space Station. The shuttle will transport spare hardware to the outpost and return a station crew member who spent more than two months in space. Photo Credit: (NASA/Bill Ingalls)
Crew members from STS-129 from left; Charles Hobaugh, Commander, Barry Wilmore, Pilot, Mission Specialists, Leland Melvin, Randy Bresnick, Mike Foreman and Robert Satcher, are seen, Monday, Jan. 11, 2010, during a presentation to staff and middle school students from the Congressional Schools of Virginia at NASA Headquarters in Washington. Photo Credit: (NASA/Paul E. Alers)
LeRoy E. Cain, NASA manager of Launch Integration, center and other NASA mission managers, monitor the countdown to launch of the space shuttle Atlantis from firing room four of the NASA Kennedy Space Center, Monday, Nov. 16, 2009, Cape Canaveral, Fla. Space shuttle Atlantis and its six-member crew began the 11-day STS-129 mission to the International Space Station. The shuttle will transport spare hardware to the outpost and return a station crew member who spent more than two months in space. Photo Credit: (NASA/Bill Ingalls)
Guests at NASA's Kennedy Space Center view the launch of space shuttle Atlantis in Cape Canaveral, Fla., on Monday, Nov. 16, 2009. Space shuttle Atlantis and its six-member crew began the 11-day STS-129 mission to the International Space Station. The shuttle will transport spare hardware to the outpost and return a station crew member who spent more than two months in space. Photo Credit: (NASA/Carla Cioffi)
STS-129 crew members, from left, Robert Satcher, Mike Foreman, Randy Bresnik, Leland Melvin, Pilot Barry Wilmore, and Mission Commander Charlie Hobaugh stop and pose for a photograph before getting into the astrovan and heading to launch pad 39a at the NASA Kennedy Space Center in Cape Canaveral, Fl on Monday, Nov. 16, 2009. Photo Credit: (NASA/Bill Ingalls)
STS-129 crew members from left, Robert Satcher, Randy Bresnik, Mike Foreman, Barry Wilmore, Commander Charles Hobaugh and Leland Melvin pose with a group of White House Fellows at NASA Headquarters in Washington, Monday, Jan. 11, 2010. Photo Credit: (NASA/Paul E. Alers)
STS-129 crew members from left, Robert Satcher, Mike Foreman, Randy Bresnik, Barry Wilmore, Commander Charles Hobaugh and Leland Melvin pose with a group of White House Fellows at NASA Headquarters in Washington, Monday, Jan. 11, 2010. Photo Credit: (NASA/Paul E. Alers)
Guests at NASA's Kennedy Space Center view the launch of space shuttle Atlantis in Cape Canaveral, Fla., on Monday, Nov. 16, 2009. New Orleans Mayor Ray Nagin, third from left, attended the launch with his family. Space shuttle Atlantis and its six-member crew began the 11-day STS-129 mission to the International Space Station. The shuttle will transport spare hardware to the outpost and return a station crew member who spent more than two months in space. Photo Credit: (NASA/Carla Cioffi)
NASA STS-129 mission specialist Leland Melvin, standing, speaks to students assembled as fellow crew members Barry Wilmore, seated left, Mike Foreman and Randy Bresnick, seated right, look on during a presentation about their recent mission, Thursday, Jan. 14, 2010, at the Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum in Washington. Photo Credit: (NASA/Paul E. Alers)
NASA STS-129 mission pilot Barry Wilmore, second from left, demonstrates weightlessness in space with Trent Petersen, a student at Stuart-Hobson Middle School, left, as crew members Mike Foreman, Leland Melvin and Randy Bresnick, right, look on during a presentation about their recent mission, Thursday, Jan. 14, 2010, at the Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum in Washington. Photo Credit: (NASA/Paul E. Alers)
NASA STS-129 mission specialist Mike Foreman, second from left, talks about space walking as crew members Barry Wilmore, left, Leland Melvin and Randy Bresnick, right, look on during a presentation about their recent mission, Thursday, Jan. 14, 2010, at the Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum in Washington. Photo Credit: (NASA/Paul E. Alers)
Twitter user Karim Jazouani from Casablanca, Morocco, who goes by the twitter name @karimjazouani, uses his laptop during a two-day NASA Tweetup event held at NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Cape Canaveral, Fla, Sunday, Nov. 15, 2009. NASA Twitter followers in attendance will have the opportunity to take a tour of NASA's Kennedy Space Center, view the space shuttle launch and speak with shuttle technicians, engineers, astronauts and managers. Photo Credit: (NASA/Carla Cioffi)
NASA Twitter follower Heather Goss from Washington, DC, who goes by the twitter name @heathermg, twitters as she stands in front of space shuttle Atlantis at launch pad 39A as part of during a tour of Kennedy Space Center in Cape Canaveral, Fla, Sunday, Nov. 15, 2009. Space shuttle Atlantis is set to launch on Monday, Nov. 16, 2009 and dock with the International Space Station (ISS) two days later. Photo Credit: (NASA/Carla Cioffi)
Twitter users arrive for the start of a two-day NASA Tweetup event held at NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Cape Canaveral, Fla, Sunday, Nov. 15, 2009. NASA Twitter followers in attendance will have the opportunity to take a tour of NASA's Kennedy Space Center, view the space shuttle launch and speak with shuttle technicians, engineers, astronauts and managers. Photo Credit: (NASA/Carla Cioffi)
Twitter user Paul Thompson from Dallas, Texas, who goes by the twitter name @flyingphotog, uses his laptop during a two-day NASA Tweetup event held at NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Cape Canaveral, Fla, Sunday, Nov. 15, 2009. NASA Twitter followers in attendance will have the opportunity to take a tour of NASA's Kennedy Space Center, view the space shuttle launch and speak with shuttle technicians, engineers, astronauts and managers. Photo Credit: (NASA/Carla Cioffi)
A NASA "Tweep" has his picture taken in front of space shuttle Atlantis at launch pad 39A during a tour of Kennedy Space Center in Cape Canaveral, Fla, Sunday, Nov. 15, 2009. Space shuttle Atlantis is set to launch on Monday, Nov. 16, 2009 and dock with the International Space Station (ISS) two days later. Photo Credit: (NASA/Carla Cioffi)
NASA Twitter followers attending a two-day NASA Tweetup presented NASA Public Affairs Officers with a signed poster from Kennedy Space Center expressing their appreciation for hosting this unique event, Monday, Nov. 16, 2009 in Cape Canaveral, Fla. Photo Credit: (NASA/Carla Cioffi)
Twitter users arrive for the start of a two-day NASA Tweetup event held at NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Cape Canaveral, Fla, Sunday, Nov. 15, 2009. NASA Twitter followers in attendance will have the opportunity to take a tour of NASA's Kennedy Space Center, view the space shuttle launch and speak with shuttle technicians, engineers, astronauts and managers. Photo Credit: (NASA/Carla Cioffi)
Twitter users arrive for the start of a two-day NASA Tweetup event held at NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Cape Canaveral, Fla, Sunday, Nov. 15, 2009. NASA Twitter followers in attendance will have the opportunity to take a tour of NASA's Kennedy Space Center, view the space shuttle launch and speak with shuttle technicians, engineers, astronauts and managers. Photo Credit: (NASA/Carla Cioffi)
Twitter user Karim Jazouani from Casablanca, Morocco, who goes by the twitter name @karimjazouani, uses his laptop during a two-day NASA Tweetup event held at NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Cape Canaveral, Fla, Sunday, Nov. 15, 2009. NASA Twitter followers in attendance will have the opportunity to take a tour of NASA's Kennedy Space Center, view the space shuttle launch and speak with shuttle technicians, engineers, astronauts and managers. Photo Credit: (NASA/Carla Cioffi)
STS-129 crew members, from left, Robert Satcher, Mike Foreman, Randy Bresnik, Leland Melvin, Pilot Barry Wilmore, and Mission Commander Charlie Hobaugh stop and pose for a photograph before getting into the astrovan and heading to launch pad 39a at the NASA Kennedy Space Center in Cape Canaveral, Fl on Monday, Nov. 16, 2009. Photo Credit: (NASA/Bill Ingalls)
A launch countdown sign is seen along the road at NASA's Kennedy Space Center on Monday, Nov. 16, 2009, Cape Canaveral, FL. The space shuttle Atlantis is scheduled to launch at 2:28 p.m. EST Nov. 16. Photo Credit: (NASA/Bill Ingalls)
STS-129 Mission Specialist Leland Melvin speaks to students at the Howard University Middle School of Math and Science, Tuesday, Jan. 12, 2010, on the campus of Howard University in Washington. Photo Credit: (NASA/Paul E. Alers)
STS-129 Mission Specialist Leland Melvin speaks to students at the Howard University Middle School of Math and Science, Tuesday, Jan. 12, 2010, on the campus of Howard University in Washington. Photo Credit: (NASA/Paul E. Alers)
Twitter user Ann Marie Cunningham who goes by the twitter name @talkingscience.org, right, uses her laptop, while Laura Burns, who goes by the twitter name @moonrangerlaura, listens to a guest speaker during a two-day NASA Tweetup event held at NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Cape Canaveral, Fla, Sunday, Nov. 15, 2009. NASA Twitter followers in attendance will have the opportunity to take a tour of NASA's Kennedy Space Center, view the space shuttle launch and speak with shuttle technicians, engineers, astronauts and managers. Photo Credit: (NASA/Carla Cioffi) 
NASA Twitter followers tour the International Space Station Center at the Kennedy Space Center in Cape Canaveral, Fla. as part of a two-day Tweetup event, Sunday, Nov. 15, 2009. Tweeps had the chance to enter full-scale mock-ups of the Habitation Module and see how Space Station crew members live, sleep and work. Photo Credit: (NASA/Carla Cioffi) 
Twitter user Laura Burns, left, who goes by the twitter name @moonrangerlaura, listens to a guest speaker, while Ann Marie Cunningham who goes by the twitter name @talkingscience.org, uses her laptop during a two-day NASA Tweetup event held at NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Cape Canaveral, Fla, Sunday, Nov. 15, 2009. NASA Twitter followers in attendance will have the opportunity to take a tour of NASA's Kennedy Space Center, view the space shuttle launch and speak with shuttle technicians, engineers, astronauts and managers. Photo Credit: (NASA/Carla Cioffi) 
STS-129 Mission Specialist Leland Melvin speaks to a class room of students at the Howard University Middle School of Math and Science, Tuesday, Jan. 12, 2010, on the campus of Howard University in Washington. Photo Credit: (NASA/Paul E. Alers)
STS-129 Mission Specialist Leland Melvin, left. looks on as Mission Specialist Robert Satcher answers a question during a presentation to students at the Howard University Middle School of Math and Science, Tuesday, Jan. 12, 2010, on the campus of Howard University in Washington. Photo Credit: (NASA/Paul E. Alers)
PHOTO DATE: 10-16-09 LOCATION: Bldg. 2S - Rm 122 Press Conference SUBJECT: STS-129 Press Conference and media photo portraits PHOTOGRAPHER: Lauren Harnett
PHOTO DATE: 10-16-09 LOCATION: Bldg. 2S - Rm 122 Press Conference SUBJECT: STS-129 Press Conference and media photo portraits PHOTOGRAPHER: Lauren Harnett
PHOTO DATE: 10-16-09 LOCATION: Bldg. 2S - Rm 122 Press Conference SUBJECT: STS-129 Press Conference and media photo portraits PHOTOGRAPHER: Lauren Harnett
PHOTO DATE: 10-16-09 LOCATION: Bldg. 2S - Rm 122 Press Conference SUBJECT: STS-129 Press Conference and media photo portraits PHOTOGRAPHER: Lauren Harnett
PHOTO DATE: 10-16-09 LOCATION: Bldg. 2S - Rm 122 Press Conference SUBJECT: STS-129 Press Conference and media photo portraits PHOTOGRAPHER: Lauren Harnett
PHOTO DATE: 10-16-09 LOCATION: Bldg. 2S - Rm 122 Press Conference SUBJECT: STS-129 Press Conference and media photo portraits PHOTOGRAPHER: Lauren Harnett
PHOTO DATE: 10-16-09 LOCATION: Bldg. 2S - Rm 122 Press Conference SUBJECT: STS-129 Press Conference and media photo portraits PHOTOGRAPHER: Lauren Harnett
PHOTO DATE: 10-16-09 LOCATION: Bldg. 2S - Rm 122 Press Conference SUBJECT: STS-129 Press Conference and media photo portraits PHOTOGRAPHER: Lauren Harnett
PHOTO DATE: 10-16-09 LOCATION: Bldg. 2S - Rm 122 Press Conference SUBJECT: STS-129 Press Conference and media photo portraits PHOTOGRAPHER: Lauren Harnett
PHOTO DATE: 10-16-09 LOCATION: Bldg. 2S - Rm 122 Press Conference SUBJECT: STS-129 Press Conference and media photo portraits PHOTOGRAPHER: Lauren Harnett
PHOTO DATE: 10-16-09 LOCATION: Bldg. 2S - Rm 122 Press Conference SUBJECT: STS-129 Press Conference and media photo portraits PHOTOGRAPHER: Lauren Harnett
PHOTO DATE: 10-16-09 LOCATION: Bldg. 2S - Rm 122 Press Conference SUBJECT: STS-129 Press Conference and media photo portraits PHOTOGRAPHER: Lauren Harnett
PHOTO DATE: 10-16-09 LOCATION: Bldg. 2S - Rm 122 Press Conference SUBJECT: STS-129 Press Conference and media photo portraits PHOTOGRAPHER: Lauren Harnett
PHOTO DATE: 10-16-09 LOCATION: Bldg. 2S - Rm 122 Press Conference SUBJECT: STS-129 Press Conference and media photo portraits PHOTOGRAPHER: Lauren Harnett
PHOTO DATE: 10-16-09 LOCATION: Bldg. 2S - Rm 122 Press Conference SUBJECT: STS-129 Press Conference and media photo portraits PHOTOGRAPHER: Lauren Harnett
PHOTO DATE: 10-16-09 LOCATION: Bldg. 2S - Rm 122 Press Conference SUBJECT: STS-129 Press Conference and media photo portraits PHOTOGRAPHER: Lauren Harnett
PHOTO DATE: 10-16-09 LOCATION: Bldg. 2S - Rm 122 Press Conference SUBJECT: STS-129 Press Conference and media photo portraits PHOTOGRAPHER: Lauren Harnett
PHOTO DATE: 10-16-09 LOCATION: Bldg. 2S - Rm 122 Press Conference SUBJECT: STS-129 Press Conference and media photo portraits PHOTOGRAPHER: Lauren Harnett
PHOTO DATE: 10-16-09 LOCATION: Bldg. 2S - Rm 122 Press Conference SUBJECT: STS-129 Press Conference and media photo portraits PHOTOGRAPHER: Lauren Harnett
The space shuttle Atlantis is seen on launch pad 39a of the NASA Kennedy Space Center shortly after the rotating service structure was rolled back, Sunday, Nov. 15, 2009, Cape Canaveral, FL. Atlantis is scheduled to launch at 2:28p.m. EST, Monday, Nov. 16, 2009. Photo Credit: (NASA/Bill Ingalls)
The space shuttle Atlantis is seen on launch pad 39a of the NASA Kennedy Space Center shortly after the rotating service structure was rolled back, Sunday, Nov. 15, 2009, Cape Canaveral, FL. Atlantis is scheduled to launch at 2:28p.m. EST, Monday, Nov. 16, 2009. Photo Credit: (NASA/Bill Ingalls)
JSC2009-E-107048 (4 May 2009) --- Astronaut Randy Bresnik, STS-129 mission specialist, participates in a food tasting session in the Habitability and Environmental Factors Office at NASA's Johnson Space Center.
JSC2009-E-107047 (4 May 2009) --- Astronaut Leland Melvin, STS-129 mission specialist, participates in a food tasting session in the Habitability and Environmental Factors Office at NASA's Johnson Space Center.
ISS021-E-029853 (18 Nov. 2009) --- STS-129 and Expedition 21 crew members are pictured shortly after Space Shuttle Atlantis and the International Space Station docked in space and the hatches were opened on Nov. 18, 2009. Pictured are NASA astronauts Charles O. Hobaugh (left foreground), STS-129 commander; Jeffrey Williams (right foreground), Expedition 21 flight engineer; Barry E. Wilmore (right, with camera), STS-129 pilot; Mike Foreman (left background) and Randy Bresnik, both STS-129 mission specialists.
STS-129 Water Survival Training at the NBL. Photo Date: March 30, 2009. Location: NBL - Pool Topside. Photographer: Robert Markowitz
STS-129 Water Survival Training at the NBL. Photo Date: March 30, 2009. Location: NBL - Pool Topside. Photographer: Robert Markowitz
STS-129 Water Survival Training at the NBL. Photo Date: March 30, 2009. Location: NBL - Pool Topside. Photographer: Robert Markowitz
STS-129 Water Survival Training at the NBL. Photo Date: March 30, 2009. Location: NBL - Pool Topside. Photographer: Robert Markowitz
STS-129 Water Survival Training at the NBL. Photo Date: March 30, 2009. Location: NBL - Pool Topside. Photographer: Robert Markowitz
STS-129 Water Survival Training at the NBL. Photo Date: March 30, 2009. Location: NBL - Pool Topside. Photographer: Robert Markowitz
STS-129 Water Survival Training at the NBL. Photo Date: March 30, 2009. Location: NBL - Pool Topside. Photographer: Robert Markowitz
STS-129 Water Survival Training at the NBL. Photo Date: March 30, 2009. Location: NBL - Pool Topside. Photographer: Robert Markowitz
STS-129 Water Survival Training at the NBL. Photo Date: March 30, 2009. Location: NBL - Pool Topside. Photographer: Robert Markowitz
STS-129 Water Survival Training at the NBL. Photo Date: March 30, 2009. Location: NBL - Pool Topside. Photographer: Robert Markowitz
STS-129 Water Survival Training at the NBL. Photo Date: March 30, 2009. Location: NBL - Pool Topside. Photographer: Robert Markowitz
STS-129 Water Survival Training at the NBL. Photo Date: March 30, 2009. Location: NBL - Pool Topside. Photographer: Robert Markowitz
JSC2009-E-107050 (4 May 2009) --- Astronauts Leland Melvin (left), Robert Satcher and Randy Bresnik, all STS-129 mission specialists, participate in a food tasting session in the Habitability and Environmental Factors Office at NASA's Johnson Space Center.
JSC2009-E-107052 (4 May 2009) --- Astronauts Leland Melvin (left), Robert Satcher and Randy Bresnik, all STS-129 mission specialists, participate in a food tasting session in the Habitability and Environmental Factors Office at NASA's Johnson Space Center.
JSC2009-E-107054 (4 May 2009) --- Astronauts Charlie Hobaugh (left), STS-129 commander; Leland Melvin and Robert Satcher, both mission specialists, participate in a food tasting session in the Habitability and Environmental Factors Office at NASA's Johnson Space Center.
JSC2009-E-107056 (4 May 2009) --- Astronauts Leland Melvin (left) and Robert Satcher, both STS-129 mission specialists, participate in a food tasting session in the Habitability and Environmental Factors Office at NASA's Johnson Space Center.
JSC2009-E-107059 (4 May 2009) --- Astronauts Robert Satcher (left) and Randy Bresnik, both STS-129 mission specialists, participate in a food tasting session in the Habitability and Environmental Factors Office at NASA's Johnson Space Center.
JSC2009-E-107049 (4 May 2009) --- Astronauts Charlie Hobaugh (right), STS-129 commander; Mike Foreman (center), mission specialist; and Barry Wilmore, pilot, participate in a food tasting session in the Habitability and Environmental Factors Office at NASA's Johnson Space Center.
S129-E-006489 (17 Nov. 2009) --- Astronauts Charles O. Hobaugh (bottom), STS-129 commander; and Mike Foreman, mission specialist, are pictured on the middeck of Space Shuttle Atlantis during flight day two activities. Hobaugh is exercising on a bicycle ergometer.
S129-E-007132 (20 Nov. 2009) --- Astronauts Charles O. Hobaugh (left), STS-129 commander; and Robert L. Satcher Jr., mission specialist, are pictured on the middeck of Space Shuttle Atlantis while docked with the International Space Station.
JSC2009-E-107051 (4 May 2009) --- Astronauts Barry Wilmore (left), STS-129 pilot; and Mike Foreman, mission specialist, participate in a food tasting session in the Habitability and Environmental Factors Office at NASA's Johnson Space Center.
JSC2009-E-107057 (4 May 2009) --- Astronauts Charlie Hobaugh (right), STS-129 commander; Barry Wilmore (left), pilot; and Mike Foreman, mission specialist, participate in a food tasting session in the Habitability and Environmental Factors Office at NASA's Johnson Space Center.
PHOTO CREDIT: NASA or National Aeronautics and Space Administration CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. - The drag chute unfurls to slow space shuttle Atlantis for landing on Runway 33 at the Shuttle Landing Facility at NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida after 11 days in space, completing the 4.5-million mile STS-129 mission on orbit 171. Main gear touchdown was at 9:44:23 a.m. EDT. Nose gear touchdown was at 9:44:36 a.m., and wheels stop was at 9:45:05 a.m. Aboard Atlantis are Commander Charles O. Hobaugh; Pilot Barry E. Wilmore; Mission Specialists Leland Melvin, Randy Bresnik, Mike Foreman and Robert L. Satcher Jr.; and Expedition 20 and 21 Flight Engineer Nicole Stott who spent 87 days aboard the International Space Station. STS-129 is the final space shuttle Expedition crew rotation flight on the manifest. On STS-129, the crew delivered 14 tons of cargo to the orbiting laboratory, including two ExPRESS Logistics Carriers containing spare parts to sustain station operations after the shuttles are retired next year. For information on the STS-129 mission and crew, visit http://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/shuttle/shuttlemissions/sts129/index.html. Photo credit: NASA/Jim Grossmann
CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. - With nearly 7 million pounds of thrust generated by twin solid rocket boosters and three main engines, space shuttle Atlantis races to orbit over Launch Pad 39A at NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida. Liftoff on its STS-129 mission came at 2:28 p.m. EST Nov. 16. Aboard are crew members Commander Charles O. Hobaugh; Pilot Barry E. Wilmore; and Mission Specialists Leland Melvin, Randy Bresnik, Mike Foreman and Robert L. Satcher Jr. On STS-129, the crew will deliver two ExPRESS Logistics Carriers to the International Space Station, the largest of the shuttle's cargo carriers, containing 15 spare pieces of equipment including two gyroscopes, two nitrogen tank assemblies, two pump modules, an ammonia tank assembly and a spare latching end effector for the station's robotic arm. Atlantis will return to Earth a station crew member, Nicole Stott, who has spent more than two months aboard the orbiting laboratory. STS-129 is slated to be the final space shuttle Expedition crew rotation flight. For information on the STS-129 mission and crew, visit http://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/shuttle/shuttlemissions/sts129/index.html. Photo credit: NASA/Kenny Allen