During their last full day in space, the Atlantis crew released the Pico satellite that was in the cargo hold and checked the control systems and rocket engines ahead of the final landing tomorrow
Crew members of mission STS-135, the last shuttle mission, certainly spent Wednesday preparing for the return home. They practiced with a laptop application simulating the landing and tested the flight control systems and deceleration engines that will operate before entering the atmosphere. NASA says that everything is working as it should.
They also released a pico satellite (measuring 25 x 12.5 x 12.5 centimeters) designed for technology demonstration, named PicoSat which was stored in the shuttle's cargo deck. The satellite will send data to researchers who will test the performance of the solar collectors for analysis and possible use in the future.
Picosat was the 180th and last payload installed on any space shuttle flight.
The simulation file completed the survey of the Atlantis heat shield for landing.
Yesterday, Tuesday, at 9.28:15 am Israel time, Atlantis left its berth at the International Space Station after eight days, 21 hours and 21 minutes. Atlantis is scheduled to land at the Kennedy Space Center on Thursday, July 05 at 56:12 EST - 56:XNUMX Israel time.
Leaving the International Space Station for the last time
