STS-121
From The Space Library
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| Organization | NASA-Office of Space Flight (United States) |
|---|---|
| Mission type | Human Crew |
| Launch date | July 4, 2006 |
| Launch vehicle | Space Shuttle |
| Launch site | Cape Canaveral, United States |
| COSPAR ID | 2006-028A |
| Experiments | Here |
| Alternate Names | 29251 |
| Additional Information | Here |
| Data Collection | Here |
| Payload Mass Up | 13281.18 kg |
STS 121 is an American shuttle craft that was launched from Cape Canaveral at 18:38 UT on 04 July 2006, carrying seven astronauts to the International Space Station, ISS. It was the first flight after the fleet was grounded a year ago to make safety-related modifications to the external, cryogenic fuel tank. This time the take-off was nominal with no significant thermal shield degradation. It carried 12 tonnes of food, fuel, and equipment to the ISS. It docked with the ISS at 14:52 UT on 06 July 2006. During the 12-day mission, the astronauts tested new equipment and procedures aimed at increasing shuttle safety. They deployed the ISS robotic arm, with its attached camera, to examine the exterior of the shuttle for damage; none of significance was noticed. Two of the astronauts did a 6.5-hour spacewalk to test the capability of the 30-meter robotic arm to repair any damage to the shuttle's exterior. The crew also carried out 21 biological and technical experiments on-board. STS 121 landed back in Cape Canaveral on 17 July, at 13:14 UT, leaving behind at the ISS the ESA astronaut to spend several months at the station.
Mission patch: 
