KSC-2010-1197

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. - In the Remote Manipulator System Lab, or RMS Lab, inside the Vehicle Assembly Building at NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida, Rafael Rodriguez, lead RMS advanced systems technician with United Space Alliance, installs the mid-transition thermal blanket onto the inspection boom assembly, or IBA, on space shuttle Atlantis' orbiter boom sensor system, or OBSS. The IBA is removed from the shuttle every other processing flow for a detailed inspection. After five consecutive flights, all IBA internal components are submitted to a thorough electrical checkout in the lab. The 50-foot-long OBSS attaches to the end of the shuttle’s robotic arm and supports the cameras and laser systems used to inspect the shuttle’s thermal protection system while in space. Atlantis is next slated to deliver an Integrated Cargo Carrier and Russian-built Mini Research Module to the International Space Station on the STS-132 mission. The second in a series of new pressurized components for Russia, the module will be permanently attached to the Zarya module. Three spacewalks are planned to store spare components outside the station, including six spare batteries, a boom assembly for the Ku-band antenna and spares for the Canadian Dextre robotic arm extension. A radiator, airlock and European robotic arm for the Russian Multi-purpose Laboratory Module also are payloads on the flight. Launch is targeted for May 14, 2010. Photo credit: NASA/Jack Pfaller