Thursday, June 23, 2011

NASA to Highlight Robotic Refueling Mission Payload, Communication Support on Final Shuttle Flight

NASA to Highlight Robotic Refueling Mission Payload, Communication Support on Final Shuttle Flight:

"GREENBELT, Md., June 23, 2011 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center in Greenbelt, Md., will host a media event to highlight its role in the final space shuttle flight, currently targeted for launch on July 8. The media day will be held from 9 a.m. to noon EDT on Tuesday, June 28.

"At 9 a.m., Goddard managers and engineers will give an overview of the Robotic Refueling Mission (RRM) module, which shuttle Atlantis will deliver to the International Space Station. RRM will use the station's two-armed robotic system, known as Dextre, to investigate the potential for robotically refueling existing spacecraft in orbit. The Canadian Space Agency built the Special Purpose Dexterous Manipulator, or Dextre, to perform intricate maintenance and servicing tasks on the station."