Space Exploration

Installation of the AMS

The AMS-02 will use the unique environment of space to advance knowledge of the Universe and lead to the understanding of its origin by searching for antimatter, dark matter and measuring cosmic rays.The detector module consists of a series of detectors that are used to determine various characteristics of the radiation and particles as they pass through. Characteristics are determined only for particles that pass through from top to bottom.Experimental evidence indicates that our galaxy is made of matter; however, scientists believe there are about 100–200 billion galaxies in the Universe and some versions of the Big Bang theory of the origin of the Universe require equal amounts of matter and antimatter. Theories that explain this apparent asymmetry violate other measurements. Whether or not there is significant antimatter is one of the fundamental questions of the origin and nature of the Universe. Any observations of an antihelium nucleus would provide evidence for the existence of antimatter in space.

The International Space Station will contain several unpressurized platforms that include ELC1 – 4 (ExPRESS Logistics Carrier) and ESP1 – 3 (External Storage Platform).

AMS (Alpha Magnetic Spectrometer) is an instrument. ULF (Utilization and Logistics Flight), 5A.1 (American funded) and LF-1 (Logistics Flight) are ISS flights.

Kelly, pilot Gregory H. Johnson, Michael Fincke, Gregory Chamitoff, Andrew Feustel and European Space Agency astronaut Roberto Vittori also delivered a pallet of spare parts, staged four spacewalks and helped service one of the station's oxygen generators and a carbon dioxide removal assembly. "It was a really good 10 days or so that we were docked here," Kelly said. "We're looking forward to getting home, we're going to leave these guys to some peace and quiet and not disturb their space station anymore."

Endeavor's Last Take Off, May 16, 2011

NASA finally launched space shuttle Endeavour on its last trip to orbit after power glitch foiled first attempt. Mission managers called off the attempt on April 29, when they gave hope of fixing a failed auxiliary power unit on the shuttle. The unit supplies power to the hydraulic systems Endeavour relies on, for example its landing gear. Endeavour blasted off on the next-to-last shuttle flight on Monday, May 16th 2011, at 8:56 AM EDT, under the command of Mark Kelly, the husband of Representative Gabrielle Giffords. The wounded congresswoman watched the launch in private from Kennedy Space Centre. As many as 45 000 guests jammed NASA's launch site. The crowd outside the gates was estimated to be in the tens of thousands, if not more. Endeavour and its six astronauts will arrive at the International Space Station on Wednesday. They are delivering a $2bn particle physics experiment. The mission will last 16 days.

The six astronauts – led by commander Mark Kelly – took off without a glitch. The second to the last shuttle mission in NASA's 30-year shuttle program – has attracted intense interest because of Commander Kelly's wife, Congresswoman Gabriele Giffords, who was shot through the head nearly four months ago.  President Obama, his wife and two daughters visited Kennedy Space Center on April 29th on the original date scheduled for the launch and got to see shuttle Atlantis in the hangar, and meet with Giffords and the entire Endeavour crew.

Only one other shuttle mission remains, by Atlantis this summer.