Shuttle Atlantis set to launch, carrying some precious cargo from the Midstate – FOX43.com
Michael Gorsegner Staff reporter
6:49 a.m. EDT, July 7, 2011
HERSHEY, DAUPHIN COUNTY—
It’s t-minus 29 hours before Shuttle Atlantis is due to take flight for the final time. Besides the trip at hand, this mission has some significant ties for the Midstate. The shuttle is carrying an experiment for some Penn State College of Medicine researchers.
Shuttle Atlantis is due to liftoff for the final time tomorrow morning at the Kennedy Space Center in Florida. Besides the four astronauts and equipment on board, the shuttle will also carry some mice. Those mice are tied to an experiment being conducted by the Penn State College of Medicine.
It’s the final time a NASA space shuttle will take to the air. The Space Shuttle Atlantis is set to launch tomorrow morning around 11:30 a.m. , ending the 30-year run from NASA’s shuttle program.
“Well I really feel a mix of emotions, one of pride, for just being part of the program and being able to make the contribution that we’ve been able to make,” said NASA Flight Director Kwatsi Alibaruho
On board the final flight, four astronauts, tons of equipment for the International Space Station and a group of mice. Researchers Dr. Henry Donahue and A.J. Lloyd from the Penn State College of Medicine in Hershey are conducting an experiment on bone density. They will compare the mice from the 12-day trip to space with a group of mice on the ground. They hope to find out if the zero gravity environment in space affects the ability of stem cells to turn into bone forming cells. That could eventually lead to new treatments for people who are experiencing bone loss.
“We are excited to be part of this historic mission. It will provide important new information that we will use to design experiments here on earth that will allow us to better understand — and possibly treat — age-related bone loss,” said Donahue in a press release.
The launch of Atlantis marks the end of the 30-year NASA shuttle program that has included 135 launches. Even though it’s the final launch, NASA hopes space travel still has a bright future.
“I think there’s a lot of opportunity ahead of us in the future,” said Alibaruho.
The big question remaining now is if the flight will get off the ground. Last nigh, flight commanders set the chances of a takeoff at just 30 percent. They say some bad weather is on the horizon, possibly preventing the launch.
If the launch is scrubbed tomorrow, NASA is looking towards Saturday or Sunday as possibilities.