Technicians working at Launch Pad 39A at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida are testing connections between the launch pad and space shuttle Atlantis. The shuttle stack was rolled to the launch complex Wednesday to set the stage for liftoff of the STS-129 mission targeted for Nov. 12.
Several flight readiness tests are scheduled Thursday, including evaluations of the engines and aero surfaces. Workers will move standard weather protection panels into place, as well.
Two of Atlantis’ astronauts are practicing spacewalking techniques inside the gigantic pool known as the Neutral Buoyancy Laboratory at their training base at NASA’s Johnson Space Center in Houston. Mike Foreman and Randy Bresnick are rehearsing for the second of three spacewalks scheduled for the flight.