WEEKLY WHINE

Last chance for orbit

STS-115 began today as the Atlantis orbiter went into orbit. Because, you know, that's what orbiters are for.

And it's a good thing that it happened today, because if it hadn't, it would have had to wait until after the Soyuz launch next week. But now, when the Soyuz arrives, it will find an ISS with a new truss segment and more solar arrays.

So were you as eager for this launch as we were? Maybe, but judging from today's GoobNet Mailbox contents, you didn't show it. Instead, you revolted us and made us sick, something that seems to happen often in these instances. And don't spend too much time around the GoobNet Mailbox, else you start to behave like us.

So if this mission goes well, the International Space Station is going to be bigger, right? – Midge Chen, Seattle, WA, USA

Yes, that is the objective of this mission. The P3/P4 truss segment will add some 15,900 kg to the ISS's mass.

I heard last week the Space Shuttle was hit by lightning. Shouldn't they have a lightning rod on the launch pad or something? – James R Spillor, Trondheim, Norway

They do. It's that big tall white thing you see atop the launch pad in all those pictures. And that lightning rod is exactly why the shuttle stack didn't take a direct hit.

Who broke the coolant thing? – Zenna St Paul, Noonville, WI, USA

You mean the APU coolant? A little bit of ice, apparently. The coolant loop ultimately operated just fine, thanks for asking.

Aren't there supposed to be seven people on shuttle missions? – Wallace Schilberger, Portland, ME, USA

The orbiters can each accommodate up to seven crewmembers, but by no means is that a requirement. Even so, there hasn't been a mission with only six crewmembers since STS-112 in OCT 2002.

I slept through the launch. Can you give me a quick recap? – Charlotte Ember, Frankstown, TX, USA

The Atlantis orbiter lifted off and went into orbit.

So if this launch attempt hadn't worked, when would the next chance have been? – Gregory Van Silmick, Cleveland, OH, USA

That depends whether NASA would be willing to lift the daytime launch rule. If so, later this month. If not, next month.

Wouldn't it be great if they sold those foam hands at Kennedy Space Center? You know, "We're Number 115"? – Quinn Blaskoorce, Jupiter, FL, USA

What, with 115 fingers? If you could engineer such a thing, go for it.

Does Heide Piper count as a robo chick? – Patrick O'Flannery, Trendham, MA, USA

Shut up.