STS-132: Difference between revisions

{{Use dmymdy dates|date=JuneDecember 20202022}}

| mission_duration = 11 {{nbsp}}days, 18 {{nbsp}}hours, 29 {{nbsp}}minutes, 9 {{nbsp}}seconds<ref name="STS-132 Mission Information">{{cite web|url=http://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/shuttle/shuttlemissions/sts132/index.html|title=STS-132 Mission Information|access-date=6 March 6, 2010|publisher=[[NASA]]|date= 4 March 4, 2010|author=NASA}}</ref>

| launch_mass = {{convert|4519769|lbs|kg|order=flip}}<ref name="press">{{Cite web|url=http://www.nasa.gov/pdf/451029main_sts132_press_kit.pdf|title=Space Shuttle Mission STS-132 Press Kit|author=NASA|date=May 2010|access-date=7 May 7, 2010|archive-date=December 25, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181225055516/https://www.nasa.gov/pdf/451029main_sts132_press_kit.pdf%20|url-status=dead}}</ref> (total)<br />{{convert|263100|lbs|kg|order=flip}} (orbiter)

| launch_site = [[Kennedy Space Center|Kennedy]], [[Kennedy Space Center Launch Complex 3939A|LC-39A]]

| launch_date = {{start-date|df=yes|May 14 May, 2010, 18:20|timezone=yes}}&nbsp;UTC<ref name="sched">{{Cite web|url=http://www.nasa.gov/missions/highlights/schedule.html|title=NASA's Shuttle and Rocket Missions |access-date=18 February 18, 2010|publisher=[[NASA]]|date=16 February 16, 2010|author=NASA}}</ref>

|docking_date = 16 May 16, 2010, 14:28 {{nbsp}}UTC

|undocking_date = 23 May 23, 2010, 15:22 {{nbsp}}UTC

|time_docked = 7 {{nbsp}}days, 1 {{nbsp}}hour, 1 {{nbsp}}minute

| orbit_periapsis = {{convert|208|mi|km|order=flip}}<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.heavens-above.com/orbit.aspx?satid=36572&lat=0&lng=0&loc=Unspecified&alt=0&tz=UTC|title=STS-132 Orbit Data|author=Chris Peat|publisher=Heavens-Above GmbH|access-date=9 August 9, 2010|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110608201422/http://www.heavens-above.com/orbit.aspx?satid=36572&lat=0&lng=0&loc=Unspecified&alt=0&tz=UTC|archive-date=8 June 8, 2011}}</ref>

'''STS-132''' ([[ISS assembly sequence|ISS assembly]] flight '''ULF4''')<ref name="manifest">{{Cite web|url=http://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/station/structure/iss_manifest.html|title=Consolidated Launch Manifest|access-date=16 October 16, 2009|publisher=NASA|date=24 September 24, 2009|author=NASA|archive-date=March 7, 2009|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090307191348/http://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/station/structure/iss_manifest.html|url-status=dead}}</ref> was a [[NASA]] [[Space Shuttle]] mission, during which Space Shuttle ''[[Space Shuttle Atlantis|Atlantis]]'' docked with the [[International Space Station]] on 16 May 16, 2010.<ref name="docktweet">{{Cite web|url=https://twitter.com/NASA/status/14101218233|title=Atlantis docked to the space station...|access-date=16 May 16, 2010|publisher=Twitter|date=16 May 16, 2010|author=NASA}}</ref> STS-132 was launched from the [[Kennedy Space Center]] on 14 May 14, 2010.<ref name="sched"/> The primary payload was the Russian [[Rassvet (ISS module)|''Rassvet'' Mini-Research Module]], along with an Integrated Cargo Carrier-Vertical Light Deployable (ICC-VLD). ''Atlantis'' landed at the Kennedy Space Center on 26 May 26, 2010.

STS-132 was initially scheduled to be the final flight of ''Atlantis'', provided that the [[STS-3xx|STS-335]]/[[STS-135]] Launch On Need rescue mission would not be needed. However, in February 2011, NASA declared that the final mission of ''Atlantis'' and of the [[Space Shuttle program]], [[STS-135]], would be flown regardless of the funding situation.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.nasaspaceflight.com/2011/02/nasa-insist-sts-135-will-fly-payload-options-assessment/|title=NASA managers insist STS-135 will fly – Payload options under assessment – NASASpaceFlight.com|date=February 14, 2011}}</ref>

|references =<ref name="Crew">{{Cite web|url=http://www.nasa.gov/home/hqnews/2009/may/HQ_09-105_STS-132_Crew.html|title=NASA Assigns Crew for STS-132 Space Shuttle Mission |access-date=15 May 15, 2009|publisher=NASA|date=14 May 14, 2009|author=NASA|archive-date=October 24, 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121024091153/http://www.nasa.gov/home/hqnews/2009/may/HQ_09-105_STS-132_Crew.html|url-status=dead}}</ref>

|position4 = Mission Specialist 2<br>Flight Engineer

=== Crew seat assignments ===

{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"

| rowspan="7" style="text-align: center;" 8| [[File:STS-121Space Shuttle seating assignmentsplan.pngsvg|225px|border150px]]<br />Seats 1–4 are on the Flightflight Deckdeck.<br />Seats 5–7 are on the Middeckmid-deck.

! S11

|colspan=2| Ham

! S22

|colspan=2| Antonelli

! S33

| Reisman

| Sellers

! S44

|colspan=2| Good

! S55

|colspan=2| Bowen

! S66

| Sellers

| Reisman

STS-132 carried the Russian [[Rassvet (ISS module)|''Rassvet'' Mini-Research Module 1]] to the International Space Station.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.spaceflightnow.com/shuttle/sts132/100512preview/|title=Mission preview: Atlantis to launch Russian mini module|author=William Harwood|publisher=Spaceflight Now|date=12 May 12, 2010|access-date=13 May 13, 2010}}</ref> ''Rassvet'' means "dawn" in Russian. The module was built by Russian aerospace company [[S.P. Korolev Rocket and Space Corporation Energia|Energia]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.spaceflightnow.com/shuttle/sts132/100325rassvet/|title=Russian space module set for American launch aboard the shuttle Atlantis|author=Justin Ray|date=25 March 25, 2010|publisher=Spaceflight Now|access-date=31 March 31, 2010}}</ref> Rassvet arrived at the Kennedy Space Center (KSC) aboard an [[Antonov 124]] cargo plane on 17 December 17, 2009, at about 13:00 [[Eastern Time Zone|EST]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.spaceflightnow.com/news/n0912/17mrmarrival/|title=Russian storage module arrives in Florida for launch|author=Stephen Clark|publisher=Spaceflightnow.com|date=17 December 17, 2009|access-date=18 December 18, 2009}}</ref> After it was unloaded from the Antonov, the module was transported to an [[Astrotech Corporation|Astrotech]] processing bay in Cape Canaveral to undergo preparations for launch.

An airlock and radiation heat exchanger to be used for outfitting the Russian ''[[Nauka (ISS module)|Nauka]]'' Module (to be launched in 20122021), a spare elbow part of the [[European Robotic Arm]] (ERA) and a portable work platform for science hardware for performing experiments in outer space were externally mounted on ''Rassvet'' in its launch configuration.<ref name="Payload">{{Cite web|url=http://www.nasaspaceflight.com/2009/04/sts-132-prcb-baselines-mission-to-deliver-russias-mrm-1/|title=STS-132: PRCB baselines Atlantis' mission to deliver Russia's MRM-1|access-date=9 April 9, 2009|publisher=NASASpaceFlight.com|date=30 April 30, 2009|author=Gebhardt, Chris}}</ref> Russian and US cargo to be delivered willwere also be accommodated inside the module. The volume for cargo and science inside MRM1 is 5 cubic meters.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.energia.ru/eng/iss/mim1/photo_12-07.html|title=S.P.Korolev RSC Energia, Korolev, Moscow region|date=7 December 7, 2009|author=ENERGIA|access-date=6 March 6, 2010|archive-date=June 10, 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110610073725/http://www.energia.ru/eng/iss/mim1/photo_12-07.html|url-status=dead}}</ref> ''Rassvet'' was outfitted with ISS standard grapple fixtures that allowed the module to be unloaded from the payload bay of ''Atlantis'' using the station's robotic arm.

Also on board ''Atlantis'' was the [[Integrated Cargo Carrier]]-Vertical Light Deployable (ICC-VLD2) pallet, holding a [[Ku-band|K_u-band]] Space to Ground Antenna (SGANT), the SGANT boom assembly, an Enhanced Orbital replacement Unit (ORU) Temporary Platform (EOTP) for the Canadian [[Dextre]] robotic arm extension, Video and Power Grapple fixtures (PVGF) and six new battery ORUs. The six new batteries replaced older ones on the [[Integrated Truss Structure#P6, S6 trusses|P6 truss]] of the ISS. The old batteries were placed on the ICC-VLD pallet for return to Earth. The EOTP was built by [[MacDonald Dettwiler|MacDonald, Dettwiler and Associates]] Ltd. (MDA) of Brampton, Ontario, Canada, for [[NASA]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.asc-csa.gc.ca/eng/missions/sts-132/default.asp|title=Find out in 5: How's Canada involved in the Space Shuttle Atlantis's final flight?|publisher=Canadian Space Agency|date=5 May 5, 2010|access-date=14 May 14, 2010|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100616015856/http://www.asc-csa.gc.ca/eng/missions/sts-132/default.asp|archive-date=16 June 16, 2010}}</ref>

The ICC-VLD was berthed in the center of the shuttle's payload bay for both launch and reentry.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.nasaspaceflight.com/2010/02/musical-chairs-soyuz-sts-132-track-may-launch/|title=Playing musical chairs with Soyuz, STS-132 continues to track May launch|author=Chris Bergin|publisher=NASAspaceflight.com|date=18 February 18, 2010|access-date=20 February 20, 2010}}</ref>

In addition to the standard Official Flight Kit (OFK) flown inside a locker on the mid-deck, two Light Weight Tool Stowage Assemblies were modified to fly memorabilia and then were stowed to the left and right of ''Atlantis''<nowiki>'</nowiki> airlock in the shuttle's payload bay.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.collectspace.com/news/news-051210a.html|title=Shuttle Atlantis flying its flag for final flight|author=Robert Z. Pearlman|publisher=collectSPACE.com|date=12 May 12, 2010|access-date=12 May 12, 2010}}</ref>

A compact disk (CD) containing the digital copies of all entries submitted to NASA's Space Shuttle Program Commemorative Patch Contest<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.nasa.gov/pdf/413420main_patches_contest.pdf|title=Space Shuttle Program Commemorative Patch Contest Entries|access-date=18 February 18, 2010}}</ref> was also flown aboard ''Atlantis''.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.nasa.gov/pdf/427956main_fd12.pdf|title=STS-130 FD 12 Execute Package|author=NASA|date=February 18 February, 2010|access-date=18 February 18, 2010}}</ref> The contest was organized by the Space Shuttle Program to mark the end of the shuttle era. The winning patch was designed by Blake Dumesnil of [[Hamilton Sundstrand]], Johnson Space Center.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/shuttle/behindscenes/ssp_patch_winners.html|title=Space Shuttle Program Announces Commemorative Patch Contest Winner|author=NASA|date=16 February 16, 2010|access-date=18 February 18, 2010}}</ref> A panel of NASA judges, including shuttle program manager John Shannon, LeRoy Cain, and three other shuttle program managers including former astronaut [[John Casper]], selected the winning patch from a pool of 85 entries by NASA employees and contractors.

Seventeen handcrafted [[beads]] made by nine different artists across North America were also on board ''Atlantis'' during the STS-132 mission.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://beadsofcourage.org/documents/press/10bisNational.doc|title=NASA Space Shuttle to Carry Symbols of Encouragement for Ailing Children|author=Jean Baruch|publisher=beadsofcourage.org|date=May 5 May, 2010|access-date=7 May 7, 2010|archive-date=July 25, 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110725051234/http://beadsofcourage.org/documents/press/10bisNational.doc|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.nasa.gov/topics/nasalife/features/beads.html|title=Bonds of Courage, Beads of Courage Fly on Atlantis, STS-132|author=NASA|date=10 May 10, 2010|access-date=11 May 11, 2010}}</ref> NASA teamed up with Beads of Courage, Inc., an approved public charity to bring hope and inspiration to children coping with serious illnesses through the Beads in Space project (the idea of Jamie Newton, an employee at the [[Marshall Space Flight Center]]). The 17 beads weigh eight ounces and were selected after a contest organized by Beads of Courage that attracted 54 beads.

Also on board ''Atlantis'' was a 4-inch long wood sample of Sir [[Isaac Newton]]'s [[apple tree]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.space.com/isaac-newton-apple-tree-space-100520.html|title=Astronauts Give Isaac Newton a Gravity-Free Tribute|publisher=SPACE.com|author=SPACE.com Staff|date=20 May 20, 2010|access-date=21 May 21, 2010}}</ref> The piece from the original tree that supposedly inspired Newton's [[theory of gravity]], along with a picture of Newton, were taken into orbit by astronaut Piers Sellers. The wood is part of the collection of the [[Royal Society]] archives in London, and was returned there following the flight.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/8671627.stm|title=Sir Isaac Newton's apple tree sample to go into space|publisher=BBC.co.uk |date=11 May 11, 2010|access-date=12 May 12, 2010}}</ref>

Additionally, a flag from [[Clarkson University]], [[Potsdam (village), New York|Potsdam, New York]], flew on board shuttle ''Atlantis''.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.watertowndailytimes.com/article/20100509/NEWS05/305099973|title=Clarkson flag heading off to space station|author=Lori Shull|publisher=WatertownDailyTimes.com|date=9 May 9, 2010|access-date=May 9, 2010|archive-date=May 11, 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100511175045/http://www.watertowndailytimes.com/article/20100509/NEWS05/305099973|url-status=dead}}</ref> It was there in honor of STS-132 lead shuttle flight director, Michael L. Sarafin, who is an alumnus of the Clarkson University.

A comprehensive list of STS-132 items that were carried aboard ''Atlantis'' and their descriptions can be found in the Official Flight Kit.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.collectspace.com/news/news-051210a.html#ofk|title=Official Flight Kit STS-132|author=NASA|access-date=10 May 10, 2010}}</ref>

NASA arranged a [[NASA Tweetup|Tweetup]] to cover the launch of the STS-132 mission. 150 people attended the event from more than 30 US states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, Belgium, the Netherlands, New Zealand and the United Kingdom. The Tweetup participants met with shuttle technicians, managers, engineers and astronauts, took a tour of the Kennedy Space Center and viewed the launch of ''Atlantis''.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://cio.gsfc.nasa.gov/home/hqnews/2010/apr/HQ_M10-067_KSC_Tweetup.html|title=NASA Invites Reporters To Next Space Shuttle Launch And Tweetups|author=NASA|date=28 April 28, 2010|access-date=29 April 29, 2010|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100519112552/http://cio.gsfc.nasa.gov/home/hqnews/2010/apr/HQ_M10-067_KSC_Tweetup.html|archive-date=19 May 19, 2010}}</ref>

* ''Micro-2'': Researchers from [[Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute]] sent microorganisms to investigate new ways of preventing the formation and spread of clusters of bacteria (biofilms), that could pose a threat to the health of astronauts.<ref>{{cite webnews|url=http://www.thehindu.com/sci-tech/science/article428557.ece|title=Sending bacteria aboard space shuttle Atlantis|work=The Hindu|date=13 May 13, 2010|access-date=13 May 13, 2010}}</ref> After the shuttle landed, the resulting biofilms were examined to see how their growth and development were impacted by microgravity.

* ''Hypersole'': Hypersole is a Canadian research project that plans to investigate sudden changes in skin sensitivity experienced by some astronauts in space.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.asc-csa.gc.ca/eng/iss/hypersole.asp|title=HYPERSOLE The Ultimate Tickle Test|author=Canadian Space Agency|date=6 May 6, 2010|access-date=14 May 14, 2010}}</ref> The researchers hope to understand more about how the skin sensitivity of the soles of the feet affect the human balance. Three STS-132 crew members participated in identical trials before the launch and immediately upon landing. The trials were also repeated on five astronauts scheduled to fly on the [[STS-133]] and [[STS-134]] missions. Project findings are expected to add significant knowledge to existing studies of aging and to be beneficial for the elderly and people who suffer from balance problems.

* ''Shuttle Ionospheric Modification with Pulsed Localized Exhaust Experiments (SIMPLEX)'' – STS-132 crew performed the SIMPLEX burn on Flight Day 12. The experiment investigates plasma turbulence driven by shuttle exhaust in the ionosphere using ground-based radars.<ref name=SIMPLEX>{{Cite web|url=http://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/station/science/experiments/SIMPLEX.html|title=Shuttle Ionospheric Modification with Pulsed Localized Exhaust Experiments (SIMPLEX)|date=6 May 6, 2009|access-date=27 November 27, 2009|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091029061827/http://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/station/science/experiments/SIMPLEX.html|archive-date=29 October 29, 2009}}</ref> The processes by which chemical releases can produce plasma turbulence are quantified with the SIMPLEX measurements. Plasma turbulence can affect military navigation and communications using radio systems.

The mission's [[Space Shuttle external tank|external tank]], ET-136, began its {{convert|900|mi|adj=on}}, six-day journey across the [[Gulf of Mexico]] from NASA's [[Michoud Assembly Facility]] in [[New Orleans]], Louisiana, on 24 February 24, 2010.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.lockheedmartin.com/ssc/michoud/MichoudImages/ET-136.html|title=External Tank 136|publisher=LOCKHEED MARTIN.com|date=24 February 24, 2010|access-date=26 February 26, 2010|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100511061513/http://www.lockheedmartin.com/ssc/michoud/MichoudImages/ET-136.html|archive-date=11 May 11, 2010}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=http://flametrench.flatoday.net/2010/02/external-tanks-reach-final-four-last.html |title=External tanks reach Final Four; last solid motor test fired |author=James Dean |publisher=FLORIDATODAY.com |date=25 February 25, 2010 |access-date=25 February 25, 2010 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100301091425/http://flametrench.flatoday.net/2010/02/external-tanks-reach-final-four-last.html |archive-date=1 March 1, 2010 }}</ref> ET-136 measured {{convert|154|ft|m}} long and {{convert|28|ft|m}} in diameter. The solid rocket booster retrieval ship ''[[MV Liberty Star|Liberty Star]]'' towed the ET in the enclosed barge ''Pegasus''. After docking in the turn basin at the Kennedy Space Center, the tank was offloaded and driven to the [[Vehicle Assembly Building]] (VAB) on 1 March 1, 2010.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.spaceflightnow.com/shuttle/sts132/100301tank/|author=Justin Ray|title=Atlantis' last fuel tank reaches launch site|publisher=Spaceflightnow.com|date=1 March 1, 2010|access-date=2 March 2, 2010}}</ref>

On 29 March 29, 2010, workers attached ET-136 to its [[solid rocket booster]]s. A crane lifted the ET into high bay No. 1 inside the VAB. The day-long process was completed around 18:00 EDT, as the tank was bolted to ''Atlantis''<nowiki>'</nowiki>s twin solid rocket boosters.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.spaceflightnow.com/shuttle/sts132/100330etsrbmate/|title=Fuel tank meets solid rocket boosters for final scheduled mission of Atlantis|publisher=Spaceflight Now|date=30 March 30, 2010|access-date=31 March 31, 2010}}</ref>

''Atlantis'' rolled out of its processing bay (OPF-1) around 07:00 EDT on 13 April 13, 2010. The shuttle entered the VAB around 11:00 EDT for attachment to its external tank and solid rocket boosters.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.spaceflightnow.com/shuttle/sts132/100413gallery/index.html|title=Atlantis leaves hangar for May launch|publisher=Spaceflightnow|date=April 13 April, 2010|access-date=13 April 13, 2010}}</ref> Given that this was at the time believed to be ''Atlantis''<nowiki>'</nowiki> final rollover for a mission, the shuttle stopped for several hours en route to the VAB, allowing engineers and technicians to pose for photographs with the orbiter.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.nasaspaceflight.com/2010/04/sts-132-atlantis-vab-following-extended-rollover/|title=STS-132: Atlantis arrives in the VAB following extended rollover|author=Chris Bergin|date=13 April 13, 2010|access-date=13 April 13, 2010|publisher=NASAspaceflight.com}}</ref> The rollover occurred exactly 25 years after ''Atlantis'' first arrived at the Kennedy Space Center, after a cross-country trip from the shuttle factory in [[Palmdale, California]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.spaceflightnow.com/shuttle/sts132/100414lift/index.html|title=Hang 'em high: Atlantis hoisted inside VAB|publisher=Spaceflightnow|date=14 April 14, 2010|access-date=15 April 15, 2010}}</ref> The path to the rollover was without any incidents of major concern, with only 22 Interim Problem Reports (IPRs) noted during ''Atlantis''' flow since its return from the [[STS-129]] mission in November 2009.

The transport canister containing the STS-132 payload arrived at Pad 39A on 15 April 15, 2010, ahead of ''Atlantis''' rollover to the launch pad.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.spaceflightnow.com/shuttle/sts132/100415payload/|title=Russian space station module shipped to NASA's space shuttle launch pad|author=Justin Ray|publisher=Spaceflightnow|date=15 April 15, 2010|access-date=18 April 18, 2010}}</ref> The canister was shaped like the shuttle's {{convert|60|ft|m|adj=on}}-long payload bay. Packed inside it were the MRM-1 module and the cargo-carrying pallet ICC-VLD.

Space Shuttle ''Atlantis'' began its rollout to launch pad 39A at 23:31 EDT on 21 April 21, 2010.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.nasaspaceflight.com/2010/04/atlantis-pad-39a-still-tracking-may-14-launch-target/|title=Atlantis arrives at Pad 39A&nbsp;– still tracking May&nbsp;14 launch target|author=Chris Bergin|publisher=NASAspaceflight.com|date=22 April 22, 2010|access-date=22 April 22, 2010}}</ref> The complete shuttle stack and mobile launch platform were secured to the launch pad's structure at 6:03 EDT on 22 April 22, 2010. The 3.4&nbsp;mi ({{Nowrap|{{convert|5.5|km}}}}) trek took 6 hours and 32 minutes to complete. The rollout was originally planned for the evening of 19 April 19, 2010, but wet weather and thunderstorms on the Space Coast caused several delays.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://flametrench.flatoday.net/|title=At last, Atlantis is on its launch pad|publisher=FLORIDATODAY.com|date=22 April 22, 2010|access-date=April 22, April2010|archive-date=February 25, 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100225151804/http://flametrench.flatoday.net/|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.space.com/missionlaunches/shuttle-atlantis-final-launch-pad-trip-cs-100422.html|title=Space Shuttle Atlantis Moves to Launch Pad for Final Planned Flight

|author=Robert Z. Pearlman|publisher=collectSPACE.com|date=22 April 22, 2010|access-date=22 April 22, 2010}}</ref>

STS-132's payload was installed in the shuttle's cargo bay on 25 April 25, 2010.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.spaceflightnow.com/shuttle/sts132/100426install/|title=Russian payload nestled into Atlantis' bay for launch|author=Justin Ray|publisher=Spaceflightnow|date=26 April 26, 2010|access-date=26 April 26, 2010}}</ref>

Pad engineers preparing ''Atlantis'' had noticed paint peeling from shuttle's main payload, the MRM-1 module. Although the problem was declared to have no impact on the operation of MRM-1, it holds a potential threat of releasing debris on orbit.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.nasaspaceflight.com/2010/04/sts-132-managers-ssp-frr-will-slip-launch-date-if-required/|title=STS-132: Managers work through SSP FRR&nbsp;– Will slip launch date if required|author=Chris Bergin|date=28 April 28, 2010|access-date=29 April 29, 2010|publisher=NASAspaceflight.com}}</ref> Engineers also noted MRM-1 cycled its Fire and Smoke detector self test several times. Similar events occurred during ''Atlantis''' [[STS-129]] mission in November 2009 when Shuttle and Station crew were awakened consecutive nights by false depressurization and fire alarms that originated from the [[MRM-2]] (''Poisk'') module.

An agency-wide Flight Readiness Review (FRR) was held at KSC in Florida on 5 May 5, 2010, to discuss ''Atlantis''{{'}} launch preparations. At the end of the review, top NASA managers made the decision to officially set the launch for 14 May 14, 2010, at 14:20 EDT.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.nasaspaceflight.com/2010/05/sts-132-frr-approve-may-14-external-tank-boost/|title=STS-132 FRR approves May&nbsp;14 launch date&nbsp;– External Tank boost|author=Chris Bergin|publisher=NASAspaceflight.com|date=5 May 5, 2010|access-date=6 May 6, 2010}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.spaceflightnow.com/shuttle/sts132/100505frr/|title=NASA declares Atlantis' readiness to go fly next week|author=William Harwood|publisher=Spaceflightnow|date=5 May 5, 2010|access-date=6 May 6, 2010}}</ref> NASA held a post news conference to brief about the results of the FRR. The briefing was broadcast on NASA TV and was attended by NASA's Associate Administrator for Space Operations, William Gerstenmaier, Space Shuttle Program Manager John Shannon and Space Shuttle Launch Director, Michael Leinbach. Shannon mentioned that, firstly, ceramic inserts around ''Atlantis''<nowiki>'</nowiki> windows and forward rocket pod were tested after an insert loosened during Discovery's re-entry on [[STS-131]], posing a potential impact threat. The inserts had been re-installed on to ''Atlantis'' using a thicker braided cord to reduce the chances of a backing out. Secondly, it was mentioned that engineers had reviewed work to confirm that all systems on ''Atlantis''<nowiki>'</nowiki> K_u band antenna were in place. The testing had been provoked after the failure of that communication system during STS-131. Mr. Leinbach also acknowledged the skills and experience of the engineering teams and thanked the engineers who had successfully resolved hypergolic loading issues.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.nasaspaceflight.com/2010/04/sts-132-engineers-successfully-resolve-hypergolic-loading-issues/|title=STS-132: Engineers successfully resolve hypergolic loading issues|author=Chris Bergin|publisher=NASAspaceflight.com|date=30 April 30, 2010|access-date=6 May 6, 2010}}</ref> Hypergolics are chemicals that ignite when they come in contact with each other. The propellants are used in the reaction control system that steers the shuttle in space.

A booster rocket segment that had first flown 25 years before on ''Atlantis''<nowiki>'</nowiki> maiden flight ([[STS-51J|STS-51-J]]) was used to help fly STS-132.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.collectspace.com/news/news-051010a.html|title=Space shuttle Atlantis to fly final flight with booster segment from maiden mission|publisher=collectSPACE.com|date=May 10 May, 2010|access-date=11 May 11, 2010}}</ref> The aft dome on the left solid rocket booster that lifted off to support ''Atlantis''<nowiki>'</nowiki> STS-132 mission first launched STS-51-J on 3 October 3, 1985. Including STS-132, 18 of ''Atlantis''<nowiki>'</nowiki> 32 flights were represented by the boosters' segments.

''Atlantis''' astronauts traveled from Johnson Space Center, Houston to the KSC launch site on 10 May 10, 2010, to prepare for the launch. The crew, arriving in four [[Northrop T-38 Talon]] jets, landed on the Shuttle Landing Facility around 18:49 EDT.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.space.com/missionlaunches/space-shuttle-atlantis-crew-arrive-100510.html|title=Astronauts Arrive in Florida for Final Planned Launch of Shuttle Atlantis|author=Robert Z. Pearlman|publisher=SPACE.com|date=10 May 10, 2010|access-date=11 May 11, 2010}}</ref>

The official countdown to liftoff started on 11 May 11, 2010, after the countdown clocks at KSC were activated at 16:00 EDT, ticking backward from the T-43-hour mark.

Program managers completed the L-2 Mission Management Team (MMT) meeting on 12 May 12, 2010.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.nasaspaceflight.com/2010/05/sts-132-l-2-mmt-ifas-cleared-ahead-of-atlantis-launch/|title=STS-132 L-2 MMT: IFAs Cleared Ahead of Atlantis' Launch|author=Chris Gebhardt|publisher=NASAspaceflight.com|date=12 May 12, 2010|access-date=13 May 13, 2010}}</ref> At the end of the 18-minute-long meeting management team officially cleared ''Atlantis'' for launch. NASA held a pre-launch news conference to reveal the outcomes of the MMT and to brief the press on the upcoming launch. The news conference was attended by Chair, pre-launch mission management team, Mike Moses, Mike Leinbach and STS-132 weather officer, Todd McNamara. The weather officer spoke of a favorable launch weather forecast due to a high pressure weather pattern and despite a low cloud ceiling, calling a 70 percent chance of favorable conditions at launch time. He further elaborated on the predicted weather conditions at the [[Space Shuttle abort modes|Transoceanic Abort Landing]] (TAL) sites: [[Zaragoza Air Base|Zaragoza]] and [[Morón Air Base|Moron]] in Spain, and [[Istres-Le Tubé Air Base|Istres]], France, in case of an emergency.

The Space Shuttle Program MMT met at 04:15 EDT on 14 May 14, 2010, and gave a go to begin loading ''Atlantis''' ET with liquid oxygen and liquid hydrogen. The fuel tanking operation began on time at 04:55 EDT and was completed within three hours at 07:56 EDT, with replenishment fuel being added throughout the countdown.

===14 May 14 (Flight Day 1 – Launch)===

[[File:Space Shuttle Atlantis launches from KSC on STS-132.jpg|thumb|Space Shuttle ''Atlantis'' launches from Kennedy Space Center, 14 May 14, 2010.]]

The launch of Space Shuttle ''Atlantis'' occurred on time at 18:20 UTC,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.spaceflightnow.com/shuttle/sts132/status.html|title=Mission Status Center|work=STS-132|publisher=Spaceflight Now|first=Justin|last=Ray}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.nasaspaceflight.com/2010/05/sts-132-launch-live1/|title=STS-132 LIVE: Atlantis launches on opening attempt|author=Chris Bergin|date=14 May 14, 2010|access-date=14 May 14, 2010|publisher=NASAspaceflight.com}}</ref> with launch commentator [[George Diller]] saying that the shuttle was "reaching the crest of its historic achievements in space". Powered flight conformed to the [[Space Shuttle#Launch|standard timeline]], with main engine cutoff (MECO) occurring at 8 minutes and 32 seconds Mission Elapsed Time (MET). The External Tank, ET-136, separated from the shuttle 15 seconds later at 8:47 MET.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.nasaspaceflight.com/2010/05/sts-132-atlantis-sunday-docking-extremely-clean-et-136/|title=STS-132: Atlantis prepares for Sunday docking – Extremely clean ET-136|author=Chris Bergin|publisher=NASAspaceflight.com|date=16 May 16, 2010|access-date=17 May 17, 2010}}</ref> A further boost from the Orbital Maneuvering System (OMS) engines was not required due to the nominal MECO, and ''Atlantis'' settled into its planned preliminary orbit. A subsequent NC-1 engine firing of about 26 seconds adjusted the orbital path of the shuttle to match that of the International Space Station (ISS), by altering the shuttle's velocity by about {{convert|41|ft/s|m/s|abbr=on}}.

NASA held a post-launch news conference with Bill Gerstenmaier, Alexey Krasnov (chief of the Piloted Programs Directorate at the [[Russian Federal Space Agency]]), Mike Moses and Mike Leinbach. During the conference, Gerstenmaier made mention of a piece of space junk that could potentially have impacted ''Atlantis''<nowiki>'</nowiki> planned arrival at the ISS.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.space.com/missionlaunches/space-junk-shuttle-atlantis-station-100515.html|title=Space Junk May Make Shuttle Atlantis' Arrival at Station Trickier|author=Tariq Malik|publisher=SPACE.com|date=14 May 14, 2010|access-date=15 May 15, 2010}}</ref>

More than 39,000 guests, including television host [[David Letterman]], [[Apollo program|Apollo]] astronaut [[Buzz Aldrin]], and former NASA administrator [[Michael D. Griffin|Michael Griffin]], witnessed the launch.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.space.com/missionlaunches/space-shuttle-atlantis-launches-final-flight-100514.html|title=Shuttle Atlantis Soars into Space on Final Mission|author=Clara Moskowitz|author-link= Clara Moskowitz |publisher=SPACE.com|date=14 May 14, 2010|access-date=15 May 15, 2010}}</ref> The Russian deputy prime minister, [[Sergei Ivanov]], and the head of the Russian Space Federal Agency, [[Anatoly Perminov]], were also present at KSC.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.itar-tass.com/eng/level2.html?NewsID=15128386&PageNum=0|title=Atlantis space shuttle takes off from Cape Canaveral|publisher=ITAR-TASS|date=14 May 14, 2010|access-date=15 May 15, 2010|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100516184807/http://www.itar-tass.com/eng/level2.html?NewsID=15128386&PageNum=0|archive-date=16 May 16, 2010}}</ref>

Once in orbit, the crew opened the shuttle's payload bay doors, activated the radiators and deployed the K_u band antenna successfully. They also completed a checkout of the orbiter's [[Shuttle Remote Manipulator System]] (SRMS). The crew was also successful in downlinking all imagery from ''Atlantis''{{'}} umbilical well cameras, along with crew video of ET-136, for review by imagery experts in the ground.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.nasaspaceflight.com/2010/05/25-years-atlantis-celebrates-final-time-orbit/|title=After a Storied 25-years, Atlantis Celebrates One Final Time in Orbit|author=Chris Gebhardt|publisher=NASAspaceflight.com|date=15 May 15, 2010|access-date=15 May 15, 2010}}</ref> Preliminary inspections showed that ET-136 was very clean and had performed well during the ascent, with only a few foam liberation incidents visible.

=== 15 May 15 (Flight Day 2 – TPS survey) ===

The crew members aboard ''Atlantis'' began their first full day in space at 08:20 UTC.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/shuttle/shuttlemissions/sts132/news/STS-132-02.html|title=STS-132 MCC Status Report #02|author=NASA|date=15 May 15, 2010|access-date=16 May 16, 2010}}</ref> The day was primarily devoted to inspecting ''Atlantis''{{'}} [[Space Shuttle thermal protection system|thermal protection system]], using the shuttle's robotic arm and the [[Orbiter Boom Sensor System]] (OBSS) to look for any signs of launch damage. Before the thermal protection checkout began, the crew encountered a problem with the Laser Dynamic Range Imager (LDRI) and the Intensified TV Camera (ITVC), due to a snagged cable in that system's pan and tilt unit.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.spaceflightnow.com/shuttle/sts132/100515fd2/index2.html|title=Astronauts resort to Plan B for inspecting Atlantis|author=William Harwood|publisher=Spaceflight Now|date=15 May 15, 2010|access-date=16 May 16, 2010}}</ref> As a result, Mission Control decided to switch to the less-capable backup sensor system: sensor package 2, a laser camera and a digital camera mounted near the end of the OBSS. Sensor package 2 required an additional light source (such as daylight), had a resolution of a few millimeters and could scan at about 2.5&nbsp;inches per second.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/shuttle/shuttlemissions/sts132/news/STS-132-03.html|title=STS-132 MCC Status Report #03|author=NASA|date=15 May 15, 2010|access-date=May 16, 2010|archive-date=May 19, 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100519112725/http://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/shuttle/shuttlemissions/sts132/news/STS-132-03.html|url-status=dead}}</ref> The crew followed "late inspection" procedures for surveying, and images of the right wing, the nose cap and much of the left wing were sent to the ground for detailed analysis.

===16 May 16 (Flight Day 3 – Docking)===

The STS-132 crew began their day at 07:20 UTC and prepared to dock with the ISS.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/shuttle/shuttlemissions/sts132/news/STS-132-04.html|title=STS-132 MCC Status Report #04 |author=NASA|date=16 May 16, 2010|access-date=17 May 17, 2010}}</ref> Commander Ken Ham performed a series of rendezvous burns (NH, NC4 and TI) to boost the orbit of ''Atlantis'' to match with that of the ISS. The longest of these, the 1-minute-24-second-long orbit raising maneuver or NH burn, changed ''Atlantis''<nowiki>'</nowiki> velocity by 132 feet per second, and placed the shuttle into a new 212-by-{{convert|145|mi|km}} orbit. A 63-second circularization burn, known as NC4, boosted ''Atlantis'' into a 214-by-{{convert|210|mi|km|adj=on}} orbit. At 11:40 UTC, with about {{convert|9|mi|km}} separating the shuttle and the ISS, commander Ken Ham performed the final 12-second terminal initiation (TI) burn, firing the left OMS engine of ''Atlantis''.

By 13:26 UTC, with Ken Ham flying the shuttle from the aft flight deck, ''Atlantis'' positioned itself beneath the ISS and began the 360-degree flip rendezvous pitch maneuver (RPM).<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.space.com/missionlaunches/shuttle-atlantis-docks-space-station-100516.html|title=Shuttle Atlantis Docks at Space Station|author=Tariq Malik|datewebsite=16[[Space.com]] |date=May 16, 2010|access-date=17 May 17, 2010}}</ref> As the shuttle's underside rotated into view, three ISS crew members – Oleg Kotov using a camera with a 400mm lens, and Timothy Creamer and Soichi Noguchi using two 800mm-lens cameras – took 398 photographs of ''Atlantis''{{'}} belly, as part of post-launch inspections of the thermal protection system.

''Atlantis'' docked with the ISS Pressurized Mating Adapter-2 at 14:28 UTC as the two orbited {{convert|220|mi|km}} over the South Pacific Ocean.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.spaceflightnow.com/shuttle/sts132/100516fd3/index2.html|title=Space station's Harmony port receives shuttle Atlantis|author=William Harwood|publisher=Spaceflight Now|date=16 May 16, 2010|access-date=17 May 17, 2010}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.space.com/missionlaunches/shuttle-atlantis-canary-islands-photo-100517.html|title=Space Shuttle Atlantis Meets Canary Islands in Photo|author=Tariq Malik|publisher=SPACE.com|date=16 May 16, 2010|access-date=19 May 19, 2010}}</ref> After docking, the ISS was reoriented by the small vernier thrusters on ''Atlantis'' to minimize the risk of Micro-Meteoroid Orbital Debris (MMOD) impacts upon the shuttle. A series of leak checks were done on both sides of the hatch by the shuttle and station crews, before the hatches were opened at 16:18 UTC.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/shuttle/shuttlemissions/sts132/launch/132_overview.html|title=Final Planned Flight of Atlantis Delivers New 'Dawn'|author=Anna C. Heiney|publisher=NASA|date=3 June 3, 2010|access-date=4 June 4, 2010}}</ref> After a brief welcoming ceremony by the station crew, ''Atlantis''' astronauts received the standard station safety briefing. The crew then got to work with initial transfers of equipment and supplies. Spacesuits were among the first items to go to the ISS. Station crew member Noguchi also transferred high-priority JAXA experiments to the Kibo module.

Sellers and [[Expedition 23]]/[[Expedition 24|24]] astronaut Tracy Caldwell Dyson got to work on their joint task to relocate the ICC-VLD cargo pallet.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/shuttle/shuttlemissions/sts132/news/STS-132-05.html|title=STS-132 MCC Status Report #05 |author=NASA|date=16 May 16, 2010|access-date=May 17, 2010|archive-date=May 20, 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100520025400/http://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/shuttle/shuttlemissions/sts132/news/STS-132-05.html|url-status=dead}}</ref> The duo used the station's robotic arm to transfer the pallet from ''Atlantis'' to the station's mobile base system to prepare for the spacewalks.

=== 17 May 17 (Flight Day 4 – EVA 1) ===

Flight day 4 saw Mission Specialists Garret Reisman and Steve Bowen perform the first of three planned spacewalks.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.nasaspaceflight.com/2010/05/atlantis-eva-1-sgant-installation-center-stage/|title=STS-132 completes EVA-1 as SGANT Installation takes center stage|first=Chris|last=Gebhardt|publisher=NASAspaceflight.com|date=17 May 17, 2010|access-date=18 May 18, 2010}}</ref> The pair installed a spare Space To Ground Antenna (SGANT), a new enhanced tool platform for the Special Purpose Dexterous Manipulator (SPDM, also known as [[Dextre]]) and released torque on the six new batteries for the Port 6 (P6) truss segment.

Expedition 23 Flight Engineer Creamer helped the duo with their suit-up preparations. Mike Good joined STS-132 Pilot Antonelli, the intravehicular officer, to assist during the spacewalk. Mission Specialist Sellers and station Flight Engineer Caldwell Dyson operated the robotic arm.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/shuttle/shuttlemissions/sts132/news/STS-132-06.html|title=STS-132 MCC Status Report #06|author=NASA|date=17 May 17, 2010|access-date=18 May 18, 2010}}</ref> Throughout EVA 1, Commander Ken Ham oversaw the extravehicular activities.

During the spacewalk, several problems were encountered,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.space.com/missionlaunches/shuttle-atlantis-first-spacewalk-wrap-100517.html|title=Astronauts Battle Stubburn Cable, Power Outage in Spacewalk|publisher=SPACE.com|author=Tariq Malik|date=17 May 17, 2010|access-date=19 May 19, 2010}}</ref> the first of which was during installation of the SGANT. A slight gap was observed between the antenna dish and its mounting pole. The spacewalkers loosened the bolts and used a higher torque setting, which managed to close the gap to a smaller width. The launch locks were left on the SGANT to allow engineers on the ground to determine if the gap was acceptable, or if more troubleshooting would be needed. The second problem occurred during the installation of the SGANT, and was related to the Command and Control (CNC) computers.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.spaceflightnow.com/shuttle/sts132/100517fd4/index2.html|title=Spacewalking handymen add new features to the station|author=William Harwood|publisher=Spaceflight Now|date=17 May 17, 2010|access-date=18 May 18, 2010}}</ref> During installation, when Steve Bowen removed a cover from a connector, the prime CNC computer detected an error and shut down. The cap was a special cap which allowed the circuit for that connector to be closed, so when it was opened the sensor detected an error. The shut down of the CNC caused a 2-minute loss of communications. The safeing of the computer also stopped the [[Canadarm2]] for a reconfiguration of the cameras being used during the spacewalk by both the robotic arm operators and observers on the ground.<ref name="stat7">{{Cite web|url=http://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/shuttle/shuttlemissions/sts132/news/STS-132-07.html|title=STS-132 MCC Status Report #07|access-date=May 17, 2010|archive-date=May 21, 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100521054801/http://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/shuttle/shuttlemissions/sts132/news/STS-132-07.html|url-status=dead}}</ref>

===18 May 18 (Flight Day 5 – MRM1 installation)===

On flight day 5, the crew focused on the addition of the MRM-1 module to the space station.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/shuttle/shuttlemissions/sts132/news/STS-132-08.html|title=STS-132 MCC Status Report #08|author=NASA|date=18 May 18, 2010|access-date=19 May 19, 2010}}</ref> Commander Ken Ham and pilot Tony Antonelli maneuvered ''Atlantis''<nowiki>'</nowiki> robotic arm to unberth MRM-1 from the shuttle's payload bay at 09:49 UTC, and handed it off to the station's Canadarm2 at 10:14 UTC. Mission Specialists Garrett Reisman and Piers Sellers, working from inside the station's ''Cupola'', then maneuvered the Canadarm2 arm to deliver MRM-1 to its new position, the Earth-facing port of the ''Zarya'' service module. The docking occurred at 12:20 UTC<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.space.com/missionlaunches/shuttle-atlantis-russian-lab-preview-100518.html|title=Astronauts Attach New Russian Science Module to Space Station|author=Clara Moskowitz|publisher=SPACE.com|date=18 May 18, 2010|access-date=19 May 19, 2010}}</ref> when the shuttle-station stack was flying above Argentina. Following the successful docking, Sellers reported to Mission Control that, during the docking, he did not see the expected "capture 1" confirmation signal appear on his laptop, to which CAPCOM Steve Swanson replied "And station, that error's expected. The reason you didn't get 'contact 1' is because Garrett did too good of a job flying. He went right down the middle and got a hole in one."<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.spaceflightnow.com/shuttle/sts132/100518fd5/index2.html|title=New module supports station science and spacecraft|author=William Harwood|publisher=Spaceflight Now|date=18 May 18, 2010|access-date=19 May 19, 2010}}</ref>

At 17:20 UTC, shuttle crew members Ham, Reisman, Sellers, along with station crew members Kotov, Skvortsov and Caldwell Dyson, gathered in the space station's ''Harmony'' module to talk with reporters from [[MSNBC]], [[Fox News]] and [[CNN]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/shuttle/shuttlemissions/sts132/news/STS-132-09.html|title=STS-132 MCC Status Report #09|author=NASA|date=18 May 18, 2010|access-date=19 May 19, 2010|archive-date=April 8, 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130408013431/http://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/shuttle/shuttlemissions/sts132/news/STS-132-09.html|url-status=dead}}</ref> The two crews answered questions related to their stay in orbit, medical experiments being conducted on the ISS, spacewalking experiences and the [[Deepwater Horizon oil spill|Gulf of Mexico oil spill]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.space.com/missionlaunches/gulf-oil-slick-scary-from-space-100518.html|title=Gulf Oil Slick Looks 'Very Scary' From Space, Cosmonaut Says|author=Clara Moskowitz|publisher=SPACE.com|date=18 May 18, 2010|access-date=19 May 19, 2010}}</ref>

=== 19 May 19 (Flight Day 6 – EVA 2) ===

The primary task on the mission's second spacewalk, EVA 2, was to remove and replace batteries on the station's port 6 truss.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/shuttle/shuttlemissions/sts132/news/STS-132-10.html|author=NASA|title=STS-132 MCC Status Report #10|date=19 May 19, 2010|access-date=20 May 20, 2010}}</ref> The spacewalk got under way at 10:38 UTC,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.nasaspaceflight.com/2010/05/eva-2-obss-ptu-cable-repair-p6-battery-rr-132/|title=EVA-2: OBSS PTU Cable Repair and P6 Battery R&R worked by STS-132|author=Chris Gebhardt|publisher=NASAspaceflight.com|date=19 May 19, 2010|access-date=20 May 20, 2010}}</ref> more than 25 minutes ahead of the scheduled start, which already had been moved up 30 minutes.

Lead spacewalker Bowen's first task was to remove a cable snag in the OBSS's pan and tilt mechanism. Bowen looped a tie wrap on two cables to relieve the snag and completed the task in less than 30 minutes, while Good began work with the batteries.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/shuttle/shuttlemissions/sts132/news/STS-132-11.html|author=NASA|title=STS-132 MCC Status Report #11|date=19 May 19, 2010|access-date=May 20, 2010|archive-date=May 23, 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100523001551/http://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/shuttle/shuttlemissions/sts132/news/STS-132-11.html|url-status=dead}}</ref> Although the initial plan was to replace three batteries, the two astronauts managed to replace an additional fourth battery during EVA 2. The batteries Bowen and Good replaced had originally been launched in November 2000. After the battery work and cleanup of the area, Bowen and Good moved on to the new backup K_u band antenna on the Z1 truss. They tightened bolts holding the antenna's dish to its boom, closing a gap left there after EVA 1. Good performed a wiggle test and confirmed that two spacewalkers did not see any signs of motion in the antenna-mast interface. They then removed the antenna's launch locks, leaving the antenna ready to operate.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.spaceflightnow.com/shuttle/sts132/100519fd6/index2.html|title=Smooth spacewalk tackles planned work and more

|author=William Harwood|publisher=Spaceflight Now|date=19 May 19, 2010|access-date=20 May 20, 2010}}</ref>

=== 20 May 20 (Flight Day 7 – MRM-1 initial checks, transfers and off-duty) ===

On flight day 7, the crew spent a few hours of off-duty time in the afternoon, but otherwise were largely focused on preparations for EVA 3. Earlier in the day, at 10:52 UTC, following leak checks, ISS Expedition 23 commander Oleg Kotov and flight engineer Alexander Skvortsov opened the hatch to the MRM-1 module.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/shuttle/shuttlemissions/sts132/news/STS-132-13.html|title=STS-132 MCC Status Report #13|author=NASA|date=20 May 20, 2010|access-date=May 21, May2010|archive-date=July 7, 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100707032301/http://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/shuttle/shuttlemissions/sts132/news/STS-132-13.html|url-status=dead}}</ref> They wore eye and breathing protection as a standard precaution when entering a new module. Kotov reported that some metal filings were drifting around inside the new module as unpacking activities gathered pace, although initially he reported the interior of MRM-1 looked clean. Flight controllers both in Houston and Moscow worked with the crew to develop a technique for safely removing the floating debris.

At 12:25 UTC, shuttle crew members Ken Ham, Tony Antonelli, Piers Sellers, and ISS flight engineer Tracy Caldwell Dyson, talked with the [[Associated Press]], [[Fox News Radio]], and [[CBS News]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://spaceflightnow.com/shuttle/sts132/100520fd7/index2.html|title=Astronauts thrilled with progress of shuttle mission|author=William Harwood|publisher=Spaceflight Now|date=20 May 20, 2010}}</ref> Ham also joined in with past and present members of Mission Control to recognize Lonnie J. Schmitt as the first flight controller to reach his 100th shuttle mission.

=== 21 May 21 (Flight Day 8 – EVA 3) ===

On flight day 8, Mike Good and Garret Reisman completed EVA 3, the third and final spacewalk of the STS-132 mission.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.space.com/missionlaunches/atlantis-shuttle-final-spacewalk-100521.html|title=Astronauts Perform Spacewalk Finale Outside Shuttle Atlantis|author=Tariq Malik|publisher=SPACE.com|date=22 May 22, 2010|access-date=30 May 30, 2010}}</ref> The pair connected a pair of [[ammonia]] jumpers on the P4/P5 truss segment, before continuing on out to the end of the P6 truss. Once at the P6 truss, Good and Reisman completed the battery swap by removing and replacing the final two batteries and retrieving the temporarily stowed old battery on the truss. Once that task was complete, Good and Reisman moved to ''Atlantis''<nowiki>'</nowiki>s payload bay, where they removed a grapple fixture and took it to the [[Quest airlock|''Quest'' airlock]]. The pair then moved on to fix some insulation on the [[Dextre]] robot, and stowed some tools in an external toolbox on the Z1 truss. Pilot Tony Antonelli choreographed the spacewalk from inside the shuttle.

While the spacewalk was going on, Commander Ken Ham and Mission Specialist Steve Bowen completed some more of the transfer work for the mission.<ref name="stat15">{{Cite web|url=http://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/shuttle/shuttlemissions/sts132/news/STS-132-15.html|title=STS-132 MCC Status Report #15|access-date=May 23, 2010|archive-date=May 25, 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100525103801/http://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/shuttle/shuttlemissions/sts132/news/STS-132-15.html|url-status=dead}}</ref>

===22 May 22 (Flight day 9 – ICC-VLD re-installation and off-duty)===

===23 May 23 (Flight day 10 – Undocking)===

On flight day 10, the joint STS-132/[[Expedition 23]] crews awoke to begin the final hours of the joint docked mission. The crews completed the final time-sensitive transfers of the mission, which included scientific research samples that need to be kept cold. Once these transfers were completed, the two crews held a joint crew news conference and took a crew photo, and later, prior to hatch closure, held a mutual farewell ceremony. After the ceremony, the hatches between ''Atlantis'' and the International Space Station were closed, and a leak check was performed to ensure all the hatches were sealed properly. The shuttle undocked from the ISS at 15:22 UTC, a little more than 2 hours after the hatches were closed.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.nasaspaceflight.com/2010/05/atlantis-undocks-from-iss-potential-thruster-heater-failure-workaround/|title=Atlantis Undocks from ISS; Potential Thruster Heater Failure Workaround|author=Chris Gebhardt|publisher=NASAspaceflight.com|date=23 May 23, 2010|access-date=30 May 30, 2010}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.spaceflightnow.com/shuttle/sts132/100523fd10/index2.html|title=Atlantis completes flawless visit to the space station|author=William Harwood|publisher=Spaceflight Now|date=23 May 23, 2010|access-date=30 May 30, 2010}}</ref> At the time of the undocking, the two spacecraft were orbiting {{convert|220|mi|km}} above the [[Southern Ocean]] southwest of [[Perth, Western Australia|Perth, Australia]]. The shuttle, guided by pilot [[Dominic A. Antonelli|Tony Antonelli]], backed away from the ISS to a distance of about {{convert|400|ft|m}}, at which time Antonelli began conducting a fly-around of the space station, so that crew members on both the ISS and shuttle could get photos of both vehicles. Once the fly-around was complete, the shuttle crew conducted two separation burns to move ''Atlantis'' away from the space station.<ref name="stat19">{{Cite web|url=http://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/shuttle/shuttlemissions/sts132/news/STS-132-19.html|title=STS-132 MCC Status Report #19|access-date=24 May 24, 2010|publisher=NASA|archive-date=May 26, 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100526020306/http://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/shuttle/shuttlemissions/sts132/news/STS-132-19.html|url-status=dead}}</ref>

===24 May 24 (Flight day 11 – Late inspection)===

The crew of ''Atlantis'' awoke on flight day 11, and after a couple of hours of personal time, began the late inspection of the shuttle's wing leading edges and nose cap.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.space.com/missionlaunches/shuttle-atlantis-heat-shield-inspection-100524.html|title=Astronauts Give Shuttle Atlantis One Last Inspection in Space|author=Robert Z. Pearlman|publisher=SPACE.com|date=24 May 24, 2010|access-date=30 May 30, 2010}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.spaceflightnow.com/shuttle/sts132/100525fd12/index.html|title=Astronauts test re-entry systems, pack for landing|author=William Harwood|publisher=Spaceflight Now|date=25 May 25, 2010|access-date=29 May 29, 2010}}</ref> The crew finished the scans about two and a half hours ahead of schedule. By 09:50 UTC, they had finished their look at the right wing, by 10:52 UTC the nose cap survey was complete, and the left wing survey was finished at 11:17 UTC.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/shuttle/shuttlemissions/sts132/news/STS-132-21.html|title=STS-132 MCC Status Report #21|author=NASA|date=24 May 24, 2010|access-date=May 30, 2010|archive-date=May 27, 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100527113037/http://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/shuttle/shuttlemissions/sts132/news/STS-132-21.html|url-status=dead}}</ref> The TPS survey was done using the shuttle's robotic arm and its OBSS extension. While the scans were going on, some of the crew stowed items that were no longer needed or were transferred right before undocking. Spacewalkers [[Mike Good]] and [[Steve Bowen]] cleaned up and stowed their spacesuits for landing.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/shuttle/shuttlemissions/sts132/news/STS-132-20.html|title=STS-132 MCC Status Report #20|author=NASA|date=24 May 24, 2010|access-date=30 May 30, 2010}}</ref> The latter part of the crew's day was spent with some off-duty time.

===25 May 25 (Flight day 12 – Landing prep)===

''Atlantis''<nowiki>'</nowiki> astronauts devoted flight day 12 to preparing for the shuttle's landing.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/shuttle/shuttlemissions/sts132/news/STS-132-23.html|title=STS-132 MCC Status Report #23|author=NASA|date=25 May 25, 2010|access-date=May 30, 2010|archive-date=May 29, 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100529033842/http://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/shuttle/shuttlemissions/sts132/news/STS-132-23.html|url-status=dead}}</ref> The crew executed standard day-before-landing activities.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.space.com/missionlaunches/shuttle-atlantis-systems-check-100525.html|title=Space Shuttle Atlantis Primed for Last Trip Home|author=Robert Z. Pearlman|publisher=SPACE.com|date=25 May 25, 2010|access-date=30 May 30, 2010}}</ref> Commander Ham, Pilot Antonelli and Mission Specialist Good began the flight control system (FCS) hot-fire checkout at about 1:40&nbsp;am EDT, operating the rudder and flaps that would control ''Atlantis''<nowiki>'</nowiki> flight through the atmosphere to the KSC runway. That complete, Ham and Antonelli fired each of the shuttle's 44 attitude control thrusters, which were designed to orient ''Atlantis'' in space as it descended from orbit and through the upper atmosphere. Both these tests were completed successfully.

All STS-132 crew members worked at various times throughout the day to stow items in the cabin to prepare for landing. They also gathered for a 30-minute deorbit briefing at 5:40&nbsp;am EDT. Immediately afterward, the crew talked with representatives of the [[Colbert Report]],<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.space.com/missionlaunches/stephen-colbert-atlantis-shuttle-astronauts-100525.html|title=Stephen Colbert Makes Out-Of-This-World Jokes With Atlantis Shuttle Crew|author=Tariq Malik|publisher=SPACE.com|date=25 May 25, 2010|access-date=30 May 30, 2010}}</ref> [[ABC Radio Network]], and [[WEWS-TV]] of [[Cleveland, Ohio]].

===26 May 26 (Flight day 13 – Re-entry and landing)===

[[File:STS-132 landing.jpg|thumb|STS-132 ends as Space Shuttle ''Atlantis'' lands on 26 May 26, 2010, at Kennedy Space Center's [[Shuttle Landing Facility]].]]

The STS-132 crew awoke at 12:20 EDT (4:20 UTC).<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/shuttle/shuttlemissions/sts132/news/STS-132-24.html|title=STS-132 MCC Status Report #24|author=NASA|date=25 May 25, 2010|access-date=30 May 30, 2010}}</ref> At about 7:40 UTC, the astronauts began deorbit preparations, and closed the payload bay doors at 9:01 UTC. The deorbit burn initiated at 11:42 UTC, {{convert|220|mi|km}} above [[Indonesia]], and terminated at 11:45. At an altitude of {{convert|400000|ft|m}} and a speed of [[Mach number|Mach]] 25, ''Atlantis'' began re-entry at 12:16. At about 12:23 UTC, ''Atlantis'' began its s-rolls, to bleed off speed and energy during re-entry. At about 12:29, the shuttle was more than {{convert|40|mi|km}} above the Earth and {{convert|2000|mi|km}} from KSC, traveling at Mach 22. At 12:34, ''Atlantis'' was about {{convert|180000|ft|m}} up, traveling at about 9,200&nbsp;mph, and was {{convert|600|mi|km}} from the runway. At about the same time, the shuttle was experiencing maximum re-entry heating conditions, peaking at about 2,900 degrees [[Fahrenheit]], lasting about two minutes. At 12:39, long-range cameras at KSC spotted the shuttle gliding towards the runway at an altitude of {{convert|16|mi|km}} and a distance of {{convert|77|mi|km}} from KSC. At 12:44, commander Ken Ham took manual control of the orbiter for landing as it glided below the {{convert|50000|ft|m|adj=on}} mark.

''Atlantis'' landed on its main wheels on runway 33 of Kennedy Space Center's [[Shuttle Landing Facility]] at 08:48:11 EDT (12:48:11 UTC).<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.spaceflightnow.com/shuttle/sts132/100526land/|title=Atlantis returns to Earth where it could stay forever|first=William|last=Harwood|publisher=Spaceflight Now|date=26 May 26, 2010|access-date=29 May 29, 2010}}</ref> The nose wheel touched down 10 seconds later, at 08:48:21 EDT (12:48:11 UTC), with the vehicle coming to a stop at 08:49:18 EDT (12:49:18 UTC).<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/shuttle/launch/landing_blog.html|title=STS-132 Landing Blog|access-date=26 May 26, 2010|publisher=NASA|archive-date=August 20, 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100820071941/http://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/shuttle/launch/landing_blog.html|url-status=dead}}</ref> The entire mission lasted 11 days, 18 hours, 29 minutes, and 9 seconds, during which time the space shuttle traveled a total of {{convert|7724851|km|mi|sp=us}}.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.space.com/missionlaunches/space-shuttle-atlantis-legacy-numbers-100526.html|title=Space Shuttle Atlantis By the Numbers: A 25-Year Legacy|first=Tariq|last=Malik|publisher=SPACE.com|date=25 May 25, 2010|access-date=30 May 30, 2010}}</ref>

The six astronauts headed to Houston on 27 May 27. A welcome ceremony for the crew was held at 5&nbsp;pm EDT that same day at Ellington Field's NASA Hangar 276.

Three spacewalks were conducted to replace six aging batteries and to stage spare components outside the station, including a secondary K_u band antenna and spares for the Canadian [[Dextre]] robotic arm extension.<ref name="NASAfacts Remaining Space Shuttle Missions">{{cite web|url=http://www.nasa.gov/pdf/375352main_September2009R.pdf|title=Remaining Space Shuttle Missions|access-date=16 October 16, 2009|publisher=[[NASA]]|date= September 2009|author=NASA|archive-date=November 15, 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111115181237/http://www.nasa.gov/pdf/375352main_September2009R.pdf|url-status=dead}}</ref>

! width="10%" | EVA<ref name="summary">{{Cite web|url=http://www.nasa.gov/pdf/446577main_sts132-summary.pdf|title=STS-132 Mission Summary (PDF)|date=May 2010|access-date=26 January 26, 2012|publisher=NASA|author=NASA|archive-date=May 5, 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100505173228/http://www.nasa.gov/pdf/446577main_sts132-summary.pdf|url-status=dead}}</ref>

| 17 May 17, 2010<br /> 11:54

| 17 May 17, 2010<br /> 19:19

| 19 May 19, 2010<br /> 10:38

| 19 May 19, 2010<br /> 17:47

| 21 May 21, 2010<br /> 10:27

| 21 May 21, 2010<br /> 17:13

| colspan=4 | Good and Reisman first connected a liquid ammonia jumper hose. They then installed the final two new batteries on the truss and put the old batteries on the carrier. Next, they retrieved a grapple fixture from ''Atlantis''{{'}} payload bay and brought it inside the station to be modified for future installation on the ''[[Zarya (ISS module)|Zarya]]'' module. The pair also stowed some tools in an external toolbox outside the airlock for future spacewalks.

During the standard post-flight inspection of ''Atlantis'', a United Space Alliance inspector found a STS-132 mission decal accompanied by an inscription, "The first last flight of ''Atlantis'' left Earth on 14 May 2010 from Pad 39A" together with the crew's signatures.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.cfnews13.com/Space/DestinationSpace/2010/6/9/hidden_treasure_found_aboard_atlantis_last_flight.html?refresh=1 |title=Hidden Treasure Found Aboard Atlantis' Last Flight |author=Greg Pallone |publisher=Central Florida News 13 |date=10 June 10, 2010 |access-date=11 June 11, 2010 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100614013012/http://www.cfnews13.com/Space/DestinationSpace/2010/6/9/hidden_treasure_found_aboard_atlantis_last_flight.html?refresh=1 |archive-date=14 June 14, 2010 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.collectspace.com/ubb/Forum30/HTML/000899.html|title=STS-132: The first last crew's secret sign off |author=Robert Pearlman|publisher=collect SPACE|date=10 June 10, 2010|access-date=11 June 11, 2010}}</ref> The worker had found it tucked away on the upper side of Locker A-16 while scanning the area with a mirror. Moreover, he said the note must have been written in orbit, since otherwise the author would have had to stand on their head to write it.

Each track is specially chosen, often by the astronauts' families, and usually has a special meaning to an individual member of the crew, or is applicable to their daily activities.<ref name="chronology">{{cite news|title=Chronology of Wakeup Calls| date=2 August 2, 2005|publisher=NASA|url=https://history.nasa.gov/wakeup.htm|access-date=5 April 5, 2010}}</ref><ref name="wakeup">{{Cite web|url=http://spaceflight1.nasa.gov/gallery/audio/shuttle/sts-132/html/ndxpage1.html|title=STS-132 Wakeup Calls|publisher=[[NASA]]|date=May 2010|access-date=26 May 26, 2010|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100527205058/http://spaceflight1.nasa.gov/gallery/audio/shuttle/sts-132/html/ndxpage1.html|archive-date=27 May 27, 2010}}</ref>

| "[[You're My Home (song)|You're My Home]]"

* [http://nasatech.net/STS-132MISSION/STS-132VAB2_100419/ Spherical panorama of ''Atlantis'' in the VAB HB1 from level 5 prior to rollout]{{Dead link|date=August 2023 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}

* [http://nasatech.net/STS-132MISSION/STS-132VAB100419/ Spherical panorama of ''Atlantis'' in the VAB HB1 from level 16 prior to rollout]{{Dead link|date=August 2023 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}