Backgrounder: U.S. shuttle Atlantis' STS-129 mission

WASHINGTON, Nov. 16 (Xinhua) -- U.S. space shuttle Atlantis lifted off Monday from the Kennedy Space Center in Florida on a mission to deliver a stockpile of spare parts for the orbiting International Space Station (ISS). The following is a brief introduction to Atlantis' STS-129 mission.

Atlantis' mission will focus on storing spare hardware on the exterior of the ISS. In total, NASA said some 27,250 pounds (12,360 kilograms) worth of spares will be delivered to keep the orbiting outpost in service after the shuttle fleet is retired, including two control moment gyroscopes, used in maneuvering the station.

The 11-day flight will include three spacewalks and the installation of two platforms to the station's truss, or backbone. The platforms will hold spare parts to sustain station operations after the shuttles' retirement. This equipment is large and can only be transported using the unique capability of the shuttle.

Atlantis also will bring back station crew member Nicole Scott after more than two months aboard the orbiting laboratory. This is slated to be the final space shuttle crew rotation flight for the station.

The STS-129 mission is NASA's fifth and last shuttle mission for 2009. There are just five more shuttle launches scheduled before the planned September 2010 retirement of the space shuttle fleet.