The 132nd flight of a shuttle that lived for 32 missions

Space · Published 20 October 2026 Swipe more like this →

In short: Space exploration is often viewed as a series of singular events, but the STS-132 mission highlights the grueling reality of orbital logistics. To keep the International Space Station functional, crews must perform high-stakes manual labor in vacuum, swapping out batteries and installing modules while tethered to their lives.

Launched on May 14, 2010, at 2:20 p.m. EDT, the space shuttle Atlantis embarked on its 32nd mission (STS-132). While the eight-and-a-half minute ascent is a cinematic highlight, the core of the mission was industrial maintenance and expansion. The crew delivered an Integrated Cargo Carrier (ICC) and the Russian Mini Research Module (MRM1), which was installed on the Zarya module to expand the station's capabilities.

The technical complexity peaked during three distinct spacewalks conducted while Atlantis remained docked. These extravehicular activities were not merely exploratory; they were essential repairs. To ensure solar power storage remained functional, batteries on the P6 Truss were swapped during extravehicular activities by Reisman, Bowen, and Good; additionally, a stowage platform plus an extra antenna were put in place by Steve Bowen and Garrett Reisman. This highlights the 'hidden' labor of spaceflight: the constant need to refresh hardware that degrades in the harsh orbital environment.

Logistical precision was maintained using Canadarm2, a robotic arm operated by Reisman and Piers Sellers. They used it to maneuver the ICC into position, which served as a mobile worksite for tools and gear during the spacewalks. After seven days of docked operations, Atlantis traveled 4.8 million miles before returning to Florida on May 26, 2010. This mission underscored that space stations are not static structures but dynamic environments requiring constant manual intervention and heavy-lift delivery.

STS-132 stands as the 34th shuttle mission to the International Space Station, illustrating the iterative nature of human presence in orbit. The success of such missions relies on the synergy between Russian modules like Rassvet and American transport systems, proving that orbital infrastructure is a collaborative, multi-national engineering feat.

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