Space and Astronautics News

02/08/10: STS-130: crew inspects heat shield, prepares for docking.

Space and Astronautics News — Tue, 09 Feb 2010 00:30:00 +0000

6:30 p.m. CST Monday, Feb. 8, 2009
Mission Control Center, Houston, Texas

The astronauts onboard space shuttle Endeavour are into their first full day in space and on the way to install the final components of the U.S. segment of the International Space Station.

The wakeup call at 5:14 p.m. was “Give Me Your Eyes” by Brandon Heath, played for Pilot Terry Virts, the only first–time flyer on this crew of Endeavour. One of his first tasks is to assist Commander George Zamka with a firing of the shuttle’s jets to refine its approach to the International Space Station for the planned Tuesday night docking.

Mission Specialists Kay Hire and Nick Patrick will be at the controls of the shuttle robotic arm tonight to unberth the Orbiter Boom Sensor System from the starboard sill to begin the standard post-launch inspection of the thermal protection system tiles and reinforced carbon carbon panels on Endeavour’s nose cap and wing leading edges.

The inspection, commanded in shifts by Zamka, Virts, Hire, Patrick and Mission Specialist Steve Robinson, uses cameras and lasers at the end of the OBSS to provide 3-D views of the orbiter. That data will be reviewed by experts on the ground looking for any evidence of damage sustained during launch.

Later in their day spacewalkers Patrick and Bob Behnken conduct a checkout of the spacesuits they will wear during three spacewalks to complete installation of the Tranquility node and cupola module to the station. Then they’ll install the centerline camera in Endeavour’s Orbiter Docking System while Hire and Robinson complete a check out of the rendezvous tools the crew members will use during Tuesday night’s approach to the station.

On the station, Expedition 22 Commander Jeff Williams and Flight Engineers Max Suraev, Oleg Kotov, Soichi Noguchi and T.J. Creamer are wrapping up preparations of the station and its systems for almost nine days of joint docked operations with the shuttle crew.

The next shuttle status report will be issued at the end of the crew’s work day, or earlier if warranted.

Endeavour and its six-member STS-130 crew head toward Earth orbit and rendezvous with the International Space Station. Liftoff was at 4:14 a.m. (EST) on Feb. 8, 2010 from launch pad 39A at NASA's Kennedy Space Center. Image credit: NASA

- courtesy of NASA

02/08/10: STS-130 crew to inspect Endeavour's thermal protection system.

Space and Astronautics News — Mon, 08 Feb 2010 10:00:00 +0000

4 a.m. CST Monday, Feb. 8, 2009
Mission Control Center, Houston, Texas

After a one day delay due to clouds, space shuttle Endeavour launched at 3:14 a.m. CST Monday from the Kennedy Space Center in Florida with a new module and an attached cupola for the International Space Station that should increase human understanding of our home planet. It was the last scheduled night launch in shuttle program history.

Commander George Zamka, Pilot Terry Virts and Mission Specialists Kay Hire, Stephen Robinson, Nicholas Patrick and Robert Behnken began their 13-day mission with an eight and a half minute dash to orbit to begin the pursuit of the orbital outpost, lighting up the central Florida coast as Endeavour arced to the northeast en route to space.

When Endeavour lifted off, the station was traveling at almost five miles a second about 212 miles over western Romania. Endeavour is scheduled to dock with the station at 11:09 p.m. Tuesday over the northern coast of Spain.

Aboard the station waiting to welcome Endeavour crew members are Expedition 22 Commander Jeff Williams, cosmonaut flight engineers Max Suraev and Oleg Kotov, Japanese astronaut Soichi Noguchi and NASA astronaut T.J. Creamer.

Shortly after reaching orbit, Endeavour’s crew began the process of converting the shuttle from a launch vehicle to an orbiting spacecraft. Payload bay doors were scheduled to be opened a little less than an hour and a half after launch. Before beginning their first sleep period in space about 9:15 a.m., crew members will check out the shuttle’s robotic arm and survey the Tranquility Node 3 and its attached cupola robotic station and viewport that will be installed on the station later this week.

The crew will be awakened about 5:15 p.m. CST this afternoon for a work day that will focus on using the robotic arm and its Orbital Boom Sensor System extension to check the reinforced thermal protection on the leading edges of Endeavour’s wings and nose cap for any damage that may have occurred on launch. They also will prepare for rendezvous and docking and check out the spacesuits Patrick and Behnken will wear for three spacewalks, devoted largely to installation of Tranquility and the outfitting of the new module, the cupola and a docking port that will be relocated during docked operations.

Endeavour’s flight is the 130th of the shuttle program and the 32nd dedicated to station assembly, resupply and maintenance. The mission also will deliver equipment, supplies and scientific experiments to the station.

The next shuttle status report will be issued after crew wakeup or earlier if warranted.

Space Shuttle Endeavour and its six-member STS-130 crew head toward Earth orbit and rendezvous with the International Space Station. Liftoff was at 4:14 a.m. (EST) on Feb. 8, 2010 from launch pad 39A at NASA's Kennedy Space Center. Onboard are NASA astronauts George Zamka, commander; Terry Virts, pilot; Robert Behnken, Kathryn Hire, Nicholas Patrick and Stephen Robinson, all mission specialists. This was the second launch attempt for Endeavour's STS-130 crew and the final scheduled space shuttle night launch. The first attempt on Feb. 7 was scrubbed due to unfavorable weather. The primary payload for the STS-130 mission to the International Space Station is the Tranquility node, a pressurized module that will provide additional room for crew members and many of the station's life support and environmental control systems. Attached to one end of Tranquility is the Cupola module, a unique work area with six windows on its sides and one on top. The Cupola resembles a circular bay window and will provide a vastly improved view of the station's exterior. The multi-directional view will allow the crew to monitor spacewalks and docking operations, as well as provide a spectacular view of Earth and other celestial objects. The module was built in Turin, Italy, by Thales Alenia Space for the European Space Agency. Image credit: NASA

- courtesy of NASA

02/08/10: STS-130: Space Shuttle Endeavour launches from Cape Canaveral.

Space and Astronautics News — Sun, 07 Feb 2010 23:30:00 +0000

Live coverage of the second STS-130 mission launch attempt at Cape Canaveral.

02/07/10: STS-130: First launch attempt scrubbed.

Space and Astronautics News — Sat, 06 Feb 2010 23:41:00 +0000

Managers officially have scheduled space shuttle Endeavour's next launch attempt for Monday, Feb. 8 at 4:14 a.m. EST. The Mission Management Team will meet at 6:15 p.m. Sunday to give the "go" to fill Endeavour's external fuel tank with propellants. Tank loading would begin at 6:45 p.m. - NASA

02/02/10: Hubble Space Telescope: Suspected Asteroid Collision Leaves Trailing Debris.

Space and Astronautics News — Tue, 02 Feb 2010 16:30:00 +0000

The Hubble Space Telescope has observed a mysterious X-shaped debris pattern and trailing streamers of dust that suggest a head-on collision between two asteroids. Astronomers have long thought the asteroid belt is being ground down through collisions, but such a smashup has never been seen before.

Asteroid collisions are energetic, with an average impact speed of more than 11,000 miles per hour, or five times faster than a rifle bullet. The comet-like object imaged by Hubble, called P/2010 A2, was first discovered by the Lincoln Near-Earth Asteroid Research, or LINEAR, program sky survey on Jan. 6. New Hubble images taken on Jan. 25 and 29 show a complex X-pattern of filamentary structures near the nucleus.

Comet-like Asteroid P/2010 A2 by HST; credit: NASA, ESA, D. Jewitt (UCLA).

Close-up of Comet-like Asteroid P/2010 A2; credit: NASA, ESA, D. Jewitt (UCLA).

"This is quite different from the smooth dust envelopes of normal comets," said principal investigator David Jewitt of the University of California at Los Angeles. "The filaments are made of dust and gravel, presumably recently thrown out of the nucleus. Some are swept back by radiation pressure from sunlight to create straight dust streaks. Embedded in the filaments are co-moving blobs of dust that likely originated from tiny unseen parent bodies."

Hubble shows the main nucleus of P/2010 A2 lies outside its own halo of dust. This has never been seen before in a comet-like object. The nucleus is estimated to be 460 feet in diameter.

Normal comets fall into the inner regions of the solar system from icy reservoirs in the Kuiper belt and Oort cloud. As comets near the sun and warm up, ice near the surface vaporizes and ejects material from the solid comet nucleus via jets. But P/2010 A2 may have a different origin. It orbits in the warm, inner regions of the asteroid belt where its nearest neighbors are dry rocky bodies lacking volatile materials.

This leaves open the possibility that the complex debris tail is the result of an impact between two bodies, rather than ice simply melting from a parent body.

"If this interpretation is correct, two small and previously unknown asteroids recently collided, creating a shower of debris that is being swept back into a tail from the collision site by the pressure of sunlight," Jewitt said.

The main nucleus of P/2010 A2 would be the surviving remnant of this so-called hypervelocity collision.

"The filamentary appearance of P/2010 A2 is different from anything seen in Hubble images of normal comets, consistent with the action of a different process," Jewitt said. An impact origin also would be consistent with the absence of gas in spectra recorded using ground-based telescopes.

The asteroid belt contains abundant evidence of ancient collisions that have shattered precursor bodies into fragments. The orbit of P/2010 A2 is consistent with membership in the Flora asteroid family, produced by collisional shattering more than 100 million years ago. One fragment of that ancient smashup may have struck Earth 65 million years ago, triggering a mass extinction that wiped out the dinosaurs. But, until now, no such asteroid-asteroid collision has been caught "in the act."

At the time of the Hubble observations, the object was approximately 180 million miles from the sun and 90 million miles from Earth. The Hubble images were recorded with the new Wide Field Camera 3 (WFC3), which is capable of detecting house-sized fragments at the distance of the asteroid belt.

- courtesy of: J.D. Harrington, NASA Headquarters, Washington DC; Ray Villard, Space Telescope Science Institute, Baltimore, MD.

02/01/10: International Space Station On-Orbit Status Report.

Space and Astronautics News — Mon, 01 Feb 2010 23:59:00 +0000

The Expedition 22 crew continued its regular science and maintenance duties Monday while awaiting the impending arrivals of the ISS Progress 36 cargo ship and Space Shuttle Endeavour. - NASA

12/21/09: Silicon technology offers extended X-ray vision of high-energy Universe.

Space and Astronautics News — Sat, 26 Dec 2009 12:00:00 +0000

As elements of the integrated circuits running our computers, phones and electronics, silicon wafers are everywhere. An ESA-led effort is establishing an out-of-this-world use for these commonplace items: when stacked together precisely by the thousand they promise to deliver astronomy’s clearest X-ray view yet of the most violent regions of space.

“ESA has been working with specialist European firms to develop this new optical technique and build up a supporting industry,” said Marcos Bavdaz, Head of ESA’s Advanced Technology Section. “This ‘silicon pore optics’ effort is part of the Agency’s preparation for the International X-ray Observatory (IXO), a candidate mission with NASA and Japan’s space agency for around 2020.”

The Dutch company cosine Research is leading an international consortium of industrial partners and research institutes from ESA member states. This month, their latest results were presented: optics in flight configuration underwent testing in X-ray facilities, revealing excellent optical performance.

This artist's impression shows a supermassive black hole surrounded by an accretion disc and dust torus. Material within the accretion disc is accelerated to extremely high velocities by the inexorable gravitational pull of the black hole. The ESA-NASA-JAXA International X-ray Observatory (IXO) mission candidate, being considered for launch around 2020, will enable more detailed study of the composition and behaviour of such highly energetic material, which radiates at X-ray wavelengths. Credits: ESA / V. Beckmann (NASA-GSFC)

Observing the sky in X-rays reveals a violent Universe of exploding stars, black holes and incandescent gas clouds. With temperatures of millions of degrees, such high-energy objects shine at X-ray wavelengths but not in visible light. Astronomers could only study this violent, high-energy Universe once the space age gave them a way of placing telescopes above the X-ray-absorbing atmosphere.

Actually forming a focused image from X-rays, however, is no easy task. Medical X-rays are well-known, but they are not focused images – just shadows cast through body parts using techniques pioneered by X-ray discoverer Wilhelm Roentgen in 1895.

Standard optical designs do not work because energetic X-rays are reflected only at extremely shallow angles. While visible light reflects off a mirror like a ball bouncing off a wall, X-ray reflection works more like a stone skimming along a pond. Telescope mirrors must face sideways instead of straight on, and many mirrors are needed to gather sufficient X-rays. So an X-ray telescope is more like a set of Russian dolls, with mirrors stacked around each other.

ESA’s XMM-Newton X-ray space observatory uses more than 250 gold-coated nickel mirrors, while NASA’s Chandra relies on fewer mirrors made of heavier glass. For IXO, the aim is to boost XMM’s collecting area 20-fold, while delivering three times the resolution. Achieving this demands new technology: while NASA is investigating an alternative called ‘slumped glass’, ESA is focusing on silicon pore optics, based around commercial silicon wafers.

ESA’s Eric Wille, overseeing the project together with Kotska Wallace, explained: “Manufacturers already polish these wafers to optical quality to better ‘print’ the tiny structures needed for the latest microprocessors. So the wafers need no further polishing, while also being both light and stiff.”

Semiconductor industry technologies are being harnessed to prepare silicon wafers and shape them into the complex structures required. They are cut into paper-thick square plates with ‘ribs’ diced into them to facilitate stacking. They are then tapered into a wedge shape to direct X-rays along the desired optical path, after which metal coatings are added. An industrial robot performs their precision stacking and mounting.

The technique is called ‘silicon pore optics’ because the massed stacks of ribbed silicon are porous, X-rays being able to reflect through each pore in the assembled silicon stack ‘petals’. IXO would need more than 200 000 silicon plates overall. The next step is to streamline the assembly process for mass production and further improve quality, opening the door to unprecedented discoveries in the X-ray sky.

- courtesy of European Space Agency

11/27/09: STS-129: Space Shuttle Atlantis lands at Kennedy Space Center.

Space and Astronautics News — Fri, 27 Nov 2009 16:00:00 +0000

Space shuttle Atlantis and its seven-member crew landed Friday morning at Kennedy Space Center in Florida, winding up a successful 11-day flight to deliver heavy spare parts, other equipment and supplies to the International Space Station. - NASA

11/27/09: STS-129: Landing of Space Shuttle Atlantis at Kennedy Space Center.

Space and Astronautics News — Fri, 27 Nov 2009 11:50:00 +0000

Live coverage of the landing of Space Shuttle Atlantis and the crew of Mission STS-129 to the International Space Station.

11/27/09: STS-129: landing day arrives for Space Shuttle Atlantis.

Space and Astronautics News — Thu, 26 Nov 2009 18:00:00 +0000

The crew of space shuttle Atlantis has begun what is scheduled to be the STS-129 mission’s landing day. Atlantis will be bringing home Expedition 20 and 21 Flight Engineer Nicole Stott, who spent 87 days on the International Space Station. Her return brings to an end nearly a decade of space shuttle use to rotate crew on the International Space Station. - NASA

11/26/09: STS-129 crew celebrates Thanksgiving, prepares for landing.

Space and Astronautics News — Thu, 26 Nov 2009 18:00:00 +0000

Atlantis crew members spent part of Thanksgiving Day preparing for their scheduled Friday landing. The shuttle and its seven-astronaut crew, Commander Charles Hobaugh, Pilot Barry Wilmore and Mission Specialists Leland Melvin, Randy Bresnik, Mike Foreman, Robert Satcher Jr. and Nicole Stott also had a Thanksgiving meal and talked with media representatives. - NASA

11/26/09: STS-129 crew prepares for Atlantis' return home.

Space and Astronautics News — Thu, 26 Nov 2009 01:00:00 +0000

The seven-member crew of Atlantis is packing the orbiter and preparing to return home, wrapping up the 31st shuttle flight to the International Space Station. - NASA

11/25/09: Space Shuttle Atlantis undocks from the International Space Station.

Space and Astronautics News — Wed, 25 Nov 2009 21:15:00 +0000

Atlantis undocked from the International Space Station at 3:53 a.m. CST Wednesday, ending a successful resupply visit that included three spacewalks. The total docked time was 6 days, 17 hours and 2 minutes. - NASA

11/25/09: STS-129: Space Shuttle Atlantis to undock from the ISS today.

Space and Astronautics News — Wed, 25 Nov 2009 08:00:00 +0000

Space shuttle Atlantis and its seven-astronaut crew are scheduled to leave the International Space Station at 3:53 a.m. CST. Commander Charlie Hobaugh, Pilot Barry Wilmore and Mission Specialists Leland Melvin, Randy Bresnick, Mike Foreman, Robert Satcher Jr. and Nicole Stott, spent the night separated from their five station colleagues. Hatches between the two vehicles were closed at 12:12 p.m. on Tuesday. - NASA

11/24/09: STS-129: astronauts close hatches between Atlantis and the ISS.

Space and Astronautics News — Tue, 24 Nov 2009 21:00:00 +0000

Atlantis and International Space Station crew members closed the hatches linking their two spacecraft at 12:12 p.m. CST in preparation for the shuttle’s undocking and return home. The two have been docked since 10:51 a.m. last Wednesday and hatches opened at 12:28 p.m. that day. The crews were linked through open hatches for 5 days, 23 hours and 44 minutes. - NASA

11/24/09: STS-129 and Expedition 21 crews prepare for hatch closures.

Space and Astronautics News — Tue, 24 Nov 2009 07:30:00 +0000

The 12 crew members onboard the International Space Station and space shuttle Atlantis will prepare to part today. They will pack up their final items and close the hatches that divide the two spacecraft in preparation for undocking tomorrow. - NASA

11/23/09: NASA's small business programs choose high tech projects for development.

Space and Astronautics News — Tue, 24 Nov 2009 01:08:00 +0003

NASA has selected for development 368 small business innovation projects that include research to minimize ageing of aircraft, new techniques for suppressing fires on spacecraft and advanced transmitters for deep space communications.

Chosen from more than 1,600 proposals, the competitively selected awards will address agency research and technology needs. The awards are part of NASA's Small Business Innovation Research, or SBIR, and Small Business Technology Transfer, or STTR, programs.

The SBIR program selected 335 proposals for negotiation of Phase 1 contracts, and the STTR program chose 33 proposals for negotiation of Phase 1 contract awards. The selected SBIR projects have a combined value of approximately $33.5 million. The selected STTR projects have a combined value of approximately $3.3 million.

The SBIR contracts will be awarded to 245 small, high technology firms in 36 states. The STTR contracts will be awarded to 31 small high technology firms in 19 states. As part of the STTR program, selected firms will partner with 26 universities and research institutions in 20 states.

Past innovations from the program have benefited a number of NASA efforts, including air traffic control systems, Earth observing spacecraft, the International Space Station and the development of spacecraft for exploring the Solar System.

A few of the research areas among this group of selected proposals include:-

- Advanced aerospace adhesives to minimize ageing and increase durability of aircraft
- Novel computational tools to better design future hypersonic spacecraft
- New approaches to fire suppression in spacecraft environments
- Technologies to monitor crew health and well being using very small scale testing devices
- New instruments for small lunar rovers or landers to enable critical mineralogical analysis for studying regolith, rock, ice, and dust samples
- Advanced transmitters for deep space communications

The SBIR program is a highly competitive, three-phase award system. It provides qualified small businesses -- including women-owned and disadvantaged firms -- with opportunities to propose unique ideas that meet specific research and development needs of the federal government.

The criteria used to choose these winning proposals included technical merit and feasibility, experience, qualifications and facilities, effectiveness of the work plan and commercial potential and feasibility.

The SBIR and STTR programs are part of NASA's Innovative Partnerships Program at NASA Headquarters in Washington. NASA works with U.S. industry to infuse pioneering technologies into agency missions and transition them into commercially available products and services.

NASA's Ames Research Center at Moffett Field, Calif., manages the SBIR and STTR programs for the Innovative Partnerships Program. Each of NASA's 10 field centers manages individual projects.

For a list of selected companies and more information about the program, visit: http://www.ipp.nasa.gov/ti_sbir.htm

- courtesy of NASA Headquarters

11/23/09: STS-129: Bresnik and Satcher complete all tasks of today's spacewalk.

Space and Astronautics News — Mon, 23 Nov 2009 21:00:00 +0000

Astronauts Randy Bresnik and Robert Satcher Jr. completed all the tasks of their spacewalk almost on its original schedule despite a late start. The spacewalk was the third and final spacewalk scheduled during Atlantis’ mission to the International Space Station. It ended at 1:06 p.m. CST, lasting five hours and 42 minutes. - NASA

11/23/09: Bresnik and Satcher prepare for today's final STS-129 spacewalk.

Space and Astronautics News — Mon, 23 Nov 2009 08:00:00 +0000

The combined 12-member crew of Atlantis and the International Space Station will move the last of this mission’s spare hardware during the third and final spacewalk today. Mission Specialists Randy Bresnik and Robert Satcher Jr. are scheduled to begin their six hour spacewalk at 6:18 a.m. Final preparations for the spacewalk will begin at 3:13 a.m. - NASA

11/22/09: STS-129 and Expedition 21 crews celebrate baby Bresnik.

Space and Astronautics News — Sun, 22 Nov 2009 21:00:00 +0000

Atlantis crew members got a well-earned half-day off Sunday, a day that began with some exciting news from Mission Specialist Randy Bresnik to Mission Control Houston.

Bresnik told the flight controllers his new daughter, Abigail Mae Bresnik, had been born at 11:04 p.m. Saturday. He said his wife Rebecca and new daughter, 6 pounds, 13 ounces and 20 inches long, were doing well. Bresnik got the news by private phone patch through mission control shortly after the crew was awakened.

Preparations for Monday’s spacewalk, the third of three scheduled for Atlantis’ mission to the station, occupied some of the crew’s time. Shuttle crew members, Charles Hobaugh, Pilot Barry Wilmore and Mission Specialists Leland Melvin, Bresnik, Mike Foreman, Robert Satcher Jr. and Nicole Stott, as well as the station’s crew, Commander Frank De Winne and Flight Engineers Jeffrey Williams, Maxim Suraev, Roman Romanenko and Robert Thirsk, joined in an hour-long spacewalk procedures review just before bedtime.

Satcher and Bresnik prepared tools for their spacewalk, with help from Foreman, Monday’s intravehicular officer, who participated in the flight’s first two spacewalks. Satcher and Bresnik will spend the night in the Quest airlock. The crew is scheduled to begin its sleep period about 5:30 p.m.

Earlier Sunday, Wilmore and Melvin, Satcher and Stott talked with reporters from WTTG-TV in Washington, D.C., Bay News 9 in Tampa, Fla., and WBBM Radio in Chicago. Wilmore, Melvin and Stott also talked with Tennessee students in a session from Tennessee Technological University in Cookeville. Wilmore is a graduate of Tennessee Tech.

The next mission status report will be issued after crew wakeup, or earlier if warranted.

Nov 21: Astronaut Randy Bresnik, STS-129 mission specialist, performs a task near the European Space Agency's Columbus module, on the International Space Station during the second STS-129 space walk. Credit: NASA

- courtesy of NASA

11/22/09: STS-129: Satcher and Bresnik prepare spacesuits for third STS-129 spacewalk.

Space and Astronautics News — Sun, 22 Nov 2009 09:00:00 +0000

The six-member crew of Atlantis will have a half day to relax before getting ready for Monday’s third and final spacewalk.

The crew was awakened this morning with the song “Butterfly Kisses,” by Bob Carlisle at 1:58 a.m. CST. It was selected for Mission Specialist Randy Bresnik.

Later in the morning, Pilot Barry Wilmore and Mission Specialists Leland Melvin, Robert Satcher Jr. and Nicole Stott will answer reporters’ questions in interviews with WTTG-TV in Washington, D.C., Bay News 9 in Tampa, Fla. and WBBM Radio in Chicago, Ill.

Also planned is an opportunity for some Tennessee students to interact with Wilmore, Melvin and Stott. The educational question and answer session is being held at Tennessee Technological University in Cookeville. Wilmore is an alumnus of Tennessee Tech.

In the early afternoon, Satcher and Bresnik will prepare spacesuits and tools and review the updated procedures for that third spacewalk. The spacewalk was replanned overnight after Bresnik and Foreman were able to get ahead on tasks during Saturday's spacewalk, including deploying a third payload attach system.

Tonight Satcher and Bresnik will spend the night in the Quest airlock to prepare for Monday’s spacewalk. The crew is scheduled to begin its sleep period about 5:30 p.m.

The next mission status report will be issued at the end of the crew’s day or earlier if warranted.

Nov 21: Russia's Progress 35P is docked to the PIRS Docking Compartment, photographed during the middle of three scheduled sessions of extravehicular activity (EVA) shared by the Atlantis STS-129 crew and the five crewmembers of Expedition 21. Credit: NASA

- courtesy of NASA

11/21/09: STS-129: Foreman and Bresnick complete spacewalk and add get-ahead tasks.

Space and Astronautics News — Sat, 21 Nov 2009 22:00:00 +0000

It’s two down and one to go for Atlantis’ spacewalkers.

Mike Foreman and Randy Bresnik wound up a successful 6-hour, 8-minute outing after completing their scheduled tasks ahead of schedule and get-ahead jobs. The official end of the spacewalk was at 2:39 p.m. CST. It was the second of the three scheduled during Atlantis’ visit to the International Space Station.

The start was a little later than planned, about 8:30 a.m., because a false depressurization alarm had sounded on the station at 8:53 p.m. Friday, interrupting the crews’ sleep and the spacewalkers’ campout in the Quest airlock. The spacewalkers completed the process of reducing the nitrogen in their blood by doing exercise while breathing oxygen.

The first job was installing an antenna assembly called GATOR on a Columbus module handrail. The assembly includes an antenna for a ship identification system and another for ham radio. With support from intravehicular officer Robert Satcher Jr., they completed that task about 40 minutes ahead of schedule.

Then they relocated the station’s floating potential measurement unit to the Port 1 Truss. The device, which measures electrical potential of the station, was moved to make way for an alpha magnetic spectrometer to be delivered next year.

Next, after a trip back to the airlock to recharge the spacesuits’ oxygen, was deployment of a payload attachment system on the upper part of the Starboard 3 (S3) Truss. The first PAS was deployed ahead of schedule during the Thursday spacewalk, so installation of the second, which had been scheduled for Monday’s spacewalk, was moved up to today.

The PAS is a stowage system for spare parts. To set it up, the spacewalkers had to remove two braces, swing out the PAS from the truss on which it was launched, and then reattach the braces to support it in its new position.

The final scheduled task of the spacewalk was installation of a wireless video system on S3. The system transmits video from the cameras on spacewalkers’ helmets. They finished that chore more than an hour ahead of schedule.

Flight controllers added get-head tasks. The major one was deployment of a third PAS, this one on the Earth-facing side of S3. Most recently that job had been added to the third spacewalk, but the crew was so far ahead, they were told to do it Saturday. The task was accomplished smoothly and quickly.

The crew also disconnected, examined, photographed and reconnected the troublesome antenna cable Discovery astronauts on STS-128 had been unable to hook up. Thursday spacewalkers had succeeded in mating the cable, but instrument readings were not as expected.

Finally, the spacewalkers moved a tool stanchion on Pressurized Mating Adaptor 1, which links the U.S. and Russian segments of the station, and relocated an articulated portable foot restraint.

Just before the beginning of the Saturday spacewalk, Express Logistics Carrier 2 was installed on S3 by the station’s robotic arm, operated by Mission Specialists Leland Melvin and Nicole Stott. It holds almost 10,000 pounds of large spares for the station, including an attitude-control gyroscope, a high-pressure oxygen tank and a pump module.

A sister cargo carrier, ELC 1, also came to the station on Atlantis and was installed at about the time the first spacewalk began on Thursday.

The next shuttle status report will be issued Sunday after crew wake-up.

Nov 21: Astronaut Randy Bresnik, STS-129 mission specialist, salutes crewmates while positioned near the European Space Agency's Columbus module on International Space Station. Astronauts Bresnik and Mike Foreman were in the midst of the second of three scheduled spacewalks for this shuttle crew, working in cooperation with the five current crewmembers for the orbital outpost and with their five Atlantis crewmates, all of whom pitched in EVA support from inside. Credit: NASA

Nov 21: Astronauts Mike Foreman (center frame) and Randy Bresnik, STS-129 mission specialists, perform a series of tasks on the exterior of the International Space Station during the second STS-129 space walk. Credit: NASA

- courtesy of NASA

11/21/09: STS-129: false alarm on ISS delays today's spacewalk slightly.

Space and Astronautics News — Sat, 21 Nov 2009 09:30:00 +0000

An overnight interruption in their preparations will mean that Mission Specialists Mike Foreman and Randy Bresnik will head out of the station’s hatch on the second spacewalk of the STS-129 mission a little later than planned.

The International Space Station again experienced a false depressurization alarm that originated from the new Poisk Mini-Research Module overnight. The station’s automatic response resulted in a shutdown of ventilation systems, which led to two smoke detectors issuing a false alarm, as well – one in the Columbus European laboratory and one in the Quest airlock, where Foreman and Bresnik were camping out as part of the pre-breathe protocol that precedes spacewalks.

The alarm sounded at 8:53 p.m., more than two hours after Atlantis’ crew went to sleep for the night. Emergency procedures required the spacewalkers to move out of the airlock while teams on the ground verified that the alarms were false. Although flight controllers in Houston were quickly able to determine that was the case, it was decided that it would take too long to get the airlock back in its normal configuration for it to be feasible for Bresnik and Foreman to spend the night there. Instead, they were instructed to stop their pre-breathe protocol and sleep elsewhere.

In order to flush nitrogen from their blood steams – the job their campout in Quest would have accomplished – Bresnik and Foreman will instead be going through an exercise protocol, which requires them to spend 10 minutes on the station’s exercise bike while breathing pure oxygen from an air mask. They’ll spend a total of two hours and 20 minutes breathing the pure oxygen, which, when combined with the exercise, will help them avoid getting decompression sickness when they exit the station.

They are scheduled to exit the station at 8:38 a.m. With 30 extra minutes in their sleep period to make up for sleep lost due to the alarms, the crew’s wakeup call came today at 2:58 a.m. The wakeup song, “Voyage to Atlantis” by The Isley Brothers, was played for Mission Specialist Robert Satcher Jr.

Even though they are starting late, the spacewalkers plan to get all the scheduled tasks complete during what will now be a six-hour-long spacewalk. That is 30 minutes shorter than was originally planned, which means that they will not have extra time in the schedule for get ahead work.

Foreman and Bresnik still intend to install the Grappling Adaptor to On-Orbit Railing assembly (or GATOR) on the Columbus module, relocate a floating potential measurement unit to the P1 truss segment, set up a cargo attachment system on the zenith face of the S3 truss segment and install a wireless video system external transceiver assembly.

The other major task on the crew’s agenda today is the transfer of the second cargo pallet delivered by Atlantis to the space station – EXPRESS Logistics Carrier 2, or ELC2. That work is scheduled to get underway just before 6:45 a.m. The pallet contains 9,900 pounds of spare equipment for the station, including a control moment gyroscope, a nitrogen tank assembly, a pump module, a high pressure gas tank, a cargo transport container that holds 10 remote power control modules and a reel assembly for the station’s mobile transporter.

ELC2 will be installed on the S3 segment of the station’s truss by the space station’s robotic arm, which will be driven by Mission Specialists Leland Melvin and Nicole Stott.

The next shuttle status report will be issued at the end of the crew’s workday or earlier if events warrant. The crew is due to go to sleep just before 6 p.m.

Nov 21: Astronaut Mike Foreman, STS-129 mission specialist, looks toward his camera bearing crewmate, astronaut Randy Bresnik, who captured the image with an electronic still camera. The two were in the midst of the second scheduled space walk for the Atlantis crewmembers. Credit: NASA

Nov 21: This is a high-angle view of the crew cabin of the space shuttle Atlantis during the second space walk of Atlantis' visit to the International Space Station. Credit: NASA

- courtesy of NASA

11/20/09: STS-129: Crew grapples Express Logistics Carrier 2.

Space and Astronautics News — Fri, 20 Nov 2009 23:00:00 +0000

Preparations for the second spacewalk of Atlantis’ STS-129 visit to the International Space Station, transfer of material between the spacecraft and talks with media representatives helped keep astronauts busy on Friday.

The Atlantis crew, Commander Charles Hobaugh, Pilot Barry Wilmore and Mission Specialists Leland Melvin, Randy Bresnik, Mike Foreman, Robert Satcher Jr. and Nicole Stott, also tackled various maintenance, troubleshooting and science activities.

Station Expedition 21 crew members, Commander Frank De Winne and Flight Engineers Jeffrey Williams, Maxim Suraev, Roman Romanenko and Robert Thirsk, joined in those activities.

A little after 6 a.m., the shuttle’s robotic arm grappled Express Logistics Carrier 2 in the shuttle cargo bay. It will be handed off to the station arm Saturday and attached with its load of large spare parts to the outside of the station. Its sister carrier, ELC 1, was attached to the station on Thursday.

Foreman and Bresnik, the Saturday spacewalkers, prepared spacesuits and configured tools for their excursion. Both crews spent an hour shortly before bedtime reviewing spacewalk procedures.

Among spacewalk tasks will be installation of a second Payload Attachment System, this one on the upper part of the Starboard 3 truss. It was to have been done on the third spacewalk on Monday, but was moved to Saturday. The first PAS installation, initially scheduled for Saturday, was completed as a get-ahead task by Foreman and Satcher during the mission’s first spacewalk on Thursday. Satcher will be Saturday’s intravehicular officer.

Other spacewalk jobs Saturday include installation of a Grappling Adaptor to On-Orbit Railing (GATOR) assembly, which is part of a demonstration of two ship Automatic Identification System receivers, relocation of a Floating Potential Measurement Unit and installation of a Wireless Video System transceiver.

The movement of materials between Atlantis and the station continued to go well Friday. Well over half the mission’s transfer activities have been completed.

Crew members participated in three chats with media representatives. Hobaugh and Wilmore spoke with CBS News, Fox News Radio and Nashville’s WTVG-TV shortly after 5 a.m. Melvin and Satcher were on the Tom Joyner Morning Show at about 6:30 a.m. A little after 3:30 p.m., Hobaugh, Melvin and Satcher talked with ESPN’s SportCenter, Black Entertainment Television News and WRIC-TV in Richmond, Va.

Troubleshooting continued on Atlantis’ Orbiter Communication Adapter after difficulties with transmission of high-data-rate material. On the station, change out of circuit boards in the Human Research Facility rack was completed.

The next shuttle status report will be issued after the Saturday crew wakeup call, scheduled for 2:28 a.m.

Nov 20: Astronauts Leland Melvin (left), STS-129 mission specialist; and Jeffrey Williams, Expedition 21 flight engineer, are pictured in the Harmony node of the International Space Station while Space Shuttle Atlantis remains docked with the station. Credit: NASA

- courtesy of NASA

11/20/09: STS-129: Astronauts prepare for Saturday's spacewalk.

Space and Astronautics News — Fri, 20 Nov 2009 10:00:00 +0000

Though it began a little later than planned, the STS-129 crew is awake and starting work on the day’s activities.

Their wakeup call came at 3:28 a.m., which gave them 30 extra minutes intended to make up for sleep lost overnight when false depressurization caution alarms sounded on the International Space Station. That occurred just after 7:30 p.m., about 30 minutes after the crew began its sleep period.

Although the flight control teams on the ground were able to determine that there was no depressurization occurring, the crew was never in any danger and ventilation fans were shutoff as a precaution. That shutoff kicked up dust that resulted in a fire alarm in the European Columbus laboratory also sounding.

By 8:15 p.m., the flight control teams in Houston were working to bring the station back into its normal configuration, and Atlantis’ crew was told it could go back to sleep. The space station crew members were required to stay up a bit longer as the station’s ventilation system was reactivated. That work took a little over an hour, after which the station crew was able to resume its sleep period as well. Flight control teams are looking into the cause of the initial false alarm.

The shuttle crew started its day today with a wakeup call to the tune of Sister Sledge’s “We Are Family,” which was played for Mission Specialist Leland Melvin.

The day’s tasks will be unaffected by the night’s activities. As no focused inspection of the shuttle’s heat shield was required, the crew will be focusing on preparations for Saturday’s spacewalk. These tasks include recharging batteries, switching out Mission Specialist Robert Satcher’s spacesuit for that of Mission Specialist Randy Bresnik and reviewing procedures before Bresnik and Mission Specialist Mike Foreman begin their overnight campout in the Quest Airlock.

In addition, the space shuttle’s robotic arm will be used to grab onto the second cargo pallet of spare equipment brought up by Atlantis in advance of its transfer to the space station on Saturday.

Several crew members will also be talking with reporters on the ground over the course of the day. At 5:08 a.m., Commander Charles Hobaugh and Pilot Barry Wilmore will be talking with CBS News, FOXNews Radio and Nashville’s WTVG-TV. At 6:28 a.m., Melvin and Satcher will be interviewed by the Tom Joyner Morning Show. And at 3:33 p.m., Hobaugh, Melvin and Satcher will talk with ESPN’s SportCenter, Black Entertainment Television News and WRIC-TV in Richmond, Va.

The next shuttle status report will be issued at the end of the crew’s workday or earlier if events warrant. The crew is due to go to sleep just before 6:30 p.m.

Nov 20: Eight of the 12 crew members currently on the International Space Station pose for a photo at the galley in the Unity node while Space Shuttle Atlantis remains docked with the station. Pictured from the left are NASA astronauts Leland Melvin, Robert L. Satcher Jr., both STS-129 mission specialists; Charles O. Hobaugh, STS-129 commander; Nicole Stott, STS-129 mission specialist; Russian cosmonauts Roman Romanenko and Maxim Suraev and NASA astronaut Jeffrey Williams, all Expedition 21 flight engineers; and European Space Agency astronaut Frank De Winne, Expedition 21 commander. Credit: NASA

- courtesy of NASA

11/19/09: STS-129: Astronauts complete spacewalk and perform major additional task.

Space and Astronautics News — Thu, 19 Nov 2009 21:30:00 +0000

Spacewalking Atlantis astronauts completed their planned work ahead of schedule Thursday and did a major additional task.

Mission Specialists Mike Foreman and Robert Satcher wound up the six-hour, 37-minute spacewalk at 3:01 p.m. CST. It was the first of three spacewalks scheduled for Atlantis’ mission to the International Space Station, a flight devoted largely to bringing sizeable spare parts to the station to be attached to its exterior.

The focus of other Atlantis crew members, Commander Charles Hobaugh, Pilot Barry Wilmore and Mission Specialists Leland Melvin and Randy Bresnik, was mostly on supporting the spacewalk or related activities.

Bresnik served as the intravehicular officer for the spacewalk, choreographing activities of his crewmates outside, while Melvin and Wilmore operated the station’s robotic arm. Hobaugh helped provide photo and television coverage of the spacewalk.

The spacewalk officially began at 8:24 a.m. when Foreman and Satcher switched their suits to internal power. Their first task was to install a spare S-band antenna structural assembly on the station’s Z1 truss. That was completed about an hour ahead of schedule.

The spacewalkers then separated. Foreman installed cables for a space-to-ground antenna on the Destiny laboratory and replaced a handrail on the Unity node with one having a bracket to route an ammonia cable for the Tranquility Node to be delivered next year. He also successfully connected a cable on the Unity Node, which in September had defied efforts by STS-128 astronauts.

Satcher lubricated the latching end effector on the Japanese robotic arm and a similar attachment device on the station’s mobile base system. They were almost two hours ahead when the last scheduled task was completed.

The get-ahead task, completed after spacewalkers visited the airlock to pick up required tools and recharge Foreman’s oxygen, involved installation of a Payload Attach System (PAS). It was one of three such jobs planned for the second spacewalk. Installation of this PAS, on the Earth-facing side of the Starboard 3 truss, had been scheduled as a 1.5-hour job on the Saturday spacewalk.

Foreman and Bresnik are scheduled for that second spacewalk on Saturday while Satcher is to do the third spacewalk on Monday with Bresnik.

Inside the station, Commander Frank De Winne and Flight Engineer Jeff Williams started work in the Harmony Node on data, power and cooling lines and air flow connections for Tranquility. That work is expected to continue for several days.

The next shuttle status report will be issued after crew wake-up, or earlier if events warrant.

Dr Satcher on the station's robotic arm as the spacecraft fly over the north Atlantic ocean; image credit: NASA TV

- courtesy of NASA

11/19/09: Mike Foreman and Robert Satcher prepare for first STS-129 spacewalk.

Space and Astronautics News — Thu, 19 Nov 2009 09:30:00 +0000

After a night spent camping out in the Quest airlock, Mission Specialists Mike Foreman and Robert Satcher are awake and into the final preparations for the first spacewalk of the STS-129 mission.

Foreman, Satcher and the rest of Atlantis’ crew were awakened at 3:28 a.m. to the sound of The Newsboys’ song “In Wonder.” It was played for Mission Specialist Randy Bresnik, who will be choreographing today’s spacewalk from inside the station.

The spacewalk is scheduled to begin at 8:18 a.m. and last 6.5 hours. During that time, Foreman and Satcher will be installing a spare S-band antenna structural assembly brought up in Atlantis’ cargo bay. The equipment will be stored on the Z1 segment of the station’s truss system, and to get it there Satcher will be riding the station’s robotic arm, driven by Mission Specialist Leland Melvin, Commander Charles Hobaugh and Pilot Barry Wilmore.

Other tasks on the spacewalkers’ agenda include the installation of a set of cables for a future space-to-ground antenna on the Destiny laboratory and the replacement of a handrail on the Unity node with a bracket that will be used to route an ammonia cable required for the Tranquility node when it is delivered next year. Foreman and Satcher will also reposition a cable connector on the Unity node, troubleshoot a cable connection and lubricate two latching end effectors – one on the Japanese robotic arm and one on the mobile base that allows the station’s main robotic arm to travel to different worksites.

Meanwhile, inside the station, further work will be going on to prepare the station for the arrival of the Tranquility node. While Satcher and Foreman are making adjustments on the exterior of the station, station Commander Frank De Winne and Flight Engineer Jeff Williams will be working at the port hatch of the Harmony node to rewire data, power and cooling lines and air flow connections that will be connected to Tranquility. Their task is also scheduled to take about 6.5 hours today, however that won’t be the end of it; De Winne and Williams will continue working on the project over several days during the STS-129 mission.

The next shuttle status report will be issued at the end of the crew’s workday or earlier if events warrant.

Nov 18: STS-129 and Expedition 21 crew members are pictured shortly after Space Shuttle Atlantis and the International Space Station docked in space and the hatches were opened on Nov. 18, 2009. Pictured are NASA astronauts Jeffrey Williams (foreground), Expedition 21 flight engineer; Robert L. Satcher Jr. (left), STS-129 mission specialists; and Nicole Stott, Expedition 21 flight engineer. Pictured on the right are Russian cosmonaut Roman Romanenko and Canadian Space Agency astronaut Robert Thirsk, both Expedition 21 flight engineers; along with European Space Agency astronaut Frank De Winne, Expedition 21 commander. NASA astronaut Leland Melvin (partially obscured), STS-129 mission specialist, is visible in the background.

- courtesy of NASA

11/18/09: STS-129: Space Shuttle Atlantis Docks with the International Space Station.

Space and Astronautics News — Wed, 18 Nov 2009 10:30:00 +0000

The space shuttle Atlantis docked with the International Space Station at 10:51 a.m. CST to deliver 14 tons of cargo that is essential for the continued operations of the orbiting laboratory.

Atlantis Commander Charles Hobaugh guided the orbiter to a docking with a pressurized mating adaptor located on the station’s Harmony node as the two spacecraft were flying 220 miles above Earth between Australia and Tasmania.

Prior to docking, when the orbiter reached a range of 600 feet from the station, Atlantis performed the nine minute Rendezvous Pitch Maneuver, or “backflip.” Hobaugh rotated the orbiter backwards, enabling space station astronauts Jeffrey Williams and Nicole Stott to take high resolution pictures of the shuttle heat shield. The images will be analyzed by experts and managers on the ground to assess the health of Atlantis’ thermal protection system tiles.

The shuttle and station crews opened hatches and the Atlantis crew was welcomed onboard the space station at 12:28 p.m. The hatch opening signifies the end of Stott’s tenure as an Expedition 21 flight engineer. Now an STS-129 mission specialist, Stott will have spent a total of 91 days in space if Atlantis lands, as planned, on Nov. 27. She is the last station crew member to return to Earth on the space shuttle. Russian Soyuz spacecraft will be used for future station crew launches and landings.

At 1:52 p.m. shuttle Mission Specialists Leland Melvin and Randy Bresnik removed the Express Logistics Carrier 1 from Atlantis’ payload bay and at 2:25 p.m. handed it off from the shuttle robotic arm to the station robotic arm controlled by shuttle Pilot Barry Wilmore and station Flight Engineer Jeff Williams. They installed the carrier on the station’s Port 3 truss at 3:27 p.m.

Before the shuttle crew’s scheduled sleep at 7:28 p.m., transfer of shuttle middeck supplies to the station will begin along with relocation of spacesuits that will be used for the three planned spacewalks. The crews will review the plan for tomorrow’s spacewalk, scheduled to be completed by Mission Specialists Mike Foreman and Robert Satcher.

The next shuttle status report will be issued after crew wake or earlier if warranted.

The International Space Station and Space Shuttle Atlantis' payload bay are featured in this image photographed by an STS-129 crew member as Atlantis and the station approach each other during rendezvous and docking activities on flight day three. Docking occurred at 10:51 a.m. (CST) on Nov. 18, 2009.

- courtesy of NASA

11/18/09: Space Shuttle Atlantis to dock with station today.

Space and Astronautics News — Wed, 18 Nov 2009 10:00:00 +0000

The International Space Station is just a few hours away from receiving a shipment of spares that should help keep it going well into the future.

Space shuttle Atlantis is scheduled to dock to the station at 10:53 a.m. and deliver two pallets carrying more than 20,000 pounds worth of spare equipment too large to be launched into space aboard any other vehicle.

Atlantis’ six-man crew received their wake-up call at 3:28 a.m. Stevie Wonder’s “Higher Ground” was played for Mission Specialist Robert Satcher as the day’s wake-up song.

The morning will focus on preparations for the rendezvous and docking to the station. Commander Charles Hobaugh and Pilot Barry Wilmore will perform a few final corrective jet firings to refine the orbiter’s path to the station and position the vehicle for its rendezvous pitch maneuver 600 feet beneath the station at 9:52 a.m. While Hobaugh performs the “backflip” Expedition 21 Flight Engineers Jeffrey Williams and Nicole Stott will take photos from the station. Their photos will be sent to the ground for review by experts to ensure that the shuttle’s heat shield did not sustain any damage during Monday’s launch.

Once the maneuver is complete, Hobaugh will fly Atlantis ahead of the space station and slowly back it in for the docking to the station’s Harmony node. After a series of leak checks that should take about two hours, the hatches between the two vehicles will be opened and the two crews will start their joint operations.

Hatch opening will mark the end of Flight Engineer Nicole Stott’s two-and-a-half-month stint with the space station’s crew. She’ll officially become a member of the STS-129 crew, and the station will be manned by a five-person crew until Dec. 1, when Commander Frank De Winne and Flight Engineers Roman Romanenko and Robert Thirsk will depart the station in their Soyuz vehicle. Williams and Flight Engineer Maxim Suraev will be left behind to man the station alone until the rest of the Expedition 22 crew arrives on Dec. 23.

Atlantis’ crew is scheduled to go to sleep just before 7:30 p.m. The next shuttle status report will be issued at the end of the crew’s workday or earlier if events warrant.

Astronaut Robert L. Satcher Jr., STS-129 mission specialist, occupies the commander's station while using a communication system on the flight deck of Space Shuttle Atlantis during flight day three activities.

- courtesy of NASA

11/17/09: STS-129: crew inspects heat shield, prepares for docking with station.

Space and Astronautics News — Tue, 17 Nov 2009 20:00:00 +0000

Atlantis astronauts Tuesday inspected the space shuttle’s thermal protection system, checked out spacesuits and prepared to dock with the International Space Station.

Much of the day for Commander Charles Hobaugh, Pilot Barry Wilmore and Mission Specialists Leland Melvin, Randy Bresnik, Mike Foreman and Robert Satcher Jr. was devoted to inspection of the shuttle’s heat-resistant tiles and reinforced carbon-carbon surfaces on the wing leading edges and the nose.

Hobaugh, Wilmore and Melvin used the shuttle’s arm and its Orbital Boom Sensor System extension to survey Atlantis’ right wing. Bresnik, Foreman and Satcher checked out spacesuits.

After the right wing scan Bresnik replaced Hobaugh on the survey team for detailed looks at the nose cap, the left wing and other areas while Foreman and Satcher kept working with the space-suits.

After the inspections were complete and the boom was berthed, Melvin and Bresnik grappled the Express Logistics Carrier 1 in Atlantis’ cargo bay with the shuttle’s robotic arm to get ready for the ELC’s transfer to the station.

Toward the end of their day, crew members extended the Orbital Docking System Ring and checked out rendezvous tools. Atlantis is scheduled to dock with the station a little before 11 a.m. CST on Wednesday.

The Atlantis crew is scheduled to begin its sleep period at 7:28 p.m. Its docking day wakeup call is scheduled for 3:28 a.m.

On the station the Expedition 21 crew, Commander Frank De Winne and Flight Engineers Jeffrey Williams, Nicole Stott, Maxim Suraev, Roman Romanenko and Robert Thirsk, was getting ready for Atlantis’ arrival. They will photograph the shuttle’s heat shield during its back flip on its approach. Stott will return to Earth aboard Atlantis.

The next shuttle status report will be issued after Atlantis crew wakeup or earlier if warranted.

A partial view of Space Shuttle Atlantis' payload bay, vertical stabilizer, orbital maneuvering system (OMS) pods and docking mechanism are featured in this image photographed by an STS-129 crew member from an aft flight deck window.

- courtesy of NASA

11/17/09: STS-129 crew to photograph heat shield.

Space and Astronautics News — Tue, 17 Nov 2009 08:30:00 +0000

With a picture-perfect launch day under their belts, Atlantis’ crew members will spend their first full day in space taking pictures of what they hope will be a perfect heat shield.

Today’s STS-129 wakeup call came at 3:28 a.m. in the form of MercyMe’s “I Can Only Imagine.” The song was played for Pilot Barry E. Wilmore, who will spend his day at the controls of the shuttle’s robotic arm. Wilmore, along with Commander Charles O. Hobaugh and Mission Specialists Leland Melvin and Randy Bresnik, will be using the 50-foot-long arm and its 50-foot-long orbiter boom sensor system to get an up close look at the tiles of Atlantis’ wing leading edges and nose cap.

The inspection will make use of a suite of cameras and lasers on the end of the boom and give experts on the ground 3-D views of the shuttle’s heat shield. Those photos, as well as others taken during various points in the mission, will be used to ensure that the shuttle did not sustain any damage during its launch on Monday.

This inspection will begin just before 7:15 a.m. and will take about five hours. While it is going on, the crew’s spacewalkers – Mike Foreman and Robert L. Satcher Jr., with help from Bresnik when he’s not working on the inspection – will perform a checkout of the two spacesuits to be worn on the first of the mission’s three spacewalks and prepare the suits for transfer to the International Space Station.

In preparation for docking with the station on Wednesday, the crew will also set up the centerline camera, extend the Orbiter Docking System ring and check out other equipment that will be used during the rendezvous.

Aboard the station, Expedition 21 Commander Frank De Winne and Flight Engineers Jeffrey Williams, Nicole Stott, Maxim Suraev, Roman Romanenko and Robert Thirsk will prepare for the shuttle’s arrival by reviewing photography procedures for their part in documenting the condition of the shuttle’s heat shield as it completes a rendezvous pitch maneuver during its approach to the station. Williams will also get a jump start on one of the STS-129 tasks, the preparation of the Harmony node for the arrival of the Tranquility node next year.

Atlantis’ crew will go to bed just before 7:30 p.m. The next shuttle status report will be issued at the end of the crew’s workday or earlier if events warrant.

Astronaut Charles O. Hobaugh (right), STS-129 commander, briefs his crew on the middeck of Space Shuttle Atlantis during flight day two activities. Pictured from the left are astronauts Mike Foreman, Robert L. Satcher Jr., both mission specialists; Barry E. Wilmore, pilot; and Leland Melvin, mission specialist. Not pictured is astronaut Randy Bresnik, mission specialist.

- courtesy of NASA

11/16/09: Atlantis' crew performs checks, prepares to open payload bay doors.

Space and Astronautics News — Mon, 16 Nov 2009 20:00:00 +0000

Space shuttle Atlantis launched at 1:28 p.m. CST on its way to store supplies onboard the International Space Station.

Commander Charles Hobaugh, Pilot Barry Wilmore and Mission Specialists Mike Foreman, Robert Satcher Jr., Randy Bresnik and Leland Melvin reached orbit eight and a half minutes later as the space station flew 220 miles over the South Pacific Ocean.

Aboard the station watching Atlantis’ launch on a live feed from Mission Control were Commander Frank De Winne of the European Space Agency and Flight Engineers Jeffrey Williams, Nicole Stott, Roman Romanenko, Maxim Suraev and Robert Thirsk of the Canadian Space Agency.

Following Atlantis’ docking and hatch opening Wednesday, Stott officially becomes a shuttle crew member to return home aboard Atlantis after nearly three months aboard the station.

Shortly after reaching orbit, Atlantis’ crew began procedures to ensure the spaceship is healthy for on-orbit operations and is scheduled to open the payload bay doors at about 2:53 p.m.

The crew’s launch day ends with a thorough checkout of the robotic arm and survey of the payload bay before heading to bed about 7:28 p.m.

Following wakeup at 3:28 a.m. Tuesday, the crew will spend the majority of the day assessing the health of Atlantis' wing leading edge panels and nosecap using the boom/sensor extension and checking out the spacesuits to be worn during three planned spacewalks later in the mission. The crew also will test rendezvous tools and prepare the docking system ahead of arrival at the station.

Atlantis’ mission is the 129th in shuttle program history and the 31st dedicated to station assembly, resupply and maintenance. The mission is focused on storing supplies on the exterior of the station to sustain operations after the space shuttle is retired.

The next shuttle status report will be issued after crew wakeup or earlier if warranted.

Launch of Space Shuttle Atlantis; credits: NASA/Sandra Joseph and Kevin O'Connell.

- courtesy of NASA

11/16/09: STS-129: Launch of Space Shuttle Atlantis from Cape Canaveral.

Space and Astronautics News — Mon, 16 Nov 2009 05:05:00 +0000

Nov 15: As the sun sets behind Launch Pad 39A at NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida, the rotating service structure has been moved away from space shuttle Atlantis during the T-11 hour hold in the launch countdown. Liftoff of the STS-129 mission is set for 2:28 p.m. EST Nov. 16. The movable structure, which provides weather protection and access for technicians to work on the shuttle, began being retracted at 5:20 p.m. EST and was in the park position by 5:56 p.m. STS-129 crew members are Commander Charles O. Hobaugh; Pilot Barry E. Wilmore; and Mission Specialists Leland Melvin, Randy Bresnik, Mike Foreman and Robert L. Satcher Jr. On the STS-129 mission to the International Space Station, the crew will deliver two spare gyroscopes, two nitrogen tank assemblies, two pump modules, an ammonia tank assembly and a spare latching end effector for the station's robotic arm. Atlantis will return to Earth a station crew member, Nicole Stott, who has spent more than two months aboard the orbiting laboratory. STS-129 is slated to be the final space shuttle Expedition crew rotation flight. - Credits: NASA/Troy Cryder

- courtesy of NASA

11/15/09: STS-129: all systems are Go for launch of Atlantis on Monday.

Space and Astronautics News — Sun, 15 Nov 2009 20:14:00 +0000

At the L-1 Atlantis launch countdown status briefing, NASA Test Director Steve Payne reported that all systems are "go" for liftoff and there are no issues being reported to hamper an on-time launch to the International Space Station at 2:28 p.m. EST Monday.

"After many, many months of hard work, STS-129 Atlantis and her crew are nearly ready to fly," said Payne. "We've had a clean countdown to date and are currently on schedule with no problems to report."

Main avionics check outs are still being performed and orbiter to ground communication tests will be completed this afternoon.

The flight crew's personal items also will be stowed this afternoon along with the recumbent seat that will accommodate the return of Nicole Stott, who has been serving as Flight Engineer at the station.

Shuttle Weather Officer Kathy Winters of the 45th weather squadron was pleased to announce that the forecast for launch day remains at 90-percent both for fueling of the external tank and for liftoff.

Weather continues to look good for the transatlantic abort, or TAL, sites where the shuttle could land in the unlikely event of an emergency although there still is a possibility of high seas where the solid rocket booster recovery ships are stationed.

If there is a 24-hour turnaround, Winters said the forecast increases to 30-percent probability that weather will violate weather constraints.

At about 5:30 p.m. today, the Rotating Service Structure that protects the shuttle from inclement weather will be rolled away. Loading of propellants into the external tank is scheduled to begin at around 5 a.m. Monday.

Nov 13: At Launch Pad 39A at NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida, space shuttle Atlantis' payload bay doors are ready to be closed around the cargo for Atlantis' STS-129 mission to the International Space Station. The cargo includes the Express Logistics Carriers 1 and 2. The STS-129 crew will deliver two spare gyroscopes, two nitrogen tank assemblies, two pump modules, an ammonia tank assembly and a spare latching end effector for the station's robotic arm. Credit: NASA/Troy Cryder

Nov 12: The STS-129 crew pauses for a group portrait at the Shuttle Landing Facility at NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida. From left are Mission Specialist Leland Melvin; Pilot Barry E. Wilmore; Commander Charles O. Hobaugh; and Mission Specialists Randy Bresnik, Mike Foreman and Robert L. Satcher Jr. The six astronauts for space shuttle Atlantis' STS-129 mission arrived at Kennedy aboard a NASA Shuttle Training Aircraft, a modified Gulfstream II jet, to make final preparations for their launch. On STS-129, the crew will deliver to the International Space Station two spare gyroscopes, two nitrogen tank assemblies, two pump modules, an ammonia tank assembly and a spare latching end effector for the station's robotic arm. Launch is set for Nov. 16. Credit: NASA/Kim Shiflett

- courtesy of NASA

Shuttle mission STS-129: launch countdown operations are on schedule.

Space and Astronautics News — Sat, 14 Nov 2009 21:38:00 +0000

Launch countdown operations are on schedule with no issues to report, according to officials at NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida during the STS-129 prelaunch briefing. With the unfortunate scrub of the Atlas rocket from Cape Canaveral Air Force Station today, space shuttle Atlantis is cleared for launch at 2:28 p.m. EST Monday.

"It was a really smooth meeting '¦ Atlantis is ready to go," Mike Moses, space shuttle launch integration manager said. (There was) "a unanimous vote to proceed with the launch countdown."

Mike Leinbach, space shuttle launch director said, "'¦ We're right on the money. We're not tracking any issues with the vehicle, flight elements or ground systems. I'm happy to report we're ready to go."

Shuttle Weather Officer Kathy Winters reported that the forecast continues to be very favorable for launch day with only a 10-percent chance that weather will be a concern for liftoff and the fueling of Atlantis' external tank.

Weather also is looking good for the transatlantic abort, or TAL sites, where the shuttle could land in the unlikely event of an emergency. The only issue Winters mentioned was the possibility of some high seas where the solid rocket booster recovery ships are stationed.

On Sunday at about 5:30 p.m., the Rotating Service Structure that protects the shuttle from inclement weather will be rolled away. Loading of propellants into the external tank is scheduled to begin at around 5 a.m. on Monday.

The L-1 countdown status briefing will be held at no earlier than 10 a.m. which will be aired on NASA TV and found on the Web at www.nasa.gov/ntv.

Nov 13: At the Shuttle Landing Facility at NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida, STS-129 Pilot Barry E. Wilmore gets settled in the cockpit of a Shuttle Training Aircraft to practice landings in preparation for space shuttle Atlantis' STS-129 mission. The Shuttle Training Aircraft is a Gulfstream II jet, modified to handle like the space shuttle. On STS-129, the crew will deliver to the International Space Station two spare gyroscopes, two nitrogen tank assemblies, two pump modules, an ammonia tank assembly and a spare latching end effector for the station's robotic arm. Launch is set for Nov. 16. Credit: NASA/Kim Shiflett

Nov 13: At Launch Pad 39A at NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida, the payload for space shuttle Atlantis' STS-129 mission to the International Space Station, including the Express Logistics Carriers 1 and 2, has been transferred from the Payload Changeout Room into Atlantis' payload bay. The STS-129 crew will deliver two spare gyroscopes, two nitrogen tank assemblies, two pump modules, an ammonia tank assembly and a spare latching end effector for the station's robotic arm. Launch is set for Nov. 16. Credit: NASA/Troy Cryder

- courtesy of NASA

11/13/09: International Space Station: Progress delivers Poisk module.

Space and Astronautics News — Sat, 14 Nov 2009 01:30:00 +0000

Yest kasaniye! At 10:44am EST, the special-purpose cargo spacecraft Progress M-MRM2 docked successfully to the SM (Service Module) zenith (i.e., on top) port under automatic KURS control, followed by a final DPO post-contact thrusting burn, docking probe retraction and hook closure ("sborka") after motion damp-out while the ISS was in free drift for ~20 min. The Progress delivered the new Russian MRM2 (Mini Research Module 2, Russian: MIM2) Poisk ("Search"). - NASA

STS-129: NASA prepares Space Shuttle Atlantis for Nov 16 launch.

Space and Astronautics News — Mon, 09 Nov 2009 18:05:21 +0000

Mission: STS-129

Orbiter: Atlantis

Launch Pad: 39A

Launch Date: NET Nov 16, 2009, 2:28 pm EST (18:48 UT)

Landing: NET Nov 27, 9:57 am EST (13:57 UT)

Orbital Altitude: 122 nautical miles (140 miles)

Orbital Insertion: 191 nautical miles (220 miles)

Orbital Inclination: 51.6 degrees

Primary Payload: ExPRESS (Expedite the Processing of Experiments to the Space Station) Logistics Carriers ELC1 and ELC2:-

ExPRESS Logistics Carrier-1 manifest:- Ammonia Tank Assembly; Battery Charge Discharge Unit; Space Station Remote Manipulator System Latching End Effector; Control Moment Gyro; Nitrogen Tank Assembly; Pump Module; Plasma Contactor Unit; two empty Passive Flight Releasable Attachment Mechanisms.

ExPRESS Logistics Carrier-2 manifest:- High Pressure Gas Tank; Cargo Transport Container 1 (CTC-1) mounted to a Small Adapter Plate Assembly; Mobile Transporter/Trailing Umbilical System; Control Moment Gyro; Nitrogen Tank Assembly; Pump Module; Utility Transfer Assembly (UTA) Flight Support Equipment (FSE); one empty Payload Passive Flight Releasable Attachment Mechanism.

Crew:- Commander: Charles O. Hobaugh; Pilot: Barry E. Wilmore; Mission Specialists:- MS1 Leland D Melvin, MS2 Randolph Bresnik, MS3 Michael Foreman, MS4 Robert Satcher, MS5 (landing) Nicole Stott.

Pad 39A, KSC: STS-129 crew after completion of Terminal Countdown Demonstration Test. Behind them, Atlantis' external tank & nose cone of a solid rocket booster. From left: Mission Specialists Leland Melvin, Randy Bresnik; Pilot Barry Wilmore; Commander Charles Hobaugh; Mission Specialists Mike Foreman, Robert Satcher '“ credits: NASA/Kim Shiflett

At NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida, the work week begins with the installation of new equipment at Launch Pad 39A. Technicians will install instruments in both the mobile launcher platform’s tail service mast and in space shuttle Atlantis’ aft section. The equipment will record the sound pressure and vibration at liftoff — which recently were determined to be stronger than originally thought. The testing of the “main engine acoustic environment” using microphones and sensors will continue with launch. Yesterday, workers completed final ordnance installation and connections in the shuttle. At NASA’s Johnson Space Center in Houston, the six STS-129 mission astronauts will enter quarantine tonight after a day of administrative duties. They’ll be housed in a germ-free environment until they fly to Kennedy on Thursday for Atlantis’ launch to the International Space Station. Liftoff is set for 2:28 p.m. EST Nov. 16 and the countdown to launch begins 1 p.m. EST Friday.

– courtesy of NASA

11/04/09: International Space Station On-Orbit Status Report.

Space and Astronautics News — Thu, 05 Nov 2009 16:15:09 +0000

ISS Orbit (as of this morning, 7:55am EST [= epoch])
Mean altitude '“ 342.1 km
Apogee height '“ 346.3 km
Perigee height '“ 338.0 km
Period — 91.38 min.
Inclination (to Equator) — 51.64 deg
Eccentricity — 0.000617
Solar Beta Angle — 36.1 deg (magnitude peaking)
Orbits per 24-hr. day — 15.76
Mean altitude loss in the last 24 hours — 97 m
Revolutions since FGB/Zarya launch (Nov. 98) — 62806

All ISS systems continue to function nominally, except those noted previously or below. Day of National Unity in Russia, a holiday.

The unpiloted Japanese H-II Transfer Vehicle (HTV), filled with trash and unneeded items, departs from the International Space Station. European Space Agency astronaut Frank De Winne, Expedition 21 commander; NASA astronaut Nicole Stott and Canadian Space Agency astronaut Robert Thirsk, both flight engineers, used the station’s Canadarm2 robotic arm to grab the HTV cargo craft and unberth it from the Harmony node’s nadir port. The HTV was successfully unberthed at 10:18 a.m. (CDT) on Oct. 30, 2009, and released from the station’s Canadarm2 at 12:32 p.m. Credit: NASA

FE-5 Williams started the day with another Reaction Self Test (Psychomotor Vigilance Self Test on the ISS) protocol. [The RST is performed twice daily (after wakeup & before bedtime) for 3 days prior to the sleep shift, the day(s) of the sleep shift and 5 days following the sleep shift.]

FE-1 Suraev did the regular daily early-morning check of the aerosol filters at the Russian Elektron O2 generator which he had installed on 10/19 in gaps between the BZh Liquid Unit and the oxygen outlet pipe (filter FA-K) plus hydrogen outlet pipe (filter FA-V). [FE-3 again inspects the filters tonight at bedtime, currently a daily requirement per plan, with photographs to be taken if the filter packing is discolored.]

The FE-1 afterwards undertook a major (3-hr) IFM (Inflight Maintenance) in the SM (Service Module) on the SUBA Onboard Equipment Control System, installing a new BSK-2 Common Power Switching Timer (Blok silovoiy kommutatsii-2) and connecting three associated extensive cable harnesses. [SUBA controls, monitors, and diagnoses SM systems status. It operates using sensor output signals and command radio link SM functional outputs, onboard computer system (BVS) units, SM control panels, and system relay outputs. Its software resides in the SM central computer (TsVM) and terminal computer (TVM). The BSKs are used to switch electrical power and protect electrical circuits with fuses against overloads.]

Meanwhile, FE-3 Romanenko had ~2.5 hrs to perform IFM on the RS (Russian Segment)'s Electrical Power System, removing and replacing the #2 unit of the six 800A batteries in the FGB (Funktsionalnyi-Grusovoi Blok).

Starting the planned major recovery activities after the UPA (Urine Processor Assembly) failure, FE-1 Stott & FE-4 Thirsk, wearing protective gear (silver shield gloves, dust mask, goggles), drained the WSTA (Waste Storage Tank Assembly) urine from ~46% to 10% into an EDV-U container to allow for room in the WSTA for the subsequent DA (Distillation Assembly) dryout. [The planned backflow troubleshooting procedure involves flowing fluid 'œback' from the WSTA tank into the DA via a narrow pick-up tube which is probably clogged, at a delta-pressure between WSTA & DA of about 14 psi. It is hoped that by flowing the urine in the reverse direction than usual, the pre-treat/urine will contact areas it has not been able to reach and help dissolve the blockage.]

Stott then had 3h15min & Thirsk 15min to conduct the backflow procedure for clearing up the DA. [As first step, Nicole had to remove the CEVIS cycle ergometer, TOCA, EDV-U, compressor and associated brackets from the front of the WRS-2 (Water Recovery System 2) Rack to allow it to rotate down and to be opened up. By switching hose connections, the FE-1 was then to initiate the backflow to the DA, for a duration of ~30 sec or to 5% decrease of WSTA tank quantity. Bob assisted with monitoring time and quantity.]

Later, Thirsk worked on the U.S. WHC (Waste & Hygiene Compartment), performing the periodic changeout of the urine receptacle plus hose and its filter insert with new units.

Using the SLAMMD (Space Linear Acceleration Mass Measurement Device) equipment and appropriate software, CDR De Winne, FE-2 Stott, FE-4 Thirsk & FE-5 Williams each completed a body mass measurement (BMM), with the video camcorder recording footage that was later downlinked via MPC/Multiple-Protocol Converter. The required control run was performed by De Winne after setting up the calibration arm and attaching the calibration mass. Afterwards, Frank powered off, dismantled and temporarily stowed the SLAMMD hardware. [SLAMMD, performed first on Expedition 12 in December 2005, provides an accurate means of determining the on-orbit mass of humans spanning the range from the 5th percentile Japanese female to the 95th percentile American male. The procedure, in accordance with Newton's 2nd Law of Motion, finds the mass by dividing force, generated by two springs inside the SLAMMD drawer, by acceleration measured with a precise optical instrument that detects the position versus time trajectory of the SLAMMD guide arm and a micro controller which collects the raw data and provides the precise timing. The final computation is done via portable laptop computer with SLAMMD unique software. To calculate their mass, crewmembers wrap their legs around a leg support assembly, align the stomach against a belly pad and either rest the head or chin on a head rest. For calibration, an 18-lbs. mass is used at different lengths from the pivot point, to simulate different mass values. Crew mass range is from 90 to 240 lbs.]

Romanenko again had several hours allotted to continue his audit of available stowage space in the FGB, SM and DC1 Docking Compartment to assess useable stowage space for cargo to be delivered on 11/12 on 5R/Progress 302 (MRM2).

Roman also completed the periodic checkout & performance verification of IP-1 airflow sensors in the various RS hatchways. [Skipping the Soyuz hatch to DC1, inspected IP-1s are in the passageways PrK (SM Transfer Tunnel)'“RO (SM Working Compartment), PkhO (SM Transfer Compartment)'“RO, PkhO'“DC1, PkhO'“FGB PGO, FGB PGO'“FGB GA, and FGB GA'“Node-1.]

Maxim Suraev used the CMS (Countermeasure System), a component of the SKDS GANK-4M suite, to perform the standard check on the SM cabin air, today looking for Carbon Monoxide, Hydrogen Chloride and Hydrogen Cyanide. [CMS uses preprogrammed microchips to measure for numerous contaminants such as O-Xylol (1,2-Dimethylbenzol, C8H10), Hydrogen Chloride (HCl), Formaldehyde, Isopropanol, Methanol, Toluene, Mercaptan, Sulphur dioxide, Hydrogen Cyanide, Phosgene, etc.],

The FE-1 also continued the current round of preventive maintenance on the Russian ventilation system, today cleaning the four 'œGroup B' fan screens (VT1, VTK1, VV1RO & VV2RO) in the SM, while the FE-3 worked in the DC1 on cleaning the V3 ventilator grille.

At the Node -1's 'œceiling', Jeff & Bob moved the ARED exercise device on its platform into position from its stowage location. Then, after they had used it for their workout, Frank & Bob later moved it again out of the way and stowed it to make room for the subsequent PMA-3 activities.

Continuing preparations for Node-3 'œTranquility' arrival, Jeff Williams re-opened the PMA-3 (Pressurized Mating Adapter 3) hatch in Node-1, after which Jeff & Bob reinstalled the two CPAs, PMA target assembly and hatch center disk cover.

After subsequent hatch closure, Thirsk & De Winne depressurized the PMA-3 to 2 psi using the US A/L (Airlock)'s Depress Pump. Later, hatch perimeter, newly installed IMV valve & new bulkhead feedthroughs in Node-1 were checked by Jeff for leaks with the ULD (Ultrasound Leak Detector). [The A/L pump was connected to the Node-1 port hatch by the VAJ (Vacuum Access Jumper) dragged through the Node-1 starboard hatchway. After reaching 2 psi, the remaining pressure was evacuated with the Lab PCA (Pressure Control Assembly) to the outside, connected by a 35-ft VAJ. When completely depressed, the VAJ was disconnected, followed by the leak checks.]

In the Kibo JPM (JEM Pressurized Module), FE-5 Williams prepared the FPEF MS (Fluid Physics Experiment Facility / Marangoni Surface) equipment for a ground-controlled run of the MI (Marangoni Inside) convection experiment, transferring & setting up the MWA (Maintenance Work Area) at the F3 location, installing the MI Core on the MWA (after inspecting for broken glass) and preparing the MI Body inside the MWA. [In microgravity, fluids react differently to stresses when compared to the same stresses on Earth. Understanding the responses to the stressors allows for improved fluid flow models to be designed. Mass transfer on or in a liquid due to surface tension differences is called the Marangoni Effect (which, for example, stabilizes a soap film). The Marangoni convection experiment in the FPEF examines fluid tension flow in micro-G: first, a liquid bridge of silicone oil is formed into a pair of disks. Then, using temperature differences imposed on the disks, convection is induced causing the silicone oil to move and transition through different types of flows because of its fluid instability: successively from laminar to oscillatory, chaos, and turbulence flows as the driving force increases. The flow and temperature fields are observed in each stage and the transition conditions and processes are investigated.]

In the A/L, Nicole & Jeff had ~2 hrs for resizing two EMU (Extravehicular Mobility Unit) spacesuits, #3006 & #3011, in preparation for ULF2 spacewalks. The crew also pre-gathered EVA support items for ULF3. The activities were videoed and downlinked. [#3006 was resized for Randy Bresnik for nominal use, and #3011 for EMU checkout, backup readiness for Mike Foreman and return on ULF3. #3009 will not be used on ULF3.]

Nicole & Bob downloaded the data taken yesterday by their instrumented SDTO (Station Development Test Objective) harnesses during their TVIS treadmill runs.

De Winne removed the IWIS (Internal Wireless Instrumentation System) accelerometer from its interface plate in the JAXA JPM and installed it instead on the T2/COLBERT treadmill for structural dynamics measurements.

For tomorrow's planned ESA experiment CARD (Long Term Microgravity: Model for Investigating Mechanisms of Heart Disease), Frank equipped the body-worn CARD HLTA BP (Holter Arterial Blood Pressure) instrument with fresh AA batteries. [The CARD protocol included a 24h urine collection on Day 1, a 24h blood pressure monitoring with the HLTA, a blood draw (in the morning of Day 2), and five cardiac output measurements performed with the HRF-2 PFS (Pulmonary Function System) via re-breathing technique (three double re-breathing sessions with the 4L Re-breathing Bag on Day 1 and two on Day 2).]

In the JPM, Stott again serviced the CBEF (Cell Biology Experiment Facility) by opening the door to the Micro-G IU (Incubation Unit) section and manually fanning the air inside for ventilation for a few minutes, as she did last month regularly. [This was a precaution against too much humidity after yesterday's temporary power outage, see below.]

Using another ~20-min RGS (Russian Ground Site) overflight window for VHF coverage, Maxim Suraev downlinked the video footage taken by him on 10/30 aboard the station. His 'œNews from Zero Gravity' report was filmed for the Russian television channel 'œTV Tsentr', using an uplinked script for the various scenes and narrations. [TV Tsentr is launching a new program on science and technology and one of the first episodes is to show a report from the ISS. ('œ'¦Now you know how we live up here. The reality is that there is a lot of work in space. There are many scientific experiments and studies that we carry out for the benefit of all mankind. An example is the Rusalka experiment, in which carbon dioxide levels in our planet's atmosphere are accurately measured. In the Uragan experiment, we are working on a procedure and system for predicting the development of natural and man-made disasters. The Vaktsina experiment is to investigate prospective proteins for AIDS vaccines on Earth and in space. Soon, a new mini research module will be added to the ISS Russian segment, thus broadening and increasing the Russian science program. Don't forget, we are working up here for the good of our planet. Our fragile Earth. Good luck to you all'¦.".)]

Bob Thirsk performed the periodic WPA (Water Processor Assembly) sample analysis in the TOCA (Total Organic Carbon Analyzer), after first initializing the software and priming (filling) the TOCA water sample hose. [After the approximately 2-hr TOCA analysis, results were transferred by Frank De Winne to SSC-5 (Station Support Computer 5) via USB drive for downlink, and the data were also logged.]

The CDR started (later terminated) another 5-hr automatic sampling run (the 42nd) with the EHS GC/DMS (Environmental Health System Gas Chromatograph/Differential Mobility Spectrometer), also known as AQM (Air Quality Monitor), controlled with 'œSionex' expert software from the SSC-4 (Station Support Computer 4) laptop. [The AQM demonstrates COTS (Commercial Off-the-Shelf) technology for identifying volatile organic compounds, similar to the VOA (Volatile Organics Analyzer). Today's data will again to be compared with VOA and GSC (Grab Sample Container) measurements. This evaluation will continue over the course of several months as it helps to eventually certify the GC/DMS as nominal CHeCS (Crew Health Care Systems) hardware.]

Near the end of his workday, FE-1 Suraev conducts his third data collection for the psychological MBI-16 Vzaimodejstvie ('œInteractions') program, accessing and completing the computerized study questionnaire on the RSE-Med laptop and saving the data in an encrypted file. [The software has a 'œmood' questionnaire, a 'œgroup & work environment' questionnaire, and a 'œcritical incidents' log. Results from the study, which is also mirrored by ground control subjects, could help to improve the ability of future crewmembers to interact safely and effectively with each other and with Mission Control, to have a more positive experience in space during multi-cultural, long-duration missions, and to successfully accomplish mission activities.]

At ~4:20pm EST, just before sleep time, the FE-3 will also set up the Russian MBI-12 SONOKARD payload and start his 11th experiment session, using a sports shirt from the SONOKARD kit with a special device in the pocket for testing a new method for acquiring physiological data without using direct contact on the skin. Measurements are recorded on a data card for return to Earth. [SONOKARD objectives are stated to (1) study the feasibility of obtaining the maximum of data through computer processing of records obtained overnight, (2) systematically record the crewmember's physiological functions during sleep, (3) study the feasibility of obtaining real-time crew health data. Investigators believe that contactless acquisition of cardiorespiratory data over the night period could serve as a basis for developing efficient criteria for evaluating and predicting adaptive capability of human body in long-duration space flight.]

FE-2, FE-4 & FE-5 had their periodic PMCs (Private Medical Conferences), via S- & Ku-band audio/video, Nicole at ~10:05am, Jeff at ~2:30pm & Bob at ~3:10pm EST.

The crew performed their regular 2-hr physical exercise on the CEVIS cycle ergometer (CDR, FE-2), TVIS treadmill (CDR, FE-1, FE-2, FE-3, FE-4, FE-5), ARED advanced resistive exerciser (FE-4, FE-5), and VELO cycle ergometer with bungee cord load trainer (FE-1, FE-3).

Later, Jeff transferred the exercise data files to the MEC (Medical Equipment Computer) for downlink, including the daily wristband HRM (Heart Rate Monitor) data of the workouts on ARED, followed by their erasure on the HRM storage medium (done six times a week).

At ~9:33am EST Bob Thirsk powered up the SM’s amateur radio equipment (Kenwood VHF transceiver with manual frequency selection, headset, & power supply) and at 9:38am conducted a ham radio session with students at John Taylor Collegiate, Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada.

SSRMS Operations: From ~3:15pm-5:15pm EST, ground operators will translate the MT (Mobile Transporter) railcart on the truss from WS5 (Workstation 5) to WS3, to satisfy another ULF3 pre-launch checkout requirements as well as put the Robotics systems into a good configuration to allow JAXA to perform their upcoming ICS (Inter-Satellite Communication System) checkout.

ISS Power Outage Event: Yesterday morning at 12:54am EST, MBSU1 (Main Bus Switching Unit 1) experienced an unexpected power loss due to a POR (Power On Reset), the first on-orbit POR on any MBSU hardware. MBSU1 was recovered almost immediately, but it took time to assess deactivated systems and start them up again. Systems were down for about 3 hrs. Engineering teams are reviewing the anomaly but currently believe the POR was a random event and that MBSU1 is healthy and not susceptible to further PORs. MBSU1 controls half of station systems, and there were some impacts to yesterday operations, mostly science activities. ISS is completely recovered.

UPA Anomaly: Should the Urine Processor Assembly remain down for longer than expected, the unprocessed urine will accumulate, requiring special provisions for collecting, containing & stowing, including during ULF3-docked period. Replanning is underway at MCC-Houston and TsUP-Moscow for using Russian EDV containers (58 total, 9 US, 49 RS), Rodnik tanks and CWCs. Current efforts include discussions with Moscow to extend the normal EDV lifetime of 90 days to 120 days.

CEO (Crew Earth Observation) photo targets uplinked for today were Northern Isle of France, Mauritius (HMS Beagle Site: As the ISS track entered the Indian Ocean from the SW, the crew should have noted the large island of Madagascar, well left of track, followed by the small island of Reunion just left of track, and then quickly Mauritius near nadir. Charles Darwin and the Beagle landed at Port Louis on the northern portion of what is now known as the island of Mauritius on April 29, 1836. The island is also famous as the home of the dodo, a large flightless bird driven to extinction – directly or indirectly – by humans during the 17th century. This pass was in late afternoon light with partly cloudy weather expected. Concentrating on the Port Louis area located on the northern coast), Simon’s Bay, Cape Point, S. Africa (HMS Beagle site: The pass approached the coast of Africa from the SW in early afternoon light. Fair weather was expected. Looking left of track for views of this target. The most important aspect of this stop appears to have been Darwin’s visit to the noted astronomer Sir John Herschel who lived near Cape Town. Darwin called this “the most memorable event which, for a long period, I have had the good fortune to enjoy.” Both Darwin and Herschel had read the Lyell’s famous Principles of Geology. Their discussion is not recorded, but they were thinking along similar lines: a few months earlier Herschel had written to Lyell praising the Principles as “a complete revolution in [its] subject, '¦ altering entirely the point of view” in which scientists would think about geology; and as opening a way for bold speculation on “that mystery of mysteries, the replacement of extinct species by others.”), and Port Louis, Berekely Sound, Falkland Island (HMS Beagle Site: Darwin and the Beagle arrived at the Falkland Islands on March 1, 1833 and found shelter for several weeks in Berkeley Sound at Port Louis on East Falkland Island. ISS approached this target from the W in late morning. Fair weather with a near nadir pass offered an excellent opportunity for detailed views of Port Louis and Berekely Sound).

Significant Events Ahead (all dates Eastern Time, some changes possible):
11/10/09 — 5R/MRM-2 (Russian Mini Research Module 2) on Soyuz-U @ 9:22am EST)
11/12/09 — 5R/MRM-2 docking (SM zenith) @ 10:43am EST
11/16/09 — STS-129/Atlantis/ULF3 launch (ELC1, ELC2) @ 2:28pm EST
12/01/09 '“ Soyuz TMA-15/19S undock
12/01-12/23 —> two-member crew
12/21/09 — Soyuz TMA-17/21S launch — O. Kotov/S. Noguchi/T.J. Creamer
12/23/09 — Soyuz TMA-17/21S (FGB nadir)
01/20/10 — Soyuz TMA-16/20S relocation (from SM aft to MRM-2)
02/03/10 — Progress M-04M/36P launch
02/04/10 — STS-130/Endeavour/20A '“ Node-3 'œTranquility' + Cupola
02/05/10 — Progress M-04M/36P docking
03/18/10 — Soyuz TMA-16/20S undock/landing
03/18/10 — STS-131/Discovery/19A '“ MPLM(P), LMC
04/02/10 — Soyuz TMA-18/22S launch
04/27/10 — Progress M-03M/35P undock
04/28/10 — Progress M-05M/37P launch
04/30/10 — Progress M-05M/37P docking
05/14/10 — STS-132/Atlantis/ULF4 '“ ICC-VLD, MRM-1
05/29/10 — Progress M-04M/36P undock
05/30/10 — Soyuz TMA-19/23S launch
06/30/10 — Progress M-06M/38P launch
07/02/10 — Progress M-06M/38P docking
07/26/10 — Progress M-05M/37P undock
07/27/10 — Progress M-07M/39P launch
07/29/10 — Progress M-07M/39P docking
07/29/10 — STS-134/Endeavour (ULF6 '“ ELC3, AMS-02)
08/30/10 — Progress M-06M/38P undock
08/31/10 — Progress M-08M/40P launch
09/02/10 — Progress M-08M/40P docking
09/16/10 — STS-133/Discovery (ULF5 '“ ELC4, PLM)
09/18/10 — STS-133/Discovery (ULF5 '“ ELC4, PLM) docking
09/22/10 — STS-133/Discovery (ULF5 '“ ELC4, PLM) undock
09/30/10 — Soyuz TMA-20/24S launch
10/26/10 — Progress M-07M/39P undock
10/27/10 — Progress M-09M/41P launch
10/29/10 — Progress M-09M/41P docking
11/30/10 — ATV2 launch'“ Ariane 5 (ESA)
11/30/10 — Soyuz TMA-21/25S launch
12/15/10 — Progress M-08M/40P undock
12/17/10 — ATV2 docking
02/08/11 — Progress M-09M/41P undock
02/09/11 — Progress M-10M/42P launch
02/11/11 — Progress M-10M/42P docking
03/30/11 — Soyuz TMA-22/26S launch
xx/xx/11 '“ Progress M-11M/43P launch
05/30/11 — Soyuz TMA-23/27S launch
12/??/11 — 3R Multipurpose Laboratory Module (MLM) w/ERA '“ on Proton

- courtesy of NASA’s Office of Space Operations

STS-129: countdown test completed, crew returns to Houston.

Space and Astronautics News — Wed, 04 Nov 2009 14:22:43 +0000

Mission: STS-129

Orbiter: Atlantis

Launch Pad: 39A

Launch Date: NET Nov 16, 2009, 2:28 pm EST (18:48 UT)

Landing: NET Nov 27, 9:57 am EST (13:57 UT)

Orbital Altitude: 122 nautical miles (140 miles)

Orbital Insertion: 191 nautical miles (220 miles)

Orbital Inclination: 51.6 degrees

Primary Payload: ExPRESS (Expedite the Processing of Experiments to the Space Station) Logistics Carriers ELC1 and ELC2:-

Crew:- Commander: Charles O. Hobaugh; Pilot: Barry E. Wilmore; Mission Specialists:- MS1 Leland D Melvin, MS2 Randolph Bresnik, MS3 Michael Foreman, MS4 Robert Satcher, MS5 (landing) Nicole Stott.

Pad 39A, KSC: STS-129 crew after completion of Terminal Countdown Demonstration Test. Behind them, Atlantis’ external tank & nose cone of a solid rocket booster. From left: Mission Specialists Leland Melvin, Randy Bresnik; Pilot Barry Wilmore; Commander Charles Hobaugh; Mission Specialists Mike Foreman, Robert Satcher – credits: NASA/Kim Shiflett

Launch Pad 39A technicians at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida will install the cargo for the STS-129 mission into space shuttle Atlantis’ payload bay today.

The payload consists of Express Logistics Carrier 1 and 2, holding about 28,000 pounds of supplies and spare parts for the International Space Station.

Workers also will attach the orbiter midbody umbilical unit from the pad’s rotating service structure to the shuttle today. The unit provides access to and permits servicing of Atlantis’ mid-fuselage area. Liquid oxygen and liquid hydrogen for the fuel cells and gases, such as nitrogen and helium, are provided through the unit.

The six Atlantis astronauts returned to NASA’s Johnson Space Center in Houston yesterday after completing the Terminal Countdown Demonstration Test, or TCDT, training. They’ll conduct final launch preparations at Johnson before flying back to Kennedy for the anticipated launch to the space station at 2:28 p.m. EST on Nov. 16.

- courtesy of NASA; crew photo (top) and STS-129 patch, credit: NASA

STS-129 crew members to perform complete launch simulation.

Space and Astronautics News — Tue, 03 Nov 2009 16:57:26 +0000

Nov 2:Â STS-129 Pilot Barry E. Wilmore arrives at the Shuttle Landing Facility at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida aboard a T-38 jet;Â credit: NASA/Troy Cryder.

At Kennedy Space Center in Florida, the six STS-129 crew members will climb aboard space shuttle Atlantis on Launch Pad 39A. They will go through a complete launch countdown simulation right up to the point of liftoff.

This is part of the Terminal Countdown Demonstration Test, or TCDT, typically conducted during a 3-day period about two weeks prior to launch. But this practice session was postponed because of a scheduling conflict with the launch of NASA’s Ares I-X test rocket.

After the launch simulation and emergency pad escape training, the astronauts will inspect the cargo that they’ll fly to the International Space Station before returning to NASA’s Johnson Space Center in Houston this afternoon.

Atlantis is scheduled to launch on its 11-day supply mission to the space station on Nov. 16 at 2:28 p.m. EST / 19:28 UT.

At NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida, the canister containing the payload for space shuttle Atlantis’ STS-129 mission to the International Space Station – Express Logistics Carriers 1 and 2 – is secured in the Payload Changeout Room at Launch Pad 39A. Next, the payload will be installed in Atlantis’ payload bay. The STS-129 crew will deliver two spare gyroscopes, two nitrogen tank assemblies, two pump modules, an ammonia tank assembly and a spare latching end effector for the station’s robotic arm. Launch is set for Nov. 16. Image credit: NASA/Amanda Diller

- courtesy of NASA

11/02/09: International Space Station On-Orbit Status Report.

Space and Astronautics News — Tue, 03 Nov 2009 16:46:30 +0000

ISS Orbit (as of this morning, 8:44am EST [= epoch])
Mean altitude '“ 342.3 km
Apogee height '“ 346.5 km
Perigee height '“ 338.2 km
Period — 91.38 min.
Inclination (to Equator) — 51.64 deg
Eccentricity — 0.0006161
Solar Beta Angle — 35.5 deg (magnitude increasing)
Orbits per 24-hr. day — 15.76
Mean altitude loss in the last 24 hours — 129 m
Revolutions since FGB/Zarya launch (Nov. 98) — 62775

All ISS systems continue to function nominally, except those noted previously or below. Underway: Week 4 of Increment 21.

The ISS viewed from Space Shuttle Discovery after undocking during mission STS-128; credit: NASA

FE-1 Suraev did the regular daily early-morning check of the aerosol filters at the Russian Elektron O2 generator which he installed on 10/19 in gaps between the BZh Liquid Unit and the oxygen outlet pipe (filter FA-K) plus hydrogen outlet pipe (filter FA-V). [FE-1 again inspects the filters tonight at bedtime, currently a daily requirement per plan, with photographs to be taken if the filter packing is discolored.]

FE-4 Thirsk supported once again the weekly U.S. 'œBisphosphonates' biomedical countermeasures experiment, ingesting an Alendronate pill before breakfast. [The Bisphosphonates study should determine whether antiresorptive agents (that help reduce bone loss) in conjunction with the routine in-flight exercise program will protect ISS crewmembers from the regional decreases in bone mineral density documented on previous ISS missions. Two dosing regimens are being tested: (1) an oral dose of 70 mg of Alendronate taken weekly starting 3 weeks prior to flight and then throughout the flight and (2) an intravenous (IV) dose of 4 mg Zoledronic Acid, administered just once approximately 45 days before flight. The rationale for including both Alendronate and Zoledronic Acid is that two dosing options will maximize crew participation, increase the countermeasure options available to flight surgeons, increase scientific opportunities, and minimize the effects of operational and logistical constraints. The primary measurement objective is to obtain preflight and postflight QCT (Quantitative Computed Tomography) scans of the hip. The QCT scans will provide volumetric bone density information of both cortical and trabecular (spongy) bone regions of the hip.]

CDR De Winne & FE-2 Stott continued commissioning activity on the new MSRR1 (Materials Science Research Rack 1). The CDR powered on the MSRR laptop and installed the first MSL SCA (Materials Science Laboratory / Sample Cartridge Assembly), with the FE-2 taking documentary video & photography of the first cartridge installation. [The ESA/NASA MSRR-1 provides a powerful multi-user MSL with diverse EMs (Experiment Modules) so that many material types, such as metals, alloys, polymers, semiconductors, ceramics, crystals, and glasses, can be studied in micro-G to discover new applications for existing materials and new or improved materials. MSRR experiments will be coordinated by international teams that share different parts of the samples. There are 25 investigators on three research teams participating in the first of these investigations.]

Continuing OGS (Oxygen Generator System) troubleshooting, FE-5 Williams & Nicole Stott temporarily deactivated and removed the ALTEA (Anomalous Long Term Effects on Astronauts) dosimeter unit to allow OGS rack access, then removed the failed water ORU (Orbit Replaceable Unit) and replaced it with a refurbished unit. [Additional activities included purging with the HOPA (Hydrogen Sensor ORU Purge Adapter), reconnecting the OGS H2 sensor, activating OGS, rotating the rack down for a first visual leak check, then temporarily closing out the track for a 3-hr dwell, rotating it down for a second leak check and finally replacing the rack rear panel, rotating the rack up and reinstalling the ALTEA.]

In the COL (Columbus Orbital Laboratory), Jeff Williams undertook his second (FD30) ICV (Integrated Cardiovascular) Resting Echo session as Subject, assisted by Bob Thirsk as CMO (Crew Medical Officer). [Wearing electrodes, ECG (Electrocardiograph) cable & VOX, Jeff underwent the ultrasound scan for the Resting Echo mode of ICV, with video being recorded from the HRF (Human Research Facility) Ultrasound and COL cabin camera. After confirmed file transfer, the gear was powered down and stowed. The ultrasound echo experiment uses the Image Collector software on the laptop and requires VOX/Voice plus RT Video downlink during the activity. Goal of the ICV experiment is to quantify the extent, time course, and clinical significance of cardiac atrophy and identify its mechanisms. The experiment consists of two separate but related activities over a one-week time period: an ultrasound echo scan & an ambulatory monitoring session. The sessions are scheduled at or around FD14, FD30, FD75, FD135 and R-15 (there will be fewer sessions if mission duration is less than six months). The FD75 echo scan includes an exercise component with a second scan (subset of the first) completed within 5 minutes after the end of exercise.]

In the SM (Service Module), FE-1 Suraev deactivated the Vozdukh CO2 (Carbon Dioxide) scrubber.

Afterwards, Suraev installed the GFI-1 'œRelaksatsiya' (Relaxation) Earth Observation experiment at SM window #13 with the battery charged yesterday, then launched the experiment with a calibration session using a fully zoomed FOV (field of view) view of Moon, assisted by FE-3 Romanenko for adjusting SPM (Spectrometer) modes & settings. Afterwards, the experiment was closed out and the equipment torn down for stowage. [Using the GFI-1 UFK 'œFialka' ultraviolet camera, SPM spectrometer and VKJ camcorder, controlled from Laptop3, the experiment usually deals with observing and recording hyperspectral observations of the Earth atmosphere and surface, with a Moon calibration performed today. 'œRelaxation', in Physics, is the transition of an atom or molecule from a higher energy level to a lower one, emitting radiative energy in the process as equilibrium is achieved.]

To be prepared for an emergency evacuation and return to Earth in winter time, Romanenko & Suraev relocated six standard Russian TZK-14 Thermal Protection Jackets from FGB, SM & Progress stowage to the two Soyuz spacecraft TMA-15/19S & TMA-16/20S, three jackets for each. [These warm coats, always ready for an emergency return in winter, would be required for the landing in Russia or Kazakhstan this time of year.]

Frank De Winne reconfigured the power supply of the Russian C&C (Command & Control) A31p laptop from its previous HTV1-docked setting.

Later, the CDR supported the ground in preparing for 'œmulticasting' (MCAST) four SSC (Station Support Computer) A31p laptops with new software image preparatory to the upcoming Exp-21 OpsLAN (Operations Local Area Network) Reload, by inserting four DVDs with the software in the laptops (three wireless, one other), to be removed tomorrow. [Overnight, the ground-commanded MCAST will copy the image from the disks to the hard drives of each SSC.]

After Nicole had activated the US A/L (Airlock) Minicam for video recording, she and Jeff worked in the A/L on making space for ULF3-docked EVA operations, clearing out and removing equipment items not certified for the vacuum during the PMA-3 (Pressurized Mating Adapter 3)/Crewlock depressurization scheduled on 11/4 (Wednesday).

Afterwards, Bob Thirsk initiated ACS (Atmosphere Control & Supply) pressurization of PMA-3 in preparation for ingress.

Roman Romanenko continued the current round of the monthly preventive maintenance of RS (Russian Segment) ventilation systems, working in the SM to clean the 'œGroup B1' fan screens, while Maxim Suraev worked in the FGB (Funktsionalnyi-Grusovoi Blok) cleaning the grilles of interior panels 201, 301 & 401, followed by the vent screens of panels 116, 316, 231, 431.

The FE-3 had ~70 min. set aside to float through the FGB, SM and DC1 Docking Compartment doing an audit to assess available stowage space for cargo to be delivered on 11/12 on 5R/Progress 302 (MRM2).

Roman also conducted the periodic/long-term inspection of the SM RO (Working Compartment)'s pressure hull and ring, looking for any moisture, deposits, mold, corrosion and pitting behind panels 130, 131, 134, 135, 138, 139 and also underneath the TVIS treadmill (where deposit was discovered in the past) and the cold plates (where SNT and STR lines are installed). Last time done: 8/25/09. [The inspection of the hull surface, which is coated with a primer and dark-green enamel, is done using cleaning napkins to wipe the area in question if required and reporting results to the ground. The hull inspection looks for changed color and cavities; if cavities are found, they are to be measured for depth (with chewing gum) after cleaning. Digital photographs of the shell before and after the removal of deposits were to be made for documentation.]

CDR De Winne went on a search for two PPRV (Positive Pressure Relief Valve) caps which will be required for installation in Node-3 'œTranquility' on Flight 20A next year. If two caps can be found, it would save space on the crowded 20A manifest.

Later, Frank worked in the COL (Columbus Orbital Laboratory) on the EPM PDU (European Physiology Module / Power Distribution Module), exchanging the ESEM-4 (Exchangeable Standard Electronic Module 4) of Slot 6 with the ESEM-4 of Slot 8.

Working in the Zvezda SM, Romanenko performed troubleshooting on the BKS onboard cable network for a circuit in the RRZh1 KOKh1 power supply box behind panel 134 where fuses have repeatedly blown. [After setting up connections, the FE-3 used the Elektronika MMTs-01 Multimeter tester to check DC resistances in the wiring. This had already been looked into by Gennady Padalka on 10/4/09, apparently in vain.]

Maxim Suraev performed the periodic update of the AntiVirus program in the Russian VKS auxiliary laptops (RSS2, RSK1, RSK2, RSE1, RSE2), which are not loaded from the ground, from a new uplinked program copy of Norton AV on the FS (File Server) laptop, first scanning the latter, then transferring the database by flash-card to the other computers and scanning them one by one.

Roman did the daily IMS (Inventory Management System) maintenance, updating/editing its standard 'œdelta file' including stowage locations, for the regular weekly automated export/import to its three databases on the ground (Houston, Moscow, Baikonur).

Maxim completed the routine daily servicing of the SOZh system (Environment Control & Life Support System, ECLSS) in the SM. [Regular daily SOZh maintenance consists, among else, of checking the ASU toilet facilities, replacement of the KTO & KBO solid waste containers and replacement of EDV-SV waste water and EDV-U urine containers.]

Thirsk started (later terminated) another 5-hr automatic sampling run (the 41st) with the EHS GC/DMS (Environmental Health System Gas Chromatograph/Differential Mobility Spectrometer), also known as AQM (Air Quality Monitor), controlled with 'œSionex' expert software from the SSC-4 (Station Support Computer 4) laptop. [The AQM demonstrates COTS (Commercial Off-the-Shelf) technology for identifying volatile organic compounds, similar to the VOA (Volatile Organics Analyzer). Today's data will again to be compared with VOA and GSC (Grab Sample Container) measurements. This evaluation will continue over the course of several months as it helps to eventually certify the GC/DMS as nominal CHeCS (Crew Health Care Systems) hardware.]

Bob also did the regular checkup on the running BCAT-5 (Binary Colloidal Alloy Test-5) experiment in the Kibo JPM (JEM Pressurized Module), inspecting the homogenized Sample 6 for crystals and taking photographs. [This activity is performed daily during BCAT-5 operations to check for crystals, but it is not required after crystals have been found. The sample is being photographed by a DCS 760 digital camera & the EarthKAM software running on an SSC (Station Support Computer). Sample pictures are taken automatically with electronic flash every hour for 21 days, and the pictures are downlinked via OCA during nominal OCA downlink sessions.]

Frank De Winne had ~2 hrs set aside for continuing cargo transfer & prepacking activities for STS-129/ULF3, going by an uplinked prepack list.

The FE-4 performed the periodic evacuation of the ARED (Advanced Resistive Exercise Device) cylinder flywheels to maintain proper vacuum condition and sensor calibration. [The pneumatic cylinder of the ARED continues to exhibit a small leak, and an onboard repair cannot be conducted at this time. The crew continues exercising with the current configuration, with frequent cylinder evacuations.]

Nicole continued T2/COLBERT treadmill troubleshooting, using a newly uplinked batch file to attempt retrieving missing data from last week's T2 Long-Duration ACO (Activation & Checkout) sessions. [If successful, the ground will review the data and hopes to give a Go for nominal T2 operations with handrail deployed.]

Before sleeptime tonight, Frank & Nicole will raise and secure the ARED in stowage position to allow access around its site.

The FE-2 also performed the daily service of the MDS (Mice Drawer System), today cleaning the windows for the camera and the lighting LEDs (Light-Emitting Diodes).

The crew performed their regular 2-hr physical exercise on the CEVIS cycle ergometer (FE-4), TVIS treadmill (CDR, FE-1, FE-2, FE-3, FE-5), ARED advanced resistive exerciser (CDR, FE-2, FE-3, FE-4, FE-5), and VELO cycle ergometer with bungee cord load trainer (FE-1).

Later, Frank transferred the exercise data files to the MEC (Medical Equipment Computer) for downlink, including the daily wristband HRM (Heart Rate Monitor) data of the workouts on ARED, followed by their erasure on the HRM storage medium (done six times a week).

At ~12:00pm EST, Bob Thirsk supported a PAO TV event arranged by CSA (Canadian Space Agency) at CSA Headquarters in Longueuil, Quebec, Canada, for CSA employees, friends and colleagues of Bob, moderated by CSA President Steve MacLean, CSA Astronaut Julie Payette and STS-127 Commander Mark Polansky.

At ~2:55pm, Thirsk is scheduled for a CDE (Crew Discretionary Event) via S-band/audio and Ku-band/MS-NetMeeting application (which displays the uplinked ground video on an SSC laptop).

IWS Thruster Test: This morning at 1:23am EST, a ground-controlled SM thruster firing test (4 tests with 2 pulses each) was conducted for IWIS (Internal Wireless Instrumentation System) structural dynamics data taking, with ISS attitude moded to free drift at 1:20am-1:23am. Control authority was returned from RS Motion Control to US Momentum Management at 2:15am.

No CEO (Crew Earth Observation) photo targets uplinked for today.

Significant Events Ahead (all dates Eastern Time, some changes possible):
11/04/09 — HTV1 reentry (destructive)
11/10/09 — 5R/MRM-2 (Russian Mini Research Module 2) launch on Soyuz-U
11/12/09 — 5R/MRM-2 docking (SM zenith)
11/16/09 — STS-129/Atlantis/ULF3 launch (ELC1, ELC2) 2:28pm EST
12/01/09 '“ Soyuz TMA-15/19S undock
12/01-12/23 —> two-member crew
12/21/09 — Soyuz TMA-17/21S launch — O. Kotov/S. Noguchi/T.J. Creamer
12/23/09 — Soyuz TMA-17/21S (FGB nadir)
01/20/10 — Soyuz TMA-16/20S relocation (from SM aft to MRM-2)
02/03/10 — Progress M-04M/36P launch
02/04/10 — STS-130/Endeavour/20A '“ Node-3 + Cupola
02/05/10 — Progress M-04M/36P docking
03/18/10 — Soyuz TMA-16/20S undock/landing
03/18/10 — STS-131/Discovery/19A '“ MPLM(P), LMC
04/02/10 — Soyuz TMA-18/22S launch
04/27/10 — Progress M-03M/35P undock
04/28/10 — Progress M-05M/37P launch
04/30/10 — Progress M-05M/37P docking
05/14/10 — STS-132/Atlantis/ULF4 '“ ICC-VLD, MRM-1
05/29/10 — Progress M-04M/36P undock
05/30/10 — Soyuz TMA-19/23S launch
06/30/10 — Progress M-06M/38P launch
07/02/10 — Progress M-06M/38P docking
07/26/10 — Progress M-05M/37P undock
07/27/10 — Progress M-07M/39P launch
07/29/10 — Progress M-07M/39P docking
07/29/10 — STS-134/Endeavour (ULF6 '“ ELC3, AMS-02)
08/30/10 — Progress M-06M/38P undock
08/31/10 — Progress M-08M/40P launch
09/02/10 — Progress M-08M/40P docking
09/16/10 — STS-133/Discovery (ULF5 '“ ELC4, PLM)
09/18/10 — STS-133/Discovery (ULF5 '“ ELC4, PLM) docking
09/22/10 — STS-133/Discovery (ULF5 '“ ELC4, PLM) undock
09/30/10 — Soyuz TMA-20/24S launch
10/26/10 — Progress M-07M/39P undock
10/27/10 — Progress M-09M/41P launch
10/29/10 — Progress M-09M/41P docking
11/30/10 — ATV2 launch'“ Ariane 5 (ESA)
11/30/10 — Soyuz TMA-21/25S launch
12/15/10 — Progress M-08M/40P undock
12/17/10 — ATV2 docking
02/08/11 — Progress M-09M/41P undock
02/09/11 — Progress M-10M/42P launch
02/11/11 — Progress M-10M/42P docking
03/30/11 — Soyuz TMA-22/26S launch
xx/xx/11 '“ Progress M-11M/43P launch
05/30/11 — Soyuz TMA-23/27S launch
12/??/11 — 3R Multipurpose Laboratory Module (MLM) w/ERA '“ on Proton

- courtesy of NASA’s Office of Space Operations

STS-129: Space Shuttle astronauts to arrive at Kennedy today.

Space and Astronautics News — Mon, 02 Nov 2009 18:05:30 +0000

Mission: STS-129

Orbiter: Atlantis

Launch Pad: 39A

Launch Date: NET Nov 16, 2009, 2:28 pm EST (19:28 UT)

Landing: NET Nov 27, 9:57 am EST (14:57 UT)

Orbital Altitude: 122 nautical miles (140 miles)

Orbital Insertion: 191 nautical miles (220 miles)

Orbital Inclination: 51.6 degrees

Primary Payload: ExPRESS (Expedite the Processing of Experiments to the Space Station) Logistics Carriers ELC1 and ELC2:-

Crew:- Commander: Charles O. Hobaugh; Pilot: Barry E. Wilmore; Mission Specialists:- MS1 Leland D Melvin, MS2 Randolph Bresnik, MS3 Michael Foreman, MS4 Robert Satcher, MS5 (landing) Nicole Stott.

At NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida, the STS-129 launch team is getting ready for the final part of training called the Terminal Countdown Demonstration Test, or TCDT, which will prepare space shuttle Atlantis, the mission’s astronauts and the Kennedy team for the flight to the International Space Station.

Atlantis’ six astronauts will fly to Kennedy late this afternoon. Tuesday morning they will practice a simulated launch countdown inside the shuttle’s cockpit at Launch Pad 39A.

Before returning to NASA’s Johnson Space Center in Houston on Tuesday, the crew members will inspect the cargo that they’ll be delivering to the station.

The payload was transferred to the pad Oct. 30 and will be installed in Atlantis’ bay Wednesday.

Launch of space shuttle Atlantis is set for Nov. 16 at 2:28 p.m. EST (19:28 UT).

- courtesy of NASA; mission patch and crew photo, credit: NASA

11/01/09: International Space Station On-Orbit Status Report.

Space and Astronautics News — Mon, 02 Nov 2009 17:07:11 +0000

ISS Orbit (as of this morning, 7:10am EST [= epoch])
Mean altitude '“ 342.5 km
Apogee height '“ 346.7 km
Perigee height '“ 338.2 km
Period — 91.38 min.
Inclination (to Equator) — 51.64 deg
Eccentricity — 0.0006261
Solar Beta Angle — 34.4 deg (magnitude increasing)
Orbits per 24-hr. day — 15.76
Mean altitude loss in the last 24 hours — 164 m
Revolutions since FGB/Zarya launch (Nov. 98) — 62758

All ISS systems continue to function nominally, except those noted previously or below. Sunday '“ a full-rest day for the crew. Ahead: Week 4 of Increment 21.

Oct 28: European Space Agency astronaut Frank De Winne (right), Expedition 21 commander; along with Canadian Space Agency astronaut Robert Thirsk (bottom right), NASA astronauts Jeffrey Williams and Nicole Stott, all flight engineers, are pictured during an educational event set up by the Canadian Space Agency for the Minister of Education at Mount St. Vincent University in Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada, with approximately 100 students, teachers, parents and province schools participating virtually throughout Nova Scotia; credit: NASA

FE-1 Suraev did the regular daily early-morning check of the new aerosol filters at the Russian Elektron O2 generator which he installed on 10/19 in gaps between the BZh Liquid Unit and the oxygen outlet pipe (filter FA-K) plus hydrogen outlet pipe (filter FA-V). [FE-1 again inspects the filters tonight at bedtime, currently a daily requirement per plan, with photographs to be taken if the filter packing is discolored.]

CDR De Winne, FE-2 Stott, FE-4 Thirsk & FE-5 Williams continued their current week-long session of the experiment SLEEP (Sleep-Wake Actigraphy & Light Exposure during Spaceflight), wearing their Actiwatches, from which to log data to the HRF-1 (Human Research Facility 1) laptop. [To monitor the crewmembers' sleep/wake patterns and light exposure, the crewmembers sometimes wear a special Actiwatch device which measures the light levels encountered by them as well as their patterns of sleep and activity throughout the Expedition and use the payload software for data logging and filling in questionnaire entries in the experiment's laptop session file on the HRF-1 laptop. The log entries are done within 15 minutes of final awakening for seven consecutive days.]

FE-5 Williams terminated Day 2 of his second (FD30) session with the NASA/JSC experiment NUTRITION w/Repository, after 24 hours of urine collections & sample placing in MELFI (Minus Eighty Laboratory Freezer for ISS). [The NUTRITION project is the most comprehensive in-flight study done by NASA to date of human physiologic changes during long-duration space flight. It includes measures of bone metabolism, oxidative damage, nutritional assessments, and hormonal changes, expanding the previous Clinical Nutritional Assessment profile (MR016L) testing in three ways: Addition of in-flight blood & urine collection (made possible by supercold MELFI dewars), normative markers of nutritional assessment, and a return session plus 30-day (R+30) session to allow evaluation of post-flight nutrition and implications for rehabilitation.]

Jeff also supported once again the weekly U.S. 'œBisphosphonates' biomedical countermeasures experiment, ingesting an Alendronate pill before breakfast. [The Bisphosphonates study should determine whether antiresorptive agents (that help reduce bone loss) in conjunction with the routine in-flight exercise program will protect ISS crewmembers from the regional decreases in bone mineral density documented on previous ISS missions. Two dosing regimens are being tested: (1) an oral dose of 70 mg of Alendronate taken weekly starting 3 weeks prior to flight and then throughout the flight and (2) an intravenous (IV) dose of 4 mg Zoledronic Acid, administered just once approximately 45 days before flight. The rationale for including both Alendronate and Zoledronic Acid is that two dosing options will maximize crew participation, increase the countermeasure options available to flight surgeons, increase scientific opportunities, and minimize the effects of operational and logistical constraints. The primary measurement objective is to obtain preflight and postflight QCT (Quantitative Computed Tomography) scans of the hip. The QCT scans will provide volumetric bone density information of both cortical and trabecular (spongy) bone regions of the hip.]

FE-1 Suraev initiated charging of a battery for the SONY DCR-TRV900E video recorder, to be used in another run of the geophysical GFI-1 Relaksatsiya (relaxation) experiment tomorrow, which will use the Moon for spectral calibration.

FE-4 Thirsk did the regular checkup on the running BCAT-5 (Binary Colloidal Alloy Test-5) experiment in the Kibo JPM (JEM Pressurized Module), inspecting the homogenized Sample 6 for crystals and taking photographs. [This activity is performed daily during BCAT-5 operations to check for crystals, but it is not required after crystals have been found. The sample is being photographed by a DCS 760 digital camera & the EarthKAM software running on an SSC (Station Support Computer). Sample pictures are taken automatically with electronic flash every hour for 21 days, and the pictures are downlinked via OCA during nominal OCA downlink sessions.]

Bob Thirsk also closed the protective shutters of the US Lab & Kibo JPM (JEM Pressurized Module) in preparation for the ground-controlled SM (Service Module) thruster firing test for IWIS (Internal Wireless Instrumentation System) structural dynamics data taking, planned for 1:18am-2:08am EST tomorrow morning, preceded by ISS attitude moded to free drift at 1:20am-1:23am.

The five Flight Engineers had their weekly PFCs (Private Family Conferences), via S-band/audio and Ku-band/MS-NetMeeting application (which displays the uplinked ground video on an SSC laptop), Roman Romanenko at ~5:25am, Maxim Suraev at ~7:10am, Bob Thirsk at ~9:50am and again at ~4:10pm, Nicole Stott at ~12:05pm, Jeff Williams at ~2:30pm EST.

The crew performed their regular 2-hr physical exercise on the CEVIS cycle ergometer (CDR, FE-2, FE-5), TVIS treadmill (FE-1, FE-3, FE-4), ARED advanced resistive exerciser (CDR, FE-1, FE-2, FE-4, FE-5), and VELO cycle ergometer with bungee cord load trainer (FE-3).

No CEO (Crew Earth Observation) photo targets uplinked for today.

- courtesy of NASA’s Office of Space Operations

European Space Agency: SMOS and Proba-2 launch status.

Space and Astronautics News — Mon, 02 Nov 2009 04:48:19 +0000

The ground station in Hertebeesthoek, South Africa has received a signal from SMOS, confirming the satellite has separated from the launcher upper stage, and injected into orbit. Breeze-KM continues to carry Proba-2 into orbit.

03:00 CET – As planned, SMOS and Proba-2 have travelled out of the Russian mission control centre's range of radio visibility. The first SMOS signal is expected to be received by the ground station in Hartebeesthoek, South Africa, after separation from the launcher just after 04:00 CET (03:00 UT). Sweden's Kiruna ground station is then expecting to receive the SMOS signal at 04:26 CET (03:26 UT). The first Proba-2 signal is expected at 05:50 CET (04:50 UT) by Belgium's Redu ground station.

The SMOS and Proba-2 lift off, on 2 November 2009 at 02:50 CET (01:50 UT) from the Plesetsk Cosmodrome in northern Russia. Credit: ESA

02:40 CET – Rollback of mobile launch service tower. Credit: ESA – S. Corvaja, 2009

1 November 2009:

21:00 CET – Russian State Commission has given green light for launcher fuelling for SMOS and Proba-2.

30 October 2009 :

23:30 CET – Launch readiness for SMOS and Proba-2 confirmed from Plesetsk.

- courtesy of European Space Agency

10/30/09: HTV Transfer Vehicle undocks from the International Space Station.

Space and Astronautics News — Sat, 31 Oct 2009 13:23:13 +0000

ISS Orbit (as of this morning, 8:59am EDT [= epoch])
Mean altitude '“ 342.8 km
Apogee height '“ 346.9 km
Perigee height '“ 338.6 km
Period — 91.39 min.
Inclination (to Equator) — 51.64 deg
Eccentricity — 0.000616
Solar Beta Angle — 30.5 deg (magnitude increasing)
Orbits per 24-hr. day — 15.76
Mean altitude loss in the last 24 hours — 127 m
Revolutions since FGB/Zarya launch (Nov. 98) — 62727

All ISS systems continue to function nominally, except those noted previously or below.

Sayonara, HTV! The Japanese H-II Transfer Vehicle was successfully unberthed at 11:18am EDT and released from the Canadian robot arm at 1:32pm. Deorbit burn: 2:11pm.

International Space Station cameras monitor the H-II Transfer Vehicle, before the Canadarm2 releases it. Credit: NASA TV

FE-5 Williams began Day 1 of his second session (FD30) with the NASA/JSC experiment NUTRITION w/Repository, focusing on the blood draw. Bob Thirsk assisted with the phlebotomy from an arm vein. Later, Jeff set up the equipment for his 24-hour urine collections of the NUTRITION protocol which begin tomorrow. [After the phlebotomy, Jeff's samples were first allowed to coagulate in the Repository for 20-30 minutes, then spun in the HRF RC (Human Research Facility/Refrigerated Centrifuge) and finally placed in MELFI (Minus-Eighty Laboratory Freezer for ISS). No thruster activity was allowed during the blood drawing. The RC was later powered off after a temperature reset to limit wear on the compressor, and cleaned. The NUTRITION project is the most comprehensive in-flight study done by NASA to date of human physiologic changes during long-duration space flight. It includes measures of bone metabolism, oxidative damage, nutritional assessments, and hormonal changes, expanding the previous Clinical Nutritional Assessment profile (MR016L) testing in three ways: Addition of in-flight blood & urine collection (made possible by supercold MELFI dewars), normative markers of nutritional assessment, and a return session plus 30-day (R+30) session to allow evaluation of post-flight nutrition and implications for rehabilitation.]

FE-3 Romanenko conducted an extensive inspection/audit of the SUBA SD lighting fixture in the RS (Russian Segment), to assess the situation for planning delivery of replacement lights and to update the IMS (Inventory Management System) on the ground. [Roman checked the conditions of all lights and filled out log sheets with data on serial numbers of installed & spare light units, power supplies and light assemblies. The resulting data file was to be downlinked to TsUP-Moscow via OCA.]

Afterwards, Romanenko worked in the SM (Service Module) on the KURS-P system, connecting LF & RF cables to switch it over to support docking operations at the zenith port of the SM. [The zenith port on the +Y axis (= RS notation; -Z in ISS notation) will be used for the docking of the MRM2 (Mini-Research Module 2) on 11/12 (to be launched on 11/10 on a Soyuz-U as 5R). MRM2, a twin of the DC1 Docking Compartment, will provide the 4th Russian docking port, serves as Russian airlock and will also accommodate payloads for scientific research.]

At ~3:30pm, FE-1 Suraev will again support the ground-commanded activation of the Elektron oxygen generator at 24 amps by monitoring the external temperature of its secondary purification unit (BD) for the first 10 minutes of operations to ensure that there was no overheating. [The gas analyzer used on the Elektron during nominal operations for detecting hydrogen (H2) in the O2 line (which could cause overheating) is not included in the control algorithm until 10 minutes after Elektron startup. Elektron has been turned off for Romanenko's work on the KURS-P system, since the BITS2-12 onboard telemetry measurement system and VD-SU control system mode, required for Elektron operation, have been deactivated for this activity.]

The FE-1 terminated the recharge of the DZZ-13 battery, initiated yesterday, and later conducted another sun-glint observation session with the new Russian science hardware DZZ-13 RUSALKA ('œMermaid') experiment, using the hand-held spectrometer (without use of the TIUS three-stage rate sensor) from SM window #9 and later downlinking data. [RUSALKA ops involve calibration and tests of research equipment relating to the Sun and the Earth's limb at sunset (atmosphere lighted). To be tested are the procedure for remote determination of Methane (CH4) & Carbon Dioxide (CO2) content in the atmosphere (in the First Phase), measurement of CH4 & CO2 content in the atmosphere and reception of data on NI2 and NI4 content over the territories subjected to natural and technogenic effects, reception of sufficient data on seasonal dependencies of tropospheric parameters being studied (in the Second Phase). Equipment used: Rusalka monoblock, Nikon D2X(s) digital photo camera; AF VR Nikkor ED 80-400f/4.5-5.6D lens with ultraviolet filter, bracket for attachment to the window, and Rusalka-Accessories set. Support hardware: Device TIUS DKShG/PNSK, Laptop RSK1, and Software Package loading disk.]

Suraev also undertook another downlink activity of the regular data files from the BU (Control Unit) of the running BIO-5 Rasteniya-2 (”Plants-2″) experiment in the SM, archiving them on a PCMCIA memory card (a ~5-hr activity), and downlinking pictures of the experiment setup. [Rasteniya-2, set up on 10/29 with a new batch of seeds, researches growth and development of plants under spaceflight conditions in the LADA-16 greenhouse from IBMP (Institute of Bio-Medical Problems, Russian: IMBP), currently planted with Mizuna seeds. Mizuna (Brassica rapa nipposinica) is a tasty variety of Japanese mustard greens, also known as California Peppergrass, eaten as a salad.]

Roman Romanenko completed his second orthostatic hemodynamic endurance test session with the Russian Chibis suit in preparation for his return to gravity on 12/1 with Soyuz 19S (along with De Winne & Thirsk), conducting the MedOps MO-4 exercise protocol in the below-the-waist reduced-pressure device (ODNT, US: LBNP/Lower Body Negative Pressure) on the TVIS treadmill. With Suraev acting as CMO (Crew Medical Officer), Roman was supported in his one-hour session by ground specialist tagup via VHF at 1:01pm EDT. [The Chibis provides gravity-simulating stress to the body's cardiovascular/circulatory system for evaluation of Romanenko's orthostatic tolerance (e.g., the Gauer-Henry reflex) after his long-term stay in zero-G. Data output includes blood pressure readings.]

In the FGB (Funktsionalnyi-Grusovoi Blok), the FE-3 replaced the VT1 fan of the ventilation system with a spare unit.

FE-4 Thirsk repaired the Scopemeter on the ISA (Internal Sampling Adapter) by demating its pressure probe from the ISA and replacing it with a different probe. [The pressure probe had shown incorrect (biased) data.]

FE-5 Williams removed the mostly full EDV-U urine container (#905) from the US WHC (Waste & Hygiene Compartment, rendering it temporarily out of service until EDV-U replacement), then used it to fill the newly installed UPA RFTA (Urine Processor Assembly / Recycle Filter Tank Assembly). The empty EDV-U was then returned to the WHC. [An attempt to perform a drydown of the DA (Distillation Assembly) was attempted this morning via ground commanding, preceded by system setup by the crew. The operation was unsuccessful. If UPA (Urine Processor Assembly) processing cannot be regained before the weekend ahead, a change-out of the EDV-U will be performed on Monday.]

The WHC was again temporarily out of service, when Bob Thirsk performed preventive maintenance in the WHC, removing the urine pretreat tank & tank hose and replacing them with new ones.

Jeff Williams also worked on the HRF (Human Research Facility) Rack 2, loading new software on its RIC (Rack Interface Controller) laptop by replacing its UltraBay hard drive and installing updated programs from a DVD. The task also involved some Ethernet cable reconfiguring. The loads on the RIC cards and software functionality were then verified and the IP address configured.

Afterwards, the FE-5 retrieved & stowed the four passive FMK (Formaldehyde Monitoring Kit) sampling assemblies deployed by CDR De Winne on 10/28 in the Lab (at P3, below CEVIS) and SM (at the most forward handrail, on panel 307), to catch any atmospheric formaldehyde on a collector substrate for subsequent analysis on the ground. [Two monitors each are usually attached side by side, preferably in an orientation with their faces perpendicular to the direction of air flow.]

After charging the battery of his camcorder, Maxim Suraev spent ~2 hrs shooting video footage for a 'œNews from Zero Gravity' report from ISS for the Russian television channel 'œTV Tsentr', using an uplinked script for the various scenes and narrations. [TV Tsentr is launching a new program on science and technology and one of the first episodes is to show a report from the ISS. The footage will be downlinked tomorrow (10/31) during RGS (Russian Ground Station) coverage. ('œ'¦Now you know how we live up here. The reality is that there is a lot of work in space. There are many scientific experiments and studies that we carry out for the benefit of all mankind. An example is the Rusalka experiment, in which carbon dioxide levels in our planet's atmosphere are accurately measured. In the Uragan experiment, we are working on a procedure and system for predicting the development of natural and man-made disasters. The Vaktsina experiment is to investigate prospective proteins for AIDS vaccines on Earth and in space. Soon, a new mini research module will be added to the ISS Russian segment, thus broadening and increasing the Russian science program. Don't forget, we are working up here for the good of our planet. Our fragile Earth. Good luck to you all'¦.".)]

Maxim Suraev did the daily IMS maintenance, updating/editing its standard 'œdelta file' including stowage locations, for the regular weekly automated export/import to its three databases on the ground (Houston, Moscow, Baikonur).

Maxim also completed the routine daily servicing of the SOZh system (Environment Control & Life Support System, ECLSS) in the SM. [Regular daily SOZh maintenance consists, among else, of checking the ASU toilet facilities, replacement of the KTO & KBO solid waste containers and replacement of EDV-SV waste water and EDV-U urine containers.]

FE-2 Stott conducted her regular support of the MDS (Mice Drawer System) facility by refilling its potable water supply and performing a visual inspection of cages 1, 2 & 5 and their live occupants.

FE-4 Thirsk did the regular checkup on the BCAT-5 (Binary Colloidal Alloy Test-5) experiment setup in the Kibo JPM (JEM Pressurized Module), inspecting the homogenized Sample 6 for crystals and taking photographs. [This activity is performed daily during BCAT-5 operations to check for crystals, but it is not required after crystals have been found. The sample is being photographed using a DCS 760 digital camera & the EarthKAM software running on an SSC (Station Support Computer). Sample pictures are taken automatically with electronic flash every hour for 21 days, and the pictures are downlinked via OCA during nominal OCA downlink sessions.]

CDR De Winne completed the regular monthly session of the CHeCS (Crew Health Care Systems) emergency medical operations OBT (On-Board Training) drill, a 30-min. exercise to refresh his CMO acuity in a number of critical health areas. The video-based proficiency drill today focused on administration of intravenous (IV) fluid infusion. [The HMS (Health Maintenance Systems) hardware, including ACLS (Advanced Cardiac Life Support) equipment, may be used in contingency situations where crew life is at risk. To maintain proficiency, crewmembers spend one hour per month reviewing HMS and ACLS equipment and procedures via the HMS and ACLS CBT (computer-based training). The training drill, each crewmember for him/herself, refreshes their memory of the on-orbit stowage and deployment locations, equipment etc. and procedures.]

Frank also filled out the regular weekly FFQ (Food Frequency Questionnaire) on the MEC (Medical Equipment Computer). [On the FFQs, NASA astronauts keep a personalized log of their nutritional intake over time on special MEC software. Recorded are the amounts consumed during the past week of such food items as beverages, cereals, grains, eggs, breads, snacks, sweets, fruit, beans, soup, vegetables, dairy, fish, meat, chicken, sauces & spreads, and vitamins. The FFQ is performed once a week to estimate nutrient intake from the previous week and to give recommendations to ground specialists that help maintain optimal crew health. Weekly estimation has been verified to be reliable enough that nutrients do not need to be tracked daily.]

Nicole, Bob & Frank completed the final steps of preparing for HTV release by '“
Disconnecting the remaining power jumper line,
Installing the HTV thermal cover & Node-2 nadir center disk cover,
Closing the Node-2 nadir hatch,
Depressurizing the vestibule & performing leak checks for 30 min,
Removing CBM (Common Berthing Mechanism) bolts and deploying latches,
Unberthing the HTV with the SSRMS (Space Station Remote Manipulator System) at 11:18am EDT,
Moving the HTV to the release position, and finally
Releasing it from the SSRMS at 1:32pm.

Afterwards, the crew monitored the departure of the cargo carrier (with IDM/ISS Departure Maneuver and DSM/Descending Maneuver at 2:01pm), loaded with 199 items of discarded equipment & waste, at a total contents mass of 727.7 kg. The actual deorbit burn occurred at 2:11pm.

Thirsk closed up by switching off the HTV HCP (Hardware Command Panel) & the PROX (Proximity Communication System) Rack power switch in the JPM (JEM Pressurized Module), and then removed the HCP QD (Quick Disconnect) connectors around the US Lab/Node-2 & Node-2/JPM hatches to enable quick hatch closure in a contingency.

At ~4:10am EDT, the crew held the regular (nominally weekly) tagup with the Russian Flight Control Team (GOGU), including Shift Flight Director (SRP), at TsUP via S-band/audio, phone-patched from Houston and Moscow.

At ~5:55am, CDR De Winne held a tagup with the ESA staff at Col-CC (Columbus Control Center) at Oberpfaffenhofen/Germany. [This conference is scheduled once every week, between ISS crewmembers and Col-CC via S/G2 (Space-to-Ground 2) audio.]

At ~8:10am, Maxim linked up with TsUP/Moscow stowage specialists via S-band to conduct the weekly IMS tagup, discussing inventory & stowage issues, equipment locations and cargo transfers.

At ~4:40pm, the ISS crew is scheduled for their regular weekly tagup with the Lead Flight Director at JSC/MCC-H via S-band/audio. [S/G-2 (Space-to-Ground 2) phone patch via SSC (Station Support Computer).]

At ~5:02pm Bob Thirsk will power up the SM’s amateur radio equipment (Kenwood VHF transceiver with manual frequency selection, headset, & power supply) and at 5:07pm conducted a ham radio session with students at David Thompson Middle School, Calgary, Alberta, Canada.

For the fifth time, Nicole Stott donned the Glenn treadmill harness with installed transducer instrumentation, then activated the new harness for another individual exercise run on the TVIS treadmill. Afterwards, she downloaded the harness data and filled out a survey questionnaire to complete the SDTO (Station Development Test Objective).

The crew performed their regular 2-hr physical exercise on the CEVIS cycle ergometer (FE-5), TVIS treadmill (CDR, FE-1, FE-2, FE-3, FE-4), ARED advanced resistive exerciser (CDR, FE-2, FE-3, FE-4, FE-5), and VELO cycle ergometer with bungee cord load trainer (FE-1).

Later, Williams transferred the exercise data files to the MEC for downlink, including the daily wristband HRM (Heart Rate Monitor) data of the workouts on ARED, followed by their erasure on the HRM storage medium (done six times a week).

WRM Update: A new WRM (Water Recovery Management) 'œcue card' was uplinked last night to the crew for their reference, updated with yesterday's CWC (Collapsible Water Container) water audit. [The new card (21-0028D) lists 78 CWCs (~1,772.3 L total) for the four types of water identified on board: 1. technical water (65 CWCs with 1,388.1 L, for Elektron electrolysis, incl. 196.8 L for flushing only due to Wautersia bacteria & 134.2 L in 3 clean bags for contingency use, 2. potable water (8 CWCs with 323.1 L, of which 23.0 L (1 bag) are off-limit due to Wautersia) and 128.3 L (3 bags) good for contingency use, 3. condensate water (3 CWCs, empty), 4. waste/EMU dump and other (2 CWCs with 61.1 L). Wautersia bacteria are typical water-borne microorganisms that have been seen previously in ISS water sources. These isolates pose no threat to human health.]

CEO (Crew Earth Observation) photo targets uplinked for today were Ice Berg B17b, Southeastern Indian Ocean (CEO staff has been receiving requests from the Center for Remote Sensing, Brigham Young University, for imagery from the ISS of selected ice bergs. Ice Berg B17b is located at 52.92 degrees South and 102.76 degrees East. Some breaks in the clouds were expected that might have given the crew the opportunity to identify and photograph this ice berg), Simon’s Bay, Cape Point, S. Africa (HMS Beagle site. Looking left of track. CEO has received previous ISS imagery of this area and with a few 800 mm images will be able to remove it from the Beagle site list), Ubinas Volcano, Peru (looking right of track for this pass near Peru’s most active volcano Ubinas; some clouds may have been present. The summit caldera contains an ash cone, and debris avalanche deposits extend 10 km from the SE flank of the volcano. Overlapping frames of the volcano summit and flanks were requested. Recommended was to commence photography as ISS crossed the Peruvian coastline and to terminate the Ubinas session as ISS approached Lake Titicaca as the best means of capturing the volcano. After review of previous imagery the CEO staff noted that the crew has obtained excellent views of several volcanoes, and also knows that it is difficult to distinguish specific volcanoes while the observer is moving along the orbit track), Lake Poopo, Bolivia (preliminary review of the most recent ISS/CEO imagery of Lake Poopo shows that the CEO staff would like to continue to ask for more detailed views of this target area. The lake was left of track. Lake levels in Poopo are generally affected by El NiÃ±o episodes with water levels declining during ENSO (El NiÃ±o Southern Oscillation) events. CEO imagery will also add to existing time series imagery of the fluctuations of lake levels in Poopo. Overlapping imagery of the lake shore and lake was requested), Villarrica Volcano, Chile (ISS should have had a close to nadir pass over Villarrica volcano. The line of glacial lakes extending at right angles away from track is the visual cue, with Villarrica between two of these lakes. Shooting along the line of lakes to capture the target. Snow-covered Villarrica is one of Chile’s most active volcanoes and one of only four worldwide known to have an active lava lake within its crater), and SW Glaciers of S. Patagonian Glacier Field (for this particular target site observers are interested in the smaller glaciers ranging from HPS10 south to Amalia. Documenting the individual glacier origin to the terminus).

Significant Events Ahead (all dates Eastern Time, some changes possible):
11/01/09 — Daylight Time ends/Standard Time begins
11/04/09 — HTV1 reentry (destructive)
11/10/09 — 5R/MRM-2 (Russian Mini Research Module 2) launch on Soyuz-U
11/12/09 — 5R/MRM-2 docking (SM zenith)
11/16/09 — STS-129/Atlantis/ULF3 launch (ELC1, ELC2) 2:28pm EST
12/01/09 '“ Soyuz TMA-15/19S undock
12/01-12/23 —> two-member crew
12/21/09 — Soyuz TMA-17/21S launch — O. Kotov/S. Noguchi/T.J. Creamer
12/23/09 — Soyuz TMA-17/21S (FGB nadir)
01/20/10 — Soyuz TMA-16/20S relocation (from SM aft to MRM-2)
02/03/10 — Progress M-04M/36P launch
02/04/10 — STS-130/Endeavour/20A '“ Node-3 + Cupola
02/05/10 — Progress M-04M/36P docking
03/18/10 — Soyuz TMA-16/20S undock/landing
03/18/10 — STS-131/Discovery/19A '“ MPLM(P), LMC
04/02/10 — Soyuz TMA-18/22S launch
04/27/10 — Progress M-03M/35P undock
04/28/10 — Progress M-05M/37P launch
04/30/10 — Progress M-05M/37P docking
05/14/10 — STS-132/Atlantis/ULF4 '“ ICC-VLD, MRM-1
05/29/10 — Progress M-04M/36P undock
05/30/10 — Soyuz TMA-19/23S launch
06/30/10 — Progress M-06M/38P launch
07/02/10 — Progress M-06M/38P docking
07/26/10 — Progress M-05M/37P undock
07/27/10 — Progress M-07M/39P launch
07/29/10 — Progress M-07M/39P docking
07/29/10 — STS-134/Endeavour (ULF6 '“ ELC3, AMS-02)
08/30/10 — Progress M-06M/38P undock
08/31/10 — Progress M-08M/40P launch
09/02/10 — Progress M-08M/40P docking
09/16/10 — STS-133/Discovery (ULF5 '“ ELC4, PLM)
09/18/10 — STS-133/Discovery (ULF5 '“ ELC4, PLM) docking
09/22/10 — STS-133/Discovery (ULF5 '“ ELC4, PLM) undock
09/30/10 — Soyuz TMA-20/24S launch
10/26/10 — Progress M-07M/39P undock
10/27/10 — Progress M-09M/41P launch
10/29/10 — Progress M-09M/41P docking
11/30/10 — ATV2 launch'“ Ariane 5 (ESA)
11/30/10 — Soyuz TMA-21/25S launch
12/15/10 — Progress M-08M/40P undock
12/17/10 — ATV2 docking
02/08/11 — Progress M-09M/41P undock
02/09/11 — Progress M-10M/42P launch
02/11/11 — Progress M-10M/42P docking
03/30/11 — Soyuz TMA-22/26S launch
xx/xx/11 '“ Progress M-11M/43P launch
05/30/11 — Soyuz TMA-23/27S launch
12/??/11 — 3R Multipurpose Laboratory Module (MLM) w/ERA '“ on Proton

- courtesy of NASA’s Office of Space Operations

STS-129: payload delivered to Atlantis at Pad 39A; crew returns to KSC.

Space and Astronautics News — Fri, 30 Oct 2009 16:56:26 +0000

STS-129 Mission Specialist Robert L. Satcher Jr. participates in an Extravehicular Mobility Unit, or EMU, spacesuit fit check in the Space Station Airlock Test Article in the Crew Systems Laboratory at NASA’s Johnson Space Center in Houston. Image credit: NASA/JSC

At NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida, the cargo for space shuttle Atlantis’ mission to the International Space Station was moved to Launch Pad 39A overnight and will be installed into the shuttle’s payload bay.

Technicians will finish testing Atlantis’ waste collection system, or toilet, this weekend and ground teams are getting ready for the final part of launch dress rehearsal known as the Terminal Countdown Demonstration Test, or TCDT.

Today, the STS-129 mission’s six astronauts are involved in their final bench review of flight hardware at NASA’s Johnson Space Center in Houston, and they will conduct contingency abort simulation training in the motion base simulator.

The crew will fly to Kennedy Monday afternoon for the completion of TCDT. During their two-days at Kennedy they will participate in a simulated launch countdown where they practice liftoff procedures inside the shuttle. Before returning to Johnson on Tuesday, crew members will practice emergency pad evacuation.

On Oct. 29, NASA managers announced the official launch date and time of Nov. 16 at 2:28 p.m. EST for Atlantis’ flight to the space station. The only deviation to this date would be if the planned Nov. 14 launch of an Atlas V rocket from nearby Cape Canaveral Air Force Station is delayed. Since the Atlas team has reserved the Eastern Range for Nov. 14 and 15, this means the shuttle’s liftoff will move to no earlier than 2:02 p.m. on Nov. 17.

- courtesy of NASA

STS-129: Space Shuttle Atlantis to launch on November 16.

Space and Astronautics News — Fri, 30 Oct 2009 01:14:35 +0000

Atlantis is at the left, on Pad 39A, as the Ares I-X launches from Pad 39B at the Kennedy Space Center; image credit:Â Scott Andrews, Canon, via NASA

Space shuttle Atlantis, its crew and payload have been given the green light to launch to the International Space Station on Nov. 16 at 2:28 p.m. EST.

At the post-FRR press briefing held at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida, Bill Gerstenmaier, associate administrator for Space Operations congratulated the Ares I-X launch team for a successful flight test. He then talked about the extremely thorough review of vast amounts of data that led to announcing that Atlantis is certified to launch.

“We accomplished what we wanted to to get ready to move to the next activity '¦ with just a little bit of open work left to do,” said Gerstenmaier.

Mike Moses, space shuttle launch integration manager thanked the teams across the country for their hard work getting Atlantis into good shape for the launch. He highlighted the Kennedy teams, complimenting them for working on preparations for both the Atlantis and Ares I-X launches at the same time.

“I’m really pleased — this is going to be a challenging 11-day mission with three EVAs; the cargo resupply to the station is going to set them up for the future,” said Moses.

Mike Leinbach, space shuttle launch director said Atlantis’ payload for the STS-129 mission will be transported to Launch Pad 39A by Friday morning. The pad’s rotating service structure, or RSS, which protects the shuttle against inclement weather and also provides access to the vehicle’s payload bay, is being rolled away. This will allow techs to lift Atlantis’ payload up to the pad for installation into the shuttle’s cargo bay.

“It’s a standard path flow for us and we have little bit of contingency hidden in the flow, so no problems there, said Leinbach. “We should be able to get to our T-0 on the 16th with no issues at all.”

The Nov. 16 target date will depend on the planned Nov. 14 launch of an Atlas V rocket from nearby Cape Canaveral Air Force Station. The Atlas has reserved the Eastern Range on Nov. 14 and 15. But if the Atlas launch is delayed to Nov. 15, the shuttle’s liftoff will move to no earlier than 2:02 p.m. on Nov. 17.

- courtesy of NASA