March 31, 2008
STS-124 Rescheduled
The next shuttle flight has been moved from May 25 to May 31, the Saturday of our International Space Development Conference (ISDC). Launch time is planned for 5:01 p.m. Come to the conference and cheer the launch with a bunch of fellow space enthusiasts!
The delay was a domino effect of weather problems that delayed the shipment of the external tank from the Michoud Facility in Louisiana.
The main objective of the mission is to deliver the Japanese Kibo (Hope) module. The Japanese logistics module, which was brought up by the last flight, will be moved to attach to Kibo. That involves a lot of fancy robotic "crane" work that should be fun to watch in between sessions at the ISDC.
Mark Kelly will command the seven-member crew, which includes Pilot Ken Ham, Mission Specialists Karen Nyberg, Ron Garan, Jr., Mike Fossum, Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency astronaut Akihiko Hoshide and Greg Chamitoff. Chamitoff will replace Expedition 16/17 Flight Engineer Garrett Reisman and remain aboard the station as a member of the Expedition 17 crew. Reisman will return to Earth with the STS-124 crew.
For more information on the shuttle mission, visit: www.nasa.gov/shuttle.
To the stars!
Marianne Dyson
NSS member
http://www.mdyson.com
Posted by m_dyson at 10:19 PM
March 24, 2008
Flying off into the sunset
The crew of STS-123 will be putting on quite a show Monday just before 7 PM CDT. That's when Endeavour will pull away from the space station, and the crew will peer out the windows with smiles on their faces as they admire their handiwork.
Expect the images to be stunning!
For almost two weeks, the crew of the shuttle and station have worked to attach the shiny new Japanese logisitics module and the clean white Canadian Dextre robotic arm. The fly-around will be the first time for anyone to see the station's new look from a distance.
It seemed that every time I turned on the TV during one of the 5 spacewalks last week, I saw only gloves and whatever equipment they were twisting or connecting or hammering into place. As a former flight controller, I understand the need to be brief and talk in acronyms. But as a member of the viewing public, I have to admit that the "loop" chatter was about as exciting as someone reading the phone book. I kept wishing for the camera to zoom out and give me some context and some inspiration.
At the tail end of Saturday night's EVA, which was during orbital darkness, I thought, "Surely they will find some excuse to wait outside an extra 5 minutes and let the crew watch a sunrise from outside." But no. I glimpsed a tiny bit of the horizon as Forman pulled down the thermal cover over the hatch.
If the crew had said, "Hey, Mission Control, we're going to hang out a few minutes and watch the sunrise," what could they do to stop them? Were they so exhausted (or hungry?) that all they wanted to do was get out of those sweaty suits? Or were they afraid to dally or ask permission to take in the view from what Gene Cernan called "God's front porch" because their time is so scripted and so valuable that someone would accuse them of goofing off at taxpayer expense? I mean, Mission Control does clock the length of the EVAs to the s e c o n d!
At least we were treated to some spectacular views via the cameras mounted outside after all the spacewalkers were tucked safely inside. I never tire of seeing the intense sparkling blue oceans of Earth with the layered cloud decks doppled on it like some super-fluffy whipped cream. And then the moon appeared!
The PAO commentator in Mission Control mentioned that this crew got to see a "moonset" about every ninety-one minutes. All I could think was, "Wow!" The full moon on the vernal equinox on Easter... what a powerful symbol of the spring of our future and our spiritual awakening, etc. There she was, our daughter world, snuggling up against Mother Earth, slowly slipping behind the thin veil of atmosphere, and then hiding under the sparkling blue and white "covers."
Maybe it is a good thing that there aren't many windows in the space station. If there were, no work could possibly get done. I don't think I could have walked away from the TV if they hadn't "broken the spell" and switched back to a view of some equipment rack.
Sigh. Unfortunately, all good things must pass. If we want to see more of these views, we all have a lot of work to do. But a glimpse is good to remind us of our goal--a spacefaring civilization--that means people like you and me casually looking up from our keyboards to see a moonset.
This crew will soon be riding off into the sunset-- first flying through the fireworks of entry and then landing on Wednesday just before sunset at Kennedy Space Center. That will be the end of the longest shuttle flight yet. One that brought the station closer than ever to completion.
Next flight, the one that will take up the large Kibo module, is scheduled for May.
To the stars!
Marianne Dyson
NSS Member
http://www.mdyson.com
Posted by m_dyson at 01:09 AM
March 15, 2008
Japanese On Board
The station has a new room, and the world has a new moon (view, at least). The crews of STS-123 and Expedition 16 and 17 delivered and attached the Japanese pressurized logistics module this week. Japanese astronaut Takao Doi and ISS Commander Peggy Whitson opened the hatch on Friday night, March 14.
Meanwhile, at the Lunar and Planetary Science Conference this week in Houston, Japanese scientists unveiled absolutely stunning high definition flybys of the moon taken by their Kaguya orbiter. As the glistening white rim of Aristarchus appeared on the black horizon, I imagined those mountains as towers of a bright city reaching for the heavens, with life-sustaining modules tucked into their bases, and roads of lunar glass heading out like rays of the sun to welcome people from all over the world to respectfully enjoy the majesty of this ancient place.
JAXA posted the low-res versions of these movies online at http://www.jaxa.jp/press/2007/11/20071107_kaguya_e.html
You don't have to wait for high definition views of Earth, though. These are available live during spacewalks and at other times via NASA TV. The second of five spacewalks planned for this mission starts tonight (Saturday) at about 7:23 p.m. and runs to about 1:30 a.m. (Central time)
The spacewalkers are Mission Specialists Rick Linnehan and Mike Foreman. They will be working on the new Canadian Dextre robotic arm. A problem with the power connection has been solved, and soon this gigantic arm will be waving hello (not literally!) to those of us on the ground.
More spacewalks are planned for Monday night, Thursday night, and next Saturday night (March 22). The launch and landing opportunities being at night dictated this schedule that happens to make watching the show conveniently fall between dinner and bedtime for most Americans. The crew for the third space walk is Linnehan and Robert Behnken. This will be Behnken's first EVA. He is tagged to do the fourth and fifth walks with Fossum. Takao Doi is the primary arm operator for these EVAs.
Fresh views of the moon and Earth from space can't help but inspire a yen (sorry for the pun!) in all of us to personally explore the space frontier. I put a Kaguya still image of Aristarchus next to my computer to remind me why I am a member of National Space Society: I want to go!
Marianne Dyson
NSS member
Posted by m_dyson at 02:05 PM
March 01, 2008
Next up: night launch of STS-123
The Japanese logistics module and Canada's Dextre robotic arm are ready to launch inside Endeavor's payload bay on Tuesday March 11, 2008 in a spectacular night launch, scheduled for 2:28 a.m. EST.
Japan's Takao Doi, who flew in 1997, will accompany his nation's hardware to orbit as one of the all-male crew. Led by Commander Dominic Gorie (U.S. Navy Capt.), the crew of seven has trained for the longest shuttle mission to the station yet: lasting 16 days and including 5 spacewalks.
U.S. Air Force Col. Gregory Johnson will serve as shuttle pilot. Besides Doi, mission specialists include Richard Linnehan, Air Force Maj. Robert Behnken, and Navy Capt. Michael Foreman.
The primary goal of the mission is to deliver the logistics module which holds the supporting equipment for the Japanese Kibo (Hope) module. That flight was delayed from April 24 to May 25 because of the fuel gauge problem that postponed the last launch.
NASA managers determined that the debris from the shooting down of a spy satellite on February 20 has only increased the risk of damage to the shuttle from 1 in 269 to 1 in 259.
To the stars,
Marianne Dyson
NSS member
Assignments Editor, Ad Astra magazine
Posted by m_dyson at 01:07 PM
February 20, 2008
Atlantis lands safely at Kennedy Space Center
Space Shuttle Atlantis has landed safely at the Kennedy Space Center, ending a successful mission to install the European Space Agency's Columbus module on the International Space Station.
The landing frees up the US Navy for their attempt to intercept a failed spy satellite as soon as tonight.
Stay tuned for more details later today.
Posted by george_whitesides at 10:39 AM
February 19, 2008
The Way Home
The shuttle Atlantis is coming home, hopefully to Kennedy Space Center Wednesday morning (opportunities at 9:07 and 10:42 a.m. EST), but if not, then to Edwards AFB (two opportunities) in California. One way or another, they have to get down Wednesday to avoid the temporary debris cloud that will be created when the US military blows up their malfunctioning spy satellite.
The shuttle mission was an outstanding success. They delivered the European Columbus module and performed three spacewalks to get it attached and connected. The shiny new module adds about 1,000 cubic feet of pressurized volume (about the size of small bedroom) to the space station with ten scientific racks to support experiments. They also supplied 1400 pounds of water and 95 pounds of oxygen and boosted the station's orbit 1.4 miles using the shuttle's vernier jets.
The shuttle is also providing a gentle ride home for astronaut Dan Tani, whose tour of duty on the station was extended two months because of launch delays--and who suffered the loss of his mother just before Christmas. His commander, Peggy Whitson, will have to wait until the next shuttle for her ride home. That flight is currently scheduled for March 11, but may be delayed because of this flight's extension (it was originally supposed to land on Monday). The April 24 flight may also be impacted, especially if Atlantis ends up landing at Edwards instead of KSC.
It is not clear whether or not the shooting down of the military satellite will have any impact (sorry for the pun!) on the next shuttle launch. The military predicts that most of the debris created will burn up in the atmosphere within a few weeks--but March 11 is within that timeframe. (The debris should not impact the station because the station is in a higher orbit than the satellite.)
So let's all hope for clear weather in Florida Wednesday and that the military has a nice clean "shot" at their satellite.
To the stars!
Marianne Dyson
NSS Member
Assignments Editor, Ad Astra magazine
Posted by m_dyson at 12:22 PM
February 13, 2008
Flight extended
NASA has decided to add another extra day to STS-122 to allow more time to outfit the new Columbus module. The flight had already been extended one day because of Hans Schlegel's unknown illness.
Schlegel was feeling fine today as he and Walheim did a spacewalk to replace a nitrogen tank. During a press conference yesterday, he was asked about his illness, but, like NASA's spokesman, said it was a private matter and declined to give any details.
Perhaps, despite having flown before, he had an especially bad case of space adaptation syndrome that left him still feeling nauseous on Saturday. Or maybe something he ate caused a reaction. Or maybe he had some 24-hour bug or a bad rash or infection. We will never likely know.
This is pure speculation on my part, but I can imagine that the reason the commander called during the rendezvous was because he needed the flight docs to determine whether or not Schlegel was suffering from something that might be contagious--in which case they'd want to know what precautions they needed to take prior to exposing the station crew. Apparently, the answer was that it was unlikely to be something contagious, because no one was seen wearing a mask. What we do know is that the flight docs decided not to risk him getting sick in a space suit or not having the endurance necessary to complete what turned out to be an almost 8-hour EVA, one of the longest in space history. Walheim and Love had to return to the airlock for more oxygen. But they got the job done Monday, and Schlegel and Walheim got their tasks completed today. Columbus is now attached and functional, and the old nitrogen tank is tucked safely into the shuttle's payload bay.
One reporter asked if other missions had been rescheduled because of crew not feeling well--and I know of at least one during the early shuttle program. To protect crew privacy, I won't say which flight it was, but the commander and pilot were both "under the weather." In case of an emergency deorbit that would require them in good shape, the flight surgeon recommended their activities be scrubbed until they felt better--and that's what was done. They both recovered fully by the fourth day, similar to what appears to have happened with Schlegel, and all the mission objectives were met. These things happen, even with experienced astronauts--and commanders are never first timers. (Note that the shuttle has the capability, though it has never been used, for an automatic landing--except for the deployment of the landing gear.)
The final spacewalk of STS-122 is scheduled for Friday. That one will be Walheim and Love, as originally planned. The tear in the OMS pod blanket was determined to be too minor to require a spacewalk repair.
The extra day means that the landing will be on Wednesday, February 20 at 8:06 a.m. CST. Those of you on the flight path in Florida should hear some sonic booms to celebrate their return to Earth.
The next shuttle flight is scheduled for less than three weeks later, on March 11, and the one after that is targeted for April 24. This is an ambitious schedule, but NASA is optimistic that it will hold as long as the weather cooperates.
To the stars!
Marianne Dyson
NSS member
Assignments Editor, Ad Astra magazine
Posted by m_dyson at 11:11 PM
February 10, 2008
The Extra Day
Although timeline planning for a shuttle mission is exacting, NASA always makes provision for an extra day or two on orbit, should a contingency arise during the mission that requires a change of plans. Usually that extra day is tacked onto the end of the mission, to handle any unfinished business. For STS-122, the extra day is squeezed in toward the beginning. Hans Schlegel, the ESA astronaut who was scheduled to be one of two crewmembers to perform the first spacewalk of the mission, fell ill. He has been replaced by his backup, American Stanley Love. The change necessitated a delay of a day, to prepare Love's spacesuit for the mission, and to review what needed to be done with the new crew assignments.
Because the spacewalk was put off for a day, this enabled the critical inspection of the Shuttle Atlantis' thermal protection system (TPS) to be conducted earlier than planned. A torn seam on the protective blanket covering the starboard OMS pod received a detailed inspection. The analysis of that inspection will determine whether there is a need to do anything about the tear or to leave it as is for reentry.
In addition to the blanket tear, a couple of tile chips near the orbiter windows were also discovered. The management team believes that analysis of the data on these will probably show that no action will be required. At present, the prognosis is that all mission objectives will be met, and perhaps even some get-ahead tasks will be accomplished as well.
Allen Taylor
NSS Member
President, Oregon L5 Society, A chapter of the NSS
Posted by allen.taylor at 05:14 PM
February 09, 2008
Spacewalk Delayed-Crew Sick
The shuttle successfully docked to the station today (Saturday), and grappled the orbiter boom. While the boom was being lifted out, Mission Control called up and asked Commander Frick to call them on a private channel. Earlier, during a press briefing with one of the flight directors, Houston Chronicle reporter Mark Carreau had asked if the crew had a medical issue. The flight director said he didn't know of one.
A few minutes after Frick called Mission Control back, the word was sent up that the first spacewalk, scheduled to begin Sunday at 8:30 AM, was postponed until Monday. And Stan Love would replace Hans Schlegel.
At the Mission Management briefing that followed shortly after this, Chairman John Shannon said that the commander had called Mission Control and asked for a private medical conference during the rendezvous ("which kind of surprised us," he said--that being a very busy time for the commander). Despite reporters efforts, Shannon refused to confirm that Schlegel is the one who is sick or whether this is a case of extended space sickness or something more serious.
This is purely speculation on my part--but I doubt that it is simply space adaptation syndrome (SAS). Schlegel has flown before, and most astronauts who have flown before adapt quickly (the brain "remembers" what to do, and once fluid levels are reduced through sweating and urination--and sometimes vomiting, they are fine). Even newbies are usually adapted after the first 24-48 hours. They launched on Thursday, so if he had symptoms, they should be going away by now.
Having just gotten over the flu that is making the rounds here in Houston, I certainly hope he wasn't somehow exposed to that. If so, he's in for several days of high fever and up to a week of nausea and lack of energy. At least that is how it hit me (and the flu shot didn't protect the person I caught it from). One of the reporters asked if the sickness were of the contagious variety, but Shannon refused to provide any information.
What we do know is that EVA 1 will be moved to Monday. They will retain the day off between EVAs, so the second one will be postponed to Wednesday, and the third one to Friday. It has not been determined yet if Schlegel will do EVA 2 as planned. Love has been trained as his backup and can do both of Schlegel's EVAs if necessary.
It has also not been determined if the mission will be extended a day or not. Mission Control has asked them to power down a bit so that the option to extend beyond the usual day is available.
They may need this extra time to take a closer look at a tear found in the orbital maneuvering system (OMS) pod thermal blanket. The tear appears smaller than the one on the OMS pod on STS-117 that was repaired with staples last year. Only the white blanket is sticking up this time, and the location is farther back and not in a critical heating area. No damage has been found on the wings or belly thus far.
Another issue they will be working has to do with one of the computers that isn't behaving. They have plenty of computers, and only needed 2 to do the rendezvous--so no one is very worried about this. They no longer carry a spare, so there won't be any replacement--like computer folks everywhere, they are going to recycle it and see what that does.
I'm sure we all wish for Hans to recover quickly from whatever is ailing him, and hope that no one else falls ill. It is good to know that Love is trained to do those tasks--and Shannon said that if necessary, the station crew could also be called upon to help with spacewalks. One way or another, Columbus will become part of the station this week--starting Monday. Leland and Eyharts (with some help from Tani) positioned the orbiter boom as planned in preparation of the move--and the view of the shiny silver Columbus backdropped by the blue Pacific sure was pretty. I think we can look forward to more beautiful views as this mission progresses this week.
To the stars!
Marianne Dyson
NSS member
Assignments Editor, Ad Astra magazine
Posted by m_dyson at 04:36 PM
STS-122 events
Atlantis and its crew of 7 men (Commander Steve Frick, Pilot Alan Poindexter, and Mission Specialists Leland Melvin, Rex Walheim, Stanley Love, Hans Schlegel, and Leopold Eyharts) will dock to the International Space Station around 11:25 AM CST Saturday, February 9, 2008. ISS Commander Peggy Whitson, the sole woman currently in space, said this is a great 48th birthday present for her. She sure doesn't look her age--but even non-astronauts tend to look younger in space thanks to the benefits of fluid shift. Because the heart does not have to pump "up hill" in freefall, blood builds up in the upper body, providing a freefall face lift.
The three shuttle spacewalkers will quickly transfer their space suit gear to the station's Quest airlock in preparation for this mission's three EVAs.
The first EVA is Sunday, February 10 from about 8:30 AM to 3 PM CST. Rex Walheim and German astronaut Hans Schlegel are the crew. Their main task will be to remove launch covers and install a grapple fixture (like a doorknob) on the Columbus module. Then the module will be lifted, or "unberthed" from the shuttle's payload bay. Way back in the mid-80s, I worked on operations plans for Columbus--even gave a talk about it at the ISDC in 1989. I will join our European partners in celebrating and cheering this long-awaited delivery.
The module will be hooked up on the inside on Monday and French astronaut Leopold Eyharts will have the honor of being the first person to ingress the Columbus in space. Housewarming is scheduled for about 2:15 PM CST Monday. I guess I'll have to be content to send virtual flowers!
The second EVA is planned for Tuesday. The crew will be Walheim and Schlegel again. This EVA also runs from about 8:30 AM to 3 PM CST. They will be removing a nitrogen tank from the station that has been depleted, and putting it in the shuttle's payload bay. The nitrogen tank is about the size of a small refrigerator and has a mass of about 550 pounds. After removal, they have to reroute some cables.
The crew is given some time off on Wednesday.
Valentine's Day, February 14, Love is going for a spacewalk. Really! The astronaut Stan Love will be making his first spacewalk, joining Walheim in outfitting Columbus. They will also be retrieving a failed Control Moment Gyro and adding some translation aids. If you hear them talking about WIFs, it is not a new computer game. WIFs are worksite fittings. Because the shuttle crew has to gradually shift their sleep periods earlier to line up with landing opportunities, this EVA starts an hour earlier than the other two, around 7:30 AM, and runs until about 2 PM.
On Friday, the crew will be getting up at 1:45 AM. They have a lot of supplies to transfer across. When that's done, they will be closing the hatch, around 1:45 PM, then going to sleep about the time most Americans are getting home from work. Leopold Eyharts will be staying on the station, and Dan Tani will be coming home.
The undocking is planned for Saturday around 5:30 AM CST. They will do the usual inspection the next day, and practice landing procedures. Landing is scheduled for Monday at Kennedy Space Center around 8:40 AM CST, 9:40 AM EST. The crew will have been up since 1:15 AM CST.
For more details on the crew schedule, I recommend Bill Harwood's coverage on CBS: http://www.cbsnews.com/network/news/space/current.html.
To the stars!
Marianne Dyson
NSS Member
Assignments Editor, Ad Astra magazine
Posted by m_dyson at 12:15 AM
February 07, 2008
Astronauts on Board, ECO Sensors Go!
It's T-Minus 2 hours, and all the astronauts for STS-122 are onboard and ready to go. Good news: The long-troubled Engine Cut Off Sensors on the external tank are functioning well. Bad news: Weather is going in and out of 'green'. Right now, at 12:39pm local, weather is green, and the countdown is proceeding. More updates as they come!
Posted by george_whitesides at 12:36 PM
