Tag: ISS
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Atlantis completes RPM and docks with the ISS
With her Flight Day 2 (FD-2) Thermal Protection System inspections behind her, Atlantis has docked with the International Space Station (ISS) – following a visually stunning R-bar Pitch Maneuver (RPM). Docking came after engineers cleared a minor ring alignment issue on Atlantis’ Orbiter Docking System (ODS). STS-129 Status: The Damage Assessment Team (DAT) are currently evaluating the vast…
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Russian module launches via Soyuz for Thursday ISS docking
The 3,670kg module Mini Research Module-2 (MRM-2) has launched at 9:22 am Eastern on Tuesday from the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan on top of a Russian Soyuz-U launch vehicle. The module will become the latest addition to the Station – providing an additional docking port for Russian vehicles, an airlock for Russian-based spacewalks and a platform for external…
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Soyuz TMA-14 lands safely following departure from busy ISS
International Space Station Expedition 20 Commander Gennady Padalka, Flight Engineer Michael Barratt and spaceflight participant Guy Laliberte have landed safely in their Soyuz TMA-14 on the steppes of Kazakhstan Sunday morning. The trio left the ISS just a few hours prior to landing, leaving a Station that is now busily working through its Expedition 21…
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Soyuz TMA-16 launches for journey to ISS – Safe Haven evaluations
Soyuz Commander Max Suraev, NASA Flight Engineer Jeff Williams and spaceflight participant Guy Laliberte launched aboard the Soyuz TMA-16 spacecraft from the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan at 2:14 am (Central). Meanwhile, NASA controllers have been looking into Soyuz “Safe Haven” procedures, in the event of late conjunction threats to the Station. Soyuz TMA-16 Launch: The…
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Japan launches HTV cargo vehicle on debut ISS mission
Japan space agency JAXA has successfully launched the HTV (H-II Transfer Vehicle) on its debut flight to the International Space Station (ISS). The HTV launched on schedule from Tanegashima Space Center on an H-IIB vehicle – into an initial 200 km x 300 km orbit – at 02:01 local time on Friday (13:01 on Thursday Eastern time). Launch:…
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EVA-2: Ammonia Tank replacement complete – DAT’s TPS clearance rationale
STS-128 has successfully completed the second of three spacewalks, which focused on the replacement of an Ammonia Tank on the International Space Station (ISS). Meanwhile the Damage Assessment Team (DAT) have given an expansive roundup of their rationale to clear Discovery for entry, which was approved by the Mission Management Team (MMT). EVA-2: The second…
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EVA-2 was debated as conjunction threat to Discovery and ISS removed
NASA Managers debated advancing or delaying EVA-2, due to a now-removed conjunction threat to Discovery and the ISS – relating to part of an expended Ariane 5 upper stage – before deciding the spacewalk would remain on schedule. Unique operations to maneuver the Shuttle/Station stack are already on the drawing board, due to the issue with Discovery’s vernier thrusters,…
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Birthday girl docks with ISS – TriDAR test for new AR&D Docking System
Discovery celebrated her 25th birthday in style by docking with the International Space Station (ISS) on Flight Day 3 of STS-128. During the Approach Rendezvous and Docking (AR&D) phase of the mission, Discovery helped verify the performance of Neptec’s TriDAR vision system for unmanned AR&D via a Detailed Test Objective (DTO). Discovery — 25 Years…
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L-2 MMT passes Discovery to move into final launch preps
With Discovery deep into S0007 (Launch Countdown) operations, the Mission Management Team (MMT) has passed STS-128 to proceed towards the business end of the count – with the aim to launch early Tuesday morning. Meanwhile, NASA managers conducted a systematic review of Discovery’s Cargo Integration Hardware (CIH) and CSCS (Contingency Shuttle Crew Support) calculations brought forth…
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ISS: Still in assembly, producing science research accomplishments
The International Space Station (ISS) is fighting back at claims made during the Augustine Commission review into Human Space Flight (HSF), where it was suggested scientists have seen only a small amount of science being produced on the orbital outpost. With a media relations push to counter such claims set to take place on Sunday…