Tag: STS-130
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January-April 2010: Safety and Understanding Triumph over Schedule
If 2009 demonstrated an amazing execution of both unprecedented missions of science, cooperation, and exploration for NASA, 2010 undoubtedly demonstrated the agency’s unwavering commitment to investigation and understanding over launch and mission schedules. During the first four months of 2010 alone, NASA’s commitment to safety over schedule was demonstrated in large ways during the STS-130…
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Endeavour’s post-flight TPS – Protruding window insert remained in place
Endeavour enjoyed an extremely clean flight, following a post-landing TPS (Thermal Protection System) report, which noted only a few dings and a breached thermal barrier on her Nose Landing Gear Doors (NLGD). The protruding ceramic insert on Window 2 also remained in place, which had become the main focus of the Damage Assessment Team (DAT)…
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One in, one out – Discovery and Endeavour tag for next mission
Endeavour has safely returned to her Orbiter Processing Facility (OPF-2), following the highly successful STS-130 mission – which concluded on Sunday night with a safe landing at the Shuttle Landing Facility (SLF). Only hours after all three orbiters were reunited in the OPFs, Discovery bid her farewells and rolled over to the Vehicle Assembly Building…
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STS-130: Endeavour beats the weather and returns to KSC
With the weather at both the Kennedy Space Center (KSC) and Edwards Air Force Base (Dryden Flight Research Facility) originally looking less than hopeful for all Sunday landing opportunities, improving conditions in Florida allowed Endeavour and her STS-130 crew can return home. Meanwhile, a third MMOD strike has been cleared, while engineers evaluated a liberation…
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STS-130 EOM-1: Endeavour carries out FCS checks; TPS Clearance Overview
As Endeavour sails into what is expected to be her final full day on orbit, the STS-130 crew spent the day testing and reconfiguring Endeavour ahead of the mission’s opening Deorbit, Entry, and Landing attempts Sunday evening. Meanwhile, Endeavour’s TPS (Thermal Protection System) has been cleared for reentry – with only three (3) areas of…
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Endeavour undocks and completes Late Inspections – Another MMOD strike
Shuttle Endeavour has undocked from the International Space Station (ISS), marking the completion of a highly successful docked phase for STS-130. With Late Inspections also completed by the end of the Flight Day, only another Micro-Meteoroid Orbital Debris (MMOD) strike – this time on Window 2 of the orbiter flight deck – was added as…
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STS-130: EVA-3 marks Cupola’s grand opening – Comm issues evaluated
International Space Station (ISS) crews have begun to enjoy a unique view of the planet below them, as STS-130’s spacewalkers removed the MLI blanket insulation blankets from the Cupola’s windows. The final spacewalk of the mission saw Bob Behnken and Nick Patrick perform a six hour EVA, as engineers on the ground review the cause of…
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EVA-2 brings Node 3 to life – Additional docked day option taken
The crew of the Space Shuttle Endeavour have been working through Flight Day 7, as mission managers took the expected step of extending STS-130 by an additional docked day. Meanwhile, Bob Behnken and Nick Patrick continued outfitting operations of the Node 3 “Tranquillity” module during the mission’s second EVA (Spacewalk), which including a bit of drama…
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STS-130: EVA-1 complete as Node-3/Tranquility is installed on Station
With Endeavour continuing to enjoy a smooth stay on orbit, attentions turned to first of three EVAs for the STS-130 mission. Bob Behnken and Nick Patrick (EV-1 and EV-2, respectively) completed one of the final spacewalks dedicated to the construction efforts of the ISS – with the installation of the newly mated Node 3 conducted…
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STS-130: Endeavour docks with ISS – Port Wing protrusion evaluated
An upper elevon “sliding seal” on one of Endeavour’s port wing flippers has protruded, although early Damage Assessment Team (DAT) reports claim only a low level of concern. As STS-130 moved through Flight Day 3, Endeavour and her External Tank appear to have enjoyed an extremely clean ascent, as the orbiter and her crew docking…