Tag: STS-133
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Soyuz TMA-16 returns to Earth – ISS status reviewed for STS-133
Expedition 22 commander Jeff Williams and Russian flight engineer Maxim Suraev have landed in the steppes of Kazakhstan at 11:24 GMT on Thursday, following the undocking of their Soyuz TMA-16 from the International Space Station (ISS). Meanwhile, ISS managers have reviewed the status of the orbital outpost, including a major debate on STS-133’s addition to…
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STS-133: PRCB baseline outlines processing and mission for Discovery
As pre-launch processing continues for Discovery’s STS-131 mission, pre-flight planning continues for what is – at this time – the final manifested flight of the Shuttle Program, STS-133. Discovery will be flying with ELC-4 (ExPRESS Logistics Carrier -4) and the PMM (Permanent Multi-purpose Module), as outlined in the latest Program Requirements Control Board (PRCB) mission baseline…
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STS-131 into FRRs – Managers check manifest status ahead of April decision
Shuttle and International Space Station (ISS) managers have been busy discussing the launch dates for what are currently the final flights of the manifest, although STS-131 remains on track for April 5. With STS-134’s Alpha Magnetic Spectrometer (AMS) issue now confirmed to be a thermal leak observed during ongoing testing in Holland, STS-132 and STS-133 have…
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Shuttle Boosters to sport APU fuel pump safety redesign from STS-134
A redesign to the Solid Rocket Booster (SRB) Thrust Vector Control (TVC) Auxiliary Power Unit (APU) fuel pump will be implemented on STS-134 and STS-133 – currently the final two “scheduled” shuttle flights. The redesign will eliminate the highest – although extremely unlikely to occur – “critical 1” failure scenario, which holds the potential of…
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Progress M-04M launches to cost-cutting ISS – STS-135 addition removed
With the International Space Station (ISS) extended to at least 2020, its upmass and downmass lifelines have received a blow – following the decision to remove the possibility of using the Launch On Need (LON) vehicle, Atlantis, for supporting STS-133 as an additional logistics flight (STS-135). Meanwhile, nearly 2,600 kg are enroute to the Station,…
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NASA evaluate STS-335 flight – STS-133 targets cross country farewell tour
Shuttle managers have begun evaluations into STS-335, the LON (Launch On Need) mission in support of STS-133 – currently the final flight on the shuttle manifest. The rescue flight would carry a MPLM (Multi-Purpose Logistics Module) to replenish the Station for hosting the STS-133 crew for up to several months. Meanwhile, managers are also favoring…
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STS-133 refined to a five crew, one EVA mission – will leave MPLM on ISS
Shuttle managers have baselined STS-133 – by way of the Flight Definition Requirements Document (FDRD) mission update – into a 10+1+2 day mission, involving a crew of just five, a Flight Day 4 docking and just one EVA. The move was made to allow for additional mass to be carried by the Multi-Purpose Logistics Module…
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STS-133: Final Space Shuttle flight baselined into FDRD by NASA
After nearly thirty years of Space Shuttle operations – with only eight flights remaining on the Space Shuttle Program manifest – NASA’s Program Requirements Control Board (PRCB) has officially baselined the STS-133 mission into the Flight Definition and Requirements Document (FDRD) – a mission that, at this time, is expected to be the final flight…
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STS-134: PRCB Baselines Penultimate Shuttle Flight to Take AMS to Station
NASA mission planners have officially baselined the final two scheduled missions of the Space Shuttle Program, STS-133 and STS-134 – of which STS-134 is expected to fly first, in July 2010, based on an expected Change Request (CR) to move the flight that will deliver the Alpha Magnetic Spectrometer (AMS) to the International Space Station…
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ISS considering the permanent attachment MPLM, advancement of STS-134
As the International Space Station (ISS) continues to build up to a six man crew, managers are looking into adding a Multi-Purpose Logistics Module (MPLM) permanently on Station at the conclusion to the last logistics mission for the shuttle. Assessments are also taking place on potentially swapping the yet-to-be-baselined STS-134 with STS-133’s place in the manifest.…