Tag: STS-134
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High hopes for Soyuz flyabout during STS-134 following positive planning
NASA managers have been presented with a working plan and completed assessments on the potential for a Soyuz flyaround of the Shuttle/Station stack during Endeavour’s docked mission. With many of the hurdles from the cancelled STS-133 flyabout plan removed, the unique event has a high potential of being approved by the International Space Station (ISS)…
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STS-134: Engineers check Endeavour for storm damage – TCDT complete
Endeavour’s stack was still being inspected for damage on Friday, following severe weather over the Kennedy Space Center (KSC) this week. So far, only “very minor” damage has been observed on the External Tank (ET-122), which has its LOX topside exposed to the elements, although Endeavour herself is still being evaluated. Meanwhile, the Terminal Countdown Demonstration…
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NASA Reviews New Procedures for STS-134/Endeavour Mission
As engineers and flight planners around NASA narrow in on the final stretch of the launch campaign for the STS-134 mission, flight engineers are in the process of reviewing a series of special topics, new operations, and weather support issues. Among the various items currently under final review/assessment are the 5th flight of the Boundary…
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STS-134: NASA and Russia negotiating potential Progress conflict
NASA and Roscosmos managers are understood to be negotiating the schedule of the upcoming Progress M-10M launch, due to a potential conflict with Endeavour’s STS-134 docked mission. Meanwhile, processing at Pad 39A is continuing to focus on the installation of the STS-134’s complex payload into Endeavour’s cargo bay. STS-134 Latest: Friday’s pad flow is being…
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STS-134: Payload arrives at 39A – Managers aiming to avoid countdown drama
Endeavour’s highly advanced payload arrived at Pad 39A on Monday evening, as STS-134 continues to track the April 19 launch date target with several contingency days to spare. Managers have also been discussing their Range Hold Coordination, following STS-133’s dramatic T-5 minute hold, which resulted in a restart with just two seconds to spare. STS-134…
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Endeavour pushing on for April 19 launch following traumatic opening pad flow
With the realigned Russian Soyuz TMA-21 schedule not impacting on STS-134’s launch date, Endeavour is pressing on with her April 19 target, after completing the first week of what will likely be her final pad flow. The week has been marked by the usual Interim Problem Reports (IPRs) and the slight drama of a dropped…
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STS-134: Mission Timeline and Contingency Options Take Shape
With just over one month to go before the scheduled No Earlier Than launch of Space Shuttle Endeavour on her 25th and final mission – and the penultimate flight of the Space Shuttle Program – NASA has defined the nominal mission timeline for Endeavour and her six-member Flight Crew, as well as determined OBSS contingency…
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STS-134: Endeavour rolls out to Pad 39A for the final time
Just a day after the fleet leader, Discovery, landed at the nearby Shuttle Landing Facility (SLF) to end her career, the youngest orbiter of the fleet headed out to Pad 39A as the STS-134 stack on Thursday evening (7:56pm Local), arriving at the pad at 3:49am Friday. Currently the final mission for Endeavour, the 24…
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STS-134: Endeavour put through her interface test – eventful VAB flow
As preparations continue for Discovery’s departure from the International Space Station (ISS) on Monday, her younger sister, Endeavour, is deep into preparations to rollout to Pad 39A. Following Endeavour’s final rollover for the STS-134 mission, and indeed her career, mating operations between the orbiter and the stack are complete – although her Vehicle Assembly Building…
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STS-133: EVA-1 completed; Endeavour Rolls to VAB one last time
As Discovery continues to sail through her STS-133 mission with flying colors, astronauts Steve Bowen and Al Drew have completed the mission’s first of two EVAs (Extravehicular Activities). The first STS-133/ULF5 spacewalk included the retrieval of a failed Pump Module and MLI (Multi-Layer Insulation) blanket work on the Z1 truss. Meanwhile, sister orbiter Endeavour has…