Space shuttle orbiter Endeavour has landed at the Edwards Air Force Base in California, following a hugely successful STS-126 mission to the International Space Station (ISS). She’ll now undergo initial deservicing activities at the Dryden Flight Research Facility, before a ferry trip back to the Kennedy Space Center (KSC) on top of the SCA (Shuttle [...]
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STS-126 marked Endeavour’s EOM-1 (End Of Mission minus one day) with checkouts of the orbiter’s vital systems that will be used during Sunday’s re-entry, and the deployment of a Picostar from Endeavour’s Payload Bay. Due to poor weather in Florida, Endeavour will head to Edwards Air Force Base for landing at 4:25pm Eastern.
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Shuttle orbiter Endeavour has undocked from the International Space Station (ISS) on Flight Day 15 of STS-126. Endeavour and her crew depart the Station in a much healthier state than when they arrived, notably via the maintenance on the Solar Alpha Rotary Joints (SARJs), with early results showing the downstream multi-mission plan - which ends [...]
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With Flight Day 14 marking the STS-126 crew’s final day onboard the International Space Station (ISS), the performance of Endeavour during her docked mission has been almost issue-free mission, which has allowed the Mission Management Team (MMT) to focus their attentions on other elements of the mission.
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The Mission Management Team (MMT) have initially cleared a Micrometeoroid Orbital Debris (MMOD) strike to Endeavour’s window 6 (Pilot’s window), with full re-entry rationale expected. Meanwhile, Shuttle manager John Shannon praised Kennedy Space Center (KSC) engineers for an “unbelievable” vehicle.
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The Mission Management Team (MMT) has decided to extend STS-126 by an additional docked day. This will allow for additional troubleshooting time on the Water Recycling System (WRS) that was carried to the Station by Endeavour. Meanwhile, EVA-4 has concluded the mission’s spacewalk tasks.
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Only around five weeks will separate Endeavour’s return home from her STS-126 mission, and when Discovery is due to rollover to the Vehicle Assembly Building (VAB) ahead of STS-119. Discovery’s upcoming milestones are part of a realigned plan for the 2009 missions. However, STS-119’s launch date advancement has been disapproved by shuttle managers.
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Spacewalkers Heide Stefanyshyn-Piper (EV1) and Steve Bowen (EV2) have completed the third of four EVAs during STS-126, once again focusing on the starboard SARJ (Solar Alpha Rotary Joint). If required, a back-up option of a modified NOAX Gun is available for the remaining EVA tasks on EVA-4 - following the loss of two grease guns during EVA-1.
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The engineering review of Endeavour’s Thermal Protection System (TPS) - which earlier this week cleared the orbiter for re-entry - has once again shown the amazing level of detail the Damage Assessment Team (DAT) engineers undertake to ensure orbiters can return home safely.
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On the tenth anniversary of the International Space Station (ISS), Astronauts Shane Kimbrough (EV3) and Heidemarie Stefanyshyn-Piper (EV1) have conducted the second of four EVAs during STS-126. As with EVA-1, the spacewalk concentrated on the starboard SARJ (Solar Alpha Rotary Joint).
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Engineers at the Kennedy Space Center (KSC) have compiled a preliminary report on the state of Launch Pad 39A - highlighting a lack of major damage to the pad’s structure after the year’s fourth shuttle launch. However, a couple of items of interest are under investigation.
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Spacewalkers Heidemarie Stefanyshyn-Piper (EV1), and Stephen Bowen (EV2) have completed the first of four EVAs planned for STS-126, which are centered around replacing the Trundle Bearing Assemblies (TBAs) - along with cleaning and lubricating tasks - on the troublesome starboard SARJ (Solar Alpha Rotary Joint).
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The “Leonardo” Multi-Purpose Logistics Module (MPLM) has been transferred from Endeavour’s payload bay to Node 2 of the International Space Station (ISS) on Flight Day 4 of STS-126. Meanwhile, images of Endeavour’s External Tank (ET-129) show what may be the cleanest even tank - with only around three small areas of foam loss, with Endeavour [...]
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Space shuttle Endeavour has docked with the International Space Station (ISS), and her crew have ingressed the orbital outpost on Flight Day 3 of STS-126. Endeavour’s arrival was preceeded by the visually stunning RPM (Rbar Pitch Maneuver).
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Endeavour continues to close the distance between herself and the International Space Station (ISS), as Flight Day 2 activities - focusing mainly on the Orbiter Boom Sensor System (OBSS) scans of the orbiter’s Thermal Protection System (TPS) - have been concluded.
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Space shuttle Endeavour has launched on what is the heaviest logistics flight to the International Space Station (ISS). Carrying the “Leonardo” Multi-Purpose Logistics Module (MPLM). STS-126 is a key milestone for the expansion of the orbital outpost into a six crew Station.
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Endeavour’s External Tank (ET-129) tanking operation is now in stable replenish, as STS-126 remains on schedule for a 19:55 local time launch to the International Space Station (ISS). Overnight, the ET purge heater controller had to be replaced - though the five hour hit to operations has not caused a serious delay.
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STS-126’s S0007 launch countdown operations have reached another milestone, with the retraction of the Rotating Service Structure (RSS), ahead of tanking on Friday morning. Processing continues to be issue-free, bar the late approval to fly ‘as-is’ with two bent pins on Orbiter Docking System (ODS) connector.
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A loose washer on a ground support carrier plate is the only reported issue, as Endeavour heads towards launch day - in an amazingly issue-free S0007 launch countdown for STS-126. This follows a review of outstanding paperwork during the Mission Management Team (MMT) L-2 meeting.
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The three day launch countdown for STS-126 has begun, marking the start of S0007 operations - which will hopefully conclude with the launch of Endeavour at 7:55pm local time on Friday. Meanwhile, Atlantis has been towed back to her Orbiter Processing Facility (OPF-1), as a result of the rescheduling of STS-125.
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