Pad operations continue to track a tight timeline ahead of the targeted May 14 launch, as engineers successfully worked through a number of Interim Problem Reports (IPRs) associated with the ongoing hypergolic loading operations on Atlantis’ stack. All eyes are now on next week’s Agency-level Flight Readiness Review (FRR), which will set the official launch [...]
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Atlantis’ STS-132 launch remains on target for May 14, although managers have noted they will slip to a later date if more time is needed – with just one day of contingency in the flow. Those shuttle managers began their Space Shuttle Program (SSP) Flight Readiness Review (FRR) on Wednesday, which included aligning STS-133 as [...]
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With less than three weeks to go before the launch of the STS-132 mission, Space Shuttle Program (SSP) managers are gearing up for the second of three Flight Readiness Reviews (FRRs) this week – the SSP FRR. Meanwhile, the MOD has already completed their FRR, presenting special topics for Ascent/Entry and New ISS and Shuttle [...]
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The delivery of the AMS-02 (Alpha Magnetic Spectrometer-02) payload to the Kennedy Space Center (KSC) has been heavily delayed due to a changeout of its troublesome cooling system, resulting in a realignment of the shuttle manifest. Managers have decided that STS-132 can continue to track for May 14, with STS-133 following in September, while STS-134 [...]
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Preparations are in full swing for next month’s scheduled launch of Space Shuttle Atlantis on the STS-132/ULF-4 mission to deliver the Russian MRM-1 (Mini-Russian Research Module -1) payload – and six external payloads/batteries via the ICC-VLD (Integrated Cargo Carrier – Vertical Light Deployable) – to the International Space Station (ISS), as the mission heads into [...]
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International Launch Services (ILS) have launched the SES-1 telecommunications satellite via their veteran Proton-M launch vehicle and Breeze-M upper stage on Saturday. Lift-off from the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan was on time at 11:19 GMT, ahead of over nine hours of flight until the spacecraft was successfully released into orbit.
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The Space Shuttle Program (SSP) big guns have praised the “tremendous manner” in which the STS-131 mission was completed, as Discovery begins her final processing flow on the current schedule. STS-133 may still avoid becoming the final mission to fly – pending approval of a mission swap with the slipping STS-134, or the potential addition [...]
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A United Launch Alliance (ULA) Atlas V 501 rocket has launched with the X-37B OTV-1 spacecraft. Launch was on schedule at Cape Canaveral Air Force Station (CCAFS) at the start of a nine minute launch window that opened at 23:52 GMT (18:52 local) Thursday night.
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An Orbital Minotaur IV rocket has made its maiden flight on Thursday – with lift off from Space Launch Complex 8 at the Vandenberg Air Force Base in California occurring at 4pm local time (Pacific). The rocket is set to fly a suborbital trajectory, carrying a prototype hypersonic reentry vehicle.
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STS-132’s weather-delayed rollout to Pad 39A began at 23:31 local time on Wednesday, following three cancelled attempts to roll Atlantis out on what is currently her final trip to the launch pad. She completed the journey in just under six hours. Only a day or two of contingency remains in the STS-132 flow to make the May [...]
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Discovery has returned to Earth on Tuesday, ending the highly successful STS-131 mission at the orbiter’s home base of the Kennedy Space Center (KSC). The opening KSC and Edwards Air Force Base opportunities were waved off on End Of Mission plus one day (EOM+1), as controllers waited for acceptable weather in Florida.
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Shuttle Discovery and her seven member crew will spend another day on orbit, following the wave off of both Kennedy Space Center (KSC) landing opportunities due to poor weather. A Group C powerdown on the orbiter – conducted on Sunday – enabled the ability to remain in space through to at least Wednesday, with Discovery’s [...]
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Following a highly successful docked mission, the STS-131 crew have undock from the International Space Station (ISS) - on schedule at 7:52am Central. Discovery is due to land at the Kennedy Space Center (KSC) on Monday – weather permitting. The crew have completed tasks associated with STS-134’s STORRM test objective, while a root cause has been found [...]
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Discovery’s crew have raced through their Flight Day 12 tasks, completing the berthing of MPLM Leonardo and the Docked Late Inspections (DLI) over three hours ahead of schedule. The crew are now into the final transfers between Station and Discovery’s middeck, ahead of undocking on Saturday morning.
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The Space Shuttle Program (SSP) have noted the potential to add STS-135 to the manifest may come via direction from President Obama’s visit to KSC on Thursday. Amid rumors of “extra shuttle flights”, the Technology Development Activity (TDA) group – currently responsible for the ongoing Heavy Lift Launch (HLV) study – have noted they are looking [...]
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STS-131 is continuing to move through the docked timeline, although a possibility of a fourth EVA being added to the mission – due to a problem with the Nitrogen Tank Assembly (NTA) on Station – was discussed, and dismissed late on Thursday. A MMOD (Micrometeoroid Orbital Debris) strike on Discovery’s Window 1 has also been [...]
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Atlantis has rolled over to the Vehicle Assembly Building (VAB) – taking in several photo opportunities en route – in preparation for what is currently a May 14th launch for STS-132’s mission to the ISS. Atlantis was cleared for rollover late last week, following a review of the handful of minor issues noted with Discovery’s [...]
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On the 29th anniversary of the first Space Shuttle mission (April 12), Discovery continues to perform well, as her crew completed the third and final EVA of the mission – including replacement tasks associated with the ATA (Ammonia Tank Assembly). Meanwhile, the Damage Assessment Team (DAT) have presented their final overview of the orbiter’s Thermal [...]
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After a day of internal Discovery/ISS activities, the STS-131/19A and Expedition 23 crews once again focused their efforts on the exterior of the orbiting science laboratory for the second of three EVAs of Discovery’s penultimate flight. EVA-2 required a level of troubleshooting, when one of four bolts proved to be stubborn during the installation of [...]
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With an additional docked day – already allowed for in the mission timeline options – now approved by the Mission Management Team (MMT), efforts on designing a preliminary plan for a Docked Late Inspection (DLI) have resulted in a 5-6 hour survey procedure, which is challenged by clearances of just 19 inches in areas between [...]
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