STS-124’s mission has begun, following a smooth launch at 5:02pm EDT. This followed an issue-free countdown, aided by all ECO (Engine Cut Off) sensors performing without fault during tanking.
A small foam liberation event at around T+3 minutes is not being classed as a concern at this time, as foam liberation after around 2 [...]
Shuttle Discovery continues to have no issues that are a constraint to launch, as she looks ahead to the opening STS-124 launch attempt on Saturday.
Several new IPRs (Interim Problem Reports) have been filed on Friday, though this is normal for S0007 (Launch Countdown) operations, as the vehicle is moved through L-1 preparations. The [...]
With less than two days to go for the opening launch attempt for shuttle Discovery, STS-124 is now negotiating through the complex ballet of S0007 (Launch Countdown) operations. (Article updated).
With Discovery’s crew now at the Kennedy Space Center (KSC), everything remains on track in the processing flow for the shuttle, with the only [...]
Shuttle managers met on Tuesday to finalize clearance for Discovery to enter the launch countdown (S0007) on Wednesday, via a Program Requirements Control Board (PRCB) meeting.
Items that were discussed included an update on how an Emergency Life Support Apparatus (ELSA) unit was accidentally left inside Discovery’s aft – though no damage was caused.
A Chinese CZ-4C Chang Zheng-4C launch vehicle – carrying the Feng Yun-3A satellite – has lifted off from the Taiyuan Satellite Launch Center located in the Shanxi province.
The first satellite of the second generation of polar orbiting meteorological satellites was launched at 03:02 UTC. The bird will operate in a 836 km sun-synchronous [...]
Following its opening journey on a United Launch Alliance (ULA) Delta II launch vehicle, NASA’s Phoenix mission bridged the gap between Earth and Mars and – from all current indications – landed successfully. Controllers at JPL are now awaiting the first images from the newest spacecraft to land on the Red Planet.
The event [...]
STS-124 spacewalkers Ron Garan and Mike Fossum will debut a new modification to the EMU (Extravehicular Mobility Unit) gloves they will use during their three EVAs.
This comes in the form of Turtleskin patches, sewn into the thumb and index finger regions of the gloves, a modification that is classed as an alternative to [...]
Discovery has avoided damage, following a rare incident that occurred during her transition from horizontal to vertical in the Vehicle Assembly Building (VAB).
Engineers this week found an Emergency Life Support Apparatus (ELSA) unit had accidentally been left inside Discovery’s aft, which had fallen a short distance to a location behind Avionics Bay 6 [...]
A Sea Launch Zenit 3SL has launched with Galaxy 18 – a new Fixed Satellite Service (FSS) satellite for the PanAmSat Corporation – into a geosynchronous transfer orbit from its equatorial launch site in the Pacific ocean. Launch was on time at 2:43am PDT.
NASASpaceflight.com covered the launch as a live event, with background, [...]
With the crew deep in mission training for October’s STS-125 mission to service the Hubble Space Telescope, flight planners have been working in earnest since early 2007 to ensure optimal mission success and crew safety.
Among the various aspects mission planners have had to deal with for Atlantis’ safe flight are TPS (Thermal Protection [...]
All flight elements relating to Discovery’s STS-124 mission to the International Space Station (ISS) are cleared to fly on May 31 – as Monday’s agency-level Flight Readiness Review (FRR) drew to a close.
A few outstanding issues will be monitored in the run up to flight, including the evaluation of the Soyuz’s “solid rescue [...]
NASA managers have been meeting today to debate the option of removing the US presence from the International Space Station (ISS) when Discovery undocks at the latter part of STS-124.
Meanwhile, STS-124 processing continues to pi.ck up the pace, following the recent replacement of a faulty MDM (Multiplexer/Demultiplexer) card (FA2), and a Russian re-supply [...]
Discovery’s STS-124 mission remains on track, pending the satisfactory outcome of four issues – all of which are heading to the agency Flight Readiness Review (FRR) next Monday.
A successful re-test of Discovery’s General Purpose Computers (GPCs), final confirmation that elbow camera clearances are within spec, a satisfactory status update of the Russian Soyuz [...]
The Russian resupply vehicle Progress M-64/29P has launched on a Soyuz launch vehicle from the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan. The vehicle will dock with the International Space Station on Friday.
Meanwhile, evaluations are also continuing on the freon coolant leak in the Russian segment of the Station – as efforts to removed contaminants via [...]
Pre-launch propellant servicing – known as S0024 Operations – has been halted, as engineers check into an issue relating to Discovery’s GPCs (General Purpose Computers).
Meanwhile, International Space Station (ISS) managers are currently “go” for Discovery’s arrival next month during STS-124, pending assurances that the on-going Soyuz investigation results in confirmation of “a solid [...]
STS-124 continues to proceed on schedule for the May 31 launch date target, following an issue-free closure of her payload bay doors at the weekend.
The next key junction for the pre-flight preparations relates to paperwork, as managers meet to clear Discovery for her launch date via two Flight Readiness Reviews (FRR) – the [...]
As the Constellation Program prepare to update the media on the current status of Ares and Orion next week, NASASpaceflight.com L2 has acquired an expansive synopsis of the current data on the new vehicles.
Meanwhile, the opening series of tests for the J-2X Ares Upper Stage engine have been completed at NASA’s Stennis Space [...]
Orion’s next key milestone, the Preliminary Design Review (PDR), has been delayed to November 21 – a slip which ripples through all the way through to the Design Certification Review (DCR) in 2013, according to May 6 documentation.
Meanwhile, engineers have been evaluating crew survival scenarios, should Orion suffer an off-nominal landing. A baseline [...]
Engineers are working through the opening issues with Discovery at Pad 39A – all of which are expected for a pad flow – as the pace picks up ahead of the May 31 launch date target for the mission that has been extended to 14+1+2 days.
Discovery’s crew – led by commander Mark Kelly [...]
Planning for Endeavour’s STS-127 mission – which will complete assembly of the Kibo Laboaratory complex – has already begun.The mission, currently targeted for launch in April 2009, will see Endeavour launch with a complex array of payloads that will require a 15 day mission with five baselined EVAs. Aside from installing the Japanese Experiment Module [...]
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