Alliant Techsystems (ATK) and NASA have tested the second fully developed “Ares” five-segment solid rocket motor, known as Development Motor-2 (DM-2), at their Utah test facility on Tuesday. The future career prospects for the Solids have increased recently, as they find a central role with the ongoing assessments into a Shuttle Derived Heavy Lift Launch [...]
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Replacement power supplies for the two grounded Crawler Transporters (CT1 and CT2) have arrived at the Kennedy Space Center (KSC), allowing repairs to take place ahead of STS-133′s scheduled rollout. Meanwhile, Constellation Program (CxP) managers are pressing forward with plans to demolish Pad 39B’s structures, with work set to be begin shortly.
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Despite a late call to install a Tool Stowage Assembly (TSA) – requiring the re-opening of Discovery’s Payload Bay Doors (PLBDs) – rollover remains on track for September 8. With several STS-133 milestones scheduled for September, Space Shuttle Manager (SSP) John Shannon rallied the troops into mirroring the hugely successful pace of 2009 and earlier [...]
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After one and one half years in space, NASA’s Kepler observatory, a telescope designed to search for Earth-like, terrestrial planets in the Cygnus and Lyra constellations, has produced the first-ever simultaneous discovery of two extra-solar planets (via the transit method of detection) orbiting the same parent star.
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Preparations are in full swing at the Kennedy Space Center for the final set of processing milestones leading up to STS-133. In particular, payload preparations are nearing their terminal phase as final cargo loads to the newly christened PMM Leonardo take place in the Space Station Processing Facility – including the final power-down, stowage, and [...]
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With STS-135 heading into mission planning for a June 28, 2011 flight – pending the required funding being passed by lawmakers – managers have opted to delay the mating of STS-134′s External Tank (ET) and Solid Rocket Boosters (SRBs) to December, in order to allow a potential tank swap between ET-138 and ET-122. Meanwhile, a [...]
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China has launched another new satellite – the TH-1 Tian Hui-1 – on August 24, using a CZ-2D Chang Zheng-2D (Long March 2D) launch vehicle from the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center. Launch took place at 07:10 UTC. The new satellite will be used for mapping using stereo-topographic techniques from orbit.
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Only one waiver will be carried forward into Discovery’s upcoming Orbiter Rollover/Mate Review (ORMR) - relating to the Ku-band system – as the veteran orbiter edges closer to departure from her Orbiter Processing Facility (OPF-3). Discovery remains on track for a September 8 rollover to the Vehicle Assembly Building (VAB) for mating with her External Tank (ET-137).
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Discovery’s External Tank (ET-137), along with ET-138 and the yet-to-be-shipped ET-122 – currently set to fly with STS-335/135) – are to undergo X-ray inspections, following an investigation into a washer that was found inside ET-138′s LO2/LOX Feedline. The inspections a ‘due diligence’ contingency procedure that will refine the ability to detect out of place washers.
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Atlantis has gained one final mission, flying STS-135 to the International Space Station (ISS), with a launch date targeting June 28, 2011. Pending required funding allocation, Atlantis will carry a packed Multi-purpose Logistics Module (MPLM) and a Lightweight Multi-Purpose Carrier (LMC), on a 11+1+2 mission with a four person crew.
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After three epic EVAs, International Space Station (ISS) managers are celebrating their orbital outpost’s staged return to a nominal condition, as the replacement Pump Module on the External Thermal Control System (ETCS) Loop A provides the required cooling to the numerous systems that were forced to shut down after the July 31 failure.
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The mystery washer that managed to find its way into the LO2/LOX feedline on External Tank ET-138 is being classed as an isolated incident, as the Shuttle fleet work through numerous investigations. Work on Endeavour is back into a full flow, as an investigation board check into how an Air Hoist managed to fall on [...]
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International Space Station (ISS) astronauts Doug Wheelock and Tracy Caldwell-Dyson have completed their third specialized spacewalk to kick off a week that will hopefully result in the return of Loop A cooling on the External Thermal Control System (ETCS) for the first time since its failure at the end of last month. ISS EVA-17′s prime [...]
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As Discovery closes in on rollover to the Vehicle Assembly Building (VAB) in just over three week’s time, engineers are working through a number of minor issues on the veteran orbiter, ranging from an O2 system Valve Position Indicator (VPI), a troublesome KU-band system, and a dent in one of her Payload Bay Doors (PLBDs) [...]
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A United Launch Alliance Atlas V has launched the first Advanced Extremely High Frequency satellite from Space Launch Complex 41 at Cape Canaveral at 11:07 UTC on Saturday. The satellite was successfully deployed 51 minutes into the flight, beginning its mission to provide communications for the armed forces of the US and its allies.
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The two veteran Crawler Transporters (CT) are currently grounded, as evaluations continue into a what is believed to have been a lightning strike on CT-2 – which was being prepared for tasks associated with the Ares I Mobile Launcher (ML). Test results are also being evaluated into how the Crawlerway is expected to perform under [...]
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Following the eventful first Station EVA to remove and replace a failed ETCS (External Thermal Control System) Loop A PM (Pump Module), ISS crewmembers Tracy Caldwell-Dyson and Doug Wheelock once again ventured outside the ISS for the second of now three planned EVAs to bring the Station’s cooling system back to full operating capacity following [...]
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A decision to change Atlantis’ upcoming mission call sign from STS-335 to STS-135 – at least at the full planning level – is expected “shortly”, as Shuttle mission-related departments pre-empt the official go-ahead by building up their plans to finalize the payloads that would fly on the notional June, 2011 mission.
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Continuing what is expected to be a launch surge for the second half of 2010, China has launched a new remote sensing satellite on Tuesday, the sixth Chinese launch this year. YaoGan Weixing-10 was launched via a CZ-4C Chang Zheng-4C (Long March) launch vehicle at 06:49 local time on August 10 from the Taiyuan Satellite [...]
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With over 128 million miles on her clock, Discovery is now into the final month of her flow inside the Orbiter Processing Facility (OPF) for her 39th and final mission, as she prepares for rollover to the Vehicle Assembly Building (VAB) on September 8. Meanwhile, investigations are ongoing into the Reaction Control System (RCS) Test [...]
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