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 [...]
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The Damage Assessment Team (DAT) confirmed Discovery’s clean ascent into space by clearing the orbiter from a Focused Inspection, as STS-133′s mission continues to proceed flawlessly. With a host of robotic operations picking up shortly after Discovery arrived at the orbital outpost for the final time, the crew are heading toward the opening spacewalk – [...]
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A healthy orbiter Discovery and her crew have completed a stunning R-bar Pitch Maneuver (RPM) and docking to the International Space Station. Additionally, Discovery’s extremely clean ride to orbit signals the outstanding work of numerous engineers to clear a potential contamination concern within the External Tank following the inadvertent opening of a backup Fill and [...]
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Now safely on orbit, Discovery has completed inspections on her Reinforced Carbon Carbon (RCC) panels – the main task of STS-133′s Flight Day 2 (FD 2). Only two minor indications were registered by her sensor equipment embedded into her Wing Leading Edge (WLE) during ascent, while two noticeable debris events are of no concern from [...]
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After an eight-day (8 day) orbital chase, Europe’s Automated Transfer Vehicle-2 (ATV-2) has conducted a picture perfect automated docking to the aft end of the International Space Station’s (ISS’s) “Zvezda” Service Module (SM). ATV-2 was launched atop an Ariane V booster from the Kourou Space Center in French Guiana last Wednesday (16th February) evening, and [...]
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Discovery has completed her final ascent into space, following a 16:53 Eastern launch from the Kennedy Space Center (KSC). Controllers managed to launch the veteran orbiter with just seconds to spare, as the count was held at T-5 minutes to fix a range issue. A foam liberation impact on the orbiter late in ascent is highly [...]
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Engineers have successfully cleared all of Discovery’s minor issues, allowing the veteran shuttle to head towards the upcoming key countdown milestones. While all eyes will be on her External Tank (ET-137) on Thursday, previous issues during November’s countdown – such as the Main Engine Controller (MEC) problem – have not reoccurred.
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For over 29 years engineers, space enthusiasts, and people around the world have marveled at the technological and scientific achievement that is the Space Shuttle fleet. During this time, the most complex machines ever built have proven themselves invaluable in transforming mankind’s understanding of planet Earth and the space beyond. And for 26 of those 29 years, [...]
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With the countdown clocks now ticking down for the launch of STS-133 at the Kennedy Space Center (KSC), the crew of the International Space Station (ISS) have been hard at work this past week, reconfiguring the station for the arrival of Discovery this Saturday. The reconfiguration period is set to continue this week, as the [...]
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NASA is gearing up for what will be a jammed packed STS-133, along with the possibility of a Soyuz fly-around during Discovery’s docked mission still under consideration. To this end, NASA has created a plan to protect Discovery OBSS (Orbiter Boom Sensor System) sensor packages during the proposed maneuver. The vehicle’s Wing Leading Edge Impact Detection [...]
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As had been expected over the last 24 hours, managers at the Flight Readiness Review (FRR) approved the February 24 launch date target for Discovery’s final trip into space on the STS-133 mission. With flight rationale for the modification to the External Tank (ET-137) stringers the main discussion, ATV-2′s docking – just hours before Discovery [...]
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After what was an eventful pad flow for Discovery last week, STS-133 is enjoying a relatively trouble-free final week ahead of S0007 (Launch Countdown) operations. Despite the one day delay to Ariane 5′s successful launch of ATV-2, shuttle managers remain focused on a February 24 launch date, pending Flight Readiness Review (FRR) approval.
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Two Russian Cosmonauts stepped outside the International Space Station (ISS) on Wednesday to perform a spacewalk on the Russian Segment (RS) of the orbital outpost. The spacewalk – which was expected to last around six hours, but was completed in under five hours - comes amid a busy time on the ISS, with the ATV-2 launch, [...]
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Arianespace’s launch of the European Space Agency ATV-2 (Automated Transfer Vehicle 2) spacecraft on a multi-month mission to deliver thousands of pounds of supplies to the leading orbital outpost has lifted off at the second attempt at 21:50 GMT on Wednesday, following a scrub late in Tuesday’s countdown. The mission is set to hold the distinction [...]
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As the future of NASA’s budget finds itself under scrutiny again this week, managers have told their workforce that STS-135 will fly “regardless” of what happens with the funding situation via the Continuing Resolution (CR). Atlantis’ preparations for the final flight of the Space Shuttle are continuing without issue, as managers debate the payloads which [...]
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Space Shuttle Program (SSP) managers have completed their Delta Flight Readiness Review (FRR) with a decision to press on to the primary Agency FRR next Friday. The expected decision came after managers reviewed the current flight rationale for External Tank (ET-137) following its modifications, although Discovery’s pad rats are having to work through numerous issues [...]
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NASA managers are investigating a proposed plan that would see a Soyuz spacecraft undock from the International Space Station (ISS) during the upcoming STS-133 mission in order to take photographs of the orbital outpost, along with its record number of attached Visiting Vehicles (VVs) and the docked Space Shuttle Discovery.
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The STS-133 stack has been checked for damage after a feeler gauge came apart during work to remove ET-137′s Ground Umbilical Carrier Plate (GUCP). The incident resulted in nine blades from the tool falling down the pad, with one becoming embedded in the tank – resulting in minor foam damage - before high winds dislodged it.
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The recent flurry of Visiting Vehicle (VV) activity at the International Space Station (ISS) has created a logistics challenge for ISS managers, who are tasked with meticulously choreographing where and when the new cargo will be stowed aboard the ISS.
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With just over two weeks to launch, engineers will disassemble the Ground Umbilical Carrier Plate (GUCP) at the pad, after it was noted the troublesome hardware failed a leak check. Several contingency days exist in the STS-133 pad flow, as engineers press on with S0024 hyper loading tasks on the Solid Rocket Boosters (SRBs).
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