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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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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With STS-126 closing in on the start of S0007 – otherwise known as the three day launch countdown – Expedition 18 are busily preparing for Endeavour’s arrival on Flight Day 3. Meanwhile, shuttle managers have discussed – and appear to have dismissed – the advancement of STS-119 to January 20.
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STS-126 will see the flight debut of two new sets of instrumentation, aimed at gathering more detailed data on RSRM (Reusable Solid Rocket Motor) behaviour during the first stage of launch. The resulting data will benefit the efforts to understand and mitigate Thrust Oscillation on Ares I.
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As Endeavour heads into the home stretch of pad processing before her scheduled launch on November 14, technicians and program managers continue to emphasize - through a series of Flight Readiness Reviews (FRRs) - the multiple safety and mission enhancements debuting on the fleet’s youngest Orbiter.
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The Space Shuttle Program (SSP) have concluded their manifest meeting by realigning the 2009 shuttle schedule. The preliminary schedule changes – which calls for five shuttle missions – were called for after the delay to STS-125′s mission to Hubble. As a result of the meeting, Ares I-X is likely to be delayed until October, 09.
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Engineers are working a connection issue with an Integrated Display Processor on Endeavour, which is currently a constraint to moving into the S0007 Launch Countdown. Meanwhile, Atlantis will be de-stacked from ET-127, before being rolled back to her Orbiter Processing Facility (OPF) next week.
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As Space Shuttle Endeavour continues to enjoy a smooth processing flow at pad 39A, Space Shuttle Program (SSP) managers have completed a series of Flight Readiness Reviews (FRRs) ahead of the STS-126 launch in two weeks time.
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