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Author
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Topic: STS-122: Columbus sets sail for space station
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Robert Pearlman
Editor Posts: 42988
From: Houston, TX
Registered: Nov 1999
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posted 02-10-2008 02:45 PM
   
In light of yesterday's mission news, the media gathered at Johnson Space Center attended today's briefing appropriately garbed:
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kimmern123
Member Posts: 83
From: Norway
Registered: Dec 2006
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posted 02-10-2008 03:56 PM
Hilarious!!Did Shannon and Navias see this?  |
Robert Pearlman
Editor Posts: 42988
From: Houston, TX
Registered: Nov 1999
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posted 02-10-2008 04:11 PM
It was timed so that we would all be in our masks and at our desks when Shannon, Safarin and Navias walked in for the briefing. I believe they appreciated the humor... |
Jay Chladek
Member Posts: 2272
From: Bellevue, NE, USA
Registered: Aug 2007
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posted 02-10-2008 11:06 PM
Oh man, that is a Gotcha worthy of Wally Schirra. Wally would be proud!Concerning the TPS issue, as I understand it, the blanket was a bit more critical on STS-117 since it was right at the transition point between the LRSI and the AFRSI. They added back that lip of tiles after STS-6 (which flew with OMS pods covered with AFRSI entirely) due to some unknown aerodynamic forces at work there which did some damage to the blankets. It wouldn't have been a crew safety issue if they hadn't patched it, but there could have been some thermal damage to the structure of the OMS pod (potentially a reflight issue since NASA has no spare OMS pod sets for the orbiters). My own gut feeling says they probably won't do anything to this blanket since it is further back and the airflow is a bit less turbulent back there. |
Robert Pearlman
Editor Posts: 42988
From: Houston, TX
Registered: Nov 1999
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posted 02-11-2008 08:24 AM
quote:
Originally posted by Jay Chladek:
My own gut feeling says they probably won't do anything to this blanket since it is further back and the airflow is a bit less turbulent back there.
According to today's (FD5) execute package, the mission management team will discuss the OMS pod blanket at their meeting tomorrow but has classified Atlantis' overall thermal protection system as currently "Degraded", but acceptable for entry with no impacts to operations.The uplinked documents also note the possible discovery by the ground of a small bit of foreign object debris (FOD) on the ISS docking port where Atlantis' crew will attach the Columbus lab. 
Rex Walheim and Stan Love, now starting the mission's first spacewalk (official start time: 8:13 a.m. CST) have been asked to bring strips of Kapton tape with them should the ground decide to have them go over to the common berthing mechanism (CBM) and remove the debris. |
capoetc
Member Posts: 2169
From: McKinney TX (USA)
Registered: Aug 2005
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posted 02-11-2008 08:33 AM
I am a bit surprised, although I suppose I shouldn't be, at how few members of the media are in attendance in the photos above...------------------
John Capobianco
Camden DE |
Robert Pearlman
Editor Posts: 42988
From: Houston, TX
Registered: Nov 1999
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posted 02-11-2008 08:40 AM
quote:
Originally posted by capoetc:
I am a bit surprised, although I suppose I shouldn't be, at how few members of the media are in attendance in the photos above...
Well, in those pictures you have represented the Houston Chronicle, Florida Today, ABC News, CBS News/SpaceflightNow.com, Aviation Week & Space Technology, AFP, Reuters and SPACE.com. AP asks their questions from Florida, and USA Today is based in Washington, DC. MSNBC and CNN have Houston-area reporters but they only attend briefings when they have something to ask. |
Robert Pearlman
Editor Posts: 42988
From: Houston, TX
Registered: Nov 1999
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posted 02-11-2008 08:57 AM
quote:
Originally posted by Robert Pearlman:
The uplinked documents also note the possible discovery by the ground of a small bit of foreign object debris (FOD) on the ISS docking port where Atlantis' crew will attach the Columbus lab.
Rex Walheim inspected Harmony's starboard common berthing mechanism for debris and discovered instead "polishing marks". As such, no cleaning was necessary.
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cspg
Member Posts: 6210
From: Geneva, Switzerland
Registered: May 2006
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posted 02-11-2008 09:55 AM
quote:
Originally posted by capoetc:
I am a bit surprised, although I suppose I shouldn't be, at how few members of the media are in attendance in the photos above...
Had the "disease" been life-threatening, the room wouldn't have been large enough...Chris. P.S. If the mission was going to Mars, would the "disease" have been disclosed? |
Robert Pearlman
Editor Posts: 42988
From: Houston, TX
Registered: Nov 1999
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posted 02-11-2008 12:43 PM
 Four hours and 26 minutes into the EVA, STS-122 spacewalkers Rex Walheim and Stan Love have completed installing a Power Data Grapple Fixture on Columbus, which will allow the station's robotic arm to grab the lab module later this afternoon and move it from Atlantis' payload bay to the Harmony module where it will it be berthed. The spacewalkers will next detach nitrogen lines and begin other work to remove the Nitrogen Tank Assembly, a part of the station's thermal control system, from the P1 truss. |
Robert Pearlman
Editor Posts: 42988
From: Houston, TX
Registered: Nov 1999
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posted 02-11-2008 02:00 PM
"Columbus has started its trip to the new world..."
With its Power Data Grapple Fixture in place, Columbus was set into motion by the space station's robotic arm at 1:56 p.m. CST. It is now being "very slowly" lifted out of Atlantis' payload bay. Its trip to the Harmony node will take several hours. 
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Robert Pearlman
Editor Posts: 42988
From: Houston, TX
Registered: Nov 1999
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posted 02-11-2008 02:58 PM
After taking a short break back at the airlock to replenish their oxygen, both Walheim and Love have resumed their scheduled work outside the space station. In the process, Love reported discovering a 2mm micrometeorite orbital debris impact near a handrail in the vicinity of the airlock. 
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Robert Pearlman
Editor Posts: 42988
From: Houston, TX
Registered: Nov 1999
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posted 02-11-2008 03:15 PM
Columbus approaches Harmony..."Wow, look at Columbus coming in!" Walheim exclaimed. "Give Peggy a new room for her house." 
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Robert Pearlman
Editor Posts: 42988
From: Houston, TX
Registered: Nov 1999
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posted 02-11-2008 03:31 PM
At 3:29 p.m. CST, Columbus touched metal with the Harmony node. "Columbus touching the station for the first time," radioed ESA astronaut and ISS Expedition 16 flight engineer Leopold Eyharts. 
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Robert Pearlman
Editor Posts: 42988
From: Houston, TX
Registered: Nov 1999
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posted 02-11-2008 03:45 PM
"Houston, Munich, the European Columbus laboratory module is now a part of the ISS," ESA astronaut Leopold Eyharts radioed controllers at the Johnson Space Center and in Germany."Nice job to all involved," Mission Control replied. "Columbus is officially docked to the space station, joining the world's voyage of exploration of the new New World,” NASA commentator Pat Ryan said at 3:44 p.m. CST. With the addition of Columbus, the International Space Station is now 57% complete. |
Robert Pearlman
Editor Posts: 42988
From: Houston, TX
Registered: Nov 1999
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posted 02-11-2008 04:21 PM
Today's spacewalk, the first for STS-122 and the 102nd in space station assembly, officially came to a close at 4:11 p.m. CST at a duration of 7 hours and 58 minutes. In addition to installing the grapple fixture on Columbus, the spacewalkers completed some of the work to prepare for the removal of the Nitrogen Tank Assembly, a part of the station's thermal control system, from the P1 truss. Removal of this assembly, as well as installation of a new one, will be performed during STS-122's next spacewalk (currently scheduled for Wednesday, Flight Day 7). The NTA will be replaced because it's nitrogen is running low. This was the first spacewalk for Stan Love and the third for Rex Walheim, who has a career total EVA time of 22 hours and 13 minutes. |
Robert Pearlman
Editor Posts: 42988
From: Houston, TX
Registered: Nov 1999
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posted 02-12-2008 09:48 AM
No repair will be necessary for the starboard OMS pod thermal blanket. They are cleared to reenter "as is". The ISS and shuttle crews, led by ESA's Leopold Eyharts and Hans Schlegel, entered the Columbus module this morning and are now working to activate it for use. 
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OV-105
Member Posts: 816
From: Ridgecrest, CA
Registered: Sep 2000
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posted 02-12-2008 10:31 AM
Nice plug for cS on the laptop in the picture! |
tegwilym
Member Posts: 2331
From: Sturgeon Bay, WI
Registered: Jan 2000
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posted 02-12-2008 01:04 PM
quote:
Originally posted by OV-105:
Nice plug for cS on the laptop in the picture!
I think he photoshopped it. Looks like it's crooked! |
Robert Pearlman
Editor Posts: 42988
From: Houston, TX
Registered: Nov 1999
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posted 02-12-2008 02:33 PM
Because of the brief shutdown of a space station cooling loop earlier today, the schedule for Columbus' activation has changed. The 'official' ingress originally planned for 1:55 p.m. CST will not occur as scheduled. |
Robert Pearlman
Editor Posts: 42988
From: Houston, TX
Registered: Nov 1999
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posted 02-12-2008 02:35 PM
quote:
Originally posted by tegwilym:
I think he photoshopped it. Looks like it's crooked!
I've asked them to refresh the screen (see above). Crooked no more!  |
Robert Pearlman
Editor Posts: 42988
From: Houston, TX
Registered: Nov 1999
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posted 02-12-2008 04:02 PM
Inside the Columbus lab with Yuri Malenchenko and Peggy Whitson...
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ASCAN1984
Member Posts: 1049
From: County Down, Nothern Ireland
Registered: Feb 2002
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posted 02-12-2008 05:02 PM
Anyone else having flash backs to STS-98 and Destiny installation looking at those pictures?  |
Robert Pearlman
Editor Posts: 42988
From: Houston, TX
Registered: Nov 1999
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posted 02-12-2008 06:34 PM
It helps that Destiny was installed seven years ago this week and that Peggy is wearing the same style socks as the STS-98 crew... |
Jay Chladek
Member Posts: 2272
From: Bellevue, NE, USA
Registered: Aug 2007
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posted 02-13-2008 02:31 AM
Yuri showed a curious streak today. He almost never smiles (not that I have seen anyway) and would be perfect for the role of Mr. Spock in a Trek film if they gave him pointed ears. But, seeing him trying several spins in Columbus told me an awful lot about his character. The iceman seems to have a mischievous streak, like a little boy who wants to spin on stools at restaurants. It was fun to watch. And Hans seems to be as tight lipped as ever about whatever medical condition sidelined him from EVA one, although at least he gets to go out on EVA 2. WTG Hans! |
blacklion1
Member Posts: 35
From: Bronx, New York
Registered: Nov 2007
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posted 02-13-2008 06:49 AM
Yesterday evening NASA released video from the cameras mounted on the SRBs for STS-122. They were truly breathtaking! Several things that I noted, did the right SRB capture the launch plume after SRB sep? And did anyone notice that there appeared to be much more debris falling over the right wing shortly after launch? And might that debris be responsible for the right OMS pod blanket issues? |
blacklion1
Member Posts: 35
From: Bronx, New York
Registered: Nov 2007
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posted 02-13-2008 07:03 AM
quote:
Originally posted by capoetc:
I am a bit surprised, although I suppose I shouldn't be, at how few members of the media are in attendance in the photos above...
Don't be surprised. Yesterday I happened to be watching Fox and Friends during the televised first PAO event for the STS-122 crew. Participating was Steve, Rex, Leland and Stan. The first question asked by the news host was addressed to Hans who was not present. They didn't know who the crew members were. Now is that Fox's fault or NASA's? |
blacklion1
Member Posts: 35
From: Bronx, New York
Registered: Nov 2007
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posted 02-13-2008 07:15 AM
quote:
Originally posted by Jay Chladek:
Yuri showed a curious streak today.
Keep in mind that this is the very same cosmonaut who got married while on orbit. I thought that spoke volumes about going against the grain so to speak. His spins yesterday only confirm what we all know and that is that living in micro gravity can be fun! |
Robert Pearlman
Editor Posts: 42988
From: Houston, TX
Registered: Nov 1999
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posted 02-13-2008 08:31 AM
Rex Walheim and Hans Schlegel began the second of STS-122's three spacewalks at 8:27 a.m. CST, switching their spacesuits to battery power. The EVA is expected to last 6.5 hours. The two are scheduled to complete the removal of the Nitrogen Tank Assembly (NTA), part of the station's thermal control system, from the P1 truss. They will then install a new NTA, and the old one will be transferred to the shuttle's payload bay for return to Earth. 
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Robert Pearlman
Editor Posts: 42988
From: Houston, TX
Registered: Nov 1999
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posted 02-13-2008 09:53 AM
quote:
Originally posted by blacklion1:
...did the right SRB capture the launch plume after SRB sep?
I think so: quote:
And did anyone notice that there appeared to be much more debris falling over the right wing shortly after launch?
It's hard to capture in a video still, but if you are referring to this scene: ...then those are the tyvec paper RCS covers. |
issman1
Member Posts: 1042
From: UK
Registered: Apr 2005
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posted 02-13-2008 09:55 AM
I am pleased that Hans Schlegel got to do an EVA. I recall that 15 years before, his first mission STS-55 experienced a launch pad abort at T-3 seconds delaying the flight 2 months (sound familiar?). So the man is no stranger to false-starts. Plus the EVA must surely be the pinnacle of his 20 year astronaut career.As for those Fox News presenters not knowing whether Schlegel was among the interviewees. What a surprise(!) |
Robert Pearlman
Editor Posts: 42988
From: Houston, TX
Registered: Nov 1999
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posted 02-13-2008 09:56 AM
Hi Rex!
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Robert Pearlman
Editor Posts: 42988
From: Houston, TX
Registered: Nov 1999
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posted 02-13-2008 10:23 AM
quote:
Originally posted by blacklion1:
Yesterday evening NASA released video from the cameras mounted on the SRBs for STS-122.
A review of the left SRB "forward skirt dome" camera view shows that one of its three parachutes did not unfurl. As a result, the booster hit the water at approximately a 20 mph greater velocity than as usual.
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Delta7
Member Posts: 1505
From: Bluffton IN USA
Registered: Oct 2007
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posted 02-13-2008 10:29 AM
quote:
Originally posted by Jay Chladek:
Yuri showed a curious streak today.
I've also noticed that Yuri is seldom seen in video feed from the station. It seems to be almost always Whitson and Tani, with a rare glimpse of Malenchenko.
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Robert Pearlman
Editor Posts: 42988
From: Houston, TX
Registered: Nov 1999
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posted 02-13-2008 10:42 AM
 Walheim travels on the station's robotic arm with the replacement NTA, while Schlegel has been working to remove the old assembly on the P1 truss. |
Robert Pearlman
Editor Posts: 42988
From: Houston, TX
Registered: Nov 1999
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posted 02-13-2008 11:33 AM
 Now half-way through the planned 6.5 hour EVA, Walheim and Schlegel have removed the old NTA and are now working ahead of schedule towards the installation of its replacement. |
Robert Pearlman
Editor Posts: 42988
From: Houston, TX
Registered: Nov 1999
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posted 02-13-2008 03:24 PM
 Today's spacewalk, the second of three scheduled for STS-122, was completed by Rex Walheim and Hans Schlegel at 3:12 p.m. CST. Outside for six hours and 45 minutes, the two spacewalkers successfully replaced a Nitrogen Tank Assembly on the station's P1 truss. This was Schlegel's first EVA and the fourth for Walheim, who now has a career total of 28 hours and 58 minutes. |
Robert Pearlman
Editor Posts: 42988
From: Houston, TX
Registered: Nov 1999
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posted 02-13-2008 03:39 PM
Mission managers have decided to extend the STS-122 mission by an additional day, for a new landing date and time of Wednesday, February 20 at 9:06 a.m. EST.Atlantis' thermal protection system was cleared today for reentry. |
Kirsten
Member Posts: 536
From: Delft, Netherlands
Registered: Apr 2001
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posted 02-13-2008 05:10 PM
quote:
Originally posted by issman1:
As for those Fox News presenters not knowing whether Schlegel was among the interviewees. What a surprise(!)
The most, erhm, smart question I have ever heard a journalist ask an astronaut was at the STS-121 press conference in Leicester. One of the local newspaper journalists asked the crew: "So you went WHERE?" |
cspg
Member Posts: 6210
From: Geneva, Switzerland
Registered: May 2006
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posted 02-14-2008 12:03 AM
quote:
Originally posted by Robert Pearlman:
This was Schlegel's first EVA and the fourth for Walheim, who now has a career total of 28 hours and 58 minutes.
And the second by a German citizen? Thomas Reiter being the first in Aug.2003. Chris. |
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