MCC status reports for previous mission can be found here: STS-121, STS-115, STS-116, STS-117, STS-118, STS-120, STS-122 & STS-123.



Saturday, May 31, 2008 - 7 p.m. CDT
Mission Control Center, Houston, Texas


STATUS REPORT: STS-124-01


STS-124 MCC Status Report #01

Space shuttle Discovery initiated delivery of a Japanese laboratory to the International Space Station this afternoon, lifting off at 4:02 p.m. CDT from Kennedy Space Center, Fla.

Aboard the shuttle are Commander Mark Kelly, Pilot Ken Ham and Mission Specialists Karen Nyberg, Ron Garan, Mike Fossum, Expedition 17 Flight Engineer Greg Chamitoff, and Akihiko Hoshide, a Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency astronaut.

During the 14-day mission, Discovery’s crew will deliver and install the main experiment module and the robotic arm of Japan’s Kibo module. Kibo, which means “Hope” in English, is Japan’s major contribution to the station. The first Japanese component was delivered on the STS-123 shuttle flight in March.

Kibo will be the station’s largest laboratory module, nine feet longer than the U.S. Destiny laboratory and 14 feet longer than the European Space Agency’s Columbus laboratory.

Three spacewalks are planned to help install the Kibo laboratory, work on the station’s cooling system, restore the station to full power-generating capability, and transfer the 50-foot-long heat-shield sensor boom to Discovery.

International Space Station Expedition 17 Commander Sergei Volkov and Flight Engineers Oleg Kononenko and Garrett Reisman are awaiting the arrival of the new module and crew member Chamitoff.

Discovery’s crew will begin a sleep period at 10:02 p.m. and awaken at 6:02 a.m. Sunday to begin its first full day in space. The shuttle is scheduled to dock to the station at 12:54 p.m. Monday.

The next shuttle status report will be issued after the crew awakens Sunday, or earlier if events warrant.



Source: NASA - STS-124 MCC Status Report #01

Sunday, June 1, 2008 - 7:00 a.m. CDT
Mission Control Center, Houston, Texas


STATUS REPORT: STS-124-02


STS-124 MCC Status Report #02

The seven members of shuttle Discovery began their first full day in space this morning, waking up to “Your Wildest Dreams” by the Moody Blues. The song was played for Pilot Ken Ham.

Aboard the shuttle are Commander Mark Kelly, Ham and Mission Specialists Karen Nyberg, Ron Garan, Mike Fossum, Greg Chamitoff and Akihiko Hoshide, a Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency astronaut.

Today’s activities will focus on performing an inspection of the shuttle’s thermal protection system. This will be a limited inspection using the end effector camera of the shuttle’s robotic arm. This inspection usually would be completed using the Orbiter Boom Sensor System (OBSS), the special attachment on the end of the shuttle’s robotic arm, but due to the size of the Kibo laboratory, Discovery could not carry its own OBSS. During the last shuttle mission, STS-123, Endeavour left behind its OBSS at the station after it had performed its inspection. Discovery will retrieve that OBSS and use it to perform a more detailed inspection on the seventh flight day of the mission. Discovery will then bring the OBSS back home with it when it returns to Earth.

The shuttle crew also will spend the day checking out the equipment that will be used during the spacewalks that are scheduled for the STS-124 mission. They will install the centerline camera, which is used as the shuttle approaches and docks with the station. The crew also will extend the orbiter’s docking system ring and conduct a survey of the shuttle’s orbital maneuvering system (OMS) pods.

During Discovery’s launch, there was a loss of electronics on a secondary gimbal actuator on the shuttle’s left OMS pod. That OMS engine is still usable and has been put into a parked position, and there is no impact to the mission. The shuttle conducted a series of OMS burns after it reached orbit to fine-tune its approach to the station, and the orbiter performed nominally. Flight controllers will continue to examine the issue to determine if it is a mechanical or instrumentation issue.

The next shuttle status report will be issued at the end of the crew day, or earlier if events warrant.



Source: NASA - STS-124 MCC Status Report #02

Sunday, June 1, 2008 - 4:45 p.m. CDT
Mission Control Center, Houston, Texas


STATUS REPORT: STS-124-03


STS-124 MCC Status Report #03

HOUSTON – The crew members of shuttle Discovery moved swiftly through activities during their first full day in space. They inspected the orbiter’s heat shield, prepared for arrival at the International Space Station and readied their spacesuits.

Aboard the shuttle are Commander Mark Kelly, Pilot Ken Ham and Mission Specialists Karen Nyberg, Ron Garan, Mike Fossum, Greg Chamitoff and Akihiko Hoshide, a Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency astronaut.

Today’s activities focused on an inspection of the shuttle’s thermal protection system. Ham and Nyberg completed the limited inspection using the end effector camera of the shuttle’s robotic arm.

The inspection usually would be completed using the Orbiter Boom Sensor System (OBSS), the special attachment on the end of the shuttle’s robotic arm, but due to the size of the Kibo laboratory, Discovery could not carry its own OBSS. During the last shuttle mission, STS-123, Endeavour left behind its OBSS at the station after it had performed its inspection. Discovery will retrieve that OBSS and use it to perform a more detailed inspection on the twelfth flight day of the mission. Discovery will then bring the OBSS back home with it when it returns to Earth.

Spacewalkers Fossum and Garan checked out their spacesuits with Chamitoff’s assistance. The suits will be used during the three spacewalks that are scheduled to be done from the station’s Quest airlock during the mission.

Getting ready for docking to the space station, the crew installed the centerline camera and extended the orbiter’s docking system ring. Docking is set for 12:54 p.m. Monday.

The crew members took time to answer questions from media in Minneapolis, as Nyberg’s hometown is Vining, Minnesota, and in Bryan, Texas, where Fossum attended Texas A&M University.

The crew is scheduled to go to sleep at 9:32 p.m. and awaken at 5:32 a.m. Monday for docking day.

The next shuttle status report will be issued after crew wake, or earlier if events warrant.



Source: NASA - STS-124 MCC Status Report #03

Monday, June 2, 2008 - 6 a.m. CDT
Mission Control Center, Houston, Texas


STATUS REPORT: STS-124-04


STS-124 MCC Status Report #04

HOUSTON – The massive Kibo laboratory is one step closer to its final destination as the shuttle Discovery is scheduled to dock with the International Space Station at 12:54 p.m. CDT today.

The crew was awakened at 5:32 a.m. with “Away from Home,” performed by José Molina Serrano. The song was played for Mission Specialist Greg Chamitoff. Aboard the shuttle are Commander Mark Kelly, Pilot Ken Ham and Mission Specialists Karen Nyberg, Ron Garan, Mike Fossum, Chamitoff and Aki Hoshide, a Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency astronaut.

Discovery will maneuver to within 600 feet of the station and perform the rendezvous pitch maneuver, the backflip allow the crew on board the station to take high resolution photographs of the shuttle’s thermal protection system. All three Expedition 17 crew members, Commander Sergei Volkov and Flight Engineers Oleg Kononenko and Garrett Reisman, will watch the shuttle’s approach and docking from the Zvezda service module.

Volkov will use a camera with an 800 mm lens and Reisman will use a camera with a 400 mm lens to photograph Discovery as it performs the backflip. The photos will be sent to engineering teams to examine and ensure that the shuttle’s heat shield is in good shape.

Once Discovery has docked, the hatches will be opened and both crews will begin transferring the suits and tools for the spacewalks by Fossum and Garan. The first of the three spacewalks will be conducted on Tuesday, and the two astronauts will spend tonight inside the Quest airlock in preparation for that activity.

Chamitoff and Reisman will also exchange their custom-made Soyuz seatliners soon after the hatches between the two spacecraft are opened. This will mark Chamitoff's officially becoming a member of Expedition 17 and Reisman a member of Discovery’s crew.

The next shuttle status report will be issued after crew wake, or earlier if events warrant.



Source: NASA - STS-124 MCC Status Report #04

Monday, June 2, 2008 - 6.30 p.m. CDT
Mission Control Center, Houston, Texas


STATUS REPORT: STS-124-05


STS-124 MCC Status Report #05

The space shuttle Discovery eased into port at the International Space Station at 1:03 p.m. Monday bringing with it the largest space laboratory ever launched.

Discovery Commander Mark Kelly guided the shuttle, carrying the main module of the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency's Kibo lab, to a docking with the station as the two spacecraft flew 210 miles above the South Pacific. Before closing the final six hundred feet to the station, Kelly flew the shuttle through a slow backflip, allowing the station’s Expedition 17 Commander Sergei Volkov and Flight Engineer Garrett Reisman to take photos that ground experts will review to assess the health of Discovery’s heat shield.

Discovery also brought astronaut Greg Chamitoff to the station, who officially took over for Reisman as a member of the station crew at 5:35 p.m. when Chamitoff confirmed his custom Soyuz seatliner was installed. Reisman – now formally a mission specialist aboard the shuttle – will return home after more than three months on the station.

The shuttle and station crews opened hatches and greeted one another at 2:36 p.m. beginning nine days of joint operations between the astronauts and cosmonauts. Discovery mission specialists Mike Fossum and Ron Garan began an overnight "campout" in the station's Quest airlock pressurized slightly lower than the rest of the station and shuttle to prepare themselves for the mission's first spacewalk set to begin at about 10:32 a.m. Tuesday.

Sleeping overnight at the lower pressure significantly reduces the amount of time they must breathe pure oxygen Tuesday morning as they prepare for the spacewalk. The measure prevents decompression sickness as they operate in the low pressure of spacesuits to begin their work outside.

The 6½ hour spacewalk by Fossum and Garan will prepare the Kibo lab for installation on the station and assist with transfer of the Orbiter Boom Sensor System back to the shuttle from the station, where it has been stored since the last shuttle visit. The two also will demonstrate a technique that may be used to clean debris from the station solar array rotary joint, which has known debris degrading its operation.

The 10 crewmembers will go to sleep about 9 p.m. Monday and receive a wakeup call from Mission Control at 5:32 a.m. Tuesday.

The next shuttle status report will be issued after crew wakeup, or earlier if events warrant.



Source: NASA - STS-124 MCC Status Report #05

Tuesday, June 3, 2008 - 6 a.m. CDT
Mission Control Center, Houston, Texas


STATUS REPORT: STS-124-06


STS-124 MCC Status Report #06

A busy day is ahead for the crews of shuttle Discovery and Expedition 17 aboard the International Space Station as they prepare to transfer the orbiter boom sensor system (OBSS) from the station to the shuttle as well as install the Kibo laboratory.

The shuttle crew woke up this morning at 5:32 a.m. CDT to “Hold Me with the Robot Arm,” performed by Yusuke Hanawa. The song was played for Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency astronaut Aki Hoshide.

Overnight, mission specialists Mike Fossum and Ron Garan camped out inside the Quest airlock in preparation for their spacewalk today. This is done in order to purge their bodies of nitrogen before they don their spacewalking suits. Sleeping overnight at the lower pressure significantly reduces the amount of time they must breathe pure oxygen as they prepare for the spacewalk.

Today’s spacewalk is the first of three scheduled for the mission. The 6.5-hour spacewalk by Fossum and Garan will prepare the Kibo lab for installation on the station and assist with transfer of the OBSS back to the shuttle from the station, where it has been stored since the last shuttle visit.

The two also will demonstrate a technique that may be used to clean debris from the station solar alpha rotary joint, which has known debris degrading its operation.

Discovery crew members are Commander Mark Kelly, Pilot Ken Ham, mission specialists Karen Nyberg, Garan, Fossum, Hoshide and Garrett Reisman. The Expedition 17 crew is Commander Sergei Volkov and flight engineers Oleg Kononenko and Greg Chamitoff.

The next status report will be issued at the end of the crew’s day, or earlier if events warrant.



Source: NASA - STS-124 MCC Status Report #06

Tuesday, June 3, 2008 - 8.30 p.m. CDT
Mission Control Center, Houston, Texas


STATUS REPORT: STS-124-07


STS-124 MCC Status Report #07

Closely choreographed spacewalking and robotics work led to the installation of a new, and the largest, laboratory on the International Space Station.

Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency astronaut Akihiko Hoshide installed the Kibo laboratory noting, “We have a new hope on the International Space Station." Kibo means “hope” in Japanese.

Using the station’s robotic arm, Hoshide and astronaut Karen Nyberg removed the lab from Discovery’s payload bay at 3:49 p.m. It was latched in place on the Harmony node at 6:01 p.m. and the installation procedure was complete at 6:42 p.m. Wednesday the crew will enter the new lab.

During a six-hour and 48-minute spacewalk, Mike Fossum and Ron Garan prepared the Kibo lab for installation on the station by disconnecting cables and removing covers while it was still in the payload bay.

Fossum and Garan also assisted with transfer of the orbiter boom sensor system (OBSS) back to the shuttle from the station, where it has been stored since the last shuttle visit. Now the OBSS is attached to the shuttle robotic arm and can be used for a later inspection of Discovery’s heat shield on flight day 12.

The Mission Management Team today decided that a focused inspection of Discovery’s heat shield is not required on flight day 5. The decision was based on a thorough review of imagery and data obtained during the shuttle’s launch, an inspection using the shuttle robotic arm and the orbiter’s approach to the space station.

The spacewalkers also demonstrated a technique that may be used to clean debris from the station solar alpha rotary joint, which has known debris degrading its operation. Garan installed a new bearing in the joint and during an inspection of a race ring within the joint, Fossum reported that a spot that had been identified on earlier spacewalks is indeed a divot. Station managers will use that information to continue researching the origin of the damage.

Today’s spacewalk was the first of three scheduled for the mission. It was the first for Garan and the fourth for Fossum. It began at 11:22 a.m. and concluded at 6:10 p.m.

The next status report will be issued after the crew awakens, which is scheduled for 5:32 a.m. Wednesday, or earlier if events warrant.



Source: NASA - STS-124 MCC Status Report #07

Wednesday, June 4, 2008 - 6 a.m. CDT
Mission Control Center, Houston, Texas


STATUS REPORT: STS-124-08


STS-124 MCC Status Report #08

The crew of STS-124 and Expedition 17 will focus on continuing the setup and initialization of the Kibo laboratory today.

At 3:52 p.m. today, the astronauts are due to open the hatch to Kibo and enter the new laboratory for the first time.

The shuttle crew awoke this morning to “Have You Ever,” performed by Brandi Carlile. The song was played for Mission Specialist Karen Nyberg.

In addition to the continuing work on Kibo, the crew will work to remove and replace one of the beds on the carbon dioxide removal assembly (CDRA). The CDRA is part of the International Space Station’s environmental controls. It works to remove carbon dioxide from the air on board the spacecraft.

The crew will also check out the sensors on the end of the orbiter boom sensor system (OBSS). The OBSS was retrieved from the outside of the station during yesterday’s spacewalk, and it will remain attached to the shuttle’s robotic arm until it is used to conduct the late inspection of the shuttle’s heat shield on flight day 12. It will then be stowed in Discovery’s payload bay for the return trip back to Earth.

Discovery crew members are Commander Mark Kelly, Pilot Ken Ham, and mission specialists Nyberg, Ron Garan, Mike Fossum, Aki Hoshide and Garrett Reisman. The Expedition 17 crew is Commander Sergei Volkov and flight engineers Oleg Kononenko and Greg Chamitoff.

The next status report will be issued at the end of the crew’s day, or earlier if events warrant.



Source: NASA - STS-124 MCC Status Report #08

Wednesday, June 4, 2008 - 7.30 p.m. CDT
Mission Control Center, Houston, Texas


STATUS REPORT: STS-124-09


STS-124 MCC Status Report #09

The door to more experiments and more space opened up aboard the International Space Station.

The crew of STS-124 and Expedition 17 worked on activation and entry of the Kibo Japanese Pressurized Module. At 4:05 p.m. Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency astronaut Akihiko Hoshide and NASA astronaut Karen Nyberg opened the hatch to the lab. After checking the atmosphere, all ten crew members entered the module to experience the enormous space. The largest module on the space station, it can hold 23 phone-booth sized operating racks, including 10 dedicated to experiments.

Cosmonaut Oleg Kononenko installed the spare gas liquid separator pump into the station’s toilet at 10:27 a.m. After testing, Mission Control, Moscow indicated the toilet was repaired and ready for normal operations. The toilet had been working in a degraded fashion for the past couple weeks, prompting the replacement part’s addition to Discovery’s cargo.

Discovery Commander Mark Kelly and Pilot Ken Ham confirmed sensors on the end of the orbiter boom sensor system (OBSS) are working. The OBSS was retrieved from the outside of the station during Tuesday’s spacewalk, and it will remain attached to the shuttle’s robotic arm until it is used to conduct the late inspection of the shuttle’s heat shield on flight day 12.

As planned, astronauts Garrett Reisman and Greg Chamitoff replaced one of the beds in the carbon dioxide removal assembly that cleanses air onboard the station.

The crew is scheduled to go to sleep at 9:32 p.m. Wednesday and awaken at 5:32 a.m. Thursday. Spacewalkers Ron Garan and Mike Fossum will stay in the Quest airlock at a lower pressure overnight again to purge nitrogen from their systems.

The next status report will be issued after the crew awakens, or earlier if events warrant.



Source: NASA - STS-124 MCC Status Report #09

Thursday, June 5, 2008 - 6.00 a.m. CDT
Mission Control Center, Houston, Texas


STATUS REPORT: STS-124-10


STS-124 MCC Status Report #10

After spending the night camped out in the Quest airlock, astronauts Mike Fossum and Ron Garan are prepared to embark on the second of three spacewalks today to continue the outfitting of the newly installed Kibo laboratory.

Fossum and Garan’s spacewalk today will focus on removing the thermal covers and other insulation on the outside of the laboratory, including the covers on Kibo’s robotic arm. In addition to installing some cameras on the outside of Kibo that will be used to monitor external payload work, they will also work on the zenith hatch of Kibo to remove some insulation that may get in the way of the hatch’s locking mechanism.

Fossum and Garan also will complete some advance work on a nitrogen tank assembly that will be replaced on the third and final spacewalk of the mission. Today’s spacewalk is scheduled for 6.5 hours.

Crew members woke up at 5:32 a.m. Thursday to “Fly Away,” performed by Lenny Kravitz. The song was played for Garan.

Crew members will work to complete the transfer of the remaining racks from inside the Japanese Logistics Pressurized Module, delivered to the station by Endeavour in March. The hatch to that module will be closed this afternoon in preparation for its Friday relocation from the Harmony node to its final position on the Japanese Experiment Module, as part of Kibo.

The crew is scheduled to go to sleep at 9:32 p.m. Thursday and awaken at 5:32 a.m. Friday.

The next status report will be issued at the end of the crew’s day, or earlier if events warrant.



Source: NASA - STS-124 MCC Status Report #10

Thursday, June 5, 2008 - 8.00 p.m. CDT
Mission Control Center, Houston, Texas


STATUS REPORT: STS-124-11


STS-124 MCC Status Report #11

After a seven-hour spacewalk, the newly installed Kibo laboratory is closer to its final configuration.

Mission specialists Mike Fossum and Ron Garan exited the space station at 10:04 a.m., nearly 30 minutes ahead of schedule, to begin the second spacewalk, which focused on external outfitting of the new module. They also worked on preparations for the exchange of a Nitrogen Tank Assembly, retrieved a failed camera and inspected an array mechanism.

Once the two left the airlock, they made their way to the Kibo laboratory module where they installed cameras that will help monitor external robotic and payload operations. While in the vicinity, the two added insulating material to some areas of the module and removed thermal covers and insulation from others, specifically the Japanese robotic arm and the hatch on top of the module. A smaller component of the Japanese Experiment Module will be repositioned to that hatch location Friday.

With the Kibo tasks behind them, the two proceeded to tasks in preparation for their next spacewalk. They loosened bolts holding two Nitrogen Tank Assemblies in place on the station’s truss. Those tanks will be swapped during Sunday's spacewalk. They also retrieved a failed external television camera from the port truss. That camera’s power supply will be replaced once inside the space station and the camera will be returned to its external location during Sunday's third spacewalk.

Fossum then performed an inspection of the left Solar Alpha Rotary Joint, which has been performing perfectly. He relayed to the ground team that he did not see any shavings or debris, but took photos which will be sent to the ground for engineers to review. The spacewalk ended at 5:15 p.m. after seven hours, 11 minutes.

The rest of the station and shuttle crew members continued with work inside the docked complex transferring supplies and equipment, outfitting the interior of Kibo and its robotics console, transferring racks into the new lab and readying for tomorrow’s relocation of the logistics module onto the lab.

The crew is scheduled to go to sleep at 9:32 p.m. and awaken at 5:32 a.m. Friday.

The next status report will be issued after the crew awakens, or earlier if events warrant.



Source: NASA - STS-124 MCC Status Report #11

Friday, June 6, 2008 - 6 a.m. CDT
Mission Control Center, Houston, Texas


STATUS REPORT: STS-124-12


STS-124 MCC Status Report #12

The crews of Discovery and Expedition 17 will work today to relocate the Japanese Logistics Module (JLM) to its permanent home on top of the newly installed Japanese Pressurized Module (JPM) of the Kibo laboratory.

The JLM was the first part of Kibo to be brought to the International Space Station. It was delivered by shuttle Endeavour during STS-123 in March and has been temporarily residing on top of the Harmony node, awaiting the arrival of JPM, the main Kibo laboratory.

Depressurization of the JLM is scheduled for 11:12 a.m. CDT, which will be followed by the grappling of the module by the station’s robotic arm at 1:02 p.m. The arm will lift the module off of its port at 1:57 p.m. and will move it 30 feet to the JPM's zenith port.

The shuttle crew awoke this morning to “Bright as Yellow,” performed by Innocence Mission. The song was played for Mission Specialist Karen Nyberg.

Expedition 17 Commander Sergei Volkov and STS-124 Commander Mark Kelly are scheduled to speak with KMSB-TV, National Public Radio and Associated Press TV this morning at 11:27 a.m. Those interviews will be broadcast live on NASA TV.

The next status report will be issued at the end of the crew day, or earlier if events warrant.



Source: NASA - STS-124 MCC Status Report #12

Friday, June 6, 2008 - 7:45 p.m. CDT
Mission Control Center, Houston, Texas


STATUS REPORT: STS-124-13


STS-124 MCC Status Report #13

Ever closer to its final configuration, the Japanese Kibo laboratory now has its storage module attached. The logistics module was repositioned from its temporary location atop Harmony, and now sits in its permanent location on top of the large laboratory.

The logistics module was moved by Expedition 17 Flight Engineer and NASA Science Officer Greg Chamitoff and Discovery Mission Specialist Karen Nyberg. They used the space station’s robotic arm for the delicate maneuver, which began with the module’s removal at 2:16 p.m. and concluded with latches capturing it in place on the lab 42 minutes later at 2:58 p.m.

The crew pressurized the hatchway to the logistics module and performed initial leak checks. The team in Mission Control will continue the leak checks overnight. The crew will enter the module Monday afternoon.

Preparations continued on the Japanese remote manipulator system. Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency astronaut Akihiko Hoshide activated the robotic arm’s operating station and released brakes for initial tests. The 33-foot robotic arm will be moved for the first time Saturday. The small motion provides access to thermal covers that will be removed during the spacewalk Sunday.

Other crew members continued with transfer work and internal outfitting of the Kibo laboratory, which now has 12 experiment and control racks installed.

The crew is scheduled to go to sleep at 9:02 p.m. and awaken at 5:02 a.m. Saturday.

The next status report will be issued at the start of the crew day, or earlier if events warrant.



Source: NASA - STS-124 MCC Status Report #13

Saturday, June 7, 2008 - 5:30 a.m. CDT
Mission Control Center, Houston, Texas


STATUS REPORT: STS-124-14


STS-124 MCC Status Report #14

The crew of Discovery began its eighth flight day this morning to the song “Taking Off.” It was performed by Godaigo and played for Mission Specialist Aki Hoshide.

The first task on hand for the crew is a series of tests on Kibo’s robotic arm. These tests will include the robot arm’s hold and release mechanism.

The crew also will perform an initial deploy of the 33-foot arm, which will involve a slight movement of the joints. This will be done in order to allow the arm to relax its position slightly and to ensure that mission specialists Mike Fossum and Ron Garan have adequate room for some of their tasks during their spacewalk on Sunday.

The crew also will continue the outfitting of the vestibule between the new Kibo laboratory module, the Japanese Pressurized Module, and its logistics module, which was relocated yesterday. The hatch between the two modules is schedule to be opened on Monday.

Discovery’s crew also will talk with news media representatives beginning at 1:02 p.m. CDT. The interviews, which will be carried live on NASA TV, will be with CNN, WCBS-TV and WDAY-TV.

Later, at 6:02 p.m., Discovery Commander Mark Kelly and Hoshide will speak with dignitaries and students in Japan. That event also will be carried live on NASA TV, and will be replayed with English interpretation at 7:30 p.m.

Garan and Fossum will review the procedures for their Sunday spacewalk, which will be the third and final of the mission. The two astronauts will spend the night camped out in the Quest airlock in preparation for that activity.

The next status report will be issued at the end of the crew day, or earlier if events warrant.



Source: NASA - STS-124 MCC Status Report #14

Saturday, June 7, 2008 - 7:00 p.m. CDT
Mission Control Center, Houston, Texas


STATUS REPORT: STS-124-15


STS-124 MCC Status Report #15

Shuttle astronauts expanded the robotics capabilities on the station today, with the first tests and motions of the Japanese robotic arm.

After heating up the arm yesterday and setting up its control console, today, mission specialists Akihiko Hoshide and Karen Nyberg sent commands to activate the Kibo robotic arm system's hold and release mechanism. About an hour later, the two initiated the first motion of the arm. At 11:39 a.m. they commanded a slight pitch down motion to validate the arm's operability. The move also ensured there would be sufficient space for the removal of launch locks and insulation from the arm's wrist and elbow cameras, a task scheduled for tomorrow’s spacewalk to be conducted by Mike Fossum and Ron Garan.

Now, at the halfway point of the mission, the ten crew members gathered for an interview with reporters with CNN, WCBS-TV in New York and WDAY-TV in Fargo, N.D.

Later, shuttle Commander Mark Kelly was joined by Hoshide for a special call from the Japanese dignitaries. Participants included Prime Minister Yasuo Fukuda; Minister of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology Kisaburo Tokai; Director of Miraikan (National Museum of Emerging Science and Innovation) and NASA Astronaut Mamoru Mohri. U.S. Ambassador in Japan J. Thomas Shieffer and students also participated in the call to congratulate Hoshide and Kelly on the mission and the successful addition of the Kibo Laboratory.

The crew continued internal outfitting of the new laboratory and transfer work and ended the day with a review of the procedures for tomorrow’s spacewalk. That extravehicular activity, or EVA, will now include a possible get-ahead task to collect samples of some of the powder-like substance Fossum observed on the left Solar Alpha Rotary Joint during the last spacewalk.

The shuttle crew is scheduled to go to sleep at 8:32 p.m., thirty minutes after their space station counterparts. Both crews are scheduled to awaken at 4:32 a.m. Sunday.

The next status report will be issued at the start of the crew day, or earlier if events warrant.



Source: NASA - STS-124 MCC Status Report #15

Sunday, June 8, 2008 - 5:30 a.m. CDT
Mission Control Center, Houston, Texas


STATUS REPORT: STS-124-16


STS-124 MCC Status Report #16

Astronauts Mike Fossum and Ron Garan are prepared this morning to conduct the third and final spacewalk of Discovery’s mission to the International Space Station.

Fossum and Garan will focus their attention on changing out a nitrogen tank assembly on the station’s starboard truss. They will retrieve the new tank from a storage platform on the port truss.

Garan will be riding the station’s arm back and forth as he moves the tank into place. The ride should be spectacular. Garan, holding the large depleted tank assembly, will ride the fully extended Canadarm2 from the tank's installation area on the starboard truss to its stowage area on the port truss, and then ride back with the new tank assembly.

The ride has been dubbed the "windshield wiper maneuver."

The two astronauts also will remove some of the launch locks and insulation from the robotic arm that is located on Kibo. They also will work to install the port truss camera that was retrieved during the second spacewalk of the mission. The crew worked to repair that camera yesterday inside the station in advance of today’s spacewalk.

If time and logistics allow, Fossum will perform another inspection of the port solar alpha rotary joint (SARJ). His attention will be on retrieving some samples of the grease lines that he saw during the second spacewalk of the mission.

The crew was awakened this morning at 4:32 a.m. by the theme music from “The Mickey Mouse Club.”

The next status report will be issued at the end of the crew day, or earlier if events warrant.



Source: NASA - STS-124 MCC Status Report #16

Sunday, June 8, 2008 - 5:00 p.m. CDT
Mission Control Center, Houston, Texas


STATUS REPORT: STS-124-17


STS-124 MCC Status Report #17

HOUSTON – Astronauts Mike Fossum and Ron Garan completed the third and final spacewalk of Discovery’s mission to the International Space Station.

During the six-hour, 33-minute spacewalk, Fossum and Garan accomplished all of the planned objectives as well as many extra tasks. It began at 8:55 a.m. and concluded at 3:28 p.m.

Together they replaced a nitrogen tank on the station’s starboard truss with a new one. Garan worked from the end of the station robotic arm, operated by astronauts Karen Nyberg and Akihiko Hoshide.

From there the spacewalkers moved onto separate tasks. Fossum returned to the port Solar Alpha Rotary Joint (SARJ) that he had inspected during the second spacewalk. He took samples of particulate matter from inside the joint, using a strip of tape that will be returned to Earth for engineers to analyze.

He then removed thermal insulation from the Kibo robotic arm's wrist and elbow cameras and launch locks from one of the Kibo windows. He deployed debris shields on Kibo and, while in the area, tightened a bolt holding a television camera in place since Japanese flight controllers had noticed unexpected movement while operating the camera.

Garan retrieved a video camera that had been removed from the port truss during the second spacewalk. It was repaired Saturday and Garan re-installed it. Video from the camera was sent to Mission Control almost immediately.

The pair finished the spacewalk with extra tasks. Fossum installed a thermal cover on connectors on the outside of Harmony and relocated a foot restraint aid. Garan removed a launch lock on the starboard SARJ. Three of four locks were removed during this mission’s spacewalks.

The crew will go to sleep at 8:02 p.m. and awaken at 4:02 a.m. Monday. The next status report will be issued at the start of the crew day, or earlier if events warrant.



Source: NASA - STS-124 MCC Status Report #17

Monday, June 9, 2008 - 5 a.m. CDT
Mission Control Center, Houston, Texas


STATUS REPORT: STS-124-18


STS-124 MCC Status Report #18

HOUSTON – Discovery’s crew was awakened at 4:02 a.m. CDT, beginning a day that will see the final deployment of the arm on the Kibo laboratory and the opening of the hatch between Kibo and the logistics module.

The wakeup call this morning was “The Spirit of Aggieland” performed by the Fightin’ Texas Aggie Band. The song was played for Mission Specialist Mike Fossum.

The final deployment of the Kibo laboratory’s robotic arm will begin at 7:07 a.m., and the maneuvers should take about a half hour. At that point, the arm will be returned to its stow position and will have its brakes tested out.

The crew will swap out a battery charger module inside the station’s Quest airlock. They will also open the hatch between Kibo and its logistics module after lunch.

All 10 crew members are scheduled to participate in the joint crew news conference. They will be speaking with media outlets in the United States and Japan in a live interactive event. That news conference will begin at 4:02 p.m. and will be carried on NASA TV.

The next status report will be issued at the end of the crew’s day, or earlier if events warrant.



Source: NASA - STS-124 MCC Status Report #18

Monday, June 9, 2008 - 6:30 p.m. CDT
Mission Control Center, Houston, Texas


STATUS REPORT: STS-124-19


STS-124 MCC Status Report #19

Discovery’s crew completed the major work on the Japanese Kibo laboratory that was planned for the STS-124 mission to the International Space Station.

Japanese astronaut Akihiko Hoshide and NASA astronaut Karen Nyberg operated the robotic arm for its final deployment maneuver. Then they placed the arm in a stowed position and finished up with checkouts of brakes within its joints.

The pair went on to open the hatch between Kibo and its logistics module so that it can be used as a storage area for the laboratory.

Commander Mark Kelly and Mission Specialist Mike Fossum swapped out battery charger modules inside the station’s Quest airlock.

Mission Specialist Garrett Reisman and Flight Engineer Greg Chamitoff continued handover briefings about living and working onboard the International Space Station. Reisman is returning to Earth aboard Discovery after three months in space. Chamitoff will remain onboard, serving as a NASA science officer, until the STS-126 shuttle mission targeted for launch in November.

Other crew members continued transferring equipment and supplies between the two spacecraft, with the hatches due to be closed Tuesday afternoon.

The crew is scheduled to go to sleep at 7:32 p.m. and awaken at 3:32 a.m. Tuesday.

The next status report will be issued at the beginning of the crew’s day, or earlier if events warrant.



Source: NASA - STS-124 MCC Status Report #19

Tuesday, June 10, 2008 - 4:30 a.m. CDT
Mission Control Center, Houston, Texas


STATUS REPORT: STS-124-20

STS-124 MCC Status Report #20

HOUSTON – The crew of Discovery has begun its last day of joint operations with the International Space Station.

Crew members were awakened at 3:32 a.m. CDT by "All Because of You," performed by U2. It was played for Mission Specialist Ron Garan.

The crew will spend the morning configuring a backup drive for the Kibo laboratory’s robotic arm. The astronauts also will be enjoying a couple of hours of off-duty time today after several busy days on orbit.

International Space Station Flight Engineer Greg Chamitoff and Discovery Mission Specialist Garrett Reisman (whom Chamitoff replaced as a station crew member) will speak with NBC News, KGO Radio and Fox News Radio this afternoon. Those interviews will air live on NASA TV at 1:10 p.m.

At 2:57 p.m. CDT, the crews of Discovery and Expedition 17 are due to say goodbye to each other. Hatches between the two spacecraft will be closed shortly thereafter.

Crew members will do a series of leak checks before going to sleep for the evening. Discovery's crew begins its sleep period at 7:02 p.m.

Undocking from the International Space Station is set for Wednesday at 6:42 a.m.

The next status report will be issued at the end of the crew’s day, or earlier if events warrant.



Source: NASA - STS-124 MCC Status Report #20

Tuesday, June 10, 2008 - 5 p.m. CDT
Mission Control Center, Houston, Texas


STATUS REPORT: STS-124-21

STS-124 MCC Status Report #21

The crews of Discovery and the International Space Station bid one other farewell, closing the hatch between the two spacecraft at 3:42 p.m.

Before exiting the station, the shuttle crew installed a backup drive for the Kibo laboratory’s robotic arm and transferred last minute experiment samples and equipment to Discovery.

The astronauts also enjoyed a few of hours of off-duty time before gathering in the Harmony module at 2:55 p.m. to say goodbye.

The crew begins its sleep period at 7:02 p.m. and awakens at 3:02 a.m. Wednesday.

Undocking from the International Space Station is set for 6:42 a.m.

The next status report will be issued at the beginning of the crew’s day, or earlier if events warrant.



Source: NASA - STS-124 MCC Status Report #21

Wednesday, June 11, 2008 - 4 a.m. CDT
Mission Control Center, Houston, Texas


STATUS REPORT: STS-124-22

STS-124 MCC Status Report #22

HOUSTON – The crew of Discovery is a few hours away from undocking after almost nine days at the International Space Station.

The crew members will install the centerline camera before the undocking, which is scheduled for 6:42 a.m. CDT. That camera will help Commander Mark Kelly and Pilot Ken Ham fine tune the shuttle’s maneuvers as it backs away from the station.

After the shuttle undocks from the station, it will perform a flyaround of the newly expanded complex before conducting a final separation burn at 8:25 a.m.

Beginning at 10:12 a.m., the crew will conduct the late inspection of the shuttle’s heat shield using the orbiter boom sensor system in advance of Discovery’s return home on Saturday. Landing is scheduled for 10:15 a.m. central time at the Kennedy Space Center in Florida.

The crew woke up at 3:12 a.m. to “Centerfield” by John Fogerty. The song was played for Ham. The crew is scheduled to begin its sleep period at 6:32 p.m.

The next status report will be issued at the end of the crew’s day, or earlier if events warrant.



Source: NASA - STS-124 MCC Status Report #22

Wednesday, June 11, 2008 - 5.30 p.m. CDT
Mission Control Center, Houston, Texas


STATUS REPORT: STS-124-23

STS-124 MCC Status Report #23

After almost nine days of flying together, the space shuttle Discovery and International Space Station have parted ways.

Pilot Ken Ham backed Discovery away from the station at 6:42 a.m. and proceeded to fly around the 330-ton complex. The shuttle crew members then captured video and still photos of their construction site, including the Japanese Kibo laboratory.

The shuttle crew conducted the late inspection of the shuttle’s heat shield using the orbiter boom sensor system. The surveys began just after 10 a.m. and concluded around 2 p.m. All imagery was sent to Mission Control for experts to review by 2:49 p.m.

Imagery experts are expected to give their final report about the health of Discovery’s heat shield to the Mission Management Team Friday.

Now working on different schedules, the station crew went to sleep at 4:30 p.m. and the shuttle crew is scheduled to begin its sleep period at 6:32 p.m.

The station crew is scheduled to awaken at 1 a.m. Thursday, while Discovery’s wakeup call is due at 2:32 a.m.

The next status report will be issued at the beginning of the crew’s day, or earlier if events warrant.



Source: NASA - STS-124 MCC Status Report #23

Thursday, June 12, 2008 - 4.00 a.m. CDT
Mission Control Center, Houston, Texas


STATUS REPORT: STS-124-24

STS-124 MCC Status Report #24

The crew of Discovery will enjoy some off-duty time this morning after yesterday’s undocking from the International Space Station.

After a few hours of rest, the crew members will stow the orbiter boom sensor system (OBSS) inside the shuttle’s payload bay as well as power down Discovery’s robotic arm.

The crew will also conduct an orbit adjustment burn at 3:20 p.m. CDT using the right orbital maneuvering system (OMS) engine. That adjustment will change the shuttle’s orbit by seven feet per second and will enable an additional landing opportunity at the Kennedy Space Center on Sunday, if the shuttle is not able to land on the two opportunities on Saturday.

The crew was awakened at 2:32 this morning to “Crystal Frontier” by Calexico. It was played for Commander Mark Kelly. The crew is scheduled to begin its sleep period at 6:02 p.m.

The next status report will be issued at the end of the crew’s day, or earlier if events warrant.



Source: NASA - STS-124 MCC Status Report #24

Thursday, June 12, 2008 - 5 p.m. CDT
Mission Control Center, Houston, Texas


STATUS REPORT: STS-124-25

STS-124 MCC Status Report #25

The crew of Discovery enjoyed some off-duty time 12 days into a busy mission to the International Space Station and turned its attention to returning to Earth Saturday.

After the rest period, robotic arm operators Karen Nyberg and Ron Garan stowed the orbiter boom sensor system inside the shuttle’s payload bay and powered down Discovery’s robotic arm.

The boom was used to inspect Discovery’s heat shield Wednesday. A review of the space shuttle tile imagery has not revealed any issues and the team is continuing to review imagery of the reinforced carbon-carbon material. A final report from analysis of the data is expected Friday.

The crew conducted an orbit adjustment burn at 3:20 p.m. using the right orbital maneuvering system engine. That adjustment enables an additional landing opportunity at the Kennedy Space Center on Sunday, if the shuttle is not able to land on the two opportunities on Saturday. Saturday opportunities at Kennedy are at 10:15 a.m. and 11:50 a.m.

The crew is scheduled to begin its sleep period at 6:02 p.m. and awaken at 2:02 a.m. Friday.

The next status report will be issued at the beginning of the crew’s day, or earlier if events warrant.



Source: NASA - STS-124 MCC Status Report #25

Friday, June 13, 2008 - 3 a.m. CDT
Mission Control Center, Houston, Texas


STATUS REPORT: STS-124-26

STS-124 MCC Status Report #26

The crew of Discovery has begun its last full day in orbit.

Fittingly, the wake-up music was “Baby, Won’t You Please Come Home,” performed by Louis Prima and Keely Smith. The song was played at 2:02 a.m. CDT for Mission Specialist Garrett Reisman.

The crew will spend a large part of the day stowing away items in the crew cabin in advance of Saturday’s landing.

They also are scheduled to test Discovery's flight control system, the flaps and rudder which will control the orbiter's flight through the atmosphere, a little before 5:40 a.m. Subsequently, at about 6:50 a.m., they will test the spacecraft's reaction control system jets, which control the shuttle's orientation before the flight control system becomes effective.

Reisman’s recumbent seat will be set up on the mid-deck of the shuttle early this afternoon. This is a special reclining seat that helps returning Expedition crew members adjust to Earth’s gravity easier.

At the end of the crew’s day, the astronauts also will stow the Ku-band antenna. The high-data-rate KU-band system transmits, among other things, television signals.

The crew is scheduled to go to sleep at 5:32 p.m. CDT.

The next status report will be issued at the end of the crew’s day, or earlier if events warrant.



Source: NASA - STS-124 MCC Status Report #26

Friday, June 13, 2008 - 5 p.m. CDT
Mission Control Center, Houston, Texas


STATUS REPORT: STS-124-27

STS-124 MCC Status Report #27

HOUSTON - Discovery has been cleared for Saturday’s entry and landing at Kennedy Space Center on one of two opportunities at 10:15 a.m. or 11:50 a.m.

Imagery experts declared the shuttle’s heat shield healthy and safe for entry and landing during Friday’s Mission Management Team meeting. The report followed extensive review of imagery obtained by using the Orbiter Boom Sensor System Wednesday after Discovery undocked from the International Space Station.

The team also reviewed new imagery provided by Discovery’s crew of an object that was seen floating away from the vehicle Friday morning during the routine day-before-landing systems checkout to verify entry and landing system health.

Engineers concluded the object was a heat shield clip from the rudder/speed brake on the orbiter’s tail used as a heat barrier during launch only and not a concern for entry.

The crew also sent photographs of a perceived protrusion on the rudder/speed brake, but engineers quickly determined it is a normal feature of the tail’s heat shield and also not a concern for entry.

To prepare for landing, Discovery’s crew members spent a large part of the day stowing items in the crew cabin as the tests of Discovery's flight control surfaces and reaction control system thrusters was ongoing. Both systems functioned well and are ready to support entry activities.

With a large high pressure system in place off the North Carolina coast, forecasters are calling for only scattered clouds and light winds in Florida for landing attempts Saturday and, if needed, Sunday at the Kennedy Space Center.

The crew is scheduled to go to sleep about 5:30 p.m. and awaken at 1:32 a.m. Saturday to begin landing day preparations.

The next status report will be issued at the beginning of the crew’s day, or earlier if events warrant.



Source: NASA - STS-124 MCC Status Report #27

Friday, June 13, 2008 - 3 a.m. CDT
Mission Control Center, Houston, Texas


STATUS REPORT: STS-124-28

STS-124 MCC Status Report #28

Discovery’s crew are now just hours away from landing at the Kennedy Space Center.

The crew was awakened at 1:32 a.m. CDT to “Life on an Ocean Wave,” performed by the U.S. Merchant Marine Academy Band. The song was played for Commander Mark Kelly and the entire crew.

Discovery has two opportunities to land this morning at KSC, at 10:15 a.m. and 11:50 a.m. Imagery experts declared the shuttle’s heat shield healthy and safe for entry and landing during yesterday’s Mission Management Team meeting.

The first landing opportunity is on orbit 217. The crew will close the payload bay doors at 6:30 a.m. At 8:50 a.m. Mission Control will give the final go/no go for the deorbit burn, scheduled for 9:10 a.m.

The ground track for the first attempt brings the shuttle over the western coast of Mexico, near the border with Guatemala. The shuttle will cross toward Cozumel and Cancun before heading out over the Gulf of Mexico. Discovery will then cross the Florida coast near Naples, heading toward Lakeland and then on toward runway 15 at KSC.

The second opportunity, on the subsequent orbit would take Discovery across central Mexico, the Gulf of Mexico and then on an easterly course across Florida to KSC.

With a large high pressure system in place off the North Carolina coast, forecasters are calling for only scattered clouds and light winds in Florida for landing attempts Saturday and, if needed, Sunday at the Kennedy Space Center.

The next status report will be issued after the shuttle lands, or earlier if events warrant.



Source: NASA - STS-124 MCC Status Report #28

Saturday, June 14, 2008 - 10:30 a.m. CDT
Mission Control Center, Houston, Texas


STATUS REPORT: STS-124-29

STS-124 MCC Status Report #29

With only puffy white clouds dotting the skyline, space shuttle Discovery glided to a pinpoint touchdown at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida at 10:15 a.m. ending the two-week-long STS-124 mission to the International Space Station.

With Commander Mark Kelly at the stick, Discovery touched down on Runway 15 at the Shuttle Landing Facility, completing a 5.7-million-mile journey that included delivery of the major element of Japan’s science laboratory “Kibo.” Astronaut Garrett Reisman returned home after 95 days in space – 90 of which were aboard the station.

Weather was not a concern today as the Spaceflight Meteorology Group evaluated conditions around the landing site with real-time observations by Chief Astronaut Steve Lindsey flying a Gulfstream business jet that mimics the shuttle’s landing characteristics.

Discovery’s 35th mission began at 4:02 p.m. on May 31 with liftoff from Kennedy’s Launch Complex 39A just three miles east of the landing strip. The shuttle will head back to its hangar where it will be readied for the STS-119 mission in early 2009 to deliver the final pair of solar arrays to the space station.

The 26th shuttle mission dedicated to assembly and maintenance of the station included delivery of the 32,558-pound Kibo and three spacewalks, totaling 20 hours, 32 minutes bringing the total for 112 spacewalks devoted to assembly to more than 706 hours.

Left behind on the station is the Expedition 17 crew, Commander Sergei Volkov, Flight Engineer Oleg Kononenko and Reisman’s replacement, Flight Engineer Greg Chamitoff, who will spend the next five months on the station until his return home aboard Endeavour on the next station mission scheduled for November (STS-126).

The well-choreographed mission of Discovery was carried out by Kelly and his crew, Pilot Ken Ham and Mission Specialists Mike Fossum, Ron Garan, Karen Nyberg and Japan’s Aki Hoshide who led the activities of bringing his country’s laboratory to life after installation at its permanent base 220 miles above the Earth.

Discovery’s main landing gear touched down at 10:15:19 a.m., followed by the nose gear at 10:15:30. Wheels stopped at 10:16:19 a.m., bringing the mission’s elapsed time to 13 days, 18 hours, 13 minutes, 7 seconds.

The crew is scheduled to return to Houston’s Ellington Field on Sunday with a welcome home ceremony planned for about 4 p.m. at Hangar 990 at the north end of the field.



Source: NASA - STS-124 MCC Status Report #29