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Waspie_Dwarf
Feb 5 2007, 09:13 PM
Super Spacewalk Sunday – The Stats!

linked-image
Image above: Expedition 14 flight engineer Suni Williams works on the
outside of the International Space Station.
Photo credit: NASA TV

Following Sunday's second spacewalk of the series, Commander Mike Lopez-Alegria, with eight spacewalks totaling 54 hours and 42 minutes, now ranks third on the all-time list behind Jerry Ross and Anatoly Solovyev.

He will equal Ross' mark of nine spacewalks on Thursday and vault past him into second place for the most spacewalk time by an American astronaut at the 3 hour and 50 minute mark. He surpasses Ross' record for most spacewalks by an American on Feb. 22 during the Russian outing.

Flight Engineer Suni Williams now holds the record for most spacewalk time by a female at 22 hours and 37 minutes and will eclipse the mark she shares with Kathy Thornton for most spacewalks by a female -- three -- on Thursday, Feb. 8.

Source: NASA - Space Station
Waspie_Dwarf
Feb 6 2007, 05:28 PM
Thursday's Spacewalk Activities

linked-image
Image above: Suni Williams, Expedition 14 flight engineer, uses a
communication system in the Destiny laboratory.
Photo credit: NASA

Commander Mike Lopez-Alegria and Flight Engineer Suni Williams will make the last of three spacewalks in nine days on Feb. 8. They will begin by removing shrouds. The shrouds, larger than king-size bed sheets, provide thermal shading. The pair will also lay the groundwork for attachment of a cargo carrier and prepare for the relocation of the P6 Truss during a subsequent shuttle mission.

By the end of the spacewalk Lopez-Alegria will be in second place for the most spacewalk time by an American astronaut.

Source: NASA - Space Station
Waspie_Dwarf
Feb 7 2007, 07:37 PM
Revved Up for Another Spacewalk

linked-image
Image above: Suni Williams, Expedition 14 flight engineer, participates
in the second of three spacewalks in nine days.
Photo credit: NASA

Commander Mike Lopez-Alegria and Flight Engineer Suni Williams continue to prepare for Thursday's excursion outside the International Space Station. Using instructional aids, Lopez-Alegria and Williams configured the required tools and gear, reviewed the updated spacewalk procedures and held a space-to-ground conference with Houston specialists to discuss details worked out in Mission Control.

On Tuesday, Williams began spacesuit battery charging in the U.S. airlock, while Lopez-Alegria charged the digital camera system battery. Pre-spacewalk medical checkups are also performed. The spacewalk will begin around 9 a.m. EST and last an estimated 6 hours, 30 minutes.

By the end of the spacewalk Lopez-Alegria will be in second place for the most spacewalk time by an American astronaut.

Source: NASA - Space Station
Waspie_Dwarf
Feb 8 2007, 01:48 PM
Station Crew Conducting Spacewalk Today

linked-image
Image above: Flight Engineer Sunita William's helmet camera captured
this view of Commander Michael Lopez-Alegria at the start of today's
spacewalk.
Photo credit: NASA TV

International Space Station Commander Mike Lopez-Alegria and Flight Engineer Sunita Williams began the third of an unprecedented series of spacewalks at 8:26 a.m. EST today from the Quest airlock.

Lopez-Alegria and Williams completed the first two in the three-spacewalk series from Quest over the nine-day period on Jan. 31 and Feb. 4.

The focus of the first and second spacewalks was on reconfiguration of station power and cooling systems to permanent ones. Major tasks of this spacewalk include removing and jettisoning two large shrouds and installation of attachments for cargo carriers. Live coverage of today's activities are available on NASA TV.

By the end of the spacewalk Lopez-Alegria will be in second place for the most spacewalk time by an American astronaut.

Source: NASA - Space Station
Waspie_Dwarf
Feb 8 2007, 03:21 PM
Station Crew Conducting Spacewalk Today

linked-image
Image above: Commander Michael Lopez-Alegria (center) and Flight
Engineer Sunita Williams work together to fold a thermal shroud during
today's spacewalk.
Photo credit: NASA TV

International Space Station Commander Mike Lopez-Alegria and Flight Engineer Sunita Williams began the third of an unprecedented series of spacewalks at 8:26 a.m. EST today from the Quest airlock.

Lopez-Alegria and Williams completed the first two in the three-spacewalk series from Quest over the nine-day period on Jan. 31 and Feb. 4.

The focus of the first and second spacewalks was on reconfiguration of station power and cooling systems to permanent ones. Major tasks of this spacewalk include removing and jettisoning two large shrouds and installation of attachments for cargo carriers. Live coverage of today's activities is available on NASA TV.

By the end of the spacewalk Lopez-Alegria will be in second place for the most spacewalk time by an American astronaut

Source: NASA - Space Station
Waspie_Dwarf
Feb 8 2007, 03:49 PM
Third Spacewalk of Record Series Begins

International Space Station Commander Mike Lopez-Alegria and Flight Engineer Sunita Williams began the third of an unprecedented series of spacewalks at 8:26 a.m. EST Thursday from the Quest airlock.

Lopez-Alegria and Williams completed the first two in the three-spacewalk series from Quest over the nine-day period on Jan. 31 and Feb. 4.

The focus of the first and second spacewalks was on reconfiguration of station power and cooling systems to permanent ones. Major tasks of this spacewalk include removing and jettisoning two large shrouds and installation of attachments for cargo carriers.

Lopez-Alegria and Williams will move from the airlock out to Crew Equipment Transfer Aid (CETA) carts on the rails of the main truss. Pushing the cart with their equipment, including a foot restraint, they move to the Port 3 truss segment. Their first job is to remove two thermal shrouds on two Rotary Joint Motor Controllers (RJMCs) on P3.

Next they will remove the two large shrouds, from P3 Bays 18 and 20. The shrouds, larger than king-size bed sheets, provide thermal shading. With the station in its present orientation, they are no longer needed. They are being removed to avoid trapping heat.

Spacewalkers will work together to fold each into a package a bit smaller than an outdoor garbage can and jettison them, aft and slightly downward.

That 2-hour, 40-minute shroud task will be followed by deployment of an Unpressurized Cargo Carrier Assembly Attachment System (UCCAS) on the upper face of the P3 truss. The hour-long job is in preparation for attachment of a cargo carrier during a subsequent shuttle mission.

While Lopez-Alegria finishes work on the second UCCAS, Williams will move out to the end of the P5 truss to remove two launch locks to prepare for the relocation of the P6 Truss.

The final scheduled task of the spacewalk is connecting four cables of the Shuttle-to-Station Power Transfer System (SSPTS) to Pressurized Mating Adapter-2 (PMA-2) at the forward end of the Destiny laboratory. The SSPTS will allow visiting shuttles to take power from the station and thus extend their missions.

Work began on the system during the Jan. 31 spacewalk, and two of the cables were routed and connected to PMA-2 during the Feb. 4 spacewalk. The last four cables are to be connected today.

Get ahead tasks include routing and connecting a Node LAN cable. The cable will give crew members the capability of commanding Russian systems from the station's U.S. Segment.

Also, if time permits, the crew will move a Node tool stanchion to a CETA cart and retrieve a foot restraint to return it to the airlock. They also may remove a Node handrail.

The three spacewalks from the Quest airlock in U.S. spacesuits and a Russian spacewalk scheduled for Feb. 22 are the most ever done by station crew members during a single month. They also will bring to 10 the total number of spacewalks by Lopez-Alegria, an astronaut record. Williams will have a total of four, the most ever by a woman.

Starting from scratch, it takes about 100 crew-member hours to prepare for a spacewalk. By doing them a few days apart, considerable crew time can be saved by not having to repeat some of those preparatory steps.

On Feb. 22, Lopez-Alegria and Tyurin are scheduled to do the Russian spacewalk in Russian Orlan suits from the Pirs airlock. They will work on an antenna of the Progress 23 unpiloted cargo carrier, docked at the aft port of the Zvezda service module.

The antenna did not properly retract when that spacecraft docked in October. The spacewalkers will try to secure or remove the antenna to avoid its interfering with the undocking of P23 in April.

Source: NASA - Station - Expeditions
Waspie_Dwarf
Feb 8 2007, 07:05 PM
Station Crew Conducting Spacewalk Today

linked-image
Image above: Expedition 14 crew members work on a task during today's
spacewalk.
Photo credit: NASA TV


International Space Station Commander Mike Lopez-Alegria and Flight Engineer Sunita Williams began the third of an unprecedented series of spacewalks at 8:26 a.m. EST today from the Quest airlock.

Lopez-Alegria and Williams completed the first two in the three-spacewalk series from Quest over the nine-day period on Jan. 31 and Feb. 4.

The focus of the first and second spacewalks was on reconfiguration of station power and cooling systems to permanent ones. Major tasks of this spacewalk include removing and jettisoning two large shrouds and installation of attachments for cargo carriers. Live coverage of today's activities is available on NASA TV.

Source: NASA - Space Station
Waspie_Dwarf
Feb 8 2007, 08:33 PM
Station Crew Wraps Up Successful Spacewalk Series

linked-image
Image above: Expedition 14 crew members work on a task during today's
spacewalk.
Photo credit: NASA TV

International Space Station Commander Mike Lopez-Alegria and Flight Engineer Sunita Williams wound up a 6-hour, 40-minute spacewalk at 3:06 p.m. EST Thursday.

It was the last in an unprecedented series of three spacewalks in nine days from the Quest airlock. Major tasks of this spacewalk included removing and jettisoning two large shrouds and installation of attachments for cargo carriers.

Source: NASA - Space Station
Waspie_Dwarf
Feb 8 2007, 09:47 PM
Spacewalkers Successfully Wrap Up Record Series

With all scheduled tasks and one get-ahead accomplished, International Space Station Commander Mike Lopez-Alegria and Flight Engineer Sunita Williams wound up a 6-hour, 40-minute spacewalk at 3:06 p.m. EST Thursday.

It was the last in an unprecedented series of three spacewalks in nine days from the Quest airlock. Major tasks of this spacewalk included removing and jettisoning two large shrouds and installation of attachments for cargo carriers.

Lopez-Alegria and Williams moved from the airlock out to Crew Equipment Transfer Aid (CETA) carts on the rails of the main truss. Pushing one cart with their equipment, including a foot restraint, they moved to the Port 3 Truss. Their first job was to remove two thermal shrouds on two Rotary Joint Motor Controllers (RJMC) on P3.

Next they removed two large shrouds from P3 Bays 18 and 20. The shrouds, larger than king-size bed sheets, provide thermal shading. With the station in its present orientation, they are no longer needed. They are being removed to avoid trapping heat.

The spacewalkers worked together to fold each into a package a bit smaller than an outdoor garbage can. They jettisoned them toward the rear of the station to starboard and slightly downward.

That shroud task was followed by deployment of an Unpressurized Cargo Carrier Assembly Attachment System (UCCAS) on the upper face of the P3 truss. That was done in preparation for attachment of a cargo carrier during a subsequent shuttle mission.

While Lopez-Alegria finished work on the UCCAS, Williams moved to the end of the P5 truss to remove two launch locks, to prepare for the relocation of the P6 Truss.

The final scheduled task of the spacewalk was connecting four cables of the Shuttle-to-Station Power Transfer System (SSPTS) to Pressurized Mating Adapter-2 (PMA-2) at the forward end of the Destiny laboratory where shuttles dock. The SSPTS will allow visiting shuttles to take power from the station and thus extend their missions.

Work began on the system during the Jan. 31 spacewalk, and two of the cables were routed and connected to PMA-2 on the Feb. 4 spacewalk. The last four cables were connected to the PMA today.

Lopez-Alegria completed one get-ahead task. He took pictures of the connections on the PMA that provide communications between the station and shuttle while docked and before the hatches are opened.

The three spacewalks from the Quest airlock in U.S. spacesuits and a Russian spacewalk scheduled for Feb. 22 are the most ever done by station crew members during so short a period. They will bring to 10 the total number of spacewalks by Lopez-Alegria, an astronaut record. Williams has a total of four, the most ever by a woman.

Starting from scratch, it takes about 100 crew-member hours to prepare for a spacewalk. By doing them a few days apart, considerable crew time can be saved by not having to repeat some of those preparatory steps.

On Feb. 22, Lopez-Alegria and Tyurin are scheduled to do the Russian spacewalk in Russian Orlan suits from the Pirs airlock. They will work on an antenna of the Progress 23 unpiloted cargo carrier, docked at the aft port of the Zvezda service module.

The antenna did not properly retract when that spacecraft docked in October. The spacewalkers will try to secure or remove the antenna to avoid its interfering with the undocking of P23 in April.

Source: NASA - Station - Expeditions
Waspie_Dwarf
Feb 9 2007, 06:00 PM
Record Setting Spacewalks

linked-image
Image above: Astronaut Sunita L. Williams, Expedition 14 flight engineer,
uses a digital still camera to expose a photo of her helmet visor. Also visible
in the reflections in the visor is a solar array wing.
Photo credit: NASA

With all scheduled tasks accomplished, Commander Mike Lopez-Alegria and Flight Engineer Suni Williams finished a 6-hour, 40-minute spacewalk Thursday. Their completed tasks will allow for the attachment of a cargo platform during the STS-118 mission this summer and relocation of the P6 truss during STS-120 later this year. Connection of remaining cables to the Destiny laboratory will allow future visiting shuttles to derive power from the station to extend their missions.

The crew now begins to review Russian procedures for the next spacewalk on Feb. 22. Lopez-Alegria and Flight Engineer Mikhail Tyurin will work on an antenna on the Progress 23 cargo ship docked at the aft port of the Zvezda service module. The antenna did not properly retract when that spacecraft docked in October. They will try to secure or remove the antenna to avoid any interference when the Progress 23 undocks in April. The spacewalk will be the 10th for Lopez-Alegria, a new record for a U.S. astronaut.

The three spacewalks from the Quest airlock in U.S. spacesuits and a Russian spacewalk on Feb. 22 will be the most ever done by station crew members during such a short period and will mark five spacewalks in all for Expedition 14, a record for any expedition.

Source: NASA - Space Station
Waspie_Dwarf
Feb 12 2007, 01:12 AM
Station Recovering From Power Loss

Mission control teams are working to assess systems affected by a power loss aboard the International Space Station early Sunday morning. The station's three crew members were not in any danger, but it did turn an off-duty day into a full work shift.

About 1 a.m. EST, one of the power channels of the P4 solar array electrical system went down because of a glitch with a device known as a direct current switching unit. It controls power distribution from the solar array to the battery systems and other hardware. The glitch resulted in a temporary loss of communications, and shut down some equipment, including a few science facilities and heating units and control moment gyroscope #2. The station never lost orientation control, but it operated most of the day with two of four gyros. Control moment gyroscope #3 previously had been powered down.

Flight controllers expect to restore power to all affected systems and equipment by Sunday night. They are still investigating what caused the glitch, but they believe it was an isolated event.

Source: NASA - Space Station
Waspie_Dwarf
Feb 12 2007, 10:42 PM
NASA Announces Three International Space Station Crews


The linked-image press release is reproduced below:

Feb. 12, 2007
David Mould/Bob Jacobs
Headquarters, Washington
202-358-1898/1600

RELEASE: 07-039

NASA Announces Three International Space Station Crews

WASHINGTON - NASA and its international partners have named the crews that will live and work aboard the International Space Station for the next two years. The crew members make up three expeditions to the station and represent four space agencies.

The assignments include the first long-duration station flight for a Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) astronaut and the second long-duration station flight for an astronaut from the European Space Agency (ESA). The JAXA and ESA astronauts will work on the installation and checkout of the Japanese Experiment Module Kibo and European Columbus laboratories on the station.

NASA astronaut and veteran station crew member Peggy A. Whitson will command Expedition 16, set to begin in fall 2007. The flight engineers for the mission include cosmonaut and Russian Air Force Col. Yuri I. Malenchenko, ESA astronaut and French Air Force Brig. Gen. Leopold Eyharts and NASA astronaut Garrett E. Reisman.
  • Malenchenko will command the Russian Soyuz spacecraft that will carry him and Whitson to the station and return them to Earth in spring 2008. They will join NASA astronaut Daniel M. Tani aboard the station.
  • Eyharts will fly to the station on space shuttle mission STS-122, which is expected to deliver the Columbus lab this fall. Eyharts will remain on the station to oversee activation and checkout of the laboratory, while Tani takes the shuttle home.
  • Reisman will fly on shuttle Endeavour's STS-123 mission to replace Eyharts. Reisman will remain on the station for about six months and return on shuttle mission STS-119, targeted for summer 2008.

Russian Air Force Lt. Col. Sergei Volkov will command Expedition 17. Expedition 17 flight engineers include cosmonaut Oleg D. Kononenko and NASA astronaut Sandra H. Magnus.
  • Kononenko will command the Soyuz spacecraft that will carry him and Volkov to the station in spring 2008 and bring them home in fall 2008.
  • Magnus will arrive on STS-119 and remain aboard the station. Magnus will return on the STS-126 mission targeted for summer 2008.

NASA astronaut and station veteran Air Force Lt. Col. E. Michael Fincke will command Expedition 18. Expedition 18 flight engineers include cosmonaut and veteran station crew member Russian Air Force Col. Salizhan S. Sharipov, JAXA astronaut Koichi Wakata and NASA astronaut Gregory E. Chamitoff.
  • Sharipov will command the Soyuz that will carry him and Fincke to the station in fall 2008 and back to Earth in spring 2009.
  • Wakata will fly to the station on STS-126 to replace Magnus. Magnus will return to Earth on STS-126.
  • Chamitoff will fly to the station on the STS-127 mission, targeted for winter 2008, the third and final flight for assembly of the Japanese Kibo lab. Wakata will return to Earth on STS-127. Chamitoff will return home on a later shuttle or Soyuz mission.

Expedition 16 backup crew members:
  • Fincke for Whitson
  • Sharipov for Malenchenko
  • ESA astronaut Frank DeWinne for Eyharts
  • NASA astronaut Army Lt. Col. Timothy L. Kopra for Reisman.


Expedition 17 backup crew members:
  • Cosmonaut and veteran station crew member Sergei Krikalev for Volkov
  • Cosmonaut Russian Air Force Col. Maxim V. Suraev for Kononenko
  • NASA astronaut Nicole P. Stott for Magnus.

Expedition 18 backup crew members:
  • NASA astronaut Dr. Michael R. Barratt for Fincke
  • Cosmonaut Russian Air Force Lt. Col. Yuri V. Lonchakov for Sharipov
  • AXA astronaut Soichi Noguchi for Wakata
  • NASA astronaut Army Col. Timothy J. Creamer for Chamitoff.

Video of the prime crew members will air on NASA TV's Video File. For NASA TV downlink, streaming video and scheduling information, visit:



For complete crew biographies, visit:



For more about upcoming space shuttle missions, visit:

http://www.nasa.gov/shuttle

- end -

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------


Source: NASA Press Release 07-039
Waspie_Dwarf
Feb 12 2007, 11:30 PM
Station Systems Up and Running After Power Outage

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Image above: The International Space Station is pictured after Space
Shuttle Discovery undocked in Dec. 2006 during mission STS-116.
Photo credit: NASA

Early Sunday morning the International Space Station experienced a power outage. By Monday morning all systems were back in operation. No systems were permanently affected and there was no impact to crew safety or station science.

A communications system that was temporarily down was restored shortly afterwards. One gyroscope that helps control the station’s orientation went offline for awhile but eventually came back up. Several heaters used for thermal balance of external station components were affected but have since resumed normal operations.

Expedition 14 continues preparations for a Feb. 22 spacewalk. Commander Mike Lopez-Alegria and Flight Engineer Mikhail Tyurin will don Russian Orlan space suits. Among other activities, they will ready a Progress 23 cargo capsule for undocking. The Progress 23 antenna didn’t properly retract when it docked in Oct. 2006.

Source: NASA - Space Station
Waspie_Dwarf
Feb 13 2007, 07:43 PM
The Japanese Space Exploration Agency (JAXA) press release is reproduced below:


Announcement of Japanese Expedition Crew to the International Space Station (ISS)

February 13, 2007 (JST)
Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA)



Space organizations in Canada, the European Union, Japan, Russia and the United States have agreed on the following schedule and members for the 16th to 18th Expedition Crew that will stay on the International Space Station (ISS). We are pleased to announce that Astronaut Koichi Wakata of the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) was selected as a prime member of the Expedition 18 Crew and Astronaut Soichi Noguchi as his backup. This is the first time for Japanese to be selected for an Expedition crew member to stay in long dration on the ISS.


Expected Schedule to Stay on the ISS:
Fiscal year 2008

Period of Stay:
About three months

Expected Activities about "Kibo":
Functional check-out of the Pressurized Module and science experiment there Assembly and functional check-out of the Exposed Facility, and other activities

Preparation for flight:
Training for operations to assemble the Japanese Experiment Module Kibo and for operation of each ISS element and to be on board a Space Shuttle and Soyuz.

Members of the Expedition 18 Prime Crew:
Commander:
E. Michel Fincke (National Aeronautics and Space Administration, NASA)
(Flying to and from the ISS by Soyuz (Planned))

Flight Engineers:
Salizahan Shakirovich Sharipov (Federal Space Agency, FSA)
(Flying to and from the ISS by Soyuz (Planned))

Koichi Wakata (JAXA)
(Flying to the ISS by the STS-126 (ULF2) and coming back by STS-127 (2J/A) (Planned))

Gregory E. Chamitoff (NASA)
(Flying to the ISS by STS-127 (2J/A) (Planned) and coming back by TBD


Reference Link ISS Kibo Information Center

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Brief personal history of Astronaut Koichi Wakata and Astronaut Soichi Noguchi



linked-imageISS Flight Engineer Koichi Wakata
1963 Born in Saitama-city (then Urawa-city), Saitama, Japan
1987 Bachelor of Science degree in aeronautical engineering from Kyushu University
1989 Master of Science degree in applied mechanics from Kyushu University
April 1992 Selected as an astronaut candidate for assembly/operation of the ISS Japanese Experiment Module "Kibo"
August 1992 Started astronaut candidate training
August 1993 Certified as an astronaut
Flew on the STS-72 Endeavour mission during which Astronaut Wakata retrieved the Japanese Space Flyer Unit (launched by H-II Launch Vehicle in March 1995), deployed and retrieved the OAST-Flyer, and operated the Shuttle Remote Manipulator System (SRMS) for supporting extravehicular activities.
Oct 12 to 25, 2000
Flew on the STS-92 Discovery mission during which Astronaut Wakata attached the Z1 Truss and Pressurized Mating Adapter PMA-3 to the ISS, and operated the SRMS to support extravehicular activities.
2004 Doctorate in aerospace engineering from Kyushu University.



linked-imageBack-up Astronaut Sochi Nogushi
1965 Born in Yokohama, Kanagawa
1991 Master of Engineering degree in aeronautical engineering from the University of Tokyo
May 1996 Selected as an astronaut candidate
August 1996 Stated astronaut candidate training
April 1998 Certified as an astronaut
July 26 to Aug 9, 2005
Flew on the STS-114 Discovery mission during which Astronaut Noguchi took images of the external propellant tank for confirming its flight safety and reliability, evaluated new procedures for repairing Shuttle heat-resistant tiles, replaced the ISS attitude control equipment, and installed and retrieved other ISS devices.

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Onboard Schedule for the Japanese Astronauts

linked-image

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------


February 13, 2007

Comment from JAXA President Keiji Tachikawa
on
Selection of Japanese Astronauts for ISS Expedition


Today, I was very pleased to hear that Astronaut Koichi Wakata was selected as the first Japanese astronaut who will stay for a long time in the Japanese Experiment Module (JEM) "Kibo" on the International Space Station (ISS), and Astronaut Souichi Noguchi was chosen as a back-up crewmember for Astronaut Wakata.

This is the second ISS visit for Astronaut Wakata, and his mission this time includes experiments and functional tests in the Pressurized Module, assembly preparations for the "Kibo" Exposed Facility, which will be transported by the third assembly flight, and its actual assembly.

I am confident that Astronaut Wakata will be successful in his mission, including his long stay on the ISS, by taking advantage of the experience he gained from his two previous space flights.

I believe that Astronaut Wakata and Astronaut Noguchi will play an important role for the "Kibo" assembly as part of the ISS program and it will further advance Japan's contribution to the ISS program. This will also be a great step for the Japanese manned space program, and will promote a smooth start of our future manned space activities.

Finally, I would like to express my sincere appreciation for the support and efforts from all related parties including NASA.

President of JAXA
Keiji Tachikawa



Mission website:
ISS Kibo Information Center

For inquiries:
JAXA Public Affairs Department
Tel: +81-3-6266-6413 to 7, Fax: +81-3-6266-6910

Index for 2007/2

Source: JAXA press release
Waspie_Dwarf
Feb 13 2007, 08:22 PM
ESA astronaut Léopold Eyharts assigned to European Columbus laboratory mission to the ISS


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ESA astronaut Léopold Eyharts, from France, in front of a Space Shuttle orbiter mock-up during training at NASA's Johnson Space Center (JSC) in Houston, Texas, in June 2006.

A test pilot in the French Air Force, Léopold Eyharts has logged 3 500 hours flying time on over 50 types of aircraft, before being selected as an astronaut by the French National Space Agency (CNES) in 1990. He was then assigned to support the Hermes space plane programme and became one of the test pilots and engineer in charge of the CNES parabolic flight programme.

Léopold Eyharts underwent two short-duration training sessions at the Yuri Gagarin Cosmonaut Training Centre near Moscow in 1991 and 1993, and took part in an evaluation of Russian 'Buran' Space Shuttle training in Moscow, where he flew in the Tupolev 154 Buran in-flight simulator.

In July 1994, he was assigned as a back-up crewmember for the Franco-Russian Cassiopée space flight, flown in August 1996, and in December 1996, he was selected for the CNES follow-on scientific space Pégase mission to Mir, from 29 January to 19 February 1998.

In August 1998, Léopold Eyharts joined ESA's Astronaut Corps at the European Astronaut Centre in Cologne, Germany. He was assigned to train at JSC, and entered the 1998 Mission Specialist Class.

Léopold Eyharts received technical assignments within NASA Astronaut Office at JSC. He worked in the ISS Operations Branch as a section chief for ISS systems, software and on board information technology.

From October 2004 to June 2006, he trained as Thomas Reiter's backup for the Astrolab Mission. He is now training for future long-duration missions to the ISS.

Credits: ESA - S. Corvaja


13 February 2007
ESA PR 07-2007. ESA astronaut Léopold Eyharts of France has today been assigned to fly onboard the International Space Station for the delivery and commissioning of the European Columbus laboratory currently planned for this autumn.

He will be a member of the Expedition 16 crew to the ISS. He is set to fly there on Space Shuttle (Discovery) mission STS-122 and will return home with the (Endeavour) STS-123 crew some two months later.

En route to the ISS, Eyharts will be accompanied by five NASA crewmates and ESA astronaut Hans Schlegel of Germany, who was assigned to STS-122 last July.


While Eyharts will remain onboard the Station to oversee activation and check-out of the Columbus laboratory, Schegel will take a Shuttle return trip home 14 days after launch.

Léopold Eyharts has been a member of the European Astronaut Corps since 1998 and carried out his first-ever space mission to the Russian space station Mir from 29 January to 19 February 1998 as a French space agency (CNES) astronaut.

On this forthcoming mission, Eyharts will play a key part in the installation, activation and commissioning of ESA’s Columbus laboratory. Columbus is the cornerstone of Europe’s contribution to the International Space Station and is the first-ever European laboratory devoted to long-term research in space. Eyharts will become the first European astronaut to test and operate in-orbit the systems of the Columbus module as well as the European science experiments carried onboard. During his ISS mission, he will act as flight engineer and will also support robotics activities.

Columbus will be transported to the Station in the Shuttle’s cargo bay together with five internal rack facilities (Biolab, the Fluid Science Laboratory, the European Physiology Module facility, the European Drawer Rack and the European Transport Carrier). Two external experiment facilities for Columbus (EuTEF and SOLAR) will also be travelling in the cargo bay and will be attached onto the outside of the laboratory module during the STS-122 mission.


Note

linked-image
Columbus orbital laboratory, Bremen, May 2006

Credits: ESA - S. CORVAJA

Following the launch from the Kennedy Space Center at Cape Canaveral in Florida, the Shuttle will take two days to rendezvous and dock with the ISS. The Columbus laboratory will then be unberthed from the Shuttle’s cargo bay using Canada’s Space Station robotic arm (Canadarm 2) and mated to the starboard-side docking port of Node 2, the European-built ISS connecting module. Once attached, Columbus will be powered up and its payload rack facilities will be moved from their launch configuration to their operational locations in the module.

Four spacewalks (EVA, extra-vehicular activities) are scheduled during this mission. The first will help install and power-up Columbus. The second EVA will serve to install the Columbus external payloads. The third and fourth will be devoted to various ISS maintenance tasks. Final laboratory commissioning and activation/check-out of the science experiment racks will take place during the weeks that follow and will be carried out by Léopold Eyharts as a member of the resident ISS crew.

Once the European laboratory is attached, the Columbus Control Centre in Oberpfaffenhofen/Germany, based on the premises of the DLR's space operations centre, will be in charge of control/operations. The Centre will also coordinate European experiment operations.


Léopold Eyharts - Biographical summary


linked-image
ESA astronaut Léopold Eyharts during a training session with the Shuttle's robotic arm at NASA's Johnson Space Center (JSC) in Houston, Texas, in November 2006.

Credits: ESA - S. Corvaja

Personal data

Born 28 April 1957, in Biarritz/France. Married, has one child. Hobbies include jogging, mountain biking, tennis, reading and computers.

Special honours

Graduated in aeronautical engineering at the French Air Force Academy of Salon-de-Provence in 1979. Qualified as a fighter pilot in Tours in 1980 and graduated from France’s test pilot school (EPNER) in Istres in 1988.

Special honours

Decorated officer of the Légion d’Honneur, Chevalier de l'Ordre National du Mérite, awarded Médaille d'Outre-Mer, Défense Nationale (silver medal) and Russian medals for friendship and courage.

Experience

Having graduated in aeronautical engineering and qualified as a fighter pilot, was assigned in 1980 to an operational Jaguar A squadron in Istres Air Force Base (France). In 1985 was appointed flight commander at Saint-Dizier Air Force base.

Having qualified as a test pilot in 1988, was assigned to the Brétigny-sur-Orge flight test centre near Paris, becoming chief test pilot in 1990.

Léopold Eyharts has logged 3800 hours’ flying time on over 50 types of aircraft and 21 parachute jumps including one ejection. He holds a commission as Colonel in the French Air Force.

In 1990 he was selected to be an astronaut by the French national space agency (CNES) and was assigned to support the Hermes spaceplane programme managed by the Hermes Crew Office in Toulouse. He also became one of the test pilots and engineers in charge of the CNES parabolic flight programme (using Caravelle aircraft) and also carried out Airbus A300 zero-g qualification flights.

Léopold Eyharts underwent two short-duration training sessions at the Yuri Gagarin Cosmonaut Training Centre near Moscow in 1991 and 1993. He took part in an evaluation of Russian Buran space shuttle training in Moscow, where he flew in the Tupulev 154 Buran in-flight simulator.

In 1992 he was a candidate for European Space Agency astronaut selection.

In July 1994 he was assigned as back-up crew member for the Franco/Russian Cassiopée mission, which took place in August 1996.

In December 1996 he was selected as cosmonaut for the CNES follow-on space science mission Pegase, which took place from 29 January to 19 February 1998.

In August 1998 he joined ESA's European Astronaut Corps, whose home base is the European Astronaut Centre (EAC) located in Cologne/Germany. He was assigned to train at NASA’s Johnson Space Center in Houston/Texas and joined the 1998 Mission Specialist Class.

Léopold Eyharts received technical assignments within NASA’s Astronaut Office at JSC/Houston. He is currently working in the ISS Operations Branch as a section chief for ISS systems, software and onboard information technology.

Spaceflight experience

Mission to the Russian space station Mir (29 January to 19 February 1998). During this Franco/Russian mission Pegase, he performed various French experiments in the area of medical research, neuroscience, biology, fluid physics and technology.

Source: ESA - News
Waspie_Dwarf
Feb 14 2007, 11:26 PM
Preparations Continue for Feb. 22 Spacewalk

linked-image
Image above: Expedition 14 Commander Michael Lopez-Alegria is
pictured outside the International Space Station during a spacewalk on Feb. 8.
Photo credit: NASA

Despite a temporary power outage on the International Space Station Sunday morning, the Expedition 14 crew continues preparations for a Feb. 22 spacewalk. Over the next few days Commander Michael Lopez-Alegria and Flight Engineer Mikhail Tyurin will hold several conferences with Russian spacewalk specialists.

Lopez-Alegria and Tyurin will exit the Russian Pirs docking compartment wearing Russian Orlan space suits. The spacewalkers will prepare a Progress 23 cargo craft for undocking. An antenna on the Progress 23 failed to retract properly when it docked in October. The spacewalkers plan to remove the antenna or lash it down. Lopez-Alegria and Tyurin will also set up a materials science experiment on the outside of the Zvezda service module.

As of Feb. 8, Michael Lopez-Alegria has accumulated 61 hours and 22 minutes over nine spacewalks. That is longer than any American astronaut and second only to Russian cosmonaut Anatoly Solvyev.

Source: NASA - Space Station
Waspie_Dwarf
Feb 15 2007, 11:19 PM
Specialists Help Crew Prepare for Next Spacewalk

linked-image
Image above: Expedition 14 Commander Michael Lopez-Alegria is
pictured outside the International Space Station during a spacewalk on Feb. 8.
Photo credit: NASA

EVA specialists on the ground continue discussions with the Expedition 14 crew regarding the upcoming spacewalk from the Russian Pirs docking compartment. On Feb. 22 around 5 a.m. EST, station Commander Michael Lopez-Alegria and Flight Engineer Mikhail Tyurin, wearing Russian Orlan space suits, will begin their increment’s fifth spacewalk. The spacewalkers are conducting suit leak checks and have installed lights and other U.S. equipment on their space suits.

Several objectives for the Russian spacewalk include preparing a Progress 23 cargo capsule for undocking, setting up a materials science experiment outside Zvezda as well as photography and inspection of external station systems.

Individually during this increment, Lopez-Alegria will have accumulated five spacewalks, Tyurin two and Flight Engineer Suni Williams four. Williams' first spacewalk was in December with STS-116 Mission Specialist Robert Curbeam while Space Shuttle Discovery was docked to the station.

Source: NASA - Space Station
Waspie_Dwarf
Feb 17 2007, 02:44 AM
Expedition 14 Continues Feb. 22 Spacewalk Preps

linked-image
Image above: Expedition 14 Commander Michael Lopez-Alegria is
pictured outside the International Space Station during a spacewalk on Feb. 8.
Photo credit: NASA

The Expedition 14 crew continued with preparations for a Feb. 22 spacewalk this week. The spacewalkers have conducted leak checks and have installed lights and additional equipment on their Russian Orlan space suits.

Commander Michael Lopez-Alegria and Flight Engineer Mikhail Tyurin will participate in their increment’s fifth spacewalk – a record for station crews. They will attempt to free a stuck antenna on the ISS Progress 23 docked to the aft end of the Zvezda service module. They will also check on navigation systems in preparation for the summer docking of a European cargo craft known as the Automated Transfer Vehicle.

Source: NASA - Space Station
Waspie_Dwarf
Feb 17 2007, 02:46 AM
Progress Antenna in the Spacewalk Spotlight

Coming and going, or at least getting ready to go, haven't been easy for the Progress 23 unpiloted cargo carrier docked at the aft port of the International Space Station's Zvezda service module.

Next Thursday, station Flight Engineer Mikhail Tyurin and Commander Michael Lopez-Alegria will leave the airlock of the Pirs docking compartment on a spacewalk aimed at retracting a balky antenna of the Progress. The antenna did not fully retract before the spacecraft docked Oct. 26.

Emptied of the more than 2.5 tons of equipment and supplies and filled with station trash and unneeded equipment, the Progress is scheduled to undock in April. Before that happens, Russian program officials want to be sure the antenna will not interfere.

Tyurin, the lead spacewalker, and Lopez-Alegria are scheduled to begin their spacewalk about 5 a.m. EST. They will wear Russian Orlan spacesuits, both marked with red stripes.

After a brief pause to photograph a Russian satellite navigation antenna, they'll move to the back of Zvezda to begin work on the Progress antenna, which failed to retract automatically during the Progress' slow approach to the station.

Tyurin and Lopez-Alegria have several options on how to accomplish the antenna's retraction, beginning with trying to release a latch with a punch and hammer. Additional options include cutting one or more of the struts supporting the antenna.

Soon after its undocking, the Progress will be deorbited and burn on re-entry.

Tyurin and Lopez-Alegria have a number of other planned tasks during their six-hour spacewalk. They include inspection of an antenna for the Automated Transfer Vehicle (ATV). The European unpiloted cargo craft has more capacity than the Progress, and is scheduled to make its first trip to the station later this year. The spacewalkers also will photograph an ATV docking target.

They also plan to photograph a German experiment, swap out and photograph a Russian experiment, inspect and mate hardware connectors and inspect retention mechanisms and bolted joints on a hand-operated Strela crane that helps transport people and equipment outside Pirs.

Finally, they'll stow two foot restraints on a ladder at Pirs before ending the spacewalk.

The spacewalk will be the 81st for station assembly and maintenance, the 53rd from the station and the 20th from Pirs.

Source: NASA - Station - Expeditions
Waspie_Dwarf
Feb 20 2007, 10:12 PM
Expedition 14 Continues Feb. 22 Spacewalk Preps

linked-image
Image above: Expedition 14 Flight Engineer Sunita Williams is pictured
outside the International Space Station during a spacewalk on Feb. 8.
Photo credit: NASA

The Expedition 14 crew continued with preparations for a Feb. 22 spacewalk this week. The spacewalkers have conducted leak checks and have installed lights and additional equipment on their Russian Orlan space suits.

The crew conducted its Orlan dry run Tuesday morning. Commander Michael Lopez-Alegria and Flight Engineer Mikhail Tyurin began preparing their Russian suits around 5 a.m. EST and donning their suits for a communications and systems test.

Lopez-Alegria and Tyurin will participate in their increment’s fifth spacewalk – a record for station crews. They will attempt to free a stuck antenna on the ISS Progress 23 docked to the aft end of the Zvezda service module. They will also check on navigation systems in preparation for the summer docking of a European cargo craft known as the Automated Transfer Vehicle.

Source: NASA - Space Station
Waspie_Dwarf
Feb 21 2007, 11:27 PM
Expedition 14 Continues Feb. 22 Spacewalk Preps

linked-image
Image above: Expedition 14 Flight Engineer Sunita Williams is pictured
outside the International Space Station during a spacewalk on Feb. 8.
Photo credit: NASA

The Expedition 14 crew continued with preparations for a spacewalk this Thursday. Hatch opening is scheduled for 5 a.m. EST and the excursion will last about 6 hours. The spacewalkers have conducted leak checks and have installed lights and additional equipment on their Russian Orlan space suits.

The crew conducted its Orlan dry run Tuesday morning. Commander Michael Lopez-Alegria and Flight Engineer Mikhail Tyurin began preparing their Russian suits around 5 a.m. EST and donning their suits for a communications and systems test.

Lopez-Alegria and Tyurin will participate in their increment’s fifth spacewalk – a record for station crews. They will attempt to free a stuck antenna on the ISS Progress 23 docked to the aft end of the Zvezda service module. They will also check on navigation systems in preparation for the summer docking of a European cargo craft known as the Automated Transfer Vehicle.

Source: NASA - Space Station
Waspie_Dwarf
Feb 22 2007, 11:01 AM
Spacewalk Underway

linked-image
Image above: Expedition 14 Flight Engineer Sunita Williams is pictured
outside the International Space Station during a spacewalk on Feb. 8.
Photo credit: NASA

Coming and going, or at least getting ready to go, haven't been easy for the ISS Progress 23 unpiloted cargo carrier docked at the aft port of the International Space Station's Zvezda service module.

Station Flight Engineer Mikhail Tyurin and Commander Michael Lopez-Alegria opened the airlock of the Pirs docking compartment at 5:27 a.m. EST on a spacewalk aimed at retracting the balky antenna of the Progress. The antenna did not fully retract before the spacecraft docked Oct. 26. They are also checking navigation systems in preparation for the summer docking of a European cargo craft known as the Automated Transfer Vehicle.

Lopez-Alegria and Tyurin are conducting their increment’s fifth spacewalk – a record for station crews.

Source: NASA - Space Station
Waspie_Dwarf
Feb 22 2007, 11:08 AM
Spacewalk Under Way to Retract Progress Antenna

International Space Station Flight Engineer Mikhail Tyurin and Commander Michael Lopez-Alegria began a spacewalk at 5:27 a.m. EST Thursday to make sure the unpiloted Progress cargo carrier at the aft port of the Zvezda Service Module can undock safely.

The spacewalk, from the Pirs docking compartment in Russian Orlan suits, is aimed at retracting a balky antenna of the Progress. The antenna did not fully retract before the spacecraft docked Oct. 26.

Emptied of the more than 2.5 tons of equipment and supplies and filled with station trash and unneeded equipment, the Progress is scheduled to undock in April. Before that happens, Russian program officials want to be sure the antenna will not interfere.

Tyurin, the lead spacewalker, and Lopez-Alegria both are wearing spacesuits marked with red stripes.

After a brief pause to photograph a Russian satellite navigation antenna, they'll move to the back of Zvezda to begin work on the Progress antenna, which failed to retract automatically during the Progress' slow approach to the station.

Tyurin and Lopez-Alegria have several options on how to accomplish the antenna's retraction, beginning with trying to release a latch with a punch and hammer. Additional options include cutting one or more of the struts supporting the antenna.

Soon after its undocking, the Progress will be deorbited and burn on re-entry.

Tyurin and Lopez-Alegria have a number of other planned tasks during their six-hour spacewalk. They include inspection of an antenna for the Automated Transfer Vehicle (ATV).

The European unpiloted cargo craft has more capacity than the Progress, and is scheduled to make its first trip to the station later this year. The spacewalkers also will photograph an ATV docking target.

They also plan to photograph a German experiment, swap out and photograph a Russian experiment, inspect and mate hardware connectors and, if time is available, inspect retention mechanisms and bolted joints on a hand-operated Strela crane that helps transport people and equipment outside Pirs.

Finally, they'll stow two foot restraints on a ladder at Pirs before ending the spacewalk.

The spacewalk is the 81st for station assembly and maintenance, the 53rd from the station, the 20th from Pirs and the fifth for this station crew.

Source: NASA - Station - Expeditions
Waspie_Dwarf
Feb 22 2007, 04:27 PM
Spacewalkers Successfully Retract Antenna

linked-image
Image above: Expedition 14 Commander Michael Lopez-Alegria works
to retract the ISS Progress 23 antenna during the spacewalk on Feb. 22.
Photo credit: NASA TV

Station Flight Engineer Mikhail Tyurin and Commander Michael Lopez-Alegria opened the airlock of the Pirs docking compartment at 5:27 a.m. EST to begin their spacewalk and have successfully retracted and secured the balky antenna of the ISS Progress 23 cargo craft. The antenna did not fully retract before the spacecraft docked Oct. 26. They are also checking navigation systems in preparation for the summer docking of a European cargo craft known as the Automated Transfer Vehicle.

Lopez-Alegria and Tyurin are conducting their increment’s fifth spacewalk – a record for station crews.

Source: NASA - Space Station
Waspie_Dwarf
Feb 22 2007, 05:26 PM
Station Crew Wraps Up Successful Spacewalk

linked-image
Image above: Expedition 14 Commander Michael Lopez-Alegria in front
of the Pirs docking compartment toward the end of the spacewalk on Feb. 22
Photo credit: NASA TV

International Space Station Flight Engineer Mikhail Tyurin and Commander Michael Lopez-Alegria completed a 6-hour, 18-minute spacewalk at 11:45 a.m. EST Thursday. During the spacewalk, they retracted a balky antenna of an unpiloted Progress cargo carrier at the aft port of the Zvezda Service Module. The antenna did not fully retract before the spacecraft docked Oct. 26. They also checked navigation systems in preparation for the summer docking of a European cargo craft known as the Automated Transfer Vehicle.

Lopez-Alegria and Tyurin conducted their increment’s fifth spacewalk – a record for station crews.

Source: NASA - Space Station
Waspie_Dwarf
Feb 22 2007, 07:17 PM
Spacewalkers Successfully Retract Progress Antenna

International Space Station Flight Engineer Mikhail Tyurin and Commander Michael Lopez-Alegria retracted a balky antenna of an unpiloted Progress cargo carrier at the aft port of the Zvezda Service Module during a 6-hour, 18-minute spacewalk Thursday.

The antenna did not properly retract during the slow final approach of the Progress to the station just before docking Oct. 26. The antenna's retraction ensures that it will not interfere with the Progress undocking in April.

After a brief pause to photograph a Russian satellite navigation antenna and change out a Russian materials experiment, the spacewalkers moved to the back of Zvezda to begin work on the Progress antenna.

Tyurin, who experienced problems with his suit's cooling system and resulting fogging of his visor early in the spacewalk, and Lopez-Alegria first planned to try to release the antenna latch with a punch and hammer. When clearance issues prevented that, they cut struts supporting the antenna.

That enabled them to partly retract the antenna and secure it with wire ties. They reported it had about six inches of clearance from Zvezda, adequate for undocking. Soon after its undocking, the Progress, filled with station discards and trash will be deorbited and burn on re-entry.

Tyurin and Lopez-Alegria completed a number of other tasks during the spacewalk. They inspected and photographed an antenna for the Automated Transfer Vehicle (ATV). The European unpiloted cargo craft has more capacity than the Progress, and is scheduled to make its first trip to the station later this year. The spacewalkers also photographed ATV docking targets.

They photographed a German robotics experiment, inspected, remated and photographed hardware connectors and inspected retention mechanisms and bolted joints on a hand-operated Strela crane that helps transport people and equipment outside Pirs.

Finally, they stowed two foot restraints on a ladder at Pirs before ending the spacewalk.

The spacewalk, from the Pirs docking compartment in Russian Orlan suits, ended at 11:45 a.m. EST. It was the 81st for station assembly and maintenance, the 53rd from the station, the 20th from Pirs and the fifth for this station crew. It was the 10th for Lopez-Alegria, a U.S. record, and the fifth for Tyurin.

Source: NASA - Station - Expeditions
Waspie_Dwarf
Feb 23 2007, 09:04 PM
Station Crew Performs Post-Spacewalk Duties

linked-image
Image above: xpedition 14 Commander Michael Lopez-Alegria and
Flight Engineer Mikhail Tyurin perform a task during Thursday’s spacewalk.
Photo credit: NASA TV

Expedition 14 Commander Michael Lopez-Alegria and Flight Engineer Mikhail Tyurin performed post-spacewalk cleanup activities Friday. Tasks included returning first-aid kits to their regular stowage locations, recording radiation readings from the spacesuits, closing out and reconfiguring the photo cameras, and downlinking photo imagery from the spacewalk to the ground. Both spacewalkers also tagged up with ground specialists for the standard post-spacewalk debrief.

Lopez-Alegria and Tyurin successfully completed a 6-hour, 18-minute spacewalk Thursday. The excursion from the Pirs docking compartment was conducted in Russian Orlan spacesuits. They were able to retract a stuck antenna on the Progress vehicle docked to the station’s Zvezda Service Module. The excursion was the 10th for Lopez-Alegria, a U.S. record, and the fifth for Tyurin.

Source: NASA - Space Station
Waspie_Dwarf
Feb 24 2007, 01:19 AM
Station Crew Performs Post-Spacewalk Duties

linked-image
Image above: Expedition 14 Flight Engineer Mikhail Tyurin, wearing a
Russian Orlan spacesuit, participates in a session of extravehicular activity
(EVA).
Photo credit: NASA

Expedition 14 Commander Michael Lopez-Alegria and Flight Engineer Mikhail Tyurin performed post-spacewalk cleanup activities Friday. Tasks included returning first-aid kits to their regular stowage locations, recording radiation readings from the spacesuits, closing out and reconfiguring the photo cameras, and downlinking photo imagery from the spacewalk to the ground. Both spacewalkers also tagged up with ground specialists for the standard post-spacewalk debrief.

Lopez-Alegria and Tyurin successfully completed a 6-hour, 18-minute spacewalk Thursday. The excursion from the Pirs docking compartment was conducted in Russian Orlan spacesuits. They were able to retract a stuck antenna on the Progress vehicle docked to the station’s Zvezda Service Module. The excursion was the 10th for Lopez-Alegria, a U.S. record, and the fifth for Tyurin.

Source: NASA - Space Station
Waspie_Dwarf
Feb 26 2007, 09:29 PM
Station Crew Back at Work Following Spacewalk

linked-image
Image above: Flight Engineer Mikhail Tyurin, wearing a Russian Orlan
spacesuit, participates in spacewalk.
Photo credit: NASA

The Expedition 14 crew members are back to their regular work schedule this week after a weekend of post-spacewalk activities related to Thursday's 6-hour, 18-minute excursion from the Pirs docking compartment.

On Monday, Commander Michael Lopez-Alegria and Flight Engineer Mikhail Tyurin brushed up on photography techniques they will use to document the condition of Space Shuttle Atlantis' heat shield as it approaches the station for docking during the STS-117 mission next month. The photographs of the shuttle taken as it performs a Rendezvous Pitch Maneuver -- or backflip -- allow engineers on the ground to study the shuttle's thermal protection system for any damage that may have occurred during ascent.

Flight Engineer Sunita Williams shut down and stowed the hardware for the EarthKAM (Earth Knowledge Acquired by Middle School Students) experiment Saturday at the end of its second session for the Expedition 14 mission. During the successful nine-day run, over 6,300 students from around the world were able to interact with EarthKAM by submitting image requests to its remotely operated still camera to take photos of the Earth for geographic research.

Source: NASA - Space Station
Waspie_Dwarf
Feb 27 2007, 03:06 PM
Station Safety Report Released

linked-image
Image above: Flight Engineer Mikhail Tyurin, wearing a Russian Orlan
spacesuit, participates in spacewalk.
Photo credit: NASA

The International Space Station Independent Safety Task Force has issued its final report. It was released Tuesday simultaneously to Congress, NASA and the public. The Congressionally-mandated task force was chartered last year under Section 1281 of the NASA Authorization Act of 2005. The task force was charged with reviewing the International Space Station program to assess potential vulnerabilities that could threaten the station or its crew or lead to it being prematurely abandoned.

"I wish to thank the members of the International Space Station Independent Safety Task Force for their hard work," said NASA Administrator Michael Griffin. "At NASA no activity is more important than safely conducting our space missions, including our expeditionary missions on board the International Space Station. I look forward to reading the task force’s report."

+ View Report (1.2 Mb PDF)

Source: NASA - Space Station
Waspie_Dwarf
Mar 1 2007, 12:34 AM
Crew Conducts Training, Station Safety Report Released

linked-image
Image above: Flight Engineer Sunita Williams works the Canadarm2
controls in the Destiny laboratory of the International Space Station.
Photo credit: NASA

Aboard the International Space Station, the Expedition 14 crew members continue their work with scientific experiments, station maintenance and additional clean up following the Feb. 22 spacewalk.

Flight Engineer Suni Williams participated in robotics proficiency training with a computer-based simulation Wednesday. This training program maintains the crew's skill level in using Canadarm2 without actually moving the robotic arm.

Also on Wednesday, Flight Engineer Mikhail Tyurin spent some time relocating hardware as part of his post-spacewalk clean-up tasks.

On Tuesday, the International Space Station Independent Safety Task Force issued its final report. It was released simultaneously to Congress, NASA and the public.

The Congressionally-mandated task force was chartered last year under Section 1281 of the NASA Authorization Act of 2005. The task force was charged with reviewing the International Space Station program to assess potential vulnerabilities that could threaten the station or its crew or lead to it being prematurely abandoned.

+ View Report (1.2 Mb PDF)

Source: NASA - Space Station
Waspie_Dwarf
Mar 2 2007, 09:24 PM
Station Reboost Rescheduled

linked-image
Image above: Assisted by the weightlessness of space, Flight Engineer
Sunita Williams hoists the Treadmill Vibration Isolation System.
Photo credit: NASA

Aboard the International Space Station, the Expedition 14 crew members continued their work this week with scientific experiments, station maintenance and additional clean up following the Feb. 22 Russian spacewalk.

Friday, the three crew members participated in an experiment that tests hand-eye coordination before, during and after the mission to better understand how the brain adapts during spaceflight. The experiment will be performed again with Expedition 15.

A planned altitude reboost for the space station on Friday was cancelled and rescheduled for later this month. With the launch of the STS-117 shuttle mission delayed until no earlier than late April, Russian flight controllers now plan on two separate reboosts for the station.

The first reboost, now planned for around March 16, will position the station for the launch of the Expedition 15 crew and U.S. businessman Charles Simonyi on the Soyuz TMA-10 craft from the Baikonur Cosmodrome on April 7.

A second reboost on March 28 improves rendezvous opportunities for Atlantis’ flight and brings the station into the correct trajectory for the returning Soyuz craft to land in Kazakhstan on April 19 with Expedition 14 Commander Mike Lopez-Alegria, Flight Engineer Mikhail Tyurin and Simonyi.

Flight Engineer Suni Williams participated in robotics proficiency training with a computer-based simulation Wednesday. This training program maintains the crew's skill level in using Canadarm2 without actually moving the robotic arm.

On Tuesday, the International Space Station Independent Safety Task Force issued its final report. It was released simultaneously to Congress, NASA and the public.

+ View Report (1.2 Mb PDF)

Source: NASA - Space Station
Waspie_Dwarf
Mar 5 2007, 04:54 PM
Resizing Spacesuits Among Crews' Duties on Monday

linked-image
Image above: Flight Engineer Sunita Williams works on the Treadmill
Vibration Isolation System in the Zvezda Service Module.
Photo credit: NASA

The crew completed the resizing of U.S. spacesuits on Monday, conducted routine tests of the cabin atmosphere and prepared the Russian laptops for testing the Automated Transfer Vehicle satellite navigation system. They also prepared for the activation of the Oxygen Generation System later this year. Flight Engineer Sunita Williams worked on the Soldering in Reduced Gravity Experiment, with the goal of understanding the best techniques to use to repair electronic components in space.

Flight Engineer Mikhail Tyurin continued his periodic status checks on the Plants-2 micro-gravity growth experiment, including the newly planted barley and pea seeds in the Lada-10 greenhouse. Tyurin also performed another run of the Russian ocean observations program, using a still camera and a camcorder to record oceanic phenomena in the Atlantic Ocean.

Sunday was an off-duty day for the Expedition 14 crew.

On Feb. 27, the International Space Station Independent Safety Task Force issued its final report. It was released simultaneously to Congress, NASA and the public.

+ View Report (1.2 Mb PDF)

Source: NASA - Space Station
Waspie_Dwarf
Mar 6 2007, 07:06 PM
Installation of New Oxygen Generation System Continues

linked-image
Image above: Flight Engineer Sunita Williams works on the Treadmill
Vibration Isolation System in the Zvezda Service Module.
Photo credit: NASA

The crew conducted weekly maintenance on the Treadmill Vibration Isolation System today and began extensive work on the installation of mufflers, vent lines and foam for the Oxygen Generation System.

Another repressurization of the cabin atmosphere was conducted with oxygen from the ISS Progress 23 cargo ship prior to the Elektron oxygen-generation system reactivation. The Elektron had been shut down temporarily to allow oxygen to be depleted from the Progress 23 tanks. The Progress 23 will undock on April 6 and burn up as it re-enters Earth's atmosphere.

A software upgrade was attempted with the P3 Multiplexer Demultiplexer, but the upgrade did not install properly and the computer had to be restarted. It caused a temporary halt to the Solar Alpha Rotary Joint rotation, but the system is again operating normally with no impact to activities on board.

On Feb. 27, the International Space Station Independent Safety Task Force issued its final report. It was released simultaneously to Congress, NASA and the public.

+ View Report (1.2 Mb PDF)

Source: NASA - Space Station
Waspie_Dwarf
Mar 7 2007, 10:42 PM
Crew Preps for Rendezvous of Automated Transfer Vehicle

linked-image
Image above: Computer-generated rendering of the International Space
Station after delivery of a European Automated Transfer Vehicle, which
docks to the Zvezda Service Module.
Image credit: NASA

Flight Engineer Mikhail Tyurin continued work setting up a laptop computer designed to command satellite navigation aids for the rendezvous of the Automated Transfer Vehicle, the European unpiloted cargo craft, later this year.

The crew conducted periodic emergency fire drill training and Flight Engineer Sunita Williams began practicing Rendezvous Pitch Maneuver photography.

Flight controllers loaded new software into a data relay box for the P3 Solar Alpha Rotary Joint (SARJ) on Tuesday. An initial attempt Monday was not successful. All P3 SARJ-related systems are operating normally with new, improved software.

On Feb. 27, the International Space Station Independent Safety Task Force issued its final report. It was released simultaneously to Congress, NASA and the public.

+ View Report (1.2 Mb PDF)

Source: NASA - Space Station
Waspie_Dwarf
Mar 8 2007, 10:23 PM
Science Continues Aboard the Station

linked-image
Image above: Commander Michael Lopez-Alegria works in the Zvezda
Service Module of the International Space Station.
Image credit: NASA

Flight Engineer Sunita Williams conducted another session of an experiment that measures cosmic radiation and its effects on astronauts’ central nervous systems. A specific focus of the experiment is abnormal visual perceptions, known as phosphenes or light flashes, while the eyes are closed and the impact of particles on brain functions in micro-gravity.

The three station residents completed their fourth session with an experiment of hand-eye coordination. This experiment tests the idea that the decrease in motor skills reported by some astronauts is due to the brain adapting to being in space. Scientists hope to test the theory that while the brain is adapting to space, it is unable to fully provide the resources necessary to perform normal manual skills.

On Feb. 27, the International Space Station Independent Safety Task Force issued its final report. It was released simultaneously to Congress, NASA and the public.

+ View Report (1.2 Mb PDF)

Source: NASA - Space Station
Waspie_Dwarf
Mar 10 2007, 03:32 AM
Preparations Continue for Expedition 15, ATV

linked-image
Image above: Bahia Blanca, Buenos Aires Province, Argentina.
Image credit: NASA

Commander Michael Lopez-Alegria and Flight Engineer Suni Williams completed internal assembly tasks for the startup later this year of the new Oxygen Generation System (OGS). OGS, which will be required once the station crew expands to six people, is scheduled for activation during Expedition 15.

Flight Engineer Mikhail Tyurin prepared for the arrival of the European Space Agency’s unpiloted cargo craft, the Automated Transfer Vehicle. Tyurin set up equipment in the Zvezda module for a ground-operated test of the satellite navigation system to be used during autonomous docking of the ATV.

A reboost of the station is planned for March 15 using the Progress 23 engines to place the station at the correct altitude for the launch of the Soyuz TMA-10 carrying the Expedition 15 crew.

The ISS Progress 23 cargo ship, currently docked to the Zvezda service module, will be jettisoned on March 27 to make room for the Soyuz TMA-9 craft currently docked at the Zarya module. The Soyuz TMA-9 will be moved to the Zvezda service module on March 29 to make room for the Soyuz TMA-10. The Expedition 15 crew is scheduled to arrive at the station on April 9. The Expedition 14 crew will return to Earth on April 20.

On Feb. 27, the International Space Station Independent Safety Task Force issued its final report. It was released simultaneously to Congress, NASA and the public.

+ View Report (1.2 Mb PDF)

Source: NASA - Space Station
Waspie_Dwarf
Mar 12 2007, 05:37 PM
Crew Busy Preparing Station for Upcoming Activities

linked-image
Image above: Bahia Blanca, Buenos Aires Province, Argentina.
Image credit: NASA

Expedition 14 is readying the station for a reboost, the relocation of a Soyuz spacecraft and the arrival of its replacement crew.

On Thursday, a docked Progress 23 cargo craft will fire its engines to lift the station into a higher orbit. The reboost is necessary to put the station into the correct altitude for the upcoming docking of a Soyuz spacecraft carrying the Expedition 15 crew.

Two weeks later Commander Michael Lopez-Alegria and Flight Engineers Mikhail Tyurin and Suni Williams will enter their Soyuz TMA-9 spacecraft to undock from the station and redock moments later to another port. The relocation allows Expedition 15 to dock to the station when it arrives on a Soyuz TMA-10 spacecraft.

The Expedition 15 crew launches from Russia on April 7 and will dock to the International Space Station on April 9. Expedition 14 will leave the station and return home in its Soyuz TMA-9 on April 20.

+ View Report (1.2 Mb PDF)

Source: NASA - Space Station
Waspie_Dwarf
Mar 12 2007, 08:16 PM
International Space Station Module From Japan Arrives at NASA


The linked-image press release is reproduced below:

Mar. 12, 2007
John Yembrick
Headquarters, Washington
202-358-0602

Tracy Young
Kennedy Space Center, Fla.
321-867-2468

Lynnette Madison
Johnson Space Center, Houston
281-483-5111

RELEASE: 07-063

International Space Station Module From Japan Arrives at NASA

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. - After traveling thousands of miles, a major component of the International Space Station is set to begin preparations for launch. The Experiment Logistics Module Pressurized Section for the Japanese Experiment Module arrived at NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida early Monday, March 12. The Japanese Experiment Module is composed of three segments and is known as Kibo, which means "hope" in Japanese.

Kibo is Japan's first human space facility and its primary contribution to the station. It will enhance the unique research capabilities of the orbiting complex by providing an additional environment in which astronauts can conduct science experiments. The Experiment Logistics Module Pressurized Section will serve as an on-orbit storage area for materials, tools and supplies. It can hold up to eight experiment racks and will attach to the top of another larger pressurized module.

The ship carrying the module departed Feb. 7 from Yokohama, Japan, for the United States. Kibo's various components will be assembled in space during the course of three shuttle missions. The first of those three missions, STS-123, will carry the Experiment Logistics Module Pressurized Section aboard the space shuttle Endeavour, targeted for launch in 2007.

For more information about the station and Kibo, visit:
http://www.nasa.gov/station

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Source: NASA Press Release 07-063
Waspie_Dwarf
Mar 14 2007, 03:29 PM
Preps Continue for Reboost, Upcoming Activities

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Image above:The Expedition 14 crew are pictured in the Destiny laboratory.
From left are, Flight Engineer Suni Williams, Commander Michael
Lopez-Alegria and Flight Engineer Mikhail Tyurin.
Image credit: NASA

he Progress 23 cargo craft will fire its engines Thursday to lift the International Space Station to a higher orbit. The reboost puts the station in the proper orbit when Expedition 15 arrives at the station to begin its increment in April. Two weeks later the crew will also relocate their Soyuz vehicle to another port allowing Expedition 15 to dock in their new Soyuz TMA-10.

The Expedition 15 crew launches from Russia on April 7 and will dock to the station on April 9. Expedition 14 will leave the station and return home in its Soyuz TMA-9 on April 20.

The Progress 23 cargo capsule is being loaded with trash and discarded items as the crew readies it to undock then burn up in Earth’s atmosphere March 29. The Progress 23 initially delivered gear and supplies for the crew, but its removal makes way for future deliveries in Progress vehicles.

The station crew is also readying Pressurized Mating Adapter-3 for relocation to the Unity Node’s Earth facing port during Expedition 15. Node 2, a U.S. module, will take its place during shuttle mission STS-120 later this year.

Source: NASA - Space Station
Waspie_Dwarf
Mar 15 2007, 04:37 PM
Students Add “Harmony” to Station, Highlight International Cooperation

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Image above: Computer-generated artist's rendering of the International
Space Station after the Harmony connecting node (circled in yellow) is
relocated from the Unity node port side to the forward port of the
Destiny Laboratory.
Image credit: NASA

Students across America have named the space station’s Node 2 Harmony. The module will be the second U.S. node attached to the International Space Station. The first was the Unity Node, which was also the first U.S. station module.

After being attached to the U.S. Destiny laboratory, the Harmony Node will be the gateway to new international space labs. The European Columbus and Japanese Kibo labs will be delivered to the station and attached to Harmony on upcoming space shuttle flights.

Source: NASA - Space Station
Waspie_Dwarf
Mar 15 2007, 04:44 PM
NASA Space Station Module In Perfect ‘Harmony’ With New Name

Ever since it was designed and built for the International Space Station, it has been known as the Node 2 module. Now thanks to students from across the United States, Node 2 also will be known as Harmony.

The name was chosen from an academic competition involving more than 2,200 students in kindergarten through high school from 32 states. The Node 2 Challenge required students to learn about the space station, build a scale model and write an essay explaining their proposed name for the module that will serve as a central hub for science labs.

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Computer-generated artist's rendering of the International Space Station after the Harmony connecting node
(circled in yellow) is relocated from the Unity node port side to the forward port of the Destiny Laboratory.
Credit: NASA

Six different schools submitted Harmony. A panel of NASA educators, engineers, scientists and senior agency management selected it because the name symbolizes the spirit of international cooperation embodied by the space station, as well as the specific role played by the module in tying together the international partner modules.

Node 2’s new name was announced Thursday at an event at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center, Fla. Harmony is being prepared at the center for its space shuttle Atlantis flight, designated STS-120, which is targeted for launch later this year. Members of the STS-120 crew and managers who are preparing Harmony for launch took part in the naming event.

The winning schools are:
  • Paul Cummins' 8th grade class at Browne Academy, Alexandria, Va.
  • Sue Wilson's 3rd grade class at Buchanan Elementary School, Baton Rouge, La.
  • Brigette Berry's 8th grade class at League City Intermediate School, League City, Texas
  • Bradley Neu's 9th grade science class at Lubbock High School, Lubbock, Texas
  • Yocum Russell's 3rd grade class at West Navarre Intermediate School, Navarre, Fla.
  • David Dexheimer's students at the World Group Home School, Monona, Wis.

Harmony was built for NASA in Europe. It is about 21 feet long and 14 feet in diameter. The pressurized module will act as an internal connecting port and passageway to additional international science labs and cargo spacecraft. In addition to increasing the living and working space inside the station, it also will serve as a work platform outside for the station's robotic arm.

"This module will allow all international partner pieces of the station to connect together, so it’s really wonderful that kids recognize that harmony is necessary for space cooperation," said Bill Gerstenmaier, associate administrator for Space Operations.

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Image above: The illustration depicts the Harmony
Node 2 module. Harmony will allow Europe and Japan
to install space laboratories to the International Space
Station.
Credit: NASA

Harmony joins three other named U.S. modules on the station; The Destiny laboratory, the Quest airlock and the Unity node. This is the first U.S. piece of the space station named by someone outside of NASA.

Using space shuttles to finish construction of the International Space Station is a key step in America’s long-term exploration strategy, which includes plans to venture out beyond Earth orbit for purposes of human exploration and scientific discovery. The space station is a crucial test bed for those future exploration missions.

Source: NASA - Space Station - Station Structure
Waspie_Dwarf
Mar 15 2007, 04:53 PM
Harmony Node 2

The installation of NASA's Harmony Node increases the living and working space inside the station to approximately 500 cubic meters (18,000 cubic feet). It also allows the addition of international laboratories from Europe and Japan to the station.

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Image above: This graphic shows the International
Space Station's U.S. Node 2.

Harmony provides a passageway between three station science experiment facilities: the U.S. Destiny Laboratory, the Kibo Japanese Experiment Module, and the European Columbus Laboratory.

It also provides connecting ports for Multi-Purpose Logistics Modules, the Japanese H II Transfer Vehicle and the Pressurized Mating Adapter 2 to which space shuttles dock. The Space Station Robotic Arm, Canadarm2, can operate from a powered grapple fixture on the exterior of Node 2.

Under contract of the Italian Space Agency, Alenia Spazio in Turin, Italy, led a consortium of European sub-contractors to build the node.

It was built for NASA under a barter agreement with the European Space Agency in exchange for the launch of the European Columbus Laboratory by the space shuttle to the International Space Station.

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Image above: The International Space Station's
U.S. Node 2 is shown in a processing facility.

Physical Description:

The aluminum node is 7.2 meters (23.6 feet) long and 4.4 meters (14.5 feet) in diameter. Its pressurized volume is 70 cubic meters (2472 cubic feet, and its launch weight is approximately 30,000 pounds (13,600 kilograms).

Node 2 arrived at Kennedy Space Center, Fla. on June 1, 2003 to begin final preparations for its launch on shuttle mission STS-120, station assembly flight 10A. The name for Node 2, Harmony, was announced on March 15, 2007.

RELATED LINKS
+ European Space Agency's ISS Web Site
+ European Space Agency's Node 2 Web Site