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Discovery Fires Engines to Leave ISS
6 August 2005; 4:38 a.m. EDT
HOUSTON - After circling the International Space Station (ISS), the space shuttle Discovery has fired its Orbital Maneuvering System (OMS) engines in the first of two separation burns to leave the station behind.
Shuttle pilot James Kelly is at the helm, NASA officials said.
-- Tariq Malik
Discovery Directly Below ISS
6 August 2005; 4:27 a.m. EDT
HOUSTON - The space shuttle Discovery has only one-fourth of its trip around the International Space Station (ISS) remaining as shuttle astronauts continue to photograph the orbital laboratory.
Shuttle pilot James Kelly has been carefully guiding the orbiter around the ISS, maintaining a safe distance of about 400 feet from the station. The shuttle has just past the bottommost point of its trip around the station.
-- Tariq Malik
Discovery's ISS Fly-Around Underway
6 August 2005; 4:09 a.m. EDT
HOUSTON - The space shuttle Discovery has completed about one-fourth of its trip around the International Space Station (ISS), allowing shuttle astronauts to photograph the station from angles unseen since 2002.
Discovery pilot James Kelly has guided the shuttle past the uppermost portion of its ISS fly-around and is now proceeding to a location about 400 feet aft of the orbital laboratory. The ISS is flying over Kazakhstan, home to Baikonur Cosmodrome where Soyuz and Progress spacecraft launch toward the orbiting station.
The fly-around maneuver allowed mission specialist Soichi Noguchi a chance to photograph an electric field potential experiement atop the station's P6 truss, which worried flight controllers who thought it might shed debris during the undocking.
-- Tariq Malik
Discovery Reaches Start Position for ISS Fly-Around
6 August 2005; 3:52 a.m. EDT
HOUSTON - The space shuttle Discovery has reached its starting point for a fly-around maneuver to completely circle the International Space Station (ISS).
Pilot James Kelly has eased Discovery into position about 400 feet in front the ISS. He will guide the shuttle in around the space station while is fellow crewmates take photographs of the orbital facility.
Aboard the ISS, Expedition 11 commander Sergei Krikalev and flight engineer John Phillips watched over the undocking operation and took their own photographs of the shuttle's departure.
-- Tariq Malik
ISS Fly-Around Planned
6 August 2005; 3:32 a.m. EDT
HOUSTON - Shuttle pilot James Kelly is backing the Discovery orbiter away from the International Space Station in preparation for a fly-around maneuver to circle the orbital laboratory.
Kelly is maneuvering Discovery to a point 400 feet in front of the ISS in the direction travel around the Earth. He will then pilot Discovery nose first up and over the ISS, maintaining a 400-foot radius, until he reaches his starting point, NASA officials said.
The orbiter undocked from the ISS on time at precisely 3:24 a.m. EDT (0724 GMT) as Discovery and the ISS flew 220 miles over the south Pacific Ocean west of Chile.
Discovery and the ISS spent eight days, 19 hours and 54 minutes docked together during the STS-114 resupply mission.
So far, there is no indication of debris from an experiment atop the station's P6 truss, NASA officials said, adding that a bolt was seen partially loose on the experiment during one of three spacewalks staged from Discovery in the last week.
-- Tariq Malik
Discovery Undocks from Space Station
6 August 2005; 3:25 a.m. EDT
HOUSTON - With pilot James Kelly at the controls, the space shuttle Discovery undocked with the International Space Station (ISS) and is backing away to a distance of 400 feet from the orbital laboratory.
Undocking occurred on time at 3:24 a.m. EDT (0724 GMT). Kelly is expected to fly the orbiter around the station in a 1.5-hour circle to make a comprehensive photographic survey of the orbital facility.
Today's undocking marked the end of more than eight days of joint operations between the Discovery's STS-114 astronauts and the two crewmembers of the ISS Expedition 11 mission.
Discovery delivered about six tons of cargo to the ISS and is returning about three tons back to Earth.
-- Tariq Malik
Discovery Go for Undocking
6 August 2005; 3:02 a.m. EDT
HOUSTON - Discovery has received the final go to undock from the International Space Station (ISS).
The orbiter is expected to pull away from the orbital platform at 3:24 a.m. EDT (0724 GMT) with pilot James Kelly at the helm.
-- Tariq Malik
Flight Controllers Give Discovery Go for Undocking
6 August 2005; 2:59 a.m. EDT
HOUSTON - Flight controllers for the International Space Station have given the Discovery shuttle astronauts a go for undocking.
ISS flight controllers in Russia have also given Discovery's STS-114 crew the go ahead to separate from the station.
Final approval from STS-114 lead shuttle flight director Paul Hill is expected shortly, NASA officials said.
-- Tariq Malik
Flight Controllers Relay Breakaway Plans
6 August 2005; 2:53 a.m. EDT
HOUSTON - Flight controllers have relayed contingency plans to shuttle pilot James Kelly in the unlikely event that today's undocking of the shuttle Discovery causes debris to separate from the International Space Station (ISS), NASA officials said.
The scenario is very remote, but plans were sent as a precaution since Discovery spacewalker Soichi Noguchi discovered a partially loose bolt on an experiment atop the space station's P6 truss.
The station's U.S.-built solar arrays, as well as those aboard Russian components, are to be feathered to avoid contamination from Discovery's reaction control thrusters.
-- Tariq Malik
Astronauts Set up Space-to-Space Communications
6 August 2005; 2:30 a.m. EDT
HOUSTON - Astronauts aboard the space shuttle Discovery and the International Space Station (ISS) have set up a space-to-space communications link, which they will use during today's orbiter undocking scheduled to occur in about one hour.
Just after undocking, scheduled for 3:24 a.m. EDT (0724 GMT), shuttle pilot James Kelly will fly Discovery around the ISS to allow the first flyaround photo session of the orbital laboratory in 2002.
During that time, flight controllers are hopeful the shuttle astronauts will be able to photograph an experiment mounted to the top of the station's P6 truss that measures the electrical charging and discharging caused by drag on the orbital facilities large solar arrays.
-- Tariq Malik
Leak Checks Complete
6 August 2005; 2:00 a.m. EDT
HOUSTON - Leak checks have been completed of an airless vestibule now separating the space shuttle Discovery and the International Space Station (ISS) in anticipation of the orbiter's undocking in just over one hour.
Aboard Discovery, STS-114 mission specialist Wendy Lawrence is installing a centerline camera to the docking system to provide an extra view of the departure for pilot James Kelly, who will guide the orbiter away from the ISS. Kelly will fire Discovery's thrusters while looking out the aft and upper windows of the orbiter, and slowly fly the shuttle in a complete circle around the space station from a distance of about 400 feet.
Meanwhile, cameras aboard the space station's robotic arm have been activated to provide video of the undocking.
-- Tariq Malik
After Hatch Closure, Leak Checks
6 August 2005; 1:47 a.m. EDT
HOUSTON - With the hatches shut between their two spacecraft, the seven astronauts aboard the shuttle Discovery and two crewmembers of the International Space Station (ISS) are preparing to conduct leak checks.
The astronauts are currently depressurizing the vestibule connecting their spacecraft, which will be followed by the leak checks and the unlocking of hooks and latches that have held the ships together for just over eight days.
Discovery is set to undock the space station today and make the two-day trip back to Earth. Undocking is scheduled for 3:24 a.m. EDT (0724 GMT).
-- Tariq Malik
Hatches Closed Between Discovery and ISS
6 August 2005; 1:17 a.m. EDT
HOUSTON - The hatches between the space shuttle Discovery and the International Space Station (ISS) have been closed for the last time in the STS-114 mission, as the orbiter prepares to disembark the orbital laboratory.
The hatches were closed at 1:14 a.m. EDT (0514 GMT), NASA officials said. Operations are now underway to depressurize the vestibule connecting the two spacecraft, they added.
Discovery and its seven-astronaut crew are set to leave the space station today and make the two-day trip back to Earth. Undocking is scheduled for 3:24 a.m. EDT (0724 GMT).
-- Tariq Malik
Discovery, ISS Astronauts Say Adieu
6 August 2005; 12:45 a.m. EDT
HOUSTON - The nine astronauts aboard the shuttle Discovery and International Space Station (ISS) gathered together for final goodbyes as the shuttle crew prepares to leave the orbital laboratory.
"We thank them for being such great hosts and we're so happy to have spent time up here with them," Discovery's STS-114 mission commander Eileen Collins said of ISS Expedition 11 astronauts Sergei Krikalev and John Phillips.
Collins and her six fellow STS-114 astronauts have spent eight days docked at the ISS, where they conducted three spacewalks and delivered some six tons of fresh food, water, science equipment and spare parts to the ISS.
"We're not glad to see you go," Phillips told the STS-114 crew. "Great flight, soft landing, and we look forward to seeing you back in Houston in a few months."
Krikalev and Phillips are slated to return to Earth at the end of their ISS expedition in October.
Undocking is currently scheduled for about 3:24 a.m. EDT (0724 GMT), to be followed by a brief trip around the ISS to take photographs before the orbiter heads back to Earth.
-- Tariq Malik
Discovery Crew to Say Farewell to ISS Astronauts
6 August 2005; 12:05 a.m. EDT
HOUSTON - After eight days of docked operations, the seven astronauts aboard the space shuttle Discovery will say their farewells to the crew of the International Space Station (ISS).
Discovery's STS-114 crew, commanded by veteran astronaut Eileen Collins, is set to conduct a farewell ceremony with ISS Expedition 11 crewmembers Sergei Krikalev and John Phillips as they shut the hatches between their two spacecraft in anticipation of undocking later today.
Discovery is set to undock from the ISS at about 3:24 a.m. EDT (0724 GMT) and fly around the space station for a brief photo session before heading off on the two day trip back to Earth. The shuttle will land at about 4:46 a.m. EDT (0846 GMT)
-- SPACE.com Staff
Raffaello Module Safely Stowed in Discovery Cargo Bay
5 August 2005; 9:05 a.m. EDT
HOUSTON - The Raffaello module was safely locked into place aboard the space shuttle Discovery at 9:03 a.m. EDT.
-- SPACE.com Staff
Space Station in Free Drift
5 August 2005; 8:05 a.m. EDT
HOUSTON - The motion of the Raffaello cargo module away from the International Space Station (ISS) has overloaded the station's attitude control system, casting it into free drift and leaving the shuttle Discovery in charge of maintaining orientation.
Raffaello is being transferred to Discovery's payload bay for stowage in preparation of tomorrow's undocking.
Discovery pilot James Kelly and mission specialist Charles Camarda are at the robotic arm controls inside the ISS, NASA officials said.
-- Tariq Malik
Raffaello Module Undocked from ISS
5 August 2005; 7:44 a.m. EDT
HOUSTON - The Raffaello cargo module has been detached from its berth outside the nadir port of the International Space Station's (ISS) Unity module awaiting transfer to the payload bay of the space shuttle Discovery.
Discovery pilot James Kelly and mission specialist Charles Camarda are at the robotic arm controls inside the ISS to make the transfer, NASA officials said. The arm is in motion, they added.
-- Tariq Malik
Astronauts Command Cargo Pod to Detach
5 August 2005; 7:21 a.m. EDT
HOUSTON - Discovery astronaut Soichi Noguchi is methodically ordering the Raffaello cargo module to unbolt itself from its perch outside the nadir port of the International Space Station's (ISS) Unity module.
There four sets of bolts, each with four bolts, for a total of 16 bolts that must be removed in a symmetric pattern to prepare Raffaello for its removal. Discovery pilot James Kelly and mission specialist Charles Camarda will use the ISS robotic arm - which has already grappled Raffaello - to maneuver the cargo module into its berth inside the shuttle's payload bay.
-- Tariq Malik
Flight Controllers Watch Depressurization Process
5 August 2005; 6:56 a.m. EDT
HOUSTON - Environmental control officers are watching the slow depressurization of a vestibule between the International Space Station and Raffaello cargo module, as astronauts prepare to remove the pod from its berth outside the station's Unity node.
Discovery astronauts closed out Raffaello at 1:42 a.m. EDT (0542 GMT) and are set to use the station's robotic arm to move Raffaello back into the orbiter's payload bay.
-- Tariq Malik
Discovery Crew to Stow Cargo Pod
5 August 2005; 6:32 a.m. EDT
HOUSTON - The close-out of the space shuttle Discovery's Raffaello cargo module occurred at 1:42 a.m. EDT (0542 GMT), and shuttle astronauts are still preparing to unberth the pod from the nadir port of the Unity module aboard the International Space Station (ISS).
Mission specialists Stephen Robinson and Soichi Noguchi, who are slated to send commands to Raffaello to unbolt itself from the ISS, are transferring a pair of brand new U.S. spacesuits to the station for use in later spacewalks.
-- Tariq Malik
Discovery Crew to Stow Cargo Pod
5 August 2005; 6:00 a.m. EDT
HOUSTON - The crew of the space shuttle Discovery is set to unberth the Raffaello cargo module from the International Space Station (ISS) and return it to the shuttle's payload bay.
The shuttle and ISS crew has spent the last week moving about six tons of new supplies and equipment to the ISS from the module, Discovery's middeck and its payload bay. The astronauts packed the cargo pod and shuttle payload bay full of about 3.5 tons of unneeded material for the return to Earth.
Unberthing of Raffaello is set for 6:24 a.m. EDT (1024 GMT). It is expected to be placed back in Discovery's payload bay at about 7:34 a.m. EDT (1134 GMT). Earlier today, shuttle and ISS astronauts exited Raffaello, known as a Multi-Purpose Logistics Module.
-- Tariq Malik
~
Last STS-114 Spacewalk Concludes
3 August 2005; 11:10 a.m. EDT
HOUSTON - After six hours and one minute, the third spacewalk for STS-114 astronauts Stephen Robinson and Soichi Noguchi has concluded.
The spacewalk officially ended at 10:49 a.m. EDT (1450 GMT). Robinson and Noguchi both spent 20 hours and five minutes working in space during the first three spacewalks of their astronaut careers. The spacewalk lasted six hours and one minute, NASA officials added.
-- Tariq Malik
Spacewalkers Reenter Shuttle Airlock
3 August 2005; 10:39 a.m. EDT
HOUSTON - Shuttle astronauts Stephen Robinson and Soichi Noguchi are back inside the space shuttle Discovery and have closed the airlock hatch.
-- Tariq Malik
ISS Airlock Closed
3 August 2005; 10:22 a.m. EDT
HOUSTON - Astronaut Soichi Noguchi has closed the space station's Quest airlock and has joined his spacewalking partner Stephen Robinson in Discovery's payload bay.
-- Tariq Malik
Astronauts Work on Shuttle Airlock
3 August 2005; 10:14 a.m. EDT
HOUSTON - Astronaut Stephen Robinson is at Discovery's airlock preparing it so that he and his spacewalking partner Soichi Noguchi can renter their shuttle home.
Meanwhile, Noguchi is has installed a workplace interface to the spare parts platform he and Robinson attached to the International Space Station (ISS) earlier in today's spacewalk. He will close the station's Quest airlock before both astronauts will reenter Discovery.
-- Tariq Malik
One Last Task for Discovery Spacewalkers
3 August 2005; 9:57 a.m. EDT
HOUSTON - After three successful spacewalks, Discovery astronauts Soichi Noguchi and Stephen Robinson have one last task to perform before they reentry their space shuttle home.
The two astronauts will close the outer hatch of the International Space Station's (ISS) Quest airlock, which they opened during their first spacewalk as an emergency ingress point should they have to end their spacewalks while the Discovery's airlock was unavailable.
After closing the hatch, the two astronauts will move back to shuttle's payload bay and reenter the airlock. Today's spacewalk included the successful removal of two gap-fillers from Discovery's tile-covered heat shield.
--Tariq Malik
Spacewalking Astronauts Regroup
3 August 2005; 9:29 a.m. EDT
HOUSTON - STS-114 mission specialists Soichi Noguchi and Stephen Robinson have regrouped outside the International Space Station (ISS), and will work together to remove Robinson from the end of the station's robotic arm.
The meeting comes after Robinson successful performed the first in-flight repair of Discovery's heat shield, pulling two space-filling strips of stiff ceramic fiber cloth, known as gap-fillers to NASA, from the underbelly of their orbiter.
-- Tariq Malik
Spacewalkers Set to End EVA
3 August 2005; 9:06 a.m. EDT
HOUSTON - Flight controllers have given astronauts Soichi Noguchi and Stephen Robinson the go to end their spacewalk after the successful removal of two gap-fillers from the underbelly of their Discovery orbiter.
Plans had called for the astronauts to remove a broken rotary motor from the International Space Station (ISS), but with the added heat shield fix just performed flight controllers agreed to end the EVA, NASA officials said.
-- Tariq Malik
Astronaut Removes Second Gap-Filler
3 August 2005; 8:57 a.m. EDT
HOUSTON - Astronaut Stephen Robinson successfully removed the second of two gap-fillers jutting out from between from the heat-resistant tiles along Discovery's belly.
"That came out very easy, probably with even less force [than the first]," Robinson said. "It looks like this big spaceship is cured."
The repair occurred at 8:55 a.m. EDT (1255 GMT).
-- Tariq Malik
Astronaut Removes First Gap-Filler
3 August 2005; 8:50 a.m. EDT
HOUSTON - Astronaut Stephen Robinson successfully removed the first of two dangling gap-fillers from the tile-covered heat shield along Discovery's belly.
"I'm pulling now," Robinson said, while standing atop the space station robotic arm. "It's coming out very easily."
The repair occurred at 8:45 a.m. EDT (1245 GMT), NASA officials said.
Robinson's helmet-mounted video camera broadcast the operation.
"We're enjoying the view," flight controllers told the astronauts.
Robinson is now proceeding to his second worksite, with help from Discovery pilot James Kelly who is guiding the space station robot arm.
-- Tariq Malik
Spacewalker Reaches First Gap-Filler Site
3 August 2005; 8:44 a.m. EDT
HOUSTON - Astronaut Stephen Robinson has reached his first worksite on the underside of Discovery, for today's removal of two dangling gap-fillers from the tile-covered heat shield. He is making final motions to reach up and pluck the first gap-filler from its perch.
Robinson's helmet-mounted video relayed unprecedented views of the shuttle's ceramic tile surface and he could easily see the first protruding gap-filler under the nose of Discovery. Robinson also reported seeing a chipped tile identified in previous inspections using the shuttle's orbital boom.
-- Tariq Malik
Spacewalker Closes in on First Gap-Filler Site
3 August 2005; 8:36 a.m. EDT
HOUSTON - Astronaut Stephen Robinson is closing in on his first worksite on the underside of Discovery, where he will attempt to use his gloved fingers to remove a dangling gap-filler from the tile-covered heat shield. He is about eight feet from the site.
Robinson will remove two of the gap-fillers from the forward section of Discovery's heat tile system.
If his initial hand approach does not work, he will try to pull the gap-filler out with forceps. Failing that, he will use a modified hacksaw to cut the piece until it is flush with the surrounding tile surface.
-- Tariq Malik
Discovery Astronaut Begins Move Toward Shuttle Repair Site
3 August 2005; 8:23 a.m. EDT
HOUSTON - Discovery spacewalker Stephen Robinson is beginning his trek toward the underside of Discovery, where he will stand at the end of the space station's robotic arm and perform an in-flight repair of the shuttle's heat shield.
Robinson is expected to remove two shuttle tile gap-fillers that are jutting out about an inch into space. The gap-fillers could cause increased local heating to the orbiter's tiles and wing leading edges during reentry if left in place, shuttle officials said.
"Vegas, we are ready to fly," Robinson told STS-114 pilot James "Vegas" Kelly, who is driving the robotic arm.
"Enjoy the ride," Robinson's spacewalking partner Soichi Noguchi said.
Noguchi will watch the repair operation from a vantage point on the International Space Station (ISS), where Discovery is docked.
-- Tariq Malik
Spacewalking Duo Prepare for Orbital Repair
3 August 2005; 8:16 a.m. EDT
HOUSTON - Discovery spacewalker Soichi Noguchi is assisting his EVA partner Stephen Robinson at the end of the space station's robotic arm, making sure all of his tools are safely stowed for the start of today's orbital repair beneath the shuttle Discovery.
While Robinson stands at the end of the International Space Station (ISS) robotic arm, Discovery crewmembers have positioned the shuttle's orbital boom over the side of the orbiter to watch the repair operation via intensified video camera.
-- Tariq Malik
Astronaut Set for Orbital Repair
3 August 2005; 8:06 a.m. EDT
HOUSTON - Astronaut Stephen Robinson is now attached to the space station's robotic arm and set to begin today's orbital repair beneath the shuttle Discovery.
Shuttle pilot James Kelly, guiding the robotic arm, will place Robinson over the port side of the orbiter to reach the first of two gap-fillers jutting out from between the tiles of Discovery's heat shield. The other gap-filler is located on the starboard side, though both targets are along the orbiter's forward section.
-- Tariq Malik
Spacewalk Repairman Sorts Tools
3 August 2005; 7:50 a.m. EDT
HOUSTON - Now at the three-hour mark into a potential seven-hour spacewalk, shuttle astronaut Stephen Robinson is sorting the tools he will use for today's orbital repair beneath the Discovery orbiter. Robinson is making sure he has only the bare minimum he needs to prevent excess equipment from striking the spacecraft's fragile heat-resistant tiles.
Robinson will perform a first-ever in-flight repair of a shuttle's heat shield, though the task is relatively simple. After being moved into position by the robotic arm aboard the International Space Station (ISS), Robinson will pluck two gap-fillers sticking out from between the tiles on the port and starboard sides of Discovery's forward undercarriage.
-- Tariq Malik
ISS Robot Arm Walk Off Complete
3 August 2005; 7:35 a.m. EDT
HOUSTON - The International Space Station's (ISS) robotic arm has inchworm-ed its way to its Mobile Base Platform and is now in place for today's orbital repair beneath the space shuttle Discovery.
Discovery spacewalker Stephen Robinson will board the arm and pluck two protruding space fillers jutting out from between the tiles lining the orbiter's belly.
-- Tariq Malik
Spacewalker Reaches Station's Highest Point
3 August 2005; 7:26 a.m. EDT
HOUSTON - Spacewalker Soichi Noguchi is climbing down from the highest point of the International Space Station (ISS) where he installed a materials exposure experiment to the top of the P6 truss structure.
"It's alright," Noguchi said of the view from 60 feet above the shuttle Discovery's payload bay.
Atop the truss, Noguchi attached the Materials International Space Station Experiment 5 (MISSE 5).
-- Tariq Malik
Shuttle Repair May Be Pushed Up
3 August 2005; 7:02 a.m. EDT
HOUSTON - Spacewalk officials may move up today's planned repair job to remove two gap-fillers jutting out from the heat-resistant tiles on underside of Discovery, NASA officials said.
The task, which will put spacewalker Stephen Robinson at the end of the International Space Station (ISS) robotic arm and slide him beneath Discovery's forward section, may be placed ahead of the retrieval of a broken motor because operations to move the arm into place for the repair are ahead of schedule, they added.
-- Tariq Malik
Spacewalkers to Split Up
3 August 2005; 6:53 a.m. EDT
HOUSTON - With their first task complete, the two astronauts working outside the shuttle Discovery and International Space Station (ISS) are set to split up to accomplish different tasks during their third spacewalk.
Discovery astronaut Soichi Noguchi is arranging tethers as he prepares to make his way up the station's P6 truss to install the Materials International Space Station Experiment 5 (MISSE 5). The materials exposure experiment is the first equipped with antennas to relay data to the ground. Noguchi's spacewalking partner Stephen Robinson is removing a grappler from a newly installed spare parts platform, which will be returned to Earth and used on a future piece of ISS hardware.
Robinson's orbital repair to remove two gap-fillers jutting out from between the tiles mounted to the underside of Discovery is about 90 minutes away, NASA officials said.
-- Tariq Malik
Spacewalkers Connect Power Cables to Platform
3 August 2005; 6:40 a.m. EDT
HOUSTON - NASA is preparing to power up the three-ton spare parts platform now that two spacewalkers have connected electrical and heating cables to the new piece of space station hardware.
Discovery astronauts Soichi Noguchi and Stephen Robinson successfully installed the External Stowage Platform-2 (ESP-2) to the exterior of the International Space Station's (ISS) Quest airlock earlier today, overcoming a minor connection glitch. The ESP-2 installation completes work began during the astronauts' first spacewalk, in which they laid out the cables and installed the attachment device now holding the spare parts platform to the Quest airlock exterior.
-- Tariq Malik
Spare Parts Platform Reinstalled
3 August 2005; 6:21 a.m. EDT
HOUSTON - The External Stowage Platform-2 (ESP-2) has been reinstalled outside the Quest airlock aboard the International Space Station (ISS), after astronauts backed it out once to realign it into position.
Spacewalkers Soichi Noguchi and Stephen Robinson are locking the spare parts platform to the Quest airlock, while their crewmate Wendy Lawrence keeps a firm grip on the hardware with the station's robotic arm. STS-114 mission specialist Andrew Thomas is choreographing the spacewalk from inside Discovery.
Discovery pilot James Kelly has left the ISS and reentered the shuttle, where he and crewmate Charles Camarda are using the orbiter's inspection boom to study intentionally damaged tile samples that underwent repair tests in an earlier spacewalk.
-- Tariq Malik
Spare Parts Platform Troubleshooting Underway
3 August 2005; 6:09 a.m. EDT
HOUSTON - Astronauts Soichi Noguchi and Stephen Robinson have encountered a slight hitch in the installation of a spare parts platform outside the Quest airlock aboard the International Space Station (ISS).
The astronauts were unable to lock down one of a series of lock bars to ensure the platform's hard mate to the Quest airlock. Trouble shooting is underway to reengage the locking mechanisms.
-- Tariq Malik
Spare Parts Platform Berthed at ISS
3 August 2005; 5:43 a.m. EDT
HOUSTON - A spare parts platform has been successfully mated to outside the Quest airlock of the International Space Station (ISS), where it will hold extra hardware for future spacewalks and maintenance.
Discovery spacewalker Soichi Noguchi is now using a pistol grip tool to lock the new platform down to Quest airlock exterior, forming a permanent mate. The initial soft dock of the platform to the ISS airlock occurred at 5:40 a.m. EDT (0940 GMT).
-- Tariq Malik
Spare Parts Platform Installation Underway
3 August 2005; 5:36 a.m. EDT
HOUSTON - The installation of a spare parts platform outside the Quest airlock of the International Space Station (ISS) is underway.
Station arm controllers Wendy Lawrence and James Kelly are easing the platform toward the station while spacewalkers Soichi Noguchi and Stephen Robinson watch over the process and prepare to lock the hardware to the ISS.
-- Tariq Malik
ISS Arm Operators Take Charge
3 August 2005; 5:30 a.m. EDT
HOUSTON - Discovery astronaut Wendy Lawrence and James Kelly report they have reached the robotics console inside the International Space Station (ISS) where they will assist spacewalkers Soichi Noguchi and Stephen Robinson install a spare parts platform outside the orbital facility.
The robot arm will also be used to position Robinson beneath Discovery during a repair of its tile-covered heat shield.
-- Tariq Malik
Shuttle Airlock Repressurized
3 August 2005; 5:15 a.m. EDT
HOUSTON - With the third spacewalk of Discovery's STS-114 spaceflight underway, the shuttle's crew has begun repressurizing the orbiter's airlock to reestablish a link between the spacecraft and the International Space Station (ISS).
The move is required to allow STS-114 astronauts Wendy Lawrence and James Kelly to use the station's robotic arm to assist astronauts Soichi Noguchi and Stephen Robinson as they install the External Stowage Platform-2 (ESP-2) to the exterior of the ISS' Quest airlock. The platform will hold spare parts too large to stay inside the ISS.
Later in today's spacewalk, Robinson will stand atop the ISS arm and be guided under the heat tile-lined belly of Discovery, where he will remove two gap-fillers from jutting out from between tiles.
Robinson has already opened a sample box containing the tile and reinforced carbon carbon samples he and Noguchi tested repair methods on in their first spacewalk. Shuttle astronauts will use their orbiter's sensor-tipped Orbital Boom Sensor System (OBSS) to scan the experiment.
Robinson is now joining Noguchi outside the Quest airlock for the ESP-2 installation.
-- Tariq Malik
Third Spacewalk Begins for Discovery Astronauts
3 August 2005; 4:57 a.m. EDT
HOUSTON - The third and last planned spacewalk for Discovery astronauts Soichi Noguchi and Stephen Robinson is underway, beginning what could be a seven-hour excursion to install new equipment outside the International Space Station (ISS) and remove two protruding gap-fillers from the shuttle's tile-covered heat shield.
The spacewalk began at 4:47 a.m. EDT as the Discovery-ISS stack passed more than 200 miles over the southeast coast of Australia. The extravehicular activity (EVA) is the 61st spacewalk to support the ISS and the 28th to do so from a U.S. space shuttle.
-- Tariq Malik
Third Spacewalk Slightly Behind Schedule
3 August 2005; 4:47 a.m. EDT
HOUSTON -Discovery astronauts Soichi Noguchi and Stephen Robinson are about 30 minutes behind schedule as they prepare to install new equipment at the International Space Station (ISS) and perform an on-orbit repair to the shuttle's heat shield.
The two spacewalkers are going through the final procedures inside Discovery's airlock as they prepare to crack open the outer hatch and exit the shuttle.
The first task up for today is the installation of an external stowage platform (ESP-2) to be installed on the outside of the International Space Station (ISS) Quest airlock.
-- Tariq Malik
Discovery Astronauts Set For Spacewalk Repair
3 August 2005; 4:17 a.m. EDT
HOUSTON - Two astronauts are preparing to step outside the space shuttle Discovery to perform an on-orbit repair to the orbiter's heat shield.
STS-114 spacewalkers Soichi Noguchi and Stephen Robinson are in the shuttle's airlock, clad in U.S.-built spacesuits, and set to make their third and final extravehicular activity (EVA) of Discovery's flight.
About three hours and 20 minutes into today's spacewalk, Robinson will stand atop the robotic arm aboard the International Space Station (ISS), where Discovery is currently docked, and be maneuvered underneath the shuttle to pluck two filler strips jutting out form the spacecraft's tile-covered heat shield. Noguchi will observe the repair from a vantage point aboard the ISS.
The two astronauts will also install the External Stowage Platform 2 (ESP-2) outside the station's Quest airlock to hold spare parts among their other tasks during their 6.5-hour spacewalk today.
-- Tariq Malik
~
Discovery Spacewalker to Pluck Gap-Fillers from Shuttle's Heat Shield
1 August 2005; 8:17 p.m. EDT
HOUSTON - The crew of the space shuttle Discovery will perform an unprecedented on-orbit repair Wednesday, sending an astronaut under the orbiter's belly to remove a pair of filler strips jutting out form the spacecraft's tile-covered heat shield, mission managers said Monday.
The decision caps three days of scrutiny by imaging specialists, shuttle tile engineers, aerodynamicists and spacewalk planners to determine exactly how to deal with two bits of stiff ceramic fiber cloth - known as gap-fillers - sticking from between heat-resistant tiles under the forward section of the Discovery orbiter.
"In the end it came down to be a really simple decision," said Wayne Hale, NASA's deputy shuttle program manager, during a briefing here at NASA's Johnson Space Center "We came to the conclusion that we don't know enough to really feel good about this, so therefore the remedy is easy and we ought to go exercise the remedy."
That remedy is an unprecedented spacewalk to send one astronaut, attached to a robotic arm, under the shuttle to pluck out the strips by hand, or cut them off if they prove too stubborn, spacewalk officials said earlier today.
-- Tariq Malik
Second Spacewalk Ends for Discovery Astronauts
1 August 2005; 12:06 p.m. EDT
HOUSTON - After seven hours and 14 minutes in space, Discovery astronauts Soichi Noguchi and Stephen Robinson are safely back inside the Discovery orbiter.
The two astronauts started their spacewalk about 30 minutes late, but swiftly completed their primary task - replacing a broken gyroscope aboard the International Space Station (ISS) - and were able to devote extra time to several additional tasks to prepare for future spacewalks.
SPACE.com's full story of today's spacewalk is available by clicking here.
-- Tariq Malik
Discovery Spacewalkers Shut Airlock Hatch
1 August 2005; 11:50 a.m. EDT
HOUSTON - Astronauts Soichi Noguchi and Stephen Robinson have shut the outer airlock hatch aboard the space shuttle Discovery.
The move comes after a successful spacewalk to replace a broken gyroscope aboard the International Space Station (ISS) that included several extra tasks to prepare for future extravehicular activities and a possible repair for Discovery should mission managers deem it necessary.
During their extra tasks Noguchi and Robinson retrieved tools that could be used to remove two strips of filler material from between the black heat tiles along Discovery's underside. Mission managers have been studying whether any fix is needed and expect to have a decision later today.
-- Tariq Malik
Astronauts Enter Shuttle Hatch
1 August 2005; 11:35 a.m. EDT
HOUSTON - Two spacewalkers have opened the hatch leading into the space shuttle Discovery as they near the end of more than six hours of work in space.
Discovery astronaut Stephen Robinson has already entered the shuttle airlock, with his spacewalking crewmate Soichi Noguchi following suit. They two astronauts successfully replaced a broken gyroscope from the International Space Station (ISS) and replaced it with a brand new unit. That task achieved, they pressed ahead with several get-ahead chores for future spacewalks.
-- Tariq Malik
Spacewalkers Back at Shuttle Airlock
1 August 2005; 11:29 a.m. EDT
HOUSTON - After a successful spacewalk outside the International Space Station (ISS), astronauts Stephen Robinson and Soichi Noguchi are back at the airlock aboard the shuttle Discovery.
The airlock is depressurizing and the astronauts are preparing to reentry Discovery. Noguchi, having been given the go ahead from mission control, is taking travelogue photographs inside the shuttle's payload bay.
-- Tariq Malik
Spacewalk Goal, Extra Tasks Achieved
1 August 2005; 10:57 a.m. EDT
HOUSTON - With their primary objective complete, spacewalking astronauts Soichi Noguchi and Stephen Robinson are retrieving tools they will use for get-ahead tasks.
After disembarking the International Space Station's (ISS) robotic arm, Noguchi picked up a round scoop tool for later use retrieving a broken rotary motor to return back to Earth. Engineers want to study the motor before launch and installing two new ones at the station during the STS-115 shuttle flight and its 12-A ISS construction mission.
The astronauts also gathered a set of tools that could be used to remove a pair of gap-fillers jutting out from Discovery's heat-resistant tile covered belly. Shuttle officials are expected to decide whether that repair, an unprecedented fix, is necessary, and a report is expected later today.
Noguchi and Robinson also relocated a foot restraint on the exterior of the ISS in preparation for a spacewalk planned for NASA's STS-121 mission aboard Atlantis, the next shuttle flight to follow Discovery's STS-114 mission, NASA officials said.
-- Tariq Malik
New Gyroscope Performing Well
1 August 2005; 10:01 a.m. EDT
HOUSTON - After reconnecting a few power connectors a new gyroscope aboard the International Space Station (ISS) is performing well, NASA officials said.
Flight controllers gave the good news to STS-114 spacewalkers Soichi Noguchi and Stephen Robinson, a successful announcement that prompted the mission's lead EVA officer Cindy Begley to jump out of her chair and applause here at Johnson Space Center's mission control.
"Congratulations, mission control," Robinson said.
He and Noguchi are will now work on some get ahead tasks, including an add-on to retrieve a broken rotary motor from the ISS.
-- Tariq Malik
Noguchi Checks Gyro Power Connectors
1 August 2005; 9:46 a.m. EDT
HOUSTON - Spacewalking astronaut Soichi Noguchi has checked three cables for a newly installed gyroscope outside the International Space Station (ISS), finding that one of cables providing power was not seated correctly.
The cable has been reconnected and flight controllers are reevaluating gyroscope data to ensure it is functioning properly.
Meanwhile, Noguchi's fellow spacewalker Stephen Robinson is performing several get ahead tasks for their third, and final, planned spacewalk.
-- Tariq Malik
Discovery Astronauts Return to Gyro Worksite
1 August 2005; 9:42 a.m. EDT
HOUSTON - Flight controllers are sending Discovery's spacewalking astronaut Soichi Noguchi back to the site of a gyroscope repair to determine the status of several connectors that power the attitude control device.
Noguchi is steadfastly disconnecting and reconnecting each of the three cables for flight controllers.
-- Tariq Malik
Spacewalkers Wait on Gyro Evaluation
1 August 2005; 9:30 a.m. EDT
HOUSTON - Discovery spacewalkers Stephen Robinson and Soichi Noguchi are awaiting word from flight controllers to determine if their gyroscope repair has been effective.
NASA officials said that the station's attitude control officer was not seeing all of the anticipated data from the newly connected gyroscope.
-- Tariq Malik
Astronauts Connect Gyro Power Cables
1 August 2005; 9:15 a.m. EDT
HOUSTON - Astronauts Soichi Noguchi and Stephen Robinson have attached three power cables to the space station's new gyroscope to proved heating and electrical power to the unit.
With that task complete, they moved on to replace a thermal shrouds that protects the station's four gyroscopes from excessive heating.
-- Tariq Malik
New Gyroscope Installed at ISS
1 August 2005; 9:00 a.m. EDT
HOUSTON - Discovery's two spacewalking astronauts have installed a new gyroscope at the International Space Station, locking it down to the orbital laboratory at 8:59 a.m. EDT (1259 GMT), NASA officials said.
The move places four quality gyroscopes aboard the ISS to maintain its attitude control without firing propellant-consuming thrusters.
-- Tariq Malik
Spacewalkers Haul New Gyroscope to Work Site
1 August 2005; 8:50 a.m. EDT
HOUSTON - Space shuttle astronauts Soichi Noguchi and Stephen Robinson are again at the Z1 truss outside the International Space Station (ISS) to install a new attitude control moment gyroscope.
With Noguchi holding the 620-pound gyroscope at the end of the station's robotic arm, Robinson checked its docking berth for any signs of foreign debris. Finding none, they proceeded ahead to install the new gyroscope.
-- Tariq Malik
New Gyroscope on the Move
1 August 2005; 8:31 a.m. EDT
HOUSTON - Shuttle astronaut Wendy Lawrence, currently inside the International Space Station (ISS), is guiding STS-114 spacewalker Soichi Noguchi back to his work site as he carries a massive new gyroscope at the end of the station's robotic arm.
The new control moment gyroscope will replace a broken one Noguchi and his spacewalking partner Stephen Robinson have already removed from the ISS and stowed away in Discovery's payload bay.
You can follow along with today's spacewalk on NASA TV by clicking on SPACE.com's NASA TV feed available at the left on this page.
-- Tariq Malik
Broken Gyroscope Firmly Locked Down
1 August 2005; 8:21 a.m. EDT
HOUSTON - With a bit of extra elbow grease and an extra set of hands, two spacewalking astronauts have locked down a faulty gyroscope into Discovery's payload bay.
Discovery spacewalker Soichi Noguchi had a bit of difficulty firmly mating the broken gyroscope to its final berth for the return to Earth, but with help from his space working partner Stephen Robinson the problem was solved.
Noguchi is now pulling a new gyroscope, which he and Robinson will install to the International Space Station (ISS), out of Discovery's payload bay.
A total of four gyroscopes are used to orient the space station without firing thrusters and consuming fuel.
-- Tariq Malik
Spacewalkers See Small Glitch
1 August 2005; 8:07 a.m. EDT
HOUSTON - Discovery astronauts Soichi Noguchi and Stephen Robinson have had a bit of difficulty locking a broken gyroscope into place inside the aft of the shuttle's payload bay.
After encountering problems ratcheting down bolts to secure the gyroscope in its payload bay berth, Robinson hauled himself over to help. Noguchi is fixed to the end of the International Space Station (ISS) robotic arm.
The two astronauts have breezed through their spacewalk up to this point, successfully removing the broken gyroscope from its ISS location, stowing in a temporary position in Discovery's payload bay, then plucking out the new gyroscope and setting it along side its faulty counterpart. The sort of orbital shell game, as Noguchi has called it, will conclude when he grabs the new gyroscope and carries it to the space station's Z1 truss.
-- Tariq Malik
Smooth Spacewalk Ahead of Schedule
1 August 2005; 7:31 a.m. EDT
HOUSTON - Despite a late start, the two spacewalkers outside the shuttle Discovery and International Space Station (ISS) are about 40 minutes ahead of their timeline as they continue their 6.5-hour spacewalk.
The astronauts began the extravehicular activity, the second spacewalk of their mission, about 30 minutes late, but their deft handling of both a broken gyroscope and its brand new replacement have streamlined their work.
The spacewalkers, Discovery astronauts Soichi Noguchi and Stephen Robinson, are now stowing the broken gyroscope i
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