DOCKING! Russian Cargo Ship Docks at Space Station
Space Station Crew to Host Visiting
Shuttle
14 March 2009 10:23 a.m. EDT
Click here for SPACE.com?s live mission
coverage during Discovery?s
STS-119 mission.
Discovery is slated to launch on
March 15 to deliver a new pair of U.S. solar arrays and Japanese astronaut
Koichi Wakata, who will replace NASA astronaut Sandra
Magnus as a member of the space station?s Expedition 18 crew.
Magnus will return to Earth aboard
Discovery. Wakata will stay aboard until his
replacement arrives on a subsequent NASA shuttle in June. Station commander
Michael Fincke ? who turns
42 years old today ? and flight engineer Yury Lonchakov will land on April 7 aboard a Russian Soyuz
spacecraft.
Click here for SPACE.com?s live mission
coverage during Discovery?s STS-119 mission.
-- Tariq Malik
NASA will broadcast the joint Expedition 18-STS-119 mission live on NASA TV during launch and the flight. You are invited to follow the mission using SPACE.com?s NASA TV feed, which is available by clicking here or using the button at the left.
Station Crew Finishes Spacewalk
10 March 2009 5:23 p.m. EDT
The spacewalk began at 12:22 p.m.
EDT (1622 GMT) and ended at 5:11 p.m. EDT (2111 GMT).
Total spacewalking time: 4 hours, 49
minutes.
Fincke and Lonchakov installed the new
EXPOSE-R experiment, readjusted a Russian materials exposure experiment and
trimmed away some loose straps outside the station. The also conducted a photo
survey of the outpost?s exterior.
The spacewalk was the sixth career
spacewalk for Fincke, who
now has about 26 hours and 12 minutes of spacewalking time. It was the second
spacewalk for Lonchakov,
who has 10 hours and 27 minutes.
Click
here for SPACE.com?s preview story for today?s spacewalk.
A wrap up of today?s spacewalk will be posted to the SPACE.com homepage shortly.
-- Tariq Malik
NASA is broadcasting the Expedition 18 spacewalk live on NASA TV. You are invited to follow the mission using SPACE.com?s NASA TV feed, which is available by clicking here or using the button at the left.
Station Astronauts Shut Airlock
Hatch
10 March 2009 5:13 p.m. EDT
?Okay space, goodbye now,? said Fincke, who wrapped up his sixth
career spacewalk.
?Rather, see you later,? added Lonchakov, finishing his second
spacewalk. Today?s spacewalk began at 12:22 p.m. EDT (1622 GMT) and was slated
to run about six hours in duration, but the astronauts finished their work in
just over four hours.
Click
here for SPACE.com?s preview story for today?s spacewalk.
A wrap up of today?s spacewalk will be posted to the SPACE.com homepage shortly.
-- Tariq Malik
NASA is broadcasting the Expedition 18 spacewalk live on NASA TV. You are invited to follow the mission using SPACE.com?s NASA TV feed, which is available by clicking here or using the button at the left.
Spacewalkers Head Back to Airlock
10 March 2009 4:33 p.m. EDT
The astronauts are examining their Russian-built Orlan spacesuit and will retrieve a protective cover from the EXPOSE-R exposure experiment, which they successfully installed earlier in today?s spacewalk. After a few final photography tasks, they are expected to reenter the station?s Russian Pirs airlock to end today?s spacewalk.
Earlier, Fincke and Lonchakov
installed the new
EXPOSE-R experiment, readjusted a Russian materials exposure experiment and
trimmed away some loose straps outside the station. Today?s spacewalk began at
12:22 p.m. EDT (1622 GMT) and was slated to run about six hours in duration,
though Fincke and Lonchakov have consistently been
ahead of schedule.
Click here for SPACE.com?s preview story for today?s spacewalk.
-- Tariq Malik
NASA is broadcasting the Expedition 18 spacewalk live on NASA TV. You are invited to follow the mission using SPACE.com?s NASA TV feed, which is available by clicking here or using the button at the left.
Spacewalkers Snap More ISS Photos
10 March 2009 4:05 p.m. EDT
The inspection is one of the final
tasks for today?s spacewalk, which began at 12:22 p.m. EDT (1622 GMT) and was
due to run about six hours.
Earlier, Fincke and Lonchakov
installed the new
EXPOSE-R experiment, readjusted a Russian materials exposure experiment and
trimmed away some loose straps outside the station.
Click here for SPACE.com?s preview story for today?s spacewalk.
-- Tariq Malik
NASA is broadcasting the Expedition 18 spacewalk live on NASA TV. You are invited to follow the mission using SPACE.com?s NASA TV feed, which is available by clicking here or using the button at the left.
Spacewalkers to Wrap Up Work
10 March 2009 3:35 p.m. EDT
Working well ahead of their
schedule, the astronauts are expected to head back to the station?s
Russian-built Pirs docking
compartment - which doubles as an airlock.
Russian flight controllers are
planning to move a set of solar arrays to give the astronauts a clear path back
to the airlock. There?s a chance Fincke
may have lightly brushed one of the Russian segment solar arrays while working
outside, though flight controllers have not confirmed it, NASA officials said.
Fincke and Lonchakov installed the new
EXPOSE-R experiment, readjusted a Russian materials exposure experiment,
trimmed away some loose straps outside the station and are wrapping up a photo
survey of the outpost?s Russian segment.
Today?s spacewalk began at 12:22
p.m. EDT (1622 GMT) and is due to run about six hours.
Click here for SPACE.com?s preview story for today?s spacewalk.
-- Tariq Malik
NASA is broadcasting the Expedition 18 spacewalk live on NASA TV. You are invited to follow the mission using SPACE.com?s NASA TV feed, which is available by clicking here or using the button at the left.
Spacewalkers Snap ISS Photos
10 March 2009 3:09 p.m. EDT
The astronauts have paused in their
work as the station flies over the Earth?s night side. Russian flight
controllers advised the spacewalkers to rest.
?We?ll just start telling jokes,? Fincke said. ?Look at that
beautiful sunset.?
Today?s spacewalk began at 12:22
p.m. EDT (1622 GMT) and is due to run about six hours.
Click here for SPACE.com?s preview story for today?s spacewalk.
-- Tariq Malik
NASA is broadcasting the Expedition 18 spacewalk live on NASA TV. You are invited to follow the mission using SPACE.com?s NASA TV feed, which is available by clicking here or using the button at the left.
Spacewalkers Set for Other Tasks
10 March 2009 2:43 p.m. EDT
With their
main task complete, spacewalkers Michael Fincke and Yury
Lonchakov are moving on to
other chores.
The astronauts will reposition a
Russian materials exposure experiment and take a photo survey of some 28
targets outside the station?s Russian-built segment. They?re currently wrapping
up work on the station?s new EXPOSE-R instrument, a joint European-Russian
exposure experiment that they installed earlier today.
The spacewalk began at 12:22 p.m. EDT (1622 GMT) and is now slated to run about six hours.
Click here for SPACE.com?s preview story for today?s spacewalk.
-- Tariq Malik
NASA is broadcasting the Expedition 18 spacewalk live on NASA TV. You are invited to follow the mission using SPACE.com?s NASA TV feed, which is available by clicking here or using the button at the left.
Spacewalkers Successfully Install
Experiment
10 March 2009 2:07 p.m. EDT
After a short break, spacewalkers Michael
Fincke and Yury Lonchakov have successfully installed a joint
European-Russian experiment that will expose a variety of seeds, microbes and
other organic material to the harsh space environment.
The astronauts plugged into the
EXPOSE-R experiment, with flight controllers on Earth reporting they were
receiving telemetry from the instrument. An internal cabling issue inside the
spaces station blocked telemetry during the experiment?s initial installation
in a December spacewalk.
?That?s it, we?re done,? Lonchakov said. ?Everything is
very good.?
The EXPOSE-R installation was the
main task of today?s spacewalk. Other chores include a photo survey o the space
station and the repositioning of a micrometeoroid debris monitoring experiment.
The spacewalk began at 12:22 p.m. EDT (1622 GMT) and is now slated to run about six hours.
Click here for SPACE.com?s preview story for today?s spacewalk.
-- Tariq Malik
NASA will broadcast Expedition 18 spacewalk live on NASA TV. You are invited to follow the mission using SPACE.com?s NASA TV feed, which is available by clicking here or using the button at the left.
Spacewalkers to Install New
Experiment
10 March 2009 1:15 p.m. EDT
Spacewalkers Michael
Fincke and Yury Lonchakov have finished hacking away six loose
straps near a docking port outside the International Space Station to make sure
they don?t interfere with arriving and departing
spacecraft. They?re now preparing to install a joint European-Russian
experiment.
The astronauts used sharp cutters to
shorten the loose straps, taking great care to not slice their own spacesuits
or let any of the cut straps drift out of their grasp. They will now prepare to
install the EXPOSE-R experiment, which will expose plant seeds, microbes and
other organic materials to the space environment for 18 months.
Today?s spacewalk began at 12:22
p.m. EDT (1622 GMT) and is slated to last five hours and 20 minutes.
Click here for SPACE.com?s preview story for today?s spacewalk.
-- Tariq Malik
NASA will broadcast Expedition 18 spacewalk live on NASA TV. You are invited to follow the mission using SPACE.com?s NASA TV feed, which is available by clicking here or using the button at the left.
Spacewalkers Cut Away Station Straps
10 March 2009 12:47 p.m. EDT
With their
spacewalk under way, astronauts Michael Fincke and Yury
Lonchakov have slashed away
some loose straps outside the International Space Station, taking great care
not to cut their own spacesuits with sharp knives.
The two astronauts cut six loose straps
from the exterior of the station?s Russian segment to make sure they don?t
interfere with equipment in the future. They are moving ahead with a laundry
list of chores for today?s spacewalk, which began at 12:22 p.m. EDT (1622
and is due to run more than five hours.
Click here for SPACE.com?s preview story for today?s spacewalk.
-- Tariq Malik
NASA will broadcast Expedition 18 spacewalk live on NASA TV. You are invited to follow the mission using SPACE.com?s NASA TV feed, which is available by clicking here or using the button at the left.
Astronauts Begin Spacewalk at
Station
10 March 2009 12:26 p.m. EDT
Astronauts Michael Fincke and Yury Lonchakov
have officially begun
today?s spacewalk outside the International Space Station.
The spacewalk began at 12:22 p.m.
EDT (1622 GMT), with Fincke
opening the station?s Russian-built Pirs
airlock hatch as the station flew about 220 miles (354 km) above Earth.
?Terrific, the hatch is open,? Fincke said.
The spacewalk was slated to run about 5 hours and 20 minutes. They astronauts will install a European-Russian experiment and perform a series of other maintenance tasks.
Click here for SPACE.com?s preview story for today?s spacewalk.
-- Tariq Malik
NASA will broadcast Expedition 18 spacewalk live on NASA TV. You are invited to follow the mission using SPACE.com?s NASA TV feed, which is available by clicking here or using the button at the left.
Astronauts Prepare to Begin
Spacewalk
10 March 2009 12:14 p.m. EDT
International Space Station
commander Michael Fincke
and flight engineer Yury Lonchakov are running ahead of
schedule for
their spacewalk today and are awaiting word to open the outer hatch of the
outpost?s Russian-built Pirs
airlock.
The spacewalk was slated to begin at 12:20 p.m. EDT (1620 GMT) and run about 5 hours and 20 minutes. They astronauts will install a European-Russian experiment and perform a series of other maintenance tasks.
Click here for SPACE.com?s preview story for today?s spacewalk.
-- Tariq Malik
NASA will broadcast Expedition 18 spacewalk live on NASA TV. You are invited to follow the mission using SPACE.com?s NASA TV feed, which is available by clicking here or using the button at the left.
Station Astronauts Gear Up for Spacewalk
10 March 2009 11:33 a.m. EDT
Astronauts aboard the International Space Station are less than an hour from the planned start of their spacewalk today outside the orbiting laboratory.
Station commander Michael Fincke and flight engineer Yury Lonchakov are due to step outside the station at about 12:20 p.m. EDT (1620 GMT) to install a stubborn European experiment and wrap several other chores leftover from a previous spacewalk. The astronauts will be wearing bulky Russian Orlan spacesuits. Lonchakov will lead the spacewalk.
Click here for SPACE.com?s preview story for today?s 5-hour, 20-minute spacewalk.
-- Tariq Malik
NASA will broadcast Expedition 18 spacewalk live on NASA TV. You are invited to follow the mission using SPACE.com?s NASA TV feed, which is available by clicking here or using the button at the left.
Russian Cargo Ship Docks at Space
Station
13 February 2009 2:22 a.m. EST
The unmanned Russian
space freighter Progress 32 has successfully docked at the International
Space Station. The two spacecraft met as they flew 215 miles above southwestern
China near the border of Mongolia.
?Contact!? reported station flight engineer Yury Lonchakov as the Progress 32 docked.
The spacecraft is hauling about 2.5
tons of cargo toward the space station and is due to dock at 2:19 a.m. EST
(0719 GMT).
A wrap up of today's docking at the space
station will be posted to the SPACE.com homepage shortly.
-- Tariq Malik
NASA will broadcast Expedition 18?s Progress 32 docking live on NASA TV. You are invited to follow the mission using SPACE.com?s NASA TV feed, which is available by clicking here or using the button at the left.
Russian Cargo Ship Prepares to Dock
at Space Station
13 February 2009 2:07 a.m. EST
The unmanned Russian
space freighter Progress 32 has positioned itself below its Earth-facing
berth on the space station?s Pirs
docking compartment in preparation for today?s planned docking.
Cosmonaut Yury Lonchakov
has reported a smooth approach, and has so far not had to take control of the
spacecraft via a console inside the station as he had to during the arrival of
the lat cargo ship, Progress 31.
The spacecraft is hauling about 2.5
tons of cargo toward the space station and is due to dock at 2:19 a.m. EST
(0719 GMT).
-- Tariq Malik
NASA will broadcast Expedition 18?s Progress 32 docking live on NASA TV. You are invited to follow the mission using SPACE.com?s NASA TV feed, which is available by clicking here or using the button at the left.
Russian Cargo Ship Flies Around Space Station
13 February 2009 1:57 a.m. EST
The unmanned Russian
space freighter Progress 32 has begun a short flyaround of the International Space Station to
align itself with a docking port on the station?s Earth-facing Pirs docking compartment.
All continues to go well with today?s docking and cameras aboard the station and progress 32 are returning clear images of each other.
The spacecraft is hauling about 2.5
tons of cargo toward the space station and is due to dock at 2:19 a.m. EST
(0719 GMT).
-- Tariq Malik
NASA will broadcast Expedition 18?s Progress 32 docking live on NASA TV. You are invited to follow the mission using SPACE.com?s NASA TV feed, which is available by clicking here or using the button at the left.
New Cargo Ship Closes in On Space
Station
13 February 2009 1:44 a.m. EST
The unmanned Russian
space freighter Progress 32 is drawing ever closer to the International
Space Station to end a three-day supply run for the outpost?s astronaut crew.
The spacecraft is about 6 kilometers from the space station and closing. In about 16 minutes, it is due to perform a short fly around to position itself for a docking at the Earth-facing Pirs docking compartment.
The spacecraft is hauling about 2.5
tons of cargo toward the space station and is due to dock at 2:19 a.m. EST
(0719 GMT).
-- Tariq Malik
NASA will broadcast Expedition 18?s Progress 32 docking live on NASA TV. You are invited to follow the mission using SPACE.com?s NASA TV feed, which is available by clicking here or using the button at the left.
Unmanned Cargo Ship Nears Space
Station
13 February 2009 1:30 a.m. EST
The unmanned Russian
space freighter Progress 32 is closing in on the International Space
Station after a three-day trip to deliver new supplies to the outpost?s
astronaut crew.
The spacecraft is hauling about 2.5
tons of cargo toward the space station and is due to dock at 2:19 a.m. EST
(0719 GMT).
-- Tariq Malik
NASA will broadcast Expedition 18?s Progress 32 docking live on NASA TV. You are invited to follow the mission using SPACE.com?s NASA TV feed, which is available by clicking here or using the button at the left.
New Space Freighter to Dock at
Station
13 February 2009 12:00 a.m. EST
The Russian
space freighter Progress 32 is due to dock at the International Space
Station today at 2:19 a.m. EST (0719 GMT).
NASA will provide live coverage of
the docking on NASA TV beginning at 1:30 a.m. EST (0630 GMT). Updates on this
morning?s automated space station docking will be posted here.
Click
here for a link to SPACE.com?s live NASA TV.
Click
here for a look at the most recent space station mission story.
');











