STS-118 Mission Updates: Part 1

by Space.com, staff

Date: 23 August 2007 Time: 10:20 AM ET

Shuttle Astronauts Begin First Full Day in Space
9 August 2007 8:42 a.m. EDT

The seven-astronaut crew of NASA's space shuttle Endeavour has begun the first full day in space of the STS-118 mission.

The astronauts awoke to the song "Where My Heart Will Take Me" by Russell Watson, the theme to "Star Trek: Enterprise," chosen for Endeavour mission specialist Rick Mastracchio.

"Good morning Endevour and an especially good morning to you this morning Rick," NASA astronaut Shannon Lucid, serving as spacecraft communicator in Mission Control, told the astronauts.

Endeavour's STS-118 crew will spend most of today inspecting their spacecraft for damage.

NASA is providing live coverage of Endeavour's STS-118 mission to the ISS. You are invited to follow the mission using SPACE.com's NASA TV link by clicking here or the button link at the upper left.

- Tariq Malik

Shuttle Endeavour Fires Engines to Raise Orbit
8 August 2007 7:19 p.m. EDT

After a near-flawless evening launch from NASA's Kennedy Space Center, astronauts aboard the shuttle Endeavour have fired their spacecraft's engines to reach a higher orbit.

STS-118 commander Scott Kelly and pilot Charlie Hobaugh fired Endeavour's two aft-mounted Orbital Maneuvering System engines in a maneuver known as an OMS-2 burn. The engine burn, which lasted 2.5 minutes, raised and circularized Endeavour's orbit to a path that reaches 198 miles (318 kilometers) at its highest point.

Endeavour launched at 6:36:42 p.m. EDT (2236:42 GMT) tonight and is due to dock at the International Space Station (ISS) on Friday.

NASA is providing live coverage of Endeavour's STS-118 mission to the ISS. You are invited to follow the mission using SPACE.com's NASA TV link by clicking here or the button link at the upper left.

- Tariq Malik

Endeavour Astronauts Discard Shuttle Fuel Tank
8 August 2007 6:46 p.m. EDT

The STS-118 astronauts aboard the space shuttle Endeavour have discarded the 15-story external tank that fed the orbiter’s nearly nine-minute launch into space.

With that, Endeavour is now in orbit. The upcoming tasks for the shuttle's STS-118 crew include opening the orbiter's shell-like payload bay doors.

NASA is providing live coverage of Endeavour's STS-118 launch and mission. You are invited to follow the mission using SPACE.com's NASA TV link by clicking here or the button link at the upper left.

- Tariq Malik

Endeavour's Engines Shut Down as Planned
8 August 2007 6:44 p.m. EDT

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – The rocket engines boosting Endeavour and its external tank towards orbit have shut down as planned about eight and a half minutes into flight.

The milestone, known as Main Engine Cut-Off (MECO) The spacecraft is flying towards its intended orbit, with the next major task aimed at discarding the shuttle’s external tank.

NASA is providing live coverage of Endeavour's STS-118 launch and mission. You are invited to follow the mission using SPACE.com's NASA TV link by clicking here or the button link at the upper left.

- Tariq Malik

Solid Rocket Boosters Separate
8 August 2007 6:39 p.m. EDT

The twin solid rocket boosters assisting Endeavour's launch into space have separated as planned from the shuttle’s external tank.

The reusable boosters separate just over two minutes after liftoff and fall back toward the Atlantic Ocean, where they will splash down under parachutes and be retrieved by recovery ships. They are equipped with cameras to record the performance of Endeavour's external tank and any foam loss seen during today’s ascent.

NASA is providing live coverage of Endeavour's STS-118 launch and mission. You are invited to follow the mission using SPACE.com's NASA TV link by clicking here or the button link at the upper left.

- Tariq Malik

Shuttle Endeavour Lifts Off!
8 August 2007 6:37 p.m. EDT

The space shuttle Endeavour has cleared the launch tower and gaining altitude after lifting off at about 6:36 p.m. EDT (2236 GMT).

Riding aboard Endeavour are STS-118 commander Scott Kelly, pilot Charlie Hobaugh and mission specialists Tracy Caldwell, Rick Mastracchio, Alvin Crew, Jr. Teacher-turned-astronaut Barbara Morgan and the Canadian Space Agency's Dave Williams round out the crew as mission specialists.

It should take Endeavour about eight and one-half minutes to ferry its seven-astronaut crew into orbit.

NASA is providing live coverage of Endeavour's STS-118 launch and mission. You are invited to follow the mission using SPACE.com's NASA TV link by clicking here or the button link at the upper left.

- Tariq Malik

Shuttle Endeavour 'Go for Launch'
8 August 2007, 6:27 p.m. EDT

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – Shuttle Endeavour has been cleared for launch from Kennedy Space Center's Pad 39-A on its 20^th flight, a mission to the International Space Station. The countdown has just picked up following the planned T-9 minute hold as final launch preparations are rushed to completion.

The mission management team has been polled and all have reported ‘Go for launch.’ The seven STS-118 astronauts, led by veteran mission commander Scott Kelly and including teacher-turned-astronaut Barbara Morgan, are strapped into their seats, running through their pre-launch checklists and are closely monitoring their spacecraft systems for their ascent to orbit.

Endeavour's launch time remains set for 6:36:42 p.m. EDT (2236:42 GMT) - the launch window extends to 6:43:46 p.m. EDT (2243:46 GMT).

No technical or vehicle issues are being worked at this time, with very little chatter on the internal communication loops.

Weather conditions are observed and forecast ‘Go’ on all fronts with no constraints to launch, and conditions at all three Transatlantic Abort Landing site remain acceptable. The Eastern Range is reporting ‘Clear for launch.’ The final inspection team reports only normal levels of condensation on the top of the external tank, with no visible ice formations.

Over the next nine minutes, the Orbiter’s access arm will be retracted, the hydraulic power system (APU) started, the liquid hydrogen and oxygen tanks pressurized, Endeavour’s internal flight computers will take control of the countdown and a booster steering test will be conducted. The three space shuttle main engines will ignite at T-minus 6.6 seconds and the twin solid rockets boosters will light at T-minus zero resulting in liftoff.

At the time of Endeavour's launch, the International Space Station will be orbiting southeast of Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada.

Click here for SPACE.com's launch preview story.

NASA is providing live coverage of Endeavour's STS-118 launch and mission. You are invited to follow the mission using SPACE.com's NASA TV link by clicking here or the button link at the upper left.

- Roger Guillemette

Shuttle Endeavour Ready for Launch
8 August 2007, 6:06 p.m. EDT

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – Shuttle Endeavour is now just 30 minutes away from liftoff on its mission to the International Space Station. The countdown clock is holding at the T-9 minute mark – the final planned, built-in hold remaining in the countdown.

Endeavour's launch time remains set for 6:36:42 p.m. EDT (2236:42 GMT) – the launch window extends to 6:43:46 p.m. EDT (2243:46 GMT).

The seven STS-118 astronauts, led by veteran mission commander Scott Kelly and including teacher-turned-astronaut Barbara Morgan, are strapped into their seats, running through their pre-launch checklists and are closely monitoring their spacecraft systems in preparation for their ascent to orbit. The close-out crew has just finished breaking down the ‘White Room’ surrounding the spacecraft hatch and has departed the launch pad.

No technical issues are being worked at this time. Mission managers are polling members of the launch team to ensure that all is in readiness with Endeavour and crew, now poised for launch from the Kennedy Space Center’s Pad 39-A.

Astronaut Mark Polansky is piloting the Shuttle Training Aircraft, flying practice approaches to the Shuttle Landing Facility to confirm acceptable visibility conditions for a Return-to-Launch Site (RTLS) abort.

Weather forecasts remain very positive, with a 90 percent chance of acceptable conditions predicted for launch time. Favorable conditions are also forecast for the primary and backup Transatlantic Abort Landing sites in Spain and France.

- Roger Guillemette

Shuttle Endeavour's Hatch Closed for Launch
8 August 2007, 5:20 p.m. EDT

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – Shuttle Endeavour's hatch has been closed and latched for flight, the seven STS-118 astronauts are strapped into their seats and final preparations are progressing for this evening’s launch attempt from Kennedy Space Center’s Launch Pad 39-A.

A minor problem forced technicians to reopen and then re-seal the Endeavour's hatch after some micro-switches in the hatch assembly did not initially indicate a secure closure. Two technicians reentered the Orbiter to visually verify that the hatch seal was secure even though the micro-switch sensors indicated otherwise.

Mission commander Scott Kelly, pilot Charlie Hobaugh and crew have just completed the final series of air-to-ground communications checks to ensure that the astronauts can talk to flight controllers and each other during the spacecraft’s ascent to orbit.

Endeavour's launch time is set for 6:36:42 p.m. EDT (2236:42 GMT), with a 5-minute launch window. A final adjustment may be made at the T-9 minute hold to more precisely align with the orbit of the International Space Station; at launch time, the ISS will be orbiting southeast of Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada.

Weather forecasts remain very positive, with a 90 percent chance of acceptable conditions predicted for launch time. Conditions are also favorable at the primary and backup Transatlantic Abort Landing sites.

The shuttle’s external tank is filled with a half-million gallons of super-chilled liquid hydrogen and liquid oxygen. The vehicle is in "stable replenish" mode and its massive fuel tank will continue to be topped-off until launch time.

The launch team is not working any technical or vehicle issues at this time. The Mission Management Team reviewed the discovery of a small crack in the foam insulation on a liquid oxygen feed line bracket but determined that it did not pose a risk for launch.

The two Solid Rocket Booster recovery ships have reported on-station, about 140 miles off the Florida coast and about 7-10 miles away from the actual impact point of the spent boosters.

Today’s launch attempt is the 66th in shuttle history from Pad 39-A. STS-118 marks Shuttle Endeavour's 20^th mission, the last being STS-113 in November/December 2002; the Orbiter underwent an extensive refurbishment after that mission to upgrade and modify its key systems.

- Roger Guillemette

Endeavour Astronauts Strapped-in for Launch
8 August 2007, 4:10 p.m. EDT

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. - The seven STS-118 astronauts are now securely strapped into their seats onboard shuttle Endeavour and are beginning final preparations for this evening's launch attempt.

Led by commander Scott Kelly and pilot Charlie Hobaugh, flight engineer Rick Mastracchio, mission specialists Tracy Caldwell and Alvin Drew, teacher-turned-astronaut Barbara Morgan and Canadian astronaut Dave Williams are now engaged in a series of communications checks between the spacecraft, the launch team and Mission Control in Houston.

Launch Weather Officer Kathy Winters has just upgraded the forecast to a 90 percent probability of acceptable condition at launch time, stating that offshore rain showers are no longer a concern.

The launch team is not working any technical issues at this time and the countdown is proceeding smoothly toward an on-time launch.

- Roger Guillemette

Endeavour Astronauts Arrive at Launch Pad
8 August 2007, 3:05 p.m. EDT

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. - Clad in their orange launch and entry spacesuits, the seven Endeavour astronauts have completed a 20-minute ride in their silver 'Astro Van' to Kennedy Space Center's Pad 39A where their spacecraft stands poised for launch. NASA Test Director Jeff Spaulding has given his permission for the astronauts to enter the spacecraft, indicating that all switches and systems in the cockpit are properly configured for the crew.

STS-118 commander Scott Kelly and pilot Charlie Hobaugh have been briefed on the launch weather forecast; meteorologists are still predicting an 80 percent probability of acceptable conditions at launch time.

The Final Inspection Team has departed the launch pad and will make their report to mission managers; however, the launch team is currently not working any vehicle or technical issues.

The countdown has just resumed at the T-minus 3 hour mark and Endeavour's external tank is now filled with a half-million gallons of super-chilled liquid hydrogen and liquid oxygen. The vehicle is in "stable replenish" mode and the massive fuel tank will continue to be topped-off until launch time.

Endeavour's launch time is set for 6:36:42 p.m. EDT (2236:42 GMT), with a 5-minute launch window.

- Roger Guillemette

Astronauts Depart for Launch Pad
8 August 2007 2:48 p.m. EDT

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – The STS-118 crew has left NASA's operations and checkouts building and are leaving for Pad 39A here at Kennedy Space Center.

NASA hopes to rocket space shuttle Endeavour and the seven astronauts towards the International Space Station (ISS) at approximately 6:36 p.m. EDT (2236 GMT) tonight.

Once Endeavour docks with the ISS two days after launch, educator-astronaut Barbara Morgan will assist her crewmates with continuing the construction of the orbital laboratory.

- Dave Mosher

Crew Receiving 'Pumpkin Suit' Checks
8 August 2007 2:25 p.m. EDT

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – The seven astronauts of STS-118 are having their orange flight space suits pressure-tested by technicians. Once the suits check out, the crew will depart for the launch pad at approximately about 2:46 p.m. EDT (1846 GMT) here at Kennedy Space Center (KSC).

NASA hopes to rocket space shuttle Endeavour and its crew from Pad 39A at approximately 6:36 p.m. EDT (2236 GMT) tonight.

Shuttle inspection crews finished looking over Endeavour's external fuel tank, now freshly loaded with liquid oxygen and hydrogen, at 11:25 a.m. EDT (1525 GMT) this morning.

Led by commander Scott Kelly, the STS-aa8 mission will continue of the International Space Station (ISS) with the arrival of the crew two days after launch. Educator-astronaut Barbara Morgan will make her first trip into space, along with her crewmates Tracy Caldwell and Alvin Drew.

Click here for SPACE.com's launch preview story.

- Dave Mosher

Endeavour Inspections Completed
8 August 2007 1:45 p.m. EDT

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – Technicians at Kennedy Space Center (KSC) have just finished up inspections of space shuttle Endeavour, pushing it a step closer to launch from Pad 39A at 6:36 p.m. EDT (2236 GMT) tonight.

The inspection team went over the shuttle's orange external fuel tank, checking for any leaks, loose foam, frost or other abnormalities that loading 500,000 gallons of liquid fuel into its chambers may have caused. Fueling of the tank began at 8:11 a.m. EDT (1211 GMT) and finished at 11:25 a.m. EDT (1525 GMT) this morning.

STS-118's seven-astronaut crew is finishing preparations to leave for the launch pad at about 2:46 p.m. EDT (1846 GMT). Once in space, the astronauts will continue International Space Station (ISS) construction with addition. Along with two other rookies on board, educator-astronaut Barbara Morgan will take her first trip into space tonight.

Click here for SPACE.com's launch preview story.

- Dave Mosher

Launch Countdown Goes Well for Shuttle Endeavour
8 August 2007 1:25 p.m. EDT

With just over five hours to go before rocketing into space, NASA's shuttle Endeavour is performing well, the space agency said.

The countdown for Endeavour's planned 6:36 p.m. EDT (2236 GMT) launch is currently at T-3 hours and holding at Pad 39A of NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Cape Canaveral, Florida. The planned hold allows launch controllers to calibrate Endeavour's inertial measurement unit and align tracking antennas along the Merritt Island Launch Area.

Launch controllers are also expected to perform an open loop communications test with the Eastern Range, over which Endeavour will launch during today's planned space shot.

Click here for SPACE.com's launch preview story.

- Tariq Malik

Endeavour's Astronaut Crew to Suit Up for Launch
8 August 2007 12:57 p.m. EDT

The seven astronauts of NASA's STS-118 crew are set to don their bright orange pressure suits for today's planned launch of their space shuttle Endeavour.

Shuttle commander Scott Kelly and pilot Charlie "Scorch" Hobaugh, meanwhile, are expected to receive a final weather briefing on launch conditions for tonight's planed 6:36 p.m. EDT (2236 GMT) launch.

Current weather forecasts call for an 80 percent chance of favorable launch conditions, NASA has said.

Click here for SPACE.com's launch preview story.

- Tariq Malik

Astronauts Eat Lunch, Wait to Depart Earth
8 August 2007 12:35 p.m. EDT

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – Seven astronauts set to make their spaceward journey are now eating lunch.

Technicians finished tanking space shuttle Endeavour's liquid fuels at about 11:25 a.m. this morning, poising the STS-118 mission to launch at approximately 6:36 p.m. EDT (2236 GMT) tonight from Pad 39A here at Kennedy Space Center (KSC). Crews at the launch pad continue to check for leaks and frost on the tank.

The crew will continue International Space Station (ISS) construction and re-supply it when they dock with the orbital laboratory two days after launch. Along with two other rookies on board, educator-astronaut Barbara Morgan will take her first trip into space.

Click here for SPACE.com's launch preview story.

- Dave Mosher

Shuttle's External Fuel Tank Now Full
8 August 2007 11:30 a.m. EDT

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – Technicians have now finished tanking space shuttle Endeavour's liquid oxygen and hydrogen fuels, according to NASA TV reports. The pumping of the cryogenic fuels in the large external fuel tank began at 8:11 a.m. this morning.

Now that tanking is complete, Endeavour is poised for a 6:36 p.m. EDT (2236 GMT) launch tonight from Pad 39A here at Kennedy Space Center (KSC). The close out crew arrived at 11:24 a.m. to prepare the shuttle for arrival of the STS-118 astronaut crew.

The crew, comprised of educator-astronaut Barbara Morgan and six other astronauts, will continue International Space Station (ISS) construction and re-supply the orbital laboratory after docking with it two days after launch.

Click here for SPACE.com's launch preview story.

- Dave Mosher

Shuttle's External Fuel Tank Half-Full
8 August 2007 9:55 a.m. EDT

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – Fuel tanking of space shuttle Endeavour's large external tank is now half-complete, said NASA spokesperson Steven Roy. Technicians began pumping cryogenically cooled oxygen and hydrogen into the tank at 8:11 a.m. this morning.

When the three-hour process finishes, Endeavour will be poised for a launch tonight at approximately 6:36 p.m. EDT (2236 GMT) from Pad 39A here at Kennedy Space Center (KSC).

The shuttle's seven-astronaut STS-118 crew will continue construction of the International Space Station (ISS) when the dock with the orbital laboratory two days after launch.

Click here for SPACE.com's launch preview story.

- Dave Mosher

Shuttle Endeavour's Fuel Tanking Begins
8 August 2007 8:20 a.m. EDT

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. –Technicians began pumping cryogenic fuel into space shuttle Endeavour's external fuel tank at 8:11 a.m. this morning, said Steven Roy, a NASA spokesperson from the Marshall Space Flight Center in Alabama, and is expected to last a little over 3 hours.

Once tanking commences, NASA hopes to send the vehicle spaceward this evening at approximately 6:36 p.m. EDT (2236 GMT) from Pad 39A here at Kennedy Space Center (KSC). Roy said the 20 percent threat of launch delay due to bad weather remains unchanged. Once in space, the crew of the STS-118 mission will continue construction of the International Space Station (ISS).

Endeavour was fully exposed to the world last night shortly after 9 p.m., following retraction of the launch pad's Rotating Service Structure (RSS), which houses the shuttle-rocket assembly from weather and allows technicians to inspect the spacecraft in its vertical position.

Meanwhile, the seven STS-118 astronauts have woken up and are eating breakfast, said Nicole Cloutier-Lemasters, a Johnson Space Center spokesperson here at KSC. After medical checks, a weather briefing and spacesuit donning, Cloutier-Lemasters said the crew will depart for the launch pad at 2:46 p.m. this afternoon.

Click here for SPACE.com's launch preview story.

- Dave Mosher

Weather Outlook Improves Shuttle Launch Forecast
7 August 2007 8:40 a.m. EDT

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – NASA's weather officer improved the Wednesday launch forecast for the space shuttle Endeavour by 10 percent, according to a weather report released this morning.

A central U.S. heat wave forecasters are calling the "ring of fire" may be causing the improvement from a 70 percent chance of successful launch to an 80 percent chance. Heat indexes today as high as 108 degrees are expected near Oklahoma, the heat spell's epicenter, and 100 close to the launch site here at Kennedy Space Center (KSC).

As the weather system pushes away the chance of thunderstorms on launch day, astronauts continue preparing for their 6:36 p.m. (2236 GMT) expected launch tomorrow.

George Diller, NASA's KSC spokesperson, said STS-118 astronauts are flying shuttle trainers and will meet their families for lunch later today. Meanwhile, Diller said technicians finished the delicate procedure of loading Endeavour's fuel cell this morning, which will provide on-board power for the spacecraft.

- Dave Mosher

NASA: Countdown Running, Crew Tying Up Loose Ends
6 August 2007 9:35 a.m. EDT

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – As the shuttle mission clock counts backwards to a Wednesday launch of Endeavour and STS-118 crew, the astronauts continue with final preparations at Kennedy Space Center (KSC), a NASA official said.

Nicole Cloutier, a Johnson<