ISS Expedition 16 Mission Updates: Part 1

ISS Crew Prepares for Fifth Spacewalk
29 January 2008 2:29 p.m. EST

International Space Station (ISS) commander Peggy Whitson and flight engineer Dan Tani are gearing up for the fifth spacewalk outside the orbiting laboratory in an effort to bring the outpost one step closer to full power.

Whitson and Tani will replace a broken joint motor for one of the station's two starboard solar wings during the planned six-hour spacewalk, which is slated to begin no later than 5:30 a.m. EST (1030 GMT) on Jan. 30.

Click here for SPACE.com's preview of the spacewalk.

NASA will provide live coverage of Expedition 16's fifth spacewalk on NASA TV beginning at 4:00 a.m. EST (0900 GMT). Click here for SPACE.com's NASA TV feed or follow the NASA TV link at the upper left of this page.

-- Tariq Malik

Russian Space Freighter Takes Firm Hold of ISS
26 December 2007 3:28 a.m. EST

After a successful docking, the unmanned Russian cargo ship Progress 27 has taken a firm hold of the International Space Station (ISS).

A series of hooks and latches were driven into place to secure the automated supply ship to its berth at the station's Earth-facing Pirs docking port. The cargo ship docked at 3:14 a.m. EST (0814 GMT) bringing about 2.5 tons of fresh supplies and some gifts to the outpost's three-person crew.

A wrap up of today's ISS docking will be posted to the SPACE.com homepage.

-- Tariq Malik

Russian Cargo Ship Docks at ISS
26 December 2007 3:18 a.m. EST

The unmanned Russian cargo ship Progress 27 has successfully docked at the International Space Station (ISS), bringing about 2.5 tons of fresh supplies and some gifts to the outpost's three-person crew.

Docking occurred earlier than planned at 3:14 a.m. EST (0814 GMT) as both spacecraft flew high over southern Europe.

"Everything is nominal," said Expedition 16 cosmonaut Yuri Malenchenko, who watched over the cargo ship's docking. "Okay, we feel the contact."

A series of hooks and latches will secure the spacecraft to the ISS. Hatches between Progress 27 and the ISS are slated to be open at about 6:30 a.m. EST (1130 GMT).

NASA is providing live coverage of Expedition 16's Progress 27 docking on NASA TV. Click here for SPACE.com's NASA TV feed or follow the NASA TV link at the upper left of this page.

-- Tariq Malik

Russian Cargo Ship on Final ISS Approach
26 December 2007 3:13 a.m. EST

The unmanned Russian cargo ship Progress 27 is on final approach to the International Space Station, where it is less than 50 meters and closing slowly toward a berth at the Pirs docking compartment.

Docking is set for 3:25 a.m. EST (0825 GMT).  All is going well with today's planned docking.

NASA is providing live coverage of Expedition 16's Progress 27 docking on NASA TV. Click here for SPACE.com's NASA TV feed or follow the NASA TV link at the upper left of this page.

-- Tariq Malik

Unmanned Cargo Ship to Dock at ISS
26 December 2007 3:00 a.m. EST

The unmanned Russian cargo ship Progress 27 is bearing down on the International Space Station (ISS) for a planned 3:25 a.m. EST (0825 GMT) docking later today.

Packed with about 2.5 tons of supplies, the resupply ship launched spaceward early Sunday on a three-day trek toward the ISS. The cargo ship is ferrying fresh fruit, vegetables, equipment and other much-needed items to the station's Expedition 16 crew.

It also carries Christmas and birthday gifts for station astronauts. Expedition 16 flight engineer and cosmonaut Yuri Malenchenko is expected to be ready to take remote control of the Progress 27 spacecraft should its automatic docking systems fail.

NASA is providing live coverage of Expedition 16's Progress 27 docking on NASA TV. Click here for SPACE.com's NASA TV feed or follow the NASA TV link at the upper left of this page.

-- Tariq Malik

Spacewalkers

Spacewalk Ends Outside Space Station
18 December 2007 12:08 p.m. EST

Expedition 16 flight engineer Yuri Malenchenko radioed the official stop time for his crewmates' spacewalk outside the International Space Station (ISS).

The spacewalk, the 100th outside the ISS, concluded at 11:46 a.m. EST (1646 GMT) as Expedition 16 commander Peggy Whitson and flight engineer Dan Tani repressurized the station's Quest airlock.

Total spacewalking time: 6 hours, 56 minutes.

Whitson and Tani inspected a beta gimbal joint at the base of a starboard solar wing for signs of damage, then conducted the most in-depth inspection to date of a large, 10-foot (3-meter) wide gear that turns the station's starboard solar arrays like a paddlewheel to track the sun.

A wrap up of today's spacewalk will be posted to the SPACE.com homepage shortly.

NASA will hold a press briefing to discuss today's spacewalk at about 1:30 p.m. EST (1830 GMT).

NASA will provide live coverage of Expedition 16's fourth spacewalk wrap up briefing on NASA TV. Click here for SPACE.com's NASA TV feed or follow the NASA TV link at the upper left of this page.

-- Tariq Malik

Spacewalkers Repressurize ISS Airlock
18 December 2007 11:59 a.m. EST

Expedition 16 commander Peggy Whitson and flight engineer Dan Tani are back inside the International Space Station's Quest airlock and repressurizing the compartment, marking the end of today's spacewalk inspection of two solar array-turning joints.

Repressurization began while the station was outside of communications range for flight controllers on Earth. An official spacewalk end time and duration is expected shortly.

NASA is providing live coverage of Expedition 16's fourth spacewalk on NASA TV. Click here for SPACE.com's NASA TV feed or follow the NASA TV link at the upper left of this page.

-- Tariq Malik

Astronauts to Wrap up Spacewalk at ISS
18 December 2007 11:31 a.m. EST

Expedition 16 commander Peggy Whitson and flight engineer Dan Tani are wrapping up today's spacewalk outside the International Space Station (ISS) after successful inspections of two separate joints servicing the outpost's starboard solar arrays.

The astronauts are now well into their sixth hour of today's spacewalk, which began at 4:50 a.m. EST (0950 GMT).

Whitson and Tani inspected a beta gimbal joint at the base of one of the station's two starboard solar wings, then conducted an comprehensive survey of the metal particle contamination of the station's starboard Solar Alpha Rotary Joint.

They are now returning to the station's Quest airlock.

NASA is providing live coverage of Expedition 16's fourth spacewalk on NASA TV. Click here for SPACE.com's NASA TV feed or follow the NASA TV link at the upper left of this page.

-- Tariq Malik

Spacewalkers Reconnect ISS Solar Wing Joint Cables
18 December 2007 11:08 a.m. EST

Spacewalkers Peggy Whitson and Dan Tani have returned to a beta gimbal joint at the base of a starboard solar wing outside the International Space Station (ISS) to reconnect a pair of power cables.

Whitson disconnected the cables earlier in today's spacewalk as part of a troubleshooting effort as she and Tani inspected the joint for signs of damage and debris. The joint suffered triple electrical failures on Dec. 8, prompting concerns that it was struck by a micrometeorite.

Tani and Whitson found no signs of damage during their inspection.

NASA is providing live coverage of Expedition 16's fourth spacewalk on NASA TV. Click here for SPACE.com's NASA TV feed or follow the NASA TV link at the upper left of this page.

-- Tariq Malik

Spacewalkers Collect Suspect ISS Joint Bearing
18 December 2007 10:47 a.m. EST

Spacewalkers Peggy Whitson and Dan Tani have successfully pried a bearing known as Trundle Bearing 5 from the International Space Station's (ISS) Solar Alpha Rotary Joint, completing the last major task of today's excursion.

They are due to reconnect a pair of electrical cables for a beta gimbal joint at the base of one of the station's two starboard solar wings before wrapping up today's spacewalk.

NASA is providing live coverage of Expedition 16's fourth spacewalk on NASA TV. Click here for SPACE.com's NASA TV feed or follow the NASA TV link at the upper left of this page.

-- Tariq Malik

Spacewalkers to Retrieve ISS Joint Bearing
18 December 2007 10:19 a.m. EST

Spacewalkers Peggy Whitson and Dan Tani are retrieving a suspect trundle bearing that engineers believe may be the culprit behind the metallic grit contaminating the starboard Solar Alpha Rotary Joint outside the International Space Station (ISS).

Known as Trundle Bearing 5, the bearing has exhibited some signs via telemetry that it may be a potential source of the station's SARJ joint woes.

NASA is providing live coverage of Expedition 16's fourth spacewalk on NASA TV. Click here for SPACE.com's NASA TV feed or follow the NASA TV link at the upper left of this page.

-- Tariq Malik

Spacewalking Astronauts Continue ISS Joint Inspection
18 December 2007 9:40 a.m. EST

Spacewalkers Peggy Whitson and Dan Tani are continuing through their hours-long inspection of the starboard Solar Alpha Rotary Joint (SARJ) outside the International Space Station (ISS).

As they near the five-hour mark of today's spacewalk outside the ISS, the astronauts have found metallic particles contaminating parts of the 10-foot (3-meter) wide joint everywhere they looked. The grit, however, appeared to be most concentrated near one of the SARJ gear's drive lock assembly motors and two trundle bearings inspected earlier in the spacewalk.

Whitson and Tani have used orange Kapton tape to collect samples and clean portions of the SARJ's metal rings. They have also used tools to measure the extent of damage to one of the SARJ's two race rings and tried scraping some of the debris free as well.

Engineers are closely watching the spacewalk to help determine how best to repair the large ISS gear.

NASA is providing live coverage of Expedition 16's fourth spacewalk on NASA TV. Click here for SPACE.com's NASA TV feed or follow the NASA TV link at the upper left of this page.

-- Tariq Malik

Spacewalk Passes Four-Hour Mark at ISS
18 December 2007 9:01 a.m. EST

Today's inspection spacewalk outside the International Space Station (ISS) has passed the four-hour mark as Expedition 16 astronauts Peggy Whitson and Dan Tani continue their in-depth look at the outpost's starboard Solar Alpha Rotary Joint.

The spacewalk began at 4:50 a.m. EST (0950 GMT).  

After looking under several of the joint's 22 thermal protective covers, the astronauts have found consistent evidence of contamination, but none as extensive as that which they saw near a pair of trundle bearings and a large motor early in their spacewalk.

Like Whitson, Tani has lost some strips of orange Kapton tape, which the spacewalkers are using to collect samples of the metallic contamination.

"It looks like I'm catching up to you Peggy," he said as the tape drifted away.

NASA is providing live coverage of Expedition 16's fourth spacewalk on NASA TV. Click here for SPACE.com's NASA TV feed or follow the NASA TV link at the upper left of this page.

-- Tariq Malik

Space Station Commander Breaks Spacewalking Record
18 December 2007 8:37 a.m. EST

International Space Station (ISS) commander Peggy Whitson has broken the record for the most cumulative spacewalking time for a female astronaut.

At 8:27 a.m. EST (1327 GMT), she surpassed the 29-hour and 17-minute benchmark set earlier this year by NASA astronaut Sunita Williams.

"Congratulations, there is no pressure now because you are now queen of EVA," Mission Control told Whitson, using NASA's abbreviation for extravehicular activities, or spacewalks.

"It's just being in the right place at the right time," Whitson replied.

NASA is providing live coverage of Expedition 16's fourth spacewalk on NASA TV. Click here for SPACE.com's NASA TV feed or follow the NASA TV link at the upper left of this page.

-- Tariq Malik

Spacewalkers Inspect ISS Joint, Sample Contamination
18 December 2007 8:12 a.m. EST

Spacewalkers Peggy Whitson and Dan Tani continue their in-depth inspection of the International Space Station's (ISS) starboard Solar Alpha Rotary Joint (SARJ).

In addition to removing a series of thermal covers and peering at the 10-foot (2-meter) wide gear's intricate internal mechanism, the spacewalkers have also collected samples of metallic grit that has contaminated the joint. So far, the contamination seems to be widespread, with concentration varying at each location.

Whitson lost two strips of the orange Kapton tape during the collection process, but the tape seems to be somewhat effective to retrieve samples and clean the joint.

"I am getting almost all of the debris off," Whitson said as she dabbed one of the joint's metal rings that is mottled with damage. "It seems less splotchy."

NASA is providing live coverage of Expedition 16's fourth spacewalk on NASA TV. Click here for SPACE.com's NASA TV feed or follow the NASA TV link at the upper left of this page.

-- Tariq Malik

Spacewalkers Continue Joint Inspection at ISS
18 December 2007 7:28 a.m. EST

NASA astronauts Peggy Whitson and Dan Tani are continuing their inspection of the large Solar Alpha Rotary Joint (SARJ) outside the International Space Station.

The spacewalkers have removed a second thermal cover to peer into different portions of the 10-foot (3-meter) wide gear, finding additional contamination of metallic grit and metal ring damage.

NASA is providing live coverage of Expedition 16's fourth spacewalk on NASA TV. Click here for SPACE.com's NASA TV feed or follow the NASA TV link at the upper left of this page.

-- Tariq Malik

ISS Spacewalkers Taking Samples of Metallic Grit
18 December 2007 6:56 a.m. EST

Spacewalkers Peggy Whitson and Dan Tani are now taking samples of the metallic grit inside the International Space Station's (ISS) large Solar Alpha Rotary Joint (SARJ) as they continue their inspection.

Earlier, the astronauts gave a detailed account of the metallic contamination in the SARJ, which appeared to vary by location. One of the joints 12 trundle bearings, Trundle Bearing 5, was initially thought to be the source of the damage, but contained less contamination that the nearby Trundle Bearing 6, they said.

Tani also spotted an odd "dance" of the metallic particles while inspecting one of the joint's motors at work.

"You can see the motion of the gear because the debris is kind of walking across the housing," said Tani, adding that the metal shavings appeared to walk end over end on the motor housing. "It's hilarious. It's animated, like they're alive. They're like ants."

NASA is providing live coverage of Expedition 16's fourth spacewalk on NASA TV. Click here for SPACE.com's NASA TV feed or follow the NASA TV link at the upper left of this page.

-- Tariq Malik

Spacewalkers Inspect Large Solar Truss Joint
18 December 2007 6:33 a.m. EST

NASA astronauts Peggy Whitson and Dan Tani are well into their planned hours-long inspection of a 10-foot (3-meter) wide gear on the starboard side of the International Space Station (ISS).

The spacewalkers are working at the Solar Alpha Rotary Joint (SARJ), which is afflicted by metallic grit, where they are currently inspecting one of two so-called Drive Lock Assemblies that serve as motors to turn the massive joint.

Whitson and Tani are nearing the two-hour mark of today's spacewalk, which began at 4:50 a.m. EST (0950 GMT).

NASA is providing live coverage of Expedition 16's fourth spacewalk on NASA TV. Click here for SPACE.com's NASA TV feed or follow the NASA TV link at the upper left of this page.

-- Tariq Malik

Spacewalkers Begin Second Joint ISS Inspection
18 December 2007 6:00 a.m. EST

Spacewalkers Peggy Whitson and Dan Tani have completed their first joint inspection at the base of one of two solar arrays on the starboard side of the International Space Station (ISS) and are now moving ahead with an in-depth look at the outpost's Solar Alpha Rotary Joint (SARJ).

They found no apparent signs of damage to a joint at the base of the station's 1A solar wing during their first inspection. Whitson and Tani are now at the station's starboard SARJ joint, a massive, 10-foot (3-meter) wide gear that rotates the outpost's right solar arrays to track the sun.

Tani found the joint to be contaminated with metallic grit during a late October spacewalk. He and Whitson confirmed the contamination during a November excursion.

During today's spacewalk, the astronauts to better gauge the extent of the damage and retrieve a suspect trundle bearing.

NASA is providing live coverage of Expedition 16's fourth spacewalk on NASA TV. Click here for SPACE.com's NASA TV feed or follow the NASA TV link at the upper left of this page.

-- Tariq Malik

Spacewalkers Examine ISS Solar Wing Joint
18 December 2007 5:39 a.m. EST

As spacewalkers Peggy Whitson and Dan Tani continue their joint inspection at the base of one of two solar arrays on the starboard side of the International Space Station (ISS), Whitson will climb inside a nearby truss section to take a closer look at some hardware.

"This is going to be a tight fit, Peg," said astronaut Joe Tanner, NASA's spacecraft communicator in Mission Control. "It's been done before on the ground, but you're going to be the first to do it in space."

"Does this suit make me look fat?" joked Whitson, who like Tani is clad in a bulky NASA spacesuit.

Whitson will surpass the current record for total spacewalking time by a female astronaut during today's spacewalk. NASA astronaut Sunita Williams set the benchmark ? 29 hours and 17 minutes ? earlier this year.

NASA is providing live coverage of Expedition 16's fourth spacewalk on NASA TV. Click here for SPACE.com's NASA TV feed or follow the NASA TV link at the upper left of this page.

-- Tariq Malik

Spacewalkers Begin Inspection of First ISS Joint
18 December 2007 5:29 a.m. EST

NASA astronauts Peggy Whitson and Dan Tani are inspecting the first of two joints that help keep the starboard solar arrays of the International Space Station (ISS) pointed to face the sun.

The spacewalkers are on the station's Starboard 4 truss, where they are inspecting cables and other equipment for a so-called beta gimbal joint. The joint supports the station's 1A solar wing and suffered an electrical failure on Dec. 8. While power has been restored to the wing, engineers hope to learn if its critical joint has suffered any damage.

"Everything that I can see is nominal," Tani said as he inspected the joint's cables. "I don't see anything."

Whitson noticed a slight yellow discoloration on one of the cables, but no outright signs of damage.

"It looks pristine," she said.

NASA is providing live coverage of Expedition 16's fourth spacewalk on NASA TV. Click here for SPACE.com's NASA TV feed or follow the NASA TV link at the upper left of this page.

-- Tariq Malik

Astronauts Begin 100th Spacewalk Outside ISS
18 December 2007 5:00 a.m. EST

NASA astronauts Peggy Whitson and Dan Tani are preparing to step outside the International Space Station (ISS) today for up to seven hours of spacewalking work to inspect two joints on the outpost's starboard side.

The spacewalkers are about an hour ahead of schedule for their planned spacewalk, beginning today's spacewalk at 4:50 a.m. EST (0950 GMT). They are about one hour and 10 minutes ahead of schedule.

Tani will lead the spacewalk clad in a NASA spacesuit bearing broken stripes, with Whitson's suit bearing solid red stripes. During today's spacewalk, the astronauts will inspect a contaminated starboard Solar Alpha Rotary Joint and a beta gimbal joint, both of which help orient the station's solar arrays toward the sun.

NASA is providing live coverage of Expedition 16's fourth spacewalk on NASA TV. Click here for SPACE.com's NASA TV feed or follow the NASA TV link at the upper left of this page.

-- Tariq Malik

Space Station Crew to Perform Extra Spacewalk
12 December 2007 1:25 p.m. EST

NASA astronauts aboard the International Space Station (ISS) will stage an unplanned spacewalk next week to inspect a balky solar array joint contaminated with metallic grit.

Expedition 16 commander Peggy Whitson and fight engineer Dan Tani will step outside the orbital laboratory at about 4:30 a.m. EST (0930 GMT) on Dec. 18 to inspect the station's starboard Solar Array Rotary Joint (SARJ). The 10-foot (3-meter) wide joint is designed to turn the station's starboard solar arrays to continuously track the sun, but has been contaminated by metallic particles.

"During the spacewalk, the participants Whitson and Tani will do an inspection of the solar array rotary joint," said NASA commentator John Ira Petty, adding that mission managers officially added the spacewalk to the Expedition 16 mission earlier today.

The astronauts and NASA space station managers will discuss the details of the spacewalk during a series of briefings on Thursday to air live on NASA TV. The crew will discuss their mission at 10:10 a.m. EST (1510 GMT), with ISS managers to follow at 2:00 p.m. EST (1900 GMT).

The spacewalk was originally scheduled as an add-on chore for STS-122 astronauts aboard the shuttle Atlantis, but their mission's has been delayed until Jan. 2, 2008.

NASA is providing live coverage of Expedition 16's fourth spacewalk on NASA TV. Click here for SPACE.com's NASA TV feed or follow the NASA TV link at the upper left of this page.

-- Tariq Malik

Astronauts Complete Third Spacewalk at ISS
24 November 2007 12:05 p.m. EST

Astronauts Peggy Whitson and Dan Tani are repressurizing the Quest airlock of the International Space Station (ISS), marking the end of today's spacewalk outside the orbital laboratory.

Total spacewalking time: 7 hours, 4 minutes.

The spacewalk ended at 11:54 a.m. EST (1654 GMT), after a successful orbital work session to wire up the station's new Harmony module. Whitson and Tani also inspected a balky solar array joint, routed cables for a station to shuttle power system and installed a floodlight outside the ISS.

A wrap up of today's spacewalk activities will be posted to the SPACE.com homepage.

NASA is providing live coverage of Expedition 16's third spacewalk on NASA TV. Click here for SPACE.com's NASA TV feed or follow the NASA TV link at the upper left of this page.

-- Tariq Malik

Spacewalkers Return to ISS Airlock
24 November 2007 11:45 a.m. EST

Spacewalkers Peggy Whitson and Dan Tani have returned to the Quest airlock aboard the International Space Station (ISS) as they near the end of today's work outside the orbital laboratory.

The astronauts are nearing the end of almost seven hours of orbital work to wire up the station's new Harmony node and inspect a balky starboard solar array joint.

Today's spacewalk began at 4:50 a.m. EST (0950 GMT).

NASA is providing live coverage of Expedition 16's third spacewalk on NASA TV. Click here for SPACE.com's NASA TV feed or follow the NASA TV link at the upper left of this page.

-- Tariq Malik

Spacewalker Installs ISS Flood Light
24 November 2007 11:33 a.m. EST

Spacewalker Peggy Whitson is finishing up work to install a flood light outside the International Space Station (ISS), the final task planned for today's spacewalk.

She and crewmate Dan Tani are preparing to wrap up their work outside the station after beginning today's spacewalk at 4:50 a.m. EST (0950 GMT).

NASA is providing live coverage of Expedition 16's third spacewalk on NASA TV. Click here for SPACE.com's NASA TV feed or follow the NASA TV link at the upper left of this page.

-- Tariq Malik

Extra Tasks on Tap for ISS Spacewalkers
24 November 2007 10:50 a.m. EST

Spacewalkers Peggy Whitson and Dan Tani may have some extra chores on their orbital to-do list as they continue to work outside the International Space Station (ISS).

The astronauts will reinstall an exterior light to the outer hull of the ISS and relocate an ISS tool bag.

Tani installed an astronaut personal foot restraint (APFR) for a future spacewalker.

"If you stand in this APFR, you'll be like the hood ornament on the front of the station," Tani said.

Today's spacewalk has passed the six-hour mark. It began at 4:50 a.m. EST (0950 GMT) and was slated to run about 6.5 hours.

NASA is providing live coverage of Expedition 16's third spacewalk on NASA TV. Click here for SPACE.com's NASA TV feed or follow the NASA TV link at the upper left of this page.

-- Tariq Malik

Spacewalkers Prepare to Wrap up ISS Work
24 November 2007 10:31 a.m. EST

Spacewalkers Peggy Whitson and Dan Tani are preparing to wrap up today's spacewalk outside the International Space Station (ISS).

The two NASA astronauts began their orbital work at 4:50 a.m. EST (0950 GMT) and completed all of their major tasks. They installed cooling, heater and power lines for the station's new Harmony node, completed wiring for the station's power transfer system to U.S. space shuttles and inspected a balky solar wing joint on the station's starboard side.

NASA is providing live coverage of Expedition 16's third spacewalk on NASA TV. Click here for SPACE.com's NASA TV feed or follow the NASA TV link at the upper left of this page.

-- Tariq Malik

Spacewalkers Describe Damaged ISS Gear
24 November 2007 9:57 a.m. EST

Spacewalker Peggy Whitson has joined her crewmate Dan Tani at the starboard solar array gear, where they continue their inspection of the massive, 10-foot wide joint.

Tani has described what appears to be damage from metallic shavings, which he first discovered during a spacewalk late last month.

"There are shavings on the gear, but it doesn't look like the gearing itself is damaged," Tani said.

He reported that a race ring making up part of the gear appeared to look as if its surface coating had been abraded.

"I don't see anything raised but it does look sand papery," Tani said. "It looks more like abraded damage."

Whitson said the actual gear teeth of the joint appear undamaged.

"They all look great to me," she said.

NASA is providing');