STS-122 Mission Updates: Part 1

by SPACE.com Staff

Date: 11 February 2008 Time: 08:26 AM ET

Shuttle Flight Back on Track After Astronaut's Illness

European Space Agency astronauts Hans Schlegel (left center) and Leopold Eyharts (center right); NASA astronauts Stanley Love (left) and Rex Walheim, all STS-122 mission specialists, work on the middeck of the shuttle Atlantis on Feb. 8, 2008.
CREDIT: NASA.

Orbital Rendezvous! Atlantis Docks with Space Station
9 February 2008 12:18 p.m. EST

HOUSTON – Space shuttle commander Stephen Frick gently guided Atlantis onto the Harmony node around 12:17 p.m. EST (1717 GMT), kicking off a busy schedule of orbital work for the installation of the Columbus science laboratory.

The event occurred 213 miles (342 kilometers) above the Earth over the South Pacific Ocean, just south of Tasmania and west of New Zealand.

Stay tuned for SPACE.com's wrap-up of today's docking activities.

NASA is broadcasting Atlantis’ STS-122 mission 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.

-- Dave Mosher

Less Than 100 Feet Remain Until Space Shuttle Docking
9 February 2008 12:07 p.m. EST

HOUSTON – Mission controllers gave the seven-astronaut crew of space shuttle Atlantis the all-clear to proceed with docking at the International Space Station (ISS) as they float 100 feet (30 meters) in front of the orbital outpost's Harmony node.

Docking is now expected to occur around 12:22 p.m. EST (1722 GMT) south of Tasmania, just west of new Zealand.

Click here to read SPACE.com's preview story of today's docking activities.

-- Dave Mosher

Atlantis Inches Toward Space Station for Docking
9 February 2008 11:58 a.m. EST

HOUSTON – Now positioned less than 200 feet (61 meters) from the International Space Station (ISS), space shuttle Atlantis is backing toward the orbital outpost's Harmony module at the rate of 2.4 inches (6.1 centimeters) per second.

Docking is expected at 12:25 p.m. EST (1725 GMT), and the seven-person crew of STS-122 will join the space station crew about an hour later.

Click here to read SPACE.com's preview story of today's docking activities.

-- Dave Mosher

Atlantis Begins Journey to Pull Up to Space Station
9 February 2008 11:47 a.m. EST

HOUSTON – Following a successful orbital back-flip of space shuttle Atlantis below the International Space Station (ISS), STS-122 commander Stephen Frick is now guiding the 100-ton orbiter into a docking position.

NASA expects the seven-astronaut crew to dock with the orbital outpost around 12:25 p.m. EST (1725 GMT) and join the three-member Expedition 16 space station crew about an hour later.

Click here to read SPACE.com's preview story of today's docking activities.

-- Dave Mosher

Orbital Back Flip of Atlantis finishes, Underbelly Photographed
9 February 2008 11:35 a.m. EST

HOUSTON – Wielding high-power lenses, Expedition 16 commander Peggy Whitson and flight engineer Yuri Malenchenko photographed space shuttle Atlantis as it was piloted into a 360-degree back-flip.

STS-122 commander Stephen Frick guided the 100-ton orbiter during the back-flip, known formally as a Rotational Pitch Maneuver. He will next pull up to the space station for a gentle docking.

Specialists here at Johnson Space Center will analyze the images see if there is any damage to the 100-ton orbiter's heat-resistant tiles, as well as an "area of interest" on the rear of the spacecraft. Astronauts photographed a thermal blanket sticking up at the Orbital Maneuvering System (OMS) pod earlier this weekend.

Click here to read SPACE.com's preview story of today's docking activities.

-- Dave Mosher

Back Flip! Shuttle Atlantis Rotates 360 Degrees
9 February 2008 11:26 a.m. EST

HOUSTON – After pulling Atlantis beneath the International Space Station (ISS), STS-122 commander Stephen Frick began piloting space shuttle Atlantis into a 360-degree back-flip.

The maneuver is performed shortly before docking, which is anticipated at 12:25 p.m. EST (1725 GMT).

During the 9-minute orbital procedure, ISS commander Peggy Whitson will be photograph Atlantis' heat shield with a 400-mm camera lens. Expedition 16 flight engineer Yuri Malenchenko will use a higher-power 800-mm lens. Mission managers here at Johnson Space Center will use the images to determine whether or not there is any damage to the 100-ton orbiter's heat-resistant tiles.

Click here to read SPACE.com's preview story of today's docking activities.

-- Dave Mosher

Shuttle Comes into View of Space Station, Prepares for Back-flip
9 February 2008 11:05 a.m. EST

HOUSTON – NASA's space shuttle Atlantis has appeared with view of the International Space Station (ISS) about 600 feet (183 meters) below the orbital outpost.

STS-122 shuttle commander Stephen Frick is readying to flip the shuttle 360 degrees before pulling up in front of the ISS, at which time Expedition 16 space station crew members Peggy Whitson (commander) and Yuri Malenchenko (flight engineer) will snap some 300-plus detailed photos of the orbiter's protective heat shield.

Frick will gently guide the 100-ton orbiter into docking position on the end of the Harmony connecting node around 12:25 p.m. EST (1725 GMT).

Click here to read SPACE.com's preview story of today's docking activities.

-- Dave Mosher

Shuttle Less Than Two Miles From Space Station
9 February 2008 10:45 a.m. EST

HOUSTON – Following a burn of propellant earlier this morning, the seven-astronaut STS-122 crew aboard space shuttle Atlantis is creeping within 1.1 miles (1.8 kilometers) of the International Space Station (ISS) for a docking early this afternoon. Mission managers expect the spacecraft to dock around 12:25 p.m. EST (1725 GMT).

Shuttle commander Stephen Frick will guide the 100-ton orbiter to 600 feet (183 meters) below the space station, pilot it into an orbital back-flip and pull up to the front of the ISS after its crew members document the orbiter's heat shield.

Brandi Dean, a NASA spokesperson here at Johnson Space Center, said mission managers have noted a tear in a thermal blanket of the shuttle's starboard (right) Orbital Maneuvering System (OMS) pod at the shuttle's rear.

Click here to read SPACE.com's preview story of today's docking activities.

-- Dave Mosher

Astronauts Note 'Tear' in Thermal Blanket on Atlantis
9 February 2008 9:51 a.m. EST

HOUSTON – Space shuttle Atlantis astronauts made their final press toward the International Space Station (ISS) today by initiating what is called a Terminal Intercept (or Terminal Initiation) (TI) burn at about 9:39 a.m. EST (1439 GMT).

The gap between the two spacecraft is about 9 miles (15 kilometers) and closing. NASA expects Atlantis to arrive 600 feet (183 meters) below the orbital outpost, where it will perform an orbital back-flip and allow ISS crewmembers Yuri Malenchenko and Peggy Whitson to photograph the huttle's heat-resistant belly.

"We have a great view of ISS out the front window," STS-122 commander Stephen Frick told Mission Control here at Johnson Space Center. "It looks tremendously bright and beautiful."

"Wish we were all there with you," responded spacecraft communicator Kevin Ford.

Meanwhile, mission controllers instructed the Expedition 16 space station crew to take extra photos of "an area of interest," as Mission Control commentator Nicole Lemasters called it, on a thermal blanket of the shuttle's starboard (right) Orbital Maneuvering System (OMS) pod. Mission controllers referred to the area as a "tear."

The OMS area of the space shuttle, located on the rear of the spacecraft, allows the crew to finely adjust the position of Atlantis' orbit above Earth.

Click here to read SPACE.com's preview story of today's docking activities.

-- Dave Mosher

Atlantis Closes in on Space Station
9 February 2008 8:05 a.m. EST

HOUSTON – Astronauts about the space shuttle Atlantis are closing in on the International Space Station (ISS) and expect to meet up with the orbital outpost around 12:25 p.m. EST (1725 GMT).

The seven-astronaut STS-122 crew confirmed sighting the ISS around 7:52 a.m. EST (1252 GMT) and expect to make what is known as a Terminal Intercept (TI) burn of propellant around 9:37 a.m. EST (1457 GMT). This blast of fuel will close a roughly 9-mile (15-kilometer) gap between the two spacecraft.

"We're looking forward to a great day of rendezvous today," shuttle commander Stephen Frick said earlier this morning of the planned docking.

Click here to read SPACE.com's preview story of today's docking activities.

-- Dave Mosher

Astronauts Wake Up, Prepare for Big Docking Day
9 February 2008 4:55 a.m. EST

HOUSTON – The seven-astronaut crew of Atlantis awoke bright and early at 4:45 a.m. EST (945 GMT) this morning to begin a busy day of chasing down the International Space Station (ISS) and docking with it.

Spacecraft communicator Shannon Lucid stirred the spaceflyers to the song "Powder Milk Biscuits" by the comedic radio show Prairie Home Companion. Lucid said Commander Stephen Frick's wife, Jennifer Frick, picked the song for her husband.

"Good morning Atlantis, and specially a great good morning to you Steve," Lucid said from Mission Control. "It's a great day for rendezvous."

"Hey thanks very much Shannon and thanks so much to my wonderful wife Jennifer for her little powder milk biscuits to wake up to in the morning," Frick said. He noted that his crew can't get any of them in space, "but we can still dream of some of the brown stains on the back that indicate freshness."

Atlantis is slated to begin preparations for docking around 6:30 a.m. EST (1130 GMT) and make contact with the orbital outpost at around 12:25 p.m. EST (1725 GMT). Once there, STS-122 astronauts on the shuttle will immediately begin work to prepare the European Space Agency's Columbus module for installation Sunday.

"We're looking forward to a great day of rendezvous today," Frick said.

Click here to read SPACE.com's preview story of today's docking activities.

-- Dave Mosher

Astronauts Wrap Up Lengthy Heat Shield Inspection
8 February 2008 2:38 p.m. EST

HOUSTON – Astronauts on board space shuttle Atlantis have finished their six-hour survey of the orbiter's wind leading edges and nose cap, and are returning the shuttle's sensor-tipped extension boom into the payload bay.

The procedure is designed to investigate the portions of Atlantis heat shield that bear the brunt of searing atmospheric reentry upon return to Earth. International Space Station (ISS) astronauts will photograph the rest of the shuttle's heat-resistant tiles Saturday, when Atlantis performs a back flip and exposes it's underbelly to the orbital outpost prior to docking.

NASA expects the shuttle to latch onto the ISS around 12:35 p.m. EST (1735 GMT) on Saturday, beginning a busy week of work in space for the seven-astronaut crew of the STS-122 mission.

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

-- Dave Mosher

Astronauts Scan Shuttle's Left Wing
8 February 2008 1:00 p.m. EST

HOUSTON – The seven-astronaut crew aboard space shuttle Atlantis has finished scanning of the orbiter's nose cap and are now inspecting the port-side (left) wing.

Scanning of the port wing's leading edge is the third and final stage of the heat shield inspection using Atlantis' sensor-packed extension boom. The process, a standard procedure since NASA returned its shuttle fleet to flight in 2005, is designed to scope out any heat-resistant tile damage that could pose a danger during reentry to Earth.

Once the inspection wraps up, the astronauts will load the shuttle's 50-foot (15-meter) extension boom back into the payload bay of Atlantis and continue with preparations for docking with the International Space Station around 12:35 p.m. EST (1735 GMT) Saturday.

-- Dave Mosher

Heat Shield Inspection Moves to Shuttle's Nose
8 February 2008 11:29 a.m. EST

HOUSTON – Now about two hours into a six-hour heat inspection of space shuttle Atlantis' heat shield, STS-122 astronauts have shifted their attention from the starboard wing leading edge to the orbiter's nose cap.

The seven-astronaut crew is utilizing a sensor-tipped inspection tool – a 50-foot (15-meter) extension boom locked onto the end of the orbiter's robotic arm – to scan Atlantis for damage to its protective heat-resistant tiles. The heat shield is used to deflect the searing heat of atmospheric reentry, and any chinks in a shuttle's underbelly could prove to be disastrous.

Specialists here at Johnson Space Center are analyzing the data returned from inspection for any peculiarities.

When damage to a shuttle's tiles is discovered, it is always traced back to launch. The energetic journey into space can cause the launch vehicle's external fuel tanks to shed chunks of foam insulation or ice and chink the protective heat shield.

NASA officials said Thursday that at least three pieces of foam were spotted during yesterday's launch, but noted they were relatively small and unlikely to be an issue.

-- Dave Mosher

Astronauts Scan Shuttle's Heat Shield for Damage
8 February 2008 10:35 a.m. EST

HOUSTON – Astronauts aboard the space shuttle Atlantis, which rocketed into orbit Thursday, have begun scanning the orbiter's heat shield for damage.

Using the shuttle's robotic arm, the astronauts unberthed a 50-foot (15-meter) extension boom laden with sensors from Atlantis' payload bay to perform the heat-resistant tile inspection work.

The process – a standard procedure since the loss of Columbia and its crew in 2003 – takes about six hours and covers the shuttle's wing leading edges and nose cap, where the brunt of searing atmospheric reentry occurs. Engineers on the ground will review the laser-gathered data after the inspection is complete to determine if Atlantis is has any damage.

Scanning started with the starboard (right) wing's leading edge, will progress to the nose cap and end with inspection of the port (left) wing.

-- Dave Mosher

Shuttle Astronauts Awake for First Full Day in Space
8 February 2008 4:54 a.m. EST

The seven-astronaut crew of NASA’s shuttle Atlantis is awake and working on their first full day in space after a successful Thursday launch toward the International Space Station (ISS).

Mission Control in Houston roused the crew at about 4:45 a.m. EST (0945 GMT) with the tune “The Book of Love” by Peter Gabriel, a song chosen for STS-122 mission specialist Leopold Eyharts – a French astronaut with the European Space Agency.

“Good Morning Atlantis and a special good morning to you Leo,” NASA astronaut Shannon Lucid radioed up to the astronauts from Mission Control. “It’s good to see you back in space again.”

“Happy to hear this song,” Eyharts said, and thanked his family and friends for choosing it in both English and French. “It has been a somewhat hard day for them.”

Eyharts and his crewmates will scan Atlantis’ heat shield for damage today using a sensor-laden inspection boom. They are due to dock at the ISS on Saturday to deliver Eyharts to his new Expedition 16 crewmates along with Europe’s Columbus laboratory.

-- Tariq Malik

Atlantis Astronauts Discard Shuttle Fuel Tank
7 February 2008 2:57 p.m. EST

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – The STS-122 astronauts aboard the space shuttle Atlantis have discarded the 15-story external tank that fed the orbiter’s nearly nine-minute launch into space.

With the tank jettisoned, Atlantis is now in orbit. STS-122 commander Stephen Frick will maneuver the shuttle to allow his fellow astronaut crewmembers to take detailed videos and still images of its external tank.

Analysts at Mission Control in Houston’s Johnson Space Center will search for any signs of foam loss during launch.

— Dave Mosher

Atlantis’ Engines Shut Down as Planned
7 February 2008 2:57 p.m. EST

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – The five engines boosting Atlantis 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.

— Dave Mosher

Solid Rocket Boosters Separate
7 February 2008 2:49 p.m. EST

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – The twin solid rocket boosters assisting Atlantis’ launch into space have separated as planned from the shuttle’s external tank.

The reusable boosters separate about two minutes and five seconds after liftoff and fall back toward the Atlantic Ocean, where they will land under parachutes and be retrieved by recovery ships. They are equipped with cameras NASA is broadcasting Atlantis’ STS-122 mission 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.

— Dave Mosher

Liftoff! Shuttle Atlantis Launches Spacward
7 February 2008 2:45 p.m. EST

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – The space shuttle Atlantis has cleared the launch tower and gaining altitude after lifting off at about 2:45:30 p.m. EST (1945:30 GMT).

Riding spaceward aboard Atlantis are STS-122 commander Stephen Frick, shuttle pilot Alan Poindexter, mission specialists Rex Walheim, Stanley Love, Leland Melvin and European Space Agency astronauts Hans Schlegel and Leopold Eyharts. It should take Atlantis about eight and one-half minutes to ferry its seven-astronaut crew into orbit.

— Dave Mosher

Shuttle Atlantis ‘Go’ for Launch
7 February 2008 2:42 p.m. EST

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – Shuttle Atlantis has been cleared for launch from Kennedy Space Center's Pad 39-A on the 121^st space shuttle flight, a mission to the International Space Station to deliver the European Space Agency Columbus research laboratory. The countdown has just picked up following the planned T-9 minute hold as final launch preparations are rushed to completion.

All eyes are on the skies surrounding the Kennedy Space Center; however, at this time, weather conditions are observed ‘Go’ on all fronts with no constraints to launch, and conditions at the Transatlantic Abort Landing site remain acceptable.

The mission management team has been polled and all have reported ‘Go for launch.’ The seven STS-122 astronauts, led by veteran mission commander Steve Frick and pilot Alan Poindexter, are strapped into their seats, running through their pre-launch checklists and are closely monitoring their spacecraft systems for their ascent to orbit.

Atlantis' preferred launch time is set for 2:45:30 p.m. EST (1945:30 GMT), at the mid-point of a 10-minute launch window. At the time of launch, the International Space Station will be orbiting about 220 miles above Earth, southwest of Perth, Australia.

The Eastern Range is reporting ‘Clear for launch.’ The two Solid Rocket Booster recovery ships have reported on-station, about 140 miles northeast of Cape Canaveral and about 8 miles away from the actual impact point of the spent boosters.

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, Discovery’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.

No technical issues are being worked at this time. All systems are reported 'Go'.

Click here for SPACE.com's preview of today's shuttle launch.

-- Roger Guillemette

Atlantis Readied for Launch; Weather Concerns Linger
7 February 2008 2:10 p.m. EST

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – Shuttle Atlantis' hatch has been closed and latched for flight, the seven STS-122 astronauts are strapped into their seats and final preparations are progressing for this morning’s launch attempt from Kennedy Space Center’s Launch Pad 39-A; however, clouds and thunderstorms near Florida's Kennedy Space Center are threatening to spoil the show.

Atlantis' preferred launch time has been moved back by one second to 2:45:30 p.m. EST (1945:30 GMT), at the mid-point of a 10-minute launch window.

The astronauts are 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.

The countdown clock is currently halted at the T-minus 9-minute mark – a scheduled built-in hold lasting 40 minutes.

Led by veteran commander Steve Frick and pilot Alan Poindexter, Atlantis' crew – which includes flight engineer Rex Walheim, mission specialists Leland Melvin, Stanley Love, veteran European Space Agency (ESA) astronaut Hans Schlegel, and the ISS Expedition 16 Flight Engineer, Leopold Eyharts – will deliver the long-awaited ESA Columbus research laboratory to the International Space Station. Twenty-three feet long and 15-feet in diameter, Columbus represents Europe's largest contribution to the ISS and will house experiments in life sciences, materials science, fluid physics and other disciplines. French astronaut Eyharts, who previously flew to the Russian Mir space station in 1998, will replace NASA astronaut Dan Tani onboard the ISS – Tani will return to Earth on Atlantis.

Weather conditions are currently observed 'Red' or 'No Go' for Return-to-Launch-Site (RTLS) constraints; meteorologists are currently monitoring a thunderstorm that has popped-up about 45 miles west of the Kennedy Space Center. Launch weather officer Kathy Winters is slightly more optimistic than her earlier forecasts, calling for a 40 percent chance of acceptable weather conditions at launch time - cumulus clouds, rain showers and anvil clouds in the vicinity of the Kennedy Space Center remain a threat to scrub today's launch attempt. Weather conditions are currently acceptable at the primary Transatlantic Abort Landing site in Zaragoza, Spain.

Click here for SPACE.com's preview of today's shuttle launch.

-- Roger Guillemette

Weather Remains a Concern for Atlantis Launch
7 February 2008 1:25 p.m. EST

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – NASA officials continue to closely monitor weather conditions along Florida's Space Coast, “cautiously optimistic” that clouds and rain showers will hold off to permit a launch of shuttle Atlantis this afternoon.

Launch weather officer Kathy Winters is slightly more optimistic than her earlier forecasts, now calling for a 40 percent chance of acceptable weather conditions at launch time. Cumulus clouds, rain showers and anvil clouds in the vicinity of the Kennedy Space Center are threatening to scrub today's launch attempt.

Atlantis' hatch has been closed and latched for flight, the seven STS-122 astronauts are strapped into their seats and final preparations are progressing for this morning’s launch attempt from Kennedy Space Center’s Launch Pad 39-A. The countdown clock is halted at the T-minus 9-minute mark – a scheduled built-in hold lasting 45 minutes.

The preferred launch time has been moved back by one second to 2:45:30 p.m. EST (1945:30 GMT), at the mid-point of a 10-minute launch window.

Other than concerns over the weather, no technical issues are being worked at this time.

Click here for SPACE.com's preview of today's shuttle launch.

-- Roger Guillemette

Shuttle Atlantis' Hatch Closed for Launch
7 February 2008 12:47 p.m. EST

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – Shuttle Atlantis' hatch has been closed and latched for flight, the seven STS-122 astronauts are strapped into their seats and final preparations are progressing for this afternoon’s launch attempt from Kennedy Space Center’s pad 39-A.

Mission commander Steve Frick, pilot Alan Poindexter 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.

Atlantis' launch time is set for 2:45:29 p.m. EST (1945:29 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.

Weather forecasts have improved slightly – launch weather officer Kathy Winters has upgraded the forecast to a 40 percent chance of acceptable conditions at launch time; meteorologists are also closely monitoring a rain shower that popped up about 8 miles southwest of the launch pad. Weather conditions are currently acceptable at both the primary and backup Transatlantic Abort Landing sites.

The shuttle's External Tank is now filled with a half-million gallons of super-chilled liquid hydrogen and liquid oxygen and will continue to be topped-off until launch. The tank's Engine Cutoff (ECO) Sensors, whose failure scrubbed two of Atlantis' previous launch attempts in December, are functionally normally; after extensive troubleshooting, engineers determined that soldering the pins and sockets in the electrical feed-through connectors would solve the problem.

The solid rocket booster retrieval ships, Liberty and Freedom, have reported on-station – about 140 miles northeast of Cape Canaveral, off the coast of Jacksonville, Florida.

Click here for SPACE.com's preview of today's shuttle launch.

-- Roger Guillemette

Shuttle Astronauts Strapped in for Launch
7 February 2008 12:10 p.m. EST

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – The seven STS-122 astronauts are now securely strapped into their seats onboard shuttle Atlantis and are beginning final preparations for this af