STS-124 Mission Update: Part 2

Shuttle Astronauts Awake for Last Full Day at ISS
10 June 2008 4:48 a.m. EDT

HOUSTON ? Astronauts aboard NASA?s shuttle Discovery have begun their last full day at the International Space Station as they prepare for a Wednesday undocking after nine days of successful construction.

NASA?s Mission Control here at the Johnson Space Center roused the crew at 4:32 a.m. EDT (0832 GMT) with the song ?All Because of You? by the band U2, a tune chosen specifically for Discovery mission specialist Ron Garan.

?Good morning Discovery, and a special good morning to you Ron,? NASA astronaut Shannon Lucid radioed up to Discovery?s crew from Mission Control.

?Thank you Shannon,? replied Garan, as he thanks his wife Carmel and three boys for the wake up music. ?It?s another beautiful day in space.?

The astronauts are scheduled to install a backup system for Kibo's robotic arm, take a few hours off, speak with reporters on Earth at about 2:10 p.m. EDT (1810 GMT) and shut the hatches between the station and shuttle at 3:57 p.m. EDT (1957 GMT).

Today is Flight Day 11 of Discovery?s planned 14-day mission to the space station.

Click here for a look at today?s work for the shuttle?s STS-124 crew.

NASA is broadcasting Discovery?s mission live 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 Reopen Station?s Kibo Attic
9 June 2008 4:26 p.m. EDT

HOUSTON ? Japanese astronaut Akihiko Hoshide reopened the storage room atop the Kibo laboratory aboard the International Space Station as he and crewmates continue their STS-124 mission.

The module was moved from a temporary perch atop the station?s hub-like Harmony node on a 30-foot (9-meter) trek to Kibo?s rooftop on Friday during a brief robotic arm trip.

At about 5:02 p.m. EDT (2102 GMT) today, all 10 astronauts will speak with reporters on Earth to discus their mission.

Click here for a look at today?s work for the shuttle?s STS-124 crew.

NASA is broadcasting Discovery?s mission live 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 Upgrade Spacesuit Battery Chargers
9 June 2008 1:36 p.m. EDT

HOUSTON ? Shuttle Discovery astronauts are hard at work on a four-hour upgrade of the International Space Station?s U.S. spacesuit battery chargers to install less toxic equipment in the critical devices.

Shuttle commander Mark Kelly and mission specialist Mike Fossum are installing the new chargers inside the station?s U.S. Quest airlock. Earlier today, their crewmates successfully tested the station?s new Japanese robotic arm.

Later this afternoon, the spaceflyers are slated to reopen the station?s Kibo lab storage room, a squat 14-foot (4-meter) cylinder that was moved to the roof of the Kibo lab itself last Friday.

At about 5:02 p.m. EDT (2102 GMT) today, all 10 astronauts will speak with reporters on Earth to discus their mission.

Click here for a look at today?s work for the shuttle?s STS-124 crew.

NASA is broadcasting Discovery?s mission live 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 Stretches Japanese Robotic Arm
9 June 2008 9:14 a.m. EDT

HOUSTON ? The International Space Station?s newest robotic arm has successfully been outstretched to nearly its full 33-foot (10-meter) length.

?It was such a pretty view,? said Japanese Akihiko Hoshide, who is flying the arm alongside crewmate Karen Nyberg and Gregory Chamitoff of NASA.

The Japanese arm sits at the end of the station?s new laboratory Kibo and is designed to move experiments on an external platform that is slated to launch later next year. Kibo is equipped with a small outboard facing airlock to pass experiments out to the exposed facility. ?

Click here for a look at today?s work for the shuttle?s STS-124 crew.

NASA is broadcasting Discovery?s mission live 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 Awake for Robotic Arm Test Day
9 June 2008 6:22 a.m. EDT

HOUSTON ? Astronauts aboard NASA?s space shuttle Discovery are up and working as they prepare to put the International Space Station?s newest robotic arm through its paces today.

NASA?s Mission Control here at the Johnson Space Center roused the crew at 5:02 a.m. EDT (0902 GMT) with the Spirit of Aggieland, the alma mater of Texas A & M University where Discovery STS-124 mission specialist Mike Fossum attended.

?Good morning Discovery, and a special good morning to you Mike,? NASA astronaut Shannon Lucid radioed up from Mission Control.

?Good morning Shannon, the spirit of an Aggie knows that?s the ?Spirit of Aggieland,?? said Fossum. ?Thanks to my Aggie wife this morning for that wake up music. It shows my Aggie pride to the hundreds of thousands of Aggies on campus and around the world. It?s going to be a great day.?

Today is Flight Day 10 of Discovery?s 14-day mission to the space for a look at station.

Click here for a look at today?s work for the shuttle?s STS-124 crew.

NASA is broadcasting Discovery?s mission live 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

Shuttle Mission?s Last Spacewalk Concludes at ISS
8 June 2008 4:37 p.m. EDT

HOUSTON ? Discovery shuttle astronauts Mike Fossum and Ron Garan are repressurizing the Quest airlock aboard the International Space Station, officially ending today?s spacewalk outside the orbital lab.

The spacewalk began at 9:55 a.m. EDT (1355 GMT) and ended at 4:28 p.m. EDT (2028 GMT).

Total spacewalking time: 6 hours, 33 minutes.

The spacewalk marked the sixth career excursion for Fossum and the third for Garan. It was the third and last planned spacewalk of Discovery?s STS-124 mission.

A wrap up of today?s orbital work will be posted to the SPACE.com homepage shortly.

Click here for a look at today?s work for the shuttle?s STS-124 crew.

NASA is broadcasting Discovery?s mission live 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 Station Airlock
8 June 2008 4:26 p.m. EDT

HOUSTON ? As they prepare to end today?s third spacewalk outside the International Space Station, spacewalkers Mike Fossum and Ron Garan are back inside the outpost?s Quest airlock after a successful day of orbital work.

The spacewalk began at 9:55 a.m. EDT (1355 GMT) with the astronauts completing all of their main chores plus a few extra ones.? ?

Click here for a look at today?s work for the shuttle?s STS-124 crew.

NASA is broadcasting Discovery?s mission live 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 Six-Hour Mark Outside ISS
8 June 2008 4:00 p.m. EDT

HOUSTON ? Spacewalkers Mike Fossum and Ron Garan are preparing to wrap up their orbital work as they pass the six-hour mark outside the International Space Station. ?

Today?s spacewalk began at 9:55 a.m. EDT (1355 GMT) and is slated to run about 6 1/2 hours.

Click here for a look at today?s work for the shuttle?s STS-124 crew.

NASA is broadcasting Discovery?s mission live 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 Move on to Extra Chores
8 June 2008 3:23 p.m. EDT

HOUSTON ? Spacewalkers Mike Fossum and Ron Garan have completed all of their primary tasks and are now moving on to more extra chores outside the International Space Station.

Fossum in installing extra insulation covers on one of the station?s modules while Garan is headed starboard to the station?s right side solar alpha rotary joint to remove a set of launch restraints.

Today?s spacewalk began at 9:55 a.m. EDT (1355 GMT) and is slated to run about 6 1/2 hours.

Click here for a look at today?s work for the shuttle?s STS-124 crew.

NASA is broadcasting Discovery?s mission live 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 Tackle Camera Tasks
8 June 2008 2:51 p.m. EDT

HOUSTON ? With their major chores complete, spacewalkers Mike Fossum and Ron Garan are moving ahead with video camera tasks outside the International Space Station.

Fossum has tightened down a loose camera outside the station?s new Kibo lab, while Garan is reattaching a camera that was repaired inside the station in recent days.

Today?s spacewalk is nearing the five-hour mark and began on 9:55 a.m. EDT (1355 GMT) today. The spacewalk is slated to run about 6 1/2 hours.

Click here for a look at today?s work for the shuttle?s STS-124 crew.

NASA is broadcasting Discovery?s mission live 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 Deploy Japanese Lab?s Debris Shields
8 June 2008 2:26 p.m. EDT

HOUSTON ? Spacewalker Mike Fossum has successful deployed a set of metal shields to ward off damage from orbital debris and tiny space rocks at the attachment point between the International Space Station?s new Japanese Kibo lab and its storage attic.

?The debris shields are deployed,? Fossum said.

Click here for a look at today?s work for the shuttle?s STS-124 crew.

NASA is broadcasting Discovery?s mission live 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 Work on Japanese Lab
8 June 2008 1:42 p.m. EDT

HOUSTON ? Spacewalkers Mike Fossum is working to remove thermal covers from the end of the station?s Japanese Kibo lab?s robotic arm while his partner Ron Garan is hooking up fluid lines for the outpost?s new nitrogen tank.

Today?s spacewalk has passed is nearing the four-hour mark and began at 9:55 a.m. EDT (1355 GMT). It is slated to run about 6 1/2 hours. A repaired camera is also to be installed later today.

Click here for a look at today?s work for the shuttle?s STS-124 crew.

NASA is broadcasting Discovery?s mission live 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 Finish First Tasks Outside Station
8 June 2008 1:09 p.m. EDT

HOUSTON ? Spacewalkers Mike Fossum and Ron Garan have completed their initial tasks for today?s spacewalk outside the International Space Station: installing a new nitrogen gas tank and inspecting a healthy port-side solar array gear.

Fossum is moving ahead now to some outfitting tasks at the end of the station?s new tour bus-sized Kibo laboratory, where Garan will join him soon to remove thermal covers and restraints from its robotic arm and one of two windows.

Garan also planned to prepare a repaired video camera for reinstallation on the station?s main truss later today.

Today?s spacewalk has passed the three-hour mark and began at 9:55 a.m. EDT (1355 GMT).

Click here for a look at today?s work for the shuttle?s STS-124 crew.

NASA is broadcasting Discovery?s mission live 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 Gear, Hook Up New Pressure Tank
8 June 2008 12:34 p.m. EDT

HOUSTON ? Spacewalker Mike Fossum has successfully inspected the port side solar array gear of the International Space Station and used orange Kapton tape to take two samples of a dust-like deposit on its surface.

He also reported seeing the same grease material as he did during a Thursday spacewalk. The port side gear is working fine, but engineers wanted Fossum to take another look and collect samples in the hope of better understanding damage to the station?s starboard gear.

Meanwhile, Garan is on the station?s starboard side, where he is hooking up a series of power, data and other cables to tie a new nitrogen pressure tank into the outpost?s cooling system.

Today?s spacewalk is nearing the three-hour mark and began at 9:55 a.m. EDT (1355 GMT).

Click here for a look at today?s work for the shuttle?s STS-124 crew.

NASA is broadcasting Discovery?s mission live 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 Install New Tank, Inspect Gear
8 June 2008 12:11 p.m. EDT

HOUSTON ? Spacewalkers Ron Garan and Mike Fossum have passed the two-hour mark of their spacewalk outside the International Space Station today as they work to install a new nitrogen tank.

Garan has returned to his original worksite on the station?s starboard side truss to install the new pressure tank.

Fossum, meanwhile, is tackling an extra task: the inspection of the station?s port side solar array rotary gear, a 10-foot (3-meter) wide joint that rotates the left solar wings like a paddlewheel to track the sun.

Fossum spotted unexpected grease and gray dust on the gear during a Thursday spacewalk. While not thought to pose a problem, engineers want him to collect samples of the dust and take more photos of the area.

Click here for a look at today?s work for the shuttle?s STS-124 crew.

NASA is broadcasting Discovery?s mission live 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 Retrieve New Station Pressure Tank
8 June 2008 11:43 a.m. EDT

HOUSTON ? Spacewalker Ron Garan has now plucked the new nitrogen tank free from its storage point and will now tote the 528 pounds (239 kg) vessel back to the starboard side of the station.

?I think I?m ready to go,? Garan said. ?I?m ready when you are.?

Unlike the last pass, which was conducted in night, Garan will return to the tank installation site in full daylight.

Click here for a look at today?s work for the shuttle?s STS-124 crew.

NASA is broadcasting Discovery?s mission live 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 Retrieves Empty Pressure Tank
8 June 2008 11:14 a.m. EDT

HOUSTON ? Spacewalker Ron Garan has retrieved an empty nitrogen gas tank serving the outpost?s cooling system, a refrigerator-sized unit weighing about 528 pounds (239 kg).

?Light as a feather, huh,? said his spacewalking partner Mike Fossum as Garan plucked the tank free.

Garan is standing at the tip of an extension of the space station?s already 57-foot (17-meter) long robotic arm. NASA astronaut Karen Nyberg will fly him in a ?windshield wiper maneuver? from the tank?s starboard location to a spare parts platform on the opposite side of the space station to pick up the spare.

?Enjoy the ride,? Nyberg said.

Click here for a look at today?s work for the shuttle?s STS-124 crew.

NASA is broadcasting Discovery?s mission live 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 Tackle Cooling System Tank Swap
8 June 2008 10:59 a.m. EDT

HOUSTON ? Spacewalkers Mike Fossum and Ron Garan are tackling the first major task of their work outside the International Space Station (ISS) today: the replacement of an empty nitrogen gas tank serving the outpost?s cooling system.

Garan is perched at the tip of the space station?s 57-foot (17-meter) Canadarm2 robotic arm, where he is removing a series of four bolts to free the empty tank. He is on the starboard side of the station?s main truss.

Fossum, meanwhile, is on the other side of the station?s truss, where is preparing the new nitrogen tank for the hand off to Garan.

Today?s spacewalk began at 9:55 a.m. EDT (1355 GMT) and is slated to run about 6 1/2 hours.

Click here for a look at today?s work for the shuttle?s STS-124 crew.

NASA is broadcasting Discovery?s mission live 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 Exit Station Airlock
8 June 2008 10:11 a.m. EDT

HOUSTON ? Spacewalker Ron Garan has floated outside the Quest airlock and is now taking tools from his partner Mike Fossum as they prepare the equipment they will use during today?s spacewalk outside the International Space Station.

After Fossum passes all the tools outside the airlock to Garan, they will set up a foot restraint and then begin their first major task, the replacement of an empty nitrogen gas tank in the station?s cooling system.

Today?s spacewalk began at 9:55 a.m. EDT (1355 GMT) and is slated to run about 6 1/2 hours.

Click here for a look at today?s work for the shuttle?s STS-124 crew.

NASA is broadcasting Discovery?s mission live 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

Third Spacewalk Begins at Space Station
8 June 2008 9:57 a.m. EDT

HOUSTON ? Spacewalkers Mike Fossum and Ron Garan have opened the outer hatch of the Quest airlock aboard the International Space Station and switched their NASA spacesuits to battery power, officially beginning today?s spacewalk.

The spacewalk began at 9:55 a.m. EDT (1355 GMT), 37 minutes early, as the space station and the docked shuttle Discovery flew over the Southern Pacific Ocean on nightside of Earth. ?

Click here for a look at today?s work for the shuttle?s STS-124 crew.

NASA is broadcasting Discovery?s mission live on NASA