STS-128 Mission Updates: Part 1

Astronauts Move Science Gear Into Station
2 September 2009 5:31 p.m. EDT

The 13 astronauts inside the International Space Station are hard at work moving racks of new science gear into the orbiting laboratory. So far, they?ve moved in a new freezer for science samples, a fluid physics experiment rack, and parts of a space materials experiment rack. All the racks are each the size of a large refrigerator.

Astronauts are also hooking up a new crew quarters, essentially a new sleeping berth for a member of the station?s six-person crew. Meanwhile, NASA is tracking a piece of an old Ariane 5 rocket that may stray close enough to the linked station-shuttle complex Friday to require an avoidance maneuver.

Click here to learn more about the potential space junk avoidance maneuver.

-- Tariq Malik

NASA is broadcasting Discovery?s STS-128 mission to the International Space Station live on NASA TV. Click here for SPACE.com?s NASA TV feed or follow the NASA TV link at the upper left on this page.

Astronauts Gear Up for Station Science Delivery
2 September 2009 12:41 p.m. EDT

Astronauts aboard the space shuttle Discovery are wide awake as they prepare to boost science aboard the International Space Station with the delivery of new science equipment. Mission Control roused the shuttle crew at 12:29 p.m. EDT (1629 GMT) with the song ?What a Wonderful World? by Louis Armstrong. The tune was selected for Swedish astronaut Christer Fuglesang.

?Good morning and thanks for that wonderful music,? Fuglesang said. ?Another wonderful day around this wonderful world.?

Fuglesang is the loadmaster in charge of cargo for Discovery?s flight. Today is Flight Day 6 of Discovery?s 13-day mission to the International Space Station.

Click here for a look at the crew?s overnight spacewalk late Tuesday.

-- Tariq Malik

NASA is broadcasting Discovery?s STS-128 mission to the International Space Station live on NASA TV. Click here for SPACE.com?s NASA TV feed or follow the NASA TV link at the upper left on this page.

Astronauts Complete 1st Spacewalk at Station
2 September 2009? 12:51 a.m. EDT

Astronauts Danny Olivas and Nicole Stott completed the first spacewalk of their mission to the International Space Station late Thursday. They ended the spacewalk at 12:24 a.m. EDT (0424 GMT) Wednesday when the began repressurizing the station?s airlock.

Total spacewalking time: 6 hours, 35 minutes.

Olivas and Stott removed a massive ammonia coolant tank from the space station and retrieved a European experiment from the station?s Columbus lab and a materials exposure experiment from the station?s hull.

Click here for SPACE.com?s wrap up of the first of three spacewalks of Discovery?s STS-128 mission.

-- Tariq Malik

NASA is broadcasting Discovery?s STS-128 mission to the International Space Station live on NASA TV. Click here for SPACE.com?s NASA TV feed or follow the NASA TV link at the upper left on this page.

Spacewalkers Return to Station Airlock
2 September 2009? 12:23 a.m. EDT

Spacewalkers Danny Olivas and Nicole Stott are back inside the Quest airlock of the International Space Station as they prepare to wrap up today?s orbital work outside the orbiting laboratory.

Click here for a look at today?s spacewalk.

-- Tariq Malik

NASA is broadcasting Discovery?s STS-128 mission to the International Space Station live on NASA TV. Click here for SPACE.com?s NASA TV feed or follow the NASA TV link at the upper left on this page.

Spacewalkers Tackle Stuck Pins on Station
1 September 2009 11:09 p.m. EDT

Spacewalker Danny Olivas is tackling some stubborn pins securing a materials experiment to the space station. The pins were hammered into place last year when the experiment was installed. Olivas used a hammer to force the pins out.

?Good news, pin?s out,? Olivas said.

Click here for a look at today?s spacewalk.

-- Tariq Malik

NASA is broadcasting Discovery?s STS-128 mission to the International Space Station live on NASA TV. Click here for SPACE.com?s NASA TV feed or follow the NASA TV link at the upper left on this page.

Spacewalkers Retrieve Materials Exposure Experiments
1 September 2009 10:30 p.m. EDT

Their major tasks complete, spacewalkers Danny Olivas and Nicole Stott are moving on to their final big chore: Retrieving a pair of suitcase-like materials exposure experiments on the space station?s hull. Olivas is grabbing one of the experiments, called MISSE, from outside the Columbus lab. Stott is configuring tools after stepping out of a foot restraint inside Discovery?s payload bay.

Click here for a look at today?s spacewalk.

-- Tariq Malik

NASA is broadcasting Discovery?s STS-128 mission to the International Space Station live on NASA TV. Click here for SPACE.com?s NASA TV feed or follow the NASA TV link at the upper left on this page.

Spacewalkers Stow European Experiment
1 September 2009 10:00 p.m. EDT

Spacewalkers Nicole Stott and Danny Olivas are stowing the European EuTEF experiment in the shuttle Discovery?s payload bay, their second main chore for today?s spacewalk. They are driving one bolt to secure the experiment to a pallet in the payload bay.

Today?s spacewalk began at 5:49 p.m. EDT (2149 GMT) and has passed the four-hour mark. It is expected to last about 6 1/2 hours.

Click here for a look at today?s spacewalk.

-- Tariq Malik

NASA is broadcasting Discovery?s STS-128 mission to the International Space Station live on NASA TV. Click here for SPACE.com?s NASA TV feed or follow the NASA TV link at the upper left on this page.

Spacewalkers Retrieve Experiment From ISS
1 September 2009 9:20 p.m. EDT

Spacewalker Nicole Stott has retrieved a European technology experiment from the exterior of the space station?s Columbus lab and is hauling back to Discovery?s payload bay. She is riding the station?s robotic arm and said before flight that she?s looking forward to the view.

Click here for a look at today?s spacewalk.

-- Tariq Malik

NASA is broadcasting Discovery?s STS-128 mission to the International Space Station live on NASA TV. Click here for SPACE.com?s NASA TV feed or follow the NASA TV link at the upper left on this page.

Storm on Earth Cuts Comm with Spacewalkers
1 September 2009 8:40 p.m. EDT

A storm in White Sands, New Mexico has cut off communications with astronauts at the International Space Station ? including spacewalkers Danny Olivas and Nicole Stott ? because of interference with a ground station there. The so-called loss of signal is expected to last about 30 minutes, but poses no threat to today?s spacewalk.

Mission Control told the spacewalkers to readjust their plans and take photographs of their next worksite before removing a set of experiments. In the interim, Discovery astronaut Pat Forrester is in charge of the spacewalk. He is choreographing the work from inside the shuttle

Click here for a look at today?s spacewalk.

-- Tariq Malik

NASA is broadcasting Discovery?s STS-128 mission to the International Space Station live on NASA TV. Click here for SPACE.com?s NASA TV feed or follow the NASA TV link at the upper left on this page.

Spacewalkers Move to Next Task
1 September 2009 8:00 p.m. EDT

Mission Control found spacewalker Danny Olivas? spacesuit glove to be in fine shape, with no damage, and he and crewmate Nicole Stott are now moving on to their next task: Retrieving a European experiment called EuTEF from the end of the space station?s Columbus laboratory.

Click here for a look at today?s spacewalk.

-- Tariq Malik

NASA is broadcasting Discovery?s STS-128 mission to the International Space Station live on NASA TV. Click here for SPACE.com?s NASA TV feed or follow the NASA TV link at the upper left on this page.

Spacewalkers Remove Ammonia Tank, Eye Glove Damage
1 September 2009 7:31 p.m. EDT

Astronauts Danny Olivas and Nicole Stott have successfully removed the huge ammonia coolant tank ? their main chore for today. Olivas has reported some slight glove damage on his spacesuit glove. Mission Control is evaluating his description.

?I would characterize it as maybe a popped stitch, and the ends have become frayed,? Olivas said. ?It doesn?t look like a cut.?

Click here for a look at today?s spacewalk.

-- Tariq Malik

NASA is broadcasting Discovery?s STS-128 mission to the International Space Station live on NASA TV. Click here for SPACE.com?s NASA TV feed or follow the NASA TV link at the upper left on this page.

Spacewalkers Remove Fluid Lines on Ammonia Tank
1 September 2009 6:57 p.m. EDT

Spacewalkers Danny Olivas and Nicole Stott have unhooked a set of fluid lines from the large ammonia tank they?re removing from the International Space Station, though one of the two coolant lines was a bit stubborn. No ammonia contamination was seen, and four nitrogen pressurization lines were also disconnected.

Replacing the tank is the major chore for today?s spacewalk.

Click here for a look at today?s spacewalk.

-- Tariq Malik

NASA is broadcasting Discovery?s STS-128 mission to the International Space Station live on NASA TV. Click here for SPACE.com?s NASA TV feed or follow the NASA TV link at the upper left on this page.

Spacewalkers Reach Ammonia Tank Worksite
1 September 2009 6:30 p.m. EDT

Spacewalkers Danny Olivas and Nicole Stott have reached the large spent ammonia tank on the P-1 truss outside the International Space Station. They are working to remove a set of fluid lines and taking great care to avoid contaminating their spacesuits with toxic ammonia coolant.

Today?s spacewalk, the first of three, began at 5:49 p.m. EDT (2149 GMT) and is expected to last 6 1/2 hours.

Click here for a look at today?s spacewalk.

-- Tariq Malik

NASA is broadcasting Discovery?s STS-128 mission to the International Space Station live on NASA TV. Click here for SPACE.com?s NASA TV feed or follow the NASA TV link at the upper left on this page.

Spacewalkers Exit Hatch
1 September 2009 6:06 p.m. EDT

Astronauts Danny Olivas and Nicole Stott have exited the hatch of the International Space Station to begin the first spacewalk of the space shuttle Discovery's STS-128 mission.

During the 6 1/2-hour spacewalk the two plan to remove an old ammonia coolant tank from outside the station.

Click here for a look at today?s spacewalk.

-- Clara Moskowitz

NASA is broadcasting Discovery?s STS-128 mission to the International Space Station live on NASA TV. Click here for SPACE.com?s NASA TV feed or follow the NASA TV link at the upper left on this page.

Spacewalk Officially Begins
1 September 2009 5:49 p.m. EDT

Astronauts Danny Olivas and Nicole Stott have begun the first spacewalk of the space shuttle Discovery's STS-128 mission to the International Space Station. The two officially began their excursion at 5:49 p.m. EDT (2149 GMT) when they switched their spacesuits to rely on internal battery power, rather than power from the station.

The spacewalkers plan a 6 1/2-hour endeavor to remove an old ammonia coolant tank from outside the station.

Click here for a look at today?s spacewalk.

-- Clara Moskowitz

NASA is broadcasting Discovery?s STS-128 mission to the International Space Station live on NASA TV. Click here for SPACE.com?s NASA TV feed or follow the NASA TV link at the upper left on this page.

Astronauts Begin to Depressurize Airlock for Spacewalk
1 September 2009 5:28 p.m. EDT

The crew inside the International Space Station has begun to depressurize the station's Quest airlock in advance of today's planned spacewalk.

Astronauts Danny Olivas and Nicole Stott plan to exit the hatch in the airlock around 5:49 p.m. EDT (2149 GMT) to begin a 6 1/2-hour endeavor to remove an old ammonia coolant tank from outside the station.

Click here for a look at today?s spacewalk.

-- Clara Moskowitz

NASA is broadcasting Discovery?s STS-128 mission to the International Space Station live on NASA TV. Click here for SPACE.com?s NASA TV feed or follow the NASA TV link at the upper left on this page.

Astronauts Move Into Crewlock Compartment
1 September 2009 5:07 p.m. EDT

Astronauts Danny Olivas and Nicole Stott have moved into the outermost section of the space station's airlock, called the Crewlock, in preparation for their planned spacewalk today at 5:49 p.m. EDT (2149 GMT).

Soon they will begin depressurizing the airlock so that they can open the hatch and step outside into the harsh environment of space. The two plan to spend about 6 1/2-hours to remove a spent ammonia coolant tank from outside the station.

Click here for a look at today?s spacewalk.

-- Clara Moskowitz

NASA is broadcasting Discovery?s STS-128 mission to the International Space Station live on NASA TV. Click here for SPACE.com?s NASA TV feed or follow the NASA TV link at the upper left on this page.

C.O.L.B.E.R.T. Treadmill Moved Into Space Station
1 September 2009 4:55 p.m. EDT

Astronauts have moved the components of a new exercise machine, called the C.O.L.B.E.R.T. Treadmill after comedian Stephen Colbert, into the International Space Station. The treadmill was delivered this week by the visiting space shuttle Discovery, and currently consists of a set of hundreds of parts that must be assembled by astronauts in the coming days.

Meanwhile astronauts Danny Olivas and Nicole Stott are preparing to begin the first spacewalk of Discovery's docked mission at 5:49 p.m. EDT (2149 GMT). Preparations are proceeding smoothly, and a brief power issue with Stott's suit has been resolved.

Click here for a look at today?s work in space.

-- Clara Moskowitz

NASA is broadcasting Discovery?s STS-128 mission to the International Space Station live on NASA TV. Click here for SPACE.com?s NASA TV feed or follow the NASA TV link at the upper left on this page.

Astronauts Suited Up For Spacewalk
1 September 2009 4:30 p.m. EDT

Astronauts Danny Olivas and Nicole Stott are fully geared up in their pressurized white spacesuits in preparation for today's planned spacewalk, set to begin at 5:49 p.m. EDT (2149 GMT).

The crew is ahead of schedule in planning for the excursion, and astronauts are currently working to recycle power to Stott's spacesuit to restore full power capability after a momentary glitch.

Click here for a look at today?s work in space.

-- Clara Moskowitz

NASA is broadcasting Discovery?s STS-128 mission to the International Space Station live on NASA TV. Click here for SPACE.com?s NASA TV feed or follow the NASA TV link at the upper left on this page.

Spacewalk Preparations Move Ahead Smoothly
1 September 2009 4:09 p.m. EDT

Astronauts inside the International Space Station are proceeding smoothly and ahead of schedule with preparations for today's planned spacewalk - the first of the shuttle Discovery's docked STS-128 mission at the orbital laboratory.

NASA astronauts Danny Olivas and Nicole Stott are suited up in their spacesuits and getting ready to begin breathing pure oxygen to prepare for their excursion.

Click here for a look at today?s work in space.

-- Clara Moskowitz

NASA is broadcasting Discovery?s STS-128 mission to the International Space Station live on NASA TV. Click here for SPACE.com?s NASA TV feed or follow the NASA TV link at the upper left on this page.

Astronauts Suit Up For Spacewalk
1 September 2009 3:03 p.m. EDT

NASA astronauts Danny Olivas and Nicole Stott are beginning to don their pressurized spacesuits in preparation for their planned spacewalk today at 5:49 p.m. EDT (2149 GMT). Olivas and Stott plan to remove a spent ammonia coolant tank from outside the International Space Station during their 6 1/2-hour excursion.

Stott briefly experienced a minor glitch with her spacesuit's visual display, but was able to fix it with help from Mission Control on the ground.

Today?s spacewalk is the first of three spacewalks for Discovery?s crew.

Click here for a look at today?s work in space.

-- Clara Moskowitz

NASA is broadcasting Discovery?s STS-128 mission to the International Space Station live on NASA TV. Click here for SPACE.com?s NASA TV feed or follow the NASA TV link at the upper left on this page.

Astronauts Wake Up for 1st Spacewalk Day
1 September 2009 1:05 p.m. EDT

Astronauts aboard the space shuttle Discovery have awoken for their first spacewalk day at the International Space Station. Mission Control roused the crew with the song ?Indiana Our Indiana? by the Indiana University Band, a tune selected to Discovery pilot Kevin Ford, who hails from Indiana.

?Good morning, Houston, thank you for the wake-up music,? Ford radioed Mission Control. ?That song reminds me of my wonderful home state of Indiana. It also reminds me of my oldest brother David, who was the first person to strap me into the cockpit of an airplane. Thank you David and thank you Houston.?

Today?s big task is the first of three spacewalks for Discovery?s crew. It is due to begin at 5:49 p.m. EDT (2149 GMT). Today is Flight Day 5 of Discovery?s 13-day mission to the International Space Station.

Click here for a look at today?s work in space.

-- Tariq Malik

NASA is broadcasting Discovery?s STS-128 mission to the International Space Station live on NASA TV. Click here for SPACE.com?s NASA TV feed or follow the NASA TV link at the upper left on this page.

Astronauts Move Cargo Pod to Station
31 August 2009 6:27 p.m. EDT

Astronauts aboard the linked shuttle Discovery and International Space Station have installed a nearly 14-ton cargo pod to the orbiting laboratory. The Leonardo cargo pod was plucked from Discovery?s payload bay using the station?s robotic arm and attached to an Earth-facing port on the station?s Harmony connecting node.

The Leonardo module is packed with nearly 8 tons of fresh supplies and new science equipment.

Click here for a look at today?s work in space.

-- Tariq Malik

NASA is broadcasting Discovery?s STS-128 mission to the International Space Station live on NASA TV. Click here for SPACE.com?s NASA TV feed or follow the NASA TV link at the upper left on this page.

Shuttle Astronauts Gear Up For Move-In Day
31 August 2009 1:42 p.m. EDT

Astronauts aboard the shuttle Discovery awoke to the sounds of Gloria Estefan as they gear up to deliver a cargo module packed with 8 tons of supplies to the International Space Station today. Mission Control roused the astronauts at 1:29 p.m. EDT (1729 GMT) with the song ?Mi Tierra? by Estefan, a tune selected for astronaut Jose Hernandez, a former migrant farm worker and Mexican American now making his first trip to space.

?Buenos Dias?a special good morning to everyone who?s listening to us,? Hernandez radioed Mission Control. He thanked his wife Adela and five children for choosing the song. ?I?m just happy to be here and continuing on with our mission.?

Today is Flight Day 4 of Discovery?s 13-day mission to the International Space Station.

-- Tariq Malik

NASA is broadcasting Discovery?s STS-128 mission to the International Space Station live on NASA TV. Click here for SPACE.com?s NASA TV feed or follow the NASA TV link at the upper left on this page.

Crew Swap Complete on Space Station
30 August 2009 11:55 p.m. EDT

Astronaut Nicole Stott has successfully taken up residence aboard the International Space Station after swapping places with astronaut Tim Kopra, who has lived aboard the outpost for about a month. Stott confirmed that she moved her customized seat liner inside the Russian Soyuz spacecraft and removed Kopra?s, marking her official start as an Expedition 20 crewmember.

Click here for a full look at tonight?s docking activities.

-- Tariq Malik

NASA is broadcasting Discovery?s STS-128 mission to the International Space Station live on NASA TV. Click here for SPACE.com?s NASA TV feed or follow the NASA TV link at the upper left on this page.

Shuttle Crew Boards Space Station
30 August 2009 10:47 p.m. EDT

The seven Discovery astronauts received a warm welcome by the six-man crew of the International Space Station at 10:33 p.m. EDT (0233 GMT) tonight during a brief hatch opening ceremony to mark the docking of their two spacecraft. Warm hugs and broad smiles were exchanged by the two crews, which together number 13 people, a record-tying high.

Later tonight, the astronauts will use the space station?s robotic arm to grab Discovery?s inspection boom and move it clear to a point where the shuttle?s arm can reach it. The shuttle arm can?t retrieve the boom on its own due to interference from its docking port.

Click here for a full look at tonight?s docking activities.

-- Tariq Malik

NASA is broadcasting Discovery?s STS-128 mission to the International Space Station live on NASA TV. Click here for SPACE.com?s NASA TV feed or follow the NASA TV link at the upper left on this page.

DOCKING! Shuttle Discovery Arrives at Station
30 August 2009  8:55 p.m. EDT

Space shuttle Discovery has arrived at the International Space Station, with docking occurring at 8:54 p.m. EDT (0054 Aug. 31 GMT) as both spacecraft flew 220 miles (354 km) above the Atlantic Ocean. It was a textbook rendezvous by shuttle commander Rick Sturckow, NASA commentator Rob Navias said.

Hatch opening between the two spacecraft is scheduled for just before 11 p.m. EDT (0300 Aug. 31 GMT), after a series of leak checks.

Click here for a full look at tonight?s docking activities.

-- Tariq Malik

NASA is broadcasting Discovery?s STS-128 mission to the International Space Station live on NASA TV. Click here for SPACE.com?s NASA TV feed or follow the NASA TV link at the upper left on this page.

Shuttle Discovery Go for Docking
30 August 2009  8:40 p.m. EDT

Discovery commander Rick Sturckow is inching the shuttle ever-closer to the International Space Station for tonight?s docking just after 9 p.m. EDT (0100 Aug. 31 GMT). The shuttle is less than 200 feet from the space station and closing.

Click here for a full look at tonight?s docking activities.

-- Tariq Malik

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