Discovery Fires Engines to Leave ISS

 

6 August 2005; 4:38 a.m. EDT

 

HOUSTON – After circling the International Space Station (ISS), the space shuttle Discovery has fired its Orbital Maneuvering System (OMS) engines in the first of two separation burns to leave the station behind.

 

Shuttle pilot James Kelly is at the helm, NASA officials said.

 

-- Tariq Malik

Discovery Directly Below ISS

 

6 August 2005; 4:27 a.m. EDT

 

HOUSTON – The space shuttle Discovery has only one-fourth of its trip around the International Space Station (ISS) remaining as shuttle astronauts continue to photograph the orbital laboratory.

 

Shuttle pilot James Kelly has been carefully guiding the orbiter around the ISS, maintaining a safe distance of about 400 feet from the station. The shuttle has just past the bottommost point of its trip around the station.

 

-- Tariq Malik

Discovery’s ISS Fly-Around Underway

 

6 August 2005; 4:09 a.m. EDT

 

HOUSTON – The space shuttle Discovery has completed about one-fourth of its trip around the International Space Station (ISS), allowing shuttle astronauts to photograph the station from angles unseen since 2002.

 

Discovery pilot James Kelly has guided the shuttle past the uppermost portion of its ISS fly-around and is now proceeding to a location about 400 feet aft of the orbital laboratory. The ISS is flying over Kazakhstan, home to Baikonur Cosmodrome where Soyuz and Progress spacecraft launch toward the orbiting station.

 

The fly-around maneuver allowed mission specialist Soichi Noguchi a chance to photograph an electric field potential experiement atop the station’s P6 truss, which worried flight controllers who thought it might shed debris during the undocking.

 

-- Tariq Malik

Discovery Reaches Start Position for ISS Fly-Around

 

6 August 2005; 3:52 a.m. EDT

 

HOUSTON – The space shuttle Discovery has reached its starting point for a fly-around maneuver to completely circle the International Space Station (ISS).

 

Pilot James Kelly has eased Discovery into position about 400 feet in front the ISS. He will guide the shuttle in around the space station while is fellow crewmates take photographs of the orbital facility.

 

Aboard the ISS, Expedition 11 commander Sergei Krikalev and flight engineer John Phillips watched over the undocking operation and took their own photographs of the shuttle’s departure.

 

-- Tariq Malik

ISS Fly-Around Planned

 

6 August 2005; 3:32 a.m. EDT

 

HOUSTON – Shuttle pilot James Kelly is backing the Discovery orbiter away from the International Space Station in preparation for a fly-around maneuver to circle the orbital laboratory.

 

Kelly is maneuvering Discovery to a point 400 feet in front of the ISS in the direction travel around the Earth. He will then pilot Discovery nose first up and over the ISS, maintaining a 400-foot radius, until he reaches his starting point, NASA officials said.

 

The orbiter undocked from the ISS on time at precisely 3:24 a.m. EDT (0724 GMT) as Discovery and the ISS flew 220 miles over the south Pacific Ocean west of Chile.

 

Discovery and the ISS spent eight days, 19 hours and 54 minutes docked together during the STS-114 resupply mission.

 

So far, there is no indication of debris from an experiment atop the station’s P6 truss, NASA officials said, adding that a bolt was seen partially loose on the experiment during one of three spacewalks staged from Discovery in the last week.

 

-- Tariq Malik

 

Discovery Undocks from Space Station

 

6 August 2005; 3:25 a.m. EDT

 

HOUSTON – With pilot James Kelly at the controls, the space shuttle Discovery undocked with the International Space Station (ISS) and is backing away to a distance of 400 feet from the orbital laboratory.

 

Undocking occurred on time at 3:24 a.m. EDT (0724 GMT). Kelly is expected to fly the orbiter around the station in a 1.5-hour circle to make a comprehensive photographic survey of the orbital facility.

 

Today’s undocking marked the end of more than eight days of joint operations between the Discovery’s STS-114 astronauts and the two crewmembers of the ISS Expedition 11 mission.

 

Discovery delivered about six tons of cargo to the ISS and is returning about three tons back to Earth.

-- Tariq Malik

Discovery Go for Undocking

 

6 August 2005; 3:02 a.m. EDT

 

HOUSTON – Discovery has received the final go to undock from the International Space Station (ISS).

 

The orbiter is expected to pull away from the orbital platform at 3:24 a.m. EDT (0724 GMT) with pilot James Kelly at the helm.

 

-- Tariq Malik

Flight Controllers Give Discovery Go for Undocking

 

6 August 2005; 2:59 a.m. EDT

 

HOUSTON – Flight controllers for the International Space Station have given the Discovery shuttle astronauts a go for undocking.

 

ISS flight controllers in Russia have also given Discovery’s STS-114 crew the go ahead to separate from the station.

 

 

Final approval from STS-114 lead shuttle flight director Paul Hill is expected shortly, NASA officials said.

 

-- Tariq Malik

Flight Controllers Relay Breakaway Plans

 

6 August 2005; 2:53 a.m. EDT

 

HOUSTON – Flight controllers have relayed contingency plans to shuttle pilot James Kelly in the unlikely event that today’s undocking of the shuttle Discovery causes debris to separate from the International Space Station (ISS), NASA officials said.

 

The scenario is very remote, but plans were sent as a precaution since Discovery spacewalker Soichi Noguchi discovered a partially loose bolt on an experiment atop the space station’s P6 truss.

 

The station’s U.S.-built solar arrays, as well as those aboard Russian components, are to be feathered to avoid contamination from Discovery’s reaction control thrusters.

 

-- Tariq Malik

Astronauts Set up Space-to-Space Communications

 

6 August 2005; 2:30 a.m. EDT

 

HOUSTON – Astronauts aboard the space shuttle Discovery and the International Space Station (ISS) have set up a space-to-space communications link, which they will use during today’s orbiter undocking scheduled to occur in about one hour. 

 

Just after undocking, scheduled for 3:24 a.m. EDT (0724 GMT), shuttle pilot James Kelly will fly Discovery around the ISS to allow the first flyaround photo session of the orbital laboratory in 2002.

 

During that time, flight controllers are hopeful the shuttle astronauts will be able to photograph an experiment mounted to the top of the station’s P6 truss that measures the electrical charging and discharging caused by drag on the orbital facilities large solar arrays.

 

-- Tariq Malik

Leak Checks Complete

 

6 August 2005; 2:00 a.m. EDT

 

HOUSTON – Leak checks have been completed of an airless vestibule now separating the space shuttle Discovery and the International Space Station (ISS) in anticipation of the orbiter’s undocking in just over one hour. 

 

Aboard Discovery, STS-114 mission specialist Wendy Lawrence is installing a centerline camera to the docking system to provide an extra view of the departure for pilot James Kelly, who will guide the orbiter away from the ISS. Kelly will fire Discovery’s thrusters while looking out the aft and upper windows of the orbiter, and slowly fly the shuttle in a complete circle around the space station from a distance of about 400 feet.

 

Meanwhile, cameras aboard the space station’s robotic arm have been activated to provide video of the undocking.

 

-- Tariq Malik

After Hatch Closure, Leak Checks

 

6 August 2005; 1:47 a.m. EDT

 

HOUSTON – With the hatches shut between their two spacecraft, the seven astronauts aboard the shuttle Discovery and two crewmembers of the International Space Station (ISS) are preparing to conduct leak checks.

 

The astronauts are currently depressurizing the vestibule connecting their spacecraft, which will be followed by the leak checks and the unlocking of hooks and latches that have held the ships together for just over eight days.

 

Discovery is set to undock the space station today and make the two-day trip back to Earth. Undocking is scheduled for 3:24 a.m. EDT (0724 GMT).

 

-- Tariq Malik

Hatches Closed Between Discovery and ISS

 

6 August 2005; 1:17 a.m. EDT

 

HOUSTON – The hatches between the space shuttle Discovery and the International Space Station (ISS) have been closed for the last time in the STS-114 mission, as the orbiter prepares to disembark the orbital laboratory.

 

The hatches were closed at 1:14 a.m. EDT (0514 GMT), NASA officials said. Operations are now underway to depressurize the vestibule connecting the two spacecraft, they added.

 

Discovery and its seven-astronaut crew are set to leave the space station today and make the two-day trip back to Earth. Undocking is scheduled for 3:24 a.m. EDT (0724 GMT).

 

-- Tariq Malik

Discovery, ISS Astronauts Say Adieu

 

6 August 2005; 12:45 a.m. EDT

 

HOUSTON – The nine astronauts aboard the shuttle Discovery and International Space Station (ISS) gathered together for final goodbyes as the shuttle crew prepares to leave the orbital laboratory.

 

“We thank them for being such great hosts and we’re so happy to have spent time up here with them,” Discovery’s STS-114 mission commander Eileen Collins said of ISS Expedition 11 astronauts Sergei Krikalev and John Phillips.

 

Collins and her six fellow STS-114 astronauts have spent eight days docked at the ISS, where they conducted three spacewalks and delivered some six tons of fresh food, water, science equipment and spare parts to the ISS.

 

“We’re not glad to see you go,” Phillips told the STS-114 crew. “Great flight, soft landing, and we look forward to seeing you back in Houston in a few months.”

 

Krikalev and Phillips are slated to return to Earth at the end of their ISS expedition in October.

 

Undocking is currently scheduled for about 3:24 a.m. EDT (0724 GMT), to be followed by a brief trip around the ISS to take photographs before the orbiter heads back to Earth.

 

-- Tariq Malik

Discovery Crew to Say Farewell to ISS Astronauts

 

6 August 2005; 12:05 a.m. EDT

 

HOUSTON – After eight days of docked operations, the seven astronauts aboard the space shuttle Discovery will say their farewells to the crew of the International Space Station (ISS).

 

Discovery’s STS-114 crew, commanded by veteran astronaut Eileen Collins, is set to conduct a farewell ceremony with ISS Expedition 11 crewmembers Sergei Krikalev and John Phillips as they shut the hatches between their two spacecraft in anticipation of undocking later today.

 

Discovery is set to undock from the ISS at about 3:24 a.m. EDT (0724 GMT) and fly around the space station for a brief photo session before heading off on the two day trip back to Earth. The shuttle will land at about 4:46 a.m. EDT (0846 GMT)

 

-- SPACE.com Staff

Raffaello Module Safely Stowed in Discovery Cargo Bay

 

5 August 2005; 9:05 a.m. EDT

 

HOUSTON – The Raffaello module was safely locked into place aboard the space shuttle Discovery at 9:03 a.m. EDT.

 

-- SPACE.com Staff

Space Station in Free Drift

 

5 August 2005; 8:05 a.m. EDT

 

HOUSTON – The motion of the Raffaello cargo module away from the International Space Station (ISS) has overloaded the station’s attitude control system, casting it into free drift and leaving the shuttle Discovery in charge of maintaining orientation.

 

Raffaello is being transferred to Discovery’s payload bay for stowage in preparation of tomorrow’s undocking.

 

Discovery pilot James Kelly and mission specialist Charles Camarda are at the robotic arm controls inside the ISS, NASA officials said.

 

-- Tariq Malik

Raffaello Module Undocked from ISS

 

5 August 2005; 7:44 a.m. EDT

 

HOUSTON – The Raffaello cargo module has been detached from its berth outside the nadir port of the International Space Station’s (ISS) Unity module awaiting transfer to the payload bay of the space shuttle Discovery.

 

Discovery pilot James Kelly and mission specialist Charles Camarda are at the robotic arm controls inside the ISS to make the transfer, NASA officials said. The arm is in motion, they added.

 

-- Tariq Malik

Astronauts Command Cargo Pod to Detach

 

5 August 2005; 7:21 a.m. EDT

 

HOUSTON – Discovery astronaut Soichi Noguchi is methodically ordering the Raffaello cargo module to unbolt itself from its perch outside the nadir port of the International Space Station’s (ISS) Unity module.

 

There four sets of bolts, each with four bolts, for a total of 16 bolts that must be removed in a symmetric pattern to prepare Raffaello for its removal. Discovery pilot James Kelly and mission specialist Charles Camarda will use the ISS robotic arm – which has already grappled Raffaello – to maneuver the cargo module into its berth inside the shuttle’s payload bay.

-- Tariq Malik

Flight Controllers Watch Depressurization Process

 

5 August 2005; 6:56 a.m. EDT

 

HOUSTON – Environmental control officers are watching the slow depressurization of a vestibule between the International Space Station and Raffaello cargo module, as astronauts prepare to remove the pod from its berth outside the station’s Unity node.

 

Discovery astronauts closed out Raffaello at 1:42 a.m. EDT (0542 GMT) and are set to use the station’s robotic arm to move Raffaello back into the orbiter’s payload bay.

 

-- Tariq Malik

Discovery Crew to Stow Cargo Pod

 

5 August 2005; 6:32 a.m. EDT

 

HOUSTON – The close-out of the space shuttle Discovery’s Raffaello cargo module occurred at 1:42 a.m. EDT (0542 GMT), and shuttle astronauts are still preparing to unberth the pod from the nadir port of the Unity module aboard the International Space Station (ISS).

 

Mission specialists Stephen Robinson and Soichi Noguchi, who are slated to send commands to Raffaello to unbolt itself from the ISS, are transferring a pair of brand new U.S. spacesuits to the station for use in later spacewalks.

 

-- Tariq Malik

Discovery Crew to Stow Cargo Pod

 

5 August 2005; 6:00 a.m. EDT

 

HOUSTON – The crew of the space shuttle Discovery is set to unberth the Raffaello cargo module from the International Space Station (ISS) and return it to the shuttle’s payload bay.

 

The shuttle and ISS crew has spent the last week moving about six tons of new supplies and equipment to the ISS from the module, Discovery’s middeck and its payload bay. The astronauts packed the cargo pod and shuttle payload bay full of about 3.5 tons of unneeded material for the return to Earth.

 

Unberthing of Raffaello is set for 6:24 a.m. EDT (1024 GMT). It is expected to be placed back in Discovery’s payload bay at about 7:34 a.m. EDT (1134 GMT). Earlier today, shuttle and ISS astronauts exited Raffaello, known as a Multi-Purpose Logistics Module.

 

-- Tariq Malik

~

Last STS-114 Spacewalk Concludes

 

3 August 2005; 11:10 a.m. EDT

 

HOUSTON – After six hours and one minute, the third spacewalk for STS-114 astronauts Stephen Robinson and Soichi Noguchi has concluded.

 

The spacewalk officially ended at 10:49 a.m. EDT (1450 GMT). Robinson and Noguchi both spent 20 hours and five minutes working in space during the first three spacewalks of their astronaut careers. The spacewalk lasted six hours and one minute, NASA officials added.

 

 

 

-- Tariq Malik

Spacewalkers Reenter Shuttle Airlock

 

3 August 2005; 10:39 a.m. EDT

 

HOUSTON – Shuttle astronauts Stephen Robinson and Soichi Noguchi are back inside the space shuttle Discovery and have closed the airlock hatch.

 

-- Tariq Malik

ISS Airlock Closed

 

3 August 2005; 10:22 a.m. EDT

 

HOUSTON – Astronaut Soichi Noguchi has closed the space station’s Quest airlock and has joined his spacewalking partner Stephen Robinson in Discovery’s payload bay.

 

-- Tariq Malik

Astronauts Work on Shuttle Airlock

 

3 August 2005; 10:14 a.m. EDT

 

HOUSTON – Astronaut Stephen Robinson is at Discovery’s airlock preparing it so that he and his spacewalking partner Soichi Noguchi can renter their shuttle home.

 

Meanwhile, Noguchi is has installed a workplace interface to the spare parts platform he and Robinson attached to the International Space Station (ISS) earlier in today’s spacewalk. He will close the station’s Quest airlock before both astronauts will reenter Discovery.

 

-- Tariq Malik

One Last Task for Discovery Spacewalkers

 

3 August 2005; 9:57 a.m. EDT

 

HOUSTON – After three successful spacewalks, Discovery astronauts Soichi Noguchi and Stephen Robinson have one last task to perform before they reentry their space shuttle home.

 

The two astronauts will close the outer hatch of the International Space Station’s (ISS) Quest airlock, which they opened during their first spacewalk as an emergency ingress point should they have to end their spacewalks while the Discovery’s airlock was unavailable.

 

After closing the hatch, the two astronauts will move back to shuttle’s payload bay and reenter the airlock. Today’s spacewalk included the successful removal of two gap-fillers from Discovery’s tile-covered heat shield.

 

--Tariq Malik

Spacewalking Astronauts Regroup

 

3 August 2005; 9:29 a.m. EDT

 

HOUSTON – STS-114 mission specialists Soichi Noguchi and Stephen Robinson have regrouped outside the International Space Station (ISS), and will work together to remove Robinson from the end of the station’s robotic arm.

 

The meeting comes after Robinson successful performed the first in-flight repair of Discovery’s heat shield, pulling two space-filling strips of stiff ceramic fiber cloth, known as gap-fillers to NASA, from the underbelly of their orbiter.

 

-- Tariq Malik

Spacewalkers Set to End EVA

 

3 August 2005; 9:06 a.m. EDT

 

HOUSTON – Flight controllers have given astronauts Soichi Noguchi and Stephen Robinson the go to end their spacewalk after the successful removal of two gap-fillers from the underbelly of their Discovery orbiter.

 

Plans had called for the astronauts to remove a broken rotary motor from the International Space Station (ISS), but with the added heat shield fix just performed flight controllers agreed to end the EVA, NASA officials said.

 

-- Tariq Malik

Astronaut Removes Second Gap-Filler

 

3 August 2005; 8:57 a.m. EDT

 

HOUSTON – Astronaut Stephen Robinson successfully removed the second of two gap-fillers jutting out from between from the heat-resistant tiles along Discovery’s belly.

 

“That came out very easy, probably with even less force [than the first],” Robinson said. “It looks like this big spaceship is cured.”

 

The repair occurred at 8:55 a.m. EDT (1255 GMT).

-- Tariq Malik

Astronaut Removes First Gap-Filler

 

3 August 2005; 8:50 a.m. EDT

 

HOUSTON – Astronaut Stephen Robinson successfully removed the first of two dangling gap-fillers from the tile-covered heat shield along Discovery’s belly.

 

“I’m pulling now,” Robinson said, while standing atop the space station robotic arm. “It’s coming out very easily.”

 

The repair occurred at 8:45 a.m. EDT (1245 GMT), NASA officials said.

 

Robinson’s helmet-mounted video camera broadcast the operation.

 

“We’re enjoying the view,” flight controllers told the astronauts.

 

Robinson is now proceeding to his second worksite, with help from Discovery pilot James Kelly who is guiding the space station robot arm.

 

-- Tariq Malik

Spacewalker Reaches First Gap-Filler Site

 

3 August 2005; 8:44 a.m. EDT

 

HOUSTON – Astronaut Stephen Robinson has reached his first worksite on the underside of Discovery, for today’s removal of  two dangling gap-fillers from the tile-covered heat shield. He is making final motions to reach up and pluck the first gap-filler from its perch.

 

Robinson’s helmet-mounted video relayed unprecedented views of the shuttle’s ceramic tile surface and he could easily see the first protruding gap-filler under the nose of Discovery. Robinson also reported seeing a chipped tile identified in previous inspections using the shuttle’s orbital boom.

 

-- Tariq Malik

Spacewalker Closes in on First Gap-Filler Site

 

3 August 2005; 8:36 a.m. EDT

 

HOUSTON – Astronaut Stephen Robinson is closing in on his first worksite on the underside of Discovery, where he will attempt to use his gloved fingers to remove a dangling gap-filler from the tile-covered heat shield. He is about eight feet from the site.

 

Robinson will remove two of the gap-fillers from the forward section of Discovery’s heat tile system.

 

If his initial hand approach does not work, he will try to pull the gap-filler out with forceps. Failing that, he will use a modified hacksaw to cut the piece until it is flush with the surrounding tile surface.

 

-- Tariq Malik

 

 

Discovery Astronaut Begins Move Toward Shuttle Repair Site

 

3 August 2005; 8:23 a.m. EDT

 

HOUSTON – Discovery spacewalker Stephen Robinson is beginning his trek toward the underside of Discovery, where he will stand at the end of the space station’s robotic arm and perform an in-flight repair of the shuttle’s heat shield.

 

Robinson is expected to remove two shuttle tile gap-fillers that are jutting out about an inch into space. The gap-fillers could cause increased local heating to the orbiter’s tiles and wing leading edges during reentry if left in place, shuttle officials said.

 

“Vegas, we are ready to fly,” Robinson told STS-114 pilot James “Vegas” Kelly, who is driving the robotic arm.

 

“Enjoy the ride,” Robinson’s spacewalking partner Soichi Noguchi said.

 

Noguchi will watch the repair operation from a vantage point on the International Space Station (ISS), where Discovery is docked.

-- Tariq Malik

 

Spacewalking Duo Prepare for Orbital Repair

 

3 August 2005; 8:16 a.m. EDT

 

HOUSTON – Discovery spacewalker Soichi Noguchi is assisting his EVA partner Stephen Robinson at the end of the space station’s robotic arm, making sure all of his tools are safely stowed for the start of today’s orbital repair beneath the shuttle Discovery.

 

While Robinson stands at the end of the International Space Station (ISS) robotic arm, Discovery crewmembers have positioned the shuttle’s orbital boom over the side of the orbiter to watch the repair operation via intensified video camera.

 

-- Tariq Malik

Astronaut Set for Orbital Repair

 

3 August 2005; 8:06 a.m. EDT

 

HOUSTON – Astronaut Stephen Robinson is now attached to the space station’s robotic arm and set to begin today’s orbital repair beneath the shuttle Discovery.

 

Shuttle pilot James Kelly, guiding the robotic arm, will place Robinson over the port side of the orbiter to reach the first of two gap-fillers jutting out from between the tiles of Discovery’s heat shield. The other gap-filler is located on the starboard side, though both targets are along the orbiter’s forward section.

 

-- Tariq Malik

Spacewalk Repairman Sorts Tools

 

3 August 2005; 7:50 a.m. EDT

 

HOUSTON – Now at the three-hour mark into a potential seven-hour spacewalk, shuttle astronaut Stephen Robinson is sorting the tools he will use for today’s orbital repair beneath the Discovery orbiter. Robinson is making sure he has only the bare minimum he needs to prevent excess equipment from striking the spacecraft’s fragile heat-resistant tiles.

 

Robinson will perform a first-ever in-flight repair of a shuttle’s heat shield, though the task is relatively simple. After being moved into position by the robotic arm aboard the International Space Station (ISS), Robinson will pluck two gap-fillers sticking out from between the tiles on the port and starboard sides of Discovery’s forward undercarriage. 

 

-- Tariq Malik

ISS Robot Arm Walk Off Complete

 

3 August 2005; 7:35 a.m. EDT

 

HOUSTON – The International Space Station’s (ISS) robotic arm has inchworm-ed its way to its Mobile Base Platform and is now in place for today’s orbital repair beneath the space shuttle Discovery. 

 

Discovery spacewalker Stephen Robinson will board the arm and pluck two protruding space fillers jutting out from between the tiles lining the orbiter’s belly.

 

-- Tariq Malik

Spacewalker Reaches Station’s Highest Point

 

3 August 2005; 7:26 a.m. EDT

 

HOUSTON – Spacewalker Soichi Noguchi is climbing down from the highest point of the International Space Station (ISS) where he installed a materials exposure experiment to the top of the P6 truss structure.

 

“It’s alright,” Noguchi said of the view from 60 feet above the shuttle Discovery’s payload bay.

 

Atop the truss, Noguchi attached the Materials International Space Station Experiment 5 (MISSE 5).

 

-- Tariq Malik

Shuttle Repair May Be Pushed Up

 

3 August 2005; 7:02 a.m. EDT

 

HOUSTON – Spacewalk officials may move up today’s planned repair job to remove two gap-fillers jutting out from the heat-resistant tiles on underside of Discovery, NASA officials said.

 

The task, which will put spacewalker Stephen Robinson at the end of the International Space Station (ISS) robotic arm and slide him beneath Discovery’s forward section, may be placed ahead of the retrieval of a broken motor because operations to move the arm into place for the repair are ahead of schedule, they added.

 

 

-- Tariq Malik

Spacewalkers to Split Up

 

3 August 2005; 6:53 a.m. EDT

 

HOUSTON – With their first task complete, the two astronauts working outside the shuttle Discovery and International Space Station (ISS) are set to split up to accomplish different tasks during their third spacewalk.

 

Discovery astronaut Soichi Noguchi is arranging tethers as he prepares to make his way up the station’s P6 truss to install the Materials International Space Station Experiment 5 (MISSE 5). The materials exposure experiment is the first equipped with antennas to relay data to the ground. Noguchi’s spacewalking partner Stephen Robinson is removing a grappler from a newly installed spare parts platform, which will be returned to Earth and used on a future piece of ISS hardware.

 

Robinson’s orbital repair to remove two gap-fillers jutting out from between the tiles mounted to the underside of Discovery is about 90 minutes away, NASA officials said.

 

-- Tariq Malik

Spacewalkers Connect Power Cables to Platform

 

3 August 2005; 6:40 a.m. EDT

 

HOUSTON – NASA is preparing to power up the three-ton spare parts platform now that two spacewalkers have connected electrical and heating cables to the new piece of  space station hardware.

 

Discovery astronauts Soichi Noguchi and Stephen Robinson successfully installed the External Stowage Platform-2 (ESP-2) to the exterior of the International Space Station’s (ISS) Quest airlock earlier today, overcoming a minor connection glitch. The ESP-2 installation completes work began during the astronauts’ first spacewalk, in which they laid out the cables and installed the attachment device now holding the spare parts platform to the Quest airlock exterior.

 

-- Tariq Malik

Spare Parts Platform Reinstalled

 

3 August 2005; 6:21 a.m. EDT

 

HOUSTON – The External Stowage Platform-2 (ESP-2) has been reinstalled outside the Quest airlock aboard the International Space Station (ISS), after astronauts backed it out once to realign it into position.

 

Spacewalkers Soichi Noguchi and Stephen Robinson are locking the spare parts platform to the Quest airlock, while their crewmate Wendy Lawrence keeps a firm grip on the hardware with the station’s robotic arm. STS-114 mission specialist Andrew Thomas is choreographing the spacewalk from inside Discovery.

 

Discovery pilot James Kelly has left the ISS and reentered the shuttle, where he and crewmate Charles Camarda are using the orbiter’s inspection boom to study intentionally damaged tile samples that underwent repair tests in an earlier spacewalk.

 

-- Tariq Malik

Spare Parts Platform Troubleshooting Underway

 

3 August 2005; 6:09 a.m. EDT

 

HOUSTON – Astronauts Soichi Noguchi and Stephen Robinson have encountered a slight hitch in the installation of a spare parts platform outside the Quest airlock aboard the International Space Station (ISS).

 

The astronauts were unable to lock down one of a series of lock bars to ensure the platform’s hard mate to the Quest airlock. Trouble shooting is underway to reengage the locking mechanisms.

 

-- Tariq Malik

Spare Parts Platform Berthed at ISS

 

3 August 2005; 5:43 a.m. EDT

 

HOUSTON – A spare parts platform has been successfully mated to outside the Quest airlock of the International Space Station (ISS), where it will hold extra hardware for future spacewalks and maintenance.

 

Discovery spacewalker Soichi Noguchi is now using a pistol grip tool to lock the new platform down to Quest airlock exterior, forming a permanent mate. The initial soft dock of the platform to the ISS airlock occurred at 5:40 a.m. EDT (0940 GMT).

 

-- Tariq Malik

Spare Parts Platform Installation Underway

 

3 August 2005; 5:36 a.m. EDT

 

HOUSTON – The installation of a spare parts platform outside the Quest airlock of the International Space Station (ISS) is underway.

 

Station arm controllers Wendy Lawrence and James Kelly are easing the platform toward the station while spacewalkers Soichi Noguchi and Stephen Robinson watch over the process and prepare to lock the hardware to the ISS.

 

-- Tariq Malik

ISS Arm Operators Take Charge

 

3 August 2005; 5:30 a.m. EDT

 

HOUSTON – Discovery astronaut Wendy Lawrence and James Kelly report they have reached the robotics console inside the International Space Station (ISS) where they will assist spacewalkers Soichi Noguchi and Stephen Robinson install a spare parts platform outside the orbital facility.

 

 

The robot arm will also be used to position Robinson beneath Discovery during a repair of its tile-covered heat shield.

 

-- Tariq Malik

Shuttle Airlock Repressurized

 

3 August 2005; 5:15 a.m. EDT

 

HOUSTON – With the third spacewalk of Discovery’s STS-114 spaceflight underway, the shuttle’s crew has begun repressurizing the orbiter’s airlock to reestablish a link between the spacecraft and the International Space Station (ISS).

 

The move is required to allow STS-114 astronauts Wendy Lawrence and James Kelly to use the station’s robotic arm to assist astronauts Soichi Noguchi and Stephen Robinson as they install the External Stowage Platform-2 (ESP-2) to the exterior of the ISS’ Quest airlock. The platform will hold spare parts too large to stay inside the ISS.

 

Later in today’s spacewalk, Robinson will stand atop the ISS arm and be guided under the heat tile-lined belly of Discovery, where he will remove two gap-fillers from jutting out from between tiles.

 

Robinson has already opened a sample box containing the tile and reinforced carbon carbon samples he and Noguchi tested repair methods on in their first spacewalk. Shuttle astronauts will use their orbiter’s sensor-tipped Orbital Boom Sensor System (OBSS) to scan the experiment. 

 

Robinson is now joining Noguchi outside the Quest airlock for the ESP-2 installation.

 

-- Tariq Malik

Third Spacewalk Begins for Discovery Astronauts

 

3 August 2005; 4:57 a.m. EDT

 

HOUSTON – The third and last planned spacewalk for Discovery astronauts Soichi Noguchi and Stephen Robinson is underway, beginning what could be a seven-hour excursion to install new equipment outside the International Space Station (ISS) and remove two protruding gap-fillers from the shuttle’s tile-covered heat shield.

 

The spacewalk began at 4:47 a.m. EDT as the Discovery-ISS stack passed more than 200 miles over the southeast coast of Australia. The extravehicular activity (EVA) is the 61^st spacewalk to support the ISS and the 28^th to do so from a U.S. space shuttle.

 

 

-- Tariq Malik

Third Spacewalk Slightly Behind Schedule

 

3 August 2005; 4:47 a.m. EDT

 

HOUSTON –Discovery astronauts Soichi Noguchi and Stephen Robinson are about 30 minutes behind schedule as they prepare to install new equipment at the International Space Station (ISS) and perform an on-orbit repair to the shuttle’s heat shield.

 

 

The two spacewalkers are going through the final procedures inside Discovery’s airlock as they prepare to crack open the outer hatch and exit the shuttle.

 

 

The first task up for today is the installation of an external stowage platform (ESP-2) to be installed on the outside of the International Space Station (ISS) Quest airlock.

 

-- Tariq Malik

Discovery Astronauts Set For Spacewalk Repair

 

3 August 2005; 4:17 a.m. EDT

 

HOUSTON – Two astronauts are preparing to step outside the space shuttle Discovery to perform an on-orbit repair to the orbiter’s heat shield.

 

 

STS-114 spacewalkers Soichi Noguchi and Stephen Robinson are in the shuttle’s airlock, clad in U.S.-built spacesuits, and set to make their third and final extravehicular activity (EVA) of Discovery’s flight.

 

 

About three hours and 20 minutes into today’s spacewalk, Robinson will stand atop the robotic arm aboard the International Space Station (ISS), where Discovery is currently docked, and be maneuvered underneath the shuttle to pluck two filler strips jutting out form the spacecraft’s tile-covered heat shield. Noguchi will observe the repair from a vantage point aboard the ISS.

 

 

The two astronauts will also install the External Stowage Platform 2 (ESP-2) outside the station’s Quest airlock to hold spare parts among their other tasks during their 6.5-hour spacewalk today.

 

 

-- Tariq Malik

~

Discovery Spacewalker to Pluck Gap-Fillers from Shuttle’s Heat Shield

 

1 August 2005; 8:17 p.m. EDT

 

HOUSTON – The crew of the space shuttle Discovery will perform an unprecedented on-orbit repair Wednesday, sending an astronaut under the orbiter’s belly to remove a pair of filler strips jutting out form the spacecraft’s tile-covered heat shield, mission managers said Monday.

 

The decision caps three days of scrutiny by imaging specialists, shuttle tile engineers, aerodynamicists and spacewalk planners to determine exactly how to deal with two bits of stiff ceramic fiber cloth – known as gap-fillers - sticking from between heat-resistant tiles under the forward section of the Discovery orbiter.

 

“In the end it came down to be a really simple decision,” said Wayne Hale, NASA’s deputy shuttle program manager, during a briefing here at NASA’s Johnson Space Center “We came to the conclusion that we don’t know enough to really feel good about this, so therefore the remedy is easy and we ought to go exercise the remedy.”

 

That remedy is an unprecedented spacewalk to send one astronaut, attached to a robotic arm, under the shuttle to pluck out the strips by hand, or cut them off if they prove too stubborn, spacewalk officials said earlier today.

 

-- Tariq Malik

 

Second Spacewalk Ends for Discovery Astronauts

 

1 August 2005; 12:06 p.m. EDT

 

HOUSTON – After seven hours and 14 minutes in space, Discovery astronauts Soichi Noguchi and Stephen Robinson are safely back inside the Discovery orbiter.

 

The two astronauts started their spacewalk about 30 minutes late, but swiftly completed their primary task – replacing a broken gyroscope aboard the International Space Station (ISS) – and were able to devote extra time to several additional tasks to prepare for future spacewalks.

 

SPACE.com’s full story of today’s spacewalk is available by clicking here.

 

-- Tariq Malik

Discovery Spacewalkers Shut Airlock Hatch

 

1 August 2005; 11:50 a.m. EDT

 

HOUSTON – Astronauts Soichi Noguchi and Stephen Robinson have shut the outer airlock hatch aboard the space shuttle Discovery.

 

The move comes after a successful spacewalk to replace a broken gyroscope aboard the International Space Station (ISS) that included several extra tasks to prepare for future extravehicular activities and a possible repair for Discovery should mission managers deem it necessary.

 

During their extra tasks Noguchi and Robinson retrieved tools that could be used to remove two strips of filler material from between the black heat tiles along Discovery’s underside. Mission managers have been studying whether any fix is needed and expect to have a decision later today.

 

-- Tariq Malik

Astronauts Enter Shuttle Hatch

 

1 August 2005; 11:35 a.m. EDT

 

HOUSTON – Two spacewalkers have opened the hatch leading into the space shuttle Discovery as they near the end of more than six hours of work in space.

 

Discovery astronaut Stephen Robinson has already entered the shuttle airlock, with his spacewalking crewmate Soichi Noguchi following suit. They two astronauts successfully replaced a broken gyroscope from the International Space Station (ISS) and replaced it with a brand new unit. That task achieved, they pressed ahead with several get-ahead chores for future spacewalks.

 

-- Tariq Malik

Spacewalkers Back at Shuttle Airlock

 

1 August 2005; 11:29 a.m. EDT

 

HOUSTON – After a successful spacewalk outside the International Space Station (ISS), astronauts Stephen Robinson and Soichi Noguchi are back at the airlock aboard the shuttle Discovery.

 

The airlock is depressurizing and the astronauts are preparing to reentry Discovery. Noguchi, having been given the go ahead from mission control, is taking travelogue photographs inside the shuttle’s payload bay.

 

-- Tariq Malik

Spacewalk Goal, Extra Tasks Achieved

 

1 August 2005; 10:57 a.m. EDT

 

HOUSTON – With their primary objective complete, spacewalking astronauts Soichi Noguchi and Stephen Robinson are retrieving tools they will use for get-ahead tasks.

 

After disembarking the International Space Station’s (ISS) robotic arm, Noguchi picked up a round scoop tool for later use retrieving a broken rotary motor to return back to Earth. Engineers want to study the motor before launch and installing two new ones at the station during the STS-115 shuttle flight and its 12-A ISS construction mission.

 

The astronauts also gathered a set of tools that could be used to remove a pair of gap-fillers jutting out from Discovery’s heat-resistant tile covered belly. Shuttle officials are expected to decide whether that repair, an unprecedented fix, is necessary, and a report is expected later today.

 

Noguchi and Robinson also relocated a foot restraint on the exterior of the ISS in preparation for a spacewalk planned for NASA’s STS-121 mission aboard Atlantis, the next shuttle flight to follow Discovery’s STS-114 mission, NASA officials said.

 

-- Tariq Malik

New Gyroscope Performing Well

 

1 August 2005; 10:01 a.m. EDT

 

HOUSTON – After reconnecting a few power connectors a new gyroscope aboard the International Space Station (ISS) is performing well, NASA officials said.

 

Flight controllers gave the good news to STS-114 spacewalkers Soichi Noguchi and Stephen Robinson, a successful announcement that prompted the mission’s lead EVA officer Cindy Begley to jump out of her chair and applause here at Johnson Space Center’s mission control.

 

“Congratulations, mission control,” Robinson said.

 

He and Noguchi are will now work on some get ahead tasks, including an add-on to retrieve a broken rotary motor from the ISS.

 

-- Tariq Malik

Noguchi Checks Gyro Power Connectors

 

1 August 2005; 9:46 a.m. EDT

 

HOUSTON – Spacewalking astronaut Soichi Noguchi has checked three cables for a newly installed gyroscope outside the International Space Station (ISS), finding that one of cables providing power was not seated correctly.

 

The cable has been reconnected and flight controllers are reevaluating gyroscope data to ensure it is functioning properly.

 

Meanwhile, Noguchi’s fellow spacewalker Stephen Robinson is performing several get ahead tasks for their third, and final, planned spacewalk.

 

-- Tariq Malik

Discovery Astronauts Return to Gyro Worksite

 

1 August 2005; 9:42 a.m. EDT

 

HOUSTON – Flight controllers are sending Discovery’s spacewalking astronaut Soichi Noguchi back to the site of a gyroscope repair to determine the status of several connectors that power the attitude control device.

 

Noguchi is steadfastly disconnecting and reconnecting each of the three cables for flight controllers.

 

-- Tariq Malik

Spacewalkers Wait on Gyro Evaluation

 

1 August 2005; 9:30 a.m. EDT

 

HOUSTON – Discovery spacewalkers Stephen Robinson and Soichi Noguchi are awaiting word from flight controllers to determine if their gyroscope repair has been effective.

 

NASA officials said that the station’s attitude control officer was not seeing all of the anticipated data from the newly connected gyroscope.

 

-- Tariq Malik

Astronauts Connect Gyro Power Cables

 

1 August 2005; 9:15 a.m. EDT

 

HOUSTON – Astronauts Soichi Noguchi and Stephen Robinson have attached three power cables to the space station’s new gyroscope to proved heating and electrical power to the unit.

 

With that task complete, they moved on to replace a thermal shrouds that protects the station’s four gyroscopes from excessive heating.

 

-- Tariq Malik

New Gyroscope Installed at ISS

 

1 August 2005; 9:00 a.m. EDT

 

HOUSTON – Discovery’s two spacewalking astronauts have installed a new gyroscope at the International Space Station, locking it down to the orbital laboratory at 8:59 a.m. EDT (1259 GMT), NASA officials said.

 

The move places four quality gyroscopes aboard the ISS to maintain its attitude control without firing propellant-consuming thrusters.

 

-- Tariq Malik

Spacewalkers Haul New Gyroscope to Work Site

 

1 August 2005; 8:50 a.m. EDT

 

HOUSTON – Space shuttle astronauts Soichi Noguchi and Stephen Robinson are again at the Z1 truss outside the International Space Station (ISS) to install a new attitude control moment gyroscope.

 

With Noguchi holding the 620-pound gyroscope at the end of the station’s robotic arm, Robinson checked its docking berth for any signs of foreign debris. Finding none, they proceeded ahead to install the new gyroscope.

 

-- Tariq Malik

 

New Gyroscope on the Move

 

1 August 2005; 8:31 a.m. EDT

 

HOUSTON – Shuttle astronaut Wendy Lawrence, currently inside the International Space Station (ISS), is guiding STS-114 spacewalker Soichi Noguchi back to his work site as he carries a massive new gyroscope at the end of the station’s robotic arm.

 

The new control moment gyroscope will replace a broken one Noguchi and his spacewalking partner Stephen Robinson have already removed from the ISS and stowed away in Discovery’s payload bay.

 

You can follow along with today’s spacewalk on NASA TV by clicking on SPACE.com’s NASA TV feed available at the left on this page.

 

-- Tariq Malik

Broken Gyroscope Firmly Locked Down

 

1 August 2005; 8:21 a.m. EDT

 

HOUSTON – With a bit of extra elbow grease and an extra set of hands, two spacewalking astronauts have locked down a faulty gyroscope into Discovery’s payload bay.

 

Discovery spacewalker Soichi Noguchi had a bit of difficulty firmly mating the broken gyroscope to its final berth for the return to Earth, but with help from his space working partner Stephen Robinson the problem was solved.

 

Noguchi is now pulling a new gyroscope, which he and Robinson will install to the International Space Station (ISS), out of Discovery’s payload bay.

 

A total of four gyroscopes are used to orient the space station without firing thrusters and consuming fuel.

 

-- Tariq Malik

Spacewalkers See Small Glitch

 

1 August 2005; 8:07 a.m. EDT

 

HOUSTON – Discovery astronauts Soichi Noguchi and Stephen Robinson have had a bit of difficulty locking a broken gyroscope into place inside the aft of the shuttle’s payload bay.

 

After encountering problems ratcheting down bolts to secure the gyroscope in its payload bay berth, Robinson hauled himself over to help. Noguchi is fixed to the end of the International Space Station (ISS) robotic arm.

 

The two astronauts have breezed through their spacewalk up to this point, successfully removing the broken gyroscope from its ISS location, stowing in a temporary position in Discovery’s payload bay, then plucking out the new gyroscope and setting it along side its faulty counterpart. The sort of orbital shell game, as Noguchi has called it, will conclude when he grabs the new gyroscope and carries it to the space station’s Z1 truss.

 

-- Tariq Malik

 

Smooth Spacewalk Ahead of Schedule

 

1 August 2005; 7:31 a.m. EDT

 

HOUSTON – Despite a late start, the two spacewalkers outside the shuttle Discovery and International Space Station (ISS) are about 40 minutes ahead of their timeline as they continue their 6.5-hour spacewalk.

 

The astronauts began the extravehicular activity, the second spacewalk of their mission, about 30 minutes late, but their deft handling of both a broken gyroscope and its brand new replacement have streamlined their work.

 

The spacewalkers, Discovery astronauts Soichi Noguchi and Stephen Robinson, are now stowing the broken gyroscope in a shuttle payload bay berth for the return to Earth, while the new unit awaits installation at the ISS.

 

-- Tariq Malik

New Gyroscope Unpacked

 

1 August 2005; 7:18 a.m. EDT

 

HOUSTON – A new gyroscope has been pulled out of its berth in the back of the shuttle Discovery’s payload bay, making room for a broken unit to be packed in its place.

 

Spacewalking astronauts Soichi Noguchi and Stephen Robinson are juggling the two gyroscopes in order to install the new unit at the International Space Station (ISS). The broken gyroscope, which failed in June 2002, will be returned to Earth and studied by engineers.

 

-- Tariq Malik

Broken Gyroscope Stowed

 

1 August 2005; 7:07 a.m. EDT

 

HOUSTON – Two spacewalking astronauts have safely stowed a faulty space station gyroscope at inside Discovery’s payload bay.

 

Shuttle astronauts Soichi Noguchi and Stephen Robinson are now working on a brand new gyroscope, which they will install in place of the broken unit. The two spacewalkers are removing bolts and shims inside the aft of Discovery’s payload bay.

 

-- Tariq Malik

 

Broken Gyroscope in Discovery’s Payload Bay

 

1 August 2005; 6:55 a.m. EDT

 

HOUSTON – The broken space station gyroscope at the heart of today’s spacewalk repair has been safely carried to the shuttle Discovery’s payload bay.

 

STS-114 astronauts Soichi Noguchi and Stephen Robinson are now working to temporarily stow the gyroscope, and will then grab a new gyroscope to install at the aft section of the International Space Station’s Z1 truss. Discovery mission specialist Wendy Thomas is guiding Noguchi, who is carrying the gyroscope at the tip of the space station robotic arm, toward a temporary stowage platform in the shuttle payload bay.

 

-- Tariq Malik

Gyroscope Plucked From ISS

 

1 August 2005; 6:15 a.m. EDT

 

HOUSTON – Astronauts Soichi Noguchi and Stephen Robinson have plucked a faulty gyroscope from its housing outside the International Space Station (ISS), as they work to replace it with a brand new unit.

 

One of four Control Moment Gyroscopes (CMGs) used to maintain ISS position without firing thrusters, the gyroscope broke down in June 2002.

 

“Alright my friend, let’s take this CMG home,” Robinson said.

 

Noguchi will carry the 620-pound gyroscope to the payload bay of the Discovery orbiter, where it will be stowed and its replacement snatched up for installation. Discovery’s STS-114 mission specialist Wendy Thomas is guiding the space station robotic arm that Noguchi is currently riding.

 

-- Tariq Malik

Spacewalkers Work on Broken Gyroscope

 

1 August 2005; 6:05 a.m. EDT

 

HOUSTON – Two spacewalkers are working to remove a broken gyroscope from the aft face Z1 truss outside the International Space Station (ISS).

 

Discovery astronauts Soichi Noguchi, attached to the station’s robotic arm, and Stephen Robinson are removing power connectors, bolts and shims that mate the broken Control Moment Gyroscope 1 (CMG 1). The washing machine-sized gyroscope failed on June 8, 2002, during the shuttle Endeavour’s visit on the STS-111 mission.

 

-- Tariq Malik

Noguchi Steps Onto Robotic Arm

 

1 August 2005; 5:42 a.m. EDT

 

HOUSTON – Spacewalking astronaut Soichi Noguchi is standing at the end of the International Space Station’s (ISS) robotic arm and is preparing a pistol grip tool – a sort of motorized space screwdriver – he will use to remove bolts connecting a broken gyroscope to the station’s Z1 truss.

 

Noguchi’s STS-114 crewmates Wendy Lawrence and James Kelly are manipulating the ISS arm to place the spacewalker into proper position for today’s repair.

 

Both Noguchi and Robinson are at the Z1 truss, where flight controllers have shut down power to Control Moment Gyroscope 1 (CMG 1) to ready it for removal.

 

-- Tariq Malik

Spacewalkers Check Tethers

 

1 August 2005; 5:25 a.m. EDT

 

HOUSTON – STS-114 astronauts Soichi Noguchi and Stephen Robinson are arranging a set of tethers and other tools they will use during the removal of a broken gyroscope outside the International Space Station (ISS).

 

Noguchi has installed a foot restraint at the end of the space station’s robotic arm, which will allow the astronauts to remove the thermal cover protecting all four of the space station’s control moment gyroscopes (CMG) and begin their orbital repair on the facility’s Z1 truss.

 

-- Tariq Malik

Astronauts Close Discovery Airlock

 

1 August 2005; 5:11 a.m. EDT

 

HOUSTON – The two Discovery astronauts working outside their shuttle have closed the door behind them to allow their crewmembers passage into the International Space Station (ISS).

 

After STS-114 astronauts Stephen Robinson and Soichi Noguchi, of the Japanese Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA), closed the outer hatch during their spacewalk, their fellow Discovery crewmates began repressurizing the airlock. The move will allow STS-114 mission specialist Wendy Lawrence and pilot James Kelly to fly through the tunnel connecting Discovery to the ISS, where they will manipulate the station’s robotic arm to support today’s spacewalk.

 

Noguchi and Robinson are not trapped out in space. During an earlier spacewalk, they opened the outer door of the U.S.-built Quest airlock on the space station.

 

You can follow along with today’s spacewalk, which is being broadcast live on NASA TV, by clicking on SPACE.com’s NASA TV feed available at the left on this page.

-- Tariq Malik

Spacewalkers Step Back Outside Discovery

 

1 August 2005; 4:58 a.m. EDT

 

HOUSTON – After going on internal space suit power, Discovery mission specialists Soichi Noguchi and Stephen Robinson have officially begun the second spacewalk of their astronaut careers.

 

The spacewalk officially began at 4:42 a.m. EDT (0842 GMT), marking the start of the 60^th extravehicular activity to support the International Space Station (ISS) and the 26^th ISS spacewalk staged from a U.S. space shuttle.

 

Robinson and Noguchi are expected to completely remove a broken attitude control moment gyroscope (CMG), one of four used in a U.S.-built system to maintain the space station’s position, and replace it with a new one. Weighing 600 pounds on Earth, the faulty gyroscope failed in 2002 mostly likely due to a lubrication problem, but NASA officials hope to finally settle the matter after retrieving the broken unit.

 

At least two CMGs are currently required to maintain the space station’s orientation in orbit, though as ISS construction resumes in future shuttle missions all four will be needed. A Russian-built thruster system is also used to position the station when the gyroscopes are not in motion.

 

-- Tariq Malik

 

Second Spacewalk Underway for Discovery Astronauts

 

1 August 2005; 4:39 a.m. EDT

 

HOUSTON – Two astronauts are again poised to take a stroll in space outside the shuttle Discovery and International Space Station (ISS).

 

Discovery mission specialists Soichi Noguchi and Stephen Robinson have opened the outer hatch of Discovery’s airlock and are minutes away from stepping into the orbiter’s payload bay.

 

Today’s spacewalk is dedicated to replacing one of four attitude control gyroscopes used by the ISS to maintain its position. The 600-pound gyroscope failed in 2002 and is located on the Z1 truss.

 

During a July 30 spacewalk, Robinson rerouted power for a different gyroscope, bringing it back into service after months of inactivity. By the end of today’s spacewalk, the space station should have four fully operational gyroscopes for the first time since 2002.

-- Tariq Malik

~

 

Discovery Spacewalkers Reenter Shuttle

 

30 July 2005; 12:15 p.m. EDT

 

HOUSTON – Spacewalking astronauts Soichi Noguchi and Stephen Robinson are back inside the airlock of the space shuttle Discovery after six hours 50 minutes of working in space.

 

The crew closed the airlock’s outer hatch at about 12:35 p.m. EDT (1635 GMT). The astronauts did encounter a slight glitch when trying to close the hatch – Robinson encountered a similar glitch shutting the hatch from the outside – but all appears to be well now. Robinson and Noguchi are preparing to repressurize the airlock.

 

-- Tariq Malik

Astronauts Depressurize Shuttle Airlock

 

30 July 2005; 11:59 a.m. EDT

 

HOUSTON – More than six hours after leaving the space shuttle Discovery, the spacewalking team of STS-114 is preparing to reenter their spacecraft.

 

Astronaut Stephen Robinson and Soichi Noguchi have completed all of their appointed tasks for today’s 6.5-hour spacewalk. Robinson is slowly depressurizing the shuttle airlock while Noguchi wraps up photography of a damaged thermal blanket aboard Discovery. Soichi took the images from a vantage point in the International Space Station’s (ISS) Destiny module.

Focused inspections of Discovery’s port wing leading edge are also underway using the shuttle’s orbital inspection boom.

-- Tariq Malik

Final Tasks for Spacewalking Team

 

30 July 2005; 11:39 a.m. EDT

 

HOUSTON – With all their major tasks complete, the spacewalking duo outside the shuttle Discovery and International Space Station (ISS) are putting the final touches on what has been, so far, a successful spacewalk.

 

Robinson took on yet another extra task, retrieving as second MISSE materials exposure experiment from the exterior of the Quest airlock on the ISS.

 

In the aft of Discovery’s payload bay, Noguchi has been hard at work photographing the results of the earlier heat shield testing. Flight controllers have asked Noguchi to take additional images of a damaged thermal blanket on the upper portion of Discovery’s nose, just below the commander seat window.

 

ISS managers, meanwhile, have spun up control moment gyroscope 2 (CMG-2) aboard the ISS, but will not add into the station’s integrated attitude control system until later in the joint shuttle-ISS mission.

 

-- Tariq Malik

STS-114 Spacewalkers Return to Shuttle

 

30 July 2005; 11:16 a.m. EDT

 

HOUSTON – STS-114 astronauts Stephen Robinson and Soichi Noguchi are making their way back in the shuttle Discovery’s payload pay to take photographs of the tile and reinforced carbon carbon materials they worked with earlier.

 

Meanwhile, shuttle pilot James Kelly is guiding Discovery’s orbital inspection boom along the orbiter’s port wing leading edge to get a second look at seven different locations that interested imaging specialists and engineers on Earth. Those seven locations are distributed along four separate reinforced carbon carbon panels of Discovery’s port wing.

 

-- Tariq Malik

One Last Chore for Spacewalking Duo

 

30 July 2005; 10:55 a.m. EDT

 

HOUSTON – The two spacewalking astronauts outside the International Space Station (ISS) are completing their final task before the end of their 6.5-hour workday in space.

 

STS-114 astronauts Soichi Noguchi and Stephen Robinson are connecting cables that will provide heating for a spare parts platform they will install at the ISS later in their shuttle mission.

 

-- Tariq Malik

 

Extra task for Discovery Astronaut

 

30 July 2005; 10:38 a.m. EDT

 

HOUSTON – With his current task complete, one STS-114 spacewalker has taken on an extra chore outside the International Space Station (ISS).

 

After rerouting power to an attitude control gyroscope, astronaut Stephen Robinson has been instructed to retrieve a briefcase-sized materials exposure experiment that has sat outside the ISS. He and fellow spacewalker Soichi Noguchi were slated to grab the experiment, dubbed Materials International Space Station Experiment (MISSE) during their third EVA.

 

-- Tariq Malik

Spacewalkers Reroutes Power to Gyroscope

 

30 July 2005; 10:22 a.m. EDT

 

HOUSTON – Spacewalker Stephen Robinson has completed rerouting power, the second fix for a gyroscope aboard the International Space Station (ISS).

 

Attitude control officers for the ISS verified the gyroscope fix, but will not spin the gyroscope up to speed until Flight Day 7, NASA officials said.

 

Noguchi has successfully replaced a GPS antenna outside the station. He is currently replacing insulation and securing the antenna to the station with three bolts.

-- Tariq Malik

Spacewalkers Split Up At ISS

 

30 July 2005; 10:14 a.m. EDT

 

HOUSTON – STS-114 astronauts Soichi Noguchi and Stephen Robinson have split to complete tasks outside the International Space Station (ISS).

 

Robinson is at the station’s Z1 truss, where he is working to reroute power to for the CMG-2 gyroscope aboard the space station. The gyroscope itself is healthy, but its power system needs adjustment. A fuse box failed in March 2005, blocking power from reaching the unit. It has already been repaired once by a previous space station crew.

 

Noguchi is at the station’s S0 truss swapping out a broken GPS antenna with a fresh one.

 

-- Tariq Malik

Discovery’s Spacewalkers Install ISS Porch Attachment

 

30 July 2005; 9:41 a.m. EDT

 

HOUSTON – Discovery’s two-man spacewalking team has installed an attachment device for a spare parts platform outside the International Space Station’s U.S.-built Quest airlock.

 

After a few unsuccessful attempts to force latches on the attachment device to grab connectors on the airlock, STS-114 spacewalkers Stephen Robinson and Soichi Noguchi were finally successful at 9:24 a.m. EDT (1324 GMT). They are now putting the finishing touches to lock the device down to the ISS.

 

Robinson and Noguchi are nearing the four-hour mark if their 6.5-hour spacewalk. The extravehicular activity began at 5:46 a.m. EDT (0946 GMT), about an hour late.

 

After completing the attachment device’s installation, Noguchi will press ahead to replace a broken GPS antenna on the station’s S0 truss. Meanwhile, Robinson will arrange tools for the duo’s Aug. 1 spacewalk on the space station’s Z1 truss, where they will be used to swap out a broken attitude control moment gyroscope. While he’s there, Robinson will also reroute power to a different, healthy gyroscope – there are four onboard the ISS – to bring it back into operation.

 

Finally, the Robinson will retrieve the cables Noguchi prearranged earlier in the EVA and the spacewalkers will connect one end to a jack mounted on the station’s S0 truss. The other end will feed into the External Stowage Platform to be installed during the mission’s third spacewalk.

-- Tariq Malik

Astronaut Stephen Robinson Rides Robot Arm

 

30 July 2005; 9:13 a.m. EDT

 

HOUSTON – STS-114 astronaut Stephen Robinson is apparently enjoying his ride at the end of the International Space Station’s (ISS) 80-foot robotic arm.

 

“Vegas, there are no words for how cool this is,” Robinson told STS-114 pilot James “Vegas” Kelly, who is controlling the arm with mission specialist Wendy Lawrence. “This will be a good memory, Soichi.”

 

“It is a strong one,” said STS-114 astronaut Soichi Noguchi, Robinson’s spacewalking partner.

-- Tariq Malik

Spacewalkers Retrieve ISS Porch Attachment

 

30 July 2005; 9:03 a.m. EDT

 

HOUSTON – Discovery’s STS-114 spacewalker Stephen Robinson has retrieved an attachment device for the External Stowage Platform-2, a spare parts storehouse to be installed at the International Space Station later in the spaceflight.

 

To prepare the stowage platform’s installation, Robinson and fellow spacewalker Soichi Noguchi will install the attachment device to the outside of the station’s Quest airlock.

 

Robinson is riding the space station’s robotic arm to the Quest airlock – which is being controlled by STS-114 mission specialist Wendy Lawrence and pilot James Kelly – carrying the attachment device with him. Noguchi will haul himself hand-over-hand to a couple of locations on the station’s Destiny and Unity modules to stow cables, then return to the Quest airlock to aid Robinson.

-- Tariq Malik

Tile Repair Tests Conclude, ISS Work Next

 

30 July 2005; 8:24 a.m. EDT

 

HOUSTON – After a brief demonstration with the Emittance Wash Applicator, STS-114 spacewalker Soichi Noguchi used a small foam brush to apply the gray wash material.

 

Flight controllers said they were extremely happy with how the demonstration went and gave Noguchi and STS-114 mission specialist Stephen Robinson the go ahead to press on with other scheduled tasks.

 

The astronauts did not perform the heat shield tests on samples earmarked for NASA’s arcjet facility, where they were to be subjected to the searing heat experienced by shuttle heat shields during atmospheric reentry. NASA officials said that today’s test was primarily aimed at categorizing how the NOAX and emittance wash material behaved in actual flight conditions.

 

After the astronauts clean off any contamination from the heat shield test experiments, they will unstow a spare parts platform dubbed External Stowage Platform-2 and the attachment device that will connect it to the International Space Station (ISS). Noguchi and Robinson are slated to install the attachment device outside the station’s Quest airlock.

 

They are also scheduled to replace a GPS antenna on the orbital laboratory’s S0 truss.

 

Later today, STS-114 pilot James Kelly and mission specialist Charles Camarda are expected to perform follow-up inspections of seven points spread across four of the reinforced carbon carbon (RCC) panels along Discovery’s port wing.

 

-- Tariq Malik

 

Tile Repair Tests up Next

 

30 July 2005; 8:10 a.m. EDT

 

HOUSTON – As STS-114 astronaut Stephen Robinson puts away tools used in his reinforced carbon carbon repair tests, his spacewalking partner Soichi Noguchi is gearing up for a tile repair demonstration.

 

Noguchi is set to demonstrate use of an Emittance Wash Applicator, a hand-held tool that oozes a gray material – the emittance wash – through a mesh much like a shoe polish dauber or liquid glue stick. The wash is designed to be dabbed onto a damaged tile’s surface, where it is expected to increase how much heat the area emits.

 

“I’m ready,” Noguchi said.

 

Robinson’s tests of a non-oxide adhesive experimental (NOAX) filler material for RCC cracks and gouges seemed to go well from an operations standpoint as the astronauts learned how substance behaved under flight conditions. Unlike ground vacuum chamber tests, there was no off-gassing of material, and what tended to bubble up on the ground seemed to be filling up with microbubbles in flight, Robinson said.

 

Bulky spacesuit gloves made it difficult to handle the NOAX material, though by switching to a clean spatula it was manageable, Robinson said.

 

-- Tariq Malik

First NOAX Sample Test Ends

 

30 July 2005; 7:45 a.m. EDT

 

HOUSTON – Discovery spacewalker Stephen Robinson is moving on to a second NOAX sample to test methods of repairing heat-resistant reinforced carbon carbon panels.

 

Robinson is filling manufactured cracks and gouges with the non-oxide adhesive experimental (NOAX) filler material. He has observed it rising like yeast or bread, though it is admittedly messy work.

 

Robinson’s spacewalking partner Soichi Noguchi has a set of mitten-like wipes that he uses to clean the NOAX applicator and putty knifes, which accumulate with the black, sticky material.

 

“Oh that looks a mess,” spacewalk choreographer Andrew Thomas said from inside Discovery.

 

“It’s getting there,” Robinson said.

-- Tariq Malik

NOAX Test Begins

 

30 July 2005; 7:27 a.m. EDT

 

HOUSTON – Astronaut Stephen Robinson has begun the NOAX test.

 

After a brief test to make sure his NOAX applicator, a space-hardened caulk gun, was working properly, Robinson described the repair material’s appearance.

 

“It looks a little bit bubbly on the surface but I see no active bubbling,” Robinson said. “No bubbling at all, it’s behaving very nicely.”

 

 

The black puttylike substance known as non-oxide adhesive experimental (NOAX) is applied by working it into cracks and gouges with a putty knife.

 

 

 

“It’s just like spackling,” Robinson said while testing his first panel.

 

 

Robinson did report seeing some bubbling as he worked the NOAX into a crack.

 

 

You can follow along with the STS-114 spacewalk via SPACE.com’s NASA TV feed available by clicking the link at the left.

 

-- Tariq Malik

NOAX RCC Repair Chosen for First Spacewalk Test

 

30 July 2005; 7:07 a.m. EDT

 

HOUSTON – STS-114 spacewalker Stephen Robinson’s heat shield test – a method to fill crack in shuttle reinforced carbon carbon panels – has been selected as the first task in today’s repair demonstration.

 

Robinson’s spacewalking partner Soichi Noguchi will assist him as he uses a black, puttylike substance known as non-oxide adhesive experimental (NOAX) and a sort of spackle to fill in cracks in intentionally damaged RCC panels. Noguchi will stand by with wipes to prevent mess and help with any other tasks.

 

Later Noguchi will test an Emittance Wash Applicator, which squeezes a gray heat-resistant material that can be dabbed onto gouged heat tiles and increase their heat emissiveness.

 

The two tests, part of NASA’s return to fight initiative following the Columbia disaster, are designed to determine how astronauts may be able to address damage to shuttle heat shields in orbit and hopefully increase shuttle flight safety.

-- Tariq Malik

STS-114 Spacewalker Reaches Test Materials

 

30 July 2005; 6:46 a.m. EDT

 

HOUSTON – STS-114 spacewalker Stephen Robinson has opened a box in Discovery’s payload bay containing intentionally damaged heat resistant tiles and reinforced carbon carbon panels to test two repair methods that may prove useful for future flights.

 

Robinson plans to test RCC crack repair using a black, heat-resistant material dubbed NOAX while Noguchi will perform tile repair with a device called the Emittance Wash Applicator. Flight controllers are discussing which technique will be performed first, since there are heat restraints on the NOAX experiment.

 

Robinson had just commented that the illuminating lights on the space station’s robotic arm are bright, when spacewalk choreographer Andrew Thomas – inside Discovery – reminded him that the Sun was coming up soon.

 

“The big illuminator is even better,” Robinson said.

 

-- Tariq Malik

 

Discovery Hatch to Close

 

30 July 2005; 6:18 a.m. EDT

 

HOUSTON – Astronauts aboard the space shuttle Discovery are preparing to close the door between two spacewalkers who just left the shuttle.

 

STS-114 spacewalker Stephen Robinson is closing the shuttle’s outer hatch now that his spacewalk partner Soichi Noguchi opened the space station’s Quest airlock door as an emergency egress should they have return inside. Inside Discovery, mission specialist Andrew Thomas is choreographing their efforts.

 

Discovery’s STS-114 crew will soon begin repressurizing the shuttle’s airlock and reopen the hatches between the orbiter and International Space Station (ISS). The move will allow the two spacecraft crews to work together during the EVA and transfer material.

 

The STS-114 spacewalkers will test heat shield repair techniques, rewire the power system for an ISS gyroscope and replace a GPS antenna during today’s spacewalk. They will also install a docking adapter for a porch-like spare parts platform that they will attach to the ISS in a later spacewalk.

 

-- Tariq Malik

First STS-114 Spacewalk Underway

 

30 July 2005; 5:50 a.m. EDT

 

HOUSTON – The first spacewalk of the STS-114 mission is underway, as spacewalkers Soichi Noguchi and Stephen Robinson went on internal spacesuit power at 5:46 a.m. EDT (0946 GMT).

 

Noguchi, of the Japanese Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA), is leading the extravehicular activity as EVA-1, with Robinson serving as EVA-2. To differentiate between the two astronauts, Noguchi’s spacesuit bears a red stripe.

 

After setting up tethers near Discovery’s airlock, the two spacewalkers will make their way up to the Quest airlock on the International Space Station (ISS) to open its hatch as a precautionary measure. Today’s spacewalk is the 59^th space outing to support the ISS.

-- Tariq Malik

Shuttle Airlock Begins Depressurization

 

30 July 2005; 5:22 a.m. EDT

 

HOUSTON – Discovery’s crew is depressurizing their orbiter’s airlock, which contains two spacesuit-clad astronauts ready for more than six hours of space work.

 

STS-114 spacewalkers Soichi Noguchi and Stephen Robinson are poised to test heat shield repair techniques and perform several maintenance tasks to support the International Space Station (ISS). They are set to exit the station at about 5:45 a.m. EDT (0945 GMT).

-- Tariq Malik

Spacewalkers Prepare to Leave Shuttle

 

30 July 2005; 4:42 a.m. EDT

 

HOUSTON – Clad in their U.S.-built spacesuits, two Discovery astronauts are pre-breathing pure oxygen to prevent the possibility of suffering from the bends during their upcoming spacewalk.

 

STS-114 astronauts Soichi Noguchi and Stephen Robinson are suited up inside Discovery’s airlock and preparing to head outside for a 6.5-hour spacewalk. They are approximately one hour behind schedule and slated to begin work at about 5:45 a.m. EDT (0945 GMT). 

-- Tariq Malik

Astronauts Begin Spacesuit Purge

 

30 July 2005; 3:52 a.m. EDT

 

HOUSTON – STS-114 astronauts Soichi Noguchi and Stephen Robinson have begun purging their spacesuits, an activity that puts the start of their spacewalk now almost an hour behind schedule. 

 

Flight controllers were able to estimate the delay based on where he purging event lies within the spacewalk timeline, but add it will not affect the EVA’s planned duration of 6.5 hours nor any of the rest of the crew’s planned activities for the workday, NASA officials said.

 

The spacewalk is now slated to begin at about 5:45 a.m. EDT (0945 GMT).

-- Tariq Malik

Spacewalk Falls Behind Schedule

 

30 July 2005; 3:52 a.m. EDT

 

HOUSTON – As the spacewalking team aboard Discovery completes preparations for today’s spacewalk, NASA officials report the astronauts are about 30 minutes behind schedule.

 

Discovery’s STS-114 astronauts Soichi Noguchi and Stephen Robinson were scheduled to exit the shuttle at about 4:44 a.m. EDT (0844 GMT). The spacewalkers and intravehicular activity crewmember Andrew Thomas could make up that time during the EVA activity, though NASA officials stress that the delay will not affect the duration of the spacewalk.

 

Noguchi and Robinson are suited up in their U.S.-built spacesuits, known as Extravehicular Mobility Units, and have their helmets on, Thomas reports.

 

-- Tariq Malik

ISS Crew Moves Robotic Arm

 

30 July 2005; 3:38 a.m. EDT

 

HOUSTON – To support today’s STS-114 spacewalk, the crew of the International Space Station (ISS) is moving the facility’s Canadarm2 back to its traditional berth at the Destiny module.

 

The robot arm is “walking” over from its Mobile Base Platform, where it was positioned Thursday to observe the Discovery crew’s follow-up inspections of their orbiter’s thermal protection system.

 

STS-114 astronauts Wendy Lawrence and James Kelly will guide the station’s arm to assist the installation of an attachment device for the External Stowage Platform-2 to the exterior of the Quest airlock.

-- Tariq Malik

Comm Checks for Spacewalkers

 

30 July 2005; 3:08 a.m. EDT

 

HOUSTON –STS-114 spacewalkers Soichi Noguchi and Stephen Robinson have checked their communications systems for their U.S.-built spacesuits as they prepare to step outside the Discovery orbiter for more than six hours of work in space.

 

Today’s spacewalk, the first of three planned while Discovery is docked at the International Space Station (ISS), also marks the first EVA for both Noguchi and Robinson though the two men have rehearsed the operation exhaustively during their mission training.

 

Noguchi, an astronaut from the Japanese Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA), will lead all three STS-114 spacewalks in a spacesuit marked by a red stripe. Robinson’s spacesuit will be stripeless and all white, NASA officials said.

-- Tariq Malik

Discovery Spacewalkers Don Work Clothes

 

30 July 2005; 2:11 a.m. EDT

 

HOUSTON – The STS-114 spacewalkers Soichi Noguchi and Stephen Robinson are stepping into their spacesuit undergarments aboard the Discovery orbiter. The cooling suits should keep them comfortable during today’s scheduled 6.5-hour spacewalk.

 

STS-114 mission specialist Andrew Thomas, a veteran spacewalker himself, will serve as the intravehicular activity crewmember and oversee the spacewalk from inside Discovery. The EVA team of Noguchi, Robinson and Thomas have spent years training for the three STS-114 spacewalks, of which today’s is first. 

 

Today’s EVA is expected to begin at 4:44 a.m. EDT (0844 GMT).

 

-- Tariq Malik

First STS-114 Spacewalk Set for Today

 

30 July 2005; 1:46 a.m. EDT

 

HOUSTON – The first of three spacewalks planned for Discovery’s STS-114 mission will begin at about 4:44 a.m. EDT (0844 GMT) today.

 

STS-114 mission specialists Soichi Noguchi and Stephen Robinson will conduct each of the spacewalks. Using U.S.-built spacesuits, the two astronauts will exit the shuttle airlock between Discovery and the International Space Station (ISS) to perform the 6.5-hour extravehicular activity (EVA).

 

The goals for today’s spacewalk include the test of two thermal protection system repair techniques in Discovery’s payload bay, the installation of an attachment device for the ISS External Stowage Platform-2, the replacement of a global positioning system (GPS) antenna on the station’s S0 truss and the rewiring of a power panel for the Control Moment Gyroscope 2 used to maintain ISS orientation.

-- Tariq Malik

 

~

Orbital Boom Inspections Begin

 

29 July 2005; 8:44 a.m. EDT

 

HOUSTON – Discovery’s STS-114 pilot James Kelly and mission specialist Charles Camarda have begun today’s follow-up inspections of the shuttle’s thermal protection system, starting with calibration tests before checking nine areas of interest on the orbiter’s heat shield.

 

The astronauts will use Discovery’s 50-foot (15-meter) robotic arm to grab the orbital boom sensor system (OBSS), a 50-foot (15-meter) shaft capped with laser and camera systems, to create a 100-foot inspection crane.

-- Tariq Malik

Slight Delay in Extra Inspections

 

29 July 2005; 7:25 a.m. EDT

 

HOUSTON – Today’s follow-up inspections of Discovery’s thermal protection system has been delayed in order to position the International Space Station’s robotic arm to observe the operation, NASA officials said.

 

Discovery’s STS-114 pilot James Kelly and mission specialist Charles Camarda are slated to conduct today’s focused inspection survey with the shuttle’s orbital boom sensor system (OBSS). The survey is a follow-up to an earlier inspection in which the laser camera at the tip of the orbital boom examined the wing leading edges and nose cap of Discovery. Subsequent photography of Discovery by the ISS crew of also identified potential targets.

 

The shuttle astronauts must begin today’s inspections in the next few hours in order to complete them in time to close the hatches between Discovery and the ISS, a preparation measure for tomorrow’s early-morning spacewalk. All three spacewalks during Discovery’s time at the ISS will be staged from the shuttle’s airlock, requiring the measure, NASA officials said.

 

-- Tariq Malik

 

Nine of 11 Areas Targeted in Focused Inspections

 

29 July 2005; 7:25 a.m. EDT

 

HOUSTON – During today’s focused inspections of Discovery’s thermal protection system, STS-114 pilot James Kelly and mission specialist Charles Camarda will revisit nine locations mostly along the orbiter’s starboard side, saving two others on the port side for a later visit tomorrow.

 

The inspections, performed with the sensor system on the end of a 50-foot (15-meter) orbital boom extension for Discovery’s robotic arm, are follow-ups to a Wednesday survey that methodically screened the shuttle’s heat shield, including its heat-resistant panels along its wing leading edges.

 

The two port side locations will be revisted during the first spacewalk of the STS-114 mission, in which mission specialists Soichi Noguchi and Stephen Robinson will test repair methods on intentionally damaged tiles and heat-resistant panels inside Discovery’s payload bay. The orbital boom will also be deployed to study those intentionally damaged units, NASA officials said.

-- Tariq Malik

 

Additional Inspections Planned Aboard Discovery

 

29 July 2005; 5:10 a.m. EDT

 

HOUSTON – Discovery astronauts plan to conduct follow-up inspections of their spacecraft’s thermal protection system using a sensor-tipped extension to the shuttle’s robotic arm.

 

NASA has targeted 11 areas of the orbiter for follow-up inspections, though not all will be examined during the three hours planned for today’s activity, NASA officials said. Some areas can be inspected in tandem with spacewalk activities scheduled for Saturday, they added.

 

Orbital boom inspections are scheduled to begin at about 7:09 a.m. EDT (1109 GMT) today.

 

-- Tariq Malik

ISS Arm to Ungrapple Raffaello

 

29 July 2005; 4:35 a.m. EDT

 

HOUSTON – With the Raffaello cargo module safely parked at the International Space Station (ISS), Discovery mission specialist Wendy Lawrence and pilot James Kelly are unhitching the station’s robotic arm from the pod to free it up for use elsewhere.

 

Robotics officers here at Johnson Space Center (JSC) will take control of the space station’s arm, known as Canadarm2, and perform an inchworm-like walkoff maneuver in which the arm’s free end will latch onto the ISS, allowing the other end to unlatch and swing out into space.

 

The maneuver will place the robotic arm at a good vantage point to provide visual support during planned  orbital boom follow-up inspections aboard the space shuttle Discovery. NASA engineers have identified about 11 points for further inspection based on imagery taken by the boom on Wednesday and by ISS astronauts during the shuttle’s Thursday docking.

 

Those follow-up inspections are slated to begin at about 7:09 a.m. EDT (1109 GMT).

 

-- Tariq Malik

New Cargo Pod Installed at Space Station

 

29 July 2005; 4:13 a.m. EDT

 

HOUSTON – The Raffaello cargo module has been successfully attached to the International Space Station (ISS), with Discovery astronauts locking it into place a short time later.

 

Discovery pilot James Kelly and mission specialist Wendy Lawrence berthed Raffaello at the nadir port of the station’s Unity module after plucking it out of the shuttle’s payload bay. Raffaello was installed at the ISS at 4:05 a.m. EDT (0805 GMT).

 

Space shuttle and ISS astronauts are expected to activate the Raffaello module at about 8:45 a.m. EDT (1245 GMT) today, but may be delayed since the berthing operation itself had a brief computer glitch early in the process. The first astronauts should enter the cargo pod no earlier than 10:49 a.m. EDT (1449 GMT). 

-- Tariq Malik

Raffaello Moves in Toward Station

 

29 July 2005; 4:01 a.m. EDT

 

HOUSTON – Discovery pilot James Kelly is easing the Raffaello cargo module toward its berth outside the International Space Station (ISS) in a carefully choreographed maneuver using the station’s robotic arm.

 

Kelly will park Raffaello at the nadir port outside the space station’s Unity module. Kelly’s Discovery crewmates Stephen Robinson and Soichi Noguchi assisted in the operation, wearing small hard hats in honor of the in-space construction job.

 

The cargo pod is laden with thousands of pounds food, clothing, supplies and new equipment for the ISS crew. The cargo pod will also ferry unneeded hardware from the station back down to Earth at the conclusion of Discovery’s mission.

 

-- Tariq Malik

Cargo Pod OK for Installation

 

29 July 2005; 3:31 a.m. EDT

 

HOUSTON – Discovery astronauts have completed their camera inspection of a berthing mechanism at the end of the Raffaello cargo pod and are ready to connect it to the International Space Station (ISS).

 

“The berthing mechanism looks clean, and we are ok to proceed,”  Discovery’s STS-114 commander Eileen Collins said.

 

Pilot James Kelly, currently guiding Raffaello with the station’s robotic arm, is moving the cargo pod into a “high hover” position in anticipation of berthing the module at the ISS’ Unity module.

 

-- Tariq Malik

 

Raffaello Reaches Inspection Point

 

29 July 2005; 3:21 a.m. EDT

 

HOUSTON – The Raffaello cargo module has reached a preplanned inspection point above Discovery as shuttle pilot James Kelly prepares to attach it to the International Space Station (ISS).

 

Astronauts and flight controllers are now going over images of Raffaello’s berthing mechanism to ensure all is well prior to docking the cargo pod to the nadir side of the Unity module.

 

Raffaello has a diameter of about 14.8 feet and runs about 22.4 feet long. It is one of four Multi-Purpose Logistics Modules (MPLM) built by the Italian Space Agency in support of the ISS.

 

-- Tariq Malik

Discovery Pilot Unberths Raffaello Module

 

29 July 2005; 3:06 a.m. EDT

 

HOUSTON – Discovery pilot James Kelly is slowly removing the Raffaello cargo module from its position inside the shuttle’s cargo bay for today’s space station resupply activity.

 

Raffaello sits at the end of the International Space Station (ISS) robotic arm, which Kelly is easing out of Discovery’s payload bay. He will position Raffaello – laden with 12 racks full of fresh food, experiment equipment and other supplies – a few feet above the shuttle’s payload bay. Once there, cameras on the end of Discovery’s robotic arm will be used to photograph Raffaello’s docking adapter.

 

Raffaello is due to be installed at a port on the space station’s Unity module, where it will sit for the duration of Discovery’s mission at the ISS.

-- Tariq Malik

Discovery Set for ISS Resupply

 

29 July 2005; 2:56 a.m. EDT

 

HOUSTON – The space shuttle Discovery is set to resupply the International Space Station today, as astronauts prepare to deliver the cargo pod Raffaello to the station’s Unity module.

 

Discovery’s STS-114 pilot James Kelly is using the space station’s robotic arm to install Raffaello to a Unity docking port, though the process has been delayed by a series of caution and warning lights that have popped up.

 

The warning message came as Kelly grappled Raffaello, an Italian-built Multi-Purpose Logistics Module (MPLM), inside Discovery’s payload bay. Flight controllers believe the problem resides with a finicky computer. Kelly is rebooting his workstation and swapping out a laptop computer before he proceeds.

 

When fully stocked for its STS-114 mission, the Raffaello module and its cargo weigh a total of about 18,166 pounds, NASA officials said. The same container will be used to ferry unneeded equipment down from the ISS, totaling about 19,754 pounds including the MPLM, when Discovery leaves the ISS near the end of its mission, they added.

-- Tariq Malik

 

Hatches Open Between Shuttle and ISS

 

28 July 2005; 8:54 a.m. EDT

 

HOUSTON – Nine astronauts are together in space for the first time since 2002.

 

The seven STS-114 astronauts of the space shuttle Discovery entered the International Space Station (ISS) at about 8:54 a.m. EDT (1254 GMT) Thursday, after a flawless docking almost two hours earlier.

 

The crew, commanded by veteran astronaut Eileen Collins, are the first shuttle astronauts to ride a NASA orbiter up to the ISS since 2002. The astronauts launched  aboard NASA’s first return to flight mission.

 

Collins was the first to enter the ISS, followed by mission specialists Soichi Noguchi, Stephen Robinson and Charlie Camarda. STS-114 mission specialist Andrew Thomas boarded the station next, followed by mission specialist Wendy Lawrence and pilot James Kelly.

 

ISS Expedition 11 flight engineer John Phillips rang the station’s bell as the astronauts entered the orbital facility.

 

-- Tariq Malik

Leak Checks Complete

 

28 July 2005; 8:42 a.m. EDT

 

HOUSTON – Leak checks between the space shuttle Discovery and the International Space Station (ISS) are now complete and hatch opening is imminent.

 

The seven astronauts aboard Discovery and two residents of the space station were not scheduled to open the hatches between their spacecraft until 9:19 a.m. EDT (1319 GMT), but are eager to get ahead with today’s tasks, NASA officials said. 

 

The astronauts are currently equalizing the pressure on both sides of the pressurized mating adapter in order to maintain a consistent environment between the two spacecraft, NASA officials said.

 

Once Discovery’s STS-114 crew is inside the (ISS), the station’s two Expedition 11 astronauts will hold a safety briefing to go over emergency escape plans – a standard operation after any manned docking at the orbital facility.

 

STS-114 mission specialist Wendy Lawrence and shuttle pilot James Kelly will then prepare to take control of the station’s robotic arm for a handoff procedure of the orbital boom currently tucked inside Discovery’s payload bay. Mission specialists Andrew Thomas and Charles Camarda will operate Discovery’s robotic arm during that operation.

 

-- Tariq Malik

 

Leak Checks Up Next for Two Astronaut Crews

 

28 July 2005; 7:37 a.m. EDT

 

HOUSTON – With Discovery docked at the International Space Station (ISS), the astronaut crew of both vehicles are now preparing for leak checks to ensure a good seal between their spacecraft.

 

Discovery docked at the ISS on time at 7:18 a.m. EDT (1118 GMT). The hatches between the two vehicles are expected to be opened at 9:19 a.m. EDT (1319 GMT). 

-- Tariq Malik

Discovery Docks at ISS

 

28 July 2005; 7:18 a.m. EDT

 

HOUSTON – The space shuttle Discovery has successfully docked at the International Space Station (ISS), delivering thousands of pounds of much needed supplies, equipment and experiments to the orbital facility.

 

Discovery’s STS-114 commander deftly guided Discovery into its berth at a docking port outside the Destiny module in a flawless, on-time docking at about 7:18 a.m. EDT (1118 GMT). She and her six fellow STS-114 crewmates are the first guests for the two astronauts stationed onboard the ISS.

 

ISS Expedition 11 commander Sergei Krikalev and flight engineer John Phillips have lived aboard the space station since their arrival in April. They have spent much of their time, both in training and in space, preparing for Discovery’s arrival.

 

Discovery is the first shuttle to visit the ISS since the Endeavour orbiter docked at the orbital facility on Nov. 25, 2002 during the STS-113 mission.

-- Tariq Malik

Discovery Closes the Gap

 

28 July 2005; 7:10 a.m. EDT

 

HOUSTON – Discovery is now less than 50 feet from the International Space Station and closing, NASA says.

-- Tariq Malik

Shuttle Closes in on Docking Port

 

28 July 2005; 7:03 a.m. EDT

 

HOUSTON – Discovery is less than 98 feet from the International Space Station and closing at about 1/10^th of a foot per second.

-- Tariq Malik

Discovery Approaches Station

 

28 July 2005; 6:45 a.m. EDT

 

HOUSTON – Discovery is now closing in on its docking port outside the International Space Station’s Destiny laboratory.

 

Flight controllers gave the STS-114 crew a ‘go’ for docking.

-- Tariq Malik

 

Discovery Poised for ISS Docking

 

28 July 2005; 6:38 a.m. EDT

 

HOUSTON – The space shuttle Discovery has flown up from beneath the International Space Station, moving from a point 600 feet directly below the orbital facility to a location about 337 feet in front of a docking port on the U.S.-built Destiny module.

 

The shuttle is expected to dock at the ISS at 7:18 a.m. EDT (1118 GMT) as both spacecraft fly over the Pacific Ocean, just off the coast of Chile.

 

-- Tariq Malik

ISS Photography “Really Fine”

 

28 July 2005; 6:30 a.m. EDT

 

HOUSTON – Expedition 11 flight engineer John Phillips said the shuttle photography performed by himself and space station commander Sergei Krikalev appears to have been a success.

 

“I thought the process went really fine,” Phillips said. “Neither of us was saw anything really alarming.”

 

Meanwhile, Discovery’s STS-114 commander Eileen Collins and her crew are pressing ahead with docking operations aboard the shuttle.

 

-- Tariq Malik

Rendezvous Pitch Maneuver Goes Well

 

28 July 2005; 6:25 a.m. EDT

 

HOUSTON – Discovery commander Eileen Collins will now resume operations to dock the shuttle at the International Space Station (ISS), as the rendezvous pitch maneuver appears to have gone well.

Docking is scheduled 7:18 a.m. EDT (1118 GMT).

Discovery’s brief backflip began at 6:15 a.m. EDT (1015 GMT) and concluded a few minutes later.

-- Tariq Malik

Primary Photography Ends

 

28 July 2005; 6:20 a.m. EDT

 

HOUSTON – Astronauts aboard the International Space Station have completed their primary photography of Discovery’s tile-lined belly.

 

The Expedition 11 crew had 1 minute and 40 seconds to take their detailed images, a NASA spokesman said.

 

-- Tariq Malik

ISS Photography of Discovery Begins

 

28 July 2005; 6:18 a.m. EDT

 

HOUSTON – As Discovery slowly turns full circle, the space station’s Expedition 11 crew has begun their photo session aboard the International Space Station (ISS).

 

ISS commander Sergei Krikalev and flight engineer John Phillips have 93 seconds to photograph Discovery’s belly mounted heat-resistant tiles.

 

-- Tariq Malik

 

Rendezvous Pitch Maneuver Begins

 

28 July 2005; 6:15 a.m. EDT

 

HOUSTON – Discovery commander Eileen Collins has begun flipping the orbiter in a circle for the rendezvous pitch maneuver.

 

Pilot James Kelly will tell astronauts aboard the International Space Station when to begin photographing the shuttle.

-- Tariq Malik

ISS Crew Prepares to Photograph Shuttle

 

28 July 2005; 6:05 a.m. EDT

 

HOUSTON – The two astronauts aboard the International Space Station (ISS) are preparing to photograph Discovery’s backflip, and will soon head into the station’s Zvezda Module to photograph the shuttle.

 

“We have visual, the shuttle is a little behind us,” ISS Expedition 11 commander Sergei Krikalev said.

-- Tariq Malik

Discovery hits 1000 Feet from ISS, Collins Takes Control

 

28 July 2005; 5:57 a.m. EDT

 

HOUSTON – The space shuttle Discovery is nearing the 1000-foot mark from the International Space Station (ISS), where STS-114 commander Eileen Collins took the helm.

The rendezvous pitch maneuver will begin momentarily.

 

Shuttle pilot James Kelly said the crew is preparing for the maneuver. The shuttle has been given a go for the maneuver.

 

--  Tariq Malik

Shuttle Backflip Maneuver Approaches, Two Astronaut Crews Say Hello

 

28 July 2005; 5:40 a.m. EDT

 

HOUSTON – The space shuttle Discovery is nearing the point where STS-114 commander Eileen Collins will perform the rendezvous pitch maneuver before docking at the International Space Station (ISS)

 

Discovery is nearing the 1,000-foot mark to the ISS, where Collins will begin flying the shuttle toward the station until it is about 600 feet from the orbital laboratory.

 

At about 6:17 a.m. EDT (1017 GMT), Collins is expected to guide Discovery through its backflip to allow ISS astronauts Sergei Krikalev and John Phillips, NASA officials said.

 

The crews of Discovery and the ISS are within voice contact of each other.

 

“Discovery, space station, how do you read?” Krikalev asked the Discovery crew at about 5:49 a.m. EDT (0949 GMT).

 

“We hear you loud and clear, how are you?” Collins said.

 

“We’re very well, glad to hear you,” Krikalev said. “We’re waiting for you.”

 

“We’re looking forward to seeing you guys,” Collins said.

--  Tariq Malik

Discovery Closes in on ISS

 

28 July 2005; 5:18 a.m. EDT

 

HOUSTON – The space shuttle Discovery is closing in on the International Space Station in anticipation of today’s docking between the two vehicles.

 

So far everything is going smoothly and on time as Discovery’s STS-114 crew bears down on the orbital facility. Cameras aboard both vehicles are keeping watch on each other, and the ISS is within visual range of Discovery’s crew.

 

In about one hour, STS-114 commander Eileen Collins is expected to put Discovery through a backflip known as the Rendezvous Pitch Maneuver to allow ISS Expedition 11 astronauts Sergei Krikalev and John Phillips an opportunity to photograph the orbiter’s tile-lined belly.

 

Docking between Discovery and the ISS is set for 7:18 EDT (1118 GMT), with hatch opening between the two spacecraft expected at about 8:19 a.m. EDT (1219 GMT).

 

--  Tariq Malik

 

Discovery Successfully Fires OMS Engine

 

28 July 2005; 4:45 a.m. EDT

 

HOUSTON – The Discovery successfully fired its left Orbital Maneuvering System (OMS) for 11 seconds, setting the orbiter on track for docking at the International Space Station later this morning.

 

The burn occurred on schedule at 4:40 a.m. EDT (0840 GMT), NASA officials said.

 

“Discovery, Houston, we have a good burn,” NASA astronaut Charles Hobaugh told the Discovery crew.

 

The astronauts aboard Discovery said they observed the ISS beginning to maneuver into the planned docking orientation to allow the shuttle’s approach, NASA said.

 

 

--  Tariq Malik

 

Discovery is Go for Engine Burn

 

28 July 2005; 4:24 a.m. EDT

 

HOUSTON – The space shuttle Discovery has been given the go ahead for its final major orbital adjustment to set it on course to dock at the International Space Station (ISS).

 

Shuttle flight control here at Johnson Space Center (JSC) gave the crew approval for the maneuver, called a terminal initiation burn, at 4:17 a.m. EDT (0817 GMT). The burn is scheduled for 4:40 a.m. EDT (0840 GMT).  Both shuttle and ISS mission controls, as well as Russian ISS flight control, okayed the burn, NASA officials said.

 

“That is great news,” shuttle pilot James Kelly said.

 

Discovery’s ISS docking will mark the first shuttle arrival at the station since Nov. 25, 2002, when Endeavour docked at the orbital facility during STS-113.

 

“We see the space station out the window and it looks beautiful,” Discovery’s commander Eileen Collins said.

 

Discovery is about 9 statute miles away from the ISS, NASA officials said.

--  Tariq Malik

Shuttle Crew Set for ISS Rendezvous

 

28 July 2005; 4:05 a.m. EDT

 

HOUSTON – Discovery’s seven astronauts is preparing for the highlight of their third day in space, the rendezvous and docking with the International Space Station (ISS).

 

Discovery’s STS-114 crew is expected to perform a pivotal engine burn at about 4:40 a.m. EDT (0840 GMT) as they approach the ISS to set the orbiter in the proper position for a rendezvous pitch maneuver, which shuttle commander Eileen Collins will manually control.

 

Aboard the ISS, Expedition 11 commander Sergei Krikalev is preparing to take high-resolution close-ups of Discovery’s heat resistant belly tiles with an 800 mm digital camera, while ISS flight engineer John Phillips will use a 400 mm camera to take wider view photographs of the tiles.

 

NASA’s deputy shuttle program manager Wayne Hale said Wednesday that today’s photography session is one of two key events that will determine whether Discovery is fit to reenter the Earth’s atmosphere at the end of its mission on Aug. 7.

 

The other event, an inspection of Discovery’s wing leading edges and nose cap with a new orbital boom, was performed early Wednesday by Discovery’s STS-114 crew.

 

--  Tariq Malik

 

Discover Bears Down on ISS

 

28 July 2005; 2:53 a.m. EDT

 

HOUSTON – The space shuttle Discovery is bearing down on the International Space Station (ISS) after two days of spaceflight following a successful launch Tuesday.

 

Discovery’s STS-114 astronaut crew is expected to dock at the ISS at 7:18 a.m. EDT (1118 GMT) today. But before that, STS-114 commander Eileen Collins will pause Discovery’s ISS approach about 600 feet below the space station and put the shuttle through a brief backflip known as the Rendezvous Pitch Maneuver (RPM).

 

The slow flip should give ISS commander Sergei Krikalev and flight engineer John Phillips enough time – about 93 seconds – to make three complete photo mapping passes of the heat-resistant tiles that line Discovery’s underside.

 

The rendezvous pitch maneuver and subsequent photography session is a critical operation designed to validate the health of the orbiter’s thermal protection system. Shuttle officials already know of at least two areas they’d like a closer look at, including a chipped tile near Discovery’s nose landing gear doors and an “area of interest” further back on the orbiter’s belly.

--  Tariq Malik

 

 

 

Image Show Foam Fell from Discovery’s External Tank

 

27 July 2005; 17:33 p.m. EDT

 

HOUSTON — NASA officials confirmed today that a debris source seen falling from the shuttle’s external tank was indeed a chunk of insulation foam that separated shortly after Discovery’s solid rocket booster detached.

 

NASA spokesperson Allard Beutel told SPACE.com images taken both by Discovery’s crew and cameras inside the orbiter’s wheel well show that the piece detached from a protuberance air load or PAL ramp. The ramps consist of thick, manually sprayed foam layers that engineers believed could be a source of debris during launch. These protect the tank’s cables. There are two ramps on the external tank.

 

The foam chunk was visible in the ascent video captured by a camera on Discovery’s external tank, Beutel said.

 

Mission Managers have been discussing the tank images and will brief reporters during a press briefing here at 6 p.m. EDT.

 

The foam loss has been a prime concern for shuttle engineers since 2003 when a chunk of insulation foam struck the space shuttle Columbia and pierced the heat-resistant panels along its left wing. That damage fatally wounded the spacecraft and led to its destruction on February 1, 2003. Its seven astronaut crew did not survive.

 

NASA has spent two-and-a-half years redesigning portions of the external tank and insulation foam application techniques to reduce debris shedding during launch. At the time of its delivery to NASA’s Kennedy Space Center spaceport shuttle engineers touted the external tank as the safest they ever built.

 

--  Tariq Malik

Wing Inspection Almost Complete

 

27 July 2005; 10:30 a.m. EDT

 

HOUSTON – The Discovery crew has neared the end of their inspection of the shuttle, as they use a new orbiter boom to scan the left wing leading edge to search for signs, if any, of damage sustained during launch.

 

Mission specialist Andrew Thomas has led the inspection operation, with assistance from pilot James Kelly and mission specialist Charles Camarda. The boom is slated to be returned to its berth by about 11:00 a.m. EDT, though a glitch with its pan-tilt unit has delayed the schedule slightly.

 

Meanwhile, Discovery’s STS-114 spacewalkers Soichi Noguchi and Stephen Robinson have been checking out the tools and spacesuits they’ll use during three extravehicular activities (EVAs) planned for the 12-day mission. Shuttle commander Eileen Collins has also been reviewing the equipment she’ll use to dock Discovery at the International Space Station (ISS) on July 28.

 

Mission specialist Wendy Lawrence extended the orbiter’s docking ring in anticipation of tomorrow’s docking at the ISS.

 

-- Tariq Malik

Wing Inspection Resumes

 

27 July 2005; 10:05 a.m. EDT

 

HOUSTON – The Discovery crew has resumed its wing inspection, using a new orbiter boom to scan the left wing leading edge to search for any signs of damage, though none is expected.

 

Meanwhile, Discovery’s STS-114 spacewalkers Soichi Noguchi and Stephen Robinson have been checking out the tools and spacesuits they’ll use during three extravehicular activities (EVAs) planned for the 12-day mission. Shuttle commander Eileen Collins has also been reviewing the equipment she’ll use to dock Discovery at the International Space Station on July 28.

-- Tariq Malik

Astronauts Prepare to Scan Discovery’s Left Wing

 

27 July 2005; 9:45 a.m. EDT

 

HOUSTON – Astronaut Andrew Thomas and his crewmates are preparing to start the final stage of today’s orbital boom test as they reposition the inspection tool to scan Discovery’s left wing leading edge.

 

Thomas, pilot James Kelly and mission specialist Charles Camarda have been using the boom to examine Discovery’s right wing and nose cap, and are preparing now to complete the wing survey on the shuttle’s port side.

 

The images and data from today’s orbital boom survey will be discussed later today during a 6:00 p.m. EDT mission management team meeting.

-- Tariq Malik

Shuttle Crew Completes Nose Cap Survey

 

27 July 2005; 9:22 a.m. EDT

 

HOUSTON – Discovery shuttle pilot James Kelly reports that the orbiter nose cap survey with the sensor-tipped orbital boom is complete.

 

The survey took just over an hour, about 30 minutes less than planned, and the boom crew is taking a short break, NASA officials said.

 

Mission specialist Andrew Thomas is leading the boom survey, with Kelly and mission specialist Charles Camarda assisting. The next stop for the sensor-tipped boom is the left, or port, wing leading edge. That survey is expected to take 90 minutes as well.

 

The orbital boom sensor system is a new device that is latched onto the end of Discovery’s robotic arm, effectively extending it by about 50 feet (15 meters). With cameras and laser ranging sensors, the boom is designed to sweep vital areas of the shuttle’s thermal protection system and scan for signs of damage.

-- Tariq Malik

Shuttle Airlock Primed for First Spacewalk

 

27 July 2005; 8:52 a.m. EDT

 

HOUSTON – Mission specialist Soichi Noguchi has reported that Discovery’s airlock has been prepared for the first spacewalk of the STS-114 mission.

 

He and fellow mission specialist Stephen Robinson, who also serves as the mission’s flight engineer, have been going over the equipment they will use during their initial spacewalk set for Saturday, July 30.

 

They will now focus their efforts on checkouts of the four extravehicular mobility units, U.S.-built spacesuits, currently aboard Discovery.

 

Two of the spacesuits will be used by Noguchi and Robinson during their spacewalks, with the other two are earmarked to replace a pair of repaired unites aboard the International Space Station (ISS). One of those ISS-bound space suits will be kept aboard Discovery until the three planned STS-114 spacewalks are complete should it be needed as a spare, NASA officials said.

 

-- Tariq Malik

Nose Cap Survey Underway

 

27 July 2005; 8:30 a.m. EDT

 

HOUSTON – The nose cap survey is under way outside Discovery, as its crew carefully guides an orbital boom sensor system (OBSS) along the blunt tip of the spacecraft. The survey will scan for any sign of damage, though none is expected, to the shuttle’s nose-mounted reinforced carbon carbon panels.

“We’re picking up a good survey,” Kelly said.

 

Thomas told flight controllers that there is about a 4 degree drift in the boom’s pan tilt unit. The nose cap survey began at 8:06 a.m. EDT, NASA officials said.

 

-- Tariq Malik

Nose Cap Survey Approaches

 

27 July 2005; 8:15 a.m. EDT

 

HOUSTON – Mission specialist Andrew Thomas is positioning the sensor-tipped orbital boom at its starting point for the 90-minute survey of Discovery’s nose cap.

 

Mission managers told Thomas he need not adjust the boom’s pan-tilt unit, which had to updated periodically during the starboard – or right – wing survey. A left wing survey will follow the nose cap run.

-- Tariq Malik

Discovery Spacewalkers Prepare Shuttle Airlock

 

27 July 2005; 8:00 a.m. EDT

 

HOUSTON – While other crew members perform the orbital boom survey of Discovery’s thermal protection system, STS-114 astronauts Stephen Robinson and Soichi Noguchi are checking the shuttle’s airlock to make sure it’s ready for their first spacewalk set for July 30.

 

Noguchi and Robinson have also been checking the SAFER jet packs they would carry during their EVA, as well as their extravehicular mobility units – U.S. built space suits – to be used during the spacewalk.

 

Robinson also prepared some laser guidance and handheld ranging equipment to be used on July 28 as Discovery docks at the International Space Station.

-- Tariq Malik

Astronauts Prepare for Nose Cap Survey

 

27 July 2005; 7:45 a.m. EDT

 

HOUSTON – With the conclusion of the starboard wing survey, Discovery’s crew is pressing ahead with their nose cap survey using the orbital boom sensor system.

 

STS-114 mission specialist Andrew Thomas will position the 50-foot boom, extending from the tip Discovery’s robot arm, a few feet from the heat resistant reinforced carbon carbon panels along the shuttles nosecap that are subjected to some of the most extreme temperatures during reentry.

 

Aside from a few glitches, the survey is going well, with flight controllers happy with the images they’re getting back from the boom, NASA officials said. The nose cap survey should take about an hour an a half once started, they added.

-- Tariq Malik

Orbital Boom Survey Underway

 

27 July 2005; 7:30 a.m. EDT

 

HOUSTON – The orbital boom survey of Discovery’s wind leading edges is underway.

 

The survey began at about 5:45 a.m. EDT as Andy Thomas positioned the boom to peer at the innermost portion of Discovery’s starboard wing leading edge. Much of the survey, which brings cameras and laser sensors within about five feet of the orbiter’s surface, is automated, though Thomas is responsible for guiding the boom to key start points. Survey of the starboard wing was completed at 7:29 a.m. EDT, about 15 minutes longer than expected due to a small glitch in the boom’s pan and tilt angles.

 

STS-114 pilot James Kelly and mission specialist Charles Camarda are assisting in the operation.

-- Tariq Malik

Discovery’s Crew Awakens to First Full Day in Space

 

27 July 2005; 12:39 a.m. EDT

 

HOUSTON --The crew of the space shuttle Discovery were awoken by excerpts from the film “Groundhog Day” at 12:39 a.m. EDT (0439 GMT) today, beginning the second day of their STS-114 mission and first full day in space. They will spend about two hours eating breakfast and performing other post-sleep activities before beginning today’s work schedule, NASA officials said.

 

One of the key goals of Discovery’s spaceflight, the testing of a new orbital boom, is on tap for the crew today. The boom, a 50-foot (15-meter) extension for Discovery’s robotic arm, carries laser sensors and cameras to inspect the orbiter’s thermal protection system, such as the vital reinforced carbon carbon panels along its wing leading edges and nose cap.

 

At about 3:54 a.m. EDT (0754 GMT), STS-114 mission specialist Andrew Thomas will guide Discovery’s robotic arm to grapple the orbital boom and begin an automated set of passes along sensitive orbiter areas. Thomas has said the boom checkout alternates between manual and automated maneuvers. Pilot Jim Kelly and mission specialist Charles Camarda will assist in the operation.

 

The astronauts should begin their initial survey of Discovery’s wing leading edges and nose cap at about 5:24 a.m. EDT (0924 GMT) and return to the boom to its payload bay berth at 9:49 a.m. EDT (1349 GMT).

 

Before the boom checkout, Camarda and Thomas will complete checkouts of Discovery’s robotic arm, which they began yesterday.

 

An update from the mission’s flight director is expected at about 3:30 a.m. EDT (0730 GMT). A briefing from Discovery’s Mission Management Team (MMT) is set for 6:00 p.m. EDT (2200 GMT) this afternoon.

-- Tariq Malik

Discovery Reaches Orbit Safely

26 July 2005; 10:55 a.m. EDT

 

The space shuttle Discovery is safely in orbit following a spectacular morning launch from the Kennedy Space Center. Liftoff occurred at 10:39 a.m. EDT (1439 GMT). All spacecraft systems are performing normally and no problems were reported during the vehicle’s climb to orbit.

 

The shuttle’s engine-cutoff (ECO) sensors performed as expected – several pre-launch tests did not reveal any repeat of the faulty indications that forced a scrub of Discovery’s first launch attempt.

 

After separation from the massive External Tank, Commander Eileen Collins maneuvered the Orbiter so that crew members could photograph the tank to document the integrity of the insulating foam. Engineers will analyze these images, as well as the images taken by ground-based tracking cameras and high-altitude aircraft, to determine if the exterior modifications made to the tank in the aftermath of the Columbia disaster performed as expected.

 

Discovery’s seven astronauts, commanded by veteran Eileen Collins, will now chase down and dock with the International Space Station on a much-anticipated re-supply and repair mission.

 

-- Roger Guillemette

LIFTOFF! Discovery Launched

26 July 2005; 10:39 a.m. EDT

 

Space shuttle Discovery has just lifted off from pad 39B at the Kennedy Space Center on NASA’s Return-to-Flight mission. Liftoff occurred on-time at 10:39 a.m. EDT (1439 GMT).

 

The shuttle has cleared the tower and all systems are functioning properly.

 

-- Roger Guillemette

Discovery Cleared for Launch, All Systems ‘Go’

26 July 2005; 10:30 a.m. EDT

 

Space shuttle Discovery has been cleared for launch. The countdown clock has just re-started at the T-minus 9 minute mark. No technical issues are being worked, weather conditions are near-perfect and the once-troublesome ECO engine-cutoff (ECO) sensors are functioning as expected.

 

Launch is scheduled for 10:39 a.m. EDT (1439 GMT) – the optimum launch time to reach the orbiting International Space Station.

 

All systems are reported ‘Go’ for launch.

---Roger Guillemette

Sensors Pass Final Test, Discovery ‘Go’ for Launch

26 July 2005; 10:19 a.m. EDT

 

Space shuttle Discovery is fueled and ready for launch as NASA’s Return-to-Flight mission remains scheduled to lift off at 10:39 a.m. EDT (1439 GMT) – twenty minutes from now. No technical issues are being worked at this time and the often-fickle Florida weather is cooperating with near-perfect conditions for launch.

 

The launch team just conducted their final test of the engine-cutoff (ECO) sensors in Discovery’s massive external tank, now filled to capacity with 526,000 gallons of super-chilled liquid hydrogen and liquid oxygen propellants. Several tests this morning have not indicated any repeat of the faulty readings that scrubbed the shuttle’s first launch attempt and the launch team is increasingly confident that they have resolved that issue.

 

Discovery’s seven astronauts are conducting their final pre-launch checks and configuring the vehicle’s instrumentation and cockpit displays. 

 

A vast network of optical tracking cameras that will observe and photograph all stages of Discovery’s climb to orbit are reported ready. Two specially equipped NASA WB-57 aircraft, equipped with powerful telescopes and cameras, are circling east of the Kennedy Space Center to provide unprecedented high-altitude images of the Orbiter and its solid rocket boosters and external tank.

 

The countdown clock is holding at the T-9 minute mark – a pre-planned built-in hold that allows the launch team to conduct final tests of the vehicle. Launch remains scheduled for 10:39 a.m. EDT (1439 GMT) – the optimum launch time to reach the orbiting International Space Station. 

-- Roger Guillemette

Discovery Readied for Launch, Sensors Working Properly

26 July 2005, 9:25 a.m. EDT

 

Space shuttle Discovery’s hatch is closed and latched, the seven astronauts are running through final checklists and all systems are ‘Go’ for this morning’s launch attempt. NASA’s Return-to-Flight mission to the International Space Station is scheduled for 10:39 a.m. EDT (1439 GMT).

 

The STS-114 astronauts, led by commander Eileen Collins and pilot Jim Kelly, are positioned on their backs in form-fitting seats on Discovery’s flight deck and mid-deck. The close-out crew at pad 39B is now performing final hatch seal checks on the Orbiter and will soon dismantle and retract the protective ‘white room’ that provides a clean and controlled environment for the crew to enter the vehicle.

 

Tests of the now-infamous engine-cutoff (ECO) sensors have not indicated any repeat of the faulty readings that forced NASA officials to scrub Discovery’s first launch attempt on July 26^th. One final test of the sensors will occur about 30 minutes prior to launch.

 

The countdown is now in a pre-planned hold at the T-20 minute mark. The launch team will verify that the proper software is loaded for the final portion of the countdown and the shuttle’s Inertial Measurement Unit alignment will also be verified.

 

Weather conditions are ideal at the Kennedy Space Center. Launch weather officer Kathy Winters has just upgraded the probability of acceptable weather conditions to 90 percent – there are no potential weather constraints that would prohibit launch and only a 10 percent chance of weather violations at the Shuttle Landing Facility in the event of a launch abort. Weather at the Transoceanic Abort Landing (TAL) site in Zaragoza, Spain is also expected to be acceptable, and conditions at a second TAL site in Moron, Spain may also improve to within acceptable limits to support a launch attempt.

 

No technical issues are being reported at this time and the countdown so far has been remarkably smooth.  

-- Roger Guillemette

Countdown Proceeding Smoothly, Astronauts on Board

26 July 2005, 8:20 a.m. EDT

 

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – The countdown for this morning’s launch of space shuttle Discovery is being described as “routine” by NASA launch commentator George Diller as preparations continue for the 10:39 a.m. EDT (1439 GMT) launch attempt.

 

The seven STS-114 astronauts are now positioned in their form-fitting seats performing communication checks and configuring the vehicle for launch. Commander Eileen Collins is in the left-hand seat of Discovery’s flight deck, pilot Jim Kelly is in the right-hand seat and flight engineer Steve Robinson will assist the commander and pilot from the flight deck’s center seat – located behind and between the commander and pilot.

 

There has been little chatter on the communications channels for this morning’s launch attempt indicating an uneventful countdown so far. Weather conditions are close to ideal with only a 20 percent chance of unacceptable conditions – the only slight concern is a few off-shore rain showers that might encroach within 20 nautical miles of the launch site.

 

First Lady Laura Bush is in attendance to witness NASA’s Return-to-Flight this morning. Mrs. Bush will view the launch from the Banana Creek VIP viewing site, followed by a visit to the Launch Control Center after Discovery reaches orbit safely.

 

No technical issues are being reported at this time.

-- Roger Guillemette

Astronauts Arrive at Launch Pad

26 July 2005, 7:15 a.m. EDT

 

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – The seven member crew of space shuttle Discovery has arrived at launch pad 39B and will soon begin entering the Orbiter in preparation for this morning’s launch attempt.

 

A beautiful dawn greeted the astronauts as they exited their silver ‘AstroVan’ at the oceanfront launch complex, with almost perfect weather conditions forecast for launch.

 

The launch team has conducted another series of tests of the engine-cutoff (ECO) sensors to determine if all are continuing to function properly. All indications are that the sensors are operating as expected; another test earlier today also did not reveal any signs of the problem that forced a scrub of Discovery’s first launch attempt.

 

No technical issues are being worked at this time. Launch remains targeted for 10:39 a.m. EDT (1439 GMT).

 

-- Roger Guillemette

 

Discovery Astronauts Depart for Launch Pad

26 July 2005, 6:50 a.m. EDT

 

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – The crew of space shuttle Discovery, clad in their orange launch and entry spacesuits, has departed the Operations & Checkout (O&C) building for pad 39B at the Kennedy Space Center.

 

The seven astronauts, led by commander Eileen Collins, will travel the 7 miles to the pad in a modified silver RV, dubbed the ‘AstroVan.’ Loud cheers and applause greeted the crew as they entered the ‘AstroVan’ prior to the 20-minute drive out to the pad.

 

Weather conditions have improved dramatically. There is now an 80 percent probability of acceptable weather conditions for launch, with only a slight risk of rain showers within 20 nautical miles of the launch site. Conditions at both KSC’s Shuttle Landing Facility and the primary Transoceanic Abort Landing (TAL) strip in Zaragoza, Spain are also forecast to be acceptable for launch.

 

The launch team is not working any technical issues at this time. Launch remains scheduled for 10:39 a.m. EDT (1439 GMT).

 

-- Roger Guillemette

 

 

Ice Inspection Team Nears Finish

26 July 2005, 6:08 a.m. EDT

 

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – The seven members of the ice and debris checkout team are back down on Discovery’s Mobile Launch Platform, nearing the end of their inspection that took them to the heights of the orbiter.

 

So far, launch preparations for Discovery have gone smoothly, with no major issues or hazards, NASA officials said. The shuttle’s engine-cutoff (ECO) sensors continue to perform properly, they added.

 

The shuttle’s STS-114 crew is slated to begin donning their flight suits at about 6:20 a.m. EDT (1020 GMT).

 

-- Tariq Malik

Discovery on Schedule for Morning Liftoff

26 July 2005, 5:30 a.m. EDT

 

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – Preparations to launch the space shuttle Discovery and its seven-astronaut crew are moving along nicely without incident or delay, NASA officials said.

 

“Everything is on schedule,” NASA commentator George Diller said.

 

A seven-member ice and debris checkout team is gradually working its way down the launch stack, stopping at various observation decks aboard Discovery’s gantry to photograph and examine the orbiter and its external tank. Pad engineers expect to see at least one incident of ice – an ice ball that formed on one of the two electrical connection bridges between Discovery and its external tank – but mission managers said the ice will not pose a debris hazard during the upcoming launch.

 

Discovery’s STS-114 astronaut crew is expected to don their orange flight suits in less than an hour, then sit for a weather briefing before heading out to the launch pad.

 

-- Tariq Malik

Discovery’s Crew Set for Group Photo

26 July 2005, 5:00 a.m. EDT

 

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – Discovery’s seven astronaut crew gathered together for a group photo session about now as they move through their preflight activities.

 

For the most part, the crew had a light breakfast this morning, with STS-114 commander Eileen Collins choosing a meal of whole wheat toast and mixed fruit and pilot Jim Kelly opting for mixed fruit as well.  Mission specialist Andrew Thomas satisfied his appetite with an egg muffin, while mission specialist Wendy Thomas chose fruit and an English muffin.

 

Mission specialist Charles Camarda picked a chicken sandwich for his last meal on Earth for the next 12 days. The two STS-114 spacewalkers, NASA astronaut Stephen Robinson and Japanese Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) astronaut Soichi Noguchi, each chose fruit and a meat sandwich. Robinson selected chicken to go along with his fruit, while Noguchi settled on steak.

 

Today’s launch countdown is currently in a planned hold at T minus 3 hours and holding.

-- Tariq Malik

Engineers Complete External Tank Fueling

26 July 2005, 3:55 a.m. EDT

 

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – Shuttle workers have completed fueling Discovery’s external tank with the 526,000 gallons of super-chilled liquid oxygen and liquid hydrogen propellant the orbiter will use to reach orbital space.

 

The external tank was filled at 3:39 a.m. EDT (0739 GMT) and the ice debris team given the go ahead to begin their launch stack inspection. It should take about two hours for the seven-person team to complete its checkouts, NASA officials said.

 

Launch controllers detected no glitches with the orbiter’s engine cut-off (ECO) sensors, and successfully switched from their simulated ‘dry’ status, back to ‘wet’ indicated there is, in fact fuel in the external tank, then back to ‘dry’ again, NASA commentator Jessica Rye said.

 

The launch countdown has entered a planned hold at T minus three hours.

-- Tariq Malik

 

Ice Debris Team Prepares for Final Inspection

26 July 2005, 3:42 a.m. EDT

 

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – A seven-person team of engineers from NASA, United Space Alliance and Lockheed Martin is preparing to survey the space shuttle Discovery’s launch stack for signs of ice build up due the cryogenic propellant inside the orbiter’s external tank.

 

The team will use visual inspections, as well as photographs, video, and infrared views of Discovery’s external tank – which has been modified with new heaters and cameras since the Columbia accident – to ensure no harmful ice or debris can separate from the vehicle and strike the orbiter during liftoff, NASA officials said.

 

At about 3:43 a.m. EDT (0743 GMT), flight controllers plan to enter a planned three-hour hold in Discovery’s launch countdown.

 

Discovery is set to launch its STS-114 crew spaceward from Pad 39B here at Kennedy Space Center (KSC) at 10:39 a.m. EDT (1439 GMT) today.

-- Tariq Malik

Weather Threat Diminishes for STS-114 Launch

26 July 2005, 3:02 a.m. EDT

 

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – Weather forecasts for Discovery’s 10:39 a.m. EDT (1439 GMT) launch today predict much more favorable conditions than initially expected, NASA officials said.

 

Discovery has an 80 percent chance of good launch weather today, up from a 60 percent chance predicted on Sunday, NASA officials said.

 

NASA commentator Jessica Rye said shuttle weather officers expect a temperature of about 85 degrees Fahrenheit with a relative humidity of about 75 percent.

 

Earlier, weather officials believed there would be a 40 percent chance that off-shore storms could push electrified anvil clouds too close to Discovery’s launch and emergency landing site. That threat has apparently diminished, NASA officials said.

 

-- Tariq Malik

STS-114 Astronaut Crew Awake and Fed

26 July 2005, 2:18 a.m. EDT

 

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – The seven astronauts set to ride NASA’s Discovery orbiter are awake and fed, NASA officials said.

 

The STS-114 crew, commanded by veteran astronaut Eileen Collins, awoke as planned at 12:30 a.m. EDT (0430 GMT) and ate breakfast at about 1:00 a.m. EDT (0500 GMT).

 

The crew is expected to sit for a group photograph at about 5:00 a.m. EDT (0900 GMT), then begin donning their orange spaceflight suits at about 6:20 a.m. EDT (1020 GMT). After a 6:30 a.m. EDT (1030 GMT) weather briefing, Collins and her crewmates will leave the astronaut crew quarters here at Kennedy Space Center and walk out at about 6:49 a.m. EDT (1049 GMT).

 

An Astrovan bus will carry the STS-114 astronauts from their crew quarters to the Launch Pad 39B, where Discovery’s external tank is being fueled for launch, at about 7:19 a.m. EDT (1119 GMT). Engineers are expected to close Discovery’s outer hatch at about 8:34 a.m. EDT (1234 GMT), with launch currently set at 10:39 a.m. EDT (1439 GMT).

-- Tariq Malik

External Tank Fuel Sensor Checks Going Well

26 July 2005, 1:57 a.m. EDT

 

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – The eight engine cut-off (ECO) sensors aboard Discovery’s launch stack are working well during a continuous check to verify their performance.

 

“All sensors are performing as expected,” NASA commentator Jessica Rye said.

 

At about 1:21 a.m. EDT (0521 GMT), launch officials directed the four sensors inside the liquid hydrogen section of Discovery’s external tank to read ‘dry’ – or empty – despite the fact that they are currently immersed in fuel, known as a ‘wet’ condition. The test is a simulation to determine ECO sensor performance, and is also being unr on four sensors inside Discovery’s liquid oxygen feed line.

 

The fast fueling of Discovery’s liquid hydrogen propellant began at 1:44 a.m. EDT (0544 GMT) about four minutes after engineers began fast loading of the liquid oxygen supply. Discovery’s three main engines can burn through a standard-sized swimming pool’s worth of liquid every 25 seconds during launch, shuttle engineers said.

 

Monitoring of the ECO sensors is going very well, and will proceed throughout the remainder of the three-hour tanking operation, Rye said. Pad engineers are about one-third of the way through the fueling process, she added.

 

In addition to the ECO sensor tests, launch controllers have activated a heater on the flexible liquid oxygen feed line bellows unit, which expands and contracts in response to the super-cold temperature of the propellant flowing through it. That heater activation occurred at 1:43 a.m. (0543 GMT), Rye said.

-- Tariq Malik

First Fuel Sensor Check Initiated

26 July 2005, 1:37 a.m. EDT

 

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – Launch officials have begun their first test of the engine cut-off (ECO) sensors inside Discovery’s external tank, directing the sensors to read a ‘dry’ – or empty – tank.

 

The test comes after the fueling operations reached the five percent fuel mark. After beginning chill-down operations at 12:48 a.m. EDT (0448 GMT), engineers began fueling liquid hydrogen at about 1:00 a.m. EDT (0500 GMT), followed by liquid oxygen at about 1:26 a.m. EDT (0526 GMT). A few minutes later, the ‘dry’ ECO sensor command was sent to verify the fuel gauges are working properly.

 

This long, continuous test – to run through today’s tanking until engineers reach the stable replenish stage – is the first of two new checks to ensure the ECO sensors are performing properly. A standard countdown check will be performed at the T minus 3 hours mark, followed by an additional new check at T minus 9 minutes.

 

Shuttle engineers have spent the last two weeks studying Discovery’s ECO sensor system, after one of the four sensors inside the liquid hydrogen  fuel tank failed the standard forced ‘dry’ check. That failure prompted engineers to scrub a July 13 launch attempt.

-- Tariq Malik

Chill-down Operations Begin

26 July 2005, 12:50 a.m. EDT

 

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – Pad engineers have begun chill-down operations of Discovery’s external tank, preparing it for the loading of super-chilled liquid oxygen and liquid hydrogen propellant. The launch countdown has restarted, coming out of a planned hold at T minus six hours.

 

NASA officials said the chill-down process, which began at 12:48 p.m. EDT (0448 GMT) should last between 45 minutes and an hour, after which engineers can begin the slow filling of the external tank.

 

NASA commentator Jessica Rye said the slow filling of the external tank is expected to begin at about 1:30 a.m. EDT (0530 GMT). Once the engine cut-off (ECO) sensors inside Discovery’s liquid hydrogen tank and liquid oxygen feed line are immersed in fuel for two minutes, launch controllers will direct them read ‘dry’ – indicating they are not covered with propellant – as part of a long, continuous check of the sensor system.

-- Tariq Malik

Cooling Down Discovery’s External Tank

26 July 2005, 12:33 a.m. EDT

 

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – The fueling of Discovery’s orange external tank should begin at about 1:45 a.m. EDT (0545 GMT), NASA officials said.

 

Pad engineers plan to begin chill-down operations to cool the tank and its plumbing at about 12:45 a.m. EDT (0445 GMT). During that process, super-cold propellant is eased into the tank for about an hour, after which engineers begin the fueling operation in earnest, NASA spokesman Martin Jensen said.

 

It should take three hours to pump all 526,000 gallons of liquid hydrogen and liquid oxygen propellant into Discovery’s external tank. There are no weather concerns for tonight’s tanking operation, NASA commentator Jessica Rye said.

-- Tariq Malik

 

Discovery Go for External Tank Fueling

26 July 2005, 12:03 a.m. EDT

 

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – After a 30-minute meeting, Discovery’s mission management team (MMT) gave the go-ahead to begin fueling operations for the orbiter’s external tank.

 

The beginning of chill-down operations should begin at 12:45 a.m. EDT (0445 GMT), with fueling to follow shortly after, NASA commentator Jessica Rye said.

 

Discovery is set to launch in about 10 ½ hours, though the countdown is in a planned hold at T minus six hours.

 

-- Tariq Malik

NASA Prepares to Fill Discovery’s Fuel Tank

25 July 2005, 11:30 p.m. EDT

 

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – Mission managers for Discovery’s STS-114 launch are meeting tonight to discuss the early-morning fueling of the orbiter’s external tank.

 

Discovery’s mission management team (MMT) was scheduled to meet now to discuss the midnight fueling of 526,000 gallons of super-cold liquid oxygen and liquid hydrogen propellant into the orbiter’s external tank. The three-hour fueling operation is the slated to begin at about 12:00 a.m. EDT (0400 GMT) on July 26.

 

At 10:39 a.m. EDT (1439 GMT), Discovery and its STS-114 crew are slated to lift off Launch Pad 39B and begin their 12-day mission to the International Space Station.

 

The fueling of Discovery’s external tank includes several critical steps, among them two additional checks of the tank’s liquid hydrogen engine cut-off (ECO) sensors. At about 12:30 a.m. EDT (0430 GMT), the tank’s liquid hydrogen fuel level should reach the point that all four ECO sensors inside register ‘wet’ – indicating they are covered in propellant. After a few minutes, launch controllers will direct the sensors to register ‘dry’ in an hours long check, the first of tonight’s countdown, to make sure they’re working properly.

 

One of the sensors failed a standard countdown test – which will also be performed later – during Discovery’s July 13 launch attempt, forcing flight controllers to call off the space shot.

-- Tariq Malik

Metal Shroud Pulls Away from Shuttle Discovery

25 July 2005, 3:50 p.m. EDT

 

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – After a two-hour delay, the protective Rotating Service Structure (RSS) shrouding NASA’s Discovery orbiter began the slow move away from the shuttle at 3:38 p.m. EDT (1938 GMT), NASA officials said.

 

The RSS moves slowly through the 160-degree turn from the orbiter, but will eventually stand clear of the shuttle launch stack as NASA prepares to launch Discovery at 10:39 a.m. EDT (1439 GMT) on July 26.

 

Pad engineers fell behind in their close-out procedures, delaying the planned 1:30 p.m. EDT (1730 GMT) rollback of the RSS, NASA officials said. There were no technical glitches, they added.

-- Tariq Malik

RSS Rollback No Earlier than 3:00 p.m. EDT

25 July 2005, 2:00 p.m. EDT

 

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – The Rotating Service Structure shrouding NASA’s Discovery orbiter will retract no earlier than 3:00 p.m. EDT (1900 GMT) today, NASA officials said.

 

Originally slated to start moving away from the orbiter at 1:30 p.m. EDT (1730 GMT) today, the activity has been delayed as pad engineers drifted behind their planned schedule, NASA officials said. No technical problems have been reported, they added.

 

The Rotating Service Structure (RSS) serves a dual purpose to both protect space shuttles from rain, wind and other weather, while at the same time allowing engineers access to vital areas of the orbiter. Standing 130 feet high and 50 feet wide, the RSS contains the Payload Changeout Room where shuttle payloads are received to be installed in the orbiter’s payload bay. The 102-foot long RSS rotates through 120 degrees, about one-third of a circle, during retraction operations.

-- Tariq Malik

Discovery’s RSS Rollback Delayed

25 July 2005, 1:00 p.m. EDT

 

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – The rollback of Discovery’s Rotating Service Structure (RSS), a protective covering that shrouds the orbiter from weather and allows human access to various areas, has been delayed at least an hour, NASA officials said.

 

Pad engineers were originally slated to begin rolling back the RSS at about 1:30 p.m. EDT (1730 GMT), but have been pushed back to until 2:30 p.m. EDT (1830 GMT), a NASA spokesman said.

-- Tariq Malik

Additional Fuel Sensor Tests Planned During Countdown

25 July 2005, 10:06 a.m. EDT

 

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – As the clock ticks down toward the launch of the space shuttle Discovery, mission managers have developed two additional tests to verify the integrity of the shuttle’s engine cut-off (ECO) sensor system.

 

During the early morning hours of July 26, launch day for Discovery and its STS-114 astronaut crew, flight controllers plan a long, continuous test of the orbiter’s ECO sensors, a simulation that will force the sensors to read a ‘dry’ – or empty tank – environment, NASA test director Pete Nickolenko said during a launch status briefing here at Kennedy Space Center (KSC).

 

That test will run until the external tank is filled and needs only periodic replenishing, NASA officials added. A shorter test, scheduled at about T minus nine minutes in the countdown, will also be conducted, they said.

 

Discovery is slated to launch at 10:39 a.m. EDT (1439 GMT) on July 26. Pad engineers will begin fueling the spacecraft’s orange external tank at about midnight tonight.

 

The additional fuel sensor tests are similar to a standard countdown test – which will also be performed as scheduled Tuesday – in which launch controllers check the ECO sensors to make sure their working properly. One of Discovery’s liquid hydrogen ECO sensors failed that test during the shuttle’s July 13 launch attempt. Since four working hydrogen sensors are required for launch, NASA called the space shot off.

 

Eight ECO sensors, four inside the liquid hydrogen external tank and four more in the liquid oxygen feed line between the tank and Discovery, are used to prevent the orbiter’s three main engines from shutting down early or firing after it has run out of fuel.

 

While a remote possibility, several concurrent failures are required for either of the scenarios to arise, both could prove harrowing for the STS-114 crew. If Discovery’s engines shut down early, the shuttle could be forced to make an emergency landing. Should the engines fire without fuel, they could rip apart.

 

Nickolenko and other shuttle officials believe they have a handle on the fuel sensor problem, although its source still eludes engineers. Troubleshooting efforts since July 13 have found and resolved wiring grounding issues and studied the impact of electromagnetic interference to the orbiter electronics box responsible for processing ECO sensor data.

 

Aside from the fuel sensor troubleshooting, pad engineers have had relatively few last-minute glitches to solve for Discovery’s Tuesday launch.

 

Nickolenko said that two minor ground support issues did crop up and were quickly solved.

 

“Besides that, we have been very fortunate to have a clean countdown so far,” he said.

 

Kathy Winters, shuttle weather officer with the 45^th Weather Squadron at Cape Canaveral Air Force Station, said there is still a 40 percent chance that electrified anvil clouds, rain or thunderstorms could prevent Discovery’s launch. There is only a 5 percent chance poor weather will impact the orbiter’s fueling late tonight and early tomorrow, she added.

 

At about 1:30 p.m. EDT (1730 GMT) today, engineers will pull back the rotating service structure protecting Discovery from weather, exposing the orbiter for launch.

 

A pre-tanking meeting of Discovery’s mission managers is currently scheduled for 11:30 p.m. EDT tonight (0330 July 26 GMT), NASA officials said.

-- Tariq Malik

NASA Prepares Once More for Discovery’s Launch

24 July 2005, 11:30 a.m. EDT

 

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – The launch countdown continues for the space shuttle Discovery, now that engineers have buttoned up the orbiter for flight.

 

Shuttle technicians closed off access panels to Discovery’s aft section after more than a week of troubleshooting work to pin down a fuel sensor glitch that scrubbed a July 13 launch attempt of NASA’s STS-114 mission. Engineers buttoned up the shuttle at about 1:00 p.m. EDT (1700 GMT) Saturday and completed final confidence checks at 9:00 p.m. EDT  that night (0100 Sunday GMT), shuttle officials said. 

 

NASA test director Jeff Spaulding said shuttle engineers planned to begin loading the cryogenic reactants used to power Discovery’s fuel cells in orbit today at about 10:30 a.m. EDT (1430 GMT), an operation that will keep the launch pad clear of non-essential personnel until about 4:30 p.m. (2030 GMT). Slight delays pushed the reactant load to begin at about 10:45 a.m. EDT (1445 GMT), NASA officials said.

 

Meanwhile, the Mission Management Team (MMT) watching over Discovery’s launch preparations and flight plans to meet this afternoon and brief reporters on Discovery’s status no earlier than 4:30 p.m EDT (2030 GMT) today.

 

Engineers plan to roll back the protective Rotating Service Structure currently shrouding Discovery from weather on Monday at about 1:30 p.m. EDT (1730 GMT). Discovery is poised to launch at 10:39 a.m. EDT (1439 GMT) on July 26.

 

Spaulding said the first checks of the engine cut-off (ECO) sensors, a source of consternation for engineers since one of four liquid hydrogen sensors failed a standard countdown test in the July 13 launch attempt, should begin at about 12:45 a.m. EDT (0445 GMT) on launch day, about 30 minutes into the three-hour fueling process for Discovery’s external tank.

 

Discovery’s STS-114 crew, commanded by veteran astronaut Eileen Collins, is expected to arrive at the launch pad at 7:19 a.m. EDT (1119 GMT) on launch day.

 

Collins and her six crewmates are expected to be NASA’s first shuttle astronauts to launch spaceward since the 2003 Columbia disaster. Their 12-day mission – one part test flight and another part supply shipment – is expected to shakedown new orbiter inspection and repair techniques and deliver a cargo pod-load of food, equipment and other supplies to the International Space Station.

 

Discovery is currently slated to set down at NASA’s Shuttle Landing Facility at KSC in the pre-dawn hours of Aug. 7, though the astronauts do have an extra two days of consumables aboard should poor weather at their landing site prevent the descent, Spaulding said.

 

-- Tariq Malik

Discovery’s Launch Countdown Begins

23 July 2005, 12:15 p.m. EDT

 

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – NASA is once more counting down toward the launch of the space shuttle Discovery.

 

The countdown began as planned at 12:00 p.m. EDT (1600 GMT). Click here for SPACE.com’s full story.

 

-- Tariq Malik

Engineers Prep Discovery for Countdown

23 July 2005, 11:00 a.m. EDT

 

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – Shuttle engineers have completed their troubleshooting efforts inside the aft compartment aboard Discovery, leaving only routine confidence checks remaining as NASA prepares to restart the countdown for the launch of the STS-114 mission.

 

The countdown will begin at precisely 12 noon today here at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center (KSC), shuttle officials said in a pre-launch status briefing.

 

Engineers completed wire grounding checks, finding three locations where wires were not grounded properly, NASA test director Pete Nickolenko said in the briefing. Those areas were repaired to meet shuttle specifications, and engineers also swapped electrical connections between the No. 2 and No. 4 hydrogen engine cut-off sensors to gather more data about the glitch that scrubbed Discovery’s July 13 launch attempt.

 

Nickolenko said there are no technical issues being worked for Discovery at this time.

 

With Tropical Storm Franklin projected to head east into the Atlantic Ocean, only normal rainy and thunderstorm weather poses a threat to Discovery’s upcoming space shot, shuttle weather officials said. There is currently a 40 percent chance that weather conditions could prevent the launch of STS-114, they added.

 

NASA spokesperson Jessica Rye told SPACE.com that the STS-114 crew is slated to perform some additional training drills today, including un-flight suited landing runs in the space agency’s Shuttle Training Aircraft (STA).

 

-- Tariq Malik

Countdown to Begin for Discovery Launch

23 July 2005, 9:00 a.m. EDT

 

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – NASA is once more preparing to start the countdown for the upcoming launch of the space shuttle Discovery on July 26.

 

The clock is slated to start counting down just after 12:00 p.m. EDT (1600 GMT) here at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center (KSC) spaceport today. Launch officials will be called to stations at 11:30 a.m. EDT (1530 GMT).

 

A launch status update is planned for about 10:00 a.m. EDT (1400 GMT) to discuss weather concerns and flight preparations. Discovery is currently set to launch from Pad 39B at 10:39 a.m. EDT (1439 GMT) on July 26.

 

Engineers have been poring over Discovery’s liquid hydrogen engine cut-off (ECO) sensor system to identify and fix a glitch that scrubbed the shuttle’s July 13 launch attempt. Faulty readings from one of the four hydrogen ECO sensors required for liftoff prompted the scrub, though shuttle engineers have traced the problem to electromagnetic interference and a wiring grounding issue found inside the point sensor box aboard Discovery that processes the ECO sensor data.

 

Discovery’s STS-114 crew, commanded by veteran astronaut Eileen Collins, lauded the engineering investigation after arriving at KSC Friday. The seven STS-114 astronauts landed their T-38 jets at NASA’s Shuttle Landing Facility at KSC.

 

Collins told reporters she was very proud of the work by engineers, technicians and managers to find and address the ECO sensor problem. While the delay has shifted the crew’s flight schedule – they will now land in near-darkness on Aug. 7 instead of mid-morning, prompting additional night landing training – the astronauts are eager to fly, Collins said.

-- Tariq Malik

Tropical Storm Should Not Hinder Discovery’s Launch

22 July 2005, 4:30 p.m. EDT

 

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – Tropical Storm Franklin will likely pose no danger to the planned launch of the space shuttle Discovery, though NASA weather officers continue to keep a close watch.

 

NASA spokesman George Diller said that, while weather forecasters believe the storm will shift toward the east, heading out even further into the Atlantic Ocean, attention is needed to make sure it moves as expected.

 

There is a 15 percent chance that Franklin could generate winds upwards of 40 knots at Discovery’s Pad 39B launch site here at Kennedy Space Center (KSC), Diller said, adding that there is also a five percent chance that winds could reach 70 knots. The space shuttle cannot be left exposed during such wind speeds, but weather officials believe they will likely not be an issue during Discovery’s pre-launch and liftoff operations.

Discovery is set to launch NASA’s STS-114 astronauts into orbit on July 26 at 10:39 a.m. EDT (1439 GMT). The shuttle’s crew arrived at KSC today and the countdown is expected to begin at 12:00 p.m. EDT (1600 GMT) on July 23.

-- Tariq Malik

Discovery’s Crew Arrives, Atlantis Rolls Over

22 July 2005, 12:53 p.m. EDT

 

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – Veteran astronaut Eileen Collins and her STS-114 crewmates are back at their crew quarters here at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center (KSC) after their T-38 jets landed at the Shuttle Landing Facility in preparations for their July 26 launch aboard the Discovery orbiter.

 

The seven astronauts arrived from their Houston, Texas base in spurts, with Collins and STS-114 mission specialist Wendy Lawrence landing at about 11:45 a.m. EDT (1545 GMT) followed by shuttle pilot James Kelly and mission specialist Charles Camarda.

 

At about 12:06 p.m. EDT (1606 GMT), the first of three T-38 jets arrived carrying a NASA pilot and STS-114 mission specialist Stephen Robinson.  Mission specialists Soichi Noguchi and Andrew Thomas arrived on the other two aircraft. NASA officials said the T-38 jets carrying the three astronauts suffered from mechanical problems in flight, and they returned to Ellington Air Force Base to swap aircraft, causing about a half hour delay.

 

Earlier today, at about 9:41 a.m. EDT (1341 GMT), the space shuttle Atlantis finally took its first steps toward space as it began moving out of its Orbital Processing Facility for the short drive to the Vehicle Assembly Building (VAB). Four minutes later, the orbiter was completely out of facility and by about 10:20 a.m. EDT (1420 GMT) was safely inside the massive, 52-story VAB.

 

Atlantis is being prepared for its STS-121 shuttle flight, the second return to flight mission, and will be mated to its external tank-solid rocket booster launch stack inside the VAB. Its rollover was delayed since  July 20 due to landing gear glitches.

 

-- Tariq Malik

Shuttle Crew Set to Arrive, NASA Tracks Potential Storm Threat

22 July 2005, 8:36 a.m. EDT

 

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – Once again, the seven astronauts set to ride the space shuttle Discovery into orbit are expected to arrive NASA’s Kennedy Space Center (KSC) spaceport as the days tick down to launch time.

 

Discovery’s STS-114 crew, commander by veteran astronaut Eileen Collins, are slated to set down at KSC’s Shuttle Landing Facility here in NASA’s T-38 jets and give a brief statement to reporters before leaving the airstrip. At least half of the astronaut crew has been in NASA’s Johnson Space Center (JSC) in Houston, Texas since July 19, though all seven STS-114 astronauts met there for a combined launch/landing simulation on Thursday.

 

Discovery’s STS-114 mission is set to launch on July 26 at 10:29 a.m. EDT (1429 GMT) on NASA’s first shuttle mission since the Columbia tragedy, which killed seven astronauts and destroyed one orbiter on Feb. 1, 2003.

 

NASA weather officers are closely watching the newly named storm Tropical Storm Franklin – a record sixth for a July – currently over the Bahamas. While current forecasts predict the storm will head out east over the Atlantic Ocean, shuttle officials are tracking the storm for good measure.

 

After several delays, the space shuttle Atlantis is also set to rollover to the Vehicle Assembly Building, NASA officials said.

 

-- Tariq Malik

Discovery Awaits Launch, Atlantis Awaits Rollover

21 July 2005, 11:06 a.m. EDT

 

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – NASA shuttle managers plan to launch the space shuttle Discovery on Tuesday, July 26 at 10:39 a.m. EDT (1439 GMT) and a completing the final bits of troubleshooting before the countdown begins Saturday.

 

Discovery’s STS-114 crew, commanded by veteran astronaut Eileen Collins, is due back here at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center (KSC) on July 22 at about 11:00 a.m. EDT (1500 GMT), NASA officials said. The astronauts are currently at NASA’s Johnson Space Center (JSC) performing a final launch and landing simulation.

 

While Discovery awaits launch, shuttle engineers are still preparing to roll its sistership Atlantis into the 52-story Vehicle Assembly Building (VAB) to be mated to an external tank-solid rocket booster launch stack.

 

Plans to roll Atlantis over to the VAB from its Orbiter Processing Facility Tuesday were delayed first by a faulty tire pressure sensor connection, prompting engineers to replace the tire. A subsequent glitch with the orbiter’s landing gear has led to troubleshooting efforts that have pushed rollover back to no earlier than 2:00 p.m. EDT (1800 GMT) today.

 

Discovery and Atlantis are slated to launch NASA’s first two shuttle missions since the Columbia disaster. Discovery’s STS-114 spaceflight will return NASA to shuttle flight and is expected to test new tools and methods for orbiter inspection and repair.

 

Atlantis will push those orbital tests a step further during its STS-121 spaceflight, designating more spacewalk time and crew efforts to return to flight activities. The mission is also expected to deliver the first long-duration astronaut from the European Space Agency to the International Space Station (ISS).

 

Both shuttles are expected to rendezvous with the ISS to deliver much needed supplies and haul away unneeded material.

-- Tariq Malik

New Tire for Space Shuttle Atlantis

20 July 2005, 5:26 p.m. EDT

 

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – Shuttle engineers preparing NASA’s Atlantis orbiter for the second return to flight mission will make the move from its protective hangar to the massive Vehicle Assembly Building (VAB) no earlier than 12:00 a.m. EDT (0400 July 21 GMT).

 

Lower than normal pressure readings in Atlantis’ right front tire prompted the delay, NASA officials said. After investigating the tire, engineers found that the tire’s pressure sensor connection – not the tire itself – had a glitch and would be solved by standard tire change out, they added.

 

Atlantis is set to fly NASA’s STS-121 mission, the second shuttle flight since the Columbia disaster, in September and will be mated to its external tank – solid rocket booster launch stack inside the VAB. Engineers will also swap out one of the orbiter’s three main engines while it is inside the 52-story building.

 

While NASA’s STS-121 spaceflight is set to NASA’s second return to flight mission, Atlantis is also being prepared to support its sistership Discovery, which is poised to loft its STS-114 crew sometime later next week. Atlantis has been tapped to serve as a rescue shuttle in the unlikely chance that Discovery suffers extensive damage during its mission and its seven-astronaut crew forced to take shelter aboard the International Space Station. That rescue plan, known as Contingency Shuttle Crew Support or safe haven, would call for Atlantis to be ready to launch on Aug. 21 from pad 39B, which is currently occupied by Discovery.

-- Tariq Malik

Atlantis Shuttle Rollover Delayed

20 July 2005