Shuttle Astronauts
Disembark Endeavour
26 March 2008 9:54 p.m. EDT
CAPE CANAVERAL,
Fla. – The seven astronauts of NASA’s shuttle Endeavour have disembarked their
spacecraft after their successful
nighttime landing here at the Kennedy Space Center.
The
spaceflyers, commanded by veteran shuttle flyer Dominic Gorie, move first into
a crew transportation vehicle, where rested up from their 8:39 p.m. EDT (0039
March 27 GMT) landing and 16-day construction flight to the International Space
Station. They doffed their orange pressure suits and are on the runway to walk
around their spacecraft.
Click
here for SPACE.com’s full story on today’s landing.
NASA is broadcasting Endeavour's mission live on NASA
TV. Click here
for SPACE.com's
NASA TV feed or follow the NASA TV link at the upper left of this page.
-- Tariq Malik
Touchdown! Endeavour
Lands Safely in Florida
26 March 2008 8:39 p.m. EDT
Shuttle
Endeavour and its crew of seven astronauts has safely
landed at Florida's Kennedy Space Center, following a record 16-day mission to
the International Space Station (ISS) and the installation of Japan's Kibo
logistics module and Canada's Dextre robotics system. After a journey of
6.5 million miles, Endeavour touched down on Runway 15 at the Shuttle
Landing Facility at 8:39
p.m. EDT (0039 GMT) – about one hour after local sunset - to
complete its 21st space voyage.
Commander Dom
Gorie and pilot Greg Johnson guided the Orbiter on its fiery plunge through the
atmosphere and hour-long free-fall descent back to Earth, then precisely
executed a series of turns and banking maneuvers that bled-off excess speed and
slowed the 207,582-pound spaceplane for its powerless landing on the 3-mile
long paved runway at the seaside space center. All spacecraft systems performed
as expected.
Endeavour touched down
on the second of tonight's two landing opportunities – a low deck of
moisture-laden clouds over Florida's Space Coast forced NASA to wave-off the
first landing attempt, choosing to keep the spacecraft aloft for an additional
orbit.
Endeavour's crew includes French astronaut Leopold Eyharts, who returns
to earth after a 48-day tour of duty as the ISS Expedition 16 flight engineer.
During re-entry and descent, Eyharts was strapped into a special recumbent seat
in the orbiter’s middeck, which kept him in a reclined position during the ride
home to ease his body’s re-acclimation to gravity.
A convoy of
landing support vehicles is now approaching Endeavour and technicians will soon
begin to 'safe' the vehicle – purging the spacecraft of its toxic propellants –
to be followed by the astronauts' egress and traditional 'walkaround' of the
spacecraft.
Endeavour's
return marks the 68th space shuttle landing at the Kennedy Space
Center and the 22nd nighttime landing in shuttle program history.
Click
here for a wrap-up of tonight's landing.
NASA is broadcasting Endeavour's mission live on NASA
TV. Click here
for SPACE.com's
NASA TV feed or follow the NASA TV link at the upper left of this page.
-- Roger Guillemette
Shuttle Endeavour Flying
Over Gulf of Mexico
26 March 2008 8:24 p.m. EDT
Shuttle Endeavour is
crossing over the Gulf of Mexico, just west of Cuba,
as it continues its long, gliding approach to Florida's Kennedy Space Center.
Touchdown on Runway 15 at the Shuttle Landing Facility is scheduled for 8:39 p.m. EDT (0039 GMT) – about
one hour after local sunset.
Endeavour has just emerged from a lengthy communications blackout;
Mission Control confirms that all spacecraft systems are performing as
expected.
The Orbiter
will soon enter U.S. airspace over the Florida's Gulf Coast, just south of
Tampa/St. Petersburg, on its cross-peninsula landing approach. Commander
Dominic 'Dom' Gorie and pilot Gregory Johnson are piloting the 207,582-pound
spaceplane through a series of turns and banking maneuvers to slow the vehicle
and expend excess energy in preparation for its powerless landing, culminating
with left overhead turn of 255 degrees to precisely align with Runway 15 – the
northwest-to-southeast runway.
Observed
weather conditions at the landing site are within acceptable limits for
landing, with just a few clouds at 6,000 feet. NASA astronaut Brent Jett,
chief of flight crew operations, is flying the Shuttle Training Aircraft on
practice approaches to runway 15 and relaying his observations to flight
controllers.
Endeavour's
touchdown will mark the 68th space shuttle landing at the Kennedy
Space Center and the 22nd nighttime landing in shuttle program
history.
Click
here for a preview of tonight's landing.
NASA is broadcasting Endeavour's mission live on NASA
TV. Click here
for SPACE.com's
NASA TV feed or follow the NASA TV link at the upper left of this page.
-- Roger Guillemette
Endeavour Re-entering
Earth's Atmosphere
26 March 2008 8:07 p.m. EDT
Shuttle Endeavour is now
transitioning from spacecraft to aircraft, encountering the upper fringes of
Earth's atmosphere - known as 'Entry Interface' - at about 400,000 feet above
the southern Pacific Ocean as it begins its fiery
descent and a long, gliding approach to the 3-mile long runway at Florida's
Kennedy Space Center.
Landing on
Runway 15 at the Shuttle Landing Facility is scheduled for 8:39 p.m. EDT (0039
GMT). All spacecraft systems are performing as expected.
With the heat
on its Thermal Protection System tiles building to 2,500 degrees F, Endeavour
will be flying south to north, across Central America and the Yucatan
Peninsula, crossing over the Gulf of Mexico west of Cuba and then descending
over Florida's Gulf Coast south of Tampa/St. Petersburg on its final
cross-peninsula approach for landing.
Commander
Dominic 'Dom' Gorie and pilot Gregory Johnson completed a 2-minute, 45-second
firing of Endeavour twin Orbital Maneuvering System engines that began at 7:33
p.m. EDT (2333 GMT) that reduced the shuttle's velocity sufficiently to drop it
out of orbit and begin its hour-long free-fall descent back to Earth. Gorie and
Johnson will pilot the 207,582-pound spaceplane through a series of turns and
banking maneuvers to slow the vehicle for its powerless touchdown at the
Kennedy Space Center.
Endeavour will touch down on the
second of tonight's two Florida landing opportunities – a low deck of
moisture-laden clouds over Florida's Space Coast forced NASA flight controllers
to wave-off the first landing opportunity, choosing to keep the spacecraft
aloft for an additional orbit.
Prior to the
de-orbit burn decision, commander Dom Gorie was asked by Mission Control if he
was comfortable flying through a broken deck of clouds between 5,000 and 6,000
feet … Gorie replied that his crew had trained for night landings under similar
conditions and gave his concurrence to proceed with tonight's landing attempt.
Weather conditions at the landing
site are now forecast to be within acceptable limits for landing.NASA astronaut
Brent Jett, chief of flight crew operations, is flying the Shuttle Training
Aircraft on practice approaches to runway 15 and relaying his observations to
flight controllers.
Click
here for a preview of tonight's landing.
NASA is broadcasting Endeavour's mission live on NASA
TV. Click here
for SPACE.com's
NASA TV feed or follow the NASA TV link at the upper left of this page.
-- Roger Guillemette
Endeavour Heading Home
to Florida
26 March 2008 7:36 p.m. EDT
Shuttle Endeavour has
ignited its braking rockets to start a fiery plunge through Earth's atmosphere
and a long, gliding descent to the Kennedy Space Center's Shuttle Landing
Facility where weather conditions are forecast to be acceptable for the
spaceplane's return. Endeavour will touch down on the second of tonight's two
Florida landing opportunities – a low deck of moisture-laden clouds over
Florida's Space Coast forced NASA flight controllers to wave-off the first
landing opportunity, choosing to keep the spacecraft aloft for an additional
orbit.
Commander
Dominic 'Dom' Gorie and pilot Gregory Johnson just completed a 2-minute,
45-second firing of Endeavour's twin Orbital Maneuvering System engines that
began at 7:33 p.m. EDT (2333 GMT) to reduce the shuttle's velocity sufficiently
to drop it out of orbit and begin an hour-long free-fall descent back to Earth.
Touchdown on
Runway 15 at the Shuttle Landing Facility is now scheduled for 8:39 p.m. EDT
(0039 GMT).
The de-orbit
burn slowed Endeavour's velocity by about 302 feet/second (approx. 206
miles/hour). Endeavour and its crew of seven astronauts will first encounter
the upper fringes of the atmosphere at about 400,000 feet above the southern
Pacific Ocean, flying north across Central America and the Yucatan Peninsula,
crossing over the Gulf of Mexico to the west of Cuba and then descending over
Florida's Gulf Coast south of Tampa/St. Petersburg on its final approach for
landing.
NASA astronaut Brent
Jett, chief of flight crew operations, has been flying approaches to the
landing strip in the Shuttle Training Aircraft – a specially modified
Gulfstream jet that simulates the shuttle's landing characteristics – closely
monitoring that unexpected layer of moisture-laden clouds that are now
dissipating as they approach the Kennedy Space Center from the southeast.
Prior to the de-orbit
burn decision, commander Dom Gorie was asked by Mission Control if he was
comfortable flying through a broken deck of clouds between 5,000 and 6,000 feet
… Gorie replied that his crew had trained for night landings under similar
conditions and gave his concurrence to proceed with tonight's landing attempt.
The Spaceflight Meteorology Group, based at Houston's Johnson Space Center, is
now predicting weather conditions to be within limits at the time of landing.
Click
here for a preview of tonight's landing.
NASA is broadcasting Endeavour's mission live on NASA
TV. Click here
for SPACE.com's
NASA TV feed or follow the NASA TV link at the upper left of this page.
-- Roger Guillemette
Endeavour 'Go' for
Florida Landing
26 March 2008 7:25 p.m. EDT
Mission managers have cleared
shuttle Endeavour for an 8:39 p.m. EDT (0039 GMT) landing at the Kennedy Space
Center where weather conditions have improved to permit the spaceplane's return
to Earth. Endeavour will touch down on the second of tonight's two Florida
landing opportunities – a low deck of moisture-laden clouds over Florida's
Space Coast forced NASA flight controllers to wave-off the first landing
opportunity, choosing to keep the spacecraft aloft for an additional orbit.
Commander
Dominic 'Dom' Gorie and pilot Greg Johnson have been given a 'Go' to initiate
the de-orbit burn at 7:33 p.m. EDT (2333 GMT), culminating in a landing on Runway
15 at the Shuttle Landing Facility. Touchdown is scheduled for approximately
one hour after local sunset, officially making this a nighttime landing – the
16th in space shuttle history.
Endeavour's
Orbital Maneuvering System engines will be fired for 2 minutes and 45 seconds,
high above the Indian Ocean, to slow the Orbiter's velocity by about 302
feet/second (approx. 206 miles/hour) to begin its fiery descent through Earth's
atmosphere and a long, gliding approach to the 3-mile long runway at the Kennedy
Space Center.
Endeavour will
first encounter the upper fringes of the atmosphere at about 400,000 feet above
the southern Pacific Ocean, flying north across Central America and the Yucatan
Peninsula, crossing over the Gulf of Mexico to the west of Cuba and then
descending over Florida's Gulf Coast south of Tampa/St. Petersburg on its final
approach for landing.
NASA astronaut Brent
Jett, chief of flight crew operations, has been flying approaches to the
landing strip in the Shuttle Training Aircraft – a specially modified
Gulfstream jet that simulates the shuttle's landing characteristics – closely
monitoring the unexpected cloud deck and the weather conditions that Endeavour
will encounter on its approach and landing.
Mission commander Dom
Gorie was asked by Mission Control if he was comfortable flying through a
broken deck of clouds between 5,000 and 6,000 feet. Gorie replied that his crew
had trained for night landings under similar conditions and gave his
concurrence to proceed with tonight's landing attempt. The Spaceflight
Meteorology Group, based at Houston's Johnson Space Center, is now predicting
conditions to be within limits at the time of landing.
Click
here for a preview of tonight's landing.
NASA is broadcasting Endeavour's mission live on NASA
TV. Click here
for SPACE.com's
NASA TV feed or follow the NASA TV link at the upper left of this page.
-- Roger Guillemette
Endeavour's First
Landing Opportunity Waved-Off
26 March 2008 5:38 p.m. EDT
Florida's dynamic weather
will keep shuttle Endeavour in space for at least another orbit. Mission
Control has just waved-off this evening's first landing opportunity after a
layer of clouds encroached upon the Kennedy Space Center from the southeast.
NASA astronaut Brent Jett,
chief of flight operations, has been flying approaches to the landing strip in
the Shuttle Training Aircraft - a modified Gulfstream jet that simulates the
landing characteristics of the shuttle - and reports a layer of clouds containing
moisture that would obscure visibility of the Shuttle Landing Facility with
6/8th's cloud coverage, violating the established landing weather criteria.
A second Florida landing
opportunity on orbit 249 is available today at 8:39 p.m. EDT (0039 GMT) for the
return of the orbiter and its seven astronaut crew, including French astronaut
Leopold Eyharts who is returning from a stint on the International Space
Station as the Expedition 16 Flight Engineer.
The next crucial event in
the timeline for a landing on tonight's second opportunity is the 'Go for
de-orbit burn' decision to be made at about 7:13 p.m. EDT (2313 GMT). If so
ordered, the de-orbit burn would take place at 7:33 p.m. EDT (2333 GMT).
Weather for the second opportunity is expected to improve with only scattered
clouds at about 5,000 feet.
Click
here for a preview of tonight's landing.
NASA is broadcasting Endeavour's mission live on NASA
TV. Click here
for SPACE.com's
NASA TV feed or follow the NASA TV link at the upper left of this page.
-- Roger Guillemette
NASA Eyes Clouds for
Shuttle Landing
26 March 2008 5:19 p.m. EDT
CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. - Mission Control continues to watch clouds to the
southeast of the shuttle Endeavour's runway here at NASA's Kennedy Space Center
as they prepare for the first of two landing opportunities today.
Endeavour is slated to land
at 7:05 p.m. EDT (2305 GMT). A new weather report is expected in five to 10
minutes, after which entry flight director is expected to decide whether
shuttle commander Dominic Gorie should fire Endeavour's engines at 5:58 p.m.
EDT (2158 GMT) to begin descent back to Earth.
Click
here for a preview of today's landing.
NASA is broadcasting Endeavour's mission live on NASA
TV. Click here
for SPACE.com's
NASA TV feed or follow the NASA TV link at the upper left of this page.
-- Tariq Malik
Astronauts Begin Fluid
Loading for Landing
26 March 2008 4:53 p.m. EDT
CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. - Mission Control has given the crew of the shuttle
Endeavour the go ahead to begin consuming massive amounts of liquid to better
prepare their bodies for the return to Earth's gravity.
Known as fluid loading, the
activity is a promising sign that entry flight director Richard Jones intends
to attempt the first of two landing opportunities today.
Mission Control is watching
a broken deck of clouds southeast of Endeavour's runway here at the Kennedy
Space Center to decide whether they pose a threat to today's planned landing
today at 7:05 p.m. EDT (2305 GMT).
NASA astronaut Brent Jett,
chief of flight operations, is flying a shuttle training aircraft to recon the
clouds. Flight controllers want to know how thick they are and whether they
hold any moisture. NASA shuttle cannot fly through rain or storm cloud remnants
since they can damage an orbiter's tile-covered belly or trigger lightning.
Click
here for a preview of today's landing.
NASA is broadcasting Endeavour's mission live on NASA
TV. Click here
for SPACE.com's
NASA TV feed or follow the NASA TV link at the upper left of this page.
-- Tariq Malik
NASA Recons Weather for
Shuttle Landing
26 March 2008 4:27 p.m. EDT
CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. - NASA astronaut Brent Jett, chief of flight operations,
has taken off from the Shuttle Landing Facility here at the Kennedy Space
Center to reconnoiter some clouds out toward the southeast.
Jett is flying a shuttle
training aircraft designed to simulate a landing space shuttle. Today's landing
for the shuttle Endeavour remains on target for a 7:05 p.m. EDT (2305 GMT)
touchdown on the first of two opportunities available.
Click
here for a preview of today's landing.
NASA is broadcasting Endeavour's mission live on NASA
TV. Click here
for SPACE.com's
NASA TV feed or follow the NASA TV link at the upper left of this page.
-- Tariq Malik
Shuttle Landing
Preparations on Track
26 March 2008 3:49 p.m. EDT
CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. - With Endeavour's payload bay doors closed, the shuttle
is on track for today's planned
7:05 p.m. EDT (2305 GMT) landing here at the Kennedy Space Center.
NASA's chief astronaut
Stephen Lindsey is flying a shuttle training aircraft above the agency's
Shuttle Landing facility and reporting fair conditions for Endeavour's return.
Click
here for a preview of today's landing.
NASA is broadcasting Endeavour's mission live on NASA
TV. Click here
for SPACE.com's
NASA TV feed or follow the NASA TV link at the upper left of this page.
-- Tariq Malik
Shuttle Astronauts Close
Cargo Bay Doors
26 March 2008 3:20 p.m. EDT
CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. - Mission Control has given Endeavour shuttle astronauts
the go ahead to shut the spacecraft's shell-like payload bay doors, a milestone
for today's planned
7:05 p.m. EDT (2305 GMT) landing.
"You are go for
payload bay door closing," NASA astronaut Jim Dutton radioed up to shuttle
crew.
Endeavour is due to fire
its braking rockets at about 5:58 p.m. EDT (2148 GMT) for its first opportunity
to land here at NASA's Kennedy Space Center. A second landing window, which
calls for a nighttime touchdown, is also available at 8:39 p.m. EDT (0039 March
27 GMT), though the weather looks good for today's landing.
Click
here for a preview of today's landing.
NASA is broadcasting Endeavour's mission live on NASA
TV. Click here
for SPACE.com's
NASA TV feed or follow the NASA TV link at the upper left of this page.
-- Tariq Malik
Space Shuttle Crew
Prepares for Landing
26 March 2008 3:00 p.m. EDT
CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. - Shuttle commander Dominic Gorie and his six crewmates
are gearing up for their
planned landing. The next major task: closing of Endeavour's shell-like
payload bay doors.
That
activity, a milestone for today's planned 7:05 p.m. EDT (2305 GMT) landing, is
targeted for 3:18 p.m. EDT (1918 GMT). NASA entry flight director Richard Jones is polling
his team to see if all is ready for the event.
Here's a rundown of today's
landing activities:
- 3:18 p.m. EDT (1918 GMT) - Payload bay door closing
- 5:58 p.m. EDT (2158 GMT) - Deorbit burn
- 7:05 p.m. EDT (2305 GMT) - Landing
Click
here for a preview of today's landing.
NASA is broadcasting Endeavour's mission live on NASA
TV. Click here
for SPACE.com's
NASA TV feed or follow the NASA TV link at the upper left of this page.
-- Tariq Malik
Weather Looks Good for
Shuttle Landing Today
26 March 2008 2:00 p.m. EDT
CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. - NASA entry flight director Richard Jones has received his
first major weather briefing of the day, with the outlook very favorable for
today's 7:05 p.m. EDT (2305 GMT) landing
of the space shuttle Endeavour.
Mission Control at NASA's
Johnson Space Center in Houston radioed the good news to the shuttle's crew.
"That's great
news," shuttle skipper Dominic Gorie said. "It looks like the
forecasters were really accurate on this one."
Endeavour and its crew are
slated to land on Runway 15 at NASA's Kennedy Space Center after a record
16-day mission to add a new Japanese module and Canadian robot to the
International Space Station.
Here's a rundown of today's
landing activities:
- 1:58 p.m. EDT (1758 GMT) - Deorbit preparations begin
- 3:18 p.m. EDT (1918 GMT) - Payload bay door closing
- 5:58 p.m. EDT (2158 GMT) - Deorbit burn
- 7:05 p.m. EDT (2305 GMT) - Landing
Click
here for a preview of today's landing.
NASA is broadcasting Endeavour's mission live on NASA
TV. Click here
for SPACE.com's
NASA TV feed or follow the NASA TV link at the upper left of this page.
-- Tariq Malik
Astronauts Prepare for
Landing, Next Fuel Tank Arrives
26 March 2008 1:15 p.m. EDT
CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. - As the crew of NASA's shuttle Endeavour prepares
to land today, a new fuel tank has rolled into the
port here at the Kennedy Space Center.
The massive, 15-story fuel
tank is the first built from scratch to include new safety modifications to
reduce foam insulation loss during liftoff since NASA returned to orbiter
flight in 2005. It will fuel the shuttle Discovery for its planned May 25
launch.
Astronauts aboard
Endeavour, meanwhile, are working toward a 7:05 p.m. EDT (2305 GMT) landing on
Runway 15 here at the Kennedy Space Center.
"Great talking to
you," Endeavour commander Dominic Gorie told Mission Control. "We're
looking forward to today."
Here's a rundown of today's
landing activities:
- 1:58 p.m. EDT (1758 GMT) - Deorbit preparations begin
- 3:18 p.m. EDT (1918 GMT) - Payload bay door closing
- 5:58 p.m. EDT (2158 GMT) - Deorbit burn
- 7:05 p.m. EDT (2305 GMT) - Landing (36 minutes before
sundown)
Click
here for a preview of today's landing.
NASA is broadcasting Endeavour's mission live on NASA
TV. Click here
for SPACE.com's
NASA TV feed or follow the NASA TV link at the upper left of this page.
-- Tariq Malik
Shuttle Astronauts Wake
for Landing Day
26 March 2008 11:09 a.m. EDT
CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. - The seven astronauts aboard NASA's shuttle Endeavour are
awake and preparing
for landing today. The astronauts are due to land here at the Kennedy Space
Center at 7:05 p.m. EDT (2305 GMT).
NASA roused the astronauts
with the song "Drops of Jupiter" by the band Train, a tune selected
for Endeavour pilot Gregory H. Johnson.
"Wow, that's a great
song to listen to on landing day. I'd like to thank my wife Carrie and my kids
Matthew, Joseph and Rachel," Johnson said.
"This has been a two
week adventure and it's been a pleasure and honor to be on it," he said
adding that his crew reveled in their challenges and success. "But in a
bittersweet way, we're ready to get home."
Click
here for a preview of today's landing.
NASA is broadcasting Endeavour's mission live on NASA
TV. Click here
for SPACE.com's
NASA TV feed or follow the NASA TV link at the upper left of this page.
-- Tariq Malik
Shuttle Endeavour Primed
for Landing
25 March 2008 10:22 p.m. EDT
CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. - NASA's space shuttle Endeavour is ready for a planned
Wednesday landing after a record-setting flight to the International Space
Station (ISS).
NASA entry flight director
Richard Jones said fair weather is expected during both landing opportunities -
one in the day, the other at night - for the shuttle's seven astronaut crew.
Endeavour is due to land
here at NASA's Kennedy Space Center at 7:05 p.m. EDT (2305 GMT), about a
half-hour before sunset. A second window opens at 8:39 p.m. EDT (0039 March 26
GMT), about an hour after darkness falls.
Jones said that aside from
a minor ding from space debris in one of Endeavour's flight deck windows, the
spacecraft is pristine for landing. The ding poses no risk to the spacecraft or
its crew.
"They're ready to
go," Jones said of Endeavour's crew. "They've got their game faces
on."
Click
here for an overview of today's work in space.
NASA is broadcasting Endeavour's mission live on NASA
TV. Click here
for SPACE.com's
NASA TV feed or follow the NASA TV link at the upper left of this page.
-- Tariq Malik
Shuttle Crew Tests
Landing Tools
25 March 2008 2:52 p.m. EDT
CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. - Shuttle Endeavour commander Dominic Gorie and pilot
Gregory H. Johnson are putting their 100-ton space plane through its paces as
they test is
flight surfaces for the trip through Earth's atmosphere.
The astronauts are flexing
Endeavour's flight control surfaces along the aft of its wings and tail fin to
ensure their hydraulic systems are in order. Later, they will test fire the
shuttle's thrusters and rehearse the orbiter's landing using a video game-like
computer simulator program.
Meanwhile, their STS-123
crewmates are busy packing up the shuttle's middeck for landing. They will also
set up a special recumbent seat for French spaceflyer Leopold Eyharts, who is
returning home after almost two months in space.
Click
here for an overview of today's work in space.
NASA is broadcasting Endeavour's mission live on NASA
TV. Click here
for SPACE.com's
NASA TV feed or follow the NASA TV link at the upper left of this page.
-- Tariq Malik
Shuttle Endeavour Crew Awake
25 March 2008 11:20 a.m. EDT
The Endeavour crew woke up to the Italian song "Con Te Partiro" by
Andrea Bocelli, played for French astronaut Leopold Eyharts, who will be
returning to Earth on Endeavour from his stint on the International Space
Station.
Eyharts said he was excited
to be coming back home. "I'd like to see everybody back on Earth," he
said. "Thanks a lot for the music and see you very soon."
NASA is broadcasting Endeavour's mission live on NASA
TV. Click here
for SPACE.com'sNASA
TV feed or follow the NASA TV link at the upper left of this page.
-- Clara Moskowitz
Shuttle Endeavour Begins
HomewardJourney
24 March 2008 10:07 p.m. EDT
HOUSTON - NASA's shuttle Endeavour has fired its rocket engines a second timeto
pull away from the International Space Station (ISS) and begin the trip backto
Earth.
The shuttle undocked at
8:25 p.m.EDT (0025 March 25 GMT) and is due to land at NASA's Kennedy Space
Center inCape Canaveral, Fla., on Wednesday at 7:05 p.m. EDT (2305 GMT).
Endeavour pilot Gregory H.
Johnson,who goes by the call sign "Box,"
deftly flew the 100-ton shuttle around thestation in a victory lap of sorts as
his crews photographed the outpost'sexterior.
"Box,
nice flying," Mission Controltold the crew.
Clickhere
for a preview of tonight's undocking.
A wrap up of tonight's
successful ISSundocking will be posted to the SPACE.com homepage shortly.
NASA is broadcasting Endeavour's mission live on NASA
TV. Click here
for SPACE.com's
NASA TV feed or follow the NASA TV link at the upper left of this page.
-- Tariq Malik
Shuttle Endeavour
Completes Lap AroundISS
24 March 2008 9:42 p.m. EDT
HOUSTON - NASA's shuttle Endeavour has fired its rocket engines to begin its
flightaway from the International Space Station after today's successful
undockingand fly-around.
Endeavour undocked from the
spacestation at about 8:25 p.m. EDT (0025 March 25 GMT) after record 12-day
stay todeliver a Japanese storage module, Canadian robot and new crewmember to
theISS.
The shuttle is flying up
and overthe station as it heads towards the orbiting laboratory'saft to pull
away.
Clickhere
for a preview of tonight's undocking.
NASA is broadcasting Endeavour's mission live on NASA
TV. Click here
for SPACE.com'sNASA
TV feed or follow the NASA TV link at the upper left of this page.
-- Tariq Malik
Shuttle's ISS Victory
Lap PassesHalfway Mark
24 March 2008 9:20 p.m. EDT
HOUSTON - Shuttle pilot Gregory H. Johnson has passed the halfway mark of
hisvictory lap around the International Space Station (ISS) after
today'ssuccessful undocking.
Johnson is guiding the
100-tonEndeavour to a point directly beneath the station before he returns to
hisstarting point - about 600 feet ahead of the ISS. From there, Johnson will
flythe shuttle up and over the station toward the orbiting lab's
aft for finalseparation.
Clickhere
for a preview of tonight's undocking.
NASA is broadcasting Endeavour's mission live on NASA
TV. Click here
for SPACE.com'sNASA
TV feed or follow the NASA TV link at the upper left of this page.
-- Tariq Malik
Shuttle Endeavour Begins
Loop AroundISS
24 March 2008 8:53 p.m. EDT
HOUSTON - With pilot Gregory H. Johnson at the helm, NASA's shuttle
Endeavourhas begun its slow loop around the International Space Station (ISS)
aftertoday's delayed undocking.
Johnson has backed
Endeavour away toa distance of about 475 feet, and is flying around the station
while hiscrewmates photograph its exterior. Undocking occurred at 8:25 p.m. EDT
(0025March 25 GMT).
Clickhere
for a preview of tonight's undocking.
NASA is broadcasting Endeavour's mission live on NASA
TV. Click here
for SPACE.com'sNASA
TV feed or follow the NASA TV link at the upper left of this page.
-- Tariq Malik
UNDOCK! Shuttle
Endeavour Pulls Freefrom Station
24 March 2008 8:29 p.m. EDT
HOUSTON - The space shuttle Endeavour has undocked from the International
SpaceStation at 8:25 p.m. EDT (0025 March 25 GMT) as both spacecraft flew over
theIndian Ocean.
"Houston, Endeavour,
we havephysical separation," shuttle commander Dominic Gorie said.
"Houston
copies," Mission Controlreplied.
Shuttle pilot Gregory H.
Johnson is atthe helm, and is backing the 100-ton spacecraft way to a distance
of about 400feet before flying around the ISS.
ISS
flight engineer Garrett Reismanrang the ship's bell aboard the station in a
long-standing tradition forundocking spacecraft.
"Endeavour
departing," Reismansaid.
Clickhere
for a preview of tonight's undocking.
NASA is broadcasting Endeavour's mission live on NASA
TV. Click here
for SPACE.com'sNASA
TV feed or follow the NASA TVlink at the upper left of this page.
-- Tariq Malik
Shuttle 'Go' for ISS Undocking
24 March 2008 8:20 p.m. EDT
HOUSTON - The recalcitrant portside solar array joint outside the
InternationalSpace Station has been locked down securely. Undocking is now set
for 8:25 p.m.EDT (0025 March 25 GMT).
"Endeavour, Houston,
you are go forundocking," Mission Control said.
Clickhere
for a preview of tonight's undocking.
NASA is broadcasting Endeavour's mission live on NASA
TV. Click here
for SPACE.com'sNASA
TV feed or follow the NASA TV link at the upper left of this page.
-- Tariq Malik
Station's Solar Wing
Joint DelaysShuttle's Departure
24 March 2008 8:15 p.m. EDT
HOUSTON - The undocking of NASA's shuttle Endeavour from the InternationalSpace
Station (ISS) has been delayed by an unsecured solar wing joint on theoutpost's
port side.
The Beta Gimbal Assembly,a joint that twists ISS solar arrays on their long axis to
face the sun, on one ofthe station's left-most solar panels is unlatched.
Mission Control wants tosecure the solar wing as a standard precaution against
damage during anundocking vehicle's departure.
A new latching command has
beensent, though it can take up to 15 minutes to take effect. Endeavour
wasoriginally slated to depart the station at 7:56 p.m. EDT (2356 GMT).
Clickhere
for a preview of tonight's undocking.
NASA is broadcasting Endeavour's mission live on NASA
TV. Click here
for SPACE.com'sNASA
TV feed or follow the NASA TV link at the upper left of this page.
-- Tariq Malik
Shuttle's Undocking
Delayed at SpaceStation
24 March 2008 7:56 p.m. EDT
HOUSTON - An unsecured solar array joint aboard the International Space Station(ISS) has delayed today's undocking of the space
shuttle Endeavour.
The joint, a Beta
GimbalAssembly that twists one of the station's solar wing
to facethe sun, is unlatched. Mission Control wants the joint secured to avoid
damagefrom Endeavour's thruster firings and undocking forces.
The shuttle was slated to
undock at7:56 p.m. EDT (2356 GMT) while flying about 220 miles (354 km) above
Earth,just south of Ireland.
"Once we come up with
a new time,we'll give you a new target to work
toward," Mission Control radioed theEndeavour crew.
Clickhere
for a preview of tonight's undocking.
NASA is broadcasting Endeavour's mission live on NASA
TV. Click here
for SPACE.com'sNASA
TV feed or follow the NASA TV link at the upper left of this page.
-- Tariq Malik
Station Primed for
Shuttle'sDeparture
24 March 2008 7:32 p.m. EDT
HOUSTON - The International Space Station is primed and ready for
today'splanned 7:56 p.m. EDT (2356 GMT) departureof
NASA's shuttle Endeavour.
"The station is ready
forundocking," station commander Peggy Whitson told Endeavour's crew and
MissionControl.
"Endeavour copies,
Peggy," repliedthe shuttle's skipper Dominic
Gorie.
Gorie and his crew are
wrapping up arecord-long 12-day stay at the station, where they swapped out a
crewmember anddelivered a Canadian-built robot and the first piece of Japan's
massive Kibolaboratory.
Clickhere
for a preview of tonight's undocking.
NASA is broadcasting Endeavour's mission live on NASA
TV. Click here
for SPACE.com'sNASA
TV feed or follow the NASA TV link at the upper left of this page.
-- Tariq Malik
Shuttle, ISS Move into
UndockingPosition
24 March 2008 6:59 p.m. EDT
HOUSTON - The docked International Space Station (ISS) and space shuttle
Endeavourhave maneuvered into position for today's 7:56 p.m. EDT (2356 GMT)
separationof the two spacecraft.
Clickhere
for a preview of tonight's undocking.
NASA is broadcasting Endeavour's mission live on NASA
TV. Click here
for SPACE.com'sNASA
TV feed or follow the NASA TV link at the upper left of this page.
-- Tariq Malik
Shuttle, ISS Move into
UndockingPosition
24 March 2008 6:59 p.m. EDT
HOUSTON - The docked International Space Station (ISS) and space
shuttleEndeavour have maneuvered into position for today's 7:56 p.m. EDT (2356
GMT)separation of the two spacecraft.
Leak checks between the
twospacecraft are complete, with the hatches between them sealed tight and
secure.
"Copy, leak checks
complete,"shuttle commander Dominic Gorie told Mission Control.
Clickhere
for a preview of tonight's undocking.
NASA is broadcasting Endeavour's mission live on NASA
TV. Click here
for SPACE.com'sNASA
TV feed or follow the NASA TV link at the upper left of this page.
-- Tariq Malik
Leak Checks Under Way
for ISS,Shuttle Undocking
24 March 2008 6:32 p.m. EDT
HOUSTON - Leak checks are underway between NASA's shuttle Endeavour and
theInternational Space Station (ISS) as the orbiter's seven-astronaut crew
gearsup for tonight'splanned 7:56 p.m. EDT (2156 GMT) undocking.
The two spacecraft were
docked for arecord 11 days, 16 hours and 21 minutes as Endeavour's STS-123 crew
swapped outone ISS crewmember and delivered a two-armed Canadian robot and new
Japanesemodule.
Clickhere
for a preview of tonight's undocking.
NASA is broadcasting Endeavour's mission live on NASA
TV. Click here
for SPACE.com'sNASA
TV feed or follow the NASA TV link at the upper left of this page.
-- Tariq Malik
Hatches Closed Between
ShuttleEndeavour, Station
24 March 2008 6:06 p.m. EDT
HOUSTON - Astronauts aboard the shuttle Endeavour and International
SpaceStation have shut the hatches between their two spacecraft as they prepare
fortonight's planned7:56 p.m. EDT (2356 GMT) undocking.
Hatches between the two
spacecraftwere closed for good by 5:49 p.m. EDT (2149 GMT).
Clickhere
for a preview of tonight's undocking.
NASA is broadcasting Endeavour's mission live on NASA
TV. Click here
for SPACE.com'sNASA
TV feed or follow the NASA TV link at the upper left of this page.
-- Tariq Malik
Astronauts Return to
Shuttle forUndocking
24 March 2008 5:30 p.m. EDT
HOUSTON - Shuttle Endeavour commander Dominic Gorie and hissix crewmates have
floated into their spacecraft after a brief, but emotional,farewell
ceremony aboard the International Space Station (ISS) after a record12-day
stay.
"It's a strange
feeling to want tosee our families, but not want to leave a wonderful
place," Gorie toldstation commander Peggy Whitson and her Expedition 16
crew. "You guys made itthat way, so thank you for that."
"We had a great time
with you guys,"Whitson said, her voice breaking at times. "It's a lot
of fun spending timewith people you can laugh and joke with. We did a little of
that, as well asgetting a lot of work done."
Endeavour is slated to
undock fromthe ISS at 7:56 p.m. EDT (2356 GMT) tonight after delivering a
Japanese storagemodule, the Canadian-built Dextre robot and new ISScrewmember
Garrett Reisman to the station. Theyperformed a record five spacewalks while
docked at the station.
"Getting through those
five[spacewalks] were pretty scary hurdles to overcome
and you guys made it easy," Gorietold the station crew.
Clickhere
for a preview of tonight's undocking.
NASA is broadcasting Endeavour's mission live on NASA
TV. Click here
for SPACE.com'sNASA
TV feed or follow the NASA TVlink at the upper left of this page.
-- Tariq Malik
Shuttle Astronauts Say
Farewells toStation Crew
24 March 2008 5:17 p.m. EDT
HOUSTON - Astronauts aboard NASA's shuttle Endeavour and the InternationalSpace
Station (ISS) are sayingtheir
farewells live on NASA TV.
"It's still hard for
me to feel likeit's already finished," said French astronaut Leopold Eyharts,
who is returningto Earth with Endeavour's crew after more than a month aboard
the ISS.
Clickhere to watch the farewell
ceremony and hatch closing live.
Clickhere
for a preview of tonight's undocking.
NASA is broadcasting Endeavour's mission live on NASA
TV. Click here
for SPACE.com'sNASA
TV feed or follow the NASA TV link at the upper left of this page.
-- Tariq Malik
Shuttle Crew Begins Last
Day atSpace Station
24 March 2008 11:57 a.m. EDT
HOUSTON - The seven-astronaut crew of NASA's shuttle Endeavour has begun itslast
day at theInternational Space Station (ISS), with undockingset
for later this evening.
Mission Control here at
NASA'sJohnson Space Center roused the crew at 11:43 a.m. EDT (1543 GMT) with
theJapanese song "Furusato" ("Home" in English) for veteran
JapanAerospace Exploration Agency astronaut Takao Doi.
"Good morning,
Endeavour, and goodmorning to you Doi-san," NASA astronaut Alvin Drew
radioed up tothe crew from Mission Control.
"Good morning,
Al," Doireplied before speaking in Japanese. "We're coming home!
Thank you."
Endeavour's STS-123 crew is
due toundock at 7:56 p.m. EDT (2356 GMT) after a record 12 days at the station
todeliver a new Japanese module, Canadian robot and swap out an Expedition
16crewmember.
Clickhere
for a preview of tonight's undocking.
NASA is broadcasting Endeavour's mission live on NASA
TV. Click here
for SPACE.com'sNASA
TV feed or follow the NASA TV link at the upper left of this page.
-- Tariq Malik
Shuttle Astronauts Begin
a SpaceEaster
23 March 2008 12:42 p.m. EDT
HOUSTON - Astronauts aboard the shuttle Endeavour are awake for a day of
restand packing up as they prepare
toleave the International Space Station.
Mission Control here at
NASA'sJohnson Space Center roused the crew at 12:28 p.m. EDT (1628 GMT) with
theNewsboys song "I Am Free," a tune chosen specifically for mission
specialistMike Foreman and performed by his church's praise team.
"Good morning
Endeavour and HappyEaster to you Mike," NASA astronaut Alvin Drew radioed
up from Mission Control.
"Good morning Houston
and thanksAlvin, that's one of my favorite songs from church," Foreman
said. "That wasawesome, and how appropriate for this
special day. It sounds just as good uphere as it does down there. Happy Easter."
Drew wished the rest of
Endeavour'sastronauts a Happy Easter as well, though they were busy at the
time.
"They're probably
searching fortheir eggs," Foreman said.
Today is Flight Day 14
ofEndeavour's record-long 16-day mission to deliver a new crewmember,
Japaneseroom and Canadian robot to the ISS. Astronauts will discuss the mission
duringa joint news conference tonight at 11:18 p.m. EDT (0318 March 24 GMT).
Click herefor
a look at today's orbitalwork in space.
NASA is broadcasting Endeavour's mission live on NASA
TV. Click here
for SPACE.com'sNASA
TV feed or follow the NASA TV link at the upper left of this page.
-- Tariq Malik
Shuttle Crew Completes
Final ISSSpacewalk
22 March 2008 10:42 p.m. EDT
HOUSTON - Astronauts Robert Behnken and Mike Foreman are repressurizingthe
Quest airlock, officially concluding today's spacewalk outside theInternational
Space Station.
The spacewalk concluded at
about10:36 p.m. EDT (0236 March 23 GMT).
Total spacewalking time: 6
hours, 2minutes.
The spacewalk marked the
fifth andfinal excursion of NASA's STS-123 mission and the third career outings
for Behnkenand Foreman.
Clickhere for a look at today's
spacewalk.
A wrap up of today's
spacewalk willbe posted to the SPACE.com homepage shortly.
NASA is broadcasting Endeavour's mission live on NASA
TV. Click here
for SPACE.com'sNASA
TV feed or follow the NASA TV link at the upper left of this page.
-- Tariq Malik
Astronauts Wrap up
Spacewalk at ISS
22 March 2008 10:34 p.m. EDT
HOUSTON - Spacewalkers Robert Behnken and Mike Foreman areback inside the
International Space Station's Quest airlock as they wrap uptoday's excursion.
The astronauts are shutting
theairlock's outer hatch. Today's spacewalk will officially end once
thespacewalkers begin repressurizing the airlock. Theexcursion began at 4:34
p.m. EDT (2034 GMT).
Clickhere for a look at today's
spacewalk.
NASA is broadcasting Endeavour's mission live on NASA
TV. Click here
for SPACE.com'sNASA
TV feed or follow the NASA TV link at the upper left of this page.
-- Tariq Malik
Spacewalkers Head Back
to ISSAirlock
22 March 2008 10:19 p.m. EDT
HOUSTON - Astronauts Robert Behnken and Mike Foreman have returnedto the Quest
airlock at the International Space Station (ISS) as they prepareto wrap up
today's spacewalk,the fifth of the mission. They are
stowing tools inside a toolbox outside theairlock.
The astronauts attached a
shuttleinspection boom to the station's exterior, installed a materials
experiment andinspected the station's balky solar array rotational joint. They
are nearingthe six-hour mark of today's spacewalk, which began at 4:34 p.m. EDT
(2034GMT).
Clickhere for a look at today's
spacewalk.
NASA is broadcasting Endeavour's mission live on NASA
TV. Click here
for SPACE.com'sNASA
TV feed or follow the NASA TV link at the upper left of this page.
-- Tariq Malik
Spacewalkers
Complete Major Goals
22 March 2008 9:52 p.m. EDT
HOUSTON - Spacewalkers Mike Foreman and Robert Behnken havecompleted their
primary goals for today's excursion outside the InternationalSpace Station
(ISS).
Foreman is wrapping up
hisinspection work of the station's ailing starboard side solar array joint,
whileBehnkentackled some get ahead chores to wrap a set of metal struts outside
theoutpost's new Japanese Logistics Pressurized module.
Clickhere for a look at today's
spacewalk.
NASA is broadcasting Endeavour's mission live on NASA
TV. Click here
for SPACE.com'sNASA
TV feed or follow the NASA TV link at the upper left of this page.
-- Tariq Malik
Spacewalkers Move on to
Extra Tasks
22 March 2008 9:17 p.m. EDT
HOUSTON - While astronaut Mike Foreman continues his inspection of an
ailingsolar array-turning joint outside the International Space Station,
hisspacewalking partner Robert Behnken has moved on to extratasks.
Behnken is installing a set
of thermalcovers on four metal struts on the station's new Japanese module
delivered byEndeavour's STS-123 astronaut crew.
Clickhere for a look at today's spacewalk.
NASA is broadcasting Endeavour's mission live on NASA
TV. Click here
for SPACE.com'sNASA
TV feed or follow the NASA TV link at the upper left of this page.
-- Tariq Malik
Spacewalker Installs
Stubborn ISSExperiment
22 March 2008 8:39 p.m. EDT
HOUSTON - With the aid of a hammer, spacewalker Robert Behnken hassuccessfully
installed the second part of a stubborn materials experimentoutside the
International Space Station (ISS).
Behnken used a hammer to
tap theexperiment's securing pin in place, prompting Mission Control to suggest
hisnickname be switched form Bam Bam to Thor.
"Alright! Bam Bam, Thor,whatever
it takes," Behnken said. "We're here toserve."
Meanwhile, his spacewalking
partnerMike Foreman continues his inspection of the station's damaged starboard
solararray joint.
Clickhere for a look at today's
spacewalk.
NASA is broadcasting Endeavour's mission live on NASA
TV. Click here
for SPACE.com'sNASA
TV feed or follow the NASA TV link at the upper left of this page.
-- Tariq Malik
Spacewalkers Install
Experiment,Inspect Gear
22 March 2008 8:09 p.m. EDT
HOUSTON - Spacewalker Robert Behnken has successfullyinstalled the first part
of a stubborn materials experiment while his orbitalwork partner Mike Foreman
discovered an apparent divot on a damagedsolar
array gear outside the International Space Station.
"I feel like this is a
divot,"Foreman said, as he passed a wipe cloth over the area. "I feel
a littleroughness as I rub it over there, it doesn't feel like a protrusion."
The gear, known as a Solar
Alpha RotaryJoint, has been damaged by metal grit that has gummed up its race
ring. It isdesigned to rotate the station's outer starboard solar arrays like
apaddlewheel to track the sun, but has been crippled since late October.
Behnken, meanwhile, is
tackling the secondpart of the experiment, and ready to bang in stubborn
latching pins with ahammer if required.
"It might be hammer
time," he said.
Clickhere for a look at today's
spacewalk.
NASA is broadcasting Endeavour's mission live on NASA
TV. Click here</
