30 June 2008
+ 0 - 0 | § ¶Tunguska At 100
Per the BBC:
At 7:17am on 30 June 1908, an immense explosion tore through the forest of central Siberia.
Some 80 million trees were flattened over an area of 2,000 square km (800 square miles) near the Tunguska River.
The blast was 1,000 times more powerful than the atomic bombs dropped on Hiroshima and Nagasaki and generated a shock wave that knocked people to the ground 60km from the epicentre.
The cause was an asteroid or comet just a few tens of metres across which detonated 5-10km above the ground, 100 years ago today.
Eyewitnesses recalled a brilliant fireball resembling a "flying star" ploughing across the cloudless June sky at an oblique angle.
Keywords: astronomy,history,space
26 June 2008
+ 1 - 0 | § ¶Another Chance To Go Update
The extra shuttle flight I blogged about recently is another step closer to reality after a
Senate committee approved a bill that would mandate the mission to launch the Alpha Magnetic Spectrometer to the International Space Station. It's still a ways from becoming reality, but is moving in the right direction.
Keywords: astronomy,international_space_station,launch_schedule,nasa,space,space_shuttle
21 June 2008
+ 0 - 1 | § ¶Ice! Ice, Baby!
Per NASA:
Scientists relishing confirmation of water ice near the surface beside NASA's Phoenix Mars Lander anticipate even bigger discoveries from the robotic mission in the weeks ahead.
"It is with great pride and a lot of joy that I announce today that we have found proof that this hard bright material is really water ice and not some other substance," said Phoenix Principal Investigator Peter Smith of the University of Arizona, Tucson, during a Friday news briefing to announce the confirmation of water ice.
"The truth we're looking for is not just looking at ice. It is in finding out the minerals, chemicals and hopefully the organic materials associated with these discoveries," said Smith.
Keywords: mars,nasa,space
19 June 2008
+ 0 - 1 | § ¶STS-125 Update
Per NASA:
With space shuttle Discovery's STS-124 mission successfully completed, NASA is turning its attention to evaluating and repairing damage to Kennedy Space Center's Launch Pad 39A.
During Discovery's May 31 liftoff, the east wall of the pad's north flame trench suffered damage, with broken sections of the wall scattered from the flame trench to the pad perimeter fence.
The pad is expected to be repaired by October, when the crew of STS-125 is targeted to launch aboard space shuttle Atlantis on a mission to service the Hubble Space Telescope.
The seven-member STS-124 crew returned to NASA's Johnson Space Center in Houston on June 15 following their successful construction mission to the International Space Station.
Keywords: astronomy,hubble,international_space_station,launch_schedule,nasa,space,space_shuttle,sts_124,sts_125
+ 0 - 1 | § ¶Another Chance To Go
OK, so the exciting thing about the House voting to
fund an extra shuttle launch to fly the Alpha Magnetic Spectrometer to the space station should be the scientific results that would be enabled if the mission is approved to fly the $1.5 billion instrument instead of letting it stay on the ground.
But, to be honest, I'm personally excited that, if approved, it would be one more opportunity I would potentially have to try and see a shuttle launch before the program ends.
The extra billion they're recommending for Orion and Ares is kinda cool, too.
Keywords: ares,astronomy,international_space_station,nasa,politics,space,space_shuttle
13 June 2008
+ 1 - 1 | § ¶STS-124 Update
Per Spaceflight Now:
The Discovery astronauts tested the shuttle's re-entry systems today and packed up for landing Saturday at the Kennedy Space Center. The tests went well, but the crew reported seeing a piece of debris of some sort floating away from the shuttle a few minutes later. They also called attention to a small protrusion on the shuttle's rudder/speed brake where a bit of insulation might have been displaced. It did not appear serious, but flight controllers are discussing whether any additional observations might be required.
The astronauts have two landing opportunities Saturday, at 11:15 a.m. [EDT] and 12:50 p.m., and with good weather expected, NASA is not staffing its backup landing site at Edwards Air Force Base, Calif.
...
The flight control system checkout went smoothly, but around 7:35 a.m. Kelly called down and told mission control the crew had spotted an apparent piece of debris of some sort floating away from the shuttle.
"We observed an object depart aft of the starboard wing," Kelly said. "Looked like, and obviously it's hard to tell dimensions and size looking out the aft windows, but it looked like it might have been a foot to a foot and a half in width. And we've got a pretty reasonable image of it."
The crew managed to capture a few seconds of video showing a rectangular object floating away to the left of the shuttle's tail fin, flashing with reflected sunlight as it slowly tumbled.
The astronauts also called attention to a small protrusion toward the back of the shuttle's big rudder/speed brake. It was barely visible and not an obvious problem, but the crew offered to take a closer look with the shuttle's robot arm. Flight controllers said they would consider that option.
Keywords: international_space_station,nasa,space,space_shuttle,sts_124
10 June 2008
+ 1 - 1 | § ¶STS-124 Update
Per NASA:
The crews of space shuttle Discovery and the International Space Station will prepare for the end of joint operations today.
The astronauts will transfer spacewalk equipment and at least one spacesuit back to Discovery. They will enjoy some off-duty time and also will check out the tools and equipment needed for undocking activities.
At 3:57 p.m. EDT, the two crews will bid farewell to one another and close the hatches between Discovery and the station.
Discovery is scheduled to undock from the station at 7:42 a.m. Wednesday and begin its journey back to Kennedy Space Center, Fla., landing Saturday at 11:15 a.m.
Keywords: international_space_station,nasa,space,space_shuttle,sts_124
+ 0 - 2 | § ¶Lee Belew, RIP
I'm posting this, in part, because no one else will. Even in The Huntsville Times, Lee Belew's death merited not even a short actual story, but only
a lengthy obit. In fact, I would have missed had the curator of the U.S. Space & Rocket Center not told me yesterday.
Belew served NASA in several roles, including manager of engine programs, overseeing, among other things, the Saturn V's incredible F1 engines. But his capacity that was of particular interest to me was as the Skylab program manager at Marshall Space Flight Center. Belew is the second person we interviewed for the book to have died without seeing its publication, along with flight director Phil Shaffer. We also lost Marshall director Rocco Petrone, whom we didn't interview but was the subject of much discussion.
I'd be lying if I said Belew was a huge help in working on the book, but the interview with him definitely brought home the importance of the project. Belew was a very nice guy, and did all he could for us. But, while you could tell that there had once been an incredible wealth of information there, that storehouse had been diminished by the effects of age. It made me sick leaving the interview that someone had not undertaken this project years ago. From a selfish standpoint, it's incredible that I got to work on it. From a historic standpoint, it's tragic.
As I said, Belew's passing will earn little note. Which is unfortunate. He is a forgotten hero of forgotten history. And, though, for most of you, this may be the only time you hear his name, I'm glad that it will at least be heard this once.
Keywords: books,history,huntsville,marshall_space_flight_center,nasa,outward_odyssey,skylab,space
09 June 2008
+ 2 - 0 | § ¶STS-124 Update
Per NASA:
With the third and final spacewalk completed Sunday, the Expedition 17 and STS-124 crews are heading into the home stretch of their joint mission.
The crew members will maneuver the newly activated robotic arm on the Kibo laboratory to its stowed position today. They also will perform a checkout of the arm’s brakes.
The crews also will work in the Quest airlock of the International Space Station to replace battery charger modules. The modules charge the batteries that provide power to U.S. spacesuits during spacewalks. Flight managers elected to replace the modules, which have shown slightly increased toxicity levels due to their age.
The shuttle and station crews are scheduled to take a break from their activities at 5:02 p.m. EDT for the traditional joint crew news conference.
Keywords: international_space_station,nasa,space,space_shuttle,sts_124
05 June 2008
+ 1 - 2 | § ¶STS-124 Update
Per NASA:
Mission Specialists Mike Fossum and Ron Garan began the second STS-124 spacewalk at 11:04 a.m. EDT.
The spacewalkers will install two cameras on the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency’s Kibo laboratory and prepare the laboratory for the attachment of the smaller section of the module. The Japanese Experiment Logistics Module - Pressurized Section was delivered during STS-123.
In addition, Garan and Fossum will prepare for a nitrogen tank assembly swap that they will make on the mission’s third spacewalk.
For the final tasks of today’s spacewalk, Garan will join Fossum on the left truss to remove an external television camera that has a failing power supply. They will bring the camera inside with them, where the power supply will be replaced, and then reinstall it during the third spacewalk.
Keywords: international_space_station,nasa,space,space_shuttle,sts_124
03 June 2008
+ 1 - 1 | § ¶STS-124 Update
Per NASA:
Mission specialists Mike Fossum and Ron Garan are scheduled to kick off STS-124’s first spacewalk at 11:32 p.m. EDT. During the 6-½ hour excursion, the pair will retrieve a shuttle inspection tool, service and inspect components of a solar alpha rotary joint and prepare the largest component of the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency’s Kibo laboratory for installation on the International Space Station.
The spacewalkers’ first task is to transfer the Orbiter Boom Sensor System (OBSS) from the station’s truss to space shuttle Discovery. The OBSS, which attaches to the shuttle’s robotic arm for detailed inspection of the shuttle’s heat shield, was left at the station for STS-124 during the previous shuttle mission to provide room for the giant Kibo module in Discovery’s payload bay.
Next, the spacewalkers will prepare Kibo’s Japanese Pressurized Module (JPM) for installation. After inspecting the common berthing mechanism on the Harmony Node’s left side and opening a window cover, Fossum and Garan will work together in the shuttle’s cargo bay to remove contamination covers from the JPM’s docking surfaces. Fossum will also disconnect heater cables and remove locking bolts from the shutters of the JPM’s forward window.
For their final tasks, Garan and Fossum will move to the station’s starboard solar alpha rotary joint, which began experiencing increased vibration and power usage in the fall of 2007. Garan will install a replacement of one of the joint’s 12 trundle bearing assemblies. Meanwhile, Fossum will inspect a potentially damaged area on the joint and try out several techniques for cleaning debris from the surface of the joint’s race ring.
Keywords: international_space_station,nasa,space,space_shuttle,sts_124
02 June 2008
+ 1 - 1 | § ¶STS-124 Update
Per NASA:
Space shuttle Discovery is scheduled to dock with the International Space Station at 1:54 p.m. EDT.
About an hour before docking, STS-124 Commander Mark Kelly and Pilot Kenneth Ham will guide the shuttle through a Rendezvous Pitch Maneuver, or back-flip, giving the Expedition 17 crew the opportunity to take pictures of the orbiter’s protective heat-resistant tiles. These photos will be sent to engineers on Earth for analysis.
Keywords: international_space_station,nasa,space,space_shuttle,sts_124
