Thanks!

After a careful excursion away from the port end of Neesys, the PMA is relocated to the nearest available CBM.


The next day, the Eranda module begins to station-keep with OFSS2. The thrusters fire in every direction to stabilize the trajectory between the two approaching vehicles.


DOCKING! Eranda docks to OFSS2! The newest module arrives! The tug module pulls away to deorbit the Earth.


PMA is relocated to the forward end of Neesys.

The vehicle soars into the vacuum of space! Everything is NOMINAL, everything continues to look good! The 2nd flight of the brand new HLV Ariane 6 is working without a hitch. SECO hits the first stage and we have separation of the 1st and second stage!


She continues to sore into the sky! Fairing seperation--!


MECO hits the 3rd stage, Eranda is in orbit. The sun begins to rise on a glorious launch. The 3rd stage and the tug module begin to separate and pull away from one another.


Meanwhile on OFSS2 after the launch things begin to get busy with the PMA relocation. The RMS is carefully positioned to not hit the Dragon solar panels to the grapple fixture on the PMA and is grappled.

Thank you!

FD6 has the installation of the UHF a tricky process.


FD7 the MPLM re-birthed into the Bay of Discovery.
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FD8 the Discovery undocks from the OFSS2! FD9 is an off-duty day preparing for the challenges to come on FD9. FD9 comes. The crew must come home after an excellent mission. Discovery closes its PLBD and goes into a retrograde position. Discovery fires its twin OMS engines for 200+ seconds bringing Discovery into a position to enter the Earth's atmosphere. Discovery roars in flame over the pacific in a stunning nighttime re-entry.


Discovery arrives at KSC at 8:01 pm. Twin sonic booms are heard at the KSC. Discovery lands 30 minutes after sunset! STS-144 and OFSS2 come to a close.

OBSS reveals no problems. Discovery is a smooth bird. FD2 ends. FD3 brings about docking. The CDR and PLT take control, firing the OMS engines several times to pulse Discovery towards the growing OFSS2. They preform the customary RPM - later showing no damage to the underside of the Orbiter. Discovery docked with the OFSS2 on October 23rd. Crew comes inside the OFSS2 and greats Expedition 1.


FD4 brings about MPLM docking to Neesys's nadir CBM. Discovery brings the MPLM Leonardo out of the bay and moves it into a position for OFSS2 to be docked with.


FD4 ends as the MPLM is docked and begin to be unloaded. Two MS's begin a campout in the Dragon for EVA1.


FD5 brings out the installation and checking of the UHF stem. Two EVA members go out to the nadir side of Neesys and install it, ending the EVA.

An Ariane 5 launch.

FD4
MPLM Installation

FD2

OBSS Inspection, Rendezvous Burns, Docking preps.


FD3

Rendezvous, RPM, Docking, OBSS Handoff to SRMS.

Oh no, it was STS-125's landing track for a KSC landing.

Endeavour fired its OMS engines one last time on FD10, this time to lower its orbit so it would encounter the Earth's atmosphere at 17,500 MPH.



Endeavour was soon there after immersed
in plasma as hot as the surface of the sun, and Endeavour's main duty was now to protect the crew from it. Space Shuttle Columbia in 2003 was destroyed on re-entry during this time due to a foam impact on Columbia's left wing during takeoff. Endeavour made several S-turns to burn off speed.




Endeavour flew over Mexico, Texas, Louisiana, Alabama, Mississippi, over the Gulf, then made its final landfall on the west coast of Florida.



Endeavour made a 180 turn over KSC, called the heading alignment circle to lineup with runway 15. Endeavour touched down at 1:47 PM EDT on September 29th 2009.



And that concludes OFSS mission 8! Hoping you enjoyed it, and it was a great pleasure this mission was extremely fun!

FD6, Off Duty day.

FD7, Half Day, undocking Preparations.

FD8, at 7:27 PM EDT, Space Shuttle Endeavour undocked from the OFFS and preformed a fly-around of the complex.


Endeavour later on that day preformed Late OBSS inspections.

FD9 was again another off duty day and a PR event.
Deorbit and landing Preps were also undertaken.