STS-130 Updates

[Orbinaut Pete]

All the shutter launch locks are now removed, shutter opening will occur in roughly 15 minutes from now! :woohoo:

---------- Post added at 05:21 AM ---------- Previous post was at 05:17 AM ----------

Just showing off a little here. :embarrassed:

Yep, that's showing off!

But hey, we LOVE it! :lol:

---------- Post added at 05:28 AM ---------- Previous post was at 05:21 AM ----------

AND WINDOW 7's SHUTTER IS OPEN!!!! :thumbup: :thumbup: :thumbup: :woohoo: :woohoo: :woohoo:

[ame="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T7HPY4d-WFI"]YouTube- STS 130 Cupola First Light[/ame]

 

[Donamy]

I keep pressing F3 for a different view.

 

[tblaxland]

The EVA astronauts are going at those covers, like to kids on Christmas morning.

...Away to the window I flew like a flash,
tore open the shutter...

Ok as long as the don't do the next line:
...and threw up the sash.

 

[Orbinaut Pete]

Window 7 shutter closed successfully.

Window 5 shutter opened & closed successfully.

Window 4 shutter opened & closed successfully.

Window 6 shutter opened & closed successfully.

Window 1 shutter opened & closed successfully.

-----
EDIT:

Window 3 shutter opened & closed successfully.

Window 2 shutter opened & closed successfully.

ALL THE SHUTTERS WORK!!! :thumbup:

All that remains now is to open all the shutters TOGETHER! :woohoo:

 

[Donamy]

Well, I'd have to say it was alittle anti-climatic.

 

[Orbinaut Pete]

Well, I'd have to say it was alittle anti-climatic.

Just wait until they open all the shutters together - we should get some interior shots then too! :thumbup:

 

[Turbinator]

Any new media? Or images?

 

[Chupacabra]

If you are watching NASA TV they currently are showing them all open.

 

[Orbinaut Pete]

ALL Cupola's window shutters were opened TOGETHER last light! :thumbup:

Here's a video:

 

[Orbinaut Pete]

Okay, so who wants a hi-res image of the views out of Cupola?

Did I hear you say "YES!!!"?

Okay then, here it is! :woohoo:

From Soichi Noguchi via Twitter.

 

[Turbinator]

Wohoo, that's stunning, beyond words.

It's as awesome as watching a modern moon landing with today's HD and digital cameras. At least, it's as close as we are going to ever get, in a long, long while.

-

How long before they scratch up the windows? Any guesses?

 

[Arthur Dent]

Nice VC! I recommend using brighter textures to make out more details

 

[Orbinaut Pete]

Some lovely photos of the exterior of Cupola with all MLI removed!

www.spaceflight.nasa.gov/gallery/images/station/crew-22/ndxpage69.html

 

[SiberianTiger]

:rofl:

 

[Rocketman527]

I guess the ISS has its own room dedicated to makin' out now...

 

[Orbinaut Pete]

Here it is folks, the photo we've all been waiting 11 years for - a hi-res shot of the view out of Cupola! :woohoo:

Before you open the link below, pause and reflect on the significance of this moment! Never again will you wonder what the view out of Cupola looks like!

www.spaceflight.nasa.gov/gallery/images/station/crew-22/hires/iss022e066972.jpg

 

[Artlav]

what the view out of Cupola looks like

Is that me, or it looks like a tie fighter?

 

[Orbinaut Pete]

Is that me, or it looks like a tie fighter?

I think everyone is thinking that!

Even NASA made a reference to it on page 1 of the FD9 Execute Package!
Take a look -> www.nasa.gov/pdf/426622main_fd09_ep.pdf

 

[Turbinator]

Look at the view behind those 2:
http://www.spaceflight.nasa.gov/gallery/images/station/crew-22/hires/iss022e066976.jpg

It's as close to floating in open space, as you can get. Without any bulky spacesuit. It shows you the views they have been missing for so long, by not having any decent windows in those pressure cans. Now I feel a little less sad that the Shuttle is retiring. Those shoots look x10 times cooler than Shuttle cockpit shots.

That view is just wow, no words can describe that. I tried, all I keep coming up with is wow. Just look at that "the future is here". There is no excuse for any space station from now on, not to have at least 2 awesome observation decks. Can they now take pictures of the stars? by mounting a camera for long exposure?

To think what all of those space tourists missed out on...
If I was the commander, I'd move my sleeping bag to the Cupola permanently.




.

 

[Orbinaut Pete]

More great Cupola interior photos!!! :thumbup:

www.spaceflight.nasa.gov/gallery/images/station/crew-22/ndxpage71.html