STS-130 Updates

[Orbinaut Pete]

Will they open the shutters this flight ?

Yep, they sure will!

I don't know the exact date & time, but they will be opened at some point during STS-130.
Obviously it will have to be after EVA-3, when the launch locks & MLI covers have been removed.
The task is officially called the Cupola window shutter functional test.


I asked TJ Creamer on the ISS about it, and he replied to me: :thumbup:

Me:
“TJ, will Cupola's window shutters be opened during STS-130? And if they are, will you take any pictures for us? Thank You!”

TJ:
“Yes, we will be opening the shutters during the mission, & YES we will be taking pix!”

 

[Donamy]

Sweet !!! Thanks

 

[Orbinaut Pete]

Some photos of the Cupola relocation are now up on page 63 of the Expedition 22 Image Gallery!

www.spaceflight.nasa.gov/gallery/images/station/crew-22/ndxpage63.html

 

[Artlav]

Just look at him smiling:
http://www.spaceflight.nasa.gov/gallery/images/station/crew-22/lores/s130e007858.jpg
I wonder if it's a dream come true.

 

[SiberianTiger]

Just look at him smiling:
http://www.spaceflight.nasa.gov/gallery/images/station/crew-22/lores/s130e007858.jpg
I wonder if it's a dream come true.

I can imagine that at the moment the shot was taken, he wasn't looking at something especially exciting. Most probably, it was his fellow in the airlock.

 

[Orbinaut Pete]

PMA-3 relocation from Node 2 Zenith to Node 3 Port is now getting underway.

---------- Post added 16th Feb 2010 at 02:31 AM ---------- Previous post was 15th Feb 2010 at 11:54 PM ----------

PMA-3 is now berthed to it's final home on Node 3 Port! :thumbup:

This means that PMA-3 is the only ISS element that has been berthed to all 3 ISS Nodes!

---------- Post added at 03:07 AM ---------- Previous post was at 02:31 AM ----------

Cupola has been ingressed! :thumbup: :woohoo:

That really is one seriously nice bit of kit the station now has!

---------- Post added at 04:41 AM ---------- Previous post was at 03:07 AM ----------

I have learned that Cupola's window shutters will be opened during EVA-3 today (Tue. 16 Feb./FD10)! :woohoo: :woohoo:

 

[Donamy]

What time ?

 

[Orbinaut Pete]

What time ?

PLT Terry Virts will open Cupola's window shutters one at a time during EVA-3.

Crews will be recording the event from the inside and the outside of the ISS - so we should get a view outside Cupola from inside via a handheld camera, and a view inside Cupola from outside via an EVA crewmember's helmet camera! :thumbup:

TJ Creamer also promised me he would send down some HD video from inside Cupola as soon as the shutters were opened! :woohoo:


As for time, the most recent NASA TV schedule shows that Cupola’s shutter launch locks will start being removed at 11:49 PM EST Feb. 16/4:49 AM GMT Feb. 17.

So if we assume it will take at least 30 mins. (it will probably be longer) to complete that task, then launch locks should be removed by 12:20 AM EST Feb. 17/5:20 AM GMT Feb. 17.

EVA-3 ends at 3:39 AM EST Feb. 17 /8:39 AM GMT Feb. 17.

So, shutter opening should occur anytime between:
EST: 12:20 AM – 3:40 AM Feb. 17.
GMT: 5:20 AM – 8:40 AM Feb. 17.


That’s as much as I know at this time, I’ll update you as & when I know more.

---------- Post added at 06:47 PM ---------- Previous post was at 02:04 PM ----------

Some GREAT high-res photos of the PMA-3 relocation:

PMA-3 being un-berthed from Node 2 Zenith.

Hi-res: www.spaceflight.nasa.gov/gallery/images/station/crew-22/hires/s130e008517.jpg

PMA-3 being berthed to Node 3 Port 1.

Hi-res: www.spaceflight.nasa.gov/gallery/images/station/crew-22/hires/iss022e066399.jpg


PMA-3 being berthed to Node 3 Port 2.

Hi-res: www.spaceflight.nasa.gov/gallery/images/station/crew-22/hires/iss022e066406.jpg

 

[Turbinator]

My God, I can't wait.

 

[Orbinaut Pete]

For anyone interested, here's a higher-res view of Cupola's interior (taken from the FD9 HD video highlights).

 

[Orbinaut Pete]

From Jeff Williams aboard the ISS:

"We'll be getting the Cupola windows open today and have an even better view...the new window on the world! Stay tuned!"

 

[Turbinator]

Wow that's HUGE, a lot bigger than it looked on the ground photos. Way bigger, it's like a Tie Fighter cockpit in there.

 

[Star Voyager]

I don't believe this has been posted yet:

http://www.nasa.gov/images/content/426655main_s130e008168_hires_full.jpg

 

[Orbinaut Pete]

EVA-3 is now underway.

Cupola's window shutters will be opened around 12:30 AM EST/5:30 AM GMT.

 

[Donamy]

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

 

[Orbinaut Pete]

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

That's exactly what I thought, Don!

Won't they just hurry up & rip 'em off! :lol:

 

[Donamy]

What camera view is this ?

 

[Donamy]

Never mind, its the outboard camera on the P1., had to check it in Orbiter.

 

[Orbinaut Pete]

All the MLI is off, now starting to remove shutter launch locks! :thumbup:

 

[Donamy]

Just showing off a little here. :embarrassed: