Updates STS-133 Updates

[diogom]

First images of the Shuttle docked.

---------- Post added at 07:32 PM ---------- Previous post was at 07:17 PM ----------

And they're getting ready to open the hatch. 30min to go, something about gravity gradient.

 

[Orbinaut Pete]

C'mon, a little bit of left trans Steve!

I just had an image of Steve sitting on the flight-deck, repeatedly pressing Numpad 4! :lol:

 

[diogom]

Talks inside the Shuttle.

''Ok, since the relative motion is taking too long to stop, can anyone press T up to 100x?''

 

[Donamy]

I keep trying to rotate the view, but it's not working.:lol:

Another note: Looks like there is alot of torque between those node connections.

 

[astrosammy]

I'm never able to dock so slooooow in Orbiter. :lol:

 

[diogom]

Good news, the hard mate is being formed. A lot of torque due to the ISS's larger mass.

---------- Post added at 08:00 PM ---------- Previous post was at 07:57 PM ----------

All individual hooks have closed. Secure connection established.

 

[Urgentemente]

Looks like Discovery is still trying to eek out every last minute she can , hardmate just achieved.

 

[diogom]

Official hard-mate time 20:04 UTC, 15:04 Central Time.

 

[Tycho]

Currently the time schedule after docking for the rest of flight day 3 is as follows:

*Hatch opening at 4:18 PM EST
*NASA TV Status Briefing at 4:30
*ELC 4 Unberthing at 4:53
*ELC attached to station at 7:48 PM
*Crew goes to sleep at 10:53 PM, with flight day 3 highlights running on NASA TV every hour at the top of the hour during the sleep period, starting at 11 PM

 

[diogom]

ISS is flying over me! I tryed to see it at 18:34PM, it would be a nice view, but the clouds didn't want me to see it.

 

[Orbinaut Pete]

Check out this awesome time-lapse video of Discovery's rendezvous & docking. You can really see how much Discovery sways around (and therefore torques the ODS) toward the end of the video.

 

[Tycho]

It's neat to see that it fast motion, especially the torque after docking, because it's kind of hard to notice in real-time.

 

[diogom]

The Harmony hatch is open!

---------- Post added at 08:55 PM ---------- Previous post was at 08:44 PM ----------

Scott Kelly is in the PMA, starting to open it.

---------- Post added at 09:06 PM ---------- Previous post was at 08:55 PM ----------

ISS has assumed attitude control, they are having some trouble opening PMA-2 hatch.

---------- Post added at 09:07 PM ---------- Previous post was at 09:06 PM ----------

Sasha Kaleri just opened the hatch, took a little bit more strenght. Pressure equalization is go.

---------- Post added at 09:12 PM ---------- Previous post was at 09:07 PM ----------

Hatches are open, official time 15:16 Central Time, 21:16 UTC.

---------- Post added at 09:23 PM ---------- Previous post was at 09:12 PM ----------

Shuttle astronauts about to enter the station.

---------- Post added at 09:33 PM ---------- Previous post was at 09:23 PM ----------

They are in the station. In the pic, Steve Lindsey.

 

[Tycho]

STS-133 crew members are now all aboard the International Space Station.

 

[diogom]

Security briefing next.

 

[Tycho]

Crew now heading over to Kibo, the JEM, to begin the safety tour.

---------- Post added at 04:44 PM ---------- Previous post was at 04:40 PM ----------

Briefing will now be at 4:50 PM EST.

 

[Orbinaut Pete]

ELC-4 has just been installed onto ISS PAS-4 (on S3 lower inboard). Great work by Discovery's crew! :thumbup:

 

[orb]

A few videos and articles from FD3

NASAtelevision:

• Somehow I missed it and forgot to post it yesterday - STS-133 Flight Day 2 Highlights: Discovery Crew Inspects Orbiter:
  

  STS-133 Flight Day 2 Highlights

• FD3 - docking to the ISS:
  

  STS-133 FD3 - Discovery Docks to The ISS

• FD3 - hatch opening and boarding the ISS:
  

  STS 133 FD3 - Hatch Opening & Welcome

• FD3 - Mission Status Briefing:
  

  STS-133 FD3 - Mission Status Briefing

collectSPACE:

• STS-133 • Discovery • Flight Day 3
• Discovery performs final orbital back flip:
  

  STS-133: Discovery performs final orbital back flip

Spaceflight Now:

• Discovery pulls into port for her final space station visit
• Revision C of NASA TV schedule for STS-133 mission (PDF)

Florida Today - The Flame Trench:

• Discovery astronauts arrive at station
• Station's dozen get to work

NASASpaceflight: Discovery Completes Visually Spectacular Docking to Space Station.

CBS News Space: Shuttle Discovery docks with the International Space Station (UPDATED).

SPACE.com: Shuttle Discovery Arrives at Space Station for Final Visit.

CNN: Shuttle Discovery docks with space station for 13th and final time.

RIA Novosti: Shuttle Discovery docks with ISS for final time.

 

[N_Molson]

Those "day highlights" videos are excellent ! :thumbup:

 

[orb]

ELC-4 has just been installed onto ISS PAS-4 (on S3 lower inboard). Great work by Discovery's crew! :thumbup:

STS-133 Flight day 3 Space Shuttle Discovery ELC4 Install timelapse:

ELC4 Install timelapse (by Ronsmytheiii)

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