Updates STS-134 Updates

[orb]

NASASpaceflight: Endeavour into safing operations – Left gear brake fire investigated:

{...}

“The STS-134 mission was successfully completed with a landing at Kennedy Space Center (KSC), Florida. Both Payload Bay Doors (PLBDs) were closed nominally by 153/02:48:23 GMT [15/13:54:16 Mission Elapsed Time (MET)] in preparation for landing,” noted the documentation.

“The deorbit maneuver for the first landing opportunity at KSC, a dual-engine firing, was performed on orbit 248 at 152/05:29:03 GMT (15/16:32:35 MET). The burn was 158.3 sec in duration with a Differential Velocity of 298.4 ft/sec. The resulting orbit was 23.2 by 188.5 nmi. Entry interface occurred at 152/06:03:06 GMT (15/17:06:38 MET).

“The main landing gear touchdown occurred KSC runway 15 at 152/06:34:50 GMT (15/17:38:12 MET). The drag chute was deployed at 152/06:34:53 GMT. The nose gear touchdown occurred at 152/06:35:00 GMT. Drag chute jettison occurred at 153/06:35:19 GMT. Wheels stop occurred at 152/06:35:33 GMT. The rollout was normal in all respects.”

While the return was – as noted – normal, a later report noted Endeavour’s rollout down the SLF was the second shortest in the history of the Space Shuttle Program (SSP), notable not least because no Detailed Test Objective (DTO) into a “hard braking” test was requested for this landing.

A related investigation is also being carried out on observations of a small fire – lasting around 40 seconds on one of Endeavour’s Left Main Landing Gear – was observed at the end of the braking period as the orbiter came to a stop.

According to Kennedy Space Center (KSC) sources, the teams which greeted the orbiter noticed no indications of the brief fire during the runway inspections, nor did they find any truly discernible indications of a fire after they gave Endeavour a thorough inspection on Wednesday.

It was only during reviews of the landing videos when it was raised to managers, leading to the investigation. Part of the review will be into the braking force applied during rollout, which is believed to have been somewhat “above normal”, given the second shortest roll out in the program.

The incident also impacts on Endeavour’s Transition and Retirement (T&R) processing, given the brakes on the orbiter were set to remain on the vehicle. It is now likely they will be removed to allow for a thorough investigation.

Currently, the two most likely causes are suspected to be excess grease on the wheel/axle or a leaking hydraulic puck, in tandem with the heavier than normal braking. Engineers are expected to recharge the hydraulic pressure and inspect for a puck leakage or any other hydraulic system leakage.

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[garyw]

A bit more information on the Soyuz flyabout photos:

"some new info, noting the original plan was for Paolo to keep the digital cards while egressing the Soyuz.

That is what he tried to do, but the Russians ordered him to leave the cards in the Soyuz.

These he cards are currently going through "export control" in Russia. "

Thoughts and rumours are around Russia demanding a payment but this is unconfirmed. Other rumours are around Russia simply not having enough people to deal with the photos as they are concentrating on Soyuz TMA-02M

The latest date from NASA is still June 8th.

 

[dougkeenan]

link?

 

[garyw]

Some info here.

 

[Orbinaut Pete]

The Soyuz photography is released, and it is AMAZING!!!!! :speakcool: :hotcool: :woohoo: :10sign: :11sign:

More images and hi-res versions of the above are here.

 

[IronRain]

Amazing!

 

[diogom]

Awesome, really amazing! Though, I must say, all this waiting for 4 pics?!! There are more, right?

 

[Krikkit]

There are more, right?

Yes, probably near a hundred, mostly the same thought.

NASA is really REALLY bad about hosting their images. They are getting better though, now that they have several flickr pages.

I will try and dig up some more

 

[Yoda]

That's it ??????
No sideviews from the end of the Maneuver ?????
That sucks !
Not even worth waiting for.:beathead:

 

[Orbinaut Pete]

MEDIA ADVISORY : M11-114

Unique 'Portrait' Of Shuttle And International Space Station Released

WASHINGTON -- Newly-released portraits show the International Space Station together with the space shuttle, the vehicle that helped build the complex during the last decade. The pictures are the first taken of a shuttle docked to the station from the perspective of a Russian Soyuz spacecraft.

On May 23, the Soyuz was carrying Russian cosmonaut Dmitry Kondratyev, NASA astronaut Cady Coleman and European Space Agency astronaut Paolo Nespoli back to Earth. Once their vehicle was about 600 feet from the station, Mission Control Moscow, outside the Russian capital, commanded the orbiting laboratory to rotate 130 degrees. This move allowed Nespoli to capture digital photographs and high definition video of shuttle Endeavour docked to the station.

The Soyuz landed in Kazakhstan and was taken to Moscow for routine post-landing analysis. NASA and the Russian space agency, Roscosmos, then processed the imagery as part of the standard disposition of spacecraft cargo.

Additional images and high definition video are being processed and will be posted on NASA's website. To view the still images, visit:
http://go.nasa.gov/stationportrait

For NASA TV streaming video, schedule and downlink information, visit:
http://www.nasa.gov/ntv

For information about the International Space Station, visit:
http://www.nasa.gov/station


http://www.nasa.gov/home/hqnews/2011/jun/HQ_M11-114_Nespoli_Pics.html

 

[Orbinaut Pete]

Ready for more? I know, stupid question. :thumbup:

Hi-res versions, as well as more stunning photos, are here (see pages 60 & 61).

 

[Yoda]

Now THAT'S what I'm talking about !!!

 

[Suzy]

Atlantis docked to Mir, for a comparison photo

 

[Orbinaut Pete]

HD video of the Shuttle & ISS. :thumbup:

 

[Ark]

Found my new desktop background! :lol:

These are really awesome shots, with that many spacecraft from different nations it seems more like something I'd see in Orbiter than in real life.

 

[IronRain]

5 minutes after Orbinaut Pete gave the link to those amazing pictures I went to an online canvas shop and uploaded one of the pics. Today, I finally received the canvas..

(photo is brighter then real)

This must be the best €35,- I've ever spend in my life!

 

[Yoda]

Hartstikke gaaf gedaan !
Ik heb hetzelfde gedaan en heb een gigantische poster laten afdrukken voor mijn observatory.
Een waardig afscheid voor de shuttle !

 

[Orbinaut Pete]

5 minutes after Orbinaut Pete gave the link to those amazing pictures I went to an online canvas shop and uploaded one of the pics. Today, I finally received the canvas..

(photo is brighter then real)

This must be the best €35,- I've ever spend in my life!

That's very cool!

I didn't even know online canvas shops existed. This gives me an idea.... :hmm:

:lol:

 

[garyw]

I've used www.photobox.co.uk before now. They have printed out some lovely ISS/Shuttle shot for me in the past.

 

[N_Molson]

This is really a huge assembly. Say what you want about the manned space programs, but having such a big station in orbit is really a superb technological (and political) achievement. :thumbup: