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Buckeye
June 18 2011
Space shuttle Endeavour is at pad 39A and ready for launch to the SSF. This mission is to deliver the final station component in Phase 1 of the station. This module is the Station External Tank (SET). It will be used to store fuel for Orbital Maneuvering Vehicle (OMVs) in support of HEOP operations. This mission will be rather short in duration, with the shuttle staying at the station until the SET in installed on node 2. Planed mission duration is seven days.
UPDATE:
Today’s launch has been scrubbed do to weather constraints. Due to the payload for this mission, a loaded fuel tank, tighter launch constraints have been put in place for this and future flights carrying a SET. The weather forecast for tomorrow is not favorable. The countdown has been put in a 48 hour turnaround and another attempt will be performed on the 20th.
June 20:
Endeavour and her crew are ready to try again. Weather looks good and launch will proceed today.
UPDATE:
Endeavour is away in another uneventfull launch. Her crew has performed the OMS-2 burn and is pluging away at the PI-checklist.
June 21 FD2:
The Crew of Endeavour has performed all FD2 duties. This includes the OBSS survey and a DTO of a new comunications system that will be used on Helios. Other DTOs on this flight include a sample of the material that will make up the Orion Capsule's heat shield and an experimental fuel cell thats small enough to fit in the space of two shuttle lockers. Following tests on two shuttle flights and several weeks on the station, this fuel cell may be used on Helios as a backup to Solar panels. Docking with the SSF will be tomorrow.
June 22 FD3:
Today will be busy for Endeavour as she meets up with Freedom. Docking will be around 5:00 EST. Both crews are ready. During the docking, station crew will be montering the Shuttle using a new camera. This camera amplifies avalible light and will alow the crew to easly watch Endeavour's final approch, which will begin around orbital midnight.
UPDATE:
Endeavour is within 50 feet and closing. (Attached now is a still image taken from the new camera on Freedom)
UPDATE:
Endeavour is now docked to PMA2, or the nadir port, of Freedom. Capture happend at 5:15 EST over the Indian Ocean. The crews are begining leak checks and hatch opening will follow.
Here is a timeline for the remander of the mission:
SET-01 has been installed into node 2 with no issues. The crews are now getting ready for the EVA tomorrow and continuing transfer opperations from the shuttle to station.
June 24 FD5:
The EVA has been completed and most of the timeline was competed. The spacewalkers ran out of time and wasn't able to complete the set up of the OMV work site but this was planed for. The station crew will finish the work after the Dragon capsule has departed the station in a couple of weeks. The crews will be getting ready for undocking, which is scheduled for around 1:00 pm EST tomorrow.
June 25 FD6:
Space Shuttle Endeavour is alone in orbit once again after undocking from the SSF at 1:28 pm EST. She performed the traditional flyaround then left the vacinity. She is scheduled to land on the 27th. The launch of the first Manned Dragon flight has been postponed untill the 28th. Eastern Test Range Launch Rules requiers at least seven days between launches so SX-DM 001 cannot launch before the shuttle lands and shuttle rules state that a launch cannot coenside will any shuttle operations. The shuttle takes the number one spot in any KSC operations due to the cost of opperation, otherwise the shuttle could land at EAFB or even VAFB to let the DM launch but Space X will use the extra day for final checks of both vehicle and crew.
June 27 FD8:
The PLB doors are closed and the crew is ready for deorbit. Landing is targeted for 11:20 am EST.
UPDATE:
Endeavour has landed at KSC completing her mission and completing phase one of Space Station Freedom.
Next flight from KSC is SX-DM 001, the first crewed Dragon capsule to visit the station. Along for the ride are two top NASA managers and the administrator. The goal is to view the station first hand and to show that a VIP flight can be safely completed opening the door for more commercal flights to the SSF.
Space shuttle Endeavour is at pad 39A and ready for launch to the SSF. This mission is to deliver the final station component in Phase 1 of the station. This module is the Station External Tank (SET). It will be used to store fuel for Orbital Maneuvering Vehicle (OMVs) in support of HEOP operations. This mission will be rather short in duration, with the shuttle staying at the station until the SET in installed on node 2. Planed mission duration is seven days.
UPDATE:
Today’s launch has been scrubbed do to weather constraints. Due to the payload for this mission, a loaded fuel tank, tighter launch constraints have been put in place for this and future flights carrying a SET. The weather forecast for tomorrow is not favorable. The countdown has been put in a 48 hour turnaround and another attempt will be performed on the 20th.
June 20:
Endeavour and her crew are ready to try again. Weather looks good and launch will proceed today.
UPDATE:
Endeavour is away in another uneventfull launch. Her crew has performed the OMS-2 burn and is pluging away at the PI-checklist.
June 21 FD2:
The Crew of Endeavour has performed all FD2 duties. This includes the OBSS survey and a DTO of a new comunications system that will be used on Helios. Other DTOs on this flight include a sample of the material that will make up the Orion Capsule's heat shield and an experimental fuel cell thats small enough to fit in the space of two shuttle lockers. Following tests on two shuttle flights and several weeks on the station, this fuel cell may be used on Helios as a backup to Solar panels. Docking with the SSF will be tomorrow.
June 22 FD3:
Today will be busy for Endeavour as she meets up with Freedom. Docking will be around 5:00 EST. Both crews are ready. During the docking, station crew will be montering the Shuttle using a new camera. This camera amplifies avalible light and will alow the crew to easly watch Endeavour's final approch, which will begin around orbital midnight.
UPDATE:
Endeavour is within 50 feet and closing. (Attached now is a still image taken from the new camera on Freedom)
UPDATE:
Endeavour is now docked to PMA2, or the nadir port, of Freedom. Capture happend at 5:15 EST over the Indian Ocean. The crews are begining leak checks and hatch opening will follow.
Here is a timeline for the remander of the mission:
- FD3: Hatch opening and transfer operations.
- FD4: SET-01 unberth and installation to Node 2.
- FD5: EVA 1 to connect SET-01 to Station Power and Data Network. Installation of SET refuel lines from SET to HAB, PMA 2. Supervise LM 1 relocation. Preliminary set up of OMV work site on Zenith CBM of Node 2.
- FD6: Undocking.
- FD7: Off duty, and perperations for deorbit. (Launch day for SX-DM 001)
- FD8: Deorbit and landing at KSC. (EDW weather backup)
SET-01 has been installed into node 2 with no issues. The crews are now getting ready for the EVA tomorrow and continuing transfer opperations from the shuttle to station.
June 24 FD5:
The EVA has been completed and most of the timeline was competed. The spacewalkers ran out of time and wasn't able to complete the set up of the OMV work site but this was planed for. The station crew will finish the work after the Dragon capsule has departed the station in a couple of weeks. The crews will be getting ready for undocking, which is scheduled for around 1:00 pm EST tomorrow.
June 25 FD6:
Space Shuttle Endeavour is alone in orbit once again after undocking from the SSF at 1:28 pm EST. She performed the traditional flyaround then left the vacinity. She is scheduled to land on the 27th. The launch of the first Manned Dragon flight has been postponed untill the 28th. Eastern Test Range Launch Rules requiers at least seven days between launches so SX-DM 001 cannot launch before the shuttle lands and shuttle rules state that a launch cannot coenside will any shuttle operations. The shuttle takes the number one spot in any KSC operations due to the cost of opperation, otherwise the shuttle could land at EAFB or even VAFB to let the DM launch but Space X will use the extra day for final checks of both vehicle and crew.
June 27 FD8:
The PLB doors are closed and the crew is ready for deorbit. Landing is targeted for 11:20 am EST.
UPDATE:
Endeavour has landed at KSC completing her mission and completing phase one of Space Station Freedom.
Next flight from KSC is SX-DM 001, the first crewed Dragon capsule to visit the station. Along for the ride are two top NASA managers and the administrator. The goal is to view the station first hand and to show that a VIP flight can be safely completed opening the door for more commercal flights to the SSF.
