USC: GTS-6

[ky]

On November 5th, at 6:30 P.M, GTS-6 ended with the safe landing of Monitor. It was the sixth orbital mission of the GTS program. It orbited the earth 230 times, and traveled a distance of approximately 5,750,000 miles.

Ascent:

DG Monitor took off to the ISS on October 22nd, at 9:25:30 AM. After taking off, Monitor performed a 30 degree back to the east to intercept the ISS.

It then pitched up 40 degrees to gain altitude. MECO occurred at 9:39 AM. During launch, Monitor used about 9,187 kg of fuel to reach orbit.

No immediate damage is observed. Radiators were deployed at 9:52 AM. Docking to the ISS for GTS-6 is a go.

-Ky

Docking:

The first docking to the ISS by a DG was performed today. The first burn was at 12:02 PM, putting the DG and ISS in the same orbit.

Preparations for docking began at 12:30, and the docking systems were tested at 12:35. Docking was at 2:25 PM.

After docking, the hatch systems were tested, and the GTS-6 crew was greeted by the Expedition 56 crew.

-Ky

Deorbit/Landing

DG Monitor retracted radiators and antenna at 6:10 PM. System checks began at 6:06 PM, and ended at 6:08 PM. The deorbit burn was performed at 6:10 PM.


Reentry began at 7:00 PM, and lasted for 8 minutes. Monitor entered the HAC at 7:22 PM. Monitor touched down at KSC Runway 33 at 7:30:02 PM, and wheels stopped at 7:31.


Monitor was powered down at 7:42 PM, the crew departed a few minutes later at 7:55 PM, and Monitor was towed back to the hangar at 8:00 PM.


Monitor traveled 5,750,000 miles, completed 230 orbits, and spent 14 days, 10 hours and 7 minutes in orbit.


-Ky

GTS-7 is the next mission, and will lift off on December 3rd. Launch time is TBA. SCOPESAT will be our main payload on this mission.

This mission was flown by me. It was done in real time, and lasted 14 days, 10 hours and 7 minutes.

GTS-6 Mission pics can be found here: http://unionspacecommand.webs.com/apps/photos/album?albumid=12474156

Also, be sure to check in on our ongoing expedition at the ISS, Expedition 56, which you can follow at this blog: http://www.orbiter-forum.com/blog.php?b=808

 

[mojoey]

congrats to the crew of the monitor! and continued good wishes and happy holidays to the expedition 56 crew!

 

[Scruce]

Any Expedition 56 updates?

 

[diogom]

Any Expedition 56 updates?

Experiments, maintenance, ready-ing it for de-orbit. Landing date still the same.