Members of the STS-129 shuttle mission
present a specially minted silver medallion to National Football League
officials on Wednesday, Jan. 27, 2010, at the Pro Football Hall of Fame in
Canton, Ohio. The coin, which was flown in space during the November
flight of Atlantis, will be used for the official coin toss prior to the
kickoff of Super Bowl XLIV on Sunday, Feb. 7, 2010.
One member of Atlantis' crew, Leland Melvin, was drafted
by the NFL's Detroit Lions in 1986. The crew also flew other NFL-related
memorabilia, including jerseys and a football inscribed with the name of
every member of the Hall of Fame.
From left: Astronauts Bobby Satcher, Randy Bresnik, and
Charlie Hobaugh; Joe Horrigan, Vice President of Communications/Exhibits
for the Pro Football Hall of Fame, Steve Perry, President/Executive
Director of the Pro Football Hall of Fame; astronauts Berry Wilmore,
Michael Foreman and Leland Melvin.
STS-129 Crew Meets
With Members of Congress
Image Credit:
NASA/Paul E. Alers
NASA Administrator
Charles Bolden, the STS-129 space shuttle crew and members of the
Congressional Black Caucus pose for a group photo at the Capitol Building,
Wednesday, Jan. 13, 2010, in Washington. Back row from left to right: U.S.
Rep Donna Edwards (D-MD), U.S. Rep Diane Watson (D-CA), NASA Administrator
Charles Bolden, astronauts Leland Melvin, Mike Forman, Robert Satcher,
Barry Wilmore, Randy Breznik, and U.S. Rep Mel Watt (D-NC). Front row from
left to right: U.S. Rep Robert Scott (D-VA), U.S. Rep. Corrine Brown
(D-Fla), U.S. Rep. Barbara Lee (D-CA), U.S. Rep. Donna Christensen (D-VI)
and U.S. Rep. Donald Payne (D-NJ). The crew of STS-129 presented the CBC
with a montage commemorating the shuttle mission.
Space Shuttle Crew Returns Home after 11-Day Mission
CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. -- Space shuttle Atlantis and its crew of seven astronauts ended an 11-day journey of nearly 4.5 million miles with a 9:44 a.m. EST landing Friday at NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida.
STS-129 Post-landing Crew Conference
Commander Charles O. Hobaugh took the lead describing how well Atlantis performed from launch to landing, and the incredible amount of work that went into preparing both the shuttle and the crew for this ambitious mission.
Hobaugh proudly introduced his crew and the tasks each member was responsible for. He mentioned Mission Specialist Randy Bresnik was not present at the briefing because he flew home to be with his wife and new baby girl, born while he was still on orbit.
Nicole Stott is doing really well, said Hobaugh, after her 91 days in space, 80 of them as flight engineer. She's enjoying Thanksgiving dinner with her family.
Mission Specialist Robert L. Satcher Jr. remarked that the training the crew members received helped them deal with the false alarms that went off a few times during their stay on the orbiting outpost.
After being asked if there were any memories that stood out, Pilot Barry E. Wilmore jokingly said, "I feel great (but) I had noticed that many of the buildings here are on a little bit of a teeter-totter that I didn't know before." Wilmore was referring to coming back to Earth's gravity after being weightless in space.
The crew members fly back to NASA's Johnson Space Center in Houston on Saturday. They’ll have the traditional Houston homecoming celebration on Monday.
Space Shuttle Mission: STS-129
Updates 11/25/2009
Wednesday, November 25, 2009 wake up music was “Amazing Grace” from the 1995 movie “Braveheart,” performed by Eric Rigler on bagpipes. It was played at 1:28 a.m. EST for space shuttle Atlantis pilot Barry E. Wilmore.
Amazing Grace
performed by
The United States Air Force Band
aim high
Thin Blue Line
The thin line of Earth's atmosphere and the setting sun are featured in this image photographed by the crew of the International Space Station while space shuttle Atlantis on the STS-129 mission was docked with the station.
Image Credit: NASA
Atlantis Crew Working Towards Undocking
Today’s wake up music was “Amazing Grace” from the 1995 movie “Braveheart,” performed by Eric Rigler on bagpipes. It was played at 1:28 a.m. EST for space shuttle Atlantis pilot Barry E. Wilmore.
Atlantis’ crew will briskly work through the timeline to prepare for its 4:53 a.m. undocking from the International Space Station. Wilmore will fly Atlantis around the station to help acquire imagery of the complex for ground experts to analyze. Later in the day the crew will conduct a survey of Atlantis’ heat shield to ensure its integrity for Friday’s deorbit, entry and landing. Two news conferences are scheduled to discuss the mission and review the landing strategy, based on current weather predictions at the prime Kennedy Space Center Shuttle Landing Facility.
Atlantis Ends Stay at Station
Space shuttle Atlantis and its seven-member crew has left the International Space Station. Undocking occurred at 4:53 a.m. EST. Atlantis' newest crew member, Mission Specialist Nicole Stott, and her six crew mates will return home to Kennedy Space Center with a landing on Friday at 9:44 a.m.
Atlantis Undocks from International Space Station
While flying 216 miles above the Pacific Ocean northeast of New Guinea, space shuttle Atlantis undocked from the International Space Station at 4:53 a.m. EST, six days, 17 hours and two minutes after docking on Nov. 18. Shuttle pilot Barry E. Wilmore will grab the stick and perform a fly around of the station, enabling his crewmates to conduct a photo survey of the 759,222 pound complex. The station now is 86 percent complete.
Atlantis’ newest crew member Nicole Stott spent 87 days aboard the space station and 80 days as an Expedition 20/21 Flight Engineer following her shuttle Discovery launch on Aug. 28. If Atlantis lands as planned Friday, she will have spent 91 days in space.
The deorbit burn is planned for 8:37 a.m. Friday, leading to a landing at 9:44 a.m. at Kennedy Space Center’s Shuttle Landing Facility, runway 33.
Atlantis Separates from International Space Station
After completing a full circle around the International Space Station, space shuttle Atlantis fired its thrusters twice, at 6:04 a.m. EST and 6:32 a.m., to depart the station’s vicinity. Atlantis is heading away from the station at about 1.5 feet per second, or about 4.5 miles per orbit.
Shuttle astronauts recorded video of the fly around and will play it back on NASA Television at about 6:50 a.m.
Orbiter Boom Sensor System Uncradled
Space shuttle Atlantis' crew uncradled the 50-foot-long Orbiter Boom Sensor System, or OBSS, from the payload bay at 8:37 a.m. EST. The OBSS is being used to conduct the standard "late inspection," a high fidelity, three-dimensional scan of Atlantis' thermal protection system. Managers and engineers in Mission Control will compare the results with data from a scan conducted earlier in the flight to validate the heat shield's integrity. The areas of the shuttle that experience the highest heating during entry - the wing leading edges and nose cap - will be inspected. The process will take several hours, concluding at about 1:30 p.m.
NASA Television will air a Mission Status Briefing at 11:30 a.m. and a post-Mission Management Team meeting briefing at 3:30 p.m.
Waste Water Dump Flow Reduction Not Expected to be Issue
During a purge of the space shuttle waste water tank Wednesday morning, Mission Control noticed a reduction in the flow from the nozzle that vents the waste water into space. This has occurred on past shuttle missions and is not expected to be an issue. Capsule Communicator Stan Love told Atlantis Commander Charles Hobaugh it is likely no further waste dumps will be necessary before Friday’s planned landing.
As a precaution, to determine if there is ice on the outside of the nozzle, a robotic arm camera may be used to view the nozzle during a planned pause in the “late inspection” survey. There are heaters at the waste water dump nozzle to prevent water from freezing and flight controllers believe ice formation is unlikely, due to the nozzle temperatures they are measuring.
The waste water system stores waste from the crew cabin humidity separator and from the crew. The tank is located below the crew compartment middeck floor, and the dump nozzle is on the left side of the shuttle.
Waste Water Dump Nozzle Not Concern for Friday Landing
Shuttle astronauts used the camera on the Orbiter Boom Sensor System to survey the condition of Atlantis’ waste water dump nozzle. Capcom Megan McArthur told Commander Charles Hobaugh that it appears there is a slight discoloration that could be frost, but no ice. It is likely that there is a blockage in the line, which will not be a concern for a planned Friday landing.
Updates 11/24/2009
The Brightness of the Sun
The bright sun greets the International Space Station in this Nov. 22 image, taken from the Russian section of the orbital outpost and photographed by the STS-129 crew. The 11-day STS-129 mission installed a number of station upgrades and prepared the station for the installation of Node 3, which is slated for another mission. Image Credit: NASA
Last Day Together for Shuttle and Station Crews
This is the last day the space shuttle Atlantis and International Space Station astronauts will share each other’s company. The hatches between the spacecraft will be closed early this afternoon, following a change in command of the station from European Space Agency astronaut Frank De Winne to American astronaut Jeff Williams. Early in the morning all 12 crew members will gather for a joint crew news conference with reporters from around the world.
False Alarm on Station, Third During Shuttle MIssion
Around 7 a.m. EST a smoke and fire alarm was generated by the Japanese Kibo laboratory, part of the International Space Station complex. A rapid investigation proved the alarm was false, the third false station alarm during the STS-129 mission. The two previous alarms originated in the new Russian Poisk mini research module.
Transfer operations underway aboard the complex might have stirred up dust particles that triggered the sensitive station alarm sensors. Operations are returning to normal.
Station Command Changes Hands
The STS-129 crew joined Expedition 21 Commander Frank De Winne and his crew when he handed over his command of Expedition 21 to NASA astronaut Jeff Williams. Williams also will command Expedition 22.
Today's Mission Status Briefing is scheduled for 11 a.m. EST. The briefing will air live on NASA Television.
Station Crew Performs Change of Command Ceremony
The STS-129 crew joined Expedition 21 Commander Frank De Winne and his crew when he ceremonially handed over his command of Expedition 21 to NASA astronaut Jeff Williams.
Crews Say Farewell; Prepare to Close Hatches
At 12:43 p.m. EST, space shuttle Atlantis’ astronauts said farewell to the International Space Station’s crew and crossed the threshold into the shuttle. Soon, hatches will be closed in preparation for Wednesday’s undocking.
The hatches between space shuttle Atlantis and the International Space Station were closed at 1:12 p.m. EST.
Shuttle Set to Undock From Station Wednesday
The space shuttle Atlantis and International Space Station crews began their sleep shift at 5:28 p.m. EST. The STS-129 astronauts are scheduled to wake up at 1:28 a.m. Wednesday and undock Atlantis from the station at 4:53 a.m.
A Different View
On flight day four of the STS-129 mission, a member of the crew photographed the aft section of space shuttle Atlantis through a window from aboard the International Space Station. Reflections on the window are visible in this image. The 11-day shuttle mission continued maintenance and upgrades to the orbital outpost. Image Credit: NASA
Sunday, November 22, 2009 wake-up music was "Butterfly Kisses" by Bob Carlisle, played at 2:58 a.m. EST for Atlantis Mission Specialist Randy Bresnik. Randy Bresnik is a new father.
Space shuttle Atlantis Mission Specialist Randy Bresnik is a new father.
At 5:14 a.m. CST, Bresnik called Mission Control and announced the birth of his daughter. Abigail Mae Bresnik arrived at 11:04 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 21 in Houston, TX. He reported his wife Rebecca and baby are doing well. He also thanked the flight control team and flight surgeon for their support and assistance.
This is the second time a baby has been born to an American astronaut during his spaceflight. Mike Fincke’s daughter was born in June 2004 while he was aboard the International Space Station.
Crews Enjoy Off-Duty Time
Today is an off-duty day for the International Space Station crew. The shuttle crew will enjoy half the day off, answer media questions, participate in an education event and prepare for Monday's spacewalk.
Updated Info on Birth of Astronaut Bresnik's Daughter
NASA flight surgeons have provided more details on the birth of STS-129 Mission Specialist Randy Bresnik and his wife Rebecca’s daughter.
Abigail Mae Bresnik was born Saturday, Nov. 21 at 11:04 p.m. CST, weighs six pounds, 13 ounces and is approximately 20 inches in length.
Bresnik was connected through a phone patch from Mission Control and the hospital to Atlantis after he woke up Sunday morning. During his wife’s labor Saturday night, he also had been connected to STS-129 Flight Surgeon Dr. Smith Johnston through the International Space Station’s IP Phone until he had to go to bed. A video conference is planned today so Bresnik can see his daughter for the first time. Photos and some video of the baby also will be uplinked to him.
Crew Television Celebrates Birth of Abigail Mae Bresnik
At 5:45 p.m. EST, NASA Television will replay “crew choice” television that was sent down from space late Sunday afternoon, showing Atlantis and International Space Station crew members joining Mission Specialist Randy Bresnik in celebrating the Saturday night birth of Abigail Mae Bresnik.
No other information will be available until after Bresnik returns to Earth. Rebecca and Randy Bresnik offered this final word, “We are sending a big thank you to all of the people who have supported NASA and us for this mission and our special occasion.”
Spacewalkers "Camping Out" to Prepare for Final Excursion
STS-129 Mission Specialists Randy Bresnik and Robert Satcher Jr., set to perform the third and final spacewalk of the mission Monday, are spending the night in the Quest airlock as part of the overnight “campout” procedure that helps purge nitrogen from their bloodstreams, preventing decompression sickness once they move out into the vacuum of space.
The International Space Station crew began its sleep shift at 5:58 p.m. EST, and the shuttle crew headed to bed a half hour later. Both crews are set to wake up Monday at 2:28 a.m. The spacewalk is slated to begin at 7:18 a.m.
At 10:38am, Nicole Stott, Leland Melvin & Bob Satcher joined in a PAO TV interview downlink with three news media,- WTTG-TV, Washington, D.C., Bay News 9, Tampa, FL, and WBBM Radio, Chicago, IL.
Updates 11/21/2009
Saturday, November 21, 2009 wake up music was “Voyage to Atlantis” by the Isley Brothers, played at 3:58 a.m. EST for Atlantis Mission Specialist Robert Satcher.
Robert Satcher's Self-Portrait
Astronaut Robert Satcher uses a digital still camera to expose take a self-portrait during the STS-129 mission's first spacewalk. During the six-hour, 37-minute spacewalk, Satcher and astronaut Mike Foreman installed a spare S-band antenna structural assembly to the Z1 segment of the station's truss, or backbone.
Satcher and Foreman also installed a set of cables for a future space-to-ground antenna on the Destiny laboratory and replaced a handrail on the Unity node with a new bracket used to route an ammonia cable that will be needed for the Tranquility node when it is delivered next year. The two spacewalkers also repositioned a cable connector on Unity, checked S0 truss cable connections and lubricated latching snares on the Kibo robotic arm and the station's mobile base system.
False Alarms Shorten Second Spacewalk
Satcher will help direct today’s primary activity, the second STS-129 spacewalk. He will be the intravehicular crew member, choreographing the activities and coordinating communications between Mission Control in Houston and spacewalkers Mike Foreman and Randy Bresnik. The spacewalk is set to begin at 9:43 a.m. Also on today’s agenda is the installation of the Express Logistics Carrier 2 onto the International Space Station’s exterior.
Because of last night’s false space station alarms, the wakeup call moved 30 minutes later than planned. The spacewalk has been shortened to six hours, eliminating about 30 minutes of “get ahead” tasks that originally were scheduled.
Spacewalkers Complete Exercise Protocol
Spacewalkers Mike Foreman and Randy Bresnik exercised 10 minutes on the Destiny laboratory’s cycle ergometer, wearing masks and breathing pure oxygen to help purge their bodies of nitrogen. They will spend a total of two hours and 20 minutes breathing oxygen before the spacewalk. This procedure was used for years by spacewalkers prior to the arrival of the space station’s Quest Airlock and will help prevent them from experiencing decompression sickness, or the bends, when they enter the vacuum of space.
Foreman and Bresnik’s pre-breathe “campout” protocol in Quest was interrupted by false alarms aboard the station Thursday night. The alarms caused the crew sleep period to be extended by 30 minutes, reduced the spacewalk by 30 minutes to six hours, and shifted the start time for the excursion to 9:38 a.m. EST. The shortened spacewalk will not prevent Foreman and Bresnik from accomplishing all the major tasks that are planned. Thirty minutes had been set aside for “get ahead” tasks, which instead will be rescheduled for a later spacewalk.
Express Logistics Carrier Lifted from Atlantis' Payload Bay
At 6:32 a.m. EST, Space shuttle Atlantis robotic arm operators Leland Melvin and Robert Satcher lifted Express Logistics Carrier 2 out of the shuttle payload bay. The shuttle arm will hand off the carrier to the International Space Station robotic arm, which will install it on the Starboard 3 segment of the station’s truss. The nearly 14,000 pound carrier contains spare equipment that will help prolong the lifetime of the space station.
Express Logistics Carrier Installed on Space Station Starboard Truss
Robotic arm operators aboard the International Space Station installed the Express Logistics Carrier (ELC) 2 on the station’s Starboard 3 truss, or backbone. The carrier measures about 16 feet by 14 feet and contains 9900 pounds of spare equipment for the station, including a control moment gyroscope, a pump module, a high pressure gas tank, a cargo transport container that holds 10 remote power control modules, and a reel assembly for the station’s mobile transporter.
It joins ELC 1, installed earlier in the mission on the Port truss. ELC 4 will launch on space shuttle Endeavour’s STS-134 mission in July 2010 and ELC 3 will launch on Discovery’s STS-133 mission in September 2010. The carriers store spare hardware that is easily accessible be station crew members for any future repairs and will increase the longevity of the station.
Foreman and Bresnik Start Second STS-129 Spacewalk
Mission Specialists Mike Foreman and Randy Bresnik began the second STS-129 spacewalk at 9:31 a.m. EST. Because of last night’s false space station alarms, the spacewalk has been shortened to six hours, eliminating about 30 minutes of “get ahead” tasks that originally were scheduled.
Second Spacewalk Begins at 9:31 a.m. EST
At 9:31 a.m. EST, STS-129 spacewalkers Mike Foreman and Randy Bresnik switched their suits to battery power, officially starting today’s six-hour excursion. Atlantis Mission Specialist Robert Satcher will be inside the International Space Station, choreographing the activities and coordinating communications between the spacewalkers and Mission Control in Houston.
This is the second spacewalk of the mission, the 229th spacewalk conducted by U.S. astronauts, the 135th in support of space station assembly and maintenance, the fifth for Foreman and the first for Bresnik. Foreman is the lead spacewalker and wears a suit with solid red stripes on his legs. His helmet cam displays number 16. Bresnik is wearing a spacesuit with broken red stripes and his helmet cam displays number 18.
Foreman and Bresnik will be working together throughout the spacewalk. First, they will install a Grappling Adaptor to On-Orbit Railing Assembly, or GATOR, on the Columbus laboratory. GATOR contains a ship-tracking antenna system and a HAM radio antenna. They will relocate a floating potential measurement unit that gauges electric charges that build up on the station, deploy a Payload Attach System on the space-facing side of the Starboard 3 truss segment and install a wireless video system that allows spacewalkers to transmit video to the station and relay it to Earth.
The spacewalk was shortened by 30 minutes after an alarm woke the crew Friday night. The only items removed from the spacewalk are “get ahead” tasks that can be performed on a future excursion.
Spacewalkers Ahead of Schedule
Spacewalkers Mike Foreman and Randy Bresnik are about 40 minutes ahead of schedule. They installed a Grappling Adaptor to On-Orbit Railing Assembly, or GATOR, on the Columbus laboratory. GATOR is part of a project to demonstrate two different types of Automatic Identification System (AIS) receivers. AIS is an existing system used by ships and the Coast Guard’s Vessel Traffic Services to exchange data such as ship’s identification, purpose, course and speed. The assembly also includes an antenna used for ham radio, the Amateur Radio on the International Space Station (ARISS) antenna.
Floating Potential Measurement Unit Relocated
Now an hour ahead of schedule, spacewalkers Mike Foreman and Randy Bresnik relocated a Floating Potential Measurement Unit, or FPMU, from the innermost starboard truss to the innermost port truss segment. The FPMU measures electric charges that build up on the outside of the International Space Station and verifies that controls preventing electrical arcing are working.
Spacewalkers Deploy Inboard Payload Attach System
Spacewalkers Mike Foreman and Randy Bresnik deployed the inboard Payload Attach System (PAS) on the space-facing side of the Starboard 3 truss. The PAS is a cargo attachment point, and this is the location where the Alpha Magnetic Spectrometer will be installed during STS-134 next year. Foreman and Bresnik also installed a wireless video system that allows spacewalkers to transmit video to the station and relay it to Earth.
The astronauts continue to be well ahead of schedule. Next, they will deploy the final PAS, the attach system on the Earth-facing side of the Starboard 3 truss section. This is where the Express Logistics Carrier 4 will be installed next year. This task had been planned for the third spacewalk.
Final Payload Attach System Deployed
The final Payload Attach System (PAS) on the “to do” list was deployed by Mike Foreman and Randy Bresnik about four hours and 20 minutes into their spacewalk. This PAS on the inboard, Earth-facing side of the Starboard 3 truss segment, is the location where Express Logistics Carrier 4 will be attached during space shuttle Endeavour’s STS-134 mission in July 2010.
The STS-129 crew was planning to deploy two PAS in three spacewalks and actually deployed three PAS in two spacewalks.
Spacewalk choreographer Robert L. Satcher asked Mission Control, “Do you have any more PASs you need to deploy?” Capsule Communicator Steve Swanson replied, “Not on this station.”
Still running ahead of schedule, the spacewalkers are taking on more “get ahead” work. They are going to disconnect and reconnect a cable connector on the Space-to-Ground Antenna that was installed on the first spacewalk. The reconnection may correct a low signal on the system. The crew also may relocate an articulating portable foot restraint.
Second STS-129 Spacewalk Complete
The second spacewalk of the STS-129 mission ended at 3:39 p.m. EST Saturday.
Astro_Nicole: GMT325/0900 Hard to believe that a short week from now I’ll be home!!! Time flies! #onorbit
Astro_Nicole: GMT323/2300 Out of this world birthday today! Thanks to everyone for the very kind birthday greetings. #onorbit
GMT322/1713 Good leak checks! #onorbit
6:14 PM Nov 18th from web
GMT322/1711 Atlantis firing thrusters to put the ISS in a different attitude – means we’ll see different things out our windows. #onorbit
6:14 PM Nov 18th from web
GMT322/1710 Starting hatch leak checks between Atlantis and ISS. #onorbit
6:13 PM Nov 18th from web
GMT322/1700 Atlantis has docked!! My ride home is officially here! #onorbit
6:13 PM Nov 18th from web
GMT322/1615 Atlantis in full view from the Russian segment. RPM photos complete. #onorbit
5:30 PM Nov 18th from web
GMT322/1400 First beautiful sight of Atlantis from the Russian segment. Can actually make out the shape of the orbiter! #onorbit
5:29 PM Nov 18th from web
GMT320/1945 Woo hoo!! Go Atlantis!! #onorbit
11:50 AM Nov 17th from web
Updates 11/20/2009
Space Shuttle Atlantis
This view of the aft portion of the space shuttle Atlantis, including the three main engines, was provided by the Expedition 21 crew during a survey of the approaching vehicle prior to docking with the International Space Station. As part of the survey and every mission's activities, Atlantis performed a back-flip for the rendezvous pitch maneuver. The image was photographed with a digital still camera, using a 400mm lens at a distance of about 600 feet (180 meters).Image Credit: NASA
Express Logistics Carrier Grappled
Just after 7 a.m. EST, space shuttle Atlantis Commander Charles Hobaugh and Mission Specialist Leland Melvin used the shuttle robotic arm to grasp the Express Logistics Carrier (ELC) 2, located in Atlantis’ payload bay. The task originally had been planned for this afternoon but the crew opted to do it early. The nearly 14,000-pound ELC will be lifted away from Atlantis on Saturday, handed off to the space station robotic arm, and installed on the station’s Starboard 3 truss upper outboard Payload Attach System. The carrier contains spare parts that will help sustain space station operations into the future.
Robotics Work and Spacewalk Preps for Shuttle Crew
Today's wake-up music was "We Are Family" by Sister Sledge, played at 4:28 a.m. EST for Atlantis Mission Specialist Leland Melvin.
Atlantis' astronauts will grab the nearly 14,000-pound Express Logistics Carrier 2 with the shuttle robotic arm this afternoon. Tomorrow, they will lift the carrier from Atlantis' payload bay, hand it off to the space station robotic arm and install it on the outside of the station. The combined crews of the shuttle and station also will speak to seven different media outlets today. And at the end of the day, Mike Foreman and Randy Bresnik will "campout" in the station's Quest Airlock to prepare for Saturday's second spacewalk.
False Alarm Awakens Crew
An alarm woke the crews aboard space shuttle Atlantis and the International Space Station at 8:36 p.m. EST Thursday. Flight controllers in Houston, Europe and Russia quickly concluded the alarm was false. An erroneous indication of a rapid depressurization led to the automatic shutdown of ventilation fans throughout the station, which stirred up dust and led to a false smoke detection alarm in the European Space Agency’s Columbus laboratory.
It took about an hour to reactivate the ventilation fans and stabilize the station atmosphere following the incident. The crews have been warned to watch out for pockets where carbon dioxide has accumulated.
The initial cause for the false depressurization indication is under evaluation. Mission control Capcom Frank Lien told station Commander Frank De Winne it might have originated with the Poisk mini-research module that docked to the station earlier this month.
The space station crew will wait until ventilation is restored before going back to sleep. The shuttle crew has already been given the “go” from teams on the ground to go back to sleep. To make up for the sleep they lost reacting to the alarm, the sleep period has been extended by 30 minutes. The new wake up time will be 4:28 a.m. EST.
Breaking News - Help On The Way
National Voice Gazette Launches Opera 10 Turbo Cruiser Rescue
Pine Level, Florida -13:12 11/20/2009- After, the big decompression scare in space, National Voice Gazette launched its private rocket plane to rescue astronauts and cosmonauts from possible distress due to the false alarm. Strapped to the belly of the Opera 10 Turbo Cruiser is a giant package of depends, rendezvous is expected later today. Regular News now continues
Updates 11/19/2009
Foreman and Satcher Prepare for First Spacewalk
Today’s wake up music was “In Wonder” by The Newsboys, played at 4:28 a.m. EST for Atlantis Mission Specialist Randy Bresnik.
Preparations are underway to begin the first spacewalk of the mission at 9:18 a.m. Spacewalkers Mike Foreman and Robert L. Satcher, Jr. will tackle a host of maintenance tasks outside the International Space Station, including installing a spare communications antenna, routing cables, and lubricating parts of the mobile base system and Kibo robotic arm. The spacewalk will be the 228th conducted by U.S. astronauts in history, the 134th in support of space station assembly and maintenance, the fourth for Foreman and the first for Satcher.
Foreman and Satcher Performing First STS-129 Spacewalk
At 9:24 a.m. EST, STS-129 spacewalkers Mike Foreman and Robert L. Satcher, Jr. switched their suits to battery power, signifying the start of today’s 6.5-hour excursion. Atlantis Mission Specialist Randy Bresnik will be inside the International Space Station, choreographing the activities and coordinating communications between the spacewalkers and Mission Control in Houston.
This is the 228th spacewalk conducted by U.S. astronauts, the 134th in support of space station assembly and maintenance, the fourth for Foreman and the first for Satcher. Foreman is the lead spacewalker and wears a suit with solid red stripes. His helmet cam displays number 16. Satcher is wearing an all-white spacesuit and his helmet cam displays number 18.
Once they get outside, Foreman and Satcher will install a spare S-band antenna structural assembly to the Z1 segment of the station’s truss, or backbone. To get there, Satcher will ride the station’s robotic arm, driven by Atlantis crew mates Charles Hobaugh, Leland Melvin and Barry Wilmore.
Foreman and Satcher also will install a set of cables for a future space-to-ground antenna on the Destiny laboratory. They will replace a handrail on the Unity node with a new bracket used to route an ammonia cable that will be needed for the Tranquility node when it is delivered next year. The two spacewalkers also will reposition a cable connector on Unity, troubleshoot S0 truss cable connections, and lubricate latching snares on the Kibo robotic arm and the station’s mobile base system.
While the spacewalk is underway, station Commander Frank De Winne and Flight Engineer Jeff Williams will work inside the station to prepare for the arrival of Tranquility, rewiring data, power and cooling lines and air flow connections at the port hatch of Harmony, where Tranquility will connect.
Meanwhile, Nicole Stott is celebrating her 47th birthday in space.
S-band Antenna Structural Assembly Installed
With a spare S-band antenna structural assembly (SASA) in his hands, Robert L. Satcher, Jr. rode the station's robotic arm from Atlantis' payload bay to the station's Earth-facing Z1 truss segment. There, he and Mike Foreman connected two cables and bolted the SASA in place. The spacewalkers are about an hour and 20 minutes ahead of schedule and will split up to tackle a variety of maintenance tasks. The spacewalk started at 9:24 a.m. EST and is expected to last 6.5 hours.
"Get Ahead" Task Added to Spacewalk
Spacewalk planners have decided to add a “get ahead” task to today’s excursion, since the crew has completed its planned work and is nearly two hours ahead of schedule. Robert Satcher lubricated the Kibo robotic arm snares while Michael Foreman routed a LAN cable on Zarya and mated power cables on a patch panel at the S0 truss.
Now the spacewalkers will deploy the outboard Payload Attach System (PAS) on the Earth-facing side of the Starboard 3 truss. The PAS will allow future missions to store spare parts to the station’s truss segment for future use.
Spacewalkers Working with Payload Attach System
Spacewalkers Mike Foreman and Robert L. Satcher Jr. have been working to deploy the outboard Payload Attach System, or PAS, on the Earth-facing side of the Starboard 3 truss. The crew has had difficulty loosening a bolt and removing a diagonal brace on the PAS. They have used a pistol grip tool and a hammer without success. Spacewalk planners hope that cooler temperatures during an upcoming night pass will contract the brace and enable it to be removed. The planned 6.5-hour spacewalk is now five hours, 16 minutes old.
Spacewalkers Deploy the Outboard Payload Attach System
Mike Foreman and Robert L. Satcher Jr. deployed the outboard Payload Attach System, or PAS, on the Earth-facing side of the Starboard 3 truss. They succeeded in loosening a stuck cross brace by hammering on a bolt and wiggling the brace. Then they deployed the platform and reinstalled the brace. With six hours, sixteen minutes elapsed in the spacewalk, the pair is making its way from the truss back to the Quest airlock.
First STS-129 Spacewalk Complete
Spacewalkers Mike Foreman and Robert Satcher completed a 6-hour, 37-minute spacewalk at 4:01 p.m. EST.
After finishing all their scheduled chores with two hours to spare, Foreman and Satcher were assigned a task that had been planned for the second spacewalk. They deployed the outboard Payload Attach System on the Earth-facing side of the Starboard 3 truss, after overcoming some initial difficulties.
This was the first of three STS-129 spacewalks, the 228th conducted by U.S. astronauts, the fourth for Foreman and the first for Satcher. It was the 134th in support of International Space Station assembly and maintenance, totaling 837 hours, 28 minutes. It was the 106th spacewalk out of the space station, totaling 650 hours, 13 minutes.
NASA Television will air a Mission Status Briefing at 5:30 p.m. with STS-129 Lead Space Station Flight Director Brian Smith and STS-129 Lead Spacewalk Officer Sarah Kazukiewicz Korona.
Updates 11/18/2009
The crew of space shuttle Atlantis awoke at 4:28 a.m. EST to the song "Higher Ground" by Stevie Wonder, played for Mission Specialist Robert L. Satcher Jr.
Today is docking day in space, as space shuttle Atlantis closes the gap to the International Space Station and links up at 11:53 a.m. A series of maneuvers will take place prior to docking. Later in the day, the Express Logistics Carrier 1 will be unberthed from Atlantis' payload bay and handed off from the shuttle robotic arm to the space station robotic arm. At the end of the day, Mike Foreman and Satcher will "campout" in the Quest Airlock to prepare for Thursday's spacewalk.
Atlantis Docked to Station
At 11:51 a.m. EST, Commander Charlie Hobaugh backed space shuttle Atlantis into pressurized mating adapter #2 on the International Space Station’s Harmony node. The two spacecraft were flying 220 miles above Earth between Australia and Tasmania at the time they docked.
The shuttle and station crews will open hatches and hold the traditional welcome ceremony at 1:48 p.m. When hatches open, astronaut Nicole Stott’s tenure as a station Expedition 21 flight engineer will come to an end as she joins the Atlantis crew.
After a series of leak checks, the hatches between the station and shuttle opened at 1:28 p.m. EST marking the start of joint operations.
Hatches between space shuttle Atlantis and the International Space Station were opened at 1:28 p.m. EST, signifying an end after 80 days to Nicole Stott’s time as an Expedition 20/21 flight engineer. Now an STS-129 mission specialist, Stott will have spent a total of 91 days in space if Atlantis lands, as planned, on Nov. 27. She is the last station crew member to return to Earth on the space shuttle; Soyuz spacecraft will be used for future station crew launches and landings.
At 2:28 p.m. the crews will remove the Express Logistics Carrier 1 from Atlantis’ payload bay and at 3:08 p.m., hand if off from the shuttle robotic arm to the station robotic arm.
Two news briefings will be held today on NASA Television. STS-129 Lead Shuttle Flight Director Mike Sarafin will brief reporters on the status of the mission at 2:30 p.m. and Space Shuttle Program deputy manager and Mission Management Team (MMT) chairman LeRoy Cain will hold a post-MMT briefing at 5 p.m.
At 3:25 p.m. EST space shuttle robotic arm operators Leland Melvin and Randy Bresnik handed off the Express Logistics Carrier -1 (ELC) to space station robotic arm operators Jeff Williams and Barry E. Wilmore.
The ELC is a platform that supports external payloads mounted to the space station’s trusses and weighs almost 14,000 pounds. The ELC carries a number of spare parts that will sustain station operations after shuttles are retired.
At 4:27 p.m. EST, shuttle Atlantis and space station astronauts attached the Express Logistics Carrier -1 (ELC) to the Earth-facing side of the station’s left truss, or backbone. This is the first of two ELCs that will be installed on the station’s exterior during STS-129, providing easily-accessible spares to increase the longevity of the station.
The spare hardware stored on ELC-1 includes an Ammonia Tank Assembly, a Battery Charger Discharge Unit, a Control Moment Gyroscope, a station robotic arm Latching End Effector Unit, a Nitrogen Tank Assembly, a Plasma Contactor Unit, a Pump Module Assembly and a Passive Flight Releasable Attachment Mechanism.
STS-129 Mission Specialists Mike Foreman and Robert Satcher, set to perform the first spacewalk of the mission Thursday, are spending the night in the Quest airlock as part of the overnight “campout” procedure that helps purge nitrogen from their bloodstreams, preventing decompression sickness once they move out into the vacuum of space
.
The International Space Station crew is scheduled to go to sleep at 7:58 p.m. EST, and the shuttle crew heads to bed a half hour later. Both crews are set to wake up Thursday at 4:28 a.m. The first spacewalk is slated to begin at 9:18 a.m.
Updates 11/17/2009
The six crew members aboard space shuttle Atlantis began the second day of their mission Tuesday at 4:28 a.m. EST. Activities for the STS-129 crew include surveying the shuttle's thermal protection system, checking out spacesuits and grappling the Express Logistics Carrier 1. The crew also will install the centerline camera, extend the Orbiter Docking System ring and checkout rendezvous tools in preparation for docking to the International Space Station on Wednesday.
The survey of the shuttle’s heat shield has been completed. The photos of the heat shield captured during the inspection, as well as others taken during various points in the mission, will be used to ensure that the shuttle did not sustain any damage during its launch on Monday.
The crew has completed the set up of the Centerline Berthing Camera System that will be used during the rendezvous with the station Wednesday.
The STS-129 mission is commanded by Charles O. Hobaugh and piloted by Barry E. Wilmore. Mission Specialists are Robert L. Satcher Jr., Mike Foreman, Randy Bresnik and Leland Melvin. Wilmore, Satcher and Bresnik are making their first trip to space.
Atlantis and its crew is delivering two control moment gyroscopes, equipment and EXPRESS Logistics Carrier 1 and 2 to the International Space Station. The mission will feature three spacewalks.
The mission also will return station crew member Nicole Stott to Earth and is slated to be the final space shuttle crew rotation flight. Nicole Stott also turned 47 today - Thursday, November 19, 2009. Happy Birthday Space Lady! Don't light up all those candles until you get back to earth, you will burn all of your oxygen up, lol!!!
Pine Level, Florida -21:59 11/20/2009- Update On Nicole Stott's Birthday
After my rather crude remark about Nicole Stott birthday, see above, I received the DM directly below.
Hey Javamanmonk, thx 4 follow
Astro_Nicole: GMT325/0900 Hard to believe that a short week from now I’ll be home!!! Time flies! #onorbit
Astro_Nicole: GMT323/2300 Out of this world birthday today! Thanks to everyone for the very kind birthday greetings. #onorbit
Scroll down for free printable, Welcome To Florida post cards, and Black Hole Rock Animation
Code Amber News Service (CANS) issued this Missing Endangered person Alert after the girl disappeared from her bedroom some time after 3 AM Tuesday morning in Satsuma. Satsuma is approximately 75 miles east of Gainsville.
Haleigh Cummings a white female, 3 feet tall, weighs 39 pounds and has blond hair and brown eyes. She was last seen wearing a pink shirt and underwear.
There are no suspects in this case at this time. However, due to the circumstances of the child's disappearance an abduction is strongly suspected.
There is no suspect vehicle at this time.
Anyone with information is asked to call the Putnam County Sheriff's office at (386) 329-0808 or dial 911.
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