(1E) STS 122 Post Launch Mission thread

MeteorWayne · Feb 16, 2008

I stand corrected, from spaceflightnow: "The permanently manned space station's orbit was raised an average of one mile today by a 36-minute firing of the shuttle's maneuvering thrusters. The reboost maneuver, one of two needed to set up the proper rendezvous and docking conditions for upcoming visits by the shuttle Endeavour, a European supply ship and a Russian Soyuz spacecraft, left the station in an orbit measuring 215.5 by 203.2 statute miles. " <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> But the Krell forgot one thing John. Monsters. Monsters from the Id. I really, really, really, really miss the "first unread post" function </div>

rybanis · Feb 16, 2008

Ohhhhh! Ok, I see now. I still believe the article is a bit vague/misleading when it comes to explaining what is actually doing the boosting. I should go eat something, I think my brain is shutting down. EDIT: Man, I don't know what to think anymore! <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> </div>

MeteorWayne · Feb 16, 2008

Yes remember, compared to the mass of the ISS, the orbter's RCS is puny thrust. They are desigend to maneuver the orbiter, not the many many ton ISS. Fascinating that they can decide the best use of the limited RCS propellant ( <img src="/images/icons/smile.gif" /> ) is for a tiny boost to the ISS's orbit. These engineers are on the ball!!! <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> But the Krell forgot one thing John. Monsters. Monsters from the Id. I really, really, really, really miss the "first unread post" function </div>

bobblebob · Feb 16, 2008

It was mentioned in the Status Briefing that the orbitor performed the reboost. But yea like you say its amazing that it can perform it

Zipi · Feb 16, 2008

I agree that it is amazing that the orbiter can boost up the station... For me the PMA looks so fragile joint between the orbiter and the station that I really wonder how it can whitstand this operation. And of course other thing that amazes me is the location of the orbiter related to the central point of the mass of the station... I wonder why this won't cause the rolling effect for the station. <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> </div>

SpaceKiwi · Feb 16, 2008

Yes, I'm also curious about this. The spin must be counteracted by the gyro's, or maybe firings from the Russian end. Although, thinking about it some more, the Orbiter firing is probably not perpendicular to the Earth. If you fired basically in support of the direction of travel, but slightly off it in favour of the Earth-facing side, you would add a little speed to ISS but also 'throw' it slightly higher. In the same way a model locomotive moves to an outer loop of track on a curve (best analogy I could think of!). <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> Who is this superhero? Henry, the mild-mannered janitor ... could be!-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Bring Back The Black! </div>

earth_bound_misfit · Feb 16, 2008

"add a little speed to ISS but also 'throw' it slightly higher" But then, wouldn't the station start to leave LEO, going faster that is. <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> ----------------------------------------------------------------- Wanna see this site looking like the old SDC uplink?Go here to see how: SDC Eye saver </div>

SpaceKiwi · Feb 16, 2008

Actually, more thinking about this, and I've decided you don't even need to favour the nadir side. If you just impart more velocity in the direction of ISS travel, instead of following the curvature of the Earth, you would head slightly out into space as you go round and round. Sum result, you end up in a higher orbit. Someone will likely come along and put this in 'techy' language, but I think that's the answer. No real work required of the gyro's and Russian jets. <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> Who is this superhero? Henry, the mild-mannered janitor ... could be!-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Bring Back The Black! </div>

SpaceKiwi · Feb 16, 2008

<blockquote>In reply to:<hr />But then, wouldn't the station start to leave LEO, going faster that is.<hr /></blockquote> Well, that is the effect you are trying to have, but gravity obviously kicks in to hold it in place at the higher orbit. That's what holds it there now, right? Or, at least, you reach an equilibrium between the ISS falling back to Earth versus Earth moving through space in it's orbit, resulting in the ISS remaining roughly that same distance above the Earth's surface. I think. <img src="/images/icons/wink.gif" /> <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> Who is this superhero? Henry, the mild-mannered janitor ... could be!-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Bring Back The Black! </div>

earth_bound_misfit · Feb 16, 2008

I think you may be right <img src="/images/icons/smile.gif" /> <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> ----------------------------------------------------------------- Wanna see this site looking like the old SDC uplink?Go here to see how: SDC Eye saver </div>

SpaceKiwi · Feb 16, 2008

There's never an 'Orbital Mechanic' around when you need one. <img src="/images/icons/laugh.gif" /> <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> Who is this superhero? Henry, the mild-mannered janitor ... could be!-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Bring Back The Black! </div>

Testing · Feb 16, 2008

Good sighting, she be FINE! <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> </div>

3488 · Feb 17, 2008

That makes sense. USA 193 is what, only about 160 KM up where as Atlantis / ISS is about double that? Atlantis is doing just fine. She'll land OK. This has been a brilliant mission. <img src="/images/icons/laugh.gif" /> Andrew Brown <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> "I suddenly noticed an anomaly to the left of Io, just off the rim of that world. It was extremely large with respect to the overall size of Io and crescent shaped. It seemed unbelievable that something that big had not been visible before". Linda Morabito on discovering that the Jupiter moon Io was volcanically active. Friday 9th March 1979.http://www.launchphotography.com/ http://anthmartian.googlepages.com/thisislandearthhttp://web.me.com/meridianijournal </div>

bobblebob · Feb 17, 2008

Thanks s_g <img src="/images/icons/smile.gif" />

bobblebob · Feb 17, 2008

Dan Tani understandable appeared emotional saying goodbye to the ISS crew.

MeteorWayne · Feb 17, 2008

MSB live now <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> But the Krell forgot one thing John. Monsters. Monsters from the Id. I really, really, really, really miss the "first unread post" function </div>

bobblebob · Feb 17, 2008

They have certainly transfered alot over to the ISS, and vice versa. Will be at work during undocking so will miss it, but i will be finishing early on Wed so i can see the landing

MeteorWayne · Feb 17, 2008

Undocking is scheduled for 0927 UT (4:57 AM EST) tomorrow morning. 2 Landing opps on the 20th at KSC (weather lloks good), 2 at Edwards. Also others on the 21st if needed. MW <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> But the Krell forgot one thing John. Monsters. Monsters from the Id. I really, really, really, really miss the "first unread post" function </div>

rybanis · Feb 17, 2008

Thanks for the clarification, SG! <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> </div>

SpaceKiwi · Feb 17, 2008

<blockquote>In reply to:<hr />Orbital mechanics does not work that way. To go higher you add velocity in the direction of the ISS movement.<hr /></blockquote> Hey, come on, cut me a little novice slack, SG! I might not have got the detail exactly right, but I did figure out the boost happens in the direction of ISS travel off my own bat. And, I've watched enough Shuttle and ISS coverage to know the orbit is eliptical, I thought that was a given. <img src="/images/icons/smile.gif" /> <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> Who is this superhero? Henry, the mild-mannered janitor ... could be!-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Bring Back The Black! </div>

MeteorWayne · Feb 17, 2008

Pre Boost orbit was 332x334 km. After Boost it's 333x344 km. MW BTW, for those looking to see it, Heavens Above has recalculated passes for the new orbit. <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> But the Krell forgot one thing John. Monsters. Monsters from the Id. I really, really, really, really miss the "first unread post" function </div>

erioladastra · Feb 17, 2008

"Not sure if ive seen a more successful mission than this one. " Depends on how you define it. Completing mission tasks with few/no anomalies? We have had many before Columbia. And we had some stinkers. But we have learned and grown and our missions are also more ambitious. This was an extremely complicated mission and it is going awesome.

bobblebob · Feb 17, 2008

Not just on tasks with few problems, but also other things like how quickly they have worked, and how much extra they have managed to do on this mission. And also finding the damage on the airlock handrail (have they analysed the pics from this yet?)

rybanis · Feb 17, 2008

Where did you hear about that, Bob? There is damage on a handrail? <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> </div>

MeteorWayne · Feb 17, 2008

Yes there's a small crater from orbital debris on the handrail. It was discovered on EVA 1, and investigated afterward. They rubbed overgloves and tools over it to see whether it could explain some of the glove issues on earlier flights. It's called "Love's Crater" named for the discoverer <img src="/images/icons/smile.gif" /> <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> But the Krell forgot one thing John. Monsters. Monsters from the Id. I really, really, really, really miss the "first unread post" function </div>

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