STS-115 Status - Part II

[bobw]

Capture latches closing and driven to first position over capture bar. Arm to limp mode 1.5 minutes. 3.5 minutes for final capture. Robotic arm brakes and then bolt drives start.<br /><br />Suit leak checks look good. <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> </div>

 

[bobw]

Brakes on, 4 motorized bolt assemblies @ 8 minutes per bolt. 3 of 4 required to ungrapple robotic arm. Then Heidemarie and Joe can come out...er go out he he.. like I'm out there <img src="/images/icons/smile.gif" /> <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> </div>

 

[halman]

P3/P4 truss assembly has been secured with four motorized bolts. Arm has released grasp on truss assembly. EVA is in progress, Hiedemarie and Joe are working their way out to the P3/P4 truss assembly. Sunrise in about 8 minutes, which should improve image quality somewhat. <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> The secret to peace of mind is a short attention span. </div>

 

[halman]

Sunrise. Nice horizon in the background. Interior shots of International Space Station show very roomy area, two cosmonauts working at control station. Looks like it will be a long period of working through checklists, disconnecting cables, reconnecting cables, and so on. <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> The secret to peace of mind is a short attention span. </div>

 

[halman]

Been getting a series of high quality still photos, from a helmet cam, to judge by the positon of the hands in the shots. Nice shot looking along the truss towards Earth, which is moving past rapidly, and both Heidemarie and Joe are in shot. They are moving about so quickly, it almost looks like the video has been speeded up. Still getting some kind of noise over the suit audio link, sounds like a popping or banging.<br /><br />It occurs to me that Extra Vehicular Activity in Low Earth Orbit is probably going to be a favorite assignment, compared to high orbit, or deep space. Falling up the face of planet, with surface detail very clear, will certainly be more spectacular than being a long way from a planet which is hardly moving, or having nothing in sight but stars. It is easy to see that the staiton is moving rapidly.<br /><br />Sunset. Now working by headlamps. CNN is carrying video also, very high quality images. <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> The secret to peace of mind is a short attention span. </div>

 

[halman]

Just heard Heidemarie say that she had picked up the 7/16's socket. I can't believe that they are using SAE fastners on the Space Station. Now I know that our space program is in trouble, because metric is the system of measurement used by science and technology. Cap Com just commented on the quality of the helmet cam images. A controller just came on audio link and informed the team that the EVA was now in the Bravo portion of the flow chart, and that there would be no video effective immediately. What is being shown is a black area with a white or light colored object in the upper right hand corner, with no action visible. There is a band of noise traversing the image from the right side to the left, and it appears to be gone now. Can see a joint on one of the robot arms, can't tell which, but I suspect it is station arm. <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> The secret to peace of mind is a short attention span. </div>

 

[erioladastra]

"Interesting to see Pam Melroy on CapCom duties. You'd think a Shuttle Commander had better things to do, and they'd leave that work to the rookie Astronauts. "<br /><br />You say that as if it is a trivial, lame task. It is very important. Story Musgrave was one for many years even after many flights. The CAPCOM is just as involved as the flight controllers and helps both the crew and the team tremendously.<br />

 

[erioladastra]

"During these long spacewalks, do the astronauts have sugar water, or some other thing that they can consume to keep their energy up? I have heard that they really burn up the calories while spacewalking. "<br /><br />They have a drink bag in their suit filled with water. That is it until they get back inside.

 

[halman]

erioladastra,<br /><br />Do the astronauts have powered tools, like ratchets? They have been spinning fastners steadily for a couple of hours now, and I would think that having to turn all of them by hand would be tiring. I have heard that the space program was what prompted the development of cordless tools, because the astronauts needed powered tools which would last for a long time under heavy use. Have you any information regarding that?<br /><br />Houston just broke in and told the station controllers that the spacewalk was considerably ahead of schedule at this point, and that taking a break would not be a bad thing. Way to go, you two! And I know that you could not have done it without the excellent work of the ground crews. They are completely familiar with the terrain where the folks are working, and are patiently walking the 'nauts through each operation.<br /><br />A little over three hours into this EVA, passing over what looks like an ocean, probably the Pacific.<br /><br />Well, I have the house all ready for my mom's birthday party, so I am going to bed.<br /><br />Just heard that Heidemarie and Joe are currently 1 hour ahead of the schedule for completion. <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> The secret to peace of mind is a short attention span. </div>

 

[erioladastra]

"Do the astronauts have powered tools, like ratchets? They have been spinning fastners steadily for a couple of hours now, and I would think that having to turn all of them by hand would be tiring. I have heard that the space program was what prompted the development of cordless tools, because the astronauts needed powered tools which would last for a long time under heavy use. Have you any information regarding that?"<br /><br />Yes, they have the PGT (I think Pistol Grip Tool). This is a battery operated drill/ratchet with multiple torque settings. However, it does have a limit on the range so some have to be done by hand.<br /><br />"taking a break would not be a bad thing."<br /><br />Probably code for you are working too hard, relax a bit.

 

[bad_drawing]

I am truly getting a sense of the size of the ISS by seeing a spacewalking astronaut work down one of the truss sections. Holy frejoles this thing is bigger then i thought! Impressive.

 

[rybanis]

At this point I call it "mega huge". <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> </div>

 

[earth_bound_misfit]

I was watching NASATv late last night as Joe lost a bolt/spring and washer from one of the covers. Joe didn't quite see in what direction it departed in, and Ground Control seemed concerned if had gone into the workings of the solar panel rotator. Shame the picture from his helmet cam don't have the resolution to show the bolt assemby floating off, then it would have been possible to see where it went.<br /><br />I would've thought the bolts would be captive so once their loosened off, they would stay put. <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> <p> </p><p> </p><p>----------------------------------------------------------------- </p><p>Wanna see this site looking like the old SDC uplink?</p><p>Go here to see how: <strong>SDC Eye saver </strong>  </p> </div>

 

[earth_bound_misfit]

Once that bolt de-orbits, the old saying "A bolt from the blue" will come true <img src="/images/icons/smile.gif" /> <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> <p> </p><p> </p><p>----------------------------------------------------------------- </p><p>Wanna see this site looking like the old SDC uplink?</p><p>Go here to see how: <strong>SDC Eye saver </strong>  </p> </div>

 

[1cooldaddyo]

"Just heard Heidemarie say that she had picked up the 7/16's socket. "<br /><br />Fewer size choices in SAE? I know I've accidentally rounded off more than a few metric fasteners using a 12mm socket on what turned out to be an 11mm bolt.

 

[toothferry]

I hope NASA releases a DVD documentary of the construction of ISS, someday.. that would be impressive.

 

[halman]

erioladastra,<br /><br />Regarding Pam Melroy working as CapCom. I would think that this would be an excellent way to keep up on things, to have the jargon down pat. Visualizing what is happening upstairs also helps to refresh memories, so CapCom could almost be considered as training time, too. Being away from operations for long stretches of time is difficult to avoid when the program has been stuck in place for a few years. <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> The secret to peace of mind is a short attention span. </div>

 

[halman]

1cooldaddyo,<br /><br />Usually, designs avoid having fastners only a single milimeter apart. For instance, my Honda and Toyota both use 10 mm, 12mm, and 14mm bolts and nuts extensively, so there is not much confusion as to the correct size. I didn't run into a 15mm fastner until I was changing the oil on a friend's Saturn.<br /><br /> <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> The secret to peace of mind is a short attention span. </div>

 

[halman]

earth_bound_misfit,<br /><br />What might work better would be a micro radar in the helmet, with a display projected on the faceplate. Trying to see something as small as a nut or washer can be difficult in a well lit room, with a contrasting floor color. Of course, the object must be retrieved before it is further away than the length of the tether the astronaut is working with. <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> The secret to peace of mind is a short attention span. </div>

 

[gawin]

I just had a vission of a washer travaling at 14,500 MPH!!!!!!<br /><br />on a serious note One would think that after the Mars mission <cant remember what one and am to tired to look it up /> that compleetly missed and failed becuase some one forgot to convert feet into meters that they would at least have settled on 1 standared for all of space making this no longer a concern.

 

[scottb50]

When you figure it cost nearly $500.00 to get the nut to orbit and who knows how much to certify it to get to orbit to begin with, i's even more costly. Now they have to send another nut, washer and spring to replace it. We're talking big bucks here! <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> </div>

 

[earth_bound_misfit]

"micro radar in the helmet, with a display projected on the faceplate"<br /><br />Good idea! Could also be handy for locating menacing aliens when we get to Mars. Man , I've been watching too many (bad?)SF movies.<br /><br /> <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> <p> </p><p> </p><p>----------------------------------------------------------------- </p><p>Wanna see this site looking like the old SDC uplink?</p><p>Go here to see how: <strong>SDC Eye saver </strong>  </p> </div>

 

[erioladastra]

"When you figure it cost nearly $500.00 to get the nut to orbit and who knows how much to certify it to get to orbit to begin with, i's even more costly. Now they have to send another nut, washer and spring to replace it. We're talking big bucks here! "<br /><br />No, I beleive these were launch locks that had to be removed and brought back down. Only a space debris issue. They can't be captive because you need to release them so you can remove them.

 

[mah_fl]

Remember all of this hardware was designed 10 to 15 years ago at least, also there was a 4 year delay in getting this truss into space due to the Columbia accident.

 

[mah_fl]

The bolt and washer were from the thermal cover, not the launch restraint, the bolts on the launch restraints are captive.