STS-130/(20A) Mission Thread

[EarthlingX]

Spacewalkers Moving Ahead With Dextre, Tranquility Work
Fri, 12 Feb 2010 04:31:26 AM GMT

We are 2 hours, 10 minutes into the mission’s first spacewalk. After going back to the airlock to retrieve insulation and jumpers to be stored for use in a later spacewalk, both Bob Behnken and Nicholas Patrick now will come together at the special purpose dexterous manipulator, or Dextre, to remove its orbital replacement unit temporary platform, a storage platform that allows the robot to carry spare parts. They will retrieve two handles from storage and install them on the robot and the platform, then work together to release the four fasteners connecting the platform to the robot. Behnken will carry the platform to a stowage bin on the left side of the station’s truss, where it will be available for use as a backup to a new enhanced platform that will be installed on Dextre during the STS-132 mission.

While that work is going on, Terry Virts and Kay Hire have unloaded Tranquility from Endeavour’s cargo bay and are installing it on the Unity node. Once installed, Behnken and Patrick will begin hooking it up. Patrick will begin by connecting Tranquility’s heater cables to Unity to provide a temporary power supply. Behnken, meanwhile, will connect eight avionics cables between the nodes.

 

[EarthlingX]

First STS-130 Spacewalk Complete
Fri, 12 Feb 2010 08:50:44 AM GMT

STS-130 Mission Specialists Nicholas Patrick and Robert Behnken have completed the first of three spacewalks Friday at 3:49 a.m. EST.

There were some minor communication glitches, but no problem, they finished some extra tasks meant for EV2.
..

First STS-130 Spacewalk Complete
Fri, 12 Feb 2010 08:50:44 AM GMT

Spacewalkers Bob Behnken and Nicholas Patrick completed a 6-hour, 32-minute spacewalk at 3:49 a.m. EST.

The spacewalking pair finished all their assigned work and some get-ahead tasks. The Tranquility node and cupola were robotically maneuvered from Endeavour’s payload bay then installed onto the port side of the Unity node. Tranquility’s hatch is scheduled to be opened at about 9:14 p.m. tonight.

This was the first of three STS-130 spacewalks, the 231st conducted by U.S. astronauts, the fourth for Behnken and the first for Patrick. It was the 138th in support of International Space Station assembly and maintenance, totaling 861 hours, 34 minutes. It was the 110th spacewalk out of the space station, totaling 674 hours, 19 minutes.

NASA Television will air a Mission Status Briefing at 5:30 a.m. with STS-130 Lead Space Station Flight Director Bob Dempsey and STS-130 Lead Spacewalk Officer Art Thomason.

* edit (2010.02.13) Space.com article :
Space Station Gets New Room, Windows in Spacewalk

By Tariq Malik
SPACE.com Managing Editor
posted: 12 February 2010
3:55 a.m. ET

This story was updated at 6:44 a.m. EST.

The International Space Station got a bit bigger Thursday night thanks to two spacewalking astronauts who helped attach NASA's last major room for the orbiting lab and what promises to be the ultimate window on the world.

Shuttle Endeavour's Heat Shield Cleared of Concerns

By Tariq Malik
SPACE.com Managing Editor
posted: 12 February 2010
06:29 pm ET

The space shuttle Endeavour's heat shield is in fine shape despite three minor defects, which pose no risk to the orbiter or its six-astronaut crew, a top NASA official said Friday.

*


2010.02.12 09:16 GMT

STS-130-04:00:00

 

[EarthlingX]

Astronauts Enter Tranquility
Sat, 13 Feb 2010 02:25:28 AM GMT

ISS Commander Jeff Williams opened the hatch into Tranquility at 9:17 p.m. EST entering it for the first time with STS-130 Commander George Zamka and Mission Specialist Stephen Robinson. The hatch into the cupola is scheduled to be opened at 10:44 p.m.

..
STS130-04:17:12:00
..
It is opened ..
..
.. arm is being moved to relocate Cupola ...

..
in the Quest airlock, getting suits ready ...
..

.. connecting internal connections to the new module..

..
.. STS130-04:17:45:00 ..
..

..
.. STS130-04:17:54:00 ..




..
.. hatch into Cupola opened, getting it ready for relocation ..
... over the Atlantic Ocean ..

Astronauts Enter Tranquility, Cupola
Sat, 13 Feb 2010 04:35:43 AM GMT

ISS Commander Jeff Williams opened the hatch into Tranquility at 9:17 p.m. EST entering it for the first time with STS-130 Commander George Zamka and Mission Specialist Stephen Robinson. The hatch into the cupola was opened afterwards at 11:32 p.m.

STS-130-04:19:21
..

..
.. live interview with astronauts at about 07:00 GMT , also on Twitter ..
..
STS-130-04:19:57:00



STS-130-04:21:00:00
..

.. a bit late with work ..
STS-130-04:21:25:00
..
.. working on the connections, still some left, but will probably finish ..
..
.. closing the hatch to the Cupola for now ..
..

STS-130-04:21:45:00
.. http://twitter.com/astro_Mike - capcom, receiving questions for astronauts ..
.. they will be answered live soon ..
.. preparing space suits for EV2 ..

...

...
STS-130-04:22:00:00

...
.. exercise system being moved in ..
..
STS-130-04:22:13:00
.. ready for Live event ..




Twitter acounts:
http://twitter.com/astro_Mike
http://twitter.com/astro_Nick
http://twitter.com/astro_TJ
http://twitter.com/astro_Jeff
http://twitter.com/astro_Soichi
http://twitter.com/NASA_astronauts

*
(edit 2010.02.13) Space.com article:
Astronauts Open Space Station's Newest Room

By Tariq Malik
SPACE.com Managing Editor
posted: 12 February 2010
11:16 pm ET

The International Space Station just got roomier. Astronauts opened the orbiting laboratory's brand-new room late Friday and quickly got to work moving things in.

*


STS-130-04:22:39:00

 

[EarthlingX]

2010.02.13 09:16 GMT

STS-130-05:00:00:00

 

[Zipi]

STS-130 EVA#1 Spacewalk Highlights:
[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h2EnrX2Frgw[/youtube]

STS-130: EVA-1 / Node 3 Installlation: (time lapse) [with overview]
[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5qYw0Q-Nqow[/youtube]

Flightday 5 Highlights:
[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=POMFrN3_BCc[/youtube]

 

[EarthlingX]

Niiiiceee .... :mrgreen:

 

[nimbus]

Great documentation guys, thanks for doing this.

 

[Zipi]

STS-130 Twitter Event:
[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZPA4OEsUCPk[/youtube]

 

[EarthlingX]

Great documentation guys, thanks for doing this.

I enjoy doing it, and i thank you for thanking me for that

You see something missing, or have something, drop it in

( :lol: crosspost

 

[MeteorWayne]

MSNBC is reporting there was a problem with this activity:

From spaceflightnow:

"One of the main activities (overnight Friday) will be preparing the cupola for its relocation," Dempsey said. "What this will entail is opening the hatch to the cupola, putting in a cover that will be in place once the cupola is removed and provides protection to that port when it's exposed to space, capping some valves so we have good seals there and don't have any paths to vacuum. Then we will close the hatch and get ready to depress the cupola in preparations for its relocation."

MSNBC said the hatch would not fit, so they are trying to figure out what to do. Not details about a problem on spaceflightnow or NASA website.

 

[EarthlingX]

No trouble with Cupola on live TV during the mission, i think i would notice ..
They were a bit late with connections, for an hour or so, data, could be air ... ? I did not watch past the interview, had to go .. :roll: :?:

 

[3488]

Good afternoon everyone (it is here in Europe anyway, atill morning in the USA & Canada), thank you all so much for the updates. Hugely appreciated. :mrgreen:

I could not find anything either relating to the problem Wayne pointed out. I wonder if they could not get the hatch to fit in the time allocated??? Bearing in mind there is only so much oxygen in their suits!!!!

STS 130 Eandeavour NASA update for today.

Dunno if anyone has seen these? Some are old hat now, but still impressive.

Endeavour as seen from the ISS over twikight horizon of Earth during approach. Tuesday 9th February 2010.

Tranquility being removed from Endeavour Cargo Bay to port side of Unity

STS 130 Endeavour Mission Specialist Nicholas Patrick during EVA 1.

Andrew Brown.

 

[EarthlingX]

Update: Engineers troubleshoot cupola issue; reduced water processing system flow

7:30 AM, 2/13/10, Update: Engineers troubleshoot cupola issue; reduced water processing system flow

The combined crews of the shuttle Endeavour and the International Space Station worked overnight Friday outfitting the new Tranquility module and preparing it for activation during a spacewalk Saturday night to connect ammonia coolant lines.

"We have had some reduced flow before," Dempsey said. "We're not certain at this point if it's the same sort of problem. It likely is. It appears to be happening between a valve and the new external filter that we installed earlier in the mission.

"We're going to ... do what we call a back flush, where we push some of the water back and bypass the filter and see if it's possibly a solenoid, a valve that is having some sort of debris that's blocking it. Alternatively, it could be the filter."

I heard that, just didn't know it was serious .. ?

There is some problem with the cover too :

Before the cupola is relocated, the astronauts need to install a cover on the outboard side of the mating interface to protect it from micrometeoroid impacts and low temperatures.

"What this cover is, it's about the diameter of the module and it fits on the end cone of each module that when we remove a module and expose the (docking interface) to space, you want some sort of protection," Dempsey said.

The cover is held in place by four bars that rotate closed to engage a set of hooks. When the astronauts attempted to secure the cover overnight Friday, they discovered a physical interference that prevented the bars from rotating far enough to lock in place.

 

[nimbus]

Those two pics in high res, in case anyone with a big screen wants em as wallpaper
http://spaceflight.nasa.gov/gallery/ima ... 62673.html
http://spaceflight.nasa.gov/gallery/ima ... 62672.html

 

[EarthlingX]

Those two pics in high res, in case anyone with a big screen wants em as wallpaper
http://spaceflight.nasa.gov/gallery/ima ... 62673.html
http://spaceflight.nasa.gov/gallery/ima ... 62672.html

This is all safely on my disk plus 1 more ..




*
edit (2010.02.14)
Stunning Space Photo Shows Shuttle in Silhouette

By Tariq Malik
SPACE.com Managing Editor
posted: 13 February 2010
03:59 pm ET

This story was updated at 4:33 p.m. ET.



Stunning new photographs released by NASA reveal the space shuttle Endeavour in silhouette against a colorful backdrop provided by the Earth.

*

 

[3488]

Thanks Nimbus. I have saved the full res ones too.

I have a large collection from STS 130 Endeavour now, of course on the forums we can only post up to approx 750 pixels wide, otherwise thay are cropped from the right.

I post those on here & the planetary science threads too.

The NASA TV screen dumps are OK as they are less than that.

Thanks EarthlingX, how the hell did I miss that one????? Saved too. :mrgreen:

Endeavour approaches the ISS with Soyuz in upper right.

Full Resolution image here.

Andrew Brown.

 

[nimbus]

Very nice pics....

 

[EarthlingX]

:mrgreen:

Oh, and about those small pictures, i just try to make a photo story of a kind .. i'm still learning :roll: ..
but you will notice numbers in the file names, which are mission time, so you can find that time on the video or in NASA gallery ..

Screen capture can not compete with a real photo, so keep them coming
Not to mention the eye ..

That's how i get thumbnails, if the links are not provided, works only with sites, that have thumbnails :

Firefox, sorry :
- right click on the small image, copy image location
- paste in post
- select complete URL (drag over with left mouse button pressed)
- click Img button on top of the post form
- select img tag and URL
- click URL on top
- copy/past URL of hi-res image , or page where you choose resolution, if available, behind '[url=', you will have to type '='

For editing i use Gimp

oh, and two tabs, of course ..

I could also mention some Zoom add-on .. ?

Can't give you direct link, it's a secure connection, blah, blah, .. just 'browse all addons' or something and search for zoom.

Hope it helps.

 

[EarthlingX]

They were reporting about the cover again on NASA TV, but EV2 is on the schedule, no show stoppers .. Should i report such things ?
Like that suit ventilation ?

I don't want to start a panic with just a half of information, some things might sound bad, in only couple words, like
- one of the spacesuits is broken, or something ..
.. and then they explain it, no problem, they will report that again in the next show, with a proper explanation ..

If i will see something very strange or bad, sure, but while they talk about 'reduced flow' which will take a bit more time .. ?
One of the suits had some strange behavior of ventilator or something, and they decided to change it .. ?

I missed that cover thing, though .. but that is no show-stopper, they will just reschedule it, after ground test or something .. ?

And it was a moment later on the news, i was busy clicking .. :|

 

[MeteorWayne]

SDC Article:
http://www.space.com/missionlaunches/sp ... 00212.html
Excerpt:
"Astronauts have run into their first big glitch with the International Space Station's brand-new room, one that may delay plans for opening its long-awaited observation deck.

An insulation cover for the $382 million module's end cap doesn't fit properly and is vital to protect the new Tranquility module once the window-lined observation deck there is moved to its final perch.

"When we remove a module and expose it to space, you want some kind of protection," said space station flight director Bob Dempsey early Saturday.

The insulation is a round, multilayered fabric covering installed with buckles and four fold-down bars to lock it in place. Astronauts could not swing those bars fully into place because pieces of metal securing handrails and other tools in place in the dome-shaped window unit were in the way."

 

[EarthlingX]

Second Spacewalk Today; Mission Extended
Sat, 13 Feb 2010 09:34:26 PM GMT

The crew of space shuttle Endeavour awoke at 4:15 p.m. EST to the song “Too Much Stuff” by Delbert McClinton, played for Mission Specialist Stephen Robinson, who will be working as the intravehicular officer for today’s spacewalk.

NOTE: There is a change in today’s timeline. The cupola depressurization that was scheduled for 3:54 a.m. Sunday will not happen. Instead, that time will be used for center disk cover troubleshooting. Depress will be deferred to another day. Cupola grapple also has been removed from the timeline to allow for additional time for troubleshooting. Also, the Mission Management Team today officially approved to add an extra docked day to the mission. The first landing opportunity now would be on Sunday, Feb. 21.

Flight day seven will focus on configuring the new Tranquility module, inside and out, for its space operations. Spacewalkers Nicholas Patrick and Bob Behnken will continue external outfitting of Tranquility by connecting fluid jumpers and remaining avionics cables, and installing covers as well as hardware to assist with future spacewalks, such as handrails and gap spanners. Pilot Terry Virts, Mission Specialist Kathryn Hire, and Expedition 22 crew members Jeff Williams and Soichi Noguchi will work on configuring systems inside Tranquility.

Second STS-130 Spacewalk Begins
Sun, 14 Feb 2010 02:24:44 AM GMT
At 9:20 p.m. EST, STS-130 spacewalkers Robert Behnken and Nicholas Patrick switched their suits to battery power, officially starting today’s excursion outside the orbiting laboratory. Behnken is wearing a spacesuit marked with solid red stripes. Patrick is wearing an all-white suit. This will be Behken’s fifth and Patrick’s second spacewalk.

Behnken and Patrick will spend their first four hours connecting the ammonia loops on the new Tranquility node to those of the Destiny laboratory. There are two loops, with two lines apiece, each of which must be connected to both Tranquility and Destiny and routed through a bracket on Unity, which connects Tranquility to Destiny. Behnken will open one of the loops so that ammonia will be allowed to flow to the node from the station’s external thermal control system.

Today’s spacewalk is expected to last about 6.5-hours.

STS-130-05:16:35:00
..

...
STS-130-05:17:08:00
.. Spacewalk begins over South Asia ..
..

..
STS-130-05:17:15:00
..
Camera 16 - Bob
Camera 18 - Nick
..
STS-130-05:17:24:00
..



..
STS-130-05:17:51:00

..
STS-130-05:17:55:00
..

..
STS-130-05:18:13:00
..
..
STS-130-05:18:30:00
..

..
STS-130-05:18:38:00
..
.. Over China ..
..
STS-130-05:18:43:00

..
STS-130-05:18:53:00
.. inspection of ammonia flow .. ?
.. something about the helmet .. ?
..
.. no-one is loosing a beat ..
STS-130-05:18:54:00
..


..
.. inspection team on the ground said go, after checking photos ..
.. nothing unexpected ..
..
STS-130-05:19:04:00
..

..

 

[EarthlingX]

Second Spacewalk Proceeding Well
Sun, 14 Feb 2010 04:23:43 AM GMT

We are two hours into the mission’s second spacewalk, which is proceeding well.

After Nicholas Patrick removed a quick disconnect cap, a small amount of ammonia crystals was observed. Based on conservative flight rules, Patrick’s suit is considered contaminated, although Patrick reported that he could not see any crystals on his suit.

If crystals are discerned, Patrick will try and wipe them off before reentering the airlock. As a precaution, the astronauts will spend additional time in the airlock to allow for any possible flakes to be cleansed from their suits through the airlock environmental system.

Inside the station, astronauts have completed the installation of the Advanced Resistive Exercise Device (ARED) in the Tranquility node.

STS-130-05:19:15:00
..


..
.. Huston concurs, but she's not there ...
..

..

STS-130-05:19:29:00
..

..
visible glove/suit (?) inspection successful ..
..
STS-130-05:19:48:00
..
.. 10 min behind ..
.. begin activation of the Tranquility node ..
..
STS-130-05:19:50:00
...
.. over India ..
.. everything going smoothly ..
..
STS-130-05:20:07:00
..

..
STS-130-05:20:38:00
go to open ammonium ..

..
STS-130-05:20:41:00
.. flow activated ..


STS-130-05:20:50:00
.. coming over Florida ..
..

STS-130-05:20:54:00
..

all ammonium valves open ..
..

STS-130-05:21:03:00
...


STS-130-05:21:16:00
.. rotary joint in a position for the next task ..
..

..
.. EV2 will be a little shorter for one of them, under regulations ..
..

..
STS-130-05:21:31:00
.. sunrise over Europe, on the way to Middle East and Indian Ocean ...
.. flow is ok ..

 

[EarthlingX]

Spacewalkers Connect Ammonia Loops
Sun, 14 Feb 2010 06:50:39 AM GMT

We are 4-hours, 23-minutes into the mission’s second spacewalk.

Mission Specialists Robert Behnken and Nicholas Patrick have completed the task of connecting the ammonia loops. They now will spend the remaining time outfitting Tranquility. Behnken has installed insulation on the keel pin. He next will install four trunnions that connected Tranquility to the shuttle while it was in transit. He also will set up the centerline camera on the nadir, or Earth-facing, port of Tranquility and release the launch locks that held the petals of the port’s berthing mechanism in place during launch. The cupola will be moved to that port the following day.

Patrick will install a vent valve and eight handrails on Tranquility. The vent valve will be part of the atmospheric control and resupply system, and the handrails will be used by spacewalkers to move along the exterior of the node.

Behnken will wrap up his duties by removing tape on five gap spanners that act as a bridge for astronauts between areas on Tranquility without handrails.

STS-130-05:22:01:00
..
STS-130-05:22:06:00
.. rumor has it, Nick can not stay late out tonight ..
..


..
STS-130-05:22:23:00
.. (rumor) and has a go, but will take him all over America to Huston to do it ..
..



..
STS-130-05:22:37:00
.. both of them almost in ..

..
STS-130-05:22:42:00
.. hatch closed and locked ..

..
STS-130-05:22:46:00
.. Tranquility operational ..

..
STS-130-05:22:51:00
.. waiting 15 min as an extra precaution, to be sure ammonium stays out ...
..

..
STS-130-05:22:57:00
.. spacewalk finished, pressurization started ..

 

[EarthlingX]

Robert Behnken, Nicholas Patrick Complete Second Spacewalk
Sun, 14 Feb 2010 08:24:24 AM GMT

Spacewalkers Robert Behnken and Nicholas Patrick completed a five hour, 54 minute spacewalk at 3:14 a.m. EST. The pair completed all their scheduled tasks.

This was the second of three STS-130 spacewalks, the 232nd conducted by U.S. astronauts, the fifth for Behnken and the second for Patrick. It was the 139th in support of International Space Station assembly and maintenance, totaling 867 hours, 28 minutes.

Inside the complex, the crew has completed the Tranquility node activation work.

NASA Television will air a Mission Status Briefing at 5:30 a.m. with STS-130 Lead Space Station Flight Director Bob Dempsey and STS-130 Lead Spacewalk Officer Art Thomason.

STS-130-05:23:05:00


STS-130-05:23:22:00
.. no sign of ammonium, continuing pressurization..
..



STS-130-23:53:00
..
*
edit 2010.02.13 13:11 GMT
Spacewalkers Hook Up Plumbing For New Space Station Room

By Tariq Malik.
SPACE.com Managing Editor
posted: 14 February 2010
01:50 am ET

This story was updated at 4:05 a.m. ET.



Two spacewalking astronauts ventured outside the International Space Station late Saturday for a high-flying plumbing job on the orbiting laboratory's newest room.

*

 

[Zipi]

Highlights of the Second EVA:
[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QGw07D0aI8k[/youtube]

NASAtelevision recently posted STS-130 crew video:
[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gblxIAW7BDw[/youtube]

Tranquility's Hatch Opening:
[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hBgJjr134vU[/youtube]