STS-131 Pre Launch Discussion (April 5,6:21 AM EDT)

[Zipi]

Re: STS-131 Pre Launch Discussion (Target April 5)

Moving MPLM Leonardo to payload canister:
[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xA_Cr4aBx8I[/youtube]

 

[MeteorWayne]

Re: STS-131 Pre Launch Discussion (Target April 5)

MEDIA ADVISORY : M10-044 NASA Schedules News Conference about Next Space Shuttle Launch CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. -- NASA managers will hold a news conference on Friday, March 26, at the agency's Kennedy Space Center in Florida to discuss the status of the next space shuttle launch. The briefing will begin after the Flight Readiness Review, a meeting to assess preparations for shuttle Discovery's STS-131 mission to the International Space Station.

Live status updates, including the start time for the news conference, will be provided during the meeting via the NASA News Twitter feed. To access the feed, go to the NASA.gov homepage or visit:


http://www.twitter.com/nasa


The review is expected to include the selection of an official launch date. Discovery is targeted to launch at 6:21 a.m. EDT on Monday, April 5.

The briefing participants are:
- Bill Gerstenmaier, associate administrator for Space Operations
- John Shannon, Space Shuttle Program manager
- Pete Nickolenko, STS-131 launch director

NASA Television and the agency's Web site will carry the live briefing.

 

[Zipi]

Re: STS-131 Pre Launch Discussion (Target April 5)

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BETvz98MPWU[/youtube]

 

[EarthlingX]

Re: STS-131 Pre Launch Discussion (Target April 5)

An old news, but some interesting details :

http://www.universetoday.com : ISS to get 'Man Cave' Complete with Robot Butler

Written by Nancy Atkinson

There might be a new favorite hang-out for astronauts aboard the International Space Station later this year. The Multi Purpose Logistics Module (MPLM) known as Leonardo – which will be going to the ISS on the upcoming STS-131 mission carrying cargo and supplies — will be transformed after the mission into a Permanent Multipurpose Module (PMM), and brought up to stay on the station on STS-133 as a storeroom for supplies. But it might also become a haven to get away from it all.

Cosmonaut Yuri Gidzenko floats inside Leonardo during its first flight to the ISS. Leonardo will become a permanant module later in 2010. Credit: NASA

Another interesting piece of hardware scheduled to fly on the PMM is the Robonaut 2, NASA's second generation of dexterous robots with a human-like torso that can work with tools and one day are envisioned to be able to do EVA work outside the ISS. But for now, R2 will be tested inside the station in zero-g. "It will be used on orbit for routine maintenance indoors only." said Kinslow, "This is not an external unit."

It has a "head" with a vision system, with hands that can do work, controlled by virtual-reality-like operation. Any chance R2 could be programmed to serve drinks or bring food into the man cave?

 

[MeteorWayne]

Re: STS-131 Pre Launch Discussion (Target April 5)

NASA is tweeting from the FRR at:

http://twitter.com/nasa

This will be followed by a News Conference on NASA TV, probably early this evening. Time TBA.

 

[MeteorWayne]

Re: STS-131 Pre Launch Discussion (Target April 5)

From the tweets:

#FRR - Orbiter project presented rationale to fly with the Reaction Control System valve issue "as is." There were no objections.
23 minutes ago via web

#FRR - There is no concern for the safety of Discovery & crew with the RCS valve issue. Additional failures could shorten the flight.
27 minutes ago via web

 

[MeteorWayne]

Re: STS-131 Pre Launch Discussion (Target April 5)

Launch date confirmation for April 5th at 6:21 AM EDT.

 

[strandedonearth]

Re: STS-131 Pre Launch Discussion (Target April 5)

That's the first pic I've seen of the inside of an MPLM. I never realized just how cavernous they are.

 

[EarthlingX]

Re: STS-131 Pre Launch Discussion (Target April 5)

That's the first pic I've seen of the inside of an MPLM. I never realized just how cavernous they are.

Yes, they are quite big. There are a couple more left, to be put somewhere :

SDC thread : What would you do with Leonardo and Donatello?

 

[MasterComposter]

Re: STS-131 Pre Launch Discussion (Target April 5)

I'm hoping to see this launch. I've got business in Florida later the same week, so I'm planning to fly into Orlando on the 3rd, scope out locations for viewing in on the 4th, get up early and see the launch on the 5th. Anyone have any tips? If I get to see it go up, this will be the first shuttle launch I have ever seen (and just barely in time).

 

[Zipi]

Re: STS-131 Pre Launch Discussion (Target April 5)

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PxZWnzmaJ2o[/youtube]

 

[EarthlingX]

Re: STS-131 Pre Launch Discussion (Target April 5)

I'm hoping to see this launch. I've got business in Florida later the same week, so I'm planning to fly into Orlando on the 3rd, scope out locations for viewing in on the 4th, get up early and see the launch on the 5th. Anyone have any tips? If I get to see it go up, this will be the first shuttle launch I have ever seen (and just barely in time).

Perhaps you can find some answers in this thread :

SDC : Space nut Visiting Florida - any advice?

 

[samo]

Re: STS-131 Pre Launch Discussion (Target April 5)

On March 28 Brevard County had a small ("Mini") Tornado ... the local weather Station (Melbourne, the closest to KSC) had only 30 mph. Apparently a small, local event: But: the Storm Event Database puts it between KSC & Melbourne ...
.... so can anyone at the Cape confirm there was nothing of note near the Launch Pad ?

 

[Zipi]

Re: STS-131 Pre Launch Discussion (Target April 5)

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FD4o18HOzrE[/youtube]

 

[EarthlingX]

Re: STS-131 Pre Launch Discussion (Target April 5)

One more very nice video

Thanks Mike, Zipi

 

[Zipi]

Re: STS-131 Pre Launch Discussion (Target April 5)

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2csADJ2sbIA[/youtube]

 

[MeteorWayne]

Re: STS-131 Pre Launch Discussion (Target April 5)

NASA Announces Shuttle Prelaunch Events and Countdown Details
CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. - News conferences, events and operating hours for the news center at NASA's Kennedy Space Center, Fla., are set for the upcoming launch of space shuttle Discovery.

Shuttle Discovery's STS-131 mission to the International Space Station is scheduled to lift off at 6:21 a.m. EDT on Monday, April 5. Detailed lists of countdown milestones, news briefing times and participants, and hours of operation for Kennedy's news center and media credentialing office are available at:

http://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/shuttle/news

A NASA blog will update the countdown beginning April 5 at 1:15 a.m. Originating from Kennedy, the blog is the definitive Internet source for information leading up to launch. During the mission, visitors to NASA's shuttle Web site can read about the crew's progress and watch the mission's three spacewalks live.

As Discovery's flight concludes, the NASA blog will detail the spacecraft's return to Earth. For NASA's launch blog and continuous mission updates, visit:

http://www.nasa.gov/shuttle

The NASA News Twitter feed will be updated throughout the shuttle launch countdown, mission and landing. To follow, visit:

http://www.twitter.com/nasa

Mission Specialists Clayton Anderson and Naoko Yamazaki of the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency are sending updates about their training to their Twitter accounts and plan to tweet from orbit during the mission. They can be followed, respectively, at:

http://www.twitter.com/Astro_Clay

and

http://www.twitter.com/Astro_Naoko

For NASA TV streaming video, scheduling and downlink information, visit:

http://www.nasa.gov/ntv

MW

 

[EarthlingX]

Re: STS-131 Pre Launch Discussion (Target April 5)

Pheew.. Glad that 1st. of April is over Thanks MW

 

[MeteorWayne]

Re: STS-131 Pre Launch Discussion (Target April 5)

Today's NASA TV schedule:

11:30 a.m. (no earlier than) - Prelaunch News Conference
- Mike Moses, chair, Mission Management Team
- Pete Nickolenko, STS-131 launch director
- Kathy Winters, shuttle weather officer

1 p.m. - International Space Station Science and Technology Briefing

Human Physiology
- Mark Uhran, assistant associate administrator for Space Station
- Clarence Sams, chief scientist, ISS medical project
- Dr. Scott Duchavsky, ISS investigator, chairman, Department of Surgery at Henry Ford Hospital, Detroit
- Nobuyoshi Fujimoto, JAXA’s associate senior engineer for Human Space Systems and Utilization

Commercial Partnerships
- Jason Crusan, chief technologist for Space Operations
- Darren Samplatsky, Sabatier engineering manager
- Marybeth Edeen, ISS national lab office manager
- Jeffrey Manber, managing director, NanoRacks LLC

 

[MeteorWayne]

Re: STS-131 Pre Launch Discussion (Target April 5)

Pre Launch New Conference about to start.

 

[MeteorWayne]

Re: STS-131 Pre Launch Discussion (Target April 5)

Quick update. Weather is good at all abort sites. Chance of weather prohibiting launch is 20% both Monday and Tuesday morning with a slight chance of fog violating RTLS rules. All countdown activities are proceeding normally.

Only unusual activity is a retorque of window #3 that has a unique type of fastener...some slight relaxation of the torque was noted on another vehicle (I think it was Atlantis, but not sure), in any case, no big deal, will not impact countdown.

RSS retract is scheduled for 9:30 tomorrow morning, tanking begins ~ 9 PM.

A few other details about stuff discussed at the MMT meeting, I'll post shortly.

 

[EarthlingX]

Re: STS-131 Pre Launch Discussion (Target April 5)

Cube-labs, lovely ..

What-a-prices !! did i hear correct, $25 0000 per 2 weeks per 1U ?

 

[MeteorWayne]

Re: STS-131 Pre Launch Discussion (Target April 5)

NASA TV for today and early tomorrow:

L-1 Day - Sunday, April 4

9:30 a.m. - Rotating Service Structure moves away from Discovery

8:45 p.m. - Fueling commentary coverage begins

Approx. 8:59 p.m. - Tanking begins

Launch day - Monday, April 5

1:15 a.m. - Continuous launch commentary coverage begins

Crew Activities: (times may vary slightly)
8 p.m. (April 4) - Crew wakes up (not on NASA TV)
1:54 a.m. -- Weather briefing (commander, pilot and mission specialist 2) (not on NASA TV)
About 2:04 a.m. -- Astronauts don flight suits
2:34 a.m. -- Depart for launch pad
3:04 a.m. -- Arrive at White Room and begin boarding Discovery
4:09 a.m. -- Close crew hatch

6:21 a.m. -- Launch

Launch + 1 hour - Post-launch News Conference
- Bill Gerstenmaier, associate administrator for Space Operations
- Mike Moses, chair, Mission Management Team
- Pete Nickolenko, STS-131 launch director

 

[MeteorWayne]

Re: STS-131 Pre Launch Discussion (Target April 5)

Some notes for observing from the ground tomorrow. There will be an ISS pass in the morning just after 6 AM for most of the eastern US, moving from south to east with highest elevation in the southeast. Check Heavens-Above.com for details for your location. It's 18 degrees high for me here in NJ, and about 44 degrees at the Cape. Now that the Soyuz has docked there are 6 on board.

The Shuttle launch is scheduled for 6:21 AM; that's 15 minutes before sunrise for me here in NJ, 57 minutes before sunrise at the Cape...that means the SRB plumes will start in shadow, but at some point will break out into sunshine..I'll work on the math if I have time later...busy cooking day.

Once Discovery docks, there will be 13 at the ISS/Shuttle complex.

For the first time in history, there will be 4 womern in space at the same time.

During the mission, here in NJ, I have many superb early morning viewing opportunities leading up to and after docking (scheduled for the 8th) and throughout most of the mission, so check out Heavens Above to see if that applies to your location.

MW

 

[MeteorWayne]

Re: STS-131 Pre Launch Discussion (Target April 5)

Tanking coverage has begun on NASA TV.