STS-132 (ULF4) Post Launch Mission Discussion (Atlantis)

[Woggles]

Re: Atlantis' boosters return to Cape Canaveral for the last tim

Thanks MW. Please feel free to move it there!! lol.

 

[EarthlingX]

http://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/shuttle/main/index.html

Spacewalkers Free Snagged Cable, Begin Battery Work

Wed, 19 May 2010 11:53:44 GMT

Spacewalker Steve Bowen successfully freed the cable that had snagged at the camera on the end of the Orbiter Boom Sensor System. He inspected it for damage and secured it. Tests of the pan and tilt of the camera determined adequate range of motion has been restored. The team believes they have good capability and overall full range of motion.

Bowen and Michael Good next will replace three of the six batteries on the B side of the port 6 solar array – each of the two wings of the four solar arrays at the space station is designated either A or B. The six batteries on the A side of the port 6 were replaced on the STS-127 mission.

The new batteries will be designated by letters A through F, and the old batteries numbered one through six. Good will remove an old battery from the solar array’s integrated electrical assembly using two “scoops” that Bowen will installed to make it possible to maneuver the batteries. After removing two bolts, Good will hand off the first old battery, battery 1, get out of the foot restraint in which he was working, move closer to Bowen and take hold of the battery again. Bowen then will release the battery, move slightly farther down the station's backbone, or truss, and position himself to take hold of the battery.

Good will hand the battery to Bowen then move himself closer to once again take hold and control the battery. The process is called “shepherding,” and might appear as though the spacewalkers are “inch-worming” along the truss, except that one person is always holding a 375-pound battery.

To install the battery in a temporary storage location on the integrated electrical assembly, Good will use one of the scoops to attach it to a multi-use tether. The spacewalkers will then remove the first new battery, battery A, from the pallet on which it launched to the station (the space station robotic arm will be holding the pallet nearby for the spacewalkers’ access) and shepherd it back to the integrated electrical assembly for installation in slot 1. The next step will be to remove battery 2, shepherd it to the pallet to be installed in slot A, and remove battery B to be installed in slot 2.

The process will continue until three batteries have been installed, then the first battery will be removed from its temporary storage location and installed in the vacant spot on the pallet. The order will be:

Battery 1 to temporary storage

Battery A to Slot 1

Battery 2 to Slot A

Battery B to Slot 2

Battery 3 to Slot B

Battery C to Slot 3

Battery 1 to Slot C

The spacewalkers are about a little more than an hour into the spacewalk, which began at 6:38 a.m. EDT and is expected to last 6.5 hours.

STS-132 MET = 4:17:56:00

STS-132 MET = 4:18:02:00

STS-132 MET = 4:18:06:00

Ready to remove battery 1.

STS-132 MET = 4:18:08:00

Removing first battery.

STS-132 MET = 4:18:19:00

First battery removed and in temporary storage location.

STS-132 MET = 4:18:24:00

STS-132 MET = 4:18:35:00
Moving back with the second battery.

STS-132 MET = 4:18:38:00

STS-132 MET = 4:18:45:00
First battery installed

STS-132 MET = 4:18:52:00

http://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/shuttle/main/index.html

First Battery Installed
Wed, 19 May 2010 03:13:38 PM GMT

At 9:05 a.m. EDT, spacewalkers Steve Bowen and Michael Good installed the first of three new batteries, battery A on the B side of one of the four solar arrays on the International Space Station.

Each battery has 8 kilowatt-hours of energy, enough to run a 100 watt bulb or LCD television for 80 hours. The space station has 24 of these batteries for a combined total of 192 kilowatt-hours of energy, enough to run the average U.S. home for about six days.

The spacewalkers completed the installation at two hours and 27 minutes into today's spacewalk.

STS-132 MET = 4:18:58:00

STS-132 MET = 4:19:10:00
Putting first of the old batteries on the pallet.

STS-132 MET = 4:19:16:00

STS-132 MET = 4:19:29:00
Second new battery in the works.

STS-132 MET = 4:19:45:00

STS-132 MET = 4:19:46:00

Second battery installed.

STS-132 MET = 4:19:49:00

STS-132 MET = 4:19:58:00

Third old battery removed.

http://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/shutt ... index.html

Second Battery Installed

Wed, 19 May 2010 14:18:42 GMT

At 10:06 a.m. EDT, spacewalkers Steve Bowen and Michael Good installed a second battery, battery B, on one of the four solar arrays on the International Space Station. The STS-132 mission delivered a total of six new batteries to the station. Bowen and Good will install three batteries today and a fourth if time permits. The remaining batteries will be installed during the third spacewalk on Friday.

The batteries are recharged during the sunlit phase of each orbit around Earth and provide a continuous power source to the station during the shadow phase.

The spacewalkers completed the installation about three and a half hours into today's spacewalk.

STS-132 MET = 4:20:00:00

(They miss pool instructors, but the view is much better)

STS-132 MET = 4:20:08:00

STS-132 MET = 4:20:13:00

Battery three on the pallet.

STS-132 MET = 4:20:25:00

STS-132 MET = 4:20:40:00

STS-132 MET = 4:20:44:00

Foot restraints moved for battery C, the third new one.

STS-132 MET = 4:20:50:00

http://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/shuttle/main/index.html

Primary Spacewalk Work Completed
Wed, 19 May 2010 15:10:43 GMT

STS-132 spacewalkers Steve Bowen and Michael Good installed a third battery, battery C, at about 11 a.m. EDT, completing the primary work of today's spacewalk.

The spacewalkers are nearly 4 hours and 30 minutes into today's planned 6.5-hour excursion. Mission Control asked Bowen and Good if they are willing to proceed with the task of installing battery D, planned for Friday's spacewalk, and they agreed. They are moving on to the fourth of six new batteries space shuttle Atlantis delivered to the International Space Station.

STS-132 MET = 4:20:58:00

STS-132 MET = 4:20:59:00

STS-132 MET = 4:21:11:00

STS-132 MET = 4:21:12:00

STS-132 MET = 4:21:16:00

STS-132 MET = 4:21:18:00

STS-132 MET = 4:21:29:00

STS-132 MET = 4:21:32:00

Four new batteries installed, three on the pallet, one in the stowing location.

STS-132 MET = 4:21:40:00

STS-132 MET = 4:21:45:00

http://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/shuttle/main/index.html

Spacewalkers Install Fourth Battery

Wed, 19 May 2010 16:05:46 GMT

STS-132 spacewalkers Steve Bowen and Michael Good installed a fourth battery, battery D, at 11:52 a.m. EDT, on one of the International Space Station's four solar arrays.

The spacewalkers are about 5 hours and 20 minutes into today's planned 6.5-hour excursion. The crew is proceeding with clean-up procedures before they return to the Quest airlock.

After additional tests of the pan and tilt on the camera at the end of the Orbiter Boom Sensor System, it has been declared fully operational and control has been handed back to space shuttle Atlantis' crew.

STS-132 MET = 4:21:56:00

They like it outside and are willing to do more go-ahead tasks, since they are ahead of the time-line.

STS-132 MET = 4:22:15:00
At the airlock.

STS-132 MET = 4:22:16:00

http://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/shuttle/main/index.html

Spacewalkers Press On
Wed, 19 May 2010 16:36:18 GMT

STS-132 spacewalkers Steve Bowen and Michael Good are making very good progress in today's spacewalk and have asked Mission Control to remain outside and continue on to another task. After a stop at the International Space Station's Quest airlock, they will move over to the space-to-ground antenna dish and boom that were installed on the central part of the space station during the first spacewalk. Once there, they will attempt to tighten the bolts connecting the dish to the boom, eliminating the 1-millimeter gap. If they are successful, they will remove the tether holding the dish and boom together and release the launch locks, allowing the antenna dish to rotate.

Bowen and Good are about 5 hours and 50 minutes into today's planned 6.5-hour spacewalk.

STS-132 MET = 4:22:29:00

STS-132 MET = 4:22:35:00
No more gap and no wiggle.

STS-132 MET = 4:22:44:00

STS-132 MET = 4:22:48:00

STS-132 MET = 4:22:58:00
On their way to the airlock.

STS-132 MET = 4:23:11:00

STS-132 MET = 4:23:12:00
Beginning to close the thermal cover.

STS-132 MET = 4:23:18:00

STS-132 MET = 4:23:20:00

STS-132 MET = 4:23:23:00
'Go' to close the hatch.

STS-132 MET = 4:23:24:00
Hatch closed and locked.

STS-132 MET = 4:23:25:00

STS-132 MET = 4:23:27:00
Re-pressurization started, EVA ended.

 

[EarthlingX]

STS-132 MET = 4:23:29:00

http://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/shuttle/main/index.html

Second Spacewalk Complete

Wed, 19 May 2010 17:52:28 GMT

Astronauts Steve Bowen and Michael Good completed a 7-hour, 9-minute spacewalk at 1:47 p.m. EDT.

STS-132 spacewalkers Bowen and Good successfully tightened the bolts connecting the space-to-ground antenna dish and boom, eliminating the gap. They also removed the tether that had been holding the dish and boom together and released the launch locks, allowing the antenna dish to rotate.

This was the second of three STS-132 spacewalks, the 238th conducted by U.S. astronauts, the fifth for Bowen and the third for Good. It was the 145th in support of International Space Station assembly and maintenance, totaling 908 hours, 7 minutes.

NASA Television will air a Mission Status Briefing at 4 p.m. EDT.

SDC : Spacewalking Astronauts Replace Batteries, Untangle Shuttle Cable

By Clara Moskowitz
SPACE.com Senior Writer
posted: 19 May 2010
01:49 pm ET



Two spacewalking astronauts began a tricky battery swap on the space station's solar arrays Wednesday, a job that is expected to take two full spacewalks to complete.

Atlantis mission specialists Michael Good and Stephen Bowen got ahead of schedule, successfully installing more than half of the new batteries. In addition, they were able to fix a snagged cable that was plaguing a sensor camera on shuttle Atlantis and tighten the connection between a stuck antenna and its stand.

Overall, the spacewalkers spent a little over seven hours floating outside the space station, and ended the spacewalk at 1:47 p.m. EDT (1747 GMT). It was the second of three planned spacewalks for the shuttle Atlantis' 12-day STS-132 mission, the orbiter's final planned spaceflight.

STS-132 MET = 4:23:36:00

STS-132 MET = 4:23:51:00

 

[EarthlingX]

http://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/shuttle/main/index.html

Rassvet Activities, Interviews and Spacewalk Preps Thursday

Wed, 19 May 2010 20:42:17 GMT

Thursday’s activities include the initial hatch opening of the Mini Research Module-1, named Rassvet. Crew members will put in a filter to cleanse the air.

Atlantis crew members Commander Ken Ham, Pilot Tony Antonelli, Mission Specialist Piers Sellers and International Space Station Expedition 23 Flight Engineer Tracy Caldwell Dyson will participate in an interview with the Associated Press, Fox News Radio and CBS.

The crew then will have the remainder of the day off, until Mission Specialists Michael Good and Garrett Reisman begin preparations for the mission's final spacewalk.

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pfF32oTEW5s[/youtube]

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9-8gIMIjCCk[/youtube]

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wbC7YtC-eAo[/youtube]

 

[EarthlingX]

http://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/shuttle/main/index.html

Crews Opening Hatch to New Module Today

Thu, 20 May 2010 06:17:03 GMT

Atlantis' crew woke at 1:59 a.m. EDT to the song "Welcome to the Working Week" by Elvis Costello, played for Mission Specialist Steve Bowen. Bowen was the lead spacewalker yesterday. He thanked his family for "picking such a great song."
The seventh day of the mission features the initial hatch opening of the Mini Research Module-1, named Rassvet ("dawn" in Russian). Crew members will participate in interviews with the Associated Press, Fox News Radio and CBS, then they will have the remainder of the day off until Mission Specialists Michael Good and Garrett Reisman begin preparations for the mission's final spacewalk on Friday.

Over Southern Russia, on their way over Sakhalin to Pacific Ocean.

STS-132 MET = 5:13:24:00

STS-132 MET = 5:13:37:00

Hatch to the Rassvet is expected to be opened at approximately 5:30 CDT (10:30 GMT) .

STS-132 MET = 5:15:48:00
Leak check between ISS and Rassvet confirmed.

STS-132 MET = 5:16:21:00
Air pressure in Rassvet and ISS being equalized.

STS-132 MET = 5:16:28:00
'Go' for the hatch opening.

STS-132 MET = 5:16:32:00
Hatches are open, going in.

Over Japan, moving into sunset.

STS-132 MET = 5:16:39:00

STS-132 MET = 5:16:43:00

http://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/shuttle/main/index.html

Crews Open Hatch to New Module

Thu, 20 May 2010 11:03:39 GMT

At 6:52 a.m. EDT, following leak checks, Expedition 23 Commander Oleg Kotov and Flight Engineer Alexander Skvortsov opened the hatch of the Mini Research Module-1, named Rassvet. They will insert an air filter, install duct work for airflow, remove the docking mechanism, and leave the hatch slightly ajar.

The 11,000-pound module was attached to its permanent location on the International Space Station Tuesday. It is connected to the Earth-facing port of the Zarya module, where it will increase the capabilities of the Russian segment of the space station by providing workstations for payloads and the conduct of experiments. Rassvet also provides a new docking port for Russian spacecraft.

Actual entry into the module and transfer of the 3,086 pounds of NASA cargo it holds will occur after space shuttle Atlantis departs. Rassvet also carries important hardware on its exterior, including a radiator, airlock and a European robotic arm.

SDC : Astronauts Open Space Station's Newest Room

By Clara Moskowitz
SPACE.com Senior Writer
posted: 20 May 2010
02:09 am ET

This story was updated at 7:22 a.m. EDT.



Atlantis shuttle astronauts and the crew of the International Space Station opened the station's newest room Thursday, a Russian research module that doubles as a spaceship docking port.

The $200 million new room, called the Mini Research Module-1, or Rassvet ("Dawn" in Russian), was delivered by Atlantis and attached to the station's Zarya module on Tuesday. Once it's up and running, the 19.7-foot (6-meter) long Rassvet will be used for storage and scientific research by the station crew. It will also provide another docking port for visiting Russian spacecraft to link up to.

STS-132 MET = 5:17:35:00
Coming over Europe.

STS-132 MET = 5:18:06:00
Interviews.

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uWSCKHr9bEY[/youtube]

STS-132 MET = 5:18:33:00
Crew has meal and then the time off.

STS-132 MET = 5:18:34:00

 

[3488]

A quick chime in as I am still very tired after my fantastic trip.

Times in USA are EST. GMT / UTC - 5 hrs.

A few pictures I took.

I did not take any of the actual launch as I did not want to miss anyting & shuttle_guy also said it would be a distraction, but got some before & after. AMAZING. :mrgreen:

Andrew.

 

[Testing]

A quick chime in as I am still very tired after my fantastic trip.

Times in USA are EST. GMT / UTC - 5 hrs.

A few pictures I took.

I did not take any of the actual launch as I did not want to miss anyting & shuttle_guy also said it would be a distraction, but got some before & after. AMAZING. :mrgreen:

Andrew.

Well done Sir. I never took any pictures of SG either.

 

[trailrider]

Just an aside from an old "SRB DSS" (Solid Rocket Booster Decelerator Sub-System...i.e., the parachute recovery system): Note the SRB's nose cone frustum on the fantail of Liberty Star. A small rocket motor on the "beanie cap" (the slightly rounded tip of the booster), pulls it off, deploying the pilot chute, which, in turn, pulls the drogue chute out. The drogue chute slows the booster and also orients it from tumbling to a tail-first attitude. At about 10,000 ft, the barometric switch signals the initiators to fire the linear shaped charge around the base of the frustum, severing it from the booster's forward skirt. The drogue chute pulls the frustum off, which acts like deployment bags for the three main parachutes. The drogue then lowers the frustum to the water, where it is recovered, along with the chute.

The mains come out in a reefed condition, with two bands around the bottom of each canopy. This is to decrease the loads on the canopy. At certain points a pair of reefing line guillotine cutters fire (one is sufficient to cut the line, but the second one is there for backup). The second reefing line is similarly cut. I don't know what the current configuration is, but it used to be that the deceleration caused by water impact caused explosive nuts on the deck fittings that hold the risers to the SRB to fire, and the residual stress in the risers popped the deck fitting free of the booster. The chutes then were kept from sinking by means of floats attached to the deck fittings. The chutes were then recovered, sent to the Parachute Refurbishment Facility (PRF), washed, dried, inspected and repairs made if necessary. Whether these chutes will be reused or not is uncertain due to the limited number of flights remaining. If not, the risers could be cut up and sold for automobile tow cables. They make dandy ones! Initial cost of developing the SRB DSS was about $25M. Reusing the boosters paid for development in the first few flights, IIRC. (The exception was STS-4, where the ringing frequency of the firing of the separation ring matched the accelerometer that detected water impact. The deck fitting explosive nuts fired at altitude, and we lost both boosters. After that, NASA finally listened to our original recommendation, and added some circuitry to prevent such an occurrence. But that was many years ago, in a galaxy far, far away!

Ad LEO! Ad LUNA! Ad Ares! Ad Astra!

 

[EarthlingX]

A quick chime in as I am still very tired after my fantastic trip.

Times in USA are EST. GMT / UTC - 5 hrs.

A few pictures I took.

I did not take any of the actual launch as I did not want to miss anyting & shuttle_guy also said it would be a distraction, but got some before & after. AMAZING. :mrgreen:

Andrew.

Lovely pictures, and glad to have you back

 

[EarthlingX]

http://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/shuttle/main/index.html

Third Spacewalk Starts Friday Morning

Thu, 20 May 2010 20:49:40 GMT

The third spacewalk of the mission with astronauts Michael Good and Garrett Reisman is expected to begin at 6:45 a.m. EDT Friday. The spacewalkers will replace the final two batteries on the Port 6 truss. They also will install an ammonia jumper on the Port 4/Port 5 truss and retrieve a power and data grapple fixture from the shuttle's payload bay. The grapple fixture will be installed later on the Zarya module.

Image above: In this "fish-eye" lens view, STS-132 Mission Specialist Garrett Reisman is surrounded by windows and computers in the International Space Station's cupola. Image credit: NASA

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6X8b_j9RONQ[/youtube]

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pb8Er9noHTI[/youtube]

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o4JIMdUbA8c[/youtube]

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vnN4sjhdjhQ[/youtube]

STS-132 MET = 6:11:13:00

 

[Zipi]

SDC's Article: http://www.space.com/missionlaunches/sh ... 00520.html

Full image without cropping: http://i.space.com/images/shuttle-atlan ... 520-02.jpg
Full image with better resolution: http://www.axilone.com/legault/iss_atlantis_2010.jpg

 

[EarthlingX]

STS-132 MET = 6:11:30:00
Wake-up music.

Yesterday they noticed some metal shavings floating in the Rassvet, and will probably solve that with a vacuum cleaner.

Coming over the South Africa.

STS-132 MET = 6:11:39:00

STS-132 MET = 6:11:40:00

http://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/shuttle/main/index.html

Crew Preparing for Third and Final Spacewalk
Fri, 21 May 2010 06:00:53 AM GMT

At 1:50 a.m. EDT, Atlantis' crew woke to “Traveling Light,” by JJ Cale, played for Mission Specialist Piers Sellers.

Today astronauts Michael Good and Garrett Reisman will conduct the third and final spacewalk of the mission. The crew is expected to begin the spacewalk at 6:45 a.m.

The spacewalkers will replace the final two batteries on the Port 6 truss. They also will install an ammonia jumper on the Port 4/Port 5 truss and retrieve a power and data grapple fixture from the shuttle's payload bay. The grapple fixture will be installed later on the Zarya module.

Michael Good, red stripes on the suit.
Garrett Reisman, all white suit.

STS-132 MET = 6:12:15:00
Over the North Pacific Ocean, getting suits ready.

STS-132 MET = 6:12:55:00
There was some minor leak between the airlock and Unity, they finished check now, it's ok, proceeding as planned.

STS-132 MET = 6:13:02:00

STS-132 MET = 6:13:16:00

STS-132 MET = 6:13:42:00
There is an air bubble in the cooling system of Garrett's space suit, which could influence duration of the spacewalk, but ground team thinks it will be ok for about 6,5 h, which is a planned duration of the spacewalk.

STS-132 MET = 6:13:51:00
Spacewalk duration numbers confirmed by the ground team.

STS-132 MET = 6:14:03:00

STS-132 MET = 6:14:21:00
SDC : Atlantis Astronauts Gear Up for Third and Final Spacewalk

By Clara Moskowitz
SPACE.com Senior Writer
posted: 21 May 2010
04:41 am ET



The spacewalking crew of NASA's space shuttle Atlantis will take one final spacewalk of their mission to wrap up a battery upgrade service call on the solar arrays outside the International Space Station.

It will be the final spacewalk conducted with Atlantis while it is docked at the station, because this STS-132 mission is the orbiter's last planned flight before retirement.

The shuttle Atlantis crew woke Friday morning at 1:50 a.m. EDT (0550 GMT). The spacewalkers are due to begin their excursion – called an extravehicular activity (EVA) in NASA parlance – at 6:45 a.m. EDT (1045 GMT), and stay outside about 6 1/2 hours. They will exit out of the station's Quest airlock.

Mission specialists Garrett Reisman and Michael Good will follow up two previous spacewalks on this mission to complete the job of installing new batteries on the left-most edge of the station's backbone-like truss.

Good and fellow mission specialist Stephen Bowen began the chore on Wednesday's spacewalk, when they got ahead of schedule and installed four of six batteries, leaving only two more for the final excursion.

STS-132 MET = 6:14:45:00
Spacewalk might begin earlier than planned.

STS-132 MET = 6:14:50:00
Garrett Reisman, with the New York Yankees fan emblem.

STS-132 MET = 6:15:14:00
Hatch closed.

STS-132 MET = 6:15:22:00
Spacewalk might begin about 30 min earlier.

STS-132 MET = 6:15:26:00

STS-132 MET = 6:15:47:00

STS-132 MET = 6:16:02:00
Over the South America, coming into orbital sunrise over Rio de Janeiro.

STS-132 MET = 6:16:07:00
Suits on internal power EVA started.

 

[EarthlingX]

STS-132 MET = 6:16:10:00

STS-132 MET = 6:16:19:00

STS-132 MET = 6:16:23:00
Closing thermal cover.

http://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/shuttle/main/index.html

Final STS-132 Spacewalk Begins
Fri, 21 May 2010 10:36:43 GMT

At 6:27 a.m. EDT, STS-132 spacewalkers Michael Good and Garrett Reisman switched their suits to battery power, signifying the start of today's 6.5-hour excursion. Atlantis Pilot Tony Antonelli will be inside the International Space Station, choreographing the activities and coordinating communications between the spacewalkers and Mission Control in Houston.

This is the 239th spacewalk conducted by U.S. astronauts, the 146th in support of space station assembly and maintenance, the fourth for Good and the third for Reisman. Good, lead for this spacewalk, will wear a spacesuit marked with a band of red and white barber pole stripes; his helmet cam displays number 19. Reisman is wearing an all-white spacesuit, and his helmet cam displays number 20.

The primary work of the spacewalk is to exchange the two remaining batteries of the six Atlantis delivered to the space station. Other tasks include installation of the cargo carrier to the mobile transporter so it can be returned to shuttle, transferring a power and data grapple fixture from the shuttle to the station, installing an ammonia jumper cable between the port 4 and 5 trusses of the station, and positioning tools.

STS-132 MET = 6:16:28:00

STS-132 MET = 6:16:32:00

STS-132 MET = 6:16:38:00

STS-132 MET = 6:16:44:00
Ammonia jumper installed, moving to the next task.

STS-132 MET = 6:16:49:00

STS-132 MET = 6:17:02:00

STS-132 MET = 6:17:06:00

http://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/shuttle/main/index.html

First Spacewalk Task Complete

Fri, 21 May 2010 11:16:32 GMT

STS-132 astronauts Michael Good and Garrett Reisman completed the first task of today's spacewalk at 7:04 a.m. EDT. They installed an ammonia jumper cable between the port 4 and 5 trusses of the International Space Station. The cable is a backup for the existing system. It would allow for an easier swap to this fluid line for ammonia, which is used to cool the space station's systems.

Next, Good and Reisman will move on to the primary task for today of installing two more batteries on one half of one of the station's four solar arrays. The old batteries are designated 5 and 6, and the new batteries are designated E and F.

They will remove an old battery from the solar array's integrated electrical assembly using two "scoops." After removing two bolts, they will hand the first old battery back and forth as they move down the station's backbone, or truss. The process is called "shepherding," and might appear as though the spacewalkers are "inch-worming" along the truss, except that one person is always holding a 375-pound battery.

They will then install the old battery in a temporary storage location on the integrated electrical assembly, remove the first new battery from the pallet on which it launched to the station (the space station robotic arm will be holding the pallet nearby for the spacewalkers' access) and shepherd it back to the integrated electrical assembly for installation. The process will continue until the two batteries have been installed.

STS-132 MET = 6:17:08:00

STS-132 MET = 6:17:14:00

STS-132 MET = 6:17:18:00

STS-132 MET = 6:17:21:00
Frist of old batteries on the pallet.

STS-132 MET = 6:17:34:00

STS-132 MET = 6:17:37:00

STS-132 MET = 6:17:46:00

STS-132 MET = 6:17:53:00
Fifth new battery installed.

STS-132 MET = 6:18:01:00
Coming over Spain, second one is view towards UK, while they were over France..

STS-132 MET = 6:18:05:00

http://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/shuttle/main/index.html

Fifth Battery Installed

Fri, 21 May 2010 12:16:34 GMT

At 8:13 a.m. EDT, STS-132 spacewalkers Michael Good and Garrett Reisman installed the fifth of six new batteries, battery E, on one half of one of the four solar arrays on the International Space Station.

The batteries have an expected life span of 6.5 years. The batteries being removed have been in use for about 9.5 years and were still operating within specifications.

The spacewalkers completed the installation at about 1 hour and 45 minutes into today's spacewalk.

STS-132 MET = 6:18:12:00

STS-132 MET = 6:18:25:00

STS-132 MET = 6:18:34:00
Last battery off the pallet.

STS-132 MET = 6:18:43:00

STS-132 MET = 6:18:46:00

STS-132 MET = 6:18:47:00
All batteries installed.

STS-132 MET = 6:18:49:00
Moving battery from the temporary storage location to the pallet.

http://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/shuttle/main/index.html

Final Battery Installed

Fri, 21 May 2010 13:20:26 PM GMT

Michael Good and Garrett Reisman installed the final new battery, battery F, on one of the four solar arrays on the International Space Station at 9:07 a.m. EDT. All six batteries the STS-132 mission delivered to the station are now installed.

The spacewalkers completed the installation about 2 and 40 minutes into today's spacewalk.

Good and Reisman will take battery 1, which was temporarily stored nearby on the integrated electrical assembly, and move it to the pallet which carried the new batteries to the station. The pallet will be returned to the space shuttle. Then they will clean up their work site.

The next task is to transfer a Power and Data Grapple Fixture from the space shuttle's payload bay to the station for storage; it will be installed later this year. The Power and Data Grapple Fixtures act as a base for one end of the space station's robotic arm, allowing it to attach, pick up, manipulate and detach from various locations around the orbiting laboratory.

STS-132 MET = 6:19:04:00

STS-132 MET = 6:19:06:00

STS-132 MET = 6:19:07:00
Last battery on the pallet.

STS-132 MET = 6:19:08:00

STS-132 MET = 6:19:17:00

STS-132 MET = 6:19:32:00
Carrier ready for the way back, all batteries safely stowed.

STS-132 MET = 6:19:35:00

 

[EarthlingX]

STS-132 MET = 6:20:00:00

STS-132 MET = 6:20:07:00

STS-132 MET = 6:20:16:00

STS-132 MET = 6:20:19:00

STS-132 MET = 6:20:25:00

STS-132 MET = 6:20:38:00

STS-132 MET = 6:20:44:00

STS-132 MET = 6:20:50:00

STS-132 MET = 6:20:52:00

STS-132 MET = 6:20:58:00

They can see the Cape.

STS-132 MET = 6:21:00:00

STS-132 MET = 6:21:09:00

STS-132 MET = 6:21:15:00

They are about 20 min ahead of their schedule.

STS-132 MET = 6:21:26:00

STS-132 MET = 6:21:29:00

STS-132 MET = 6:21:41:00

STS-132 MET = 6:21:45:00

STS-132 MET = 6:21:48:00

STS-132 MET = 6:21:53:00

STS-132 MET = 6:22:04:00

STS-132 MET = 6:22:10:00

STS-132 MET = 6:22:18:00

STS-132 MET = 6:22:25:00

STS-132 MET = 6:22:28:00

Crossing over Mexico, on the way to Houston.

STS-132 MET = 6:22:36:00

STS-132 MET = 6:22:44:00

STS-132 MET = 6:22:51:00

Over France, on the way to Africa over Mediterranean Sea

STS-132 MET = 6:22:53:00
Pressurization of the airlock began, spacewalk ended

 

[EarthlingX]

STS-131 MET = 6:22:57:00

STS-131 MET = 6:22:58:00

http://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/shuttle/main/index.html

Final STS-132 Spacewalk Complete
Fri, 21 May 2010 17:18:13 GMT

Mission Specialists Michael Good and Garrett Reisman completed the final STS-132 spacewalk at 1:13 p.m. EDT. The spacewalk lasted 6 hours, 46 minutes.

Spacewalkers Good and Reisman completed the installation of the final two of the six new batteries for the B side of the port 6 solar array. The old batteries are on the cargo carrier, which has been placed on the mobile base system that will be returned to the space shuttle tomorrow morning. In addition, the astronauts installed a backup ammonia jumper cable between the port 4 and 5 trusses of the station, transferred a power and data grapple fixture from the shuttle to the station, and reconfigured some tools.

This was the third and final of three STS-132 spacewalks, totaling 21 hours, 20 minutes. It was the 239th spacewalk conducted by U.S. astronauts, the fourth for Good and the third for Reisman. This was the 146th spacewalk in support of International Space Station assembly and maintenance, totaling 914 hours, 53 minutes.

SDC : Astronauts Perform Spacewalk Finale Outside Shuttle Atlantis

By Tariq Malik
SPACE.com Managing Editor
posted: 21 May 2010
12:53 pm ET

This story was updated at 1:36 p.m. EDT.



Two astronauts put the finishing touches on a new six-pack of batteries for the International Space Station Friday during their mission's third and final spacewalk – one that also sent them to the cargo bay of shuttle Atlantis for the last time.

Astronauts Michael Good and Garrett Reisman spent almost seven hours working in space to finish installing the six new solar array batteries – each worth $3.6 million – on the leftmost edge of the space station.

"The station has a new six-pack," NASA commentator Kyle Herring said from Mission Control.

Good and Reisman replaced two of six old solar array batteries during today's spacewalk. Four others were swapped out during a Wednesday excursion. The battery upgrade was one of the major goals for the Atlantis crew's mission as the shuttle flies what is expected to be its final spaceflight before being retired.

NASA wants to make sure the station is as up-to-date on equipment and spare parts before its space shuttle fleet retires. After this flight of Atlantis, which is due to land next Wednesday, May 26, only two more shuttle missions remain.

STS-131 MET = 6:23:03:00

STS-131 MET = 6:23:15:00

STS-131 MET = 6:23:43:00

STS-131 MET = 6:23:51:00

STS-131 MET = 7:00:07:00
Good check on all six new batteries.

STS-131 MET = 7:00:06:00

STS-131 MET = 7:00:24:00

STS-131 MET = 7:01:26:00

STS-131 MET = 7:01:57:00

STS-131 MET = 7:02:13:00

 

[3488]

A few photos from my trip.

VAB & Launch Control Centre.

Crawler with VAB in background.

Atlantis on pad prior to launch.

Me in front of VAB. shuttle_guy took this. It came out very well, despite me being so ugly.

Pegasus Barge, IIRC this one bought the ET for STS 133 Discovery.

Launch plume.

Pad 39A being damped down after launch.

Astrovan returning to base after the successful launch.

USS Freedom Star with recovered SRBs from the launch of STS 132 Atlantis.

VAB from return flight. Not long left Orlando, so not high yet.

Andrew Brown.

 

[EarthlingX]

Lovely :mrgreen: and we even got your photo

Nice to have you back

 

[3488]

Hi EarthlingX,

I look like an alien that the last Shuttle Mission STS 131 Discovery abducted & bought back Was a bit bloated too, with different water & food, as well as medication after a few days, it has gone down, so I am not as big as I appear on that photo. Mind you my face is pretty horrendous.

Great to see that the mission is going very well. Understand the final space walk has been completed successfully.

21 hours & 20' total for all three spacewalks.

Atlantis to undock Sunday with an intended Wednesday landing.

Space Shuttle landing facility runway pictured by me in the rain. The #7 marker is approx halfway along. Hopefully on Wednesday it will be better here for the landing.

Andrew Brown.

 

[EarthlingX]

http://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/shuttle/main/index.html

Robotics Work, Student Interviews and Off-Duty Time for Crew

Fri, 21 May 2010 22:07:34 GMT

On Saturday, astronauts will use the station's robotic arm to move the cargo pallet back into the shuttle's payload bay.

An in-flight interview also will take place with shuttle and station crew members answering questions from students at NASA Explorer Schools. The crew will have some off duty time Saturday afternoon.

http://spaceflight.nasa.gov/gallery/images/shuttle/sts-132/html/iss023e047864.html

ISS023-E-047864 (21 May 2010) --- NASA astronaut Michael Good, STS-132 mission specialist, participates in the mission's third and final session of extravehicular activity (EVA) as construction and maintenance continue on the International Space Station.

http://spaceflight.nasa.gov/gallery/images/shuttle/sts-132/html/iss023e047842.html

ISS023-E-047842 (21 May 2010) --- NASA astronaut Garrett Reisman, STS-132 mission specialist, participates in the mission's third and final session of extravehicular activity (EVA) as construction and maintenance continue on the International Space Station.

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HUpjCRk93Ac[/youtube]

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kCIH0Zdvfac[/youtube]

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K__IO9atbVI[/youtube]

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y-1iF-aEUxA[/youtube]

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FZMmNJ6ItwU[/youtube]

 

[EarthlingX]

STS-132 MET = 7:11:00:00
Atlantis/ISS crew wake up, over the North Pacific Ocean.

http://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/shuttle/main/index.html

Robotics for STS-132 Crew Today

Sat, 22 May 2010 05:29:25 GMT

Atlantis' crew woke at 1:20 a.m. EDT, to "Lord We Have Seen the Rising Sun" by Matt Redman, played for Mission Specialist Mike Good. Good was yesterday's lead spacewalker, completing his fourth spacewalk.

At 3:35 a.m., the crew will operate the station's robotic arm to place the cargo pallet that holds the six old batteries the STS-132 mission replaced back into the space shuttle for return to Earth.

STS-132 MET = 7:11:52:00

Coming over Namibia, North Africa.

STS-132 MET = 7:12:16:00

STS-132 MET = 7:13:41:00
Arm moving

STS-132 MET = 7:14:02:00

STS-132 MET = 7:14:05:00

Arm holding integrated cargo carrier.

STS-132 MET = 7:14:13:00

ICC released from mobile station.

STS-132 MET = 7:14:26:00

STS-132 MET = 7:14:42:00

STS-132 MET = 7:14:44:00
Robotic arm operator thanking makers of the Cupola for the great view on their work.

STS-132 MET = 7:14:52:00

STS-132 MET = 7:14:57:00

STS-132 MET = 7:15:00:00
ICC in low hover position, crossing equator, on the way to Africa.

STS-132 MET = 7:15:14:00

STS-132 MET = 7:15:17:00

STS-132 MET = 7:15:21:00

STS-132 MET = 7:15:26:00

STS-132 MET = 7:15:29:00
'Go' for forward latches.

STS-132 MET = 7:15:30:00
ICC is latched.

STS-132 MET = 7:15:37:00
Crossing China, on the way to the Northern Pacific Ocean, over Shanghai.

STS-132 MET = 7:15:41:00
Arm un-grappled the pin.

STS-132 MET = 7:15:46:00

STS-132 MET = 7:15:50:00
Robotic operations for the STS-132 crew complete, operators thanking ground team, instructors, Cupola.

STS-132 MET = 7:16:32:00
Discussing tool configurations, and various other minor tasks, over Brazil.

STS-132 MET = 7:16:48:00
Passing Morocco, North Africa, and after crossing Portugal, coming almost directly over Madrid.

STS-132 MET = 7:17:04:00

http://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/shuttle/main/index.html

Astronauts Wrap Up Station Robotics

Sat, 22 May 2010 11:35:41 GMT

This morning, Piers Sellers and Garrett Reisman operated the station's robotic arm to return the cargo pallet to the shuttle's payload bay. The integrated cargo carrier brought up the six new batteries astronauts installed during two spacewalks on Wednesday and Friday. The old batteries were placed on the pallet for return to Earth. At 5:50 a.m. EDT, the carrier was stowed in the space shuttle, completing space station robotic operations for the remainder of Atlantis' mission.

From 7:40 to 8 a.m., shuttle and International Space Station astronauts will answer elementary and middle school students' questions from orbit. Students from 12 NASA Explorer Schools submitted their questions earlier by video. Space shuttle Commander Ken Ham, Pilot Tony Antonelli, Mission Specialists Garret Reisman, Michael Good, Steve Bowen, Piers Sellers, and Expedition 23 Flight Engineer Tracy Caldwell Dyson will give answers live on NASA Television.

Today's mission status briefing with Mike Sarafin, lead shuttle flight director, will air on NASA TV at 10:30 a.m.

STS-132 MET = 7:17:22:00
Answering student questions.

STS-132 MET = 7:17:40:00
Finished.

STS-132 MET = 7:17:43:00

STS-132 MET = 7:17:44:00

 

[EarthlingX]

SDC : Atlantis Astronauts Pack Up Shuttle for Trip Home

By Tariq Malik
SPACE.com Managing Editor
posted: 22 May 2010
05:46 am ET

This story was updated at 7:53 a.m. EDT.



Astronauts on the space shuttle Atlantis packed up their spacecraft Saturday to get ready for their trip home and will get some well-deserved time off after a busy week of space station construction.

The six-man Atlantis crew has spent the last week at the International Space Station, where they added a new Russian room packed with supplies, fresh solar array batteries and a spare communications antenna.

They wrapped up their third and last spacewalk on Friday. So Mission Control planned to give the spaceflyers a few hours off today to rest up.

 

[EarthlingX]

http://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/shuttle/main/index.html

Off-Duty Time for Crew

Sat, 22 May 2010 18:01:43 GMT

The shuttle crew will have a few well-deserved hours of off-duty time before sleep at 4:50 p.m. EDT.

On Sunday crew farewells and hatch closure are to begin a little after 8 a.m. Undocking is set for 11:22 a.m.

http://spaceflight.nasa.gov/gallery/images/shuttle/sts-132/ndxpage47.html

S132-E-008656 (20 May 2010) --- NASA astronauts Garrett Reisman (left) and Michael Good, both STS-132 mission specialists, pose for a photo between two Extravehicular Mobility Unit (EMU) spacesuits in the Quest airlock of the International Space Station while space shuttle Atlantis remains docked with the station.

http://spaceflight.nasa.gov/gallery/images/shuttle/sts-132/ndxpage48.html


http://spaceflight.nasa.gov/gallery/images/shuttle/sts-132/ndxpage49.html

http://spaceflight.nasa.gov/gallery/images/shuttle/sts-132/html/s132e009105.html

S132-E-009105 (22 May 2010) --- On the eve of the day they must bid farewell to their International Space Station hosts and head back to Earth, the STS-132 crew members gather for an impromptu chat session onboard the orbital outpost. At lower left foreground is NASA astronaut Steve Bowen, mission specialist. Clockwise from his position are NASA astronauts Michael Good, Tony Antonelli, Garrett Reisman and Ken Ham. Ham and Antonelli are Atlantis' commander and pilot, respectively, Reisman and Good, along with Piers Sellers (out of frame), are all mission specialists. Photo credit: NASA or National Aeronautics and Space Administration

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

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

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PNnLPr4oV1A[/youtube]

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wgzd6FIicq0[/youtube]

 

[EarthlingX]

http://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/shuttle/main/index.html

Shuttle and Station Crews Wrapping Up Joint Mission

Sun, 23 May 2010 05:02:24 GMT

Atlantis' crew woke at 12:50 a.m. EDT, to "These are the Days” by 10,000 Maniacs. It was played for Pilot Tony Antonelli, who will control Atlantis as it flies around the International Space Station after undocking. Earlier in the mission, he choreographed the activities and coordinated communications between the spacewalkers and Mission Control in Houston during the mission's three spacewalks.

At 6:25 a.m., all 12 crew members aboard Atlantis and the space station will hold a news conference with media representatives. Reporters will ask questions in person from NASA's Johnson Space Center in Houston and from NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida. A portion of the news conference will be set aside for Japanese reporters. It will air on NASA TV and on the web at http://www.nasa.gov/ntv.

http://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/shuttle/shuttlemissions/sts132/news/execute_packages.html :

Flight Day 10 Execute Package (608 Kb PDF)


http://spaceflight.nasa.gov/gallery/images/station/crew-23/html/iss023e041822.html

ISS023-E-041822 (16 May 2010) --- Five of the six Expedition 23 crew members are pictured in the Unity node of the International Space Station while space shuttle Atlantis (STS-132) remains docked with the station. Pictured from the left bottom are Russian cosmonaut Oleg Kotov, commander; Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) astronaut Soichi Noguchi, Russian cosmonaut Alexander Skvortsov, NASA astronauts Tracy Caldwell Dyson and T.J. Creamer, all flight engineers.

http://spaceflight.nasa.gov/gallery/images/station/crew-23/html/iss023e041829.html

ISS023-E-041829 (16 May 2010) --- Russian cosmonaut Mikhail Kornienko, Expedition 23 flight engineer, is pictured near fresh tomatoes floating freely in the Unity node of the International Space Station while space shuttle Atlantis (STS-132) remains docked with the station.

STS-132 MET = 8:12:07:00

STS-132 MET = 8:12:36:00

STS-132 MET = 8:12:42:00

 

[EarthlingX]

STS-132 MET = 8:15:43:00

STS-132 MET = 8:16:05:00

STS-132 MET = 8:16:06:00
News conference

STS-132 MET = 8:16:42:00
Ended.

STS-132 MET = 8:16:45:00

STS-132 MET = 8:17:17:00

http://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/shuttle/main/index.html

Crews to Bid Farewell
Sun, 23 May 2010 11:37:16 GMT

The crews of space shuttle Atlantis and the International Space Station will say goodbye to each other in a farewell ceremony at 8:10 a.m. EDT before hatches between the two spacecraft are closed at 8:25 a.m.

STS-132 MET = 8:17:44:00
Farewell ceremony.

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cUg2XnS3eyU[/youtube]

STS-132 MET = 8:18:10:00

STS-132 MET = 8:18:17:00

STS-132 MET = 8:18:23:00
Hatch to Atlantis closed.

STS-132 MET = 8:18:32:00

STS-132 MET = 8:18:37:00

 

[EarthlingX]

http://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/shuttle/main/index.html

Hatches Between Shuttle and Station Closed

Sun, 23 May 2010 12:52:39 GMT

At 8:43 a.m. EDT, hatches were closed between space shuttle Atlantis and its six crew members and the International Space Station and its six crew members. The hatches between the two spacecraft were opened on May 16 and were open for joint crew operations for a total of 6 days, 20 hours, and 25 minutes.

Atlantis' crew has begun operations for undocking, scheduled for 11:22 a.m.

STS-132 MET = 8:18:50:00

STS-132 MET = 8:19:20:00

STS-132 MET = 8:19:38:00

STS-132 MET = 8:19:53:00
Station rotating into the proper position for undocking.

STS-132 MET = 8:20:17:00

STS-132 MET = 8:20:24:00
ISS in proper position for undocking.

STS-132 MET = 8:21:00:00
Hooks are being released.

STS-132 MET = 8:21:02:00
Undocking confirmed, west of Australia.

STS-132 MET = 8:21:07:00

http://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/shuttle/main/index.html

Atlantis Undocks from Station

Sun, 23 May 2010 15:27:10 GMT

At 11:22 a.m. EDT, space shuttle Atlantis undocked from the International Space Station. Atlantis spent 7 days, 0 hrs, and 54 minutes docked to the orbiting laboratory. At undocking, the spacecraft were 220 miles above the Indian Ocean, southwest of Australia.

At 11:51 a.m., Pilot Tony Antonelli will fly the shuttle one lap around the station to document its new configuration that includes the Rassvet module the STS-132 mission delivered. Atlantis' other crew members will take photos of the station.

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cZXoYoldz90[/youtube]

STS-132 MET = 8:21:19:00

STS-132 MET = 8:21:24:00

STS-132 MET = 8:21:27:00
Fly-around has begun.

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rO0fyCyHEOE[/youtube]

STS-132 MET = 8:21:41:00
Over the coast of Mexico, heading towards Texas, Canada.

STS-132 MET = 8:21:56:00

STS-132 MET = 8:22:01:00

STS-132 MET = 8:22:04:00

Coming over coast of France, Spain.

STS-132 MET = 8:22:07:00
Coming over Libya, North Africa.

STS-132 MET = 8:22:14:00
Atlantis radar engaged, fly-around almost complete.

STS-132 MET = 8:22:16:00
Separation burn in progress.

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wRkLOHZ2r6k[/youtube]

STS-132 MET = 8:22:24:00

STS-132 MET = 8:22:45:00
Second separation burn.

Finished.

STS-132 MET = 8:23:20:00