December 2006 - Sarex (INACTIVE)

LATEST SHUTTLE NEWS - Three Days to Go
by Arthur Rowe 04 Dec '06

04 Dec '06

SUBMITTED BY ARTHUR N1ORC - AMSAT A/C #31468 Three Days to Go The STS-116 crew arrived Sunday at NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida to begin final preparations for launch on the STS-116 mission, a construction flight to the International Space Station. At Launch Pad 39B, Space Shuttle Discovery is safely enveloped by the pad's rotating service structure, which protects the shuttle assembly from the elements while providing access for technicians. The structure will be rolled back to the "park" position early Thursday morning, revealing the shuttle poised for launch. The countdown is set to begin tonight at 11 p.m., with the clock starting at the T-43 hour mark. There are 27 hours, 36 minutes of hold time built into the countdown, leading to a preferred liftoff time at 9:35 p.m. EST. + Countdown 101 Primary payloads on the 12-day mission are the P5 integrated truss segment, SPACEHAB single logistics module and an integrated cargo carrier. This will be the 20th flight to the station. STS-116 Resources + STS-116 TV Schedule + Certificate of Flight Readiness + News and Media Resources

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NASA 'Lab-on-a-Chip' technology to begin journey to space station
by Arthur Rowe 04 Dec '06

04 Dec '06

SUBMITTED BY ARTHUR N1ORC - AMSAT A/C #31468 > Steve Roy December 4, 2006 > Marshall Space Flight Center > Huntsville, Ala. > Phone: (256) 544-0034 > > > NASA "LAB-ON-A-CHIP" TECHNOLOGY TO BEGIN JOURNEY TO SPACE STATION > > A unique, state-of-the-art science instrument -- one that could > revolutionize how astronauts conduct chemical and biological research in > space -- awaits launch this week aboard Space Shuttle Discovery. > > Developed by a science team led by NASA's Marshall Space Flight Center > in Huntsville, Ala., the Lab-On-a-Chip Application Development Portable > Test System, or LOCAD-PTS, is part of the STS-116 mission's science > payload, bound Dec. 7 for the International Space Station. > > The hand-portable detection system includes a handheld diagnostic reader > and set of instruments small enough to fit into a compact ice cooler. > The system will help astronaut-scientists perform biological studies > necessary for an extended human presence in space, from crew health and > spacecraft environmental studies to the search for life on other worlds. > Initially, it will provide rapid analysis to determine if certain types > of bacteria are present on various space station surfaces. In the > future, interchangeable system components will enable station crews to > monitor their environment for contaminants such as yeast, mold and, > eventually, more virulent and potentially harmful bacteria -- such as E. > coli and salmonella. > > On the space station, the system will be tested in spring of 2007 by > crew members, who will conduct surface-swabbing experiments to determine > the system's effectiveness. In 2008, researchers will augment the system > by delivering an air sampler unit that will permit station crew to > evaluate air, as well as station surfaces, for contamination. The > results will help NASA researchers refine the technology for future moon > and Mars missions. > > The compact system, which incorporates interchangeable cartridges, is > designed to serve as a mobile laboratory requiring minimal additional > resources. The handheld unit weighs a mere six pounds. It is driven by > technology developed by Charles River Laboratories of Wilmington, Mass., > and modified for space applications by researchers at the Marshall > Center. > > "Because the system is small, lightweight and portable, it is a unique > tool that can be placed directly in astronauts' hands, improving the > speed at which they can get data from days to minutes," said Ginger > Flores, LOCAD-PTS project manager at the Marshall Center. > > The Marshall-led science team will continue to manage the research > experiment once the system reaches the space station, providing > operational oversight from a console in the Payload Operations Center, > the Marshall-based hub for all space station science communications. > > Flying the portable detection system will pave the way for further > development of science equipment that makes use of lab-on-a-chip > technology, Flores said -- particularly applications that require such > equipment to endure the harsh, unforgiving environment of space. > > "This team of scientists and engineers has enjoyed a unique and > successful collaboration with industry to streamline the process of > preparing a commercial instrument for space," Flores said. "The > commitment of the team to furthering the role of humans in space is > evident in their dedication to this project." > > On Earth, commercially adapted lab-on-a-chip technology is already in > use in a variety of medical diagnostic applications, such as in-office > strep tests. In space, astronauts use the lab-on-a-chip-based Portable > Clinical Blood Analyzer to take blood samples, checking for proper > levels of potassium, sodium and glucose during missions. > > Lab-on-a-chip technology allows chemical and biological processes -- > previously requiring large pieces of laboratory equipment -- to be > performed on small plates etched with fluid channels called capillaries. > Using these channels, chemicals and fluid samples can be mixed, diluted, > separated and controlled for study. > > NASA researchers are developing complex, portable and lightweight > diagnostic chips to detect specific types of organisms, including > shipboard bacteria and interesting molecular structures found in alien > environments. Lab-on-a-chip instrumentation also can be adapted to > monitor crew health and the environment inside their space exploration > vehicle. Crew members on the space station, for example, will be able to > rapidly assess microorganisms found on the orbiting science facility, > helping to maintain a sterile research environment and clean air and > water supplies. > > Because the chips are small, a large number of them can be carried on a > Mars rover to search for life or carried on long-duration human > exploration missions for monitoring microbes inside lunar or Martian > habitats. > > "The information gained from this flight demonstration will be used to > develop even more mature technology, enabling researchers to perform > thousands of tests simultaneously in the space environment," said Dr. > Lisa Monaco, lead scientist for LOCAD at Marshall. "Such a platform will > enable space-based explorers to perform environmental tests, conduct > crew health studies and support the search for life on Mars." > > The LOCAD team at the Marshall Center is collaborating with scientists > at the Carnegie Institution of Washington, a private research > organization, and with other NASA centers and industry partners to > design chips for a variety of research and exploration applications, > including the identification of microbes in self-contained life support > systems. The lab-on-a-chip flight experiment is funded by NASA's > Exploration Systems Mission Directorate in Washington. > > For more information about lab-on-a-chip technology and NASA's LOCAD > project, visit: > > http://exploration.nasa.gov/programs/station/LOCAD-PTS.html > > -end- > > ON THE WEB > > Photos: > http://www.nasa.gov/centers/marshall/multimedia/photos/2006/photos06-138 > .html > > > >

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ISS Packet
by McGrane 04 Dec '06

04 Dec '06

greetings ISS packet is back on. If someone knows, please post the path. thanks, pat

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Packet heard
by Thomas Frey 03 Dec '06

03 Dec '06

Hello All I've heard Packet Radio signals from RS0ISS-4 again. The mailbox and ARISS may be open. Comes this from the Phase-1 transceiver ? Any infos ? Regards, 73 Thomas Frey, HB9SKA ______________________________________________________________________ Thomas Frey, Holzgasse 2, CH-5242 Birr, Tel. + Fax: 056 444 93 41 http://home.datacomm.ch/th.frey/ Packet Radio (AX.25): HB9SKA @ HB9PD.CHE.EU

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ISS STATUS REPORT #06-52
by Arthur Rowe 02 Dec '06

02 Dec '06

SUBMITTED BY ARTHUR N1ORC - AMSAT A./C #31468 *International Space Station Status Report #06-52* *3:30 p.m. CST, Friday, Dec. 1, 2006* *Expedition 14 Crew* HOUSTON - The International Space Station crew has been preparing for the planned arrival next week of the Space Shuttle Discovery on a complex mission to rewire the station's electrical system. Shuttle Discovery is due to launch at 8:35 p.m. CST Thursday, Dec. 7 on mission STS-116. In addition to work that will bring power online at the station from solar arrays delivered to the complex in September, Discovery also will bring a new crew member to the outpost. Expedition 14 Commander Mike Lopez-Alegria and flight engineers Mikhail Tyurin and Thomas Reiter reviewed the STS-116 mission plans this week. They prepared the station's Quest airlock, spacesuits and tools for three spacewalks planned for the shuttle mission. The crew packed equipment that will return to Earth aboard the shuttle, including Reiter's personal items since he will get a ride home aboard Discovery. STS-116 astronaut Sunita Williams will replace him as an Expedition 14 flight engineer. Flight controllers worked on two problems aboard the station this week, neither of which is expected to affect Discovery's launch or mission. An attempted reboost of the space station's altitude was cut short Wednesday. Russian flight controllers suspect that sensitive software detected a slight shift in the orientation of the station as the thrusters were fired. The change in orientation is believed to be normal, but it is new for the station due to the changes in its mass and balance resulting from the addition of the new solar arrays and truss segment in September. The Progress cargo craft's thrusters fired for 3 minutes, 16 seconds before automatically shutting off. They had planned to fire for 18 minutes, 22 seconds. Russian controllers plan to complete the reboost Monday with a 21-minute firing of the Progress thrusters and a software adjustment. The reboost next Monday, planned for around 3:35 p.m. CST, will optimize Discovery's rendezvous with the station. Flight controllers are analyzing a problem that occurred during testing of a new software package used to detect and solve problems with the station's giant Solar Alpha Rotary Joint. The joint is used to rotate the new solar arrays, allowing them to track the sun. The new software is designed to automatically realign the teeth of the joint's gears should they become misaligned, rather than requiring controllers to send commands for the realignment. However, while running through a test of the software on Tuesday, a remote power controller, or station circuit breaker, opened. The circuit breaker was successfully reset on Thursday. Extensive analysis and troubleshooting appears to indicate there is no problem with any equipment aboard the station. Work continues, however, to refine the new software. Unless events warrant, the next station update will be included in status reports for the STS-116 mission beginning on Thursday, Dec. 7 after Discovery's launch. For more about the crew's activities and station sighting opportunities, visit: http://www.nasa.gov/station

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EXP 14 CREW PREPS FOR DISCOVERY ARRIVAL
by Arthur Rowe 01 Dec '06

01 Dec '06

SUBMITTED BY ARTHUR N1ORC - AMSAT A/C #31468 Crew Preps for Shuttle Launch Expedition 14 Commander Mike Lopez-Alegria and Flight Engineers Mikhail Tyurin and Thomas Reiter prepared this week for the planned arrival of Space Shuttle Discovery which launches next week. The crew reviewed the STS-116 mission plans, packed equipment to be returned to Earth, and prepared the station's Quest airlock, spacesuits and spacewalking tools. Reiter will be replaced aboard the station by astronaut Sunita Williams, arriving on Discovery. An attempted reboost of the space station’s altitude was cut short Wednesday. The Progress cargo craft's thrusters fired for 3 minutes, 16 seconds before being automatically shut off. Russian flight controllers suspect that sensitive software detected a slight shift in the orientation of the station as the thrusters were fired. They are scheduled to complete the reboost of the station on Monday. Mission Control, Houston, has been analyzing a problem that occurred during testing of a new software package used for commanding the station's giant Solar Alpha Rotary Joint. The joint is used to rotate the new solar arrays to track the sun. While running through the software commands on Tuesday, a circuit breaker on the station opened. The circuit breaker was successfully reset on Thursday and ground controllers continued to refine the new software. NASA and the Russian Federal Space Agency have named two astronauts and two cosmonauts to the next International Space Station crew, known as Expedition 15. Astronauts Clayton Anderson and Daniel Tani will travel to the station next year and work as flight engineers. Cosmonauts Fyodor Yurchikhin and Dr. Oleg Kotov will spend six months aboard the orbiting laboratory.

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International Space Station Status Report: SS06-052
by Arthur Rowe 01 Dec '06

01 Dec '06

SUBMITTED BY ARTHUR N1ORC - AMSAT A/C #31468 NASA News wrote: > Dec. 1, 2006 > > Katherine Trinidad > Headquarters, Washington > 202-358-0668 > > James Hartsfield > Johnson Space Center, Houston > 281-483-5111 > STATUS REPORT: SS06-052 > > INTERNATIONAL SPACE STATION STATUS REPORT: SS06-052 > > HOUSTON - The International Space Station crew have been preparing for > the planned arrival next week of the Space Shuttle Discovery on a > complex mission to rewire the station's electrical system. > > Shuttle Discovery is due to launch at 8:35 p.m. CST Thursday, Dec. 7 > on mission STS-116. In addition to work that will bring power online > at the station from solar arrays delivered to the complex in > September, Discovery also will bring a new crew member to the > outpost. > > Expedition 14 Commander Mike Lopez-Alegria and flight engineers > Mikhail Tyurin and Thomas Reiter reviewed the STS-116 mission plans > this week. They prepared the station's Quest airlock, spacesuits and > tools for three spacewalk planned for the shuttle mission. The crew > packed equipment that will return to Earth aboard the shuttle, > including Reiter's personal items since he will get a ride home > aboard Discovery. STS-116 astronaut Sunita Williams will replace him > as an Expedition 14 flight engineer. > > Flight controllers worked on two problems aboard the station this > week, neither of which is expected to affect Discovery's launch or > mission. > > An attempted reboost of the space station's altitude was cut short > Wednesday. Russian flight controllers suspect that sensitive software > detected a slight shift in the orientation of the station as the > thrusters were fired. The change in orientation is believed to be > normal, but it is new for the station due to the changes in its mass > and balance resulting from the addition of the new solar arrays and > truss segment in September. > > The Progress cargo craft's thrusters fired for 3 minutes, 16 seconds > before automatically shutting off. They had planned to fire for 18 > minutes, 22 seconds. Russian controllers plan to complete the reboost > Monday with a 21-minute firing of the Progress thrusters and a > software adjustment. The reboost next Monday, planned for around 3:35 > p.m. CST, will optimize Discovery's rendezvous with the station. > > Flight controllers are analyzing a problem that occurred during > testing of a new software package used to detect and solve problems > with the station's giant Solar Alpha Rotary Joint. The joint is used > to rotate the new solar arrays, allowing them to track the sun. The > new software is designed to automatically realign the teeth of the > joint's gears should they become misaligned, rather than requiring > controllers to send commands for the realignment. > > However, while running through a test of the software on Tuesday, a > remote power controller, or station circuit breaker, opened. The > circuit breaker was successfully reset on Thursday. Extensive > analysis and troubleshooting appears to indicate there is no problem > with any equipment aboard the station. Work continues, however, to > refine the new software. > > Unless events warrant, the next station update will be included in > status reports for the STS-116 mission beginning on Thursday, Dec. 7 > after Discovery's launch. For more about the crew's activities and > station sighting opportunities, visit: > > http://www.nasa.gov/station > > > -end- > > >

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Launch Countdown Begins Dec. 4 for Space Shuttle Discovery
by Arthur Rowe 30 Nov '06

30 Nov '06

SUBMITTED BY ARTHUR N1ORC - AMSAT A/C #31468 > Nov. 30, 2006 > > Katherine Trinidad > Headquarters, Washington > 202-358-3749 > > Bruce Buckingham > Kennedy Space Center, Fla. > 321-867-2468 > > > > LAUNCH COUNTDOWN BEGINS DEC. 4 FOR SPACE SHUTTLE DISCOVERY > > CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. - NASA will begin the countdown for Space Shuttle > Discovery's STS-116 mission at 11 p.m. EST Monday, Dec. 4, at the > T-43 hour point. During this mission, Discovery's crew will rewire > the International Space Station, bringing electrical power on line > from solar arrays launched earlier this year. > > The Kennedy Space Center, Florida, launch team will conduct the > countdown from Firing Room 4 of the Launch Control Center. The > countdown includes 27 hours, 36 minutes of built-in hold time leading > to a preferred launch time at 9:35 p.m. on Thursday, Dec. 7. The > launch window extends an additional five minutes. > > A detailed list of launch countdown milestones and times is available > at: > > http://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/shuttle/news/index.html > > This mission is the 117th space shuttle flight, the 33rd flight for > Discovery and the 20th U.S. flight to the International Space > Station. STS-116 is scheduled to last 12 days with landing at about > 4:35 p.m. EST on Dec. 19 at Kennedy. > > Discovery rolled into Kennedy's Orbiter Processing Facility on July 17 > after returning from its last mission, STS-121. The shuttle rolled > out of the facility's bay 3 and into the Vehicle Assembly Building on > Oct. 31. While in the building's high bay 3, Discovery was mated to > its modified external fuel tank and solid rocket boosters. The entire > space shuttle stack was transferred to Launch Pad 39B on Nov. 9. > > The STS-116 crew consists of Commander Mark Polansky, Pilot Bill > Oefelein and mission specialists Bob Curbeam, Joan Higginbotham, > Nicholas Patrick, Christer Fuglesang of the European Space Agency and > Sunita Williams. Williams will remain aboard the station to begin a > six-month stay. European Space Agency astronaut Thomas Reiter, aboard > the station since July, will return to Earth on Discovery. > > During STS-116, Discovery's astronauts will completely rewire and > activate the station's electrical and thermal control systems. The > crew will deliver and install the P5 truss segment between the > station's existing P3/P4 and P6 truss segments during two of three > planned spacewalks. Installation of the P5 truss will allow the solar > arrays on the P3/P4 and P6 truss segments to operate and rotate > without interfering with each other. The P5 truss will act as a > conduit that will transmit power and data from the P6 segment to the > other segments on the station. > > For information about the STS-116 crew and the mission, visit: > > http://www.nasa.gov/shuttle > > STS-116 LAUNCH COUNTDOWN MILESTONES > (All times Eastern) > > Launch-3 Days (Monday, Dec. 4) > > Prepare for the start of the STS-116 launch countdown > Perform the call to stations (10:30 p.m.) > Countdown begins at the T-43 hour mark (11 p.m.) > Begin final vehicle and facility closeouts for launch > Check out backup flight systems > > Launch-2 Days (Tuesday, Dec. 5) > > Review flight software stored in mass memory units and display systems > Load backup flight system software into Discovery's general purpose > computers > Remove flight-deck platforms (7:30 a.m.) > Begin preparations to load power reactant storage and distribution > system (9 a.m.) > Activate and test navigational systems (noon) > Flight deck preliminary inspections complete (3 p.m.) > > Enter first built-in hold at T-27 hours for duration of 4 hours (3 > p.m.) > > Clear launch pad of all non-essential personnel > Perform test of the vehicle's pyrotechnic initiator controllers > > Resume countdown at T-27 hours (7 p.m.) > > Launch-1 Day (Wednesday, Dec. 6) > > Begin operations to load cryogenic reactants into Discovery's fuel > cell storage tanks (3 a.m.) > > Enter 4-hour built-in hold at T-19 hours (3 a.m.) > > Demate orbiter mid-body umbilical unit (3:30 a.m.) > Resume orbiter and ground support equipment closeouts > > Resume countdown at T-19 hours (7 a.m.) > > Final preparations of the shuttle's three main engines for main > propellant tanking (7 a.m.) > Begin filling pad sound suppression system water tank (9 a.m.) > Pad sound suppression system water tank filling complete (noon) > Close out the tail service masts on the mobile launcher platform > Begin star tracker functional checks (2:50 p.m.) > > Enter planned hold at T-11 hours for 13 hours, 40 minutes (3 p.m.) > > Activate orbiter's inertial measurement units > Activate the orbiter's communications systems > Install film in numerous cameras on the launch pad (4:25 p.m.) > Flight crew equipment late stow (8:40 p.m.) > > Launch Day (Thursday, Dec. 7) > > Move Rotating Service Structure to the park position (12:27 a.m.) > Perform ascent switch list > Fuel cell flow-through purge complete > > Resume countdown at T-11 hours (4:40 a.m.) > > Activate the orbiter's fuel cells (5:50 a.m.) > Clear the blast danger area of all non-essential personnel > Switch Discovery's purge air to gaseous nitrogen (6:40 a.m.) > > Enter planned 2-hour built-in hold at the T-6 hour mark (9:40 a.m.) > > Launch team verifies no violations of launch commit criteria prior to > cryogenic loading of the external tank > Clear pad of all personnel > Chilldown of propellant transfer lines (11:40 a.m.) > > Resume countdown at T-6 hours (11:40 a.m.) > > Begin loading the external tank with about 500,000 gallons of > cryogenic propellants (about 11:50 a.m.) > Complete filling the external tank with its flight load of liquid > hydrogen and liquid oxygen propellants (about 2:40 p.m.) > Final Inspection Team proceeds to launch pad > > Enter planned 3-hour built-in hold at T-3 hours (2:40 p.m.) > > Perform inertial measurement unit preflight calibration > Align Merritt Island Launch Area tracking antennas > Perform open loop test with Eastern Range > > Resume countdown at T-3 hours (5:40 p.m.) > > Crew departs Operations and Checkout Building for the pad (5:45 p.m.) > Complete closeout preparations in the White Room > Check cockpit switch configurations > Flight crew begins entry into the orbiter (about 6:15 p.m.) > Astronauts perform air-to-ground voice checks with Launch and Mission > Control > Begin to close Discovery's crew hatch (7:30 p.m.) > Begin Eastern Range final network open loop command checks > Perform hatch seal and cabin leak checks > Complete White Room closeout > Closeout crew moves to fallback area > Primary ascent guidance data is transferred to the backup flight > system > > Enter planned 10-minute hold at T-20 minutes (8:20 p.m.) > > NASA test director conducts final launch team briefings > Complete inertial measurement unit preflight alignments > > Resume countdown at T-20 minutes (8:30 p.m.) > > Transition the orbiter's onboard computers to launch configuration > Start fuel cell thermal conditioning > Close orbiter cabin vent valves > Transition backup flight system to launch configuration > > Enter estimated 46-minute hold at T-9 minutes (8:41 p.m.) > > Launch director, Mission Management Team and NASA test director > conduct final polls for "go/no go" to launch > > Resume countdown at T-9 minutes (about 9:27 p.m.) > > Start automatic ground launch sequencer (T-9 minutes) > Retract orbiter crew access arm (T-7:30) > Start mission recorders (T-6:15) > Start auxiliary power units (T-5) > Arm solid rocket booster and external tank range safety safe and arm > devices (T-5) > Start liquid oxygen drainback (T-4:55) > Start orbiter aerosurface profile test (T-3:55) > Start main engine gimbal profile test (T-3:30) > Pressurize liquid oxygen tank (T-2:55) > Begin retraction of the gaseous oxygen vent arm (T-2:55) > Fuel cells to internal reactants (T-2:35) > Pressurize liquid hydrogen tank (T-1:57) > Deactivate bi-pod heaters (T-1:52) > Deactivate solid rocket booster joint heaters (T-1) > Orbiter transfers from ground to internal power (T-0:50 seconds) > Ground launch sequencer go for auto sequence start (T-0:31 seconds) > Booster gimbal profile (T-0:21 seconds) > Ignition of three space shuttle main engines (T-6.6 seconds) > Booster ignition and liftoff (T-0) > > CREW FOR MISSION STS-116 > Commander: Mark Polansky > Pilot: Bill Oefelein > Mission Specialist (MS1): Nicholas Patrick > Mission Specialist (MS2): Bob Curbeam > Mission Specialist (MS3): Christer Fuglesang > Mission Specialist (MS4): Joan Higginbotham > Mission Specialist (MS5up): Sunita Williams > Mission Specialist (MS5down): Thomas Reiter > > > -end- > > > > To subscribe to the list, send a message to: > hqnews-subscribe(a)mediaservices.nasa.gov > To remove your address from the list, send a message to: > hqnews-unsubscribe(a)mediaservices.nasa.gov > >

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