August 2006 - Sarex (INACTIVE)

New Launch Date Set
by Arthur Rowe 31 Aug '06

31 Aug '06

SUBMITTED BY ARTHUR N1ORC - AMSAT A/C 31468 *New Launch Date Set * As launch preparations resumed at NASA's Kennedy Space Center's Launch Pad 39B on Thursday, mission managers set Sept. 6 as the new date for the launch of Atlantis on Mission STS-115 to the International Space Station. Liftoff time would be 12:29 p.m. EDT.(1629 UTC)(1729 GMT) No damage to facilities or flight hardware is reported at the Kennedy Space Center following the exit of Ernesto from Florida. The shuttle was surrounded by the rotating service structure as the peak winds were recorded at 44 miles per hour on Launch Pad 39B Wednesday. Tuesday afternoon, NASA Mission Managers decided to return Atlantis to Launch Pad 39B since Tropical Storm Ernesto was predicted to skirt further west than first expected. Launch Director Mike Leinbach and the team made the call at 2:40 p.m., placing Atlantis back at the pad by about 8 p.m. Tuesday evening. * The Launch Team * Meet the NASA team that is responsible for launching Space Shuttle Atlantis on mission STS-115. + Launch Team <http://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/shuttle/launch/sts-115/launch_team.html> What does it take to carry out a space shuttle mission? Shuttle experts answer questions submitted to our question board. + Ask the Mission Team <http://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/shuttle/launch/sts-115/STS115_askteam.html>

1 0

Shuttle Atlantis Rolls Back to Launch Pad to Ride Out Ernesto
by Arthur Rowe 30 Aug '06

30 Aug '06

SUBMITTED BY ARTHUR N1ORC - AMSAT A/C #31468 > Aug. 29, 2006 > > Allard Beutel > Headquarters, Washington > 202-358-4769 > > Bruce Buckingham > Kennedy Space Center, Fla. > 321-867-2468 > > RELEASE: 06-304 > > SHUTTLE ATLANTIS ROLLS BACK TO LAUNCH PAD TO RIDE OUT ERNESTO > > NASA managers decided early Tuesday to move the Space Shuttle Atlantis > from its launch pad into the Vehicle Assembly Building for protection > from approaching Tropical Storm Ernesto, but later in the day, when > the weather forecast improved, they reversed the decision and began > moving Atlantis back to the pad. > > Assessments of updated weather forecasts convinced shuttle managers > that Atlantis would be protected from the storm at the pad at NASA's > Kennedy Space Center. > > Atlantis is expected to be locked down at the launch pad about 8 p.m. > EDT Tuesday. The rotating service structure, which will surround the > spacecraft and serve as a protective barrier from the storm, will be > put around Atlantis about 30 minutes later. > > Depending on the effects of Ernesto on Kennedy, a new launch date for > Atlantis' STS-115 mission to the International Space Station could be > set once storm damage is evaluated and work resumes at the launch > pad. A launch attempt may be possible next week. > > Kennedy is expected to close ahead of the storm late Tuesday and > remain closed until at least Thursday. The center's emergency > operations personnel will stay on-site to monitor the storm and make > initial damage assessments after it passes. > > The STS-115 crew, Commander Brent Jett, Pilot Chris Ferguson, mission > specialists Joe Tanner, Dan Burbank, Heide Stefanyshyn-Piper and > Canadian astronaut Steve MacLean, returned to NASA's Johnson Space > Center Tuesday morning. Crew members would return to Kennedy after a > new launch date is scheduled. > > During STS-115, Atlantis' astronauts will deliver and install the > 17.5-ton, bus-sized P3/P4 integrated truss segment on the station. > The girder-like truss includes a set of giant solar arrays, batteries > and associated electronics. The P3/P4 truss segment will provide > one-fourth of the total power-generation capability for the completed > station. > > For information about the STS-115 crew and mission, visit: > > http://www.nasa.gov/shuttle > > > -end- > > > > >

1 0

--=Space Station SSTV "babyface" picture!!!=--
by Cor 29 Aug '06

29 Aug '06

Hello All, At 28 august I have received an e-mail from DE2SHD/DH5ABC. I was supriced cause inside the e-mail I saw a ISS SSTV picture with a babyface. Also David Barber G8OQW sended me a ISS SSTV. The ISS SSTV pictures are shown on my website: http://www.pd0rkc.com If you sroll down on the main page you see 9 more. In case if more people have received ISS SSTV pictures please send them to: skyman(a)hetnet.nl 73's Cor PD0RKC

2 1

NASA TV PROVIDING LIVE VIDEO OF SHUTTLE ATLANTIS ROLLBACK
by Arthur Rowe 29 Aug '06

29 Aug '06

SUBMITTED BY ARTHUR N1ORC - AMSAT A/C #31468 Aug. 29, 2006 Fred Brown/Al Feinberg Headquarters, Washington 202-358-0713/1058 RELEASE: M06-139 NASA TV PROVIDING LIVE VIDEO OF SHUTTLE ATLANTIS ROLLBACK NASA TV is providing live video from the Kennedy Space Center, Fla., of Space Shuttle Atlantis' rollback from Launch Pad 39-B to the Vehicle Assembly Building on its Public, Education and Media channels. Live video will be available until 11:00 a.m. EDT and following the conclusion of "ISS Commentary" at noon EDT. For NASA TV downlink, streaming video and scheduling information, visit: http://www.nasa.gov/ntv

1 0

NASA Decides to Move Shuttle Atlantis Off Launch Pad
by Arthur Rowe 29 Aug '06

29 Aug '06

SUBMITTED BY ARTHUR N1ORC - AMSAT A/C #31468 > Aug. 29, 2006 > > Katherine Trinidad > Headquarters, Washington > 202-358-3749 > > Bruce Buckingham > Kennedy Space Center, Fla. > 321-867-2468 > > RELEASE: 06-303 > > NASA DECIDES TO MOVE SHUTTLE ATLANTIS OFF LAUNCH PAD > > NASA has decided to roll the Space Shuttle Atlantis off its launch pad > and back inside the protection of the Vehicle Assembly Building at > the Kennedy Space Center, Fla. The roll back is targeted to start at > approximately 10:05 a.m. EDT Tuesday. > > The decision was made due to Tropical Storm Ernesto's track. Ernesto > is expected to bring high winds as it passes Kennedy. > > A new launch date is not yet scheduled for Atlantis' flight, STS-115, > to the International Space Station. NASA and the Russian Federal > Space Agency continue to discuss the timing of Atlantis' mission and > the Soyuz spacecraft, which will send the next crew to the station in > September. Factors to be considered are the lighting constraints for > the shuttle launch and Soyuz landing and the timing for docking and > undocking the spacecraft with the station. NASA is also investigating > additional launch windows later in the fall. > > The STS-115 crew will return to NASA's Johnson Space Center, Houston. > Commander Brent Jett, Pilot Chris Ferguson, and mission specialists > Joe Tanner, Dan Burbank, Heide Stefanyshyn-Piper and Canadian > astronaut Steve MacLean will continue training as they await a new > target launch date. > > During STS-115, Atlantis' astronauts will deliver and install the > 17.5-ton, bus-sized P3/P4 integrated truss segment on the station. > The girder-like truss includes a set of giant solar arrays, batteries > and associated electronics. The P3/P4 truss segment will provide > one-fourth of the total power-generation capability for the completed > station. > > For information about the STS-115 crew and mission, visit: > > http://www.nasa.gov/shuttle > > > -end- > > > a message to: > hqnews-unsubscribe(a)mediaservices.nasa.gov > >

1 0

Upcoming ARISS Contact Schedule as of 2006-08-29 02:00 UTC
by AJ9N＠aol.com 28 Aug '06

28 Aug '06

Upcoming ARISS Contact Schedule as of 2006-08-29 02:00 UTC Quick list of scheduled contacts and events: Quick list of scheduled contacts and events: Northeast Middle School, Clarksville, TN via telebridge VK4KHZ Contact successful: Mon 2006-08-28 16:00 UTC via VK4KHZ 34 deg (***) ARISS is requesting signal reports for this contact. Total number of ARISS school contacts is 252. (***) QSL information may be found at: http://www.arrl.org/ARISS/arissfaq.html http://www.rac.ca/ariss/oindex.htm#QSL's ISS callsigns: DP0ISS, NA1SS, RS0ISS ***************************************************************************** The schedule page has been updated as of 2006-08-29 02:00 UTC. Here you will find a listing of all scheduled school contacts and questions, other ISS related websites, IRLP and Echolink websites, and instructions for any contact that may be streamed live. http://www.amsat.org/amsat/ariss/news/arissnews.txt The successful school list has been updated as of 2006-08-29 02:00 UTC http://www.amsat.org/amsat/ariss/news/Successful_ARISS_schools.rtf Frequency chart for packet, voice, and crossband repeater modes showing Doppler correction as of 2005-07-29 04:00 UTC http://www.amsat.org/amsat/ariss/news/ISS_frequencies_and_Doppler_correctio… tf Listing of ARISS related magazine articles as of 2006-07-10 03:30 UTC: http://www.amsat.org/amsat/ariss/news/ARISS_magazine_articles.rtf ***************************************************************************** There has been a rumor that the ISS was having direct contacts on the 40 meter band. There is no HF radio equipment on board and available yet. The HF antenna is mounted. Sometimes WA3NAN will retransmit shuttle audio. ***************************************************************************** Expedition 13 on orbit Pavel Vinogradov RV3BS Jeff Williams KD5TVQ Expedition 13/14 Thomas Reiter DF4TR Expedition 14 crew: Michael Lopez-Alegria KE5GTK Sunita Williams, KD5PLB Mikhail Tyurin, RZ3FT ***************************************************************************** 73, Charlie Sufana AJ9N One of the ARISS operation team mentors

1 0

STS-115 LAUNCH DELAYED
by Arthur Rowe 28 Aug '06

28 Aug '06

SUBMITTED BY ARTHUR N1ORC - AMSAT A/C #31468 Aug. 28, 2006 Allard Beutel/Bruce Buckingham Kennedy Space Center, Fla. 321-867-2468 RELEASE: 06-302 TROPICAL STORM ERNESTO FORCES SHUTTLE ATLANTIS' LAUNCH DELAY Tuesday's scheduled launch of Space Shuttle Atlantis on its STS-115 mission to the International Space Station is being postponed because of Tropical Storm Ernesto. A new launch date has not been set. Although no final decision has been made, shuttle managers meeting at NASA's Kennedy Space Center instructed launch teams Monday to continue preliminary preparations to roll Atlantis off its launch pad and back inside the protection of the Vehicle Assembly Building. Managers will follow developments in Tropical Storm Ernesto's track. A decision on whether to roll back is expected by midday Tuesday. Ernesto is forecast to pass near Kennedy on Wednesday afternoon. The STS-115 crew will remain in Florida until a roll back decision is made. Commander Brent Jett, Pilot Chris Ferguson, and mission specialists Joe Tanner, Dan Burbank, Heide Stefanyshyn-Piper and Canadian astronaut Steve MacLean will study flight plans and spend time with their families. During STS-115, Atlantis' astronauts will deliver and install the 17.5-ton, bus-sized P3/P4 integrated truss segment on the station. The girder-like truss includes a set of giant solar arrays, batteries and associated electronics. The P3/P4 truss segment will provide one-fourth of the total power-generation capability for the completed station. For information about the STS-115 crew and its mission to the International Space Station, visit: http://www.nasa.gov/shuttle -end-

1 0

Launch Postponed
by Arthur Rowe 26 Aug '06

26 Aug '06

SUBMITTED BY ARTHUR N1ORC - AMSAT A/C #31468 *Launch Postponed* The Space Shuttle Mission Management Team decided Saturday afternoon to postpone the launch of Space Shuttle Atlantis for at least 24 hours to allow more time for teams to assess ground and flight systems following a strong lighting strike to the lighting protection system at the launch pad on Friday afternoon. "We're going to let the teams go off and work the plans," said LeRoy Cain, launch integration manager and chairman of the management team. Cain said the Mission Management Team would review data and decide about Monday when they reconvene at 10 a.m. EDT on Sunday. + View Video (Real) <http://anon.nasa-global.edgesuite.net/anon.nasa-global/ccvideos/sts_115/ksc…> + View Video (Windows) <http://anon.nasa-global.edgesuite.net/anon.nasa-global/ccvideos/sts_115/ksc…> If it is determined that all systems are go for a Monday launch, the weather presents only a 20 percent chance of "no go" according to U.S. Air Force First Lt. Kaleb Nordgren of the 45th Weather Squadron at Cape Canaveral Air Force Station. The liftoff time for Monday would be 4:04 p.m. EDT. *The Crew and Mission Ahead* The STS-115 crew consists of Commander Brent W. Jett Jr., Pilot Christopher J. Ferguson and Mission Specialists Heidemarie M. Stefanyshyn-Piper, Joseph R. Tanner, Daniel C. Burbank and Steven G. MacLean, who represents the Canadian Space Agency. + Learn more about the crew <http://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/shuttle/shuttlemissions/sts115/index.html> With this mission, NASA is ready to get back to building the International Space Station, marking the first time in almost four years that a space station component has been added to the orbiting outpost. That also means the shuttle program is coming up on some of the most challenging space missions ever. + Learn more about the mission <http://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/shuttle/shuttlemissions/sts115/mission_ov…> During their three spacewalks, crew members of Atlantis will install the P3/P4 integrated truss and a second set of solar arrays on the space station, doubling the station’s current ability to generate power from sunlight and adding 17.5 tons to its mass. + Learn more about the truss <http://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/station/behindscenes/truss_segment.html>

1 0

SHUTTLE STATUS 24 AUGUST 2006
by Arthur Rowe 26 Aug '06

26 Aug '06

SUBMITTED BY ARTHUR N1ORC - AMSAT A/C #31468 STATUS REPORT: S-082406 NASA's Space Shuttle Processing Status Report *Note:* NASA's Kennedy Space Center issues Space Shuttle Processing Status Reports periodically and is the source for information regarding processing activities associated with the vehicles and payloads. This report does not necessarily reflect the chronological order of future space shuttle missions. If you are a member of the media and would like further information, visit: http://www.nasa.gov/centers/kennedy/news/index.html *Mission:* STS-115 - 19th International Space Station Flight (12A) - P3/P4 Truss Segment and Solar Arrays *Vehicle:* Atlantis (OV-104) *Location:* Launch Pad 39B *Launch Date:* Aug. 27, 2006, 4:30 p.m. EDT *Crew:* Jett, Ferguson, Tanner, Burbank, MacLean and Stefanyshyn-Piper *Inclination/Orbit Altitude:* 51.6 degrees/122 nautical miles At Launch Pad 39B, closeout of the orbiter's aft compartments is complete and the aft doors have been installed. Technicians have finished performing the aft confidence test, which involves powering up and testing all of the aft systems, such as the main propulsion system circuits. The payload bay doors will be closed today for flight. The start of the launch countdown was moved from 6 p.m. to noon Eastern time today to allow for earlier loading of fuel for the power reactant storage and distribution system. The goal is to finish the system loads before the predicted afternoon thunderstorms on Friday. Additional hold time will be added at the T-19 hour mark, extending the hold from four hours to 10 hours. After T-19, the schedule will proceed as normal, culminating in a launch on Sunday at 4:30 p.m. Eastern time. The STS-115 crew arrived at 11:30 a.m. today at the Shuttle Landing Facility from Johnson Space Center in Houston. They will spend the next days prior to launch going over their flight plans. U.S. Air Force weather officers are forecasting a 30-percent chance of weather prohibiting a launch attempt on Sunday. The primary weather concerns are anvil clouds, showers and thunderstorms within 20 nautical miles of the Shuttle Landing Facility.

1 0

ISS STATUS REPORT #06-39
by Arthur Rowe 26 Aug '06

26 Aug '06

SUBMITTED BY ARTHUR N1ORC - AMSAT A/C #31468 *International Space Station Status Report #06-39* *3 p.m. CDT, Friday, Aug. 25, 2006 * *Expedition 13 Crew* With the countdown clock ticking toward the launch of Space Shuttle Atlantis on the STS-115 mission, the International Space Station crew continues to prepare for visitors. Commander Pavel Vinogradov, Flight Engineer and NASA Science Officer Jeff Williams and European Space Agency astronaut Thomas Reiter of Germany are ready for Atlantis to deliver a new section of the station's girder-like truss. Atlantis is set for a launch on Sunday, which would result in a docking with the station on Tuesday. During Atlantis' mission, astronauts will attach the new P3/P4 truss, a segment that includes a huge new set of solar arrays and a giant rotary joint to allow the arrays to track the sun. To prepare for Atlantis' visit, the station crew members packed items that will be returned to Earth on the shuttle. They also reviewed spacewalk plans, talked with the shuttle crew in a long-distance conference, and trained to photograph the shuttle's heat shield as Atlantis does a backflip while approaching the station. Flight controllers tested the operation of a U.S. air scrubbing system in advance of Atlantis' arrival. The Carbon Dioxide Removal Assembly, or CDRA, was turned on for an extended period of time to test its capability to remove carbon dioxide from the air. The CDRA augments the Russian air scrubber, Vozdukh, which was turned off during the test. Engineers are continuing to evaluate data from the CDRA operations. The station was raised 2.5 miles by firing the ISS Progress 21 engines Wednesday. The boost places the complex at the optimum position for Atlantis' rendezvous and docking. It also puts the station at the optimum altitude for the launch of the next station resident crew, Expedition 14, from Kazakhstan in September. Williams replaced filters in part of the station's cooling system. The used filters will be returned to Earth for engineering analysis to confirm their success at removing fine particles from water in the coolant lines. Williams completed runs of the Dust and Aerosol Measurement Feasibility Test, or DAFT experiment. DAFT is testing the effectiveness of a commercial hand-held air quality monitor called P-Trak that counts ultra-fine dust particles in microgravity. The study provides data that may help in the design of fire detection systems on future spacecraft. Its data also may prove useful for fire detection hardware in extreme environments on Earth, such as submarines or underwater laboratories. The station crew continued with the set-up and check-out of the European Modular Cultivation System (EMCS) that was delivered on STS-121. This experiment system contains a centrifuge that can subject a wide range of small plant and animal experiments to partial gravity conditions. The first experiment that will be performed in EMCS is the Analysis of a Novel Sensory Mechanism in Root Phototropism, called Tropi, that seeks to identify the genes responsible for successful plant growth in microgravity. The experiment studies mustard seeds. Vinogradov and Reiter participated in European Space Agency science experiments that test the cardiovascular system's response to microgravity for long durations. The next station status report will be issued after the STS-115 shuttle mission, or earlier if events warrant. The status of the ISS will be included in the twice-daily shuttle mission status reports issued during STS-115. For more about the crew's activities and station sighting opportunities, visit: http://www.nasa.gov/station ###

1 0