June 2007 - Sarex (INACTIVE) - mailman.amsat.org

Crew Gets Ready for Thursday Landing
by Arthur Rowe 20 Jun '07

20 Jun '07

SUBMITTED BY ARTHUR N1ORC - AMSAT A/C #31468 *Crew Gets Ready for Thursday Landing* The seven STS-117 astronauts are preparing for their return home. They are stowing equipment and checking out Space Shuttle Atlantis’ systems. Atlantis is scheduled to touch down Thursday at 1:55 p.m. EDT at Kennedy Space Center, Fla. A second landing opportunity for KSC is available at 3:30 p.m. EDT. Weather forecasts Thursday afternoon call for a possibility of thunder showers in the area. This morning, Commander Rick Sturckow and Pilot Lee Archambault test fired Atlantis' reaction control jets in preparation for the deorbit burn that will begin the descent to Florida. The burn for the first landing opportunity is slated to take place at 12:50 p.m. Thursday. At 3:03 p.m. today, crew members will talk with reporters from NBC News, ABC News and CNN Live. The interviews will be aired live on NASA TV. Atlantis left the International Space Station on Tuesday. During its stay at the station, which began June 10, the STS-117 crew continued the construction of the station with the installation of the Starboard 3 and 4 (S3/S4) truss segment. The crew installed the truss June 11 and conducted four spacewalks to activate the S3/S4 and assist in the retraction of a solar array on the Port 6 truss. During the third spacewalk, the crew repaired an out of position thermal blanket on the left orbital maneuvering system pod. Atlantis also delivered a new station crew member, Flight Engineer Clayton Anderson. He replaced astronaut Suni Williams, who is the new record holder for a long-duration single spaceflight for a woman. She arrived at the station in December with STS-116.

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Auction: STS-9 (First Amateur radio on space) QSL card
by Francisco Costa, CT1EAT 19 Jun '07

19 Jun '07

Dear SAREX Fans I have a QSL from Owen K. Garriott (W5LFL), the first radioamateur who operate from space, during STS-9 mission (28 Nov-8 Dec 1983). The card was issued to a SWL report from G4KIC. It's in good condition despite the cover photos lost some colour (looks like the card got too much sun on it). Please see photos at http://ct1eatsale.no.sapo.pt/ The bidder name/call and value will be shown on web page. (I will update as time permits). I will acept bids, in EURO currency, until 00.00 UTC 25 June 2007. (time of last email received) The highest bidder will donate the amount for an AMSAT/ARISS project (his/her choice), and I will send the card for free via registered airmail. Please send your bids to ct1eat(a)amsat.org Thanks for your attention. See you on P3E or Eagle. 73 F.Costa, CT1EAT www.qsl.net/ct1eat

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Space Shuttle Atlantis Set to Land Thursday in Florida
by Arthur Rowe 19 Jun '07

19 Jun '07

SUBMITTED BY ARTHUR N1ORC - AMSAT A/C#31468 > June 19, 2007 > > Katherine Trinidad > Headquarters, Washington > 202-358-3749 > > George Diller > Kennedy Space Center, Fla. > 321-867-2468 > > > SPACE SHUTTLE ATLANTIS SET TO LAND THURSDAY IN FLORIDA -- CORRECTED DATE > > CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. - On Thursday, June 21, the space shuttle > Atlantis is scheduled to complete a 13-day mission to the > International Space Station with a landing in Florida. The STS-117 > mission increased the station's power capability and delivered a new > station crew member. > > NASA flight directors will evaluate weather conditions at NASA's > Kennedy Space Center, Fla., before permitting Atlantis to return to > Earth. Thursday's landing opportunities at Kennedy are at 1:54 p.m. > and 3:29 p.m. EDT. The backup landing sites at Edwards Air Force > Base, Calif., and White Sands Space Harbor, N.M., will not be > considered on Thursday. > > Two hours after landing, NASA officials will hold a briefing to > discuss the STS-117 mission. The participants are: > - NASA Associate Administrator Rex Geveden > - NASA Associate Administrator for Space Operations Bill Gerstenmaier > - NASA Space Shuttle Launch Director Mike Leinbach > > After touchdown, the astronauts will undergo initial physical > examinations and meet with their families. Some crew members are > expected to hold a news conference six hours after returning to > Earth. > > > If weather prevents a Kennedy landing Thursday, NASA will activate > backup landing sites for Friday. NASA's Dryden Flight Research Center > at Edwards Air Force Base, Calif., has limited facilities available > to previously accredited journalists. For further information, call > Dryden Public Affairs Office at 661-276-3449. > > If White Sands Space Harbor is called up for strong consideration as a > shuttle landing site, media desiring credentials to cover a landing > there should contact the White Sands Missile Range Public Affairs > Office at 505-678-1134. Journalists with STS-117 mission badges from > NASA will be issued credentials. > > For the latest information on the STS-117 mission, visit: > > http://www.nasa.gov/shuttle > > > -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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Atlantis Undocks From Space Station
by Arthur Rowe 19 Jun '07

19 Jun '07

SUBMITTED BY ARTHUR N1ORC - AMSAT A/C #31468 *Atlantis Undocks From Space Station* Space Shuttle Atlantis fly-aroundImage above: This is a view of the Space Shuttle Atlantis as it performs a fly-around of the space station. Image credit: NASA TV TO VIEW IMAGE GO TO:http://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/shuttle/main/index.html STS-117’s constructive stay at the International Space Station came to a close today when space shuttle Atlantis undocked. The two spacecraft parted ways at 1441 UTC as they flew over the Coral Sea northeast of Australia. After Pilot Lee Archambault backed the orbiter 450 feet from the station, he performed a full fly-around to allow crew members to collect video and imagery of the station and its newly expanded solar wings. He then completed the final separation engine burn at 1628 UTC0 Later in the day, Archambault and Mission Specialists Patrick Forrester and Steven Swanson will use the shuttle robot arm and the 50-foot long Orbiter Boom Sensor System to conduct a late inspection of the thermal protection system. The crew will spend Wednesday preparing for landing. Atlantis’ first landing opportunity is at 1754 UTC Thursday at Kennedy Space Center, Fla. During its stay at the station, which began June 10, the STS-117 crew continued the on-orbit construction of the station with the installation of the Starboard 3 and 4 (S3/S4) truss segment. The crew installed the truss June 11 and conducted four spacewalks to activate the S3/S4 and assist in the retraction of solar array on the Port 6 truss. During the third spacewalk, the crew repaired an out of position thermal blanket on the left orbital maneuvering system pod. Atlantis also delivered a new station crew member, Flight Engineer Clayton Anderson. He replaced astronaut Suni Williams, who is the new record holder for a long-duration single spaceflight for a woman. She arrived at the station in December with STS-116.

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Double Spaceship Sightings
by Arthur Rowe 19 Jun '07

19 Jun '07

SUBMITTED BY ARTHUR N1ORC - AMSAT A/C #31468 > Space Weather News for June 19, 2007 > http://spaceweather.com > > On Tuesday morning, June 19th, space shuttle Atlantis is scheduled to undock from the International Space Station. On Tuesday night, the pair will fly in tandem over many US towns and cities including Detroit, Washington DC, San Francisco and Denver. Typical flybys take place shortly after sunset, with the pair first appearing in the northwest (look for the Big Dipper) and soaring overhead from there. The space shuttle appears first, followed by the ISS. Both spacecraft are bright and easy to see with the naked eye. Double flybys continue on Wednesday night, June 20th, before Atlantis returns to Earth on Thursday, June 21st. > > When should you look? Sign up for Spaceweather PHONE (http://spaceweatherphone.com) to receive email and telephone alerts when the ISS is about to fly over your hometown, or check Heavens Above (http://heavens-above.com) for worldwide flyby timetables. > > If a friend sent you this alert and you would like to subscribe, click here: http://spaceweather.com/services/ > > To unsubscribe click here: http://www.spaceweather2.com/u?id=833781F&n=T&l=spaceweather > or send a blank email to leave-spaceweather-833781F(a)www.spaceweather2.com > BOSTON AREA PASSES: TUES: 19 JUNE - 7:22 PM,8:57 PM, 10:32 PM WED: 20 JUNE - 7:43 PM,9:18 PM, 1054 PM

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Russian Navigation Computer Passes Test
by Arthur Rowe 18 Jun '07

18 Jun '07

SUBMITTED BY ARTHUR N1ORC - AMSAT A/C #31468 *Russian Navigation Computer Passes Test* Flight controllers in Moscow conducted a test to check the ability of the Russian segment’s terminal computer to fire thrusters and maintain attitude of the International Space Station. Russian and U.S. mission managers gave the computer a passing grade. U.S. managers then gave the STS-117 crew approval to undock space shuttle Atlantis on Tuesday. The Russian navigation computers provide one method of backup attitude control and orbital altitude adjustments. The station’s control moment gyroscopes are the complex’s primary attitude control system. The shuttle’s propulsion system also provides a backup attitude control system for the complex. *STS-117 Stay at Station Coming to a Close* STS-117’s stay at the International Space Station is winding down. Atlantis is scheduled to undock from the station at 10:42 a.m. EDT Tuesday, leaving the station with a new truss segment and crew member. Expedition 15 welcomed its visitors onto the station June 10 shortly after space shuttle Atlantis docked. A few hours later Astronaut Clayton Anderson replaced Suni Williams as a flight engineer on the Expedition 15 crew. Williams will return to Earth with STS-117, wrapping up a six-month-plus stay in space during which she became the new record holder for the longest single spaceflight by a woman. On June 11, the STS-117 crew installed the Starboard 3 and 4 truss segment onto the station. The visiting astronauts conducted four spacewalks to activate the new truss and its solar arrays. The STS-117 crew also assisted with the retraction of the Port 6 (PS) truss array. The P6 will be relocated from atop the station to the end of the Port 5 truss by a future shuttle crew. The S3/S4 is 45 feet long and weighs 35,678 pounds. Its solar arrays will increase the station’s power-generation capabilities. The S3/S4 also contains a rotary joint that will allow its arrays to track the sun. + Read more about Expedition 15 <http://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/station/expeditions/expedition15/index.ht…> + View crew daily timelines <http://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/station/timelines/index.html>

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STS-117, Expedition 15 Close Hatches; Atlantis to Undock Tuesday
by Arthur Rowe 18 Jun '07

18 Jun '07

SUBMITTED BY ARTHUR N1ORC - AMSAT A/C#31468 STS-117, Expedition 15 Close Hatches; Atlantis to Undock Tuesday The STS-117 crew bid farewell Monday to the Expedition 15 crew before the hatches closed at 2251 UTC between Space Shuttle Atlantis and the International Space Station. Attention now turns to Atlantis’ undocking from the station 1442 UTC. Tuesday. The STS-117 crew members are wrapping up a stay in which they continued the on-orbit construction of the station with the installation of the Starboard 3 and 4 (S3/S4) truss segment. The crew installed the truss June 11 and conducted four spacewalks to activate the S3/S4 and assist in the retraction of solar array on the Port 6 truss. During the third spacewalk, the crew repaired an out –of-position thermal blanket on the left orbital maneuvering system pod. Atlantis also delivered a new station crew member, Flight Engineer Clayton Anderson. He replaced astronaut Suni Williams, who is the new record holder for a long-duration single spaceflight for a woman. She arrived at the station in December with STS-116. Before Atlantis begins the journey home, Commander Rick Sturckow and Pilot Archambault will perform a fly-around to allow crew member collect video and imagery of the station and its newly expanded solar wings. Atlantis is scheduled to land at Kennedy Space Center, Fla., at 1754 UTC Thursday.

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Flight Controllers Test Russian Computers;
by Arthur Rowe 18 Jun '07

18 Jun '07

SUBMITTED BY ARTHUR N1ORC - AMSAT A/C #31468 *Flight Controllers Test Russian Computers; Management to Discuss Results* S117-E-07686 --- STS-117 and Expedition 15 crewmembers gather for a group portraitImage above: The STS-117 and Expedition 15 crewmembers gather for a group portrait during a joint crew press conference in the Destiny laboratory of the International Space Station while Space Shuttle Atlantis was docked with the station. Image credit: NASA TO VIEW IMAGE GO TO: http://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/shuttle/main/index.html Russian and U.S. flight controllers this morning tested the ability of Russian navigation computers to handle attitude control of the International Space Station. If the flight controllers and mission managers like what they saw, space shuttle Atlantis and the STS-117 crew will undock from the International Space Station and begin the journey home on Tuesday. The STS-117 Mission Management Team is scheduled to meet at 2 p.m. EDT to discuss the results of the test and an announcement of the decision about undocking is expected shortly after the meeting concludes. The STS-117 crew is scheduled to bid farewell today to the Expedition 15 crew before the hatches close at 6:23 p.m. between Atlantis and the station. Atlantis is slated to undock at 10:42 a.m. Tuesday. STS-117 arrived at the station June 10, delivering the Starboard 3 and 4 truss segment to the station. The crew installed the truss June 11 and conducted four spacewalks to activate the S3/S4 and assist in the retraction of a solar array on the Port 6 truss. During the third spacewalk, the crew repaired an out of position thermal blanket on the left orbital maneuvering system pod. Atlantis also delivered a new station crew member, Flight Engineer Clayton Anderson. He replaced astronaut Suni Williams, who is the new record holder for a long-duration single spaceflight for a woman. She arrived at the station in December with STS-116.

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Atlantis Departure Date Depends on Computer Test
by Arthur Rowe 18 Jun '07

18 Jun '07

SUBMITTED BY ARTHUR N1ORC - AMSAT A/C #31468 Russian flight controllers will fire thrusters today to test the operation of the navigation computers that went offline last week. If the flight controllers and mission managers like what they see, space shuttle Atlantis and the STS-117 crew will undock from the International Space Station and begin the journey home on Tuesday. The test is set for 1428 UTC The STS-117 crew is scheduled to bid farewell today to the Expedition 15 crew before the hatches close at 2223 UTC between Atlantis and the station. Atlantis is slated to undock at 1441 UTC Tuesday. STS-117 arrived at the station June 10, delivering the Starboard 3 and 4 truss segment to the station. The crew installed the truss June 11 and conducted four spacewalks to activate the S3/S4 and assist in the retraction of solar array on the Port 6 truss. During the third spacewalk, the crew repaired an out of position thermal blanket on the left orbital maneuvering system pod. Atlantis also delivered a new station crew member, Flight Engineer Clayton Anderson. He replaced astronaut Suni Williams, who is the new record holder for a long-duration single spaceflight for a woman. She arrived at the station in December with STS-116.

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STS-117 Astronauts Conclude Fourth Spacewalk
by Arthur Rowe 17 Jun '07

17 Jun '07

SUBMITTED BY ARTHUR N1ORC - AMSAT A/C #31468 STS-117’s final spacewalk came to an end at 2254 utc. During the 6-hour, 29-minute orbital stroll, Mission Specialists Patrick Forrester and Steven Swanson performed tasks to activate the International Space Station’s new truss segment and completed work that will help future spacewalkers. Forrester and Swanson began the excursion at 1645 utc. and quickly went to work preparing the Starboard 3 and 4 (S3/S4) truss segment for operation. The S3/S4 was installed onto the station on June 11. Most of the S3/S4 work centered on activating the Solar Alpha Rotary Joint (SARJ), which will allow the S3/S4 arrays to track the Sun. Early in the spacewalk, Forrester verified the installation of the Drive Lock Assembly 2, one of two mechanisms that will drive rotation of the SARJ, while Swanson installed a TV camera and its support structure. Then, the duo removed the final launch restraints on the SARJ before removing a keel pin and drag link to clear the path for the station’s mobile transporter. The get-ahead tasks included the installation of a computer network cable onto the Unity module and the removal of a Global Positioning System antenna. The two astronauts also finished the installation of a piece of debris shielding on the Destiny laboratory. Mission Specialist Jim Reilly coordinated the spacewalk and Pilot Lee Archambault operated the robot arm. Forrester and Swanson conducted STS-117’s second spacewalk. Reilly and Mission Specialist Danny Olivas conducted the other two. Today’s spacewalk is the 87th devoted to station assembly and maintenance. Attention now turns to Atlantis' departure and the events leading up to undocking. The STS-117 crew is scheduled to exit the station Monday before the hatches close at 2223 utc. Atlantis is slated to undock at 1441 utc. Tuesday. However, mission managers may decide to add a day of docked operations for STS-117 if the Russian navigation computers do not perform adequately during test of Russian attitude control capabilities Monday morning at 1428 utc.

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