August 2007 - Sarex (INACTIVE)

Hatched is Closed and Secured
by Arthur Rowe 08 Aug '07

08 Aug '07

SUBMITTED BY ARTHUR N1ORC - AMSAT A/C #31468 *Hatched is Closed and Secured * *Launch Date:* Aug. 8 *Launch Time:* 6:36 p.m. EDT(2236 UTC) Image above: Commander Scott J. Kelly gets strapped in to his seat inside Endeavour's cabin. Photo credit: NASA TO VIEW IMAGE GO TO:http://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/shuttle/main/index.html *08.08.07 - 4:30 p.m. EDT (2030 UTC)* The closeout crew wished the STS-118 team good luck and best wishes as they secured Endeavour's hatch for launch. The astronauts are now going through final checks inside the orbiter to prepare for their journey to the International Space Station. Countdown is proceeding smoothly, and there's only a 10 percent chance of weather prohibiting a liftoff at 6:36 p.m. EDT. Mission STS-118 will be the first for Mission Specialist Barbara Morgan, the teacher-turned-astronaut whose association with NASA began more than 20 years ago. First Lady Laura Bush called Morgan Tuesday morning to offer congratulations "one schoolteacher to another," and to thank her for her commitment to the space program and to education. + White House News Release <http://www.whitehouse.gov/news/releases/2007/08/20070807.html>< br /> The 22nd flight to the International Space Station, STS-118 will be the first flight for Endeavour since 2002. Launch remains on target for Aug. 8 at 6:36 p.m. EDT . *Mission Information* + STS-118 Mission Overview <http://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/shuttle/shuttlemissions/sts118/index.html> + STS-118 Fact Sheet (900 Kb PDF) <http://www.nasa.gov/pdf/184910main_sts118_factsheet4.pdf> + STS-118 NASA TV Schedule <http://www.nasa.gov/multimedia/nasatv/mission_schedule.html> + STS-118 Briefing Animations <http://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/shuttle/shuttlemissions/sts118/multimedia…> + STS-117 Mission Archive <http://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/shuttle/shuttlemissions/sts117/main/index…>

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Countdown Continues
by Arthur Rowe 08 Aug '07

08 Aug '07

SUBMITTED BY ARTHUR N1ORC - AMSAT A/C #31468 *Countdown Continues* *Launch Date:* Aug. 8 *Launch Time:* 6:36 p.m. EDT(2236 UTC) Image above: Space Shuttle Endeavour sits on Launch Pad 39A awaiting liff off. Photo credit: NASA TO VIEW IMAGE GO TO:http://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/shuttle/main/index.html *08.08.07 - 12:45 p.m. EDT* At the launch pad, the final inspection team -- also known as the "Ice Team" -- is inspecting the space shuttle's exterior, making sure it is in good condition and free of ice and debris. One major launch milestone -- "tanking," the filling of Endeavour's orange external tank with 500,000 gallons of liquid oxygen and liquid hydrogen -- is complete. All systems onboard the space shuttle are functioning normally this morning, and there's only a 20 percent chance of weather prohibiting a liftoff at 6:36 p.m. EDT. Mission STS-118 will be the first for Mission Specialist Barbara Morgan, the teacher-turned-astronaut whose association with NASA began more than 20 years ago. First Lady Laura Bush called Morgan Tuesday morning to offer congratulations "one schoolteacher to another," and to thank her for her commitment to the space program and to education. + White House News Release <http://www.whitehouse.gov/news/releases/2007/08/20070807.html> The 22nd flight to the International Space Station, STS-118 will be the first flight for Endeavour since 2002. Launch remains on target for Aug. 8 at 6:36 p.m. EDT.

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Expedition 15 Prepares the Station for STS-118
by Arthur Rowe 08 Aug '07

08 Aug '07

SUBMITTED BY ARTHUR N1ORC - AMSAT A/C #31468 *Expedition 15 Prepares the Station for STS-118* The station crew is preparing the International Space Station for the arrival of space shuttle Endeavour on mission STS-118. Endeavour is targeted for launch Wednesday at 6:36 p.m. EDT and will arrive at the station two days later. Commander Fyodor Yurchikhin and flight engineers Oleg Kotov and Clay Anderson have shifted their sleep schedule to align their operations with the arriving shuttle crew. They have been packing items for return aboard Endeavour and have conducted conferences with ground controllers and the STS-118 crew members. The Expedition 15 crew members have also been unpacking items from the newly arrived Progress 26 (P26) cargo craft. The P26 docked to the station’s Pirs docking compartment Sunday at 2:40 p.m. The cargo craft delivered over 5,000 pounds of food, fuel, air and spare parts. + Read more about the ISS Progress 26 docking <http://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/station/expeditions/expedition15/exp15_pr…> + 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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Upcoming ARISS Contact Schedule as of 2007-08-08 17:00 UTC
by AJ9N＠aol.com 08 Aug '07

08 Aug '07

Upcoming ARISS Contact Schedule as of 2007-08-08 17:00 UTC Quick list of scheduled contacts and events: School in Russia on Mount Elbrus (***) Thu 2007-08-09 15:14 UTC (***) Total number of ARISS ISS to earth school contacts is 308. Total number of ARISS supported terrestrial contacts is 1. 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 2007-08-07 15:30 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 2007-08-07 15:30 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 have been rumors in the past indicating 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 15 on orbit: Fyodor Yurchikhin RN3FI Dr. Oleg Kotov Clayton Anderson KD5PLA Expedition 15 future: Daniel Tani KD5DXE ***************************************************************************** 73, Charlie Sufana AJ9N One of the ARISS operation team mentors ************************************** Get a sneak peek of the all-new AOL at http://discover.aol.com/memed/aolcom30tour

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Scout Video on YouTube
by Howard Long 08 Aug '07

08 Aug '07

Folks I added some titles and put the video on YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1swyCCTbP1w Howard G6LVB

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STS-118 TV COVERAGE
by Arthur Rowe 08 Aug '07

08 Aug '07

SUBMITTED BY ARTHUR N1ORC - AMSAT A/C #31468 *August 8, Wednesday* *3 a.m. - STS-118 Crew Interviews* - Barbra Morgan - HQ *(Public and Media Channels)* *4 a.m - STS-118 Crew Interviews* - Charlie Hobaugh and Rick Mastracchio - HQ *(Public and Media Channels)* *5 a.m. - STS-118 Crew Interviews* - Scott Kelly and Alvin Drew - HQ *(Public and Media Channels)* *6 a.m. - STS-118 Crew Interviews* - Tracy Caldwell - HQ *(Public and Media Channels)* *7 a.m. - STS-118 Crew Interviews* - Dave Williams - HQ *(Public and Media Channels)* *8:30 a.m.* - STS-118 Launch Coverage Begins - KSC (Launch scheduled at 6:36 p.m.) *(Public and Media Channels)*

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Countdown Proceeds Smoothly
by Arthur Rowe 08 Aug '07

08 Aug '07

SUBMITTED BY ARTHUR N1ORC - AMSAT A/C #31468 *Countdown Proceeds Smoothly; First Lady Calls Barbara Morgan* *Launch Date:* Aug. 8 *Launch Time:* 6:36 p.m. EDT Image above: Pilot Charlie Hobaugh exits the shuttle training aircraft after a training session at Kennedy Space Center's Shuttle Landing Facility. He and STS-118 Commander Scott Kelly were at the facility to practice landings for their upcoming mission. Photo credit: NASA + View Full Size Image <http://www.nasa.gov/images/content/170419main_07pd2186.jpg> *08.07.07 - 10:20 a.m. EDT* On the morning before the scheduled liftoff of Space Shuttle Endeavour on the STS-118 mission, launch officials confirmed once again that the countdown is continuing as planned and no issues have surfaced. Shuttle Weather Officer Kathy Winters provided an updated forecast, which has improved even further to only a 20% chance that isolated rain showers could prohibit launch on Wednesday afternoon. + L-1 Weather Forecast <http://www.nasa.gov/pdf/185067main_sts118wx_080707.pdf> Mission STS-118 will be the first for Mission Specialist Barbara Morgan, the teacher-turned-astronaut whose association with NASA began more than 20 years ago. First Lady Laura Bush called Morgan Tuesday morning to offer congratulations "one schoolteacher to another," and to thank her for her commitment to the space program and to education. + White House News Release <http://www.whitehouse.gov/news/releases/2007/08/20070807.html> On Monday night, workers finished loading the reactants for the orbiter's three power-producing fuel cells. Checks of the space shuttle main engine's avionics and pneumatic systems are planned today, along with inspections of the external tank, activation of ground support equipment, and crew equipment stowage in the crew module. Orbiter and ground communications systems will be powered up Tuesday afternoon prior to retraction of the pad's rotating service structure, scheduled to begin at 9 p.m. EDT. The 22nd flight to the International Space Station, STS-118 will be the first flight for Endeavour since 2002. Launch remains on target for Aug. 8 at 6:36 p.m. EDT

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Docks to Station
by Arthur Rowe 07 Aug '07

07 Aug '07

SUBMITTED BY ARTHUR N1ORC - AMSAT A/C #31468 *ISS Progress 26 Docks to Station* iss015e08028 -- An unpiloted Progress supply vehicle approaches the stationImage above: Backdropped by the blackness of space, an unpiloted Progress supply vehicle approaches the International Space Station . Credit: NASA TO VIEW IMAGE GO TO:http://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/station/main/index.html The ISS Progress 26 (P26) arrived at the International Space Station docking to the Pirs docking compartment at 2:40 p.m. EDT Sunday. The station crew members, Commander Fyodor Yurchikhin and Flight Engineers Oleg Kotov and Clay Anderson had a busy day Sunday. Yurchikhin and Kotov monitored the approach of P26 carefully in case it would have been necessary to have manually docked the new cargo craft. Meanwhile, Endeavour's launch was pushed back from Tuesday to Wednesday at 6:36 p.m. That was done to give workers additional time to complete routine prelaunch activities. Station crew members held a conference by radio Friday morning with their future visitors of the Endeavour crew. Progress 26 launched Thursday from the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan at 1:34 p.m. It was loaded with 5,111 pounds of food, fuel, air, water and supplies. + Read more about the ISS Progress 26 docking <http://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/station/expeditions/expedition15/exp15_pr…> + 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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NASA Develops Wireless Tile Scanner for Space Shuttle Inspection
by Arthur Rowe 07 Aug '07

07 Aug '07

SUBMITTED BY ARTHUR N1ORC - AMSAT A/C #31468 > Aug. 7, 2007 > > Katherine Trinidad > Headquarters, Washington > 202-358-4769 > katherine.trinidad(a)nasa.gov > > John Bluck > Ames Research Center, Moffett Field, Calif. > 650-604-5026 > john.g.bluck(a)nasa.gov > > > NASA DEVELOPS WIRELESS TILE SCANNER FOR SPACE SHUTTLE INSPECTION > > MOFFETT FIELD, Calif. - A new space shuttle tile inspection method > using NASA-built, wireless scanners is replacing manual inspection. > The new process begins with the upcoming shuttle mission, STS-118. > Endeavour is scheduled to launch from NASA's Kennedy Space Center in > Florida on Wednesday, Aug. 8 at 6:36 p.m. EDT. > > Technicians have been using six new scanners to look for cracks and > other imperfections in some of the 24,000 tiles that cover space > shuttle Endeavour. The agency designed and built the new tools at > NASA's Ames Research Center in Moffett Field, Calif. In the past, > workers at Kennedy visually analyzed tiles and measured dings and > cracks with small hand-held scales. > > "The new method is much faster and more accurate because the depth and > volume measurements of the flaws and their locations are wirelessly > transmitted into a computer database," said Joe Lavelle, a senior > engineer and project manager at Ames. "This tool allows the > inspectors to determine with very high confidence whether a shuttle > tile needs to be replaced or just repaired." > > "When they made the measurements manually with the scales, they had to > estimate the volume of flaws to a worst-case value because they could > not precisely measure the volume with any accuracy," Lavelle > explained. "With this scanner, they will actually save tiles and the > time-consuming process of replacing them." > > The thermal tiles on the space shuttle protect it from the extreme > heat generated during re-entry into the Earth's atmosphere. After > each shuttle lands, technicians go through a very rigorous and > lengthy process to assess the surface of the tiles for any damage. > > Each scanner weighs approximately 2.9 pounds and is about the size and > shape of a small teapot. Technicians place the machine on the tile's > flaw to scan it. In about three seconds, the data are computerized > and archived. > > Engineers can scrutinize computerized 3-D pictures of the flaws. The > images show the length, width and depth of the flaws on the surface > of the tiles. Although engineers designed the instrument to scan > space shuttle tiles, it also could scan reinforced carbon-carbon > material used on the leading edges of the shuttle's wings. > > Engineers developing a heat shield system for NASA's new spaceship > Orion already are using a larger, desktop version of the scanner to > study heat shield samples tested at Ames. NASA is building a second > desktop scanner for use at NASA's Johnson Space Center in Houston. > The unit should be completed in about two months. > > For high-resolution images of the scanner, visit: > > http://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/shuttle/news/wireless_scanner.html > > For more information and the space shuttle and upcoming mission, > visit: > > http://www.nasa.gov/shuttle > > > -end- > > > > > >

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Upcoming ARISS Contact Schedule as of 2007-08-07 15:30 UTC
by AJ9N＠aol.com 07 Aug '07

07 Aug '07

Upcoming ARISS Contact Schedule as of 2007-08-07 15:30 UTC Quick list of scheduled contacts and events: One Stop Richmond Hill Community Center, Richmond Hill, New York, Telebridge via WH6PN Successful Tue 2007-08-07 13:25 UTC 88 deg (***) School in Russia (***) Thu 2007-08-09 15:12 UTC (***) Total number of ARISS ISS to earth school contacts is 308. (***) Total number of ARISS supported terrestrial contacts is 1. 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 2007-08-07 15:30 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 2007-08-07 15:30 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 have been rumors in the past indicating 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 15 on orbit: Fyodor Yurchikhin RN3FI Dr. Oleg Kotov Clayton Anderson KD5PLA Expedition 15 future: Daniel Tani KD5DXE ***************************************************************************** 73, Charlie Sufana AJ9N One of the ARISS operation team mentors ************************************** Get a sneak peek of the all-new AOL at http://discover.aol.com/memed/aolcom30tour

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