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NASA TV Coverage of Station Crew Exchange
by Arthur Rowe 13 Sep '06

13 Sep '06

SUBMITTED BY ARTHUR N1ORC - AMSAT A/C #31468 > Sept. 13, 2006 > > Allard Beutel > Headquarters, Washington > 202-358-4769 > > James Hartsfield > Johnson Space Center, Houston > 281-483-5111 > > > NASA TELEVISION SETS COVERAGE OF STATION CREW EXCHANGE > > The launch of the next International Space Station crew, Expedition > 14, and the landing of the current crew, Expedition 13, are among > events that will be broadcast live on NASA Television Sept. 17-29. > > Astronaut Mike Lopez-Alegria, Expedition 14 commander and NASA station > science officer, and cosmonaut Mikhail Tyurin, Expedition 14 flight > engineer and Soyuz commander, will launch from the Baikonur > Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan at 12:09 a.m. EDT Sept. 18 (10:09 a.m. > Baikonur time). They, along with Spaceflight Participant Anousheh > Ansari, a U.S. businesswoman who will visit the station for nine days > under a commercial agreement with the Russian Federal Space Agency, > will launch aboard a Soyuz spacecraft. > > Expedition 13 Commander Pavel Vinogradov, Flight Engineer Jeff > Williams and Ansari will land in north central Kazakhstan at 9:10 > p.m. EDT Sept. 28 (7:10 a.m. Sept. 29 local Kazakhstan time) aboard > the Soyuz spacecraft that is currently docked to the station. > Vinogradov and Williams have been on the orbiting laboratory since > April. > > Video highlights of Expedition 14 pre-launch activities in Russia and > Kazakhstan will air on the NASA TV Video File Sept. 16-17. > > NASA TV coverage of Soyuz pre-launch, launch and docking Sept. 17-20 > will be interspersed with the around-the-clock live broadcast of > Space Shuttle Atlantis' STS-115 mission coverage. For the latest on > broadcast coverage of Soyuz events, check the continuously updated > STS-115 mission NASA TV schedule at: > > http://www.nasa.gov/multimedia/nasatv/mission_schedule.html > > The events and planned broadcast times include (all Eastern times): > > Sunday, Sept. 17: > 10:30 p.m. -- Video B-roll replay of Soyuz crew pre-launch activities > 11:30 p.m. -- Expedition 14/Spaceflight Participant NASA TV launch > coverage begins > > Monday, Sept. 18: > 12:09 a.m. -- Expedition 14/Spaceflight Participant launch > 2:30 a.m. -- Video File B-roll replay of Expedition 14/Spaceflight > participant Soyuz crew pre-launch activities, launch and post-launch > interviews > > Wednesday, Sept. 20: > 12 a.m. -- Expedition 14/Spaceflight Participant station docking > coverage begins (docking is at 1:24 a.m.; post-docking news > conference is at 1:45 a.m.) > 4:10 a.m. -- Expedition 14/Spaceflight Participant hatch opening and > welcome ceremony coverage begins (hatch opening is at 4:20 a.m.) > > Thursday, Sept. 21: > A Crew News Conference with all six crew members on the station will > be conducted with a multi-center question and answer capability for > media at participating NASA centers. The time will be 12:15 p.m. > > Thursday, Sept. 28: > 2:15 p.m. -- Expedition 13/Spaceflight Participant farewell and hatch > closure coverage begins (hatch closure is at 2:45 p.m.) > 5:15 p.m. -- Expedition 13/Spaceflight Participant undocking coverage > begins (undocking is at 5:54 p.m.) > 8 p.m. -- Expedition 13/Spaceflight Participant deorbit burn and > landing coverage (deorbit burn is at 8:20 p.m.; landing is at 9:10 > p.m.) > > Friday, Sept. 29: > 5:30 a.m. -- Video B-roll of recovery activities at the remote landing > site in north central Kazakhstan for the Expedition 13/Spaceflight > Participant crew > 10 a.m. -- Video B-roll of the crew's return to Star City, Russia > > For NASA TV streaming video, downlink and scheduling information, > visit: > > http://www.nasa.gov/ntv > > > -end- > > > > > > >

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STS-115 Astronauts Wrap Up Second Spacewalk
by Arthur Rowe 13 Sep '06

13 Sep '06

SUBMITTED BY ARTHUR N1ORC - AMSAT A/C# 31468 STS-115 Astronauts Wrap Up Second Spacewalk The second STS-115 spacewalk is now in the history books. STS-115 Mission Specialists Dan Burbank and Steve MacLean concluded the spacewalk at 12:16 p.m. EDT (1616 UTC) after continued efforts to prepare the International Space Station’s P3/P4 integrated truss for operation. The 17.5-ton, 45-foot truss, which contains a set of solar arrays, was attached to the station Tuesday. The P3/P4 will provide power, data and communication services for the station. The arrays will be unfurled to a full length of 240 feet Thursday and will eventually double the station’s power capabilities. Burbank and MacLean began their excursion at 5:05 a.m.(0905 UTC) and proceeded to move through the scheduled activities, which included the removal of launch locks and launch restraints on the Solar Alpha Rotary Joint (SARJ). Once activated, the rotary joint will allow the arrays to track the sun. It will be tested later today. About 7:10 a.m. EDT, MacLean reported that one of the four bolts on the cover to SARJ launch lock 8 was missing. The bolt had been there when he removed the cover to access the lock. MacLean reported he did not see the bolt in the SARJ mechanism. The cover is secure with three of the four bolts in place. Later, the socket being used by MacLean to loosen a stubborn bolt on launch restraint 6B broke. MacLean retrieved a cheater bar from the tool box on the Z1 Truss. He broke the torque, but ultimately it took both he and Burbank to remove the bolt and launch restraint. During the remainder of the spacewalk, the astronauts were instructed to perform get-ahead tasks. They prepared of the P3 truss for use by the Mobile Transporter – a platform that allows the station’s robotic arm, Canadarm2, to move along the Integrated Truss Structure. Mission Specialist Joe Tanner served as spacewalk coordinator. Mission Specialist Heidemarie Stefanyshyn-Piper assisted Tanner and operated Canadarm2. Tanner and Piper conducted the first spacewalk and will perform the third Friday.

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STS-115 MCC Status Report #08
by Arthur Rowe 13 Sep '06

13 Sep '06

SUBMITTED BY ARTHUR N1ORC - AMSAT A/C #31468 2:30 a.m. CDT, Wednesday, Sept. 13, 2006 Mission Control Center, Houston, Texas 09.13.06 STATUS REPORT: STS-115-08 STS-115 MCC Status Report #08 The Atlantis and Expedition 13 crews are getting ready for the second spacewalk of the STS-115 mission to the International Space Station. They will continue preparations for activation of the P3/P4 truss segment attached to the station Tuesday. Spacewalkers Dan Burbank and Steve MacLean will release and remove launch locks and launch restraints from the Solar Alpha Rotary Joint of the P4 truss. That joint will enable the new solar arrays to track the sun. The arrays are to be unfurled late today and early Thursday. Burbank and MacLean spent the night in the Quest Airlock, as did Heidemarie Stefanyshyn-Piper and Joe Tanner before their Tuesday spacewalk, part of the campout pre-breathe protocol. Burbank and MacLean are preparing for their spacewalk, with help from shuttle Commander Brent Jett, Pilot Chris Ferguson and station Flight Engineer Thomas Reiter. The spacewalk is scheduled to begin at 4:15 a.m. CDT. Tanner, now a veteran of six spacewalks, will serve as the intravehicular officer for this spacewalk. Piper will operate the station robotic arm to ensure video viewing during the spacewalk. Because of the success of the first spacewalk, planners were able to add get-ahead tasks to today’s scheduled activities. Once their original tasks are complete, Burbank and MacLean also will prepare the P3 for the mobile transporter, part of a movable base system for the Canadarm2 to move along rails on the truss structure. Depending on time available, they will remove a keel pin and drag link and stow them within the truss structure. They’ll also remove a Space Vision System target, rotate P1 and P3 mobile transporter and tether shuttle stops. They'll install a temporary rail stop for the Crew and Equipment Translation Aid cart. Meanwhile, inside the orbiting laboratory, Expedition 13 Commander Pavel Vinogradov and NASA Science Officer Jeff Williams will continue with station operations tasks as well as transfer activities and preparations for their upcoming departure. The two are scheduled to return to Earth aboard their Soyuz spacecraft Sept. 28. They will be replaced by Expedition 14 Commander Michael Lopez-Alegria and Cosmonaut Mikhail Tyurin, who are scheduled to launch from Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan a little after 11 p.m. CDT Sept. 17. European Space Agency astronaut Thomas Reiter of Germany will remain on board the station and join the Expedition 14 crew. The next STS-115 mission status report will be issued Wednesday afternoon, or earlier if events warrant.

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STS-115 MCC Status Report #07
by Arthur Rowe 13 Sep '06

13 Sep '06

SUBMITTED BY ARTHUR N1ORC - AMSAT A/C #31468 NASA NEWS 5 p.m. CDT, Tuesday, Sept. 12, 2006 Mission Control Center, Houston, Texas 09.12.06 STATUS REPORT: STS-115-07 STS-115 MCC Status Report #07 It is home improvement time onboard the International Space Station. Assembly of the orbiting space lab officially resumed this morning at 4:17 a.m. CDT. Mission specialists Joe Tanner and Heide Stefanyshyn-Piper focused on bolts, connectors and power tools today as they began the first of three spacewalks to hook-up and activate a 17.5 ton, 45 foot long truss with a set of solar arrays that will increase the station’s power. The first spacewalk of the mission began when Tanner and Piper switched their spacesuits to battery power and stepped into the void of space. This was Tanner’s sixth spacewalk and Piper’s first. Piper is the eighth woman, the seventh American woman, to walk in space. The two set to work quickly and efficiently, making the tough tasks look simple and easily getting ahead of the planned timeline. After only three and a half hours, Tanner and Piper were near completion of the day’s tasks and Mission Control Houston began working on “get ahead” tasks. These are tasks that were originally scheduled for the second spacewalk Wednesday. One of these tasks involved removing the launch locks from the Solar Alpha Rotary Joint (SARJ). To access the launch locks, spacewalkers must also remove existing covers. As Tanner removed cover 21, a bolt and washer came off and floated into space. During the early morning hours, Mission Control told Atlantis Commander Brent Jett and his crew that a focused inspection of the shuttle's heat shield is not needed at this time. The decision means an extra mission day is not required, and the crew can continue with its planned 11-day mission. Throughout the day, other crew members supported the spacewalk activities, transferred equipment and supplies between the two spacecraft and got ready for tomorrow’s walk by mission specialists Dan Burbank and Canadian Steve MacLean. Tanner and Piper connected power cables on the truss, released the launch restraints on the Solar Array Blanket Box and on the Beta Gimbal Assembly -- the structure between the truss electronics -- and the Solar Array Wings. The astronauts also configured the Solar Alpha Rotary Joint, which allows the arrays to track the sun, and removed two other circuit interrupt devices to prepare for the upcoming STS-116 mission. The next STS-115 mission status report will be issued Wednesday morning or earlier if events warrant.

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by Colorbinsmith＠wmconnect.com 12 Sep '06

12 Sep '06

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Crew Completes Truss Installation, First Spacewalk
by Arthur Rowe 12 Sep '06

12 Sep '06

SUBMITTED BY ARTHUR N1ORC - AMSAT A/C #31468 *Crew Completes Truss Installation, First Spacewalk* Mission Specialists Joe Tanner and Heidemarie Stefanyshyn-Piper wrapped up STS-115’s first spacewalk at 11:43 a.m. EDT. Their efforts centered on preparing the P3/P4 truss for operation. The new truss was installed this morning before the start of the spacewalk. Today’s construction efforts marked the resumption of the on-orbit construction of the space station. The spacewalking duo began the excursion at 6:17 a.m., and cruised through the timeline. They installed power and data cables between the P1 and P3/P4 structures in preparation for solar array deployment. They also released launch restraints on the Solar Array Blanket Box and performed other tasks to configure the structure for upcoming activities. They moved through the spacewalk so quickly flight controllers in the Mission Control Center in Houston gave them permission to complete tasks scheduled for future spacewalks. The new truss element, which includes a set of new solar arrays, was attached to the station at 3:48 a.m. EDT. Tanner and Piper began their excursion after bolts connecting the P3/P4 to the P1 truss were tightly secured. The third of four bolts was tightened at 4:35 a.m., officially making the P3/P4 a part of the station. The new 17.5-ton, 45-foot truss will provide power, data and communication services for the station. The arrays will be unfurled to a full length of 240 feet Thursday and will eventually double the station’s power capabilities. During the early stages of the spacewalk, the Mission Control Center in Houston told the STS-115 crew that no focused inspections of Space Shuttle Atlantis’ heat shield were needed. The good news allows the crew to press ahead as planned with the mission’s second spacewalk Wednesday. Mission Specialist Dan Burbank coordinated the spacewalk activities. Mission Specialist Steve MacLean and Expedition 13 Flight Engineer Jeff Williams operated the station’s robotic arm, which was used to install the P3/P4. The astronauts will quickly begin preparations for the mission’s second spacewalk, scheduled for 5:15 a.m. EDT Wednesday. Burbank and MacLean will conduct the spacewalk and will begin preparations with “camp out” in the Quest Airlock at 2:40 p.m. today. *STS-115 Mission* + Read about the crew <http://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/shuttle/shuttlemissions/sts115/index.html> + Read about the mission <http://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/shuttle/shuttlemissions/sts115/mission_ov…> + Read about the P3/P4 Truss <http://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/station/behindscenes/truss_segment.html> *STS-115 Mission Briefing Materials* Sept. 11, 2006: + Post-Mission Management Team Briefing <http://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/shuttle/news/sts115/postmmt_091106.html> Sept. 10, 2006: + Post-Mission Management Team Briefing <http://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/shuttle/news/sts115/postmmt_091006.html> *STS-115 Media Resources* + STS-115 Preflight Briefing Materials <http://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/shuttle/news/index.html> + STS-115 Post-launch News Conference Transcript (85 Kb PDF) <http://www.nasa.gov/pdf/157077main_sts115_postlaunch_pc.pdf> + Press Kit (3.2 Mb PDF) <http://www.nasa.gov/pdf/154433main_sts115_press_kit3.pdf> + STS-115 Fact Sheet (122 Kb PDF) <http://www.nasa.gov/pdf/155942main_115factsheet.pdf> + STS-115 Execute Packages <http://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/shuttle/shuttlemissions/sts115/mission_do…> + STS-115 TV Schedule <http://www.nasa.gov/multimedia/nasatv/mission_schedule.html> + View Images <http://mediaarchive.ksc.nasa.gov/search.cfm?cat=62>

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EVA COMPLETED
by Arthur Rowe 12 Sep '06

12 Sep '06

SUBMITTED BY ARTHUR N1ORC - AMSAT A/C 31468 Heide Stefanyshyn-Piper and mission specialist Joe Tanner have completed their space-walk and have performed tasks that were to be done on the second EVA . It was a fantastic accomplishment by both astronauts that were there for 6 hours and 26 minutes. NASA TV showed the entire operation. Arthur Z. Rowe

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STS-115 MCC STATUS REPORT #115-06
by Arthur Rowe 12 Sep '06

12 Sep '06

SUBMITTED BY ARTHUR N1ORC - AMSAT A/C #31468 NASA NEWS 2 a.m. CDT, Tuesday, Sept. 12, 2006 Mission Control Center, Houston, Texas 09.12.06 STATUS REPORT: STS-115-06 STS-115 MCC Status Report #06 It's installation day on the International Space Station. The Atlantis and Expedition 13 crews will attach the P3/P4 truss and do the first of three spacewalks by shuttle crew members. Atlantis' astronauts were awakened at 11:15 p.m. CDT Monday with "My Friendly Epistle," a Ukrainian song by Taras Shevchenko. It was played for Heide Stefanyshyn-Piper. She and fellow mission specialist Joe Tanner are scheduled to begin spacewalk 1 just after 4 a.m. They spent the night in the Quest Airlock, its pressure reduced to 10.2 psi. That was done to help purge nitrogen from their systems to avoid the possibility of formation of nitrogen bubbles in their blood during the spacewalk. They are being helped in spacewalk preparations by Atlantis Commander Brent Jett, Mission Specialist Dan Burbank and station crewman Thomas Reiter. At about 1 a.m., Canadian Space Agency Astronaut Steve MacLean and Expedition 13 Flight Engineer Jeff Williams used the station's Canadarm2 to begin the process of moving the truss to its new position at the end of the P1 truss segment. There four bolts will attach it. Shortly after their spacewalk begins, Tanner and Piper will move to P3/P4. Tanner will connect power cables. Piper, working nearby, will release launch restraints on the Solar Array Blanket Box. The two will then work together and release other restraints on the Beta Gimbal Assembly, the structure between the truss electronics and the Solar Array Wings. Next, they will work on configurations of the Solar Alpha Rotary Joint, including the installation of drive lock assemblies. Tanner’s final task will be connecting the electrical cables in the upper utility tray and removing two other circuit interrupt devices, which is necessary for the upcoming STS-116 mission. He and Piper will then return to the airlock. Throughout the day, other crewmembers will support the spacewalk activities as well as work to transfer equipment and supplies between the two spacecraft and prepare for Wednesday's spacewalk by Burbank and MacLean. The next STS-115 mission status report will be issued Tuesday afternoon, or earlier if events warrant.

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Station to Get New Piece
by Arthur Rowe 12 Sep '06

12 Sep '06

SUBMITTED BY ARTHUR N1ORC - AMSAT A/C #31468 *Station to Get New Piece; Astronauts to Go Spacewalking* The on-orbit construction of the International Space Station resumes today with the attachment of the P3/P4 integrated truss structure and a spacewalk by STS-115 astronauts. The STS-115 and Expedition 13 crew members will use the station’s robotic arm to attach the 17.5-ton structure to the P1 at 4 a.m. EDT. (0800 UTC) Then at 5:15 a.m., STS-115 Mission Specialists Joe Tanner and Heidemarie Stefanyshyn-Piper are slated to begin the first of three spacewalks to outfit and prepare the P3/P4 truss, which contains a set of solar arrays, for operation. The new truss will provide power, data and communication services for the station. The arrays will be unfurled to a full length of 240 feet on Thursday and will eventually double the station’s power capabilities. During today’s spacewalk, the Tanner and Piper will install power and data cables between the P1 and P3/P4 structures in preparation for solar array deployment. The excursion is scheduled to last 6 hours and 20 minutes. Mission Specialist Steve MacLean and Expedition 13 Flight Engineer Jeff Williams will operate the station robotic arm. Mission Specialist Dan Burbank will coordinate the spacewalk activities.

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STS-115 STATUS 11 SEPT 2006
by Arthur Rowe 11 Sep '06

11 Sep '06

SUBMITTED BY ARTHUR N1ORC - AMSAT A/C #31468 *Astronauts Prepare for Spacewalk With Campout* STS-115 Mission Specialists Joe Tanner and Heidemarie Stefanyshyn-Piper are on a “campout” in the International Space Station’s Quest Airlock. They are spending the night in the airlock in preparation for their first spacewalk, which takes place after the P3/P4 integrated truss is attached to the station on Tuesday. The 45-foot-long truss structure, which contains a set of solar arrays, is slated to be attached to the P1 truss at 4 a.m. EDT. The spacewalkers will begin their excursion at 5:15 a.m.( 0915 UTC) to prepare the truss for solar array deployment. “Camping out” helps the spacewalkers begin the spacewalk earlier by reducing the amount of time typically required for the pre-breathe exercise and some spacewalk preparations. The STS-115 crew is slated to enter its sleep period at 4:15 p.m. and wake up at 12:15 a.m. Tuesday. Atlantis and the STS-115 crew arrived at the station at 6:48 a.m. The STS-115 and the station’s Expedition 13 crews quickly went to work shortly after the hatches opened at 8:30 a.m. The crews used the shuttle robotic arm to hand off the P3/P4 to the station arm at 10:52 a.m. The crew also began transferring cargo between the vehicles. *STS-115 Mission* + Read about the crew <http://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/shuttle/shuttlemissions/sts115/index.html> + Read about the mission <http://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/shuttle/shuttlemissions/sts115/mission_ov…> + Read about the P3/P4 Truss <http://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/station/behindscenes/truss_segment.html>

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