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STS-117 Leaves Station With New Truss, Crew Member
by Arthur Rowe 20 Jun '07

20 Jun '07

SUBMITTED BY ARTHUR N1ORC - AMSAT A/C #31468 *STS-117 Leaves Station With New Truss, Crew Member* s117e08045 -- The International Space StationImage above: The International Space Station is viewed from Space Shuttle Atlantis after undocking Tuesday, June 19 at 10:42 a.m. EDT. Image credit: NASA; TO VIEW IMAGE GO TO:http://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/station/main/index.html When the STS-117 crew members undocked space shuttle Atlantis at 10:42 a.m. EDT Tuesday, they left the International Space Station bigger and more powerful than it was when they arrived. Atlantis also delivered a new Expedition 15 crew member to the orbital outpost. Expedition 15 welcomed its visitors onto the station June 10 shortly after 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 S3/S4 is 45 feet long and weighs 35,678 pounds. The S3/S4 also contains a rotary joint that will allow its arrays to track the sun. The S3/S4 arrays increase the station’s power generation capabilities. The STS-117 crew also assisted with the retraction of the Port 6 (P6) 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 next shuttle mission scheduled to visit the International Space Station is STS-118 in August.

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ISS & STS-117 Pictures and Video
by A.J. Farmer (AJ3U) 20 Jun '07

20 Jun '07

Amazing pictures and video of the ISS and STS-117 - from a ground station! http://www.tracking-station.de/images/images.html -- A.J. Farmer, AJ3U http://www.aj3u.com

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Beautiful visual pass
by Glenn Graf 20 Jun '07

20 Jun '07

Beautiful visual pass over FN42 (Boston MA area) of Shuttle and ISS. Near 90 deg. pass clearly visible though partly cloudy skies. 6/21 01:21 UTC Glenn - KB1GUE _________________________________________________________________ Get a preview of Live Earth, the hottest event this summer - only on MSN http://liveearth.msn.com?source=msntaglineliveearthhm

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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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