Zachstar - 17/9/2006 10:26 PM
--Crew Wakeup---
Has there ever been so many people on orbit?
6 on the shuttle
3 on ISS
3 on TMA-9
Chris Bergin - 18/9/2006 5:23 AMActually, FD11 is FCS check-out and RCS hot-fire(Tuesday), landing is on FD12. Maybe you thought that they would perform the FCS check-out, RCS hot-fire and late inspections on the same day?
Full live updates for the final full flight day (FD10) and the return home (FD11).
dutch courage - 18/9/2006 7:55 AMDiscussion over in the ISS forum, but not much to add.
There was a suspected fire in the Russian SM. A strange smell was detected. Pavel was wearing a protective mask.
Any more info?
psloss - 18/9/2006 7:22 AMNot sure this will happen as announced based on the situation on the ISS right now...
FYI, with the shift change over (Orbit 1's last shift of the mission), a status briefing is coming up at the top of hour...
Joffan - 18/9/2006 6:07 PMYes, KSC only on Wednesday...the ascent entry flight director, Steve Stich, will discuss the landing opportunities and philosophy after he gets off shift tomorrow in the mission status briefing...currently scheduled for 8 am Eastern tomorrow (Tuesday).
I guess Wednesday will be KSC attempt only - any news?
psloss - 18/9/2006 6:18 PMSteve Stich said in the mission status briefing that the current strategy is KSC only on Wednesday. They have consummables through Saturday, but would like to be "wheels stop" no later than Friday.
Yes, KSC only on Wednesday...the ascent entry flight director, Steve Stich, will discuss the landing opportunities and philosophy after he gets off shift tomorrow in the mission status briefing...currently scheduled for 8 am Eastern tomorrow (Tuesday).
chksix - 19/9/2006 4:48 PMI don't think they'll use the OBSS. The RMS is more than able to do a visual scan of the underside.
I guess they're discussing wether to do a OBSS visual scan of the underside.
rdale - 19/9/2006 4:52 PMExactly. Right it still an unknown object. It can be anything from a single tile to Atlantis's own shadow being magnified.
"what caused it to fly off?"
Wouldn't we need to identify what it could be before asking that question?
DaveS - 19/9/2006 4:55 PMQuoterdale - 19/9/2006 4:52 PMExactly. Right it still an unknown object. It can be anything from a single tile to Atlantis's own shadow being magnified.
"what caused it to fly off?"
Wouldn't we need to identify what it could be before asking that question?
chksix - 19/9/2006 11:14 AM
If they could have pointed two cameras at the object they would have gotten the distance and it's size. As I understand it one camera at a time can be controlled only.
DaveS - 19/9/2006 12:40 PMThanks for the update, Dave...can't monitor air-to-ground right now...
Crew has spotted the object and managed to photograph it. This was just after the post-MMT meeting breifing had started.
chksix - 19/9/2006 6:45 PMNope. It was from just after top of the hour. I guess they're waiting for the next good KU pass to downlink the photos.
Wasn't that just an audio replay from the time they spotted the first object? Or is that a new one?
dutch courage - 19/9/2006 11:04 AM
It was fairly large so I bet they know what that was at NORAD.
Jim - 19/9/2006 1:22 PMQuotedutch courage - 19/9/2006 11:04 AM It was fairly large so I bet they know what that was at NORAD.Too small
chksix - 19/9/2006 1:07 PM
To me it looked like a rectangular flat piece that rotated slowly while drifting.
Oli4 - 19/9/2006 7:21 PM
Excuse my query but what is the Tiger Team?
backspace - 19/9/2006 7:23 PM
Flame tranch has a story about this object perhaps hitting the starboard wing....
No discussion on that angle here... can anyone confirm that the sensors indicated an impact?
vt_hokie - 19/9/2006 1:26 PM
I read about sensors detecting an impact on a wing leading edge - I think on msnbc, but don't quote me on that. The story is out there, in any case. Fingers crossed...
backspace - 19/9/2006 2:23 PMOne person's sensationalism is another person's way to increase hit counts...
Flame tranch has a story about this object perhaps hitting the starboard wing....
psloss - 19/9/2006 7:38 PM
One person's sensationalism is another person's way to increase hit counts...
Chris Bergin - 19/9/2006 2:07 PMQuotepsloss - 19/9/2006 7:38 PM
One person's sensationalism is another person's way to increase hit counts...
Some media are falling over themselves with this.
We're watching the actual chatter going on and right now there seems to be an awful lot of speculation. We're waiting for the actual official comments presented to the MMT.
It's called being accurate.
Chris Bergin - 19/9/2006 2:07 PMQuotepsloss - 19/9/2006 7:38 PM
One person's sensationalism is another person's way to increase hit counts...
Some media are falling over themselves with this.
We're watching the actual chatter going on and right now there seems to be an awful lot of speculation. We're waiting for the actual official comments presented to the MMT.
It's called being accurate.
nathan.moeller - 19/9/2006 9:11 PMThe actual meeting of the MMT is 4 pm EDT, with the briefing at NET 6 pm EDT.
Is the briefing still scheduled for NET 3 PM EDT?
nathan.moeller - 19/9/2006 2:09 PM
SFN reports an impact on Atlantis' left wing 14 seconds after liftoff on September 9. Could it have been a tyvek cover that triggered the sensors?
collectspace - 19/9/2006 3:30 PM
Photos taken by the STS-115 crew of the debris, obtained from a source, are now online here.
collectspace - 19/9/2006 3:30 PMThanks, Robert.
Photos taken by the STS-115 crew of the debris, obtained from a source, are now online here.
Oli4 - 19/9/2006 2:36 PM
Are these pictures from the first or the second event?
lost_shaman - 19/9/2006 2:48 PM
Interesting considering Vinogradov also reported an "unknown object" on Sept. 11 '06.
But earlier today, "we saw some eight small indications over a couple of minute period," Hale said. "To me, eight indications is not necessarily what I would expect from a micrometeoroid event. It could be some residual from the flight control system check out or the reaction control system hotfire we do. So the team is off looking at that."
Within a few hours, engineers were able to precisely time out the data, showing the sensor was responding to vibrations associated with the hydraulic system. The wing leading edge sensors have never been operational during flight control system checkout and as one source said, "we learn something new on every flight."
daveglo - 19/9/2006 10:15 PM
NASA TV replaying 3-way conversation between Atlantis, ISS, & Expedition 14.
Andy L - 19/9/2006 6:17 PM
Any ideas what it is yet Chris?
Andy L - 19/9/2006 11:17 PM
Any ideas what it is yet Chris?
GioFX - 19/9/2006 6:29 PM
were the multiple hit signatures today or on launch day?
Chris Bergin - 19/9/2006 4:25 PMmust've been the extra leg that confused us then...
I'm not Rolf "Do you know what it is yet" Harris ;)
psloss - 19/9/2006 6:14 PM
Wayne Hale coming up...Avron, I think there was a nice graph on L2 showing relative distances of the orbiter and the Soyuz in a presentation yesterday...
GioFX - 20/9/2006 1:39 AMWell, prior to Columbia he was Flight Director, with the last being Ascent/Entry FD for STS-113. For 114 he was the deputy SSP manager with Bill Parsons as the SSP manager.
indeed, he's the best manager the program could get... he stepped in after Columbia, right? what was his position within the Program before that?
Joffan - 19/9/2006 6:50 PM
must've been the extra leg that confused us then...
Linking smoothly onwards, there's certainly been plenty of entertainment on this trip - NASA has finally realised it's in show business... and my betting is that this debris is more of the same, "nothing much" that has been cautiously treated as serious and done more to retain the interest of the fickle public.
MKremer - 19/9/2006 7:50 PMYou know, I forgot that Steve Stich said (and it was in the L2 presentation yesterday) that the limiter was LiOH (canisters).
Interesting that nobody asked about any affect on the impact of these extra inspections on cryo consumables (because of the extra power needed) and if that might have any impact on mission length.
(Likely won't, but worth asking nevertheless.)
MarkD - 19/9/2006 6:57 PM
I heard on the news that if Atlantis has to go back to ISS there is some complication with Expedition 14 docking. Is this so or is the news blowing it out to get more viewers?
MKremer - 19/9/2006 7:05 PMQuoteMarkD - 19/9/2006 6:57 PM
I heard on the news that if Atlantis has to go back to ISS there is some complication with Expedition 14 docking. Is this so or is the news blowing it out to get more viewers?
The latter.
The matter would have been raised here early on if that were the case.
Gary - 19/9/2006 7:57 PM
What was this 'violent' judder that goes through the shuttle when doing the FCS check out? I didn't quite catch that part.
Gary - 19/9/2006 7:57 PM
What was this 'violent' judder that goes through the shuttle when doing the FCS check out? I didn't quite catch that part.
Scotty - 19/9/2006 9:32 PM
I highly doubt the Orbiter would have enough fuel left onboard to get back to the ISS.
Scotty - 19/9/2006 9:32 PM
I highly doubt the Orbiter would have enough fuel left onboard to get back to the ISS.
They will check the TPS one more time Wednesday, then come home Thursday, weather at KSC permitting.
It is time to land that puppy.
Scotty - 19/9/2006 10:32 PM
I highly doubt the Orbiter would have enough fuel left onboard to get back to the ISS.
astrobrian - 20/9/2006 4:40 AMLanding time is confirmed.
I see on SFN 06:21 EDT on Thursday for landing right now if no problems are seen. Is this confirmed through sources here or from MMT docs? (slaps own hand for missing post MMT) I only ask because the previous flightplan on that site seemed to have the landing time wrong so wanting to verify with better sources ;)
DaveS - 19/9/2006 9:46 PMQuoteLanding time is confirmed.
Thank you for the confirmation , I was kind of hoping for a sunrise landing, but ah well.
Nice panoramas of the bay Avron
astrobrian - 19/9/2006 9:40 PM
I see on SFN 06:21 EDT on Thursday for landing right now if no problems are seen. Is this confirmed through sources here or from MMT docs?
MKremer - 19/9/2006 11:02 PM
Those are nice, Avron!
Avron - 19/9/2006 10:05 PMQuoteMKremer - 19/9/2006 11:02 PM
Those are nice, Avron!
Thanks
Still trying to get some good video pans.. but the sun gets in the way.. or some pres conf.. etc..
For the canadians on the forum... :)
Scotty - 19/9/2006 9:32 PM
I highly doubt the Orbiter would have enough fuel left onboard to get back to the ISS.
They will check the TPS one more time Wednesday, then come home Thursday, weather at KSC permitting.
It is time to land that puppy.
MKremer - 19/9/2006 10:21 PM
(and if needed the new U.S. O2 generator)
realtime - 19/9/2006 10:27 PM
Elektron's offline for who knows how long and the US OGS isn't scheduled to be operational until spring '07.
12 people on orbit at once. 12 O2 candles/day. What's the inventory, I wonder?
realtime - 19/9/2006 10:27 PMEh, the Electron problem, I don't think, isn't serious enough to keep it offline if an emergency occurs. From reports of the problem, it's mainly cleanup and ensuring further operation doesn't encounter leaks again. In a Safe Haven situation I think the extra conservative restraints to operation won't be as much as a top priority. (meaning as long as it can now operate without the same type of leaks, it's ok to use - instead of preventing operation because of a mere threat of leaks)
Elektron's offline for who knows how long...
realtime - 19/9/2006 11:57 PM
Soyuz just passed 34 miles beneath Atlantis. Pretty cool.
MKremer - 20/9/2006 12:02 AM
That's kind of close (though safe), considering how much 'space' is in space.
Avron - 19/9/2006 11:56 PM
Soyuz just past 34 miles below the Shuttle
MKremer - 20/9/2006 12:07 AM
From that distance, even picking out the orbiter bottom against the Earth would be somewhat hit-and-miss without knowing, almost exactly, where it should be.
realtime - 20/9/2006 12:06 AM
OT - They're passing instructions to STS and ISS via printer. The crew has an "internet phone" -- VoIP? I'm guessing there's a VPN? I wonder if they can Google from space, or maybe even read this forum? Does NASA IT firewall that stuff?
Chris Bergin - 20/9/2006 3:23 PMOn-time too! Looks like chances for landing tommorow remains good.
Arms being stowed. Looks like all inspections have been completed.
FransonUK - 20/9/2006 2:30 PM
Nothing like live info like this ;)
Bubbinski - 20/9/2006 10:05 AMMission Evaluation Room...there's a list of in-flight problems on L2 and I guess this one goes on the list.
MER? I checked the Acronyms list...MER stands for Mars Exploration Rovers. What does MER stand for in a shuttle context? Thanks!
Gagarin33 - 20/9/2006 6:21 PMThat depends on the speed and mass of the object.
How long does it take for such small objects to reenter the atmosphere?
How long does it take to slow them down enough by atmospheric particles?The closer to Earth the more atmospheric particles and so more slowdown.
dutch courage - 20/9/2006 6:34 PMQuoteGagarin33 - 20/9/2006 6:21 PMThat depends on the speed and mass of the object.
How long does it take for such small objects to reenter the atmosphere?QuoteHow long does it take to slow them down enough by atmospheric particles?The closer to Earth the more atmospheric particles and so more slowdown.
Gagarin33 - 20/9/2006 7:31 PMCan we please keep this thread free of these kind of questions? They have nothing whatsoever to do with Atlantis's return to KSC tommorow.
Of course, i know :)
But how long would be usual for these kind of objects?
Or lets talk about the screw they lost in the EVA.
weeks? months? years? decades? centuries ???
Gagarin33 - 20/9/2006 12:31 PMIt really depends on the characteristics of any particular object - its orbit parameters, mass, cross section (l/w/thickness). Also, the Earth's upper atmosphere expands and contracts at various intervals, so, as tenuous as it is, atmospheric drag can vary to effect orbital periods and re-entry possibilities.
But how long would be usual for these kind of objects?
Or lets talk about the screw they lost in the EVA.
weeks? months? years? decades? centuries ???
chksix - 20/9/2006 2:56 PM
First time I've seen cleaning ladies in the MCC on NASATV. :)
I'd like that job if that's what it takes to see JSC from the inside ;)
gordo - 20/9/2006 11:23 PMI believe they always go for the first attempt.
Would they prefer to go for the 2nd KSC opportunity as the primary opportunity when they have sunlight to land, or do they always aim for the 1st opportunity if weather is not an issue?
Jim - 20/9/2006 7:33 PM
very