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#400
by
ShuttleDiscovery
on 18 May, 2009 20:19
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I haven't been able to post during this mission
Same here! I have been following this mission whenever I could (I've have lots of exams lately), and I'd like to thank everyone. This has been a fantastic mission!!
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#401
by
generic_handle_42
on 18 May, 2009 20:21
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Tony C: Crew really excited about today's EVA. Got ahead in timeline, so we were able to complete all EVA objectives. Couple of hiccups again, crew reacted quickly. Tremendous team effort. HST deploy tomorrow. Both sad and happy day. Last planned EVA out of shuttle airlock. This is really over, don't know what to say but congratulate each other. Will be setting up suits for Mike and Mike for contingencies.
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#402
by
psloss
on 18 May, 2009 20:22
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This weather will quite likely impact the plan to land at KSC, later this week.
Well, worst comes to worst, will they be able to put down at Edwards instead?
Yes, as long as the weather is acceptable there. But there's probably going to be somewhat of a wait and see for the next few days.
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#403
by
generic_handle_42
on 18 May, 2009 20:22
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Tomas: 7:02 EVA today, 36hr 56min for all five together. Completed all objectives, and all three NOBLs. Wanted to thank all excellent teams we worked with. Priviledge to work this mission.
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#404
by
generic_handle_42
on 18 May, 2009 20:24
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Jon: Hubble returned to flagship status. Full arsenal of instruments and tools for the next several years. Want to thank everyone involved in this endeavour (or Atlantis;)). Kudos to everyone who got shuttle ready, all the crews at all centres that made this a success. It is bittersweet. We have a saying, "Science never sleeps". We can't wait to use hubble for its intended purpose.
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#405
by
generic_handle_42
on 18 May, 2009 20:26
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Preston: Feels like it must feel to win Superbowl (American football). Working in space is difficult, and it is fine line between things that look easy and things that are impossible. Thanks to the crew, they never gave up. The customer's expectations have been exceeded on this mission. Coming into this mission we had 18 perfect EVAs. Team on orbit powered through their EVAs and we accomplished more than we hoped. Takes a lot to put a mission like this together. Want to thank everybody. Looking forward to deploy and use of new Hubble instruments.
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#406
by
generic_handle_42
on 18 May, 2009 20:29
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Questions.
Q: Review commissioning period, when can observations with Hubble start?
A: Called SMOV (servicing mission observatory verification). About 4 months of intense activity to focus, checkout and calibrate instruments. Aiming for early September this year. Not much real science for the next several weeks. After that we will start worthwhile observations.
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#407
by
generic_handle_42
on 18 May, 2009 20:30
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Q: Characterize teams waiting to pursue investigations with Hubble
A: Excitement for new instruments is high. 8 or 9 hundred proposals come in from around the world. 200 or so are selected. You need to be better than top quartile to use Hubble.
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#408
by
generic_handle_42
on 18 May, 2009 20:31
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Q: Go over Orbit adjust plan.
A: Larger concern for MMOD. Go down to perigee of 160, closer to station flight. Looking at landing 1 rev early. Trying to avoid sea breeze effect.
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#409
by
generic_handle_42
on 18 May, 2009 20:33
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Q: What is LGA used for?
A: Two LGAs. One on top, one on bottom. Together they provide hemispherical coverage. Can only use one at a time. LGAs only used during emergency periods when do not have HGA access. Placed cover over top, it is RF transparent. Always protected for a rapid deploy, so this cover is good to go, able to fly away with it on. No problem.
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#410
by
generic_handle_42
on 18 May, 2009 20:36
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Q: Over last 19 years, you've learned a lot about maintaining this with human presence, what lessons have you learned?
A: One thing that we learned is the tremendous benefit of NBL to rehearse EVAs. Learned value of specialized tools that we built for spacewalker efficiency. PGT was one of those, it gives big savings in spacewalker energy. Learned how to choreograph EVAs well. Learned a lot on SM1. Musgrave understood importance of conserving energy, making every movement count. Also go through lessons learned after each mission. Good documentation, learned from mistakes.
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#411
by
karizma23
on 18 May, 2009 20:38
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From MSB:
Last planned EVA out of shuttle airlock. A lot of people don't realize that.
So sad. I hate to see the the shuttle go. I know it's old and tired, but man, that vehicle has been amazing for MSF. I can't help but be underwhelmed by the thought of flying via Constellation. Ares and Orion are evolutionary. The Shuttle was revolutionary! Sad to see the end...
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#412
by
generic_handle_42
on 18 May, 2009 20:38
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Q: How much of this mission could have been done by a robot.
A: Robots would have been hard pressed to do what humans just did. Like wrenching off that handle. Adaptability and speed of humans to react to things as they happen are important. Interfaces need to built with robots in mind. Hubble was not designed like that. Changing out instruments with robots made management nervous, as did instrument repair. It was potentially feasible, but not demonstrated yet. Better if Hubble had been designed to be serviced by robots.
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#413
by
generic_handle_42
on 18 May, 2009 20:41
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Q: Capture mechanism for deorbit, how is that planning going?
A: SCM (Soft capture mechanism) uses a system known as LIDS (low impact docking system) intended for future NASA missions. Easy to RNDZ and dock with Hubble in future. ELV with propulsion module to dock with SCM. We have a lot of time to decide, as decay will take to about 2020.
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#414
by
generic_handle_42
on 18 May, 2009 20:41
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Q: Fly around of Hubble?
A: Not gonna happen.
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#415
by
generic_handle_42
on 18 May, 2009 20:41
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Q: How far along will the Mikes be ready for EVA tomorrow?
A: Up to EMU donning.
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#416
by
generic_handle_42
on 18 May, 2009 20:42
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Q: When will STS-400 crew be released?
A: After late inspection imagery review as far as I know.
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#417
by
generic_handle_42
on 18 May, 2009 20:42
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Q: Any plans to work on NICMOS during commissioning?
A: We will work on it as time permits, but commissioning is priority.
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#418
by
generic_handle_42
on 18 May, 2009 20:44
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Q: Last time that humans will see Hubble, what will your team be feeling? Do you operate it differently knowing that this is the last mission to HST?
A: Bittersweet feelings, and sad that this is the last time we will see it. Happy for 20 years of service, looking forward to at least another 5. We learned a lot over 19 years on how to operate. When we were unsure of SM4, we went into life extension program, made changes to operation to maximize lifetime, so we can use those techniques.
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#419
by
generic_handle_42
on 18 May, 2009 20:45
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Q: Last spacewalk out of shuttle airlock. Last satellite servicing. Feelings on that milestone?
A: The station is our future. Sad moment, but a great moment. We put Hubble in a great posture. Continue to press on with station.
