LIVE: STS-125 Flight Day 9 - HST Release, Late Inspections

• LIVE: STS-125 Flight Day 9 - HST Release, Late Inspections by Chris Bergin on 19 May, 2009 00:19
• Live coverage of STS-125's no sleep till wheels stop FD9:
  
  Previous article: http://www.nasaspaceflight.com/2009/05/final-spacewalk-marks-full-mission-success-for-sts-125-eva/
  FD9 Article: http://www.nasaspaceflight.com/2009/05/hst-farewell-late-inspections-panel-11r-interest/
  FD9
  • EVA Prep (Massimino/Good) up to EMU Donning
  – In support of Rapid Response EVA for Deploy contingency
  • HST Umbilical Demate
  • HST Unberth
  • HST Release Prep
  • HST Aperture Door Open
  • HST Release
  • FSS Stow
  • Orbit Adjust for MMOD Exposure Mitigation
  • OBSS Unberth
  • Late Inspection
  
  Please note, this is interactive, but all posts need to be on topic. If you post images, no more than two per post.

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• #1 by Lee Jay on 19 May, 2009 02:09
• I know there was some discussion as to why a reboost is no longer planned, but I didn't find the reason stated clearly.  Is there simply insufficient OMS prop margin?  That's the only real reason I can think of.
• #2 by tblaxland on 19 May, 2009 02:59
• Quote from: Lee Jay on 19 May, 2009 02:09

  I know there was some discussion as to why a reboost is no longer planned, but I didn't find the reason stated clearly.  Is there simply insufficient OMS prop margin?  That's the only real reason I can think of.
  

  My understanding is that they want to save the OMS prop for orbit lowering. The lower orbit is required due to MMOD concerns. Additional to that, the rate of decay for HST has been low due to the recent low solar activity, so a reboost is not critical.
• #3 by Jorge on 19 May, 2009 03:16
• Quote from: tblaxland on 19 May, 2009 02:59

  Quote from: Lee Jay on 19 May, 2009 02:09

  I know there was some discussion as to why a reboost is no longer planned, but I didn't find the reason stated clearly.  Is there simply insufficient OMS prop margin?  That's the only real reason I can think of.
  

  My understanding is that they want to save the OMS prop for orbit lowering. The lower orbit is required due to MMOD concerns. Additional to that, the rate of decay for HST has been low due to the recent low solar activity, so a reboost is not critical.
  

  
  The latter is key.
  
  Even without a reboost, HST's orbit is expected to be good through at least 2020, which is much longer than HST's systems are expected to last. So Goddard did not make reboost a requirement. If they thought that a reboost would add operational lifetime to HST, they would have.
• #4 by Lee Jay on 19 May, 2009 03:29
• Thanks for the info.  That's odd.  Just because solar minimum was really calm doesn't mean the upcoming solar maximum (or the climb up to it) won't be really intense.  "Past performance is not an indicator of future results"!  But, okay, as long as HST's orbit will last until 2015 or later, it's probably fine.
• #5 by tblaxland on 19 May, 2009 04:18
• Quote from: Lee Jay on 19 May, 2009 03:29

  Thanks for the info.  That's odd.  Just because solar minimum was really calm doesn't mean the upcoming solar maximum (or the climb up to it) won't be really intense.  "Past performance is not an indicator of future results"!  But, okay, as long as HST's orbit will last until 2015 or later, it's probably fine.
  

  Cycle 24 is predicted to be a light one:
  http://www.swpc.noaa.gov/SolarCycle/
  
  Historical data for comparison:
  http://solarscience.msfc.nasa.gov/images/Zurich_Color_Small.jpg
• #6 by shaula1247 on 19 May, 2009 08:20

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• #7 by shaula1247 on 19 May, 2009 08:23
• Some timings.
  
  Hubble release due at 7:53 Ct

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• #8 by elmarko on 19 May, 2009 08:35
• I might have missed this but why is there a window for HST deploy?
  
  Edit: Dave Matthews Band? Seriously, Megan
• #9 by MikeMi. on 19 May, 2009 08:37
• Didn't know about it :
  
  • EVA Prep (Massimino/Good) up to EMU Donning
  – In support of Rapid Response EVA for Deploy contingency
  
  Interesting. Will they be waiting in airlock in EMUs (whats about pre-breath - also need to be perform?)?
  
  Some country wake-up music for Megan 
• #10 by mikes on 19 May, 2009 08:41
• Wake-up was "Lie in Our Graves" by the Dave Matthews Band for Megan McArthur
  
  http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lie_in_Our_Graves
  
  
  
• #11 by DaveS on 19 May, 2009 08:41
• They will only don the EMUs if an EVA is looking very likely. Otherwise they'll hold at EMU donning.
• #12 by mtakala24 on 19 May, 2009 09:26
• Execute package for today: http://www.nasa.gov/pdf/348736main_fd09.pdf
• #13 by De_Vliegende_Student on 19 May, 2009 09:35
• Morning guys!
  Just a quick question for today's unberth with HST, in the flightplan they're talking about the HST DPY manual for procedures, where can i find this doc? (normally they're working with the rendezvous manual right?)
  
  Thanks!
• #14 by Colds7ream on 19 May, 2009 09:48
• What time is the deploy window in UTC?
• #15 by elmarko on 19 May, 2009 09:53
• Quote from: De_Vliegende_Student on 19 May, 2009 09:35

  Morning guys!
  Just a quick question for today's unberth with HST, in the flightplan they're talking about the HST DPY manual for procedures, where can i find this doc? (normally they're working with the rendezvous manual right?)
  
  Thanks!
  

  
  This document is on L2 if you have access.
  
  PS, my deploy window question, any ideas?
• #16 by ede545 on 19 May, 2009 10:04
• Quote from: Colds7ream on 19 May, 2009 09:48

  What time is the deploy window in UTC?
  

  
  According to the screenshot of the mission clock which has been posted above:
  

  
      HST DPLY OPEN:  12:53:56 UTC
      HST DPLY CLOSE: 13:14:56 UTC
  

  
  (Unless my math failed me again.)
• #17 by Colds7ream on 19 May, 2009 10:10
• Many thanks! :-)
• #18 by MikeMi. on 19 May, 2009 10:27
• Seems that we are ready for grapple telescope.
  Unfortunately we are in shadow like now..
  
  LGA in attachment:

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• #19 by MikeMi. on 19 May, 2009 10:37
• Umbilical demate completed..
  
  Point 4 in progress..