Chris Edelen
One and only EVA for STS 135 was a great success, completed all the planned activities within 1 minute of the planned time
This EVA was not originally part of the plan when 135 was baselined
This EVA was added so we could bring the pump module back
Installed the RRM
Installed a materials exposure experiment
Cleared out a wire that was interfering with a PDGF on the FGB module
1 step closer to it being used
Installed a thermal cover over PMA 3, it’s a side facing hatch with a pressure equalisation valve that gets warm in sunlight.
This is causing the seal to degrade, temperatures are now stabilising with the cover installed at the seal will last past 2020 now
Station crew performed the EVA to reduce the training crew on the 135 crew
Trained it several times in the NBL
A challenge was that as Mike and Ron went up on a Soyuz they were in place several months before the EVA
Last time they were in the pool was in Feb
The team provided an excellent training plan on orbit
Most of the crew were involved with EVA support today
There was some cargo transfer, thanks to help from the Russians. Got 30 hours of transfer done so were slightly ahead of the timeline
Glenda Brown
This was so great, we worked so hard to get the crew ready
This was an accelerated template and we had to put in extra hours for many months
It took a lot of people working really hard together
Went out 40 mins late, but this wasn’t a concern
Started installing COLT tools onto the backside of the pump module platform, they went right into position, worked flawlessly
Pump module hung up and bit on the ESP before it released.
Needed to turn it 180 degrees to install it in the payload bay
Went smoothly, just like watching the training
Everyone at Goddard was holding there breath when we installed the RRM
Then we went to install the material sample experiment and took some photos
Then went to work on the PDGF, went just like the training
Finally we installed the thermal cover, 9 Velcro straps holding it into position
As it was installed the thermal officer turned around and told them temps were dropping
Wrapped up on time, picked up the large cutter tool and brought it inside so the Russians can use it
Thanks the team for there great work
Was a poignant moment at the end
Ben Reed
Words can not express how excited, proud and humbled I am to be a part of this mission
I give my thanks to the 135 team we get great support from the KSC team when we process a payload
Thanks the 2 EVA crew members
Thanks the ISS payload office, RRM is the most complicated experiment to sit on ISS
Thanks the CSA the Canada Arm 2 was in excellent form, will be using DEXTRE in the future
Thanks to the RRM team at Goddard, my team is a great team from top to bottom
No one had a Christmas or new year as we were frantically assembling and testing the hardware
RRM is now installed
We could not envision getting a payload to orbit in 18 months without the ISS
We hope to demonstrate the tools, technology and techniques for on orbit servicing
With on orbit servicing a satellite that’s out of fuel doesn’t have to be thrown away
A new satellite with a deployment failure doesn’t have to be hobbled for all its life
It can be a useful tool in the agencies tool box
Questions
Q: Talk about the spacewalkers attitude?
A: Whistling was fun, they all talk about if it’s possible. Due to lower pressure and less molecules in the air you have to take a deep breath and blow harder. Mike got a little whistle out. You have to work 6.5 hours without a lunch break. Ron and Mike like working together.
Q: Anything that needs to be done with the quest airlock to maintain it for a year?
A: We have a regular maintenance schedule, each piece of equipment has its own maintenance requirement. The pumps on the suits get fired up, re ion ate them and add iodine. Doing a loop scrub in a few weeks, clears the lines in the suits and those going to them. Maintain battery charging capability by charging and discharging the batteries.
Q: When will work with the RRM start and what will it be?
A: First we will transfer it to ELC 4. It will be our permanent home. Once there we’ll conduct vision experiments. All future operations will involve machine vision algorithm, natural feature and edge detection. Its hard to replicate the lighting conditions in orbit during testing. After this DEXTRE will access a panel on top of RRM, the DEXTRE arm will pick up the wire cutter tool and cut safety wire on the valves. Half of what you see are tools and the other half are interfaces that exist on satellites currently in orbit. Will be doing this over the next two years
Q: Latch door sticking open on the PDGF task? (Philip!)
A: Have seen it before and anticipated it. When it was inside before installation, the crew members were inspecting it and noticed a door was hanging up. They sent video down and we looked at it during 134 to see if the wire was visible when it was inside. It wasn’t. So sometime between Sept / Oct and 134 the wire came out. We think we’ve seen this happen to the door before and it shakes loose.
Q: Is there a set period of time you’ll be running the tests, plans for a 2nd generation model? (Philip!)
A: Station is a busy place, Canada Arm 2 and DEXTRE are needed for other operations, when there busy we stand down. When there available we do our operations. When we work will depend on activities outside out control, anticipate 2 years to do all tasks. 6 – 8 hours a day for a task. This will be fun for the team. We built the module with future expansion in mind. 2 task boards on the side and have the possibility for a future task board on top. (Have space and mounting holes for it)
Q: What does it mean for future ISS EVA’s due to it being the last shuttle EVA, do the crew need more training?
A: This EVA was a bridge between the past and future. We keep the airlock ready to go for contingencies. All ISS crew are trained in contingency EVA’s and for planned EVA’s
Q: When is the next US spacewalk?
A: Don’t know exact date, next fall (2012) Anticipate it will move maybe a month or 2 depending on VV traffic.
Q: Strap that got away?
A: Looked like a short strap maybe a hand hold from the pump module. Mike was around the back of the payload bay working on MLI when it was seen. Hand holds are 6” long and a foot wide. Passed on information to the TPO folks to make sure there were no concerns. May learn more once we get the pump module back.
Awesome work Aaron. Wow, that one was late and long.
For those who like ships towing boosters, New video of it in the videofile in 12 minutes.
For those who like ships towing boosters, New video of it in the videofile in 12 minutes.
Here's the video on YouTube.
For those who like ships towing boosters, New video of it in the videofile in 12 minutes.
Here's the video on YouTube.
Thanks!
Interesting youtube comments, One asks 'Why is that ship spraying water' and someones answered 'Incase of fire'.
That's sad. I don't have a youtube account since they insisted on Gmail link ups (don't have gmail), so if you do, post some facts in their faces please.
Awesome work Aaron. Wow, that one was late and long.
Second that, and thank you.
And thanks to all here who contributed on the spacewalk coverage. I only got 10 min seen of it due to work being crazy lately.
Can't wait to see those fisheye images!
Last EVAer in the shuttle payload bay. My heart sank.
It seems every milestone is a another blow. It's great to have the station US-complete, but it goes without saying the contributions of these marvelous vehicles that made it a reality.
I don't know how I'm going to handle undocking, let alone landing & wheelstop.
Enjoy these last few days people - savour the victory of what shuttle has given us.
What is the reason that there will not be a US spacewalk for some long time to come?
No real need in the coming time? or less resources? (no shuttle crew to support so unless it is really necessary like in the case of Doug and Tracy's spacewalk last year)
Great catch up coverage guys! Didn't miss a thing thanks to this.
Was the space junk seen at all & did someone get pics?
Space junk would be too small and moving too fast to be seen.
Dont know if I posted this:
