Space Shuttle Orbiter Crew Cabin

Yesterday afternoon I was able to sit in the crew cabin of Atlantis. I entered through the mid-deck where the astronauts spend a majority of their time before they get to the ISS as there is a little more space.

During a launch, the flight deck seats the commander (where I happen to be sitting for this picture) and pilot, with two mission specialists behind them. The mid-deck, which is below the flight deck, has three more seats for the rest of the crew members. The galley (or kitchen area), toilet, sleep locations, storage lockers, and the side hatch for entering/exiting the vehicle are also located on the mid-deck, as is the airlock hatch. The airlock has another hatch into the payload bay (bottom picture). It allows two astronauts, wearing their Extravehicular Mobility Unit (EMU) space suits, to depressurize before a space walk.

I had never been in the orbiter's crew cabin, and after I got out, I couldn't wipe the ear-to-ear grin off my face. It was amazing!!! (Thanks for the tour Theo)

Moon Buggy!!!

Before it gets to space, a moon buggy will make history by being the first to boogie along an inaugural parade. NASA will participate in President-elect Barack Obama’s inaugural parade with the crew of the latest shuttle mission and a small pressurized rover that is the current design for a mission to the moon in about 12 years. It will be driven by astronaut Michael Gernhardt. NASA hasn't chosen a final rover design yet, but the one in the parade is the leading prototype at the moment, succeeding wildly on a three-day desert trek in Arizona in October. It is different from the Apollo era open top rovers. It is sealed like a car, allowing two astronauts to sit in it without wearing bulky spacesuits.

Discovery at Pad 39A

Yesterday, Discovery began its rollout at 5:17 a.m. EST to pad 39A. The mobile launch platform was lowered onto the pad pedestals at 12:16 p.m. EST, marking the official time for Discovery's arrival at the pad.

Launch is scheduled for Feb. 12 at 7:32 a.m. EST.

Discovery will launch the $300 million Starboard 6 solar array truss, the fourth and final power module for the international space station. The 15.5-ton girder will be connected to the station's backbone by spacewalking astronauts during the mission.

Led by commander Lee Archambault, the Discovery crew includes pilot Tony Antonelli, mission specialists Joe Acaba, Steve Swanson, Ricky Arnold, John Phillips and station-bound astronaut Koichi Wakata who will remain in orbit to replace Expedition flight engineer Sandy Magnus. She will return to Earth on Discovery after more than three-and-a-half months living on the station.

Preparing for STS-119 Launch

Yesterday, Discovery was towed over to the Vehicle Assembly Buidling in preparations for the next launch on Feb. 12th. In the Vehicle Assembly Building, Discovery will be assembled with the external tank and solid rocket boosters. Launch is currently scheduled for 7:32 A.M EST.

Happy New Year!

I want to wish everyone a Happy New Year and I hope 2009 is productive for what you set out to accomplish and is safe for you all. I am currently in Boston spending New Year's and it is very cold. We had some snow fall yesterday and today it is sunny (still 8 degrees F) but still a great day to walk around to see some highlights of the city.

Thanks to all those who read my blog and for your encouraging comments. Here's to 2009!!! Cheers from Boston!

Hello from the West Coast!!!

I have been a little out of touch lately and that's because I have been doing a little bit of traveling to visit family for the holidays. I flew down to Seattle last week (so much snow!!) and then drove down to California where I am right now to spend surprise some more family.

According to the Astronaut Selection Office, everyone should have been contacted by the end of November and invited for interviews or asked to get medical evaluations. I did not get contacted so here's to next time!! :) I'm not down or anything about, but I will continue my graduate studies and explore new space opportunities!

I hope everyone has a great holiday! I return to Florida next week...but then head to visit Boston for New Years!!

Happy Holidays and Happy New Years everyone!!!

Endeavour lands at KSC

Endeavour flew in to KSC piggybacked on the Shuttle Carrier Aircraft (SCA), or a modified Boeing 747.

It left Edwards Air Force Base on Wednesday. It stopped at Biggs Army Airfield in El Paso, Texas to refuel. Then stayed overnight in Fort Worth, Texas at the Naval Air Station Joint Reserve Base. The next overnight stop was in Barksdale Air Force Base near Shreveport, Louisiana on Thursday.

Landing today was on Runway 33, and occurred around 2:45 p.m. EST.

Endeavour to come home to KSC soon!!! :)

Endeavour to land at Edwards Air Force Base

With the forecasts predicting unfavorable weather at Florida's Kennedy Space Center proving true today and little hope of better conditions tomorrow, NASA has decided to divert space shuttle Endeavour's landing to the backup site at Edwards Air Force Base, California.

The deorbit burn is scheduled for 3:19 p.m. EST (12:19 p.m. local; 2019 GMT), leading to touchdown at 4:25 p.m. EST (1:25 p.m. local; 2125 GMT) to conclude the 16-day flight.

No Landing today at KSC

Both landing attempts for today have been waived off and a final decision has not been made to land at Edwards Air Force Base. Even tomorrow's weather here at Kennedy Space Center does not look too great. It's pretty windy, there is a lot of cloud cover, and afternoon thunderstorms should be moving in.

Endeavour Undocks from the ISS

I hope everyone had a Happy Thanksgiving with family or friends. The crew of Endeavour and the International Space Station spent Thanksgiving together onboard the ISS. This morning at 9:47am EDT, Endeavour undocked from the ISS to make its way home.

This afternoon, we have some engineers from our group that are at Johnson Space Center to to carry out a final inspection of the Orbiter's reinforced carbon carbon nose cap and wing leading edge panels. The final inspection ensures no damage from space debris has occurred since the inspection performed the day after launch.

Landing is scheduled for Sunday Nov. 30 at 1:19 p.m. EST on runway 15.

Presentation at Florida Institute of Technology

Today I will be giving a presentation to the graduate students of the Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering Department at Florida Institute of Technology. I will be talking about the Thermal Protection System and also of my experience down in Houston supporting Endeavour's STS-126 mission.

Just last night I applied to the Space Science Master's program at FIT. Below is a description of the degree program. I have my letters of recommendation in progress and I have to work on sending my transcripts and statement of objectives over. My goal is to have all this completed by the end of the weekend.

MASTER OF SPACE SCIENCE DEGREE PROGRAM
The space sciences graduate program stresses astrophysics, astrodynamics, space and planetary physics, cosmic ray physics, space instrumentation, physics of lightning, solar-terrestrial interrelations, terrestrial geomagnetism and stellar photometry. Graduate study in space sciences at the master’s level prepares the graduate for a wide range of scientific and technical responsibilities in industry and government related directly or indirectly to the space program.

Endeavour's TPS in great condition

I've returned from Houston and I have to say that Endeavour had very little debris hits and was very 'clean'. We didn't notice anything major that would effect a nominal re-entry of the vehicle.

On Flight Day 3 is when we receive the imagery taken by the crew on the ISS. The imagery is taken right before the Orbiter docks with the ISS. We then review the entire outer surface of the Orbiter for any debris hit, protruding gap fillers, or blanket anomalies with the thermal protection system. We have specified criteria for certain zones of the Orbiter that we use to evaluate and assess the damages.

Yesterday, the “Leonardo” Multi-Purpose Logistics Module (MPLM) was transferred from Endeavour’s payload bay to Node 2 of the ISS for the exchange of cargo/supplies. While today's EVA was going on to service the starboard solar array rotary joint, the rest of the crew inside the ISS worked on moving the two water recycling racks and the new galley from the MPLM into the ISS.

Endeavour is scheduled to return to KSC on November 29, 2008 at 2:10 EST.

Successful Launch of Endeavour

Watching the launch from the beach was so awesome!! It was such a clear night that I was able to see the solid rocket booster separation. I'm currently in Houston and we're about to get the photos that the ISS crew will be taking of the Endeavour's Thermal Protection System (TPS). We'll then inspect the TPS for any anomalies.

Segments of Ares I-X for 2009 Test Flight

Below are some photos of the segments for the Ares I-X rocket to be used in a test flight targeted for July 2009.

The upper stage segments will simulate the mass and the outer mold line and will be more than 100 feet of the total vehicle height of 327 feet. The simulator comprises 11 segments that are approximately 18 feet in diameter. Most of the segments will be approximately 10 feet high, ranging in weight from 18,000 to 60,000 pounds, for a total of approximately 450,000 pounds.

The bottom two photos are of first-stage segment (forward skirt). The segment is fabricated entirely of armored steel, weighs 14,000 pounds, and is 7 feet tall and 12.25 feet wide.

1 Day Until STS-126 Launch!

So far we're go for launch tomorrow. We now have a 70% chance of favorable weather for launch!! Be sure to keep up with live mission updates as we get closer to the countdown: http://spaceflightnow.com/shuttle/sts126/status.html

I have some friends that I met over the summer from ISU's Space Studies Program in Barcelona, Spain. They're visiting from the Washington D.C. area, Canada, Spain, and Germany and this will be the first launch experience for most. We will all be watching the launch from the beach. It will be a good mini-reunion before I head out to Houston!

2 Days Until STS-126 Launch!

Yesterday evening, Atlantis was moved to the Orbiter Processing Facility 1, where it will undergo some modifications that would have been done after its flight. However, since we had the Hubble mission delay, we might as well take advantage of time and perform the work now. The date for the Atlantis (STS-125) launch is still projected to be around May 2009.

We’re officially 2 days way from launch of Space Shuttle Endeavour (STS-126). There is a 60% chance of favorable weather. If for some reason we are delayed, the next launch attempt would be on 11/15 at 7:29pm EDT. The crew arrived yesterday from Houston and they are ready for their mission.

2008 Air and Space Show at Kennedy Space Center

Over the weekend the 2008 Air and Space Show was held at Kennedy Space Center. Here are a couple of awesome shots of the aircraft at the show (including the F/A-18 Blue Angels, F-4, F-16 and F-104G Starfighter!!)

Update: 2009 Astronaut Selection

The Astronaut Selection Office has selected 450 highly qualified applicants. They are currently in the process of contacting the references the applicants provided and mailing out a medical form for the applicants to get a medical evaluation. From information provided by the references and the medical evaluation, the selection panel will invite 120 of those applicants for interviews at Johnson Space Center in January 2009.

I haven't heard anything yet, so there still may be a chance. :) It's projected that all of the selected applicants should be notified by the end of November.

There are many who have recieved the medical form or have heard that their references have been contacted...Good luck to all that applied!

10 days until STS-126 launch!

Last week the crew was at Kennedy Space Center for their countdown rehearsal. Launch of Space Shuttle Endeavour is currently scheduled for Nov. 14 at 7:55 p.m. EST and landing is scheduled for Nov. 29 at 2:18 p.m.

I will also be preparing to travel to Houston for this mission to assist with the on-orbit imagery inspection of the Thermal Protection System ensuring the vehicle and crew will have a safe re-entry.