Happy Earth Day!

Happy Earth Day!

http://www.nasa.gov/topics/earth/earthday/

Endeavour and Atlantis at the Launch Pads

Endeavour on track to Pad 39B

On April 17th at 12:01am EDT Endeavour will be on track to launch Pad 39B in the unlikely event a rescue mission is needed during Atlantis' STS-125 flight to upgrade the Hubble Space Telescope. After Atlantis is cleared to land, Endeavour will move to Launch Pad 39A in late May for its upcoming STS-127 mission to the International Space Station.

After tomorrow we will have a Space Shuttle at each launch pad! Cool!

STS-125 Imagery Simulation

This has been a busy week for me. I am currently at the airport (waiting for a delayed flight, ick!). Tomorrow a team of us will be at Johnson Space Center to go through a day-long simulation of the type of imagery we will be reviewing for STS-125 in May.

Normally for a flight that is headed to the International Space Station, we would receive high resolution imagery and evaluate the photos to determine if we are good for a safe reentry. Without the station crew to photograph the thermal protection system, the customary survey of the heat shield done the day after launch will be much more intensive. The crew will use the Orbiter's robotic arm and its 50-foot boom extension and sensor systems to perform not only the standard nose cap and wing leading edges inspection, but also a survey of rest of the thermal protection system on the uppper and lower surface.

In the unlikely event that irreparable damage is found, the crew also won’t be able to get to the International Space Station for help as Atlantis can't reach the space station from Hubble’s orbit. Because the crew won't have access to the station and the support it could provide in an emergency, the mission to Hubble requires some help from the ground.

Endeavour will be heading to the pad on April 17th to be the launch-on-need in the event of an emergency.

C.O.L.B.E.R.T or Combined Operational Load Bearing External Resistance Treadmill.

The last US node, scheduled for launch in February 2010, will be called Tranquility, not Colbert.

NASA held a contest on what to name the node and even though Comedy Central comedian Steven Colbert clearly received a majority of the votes, he did not win the name of the node. However....he did score the name of the treadmill!

C.O.L.B.E.R.T or Combined Operational Load Bearing External Resistance Treadmill.

Here's the list of names NASA considered for the node:

Colbert 230,539
Serenity 190,196
Myyearbook 147,637
Gaia 114,427
Legacy 35,339
Xenu 29,302
Earthrise 22,932
Venture 21,232
Socialvibe 9,080
Buddy 6,342
Ubuntu 4,556
Tranquility 4,493
Synergy 1,976
Vision 1,042

Orion Crew Capsule Water Test

Orion Crew Capsule Splashdown

This afternoon, a full-scale mockup of NASA's Orion crew module was tested off the coast of Kennedy Space Center, FL. under simulated and real landing weather conditions. The goal of the test was to simulate the Post-landing Orion Recovery Test, or PORT, and determine what kind of motions the astronauts can expect after landing, as well as conditions outside for the recovery team.

Before they tested the capsule at Kennedy Space Center, it was tested at the Naval Surface Warfare Center's Carderock Division in West Bethesda, MD. The Carderock facility provided a controlled environment for the crew recovery personnel to familiarize themselves with the Orion capsule before the team actually set out to test the procedures in the uncontrolled waters of the Atlantic Ocean.

The purpose of these tests will aid in vehicle design at Johnson Space Center and recovery hardware design under evaluation at Kennedy Space Center. In October, NASA is planning to have another test with astronauts in the capsule.

The launch of Ares I-X from Kennedy Space Center has been scheduled for late August.

Yuri's Night 2009: April 4-12

What is Yuri's Night? It's a celebration of humanity’s achievements in space. The purpose is to commemorate two separate space exploration milestones. The first milestone was the launch of the first human into space, Yuri Gagarin on April 12, 1961. The second milestone was the launch of the first Space Shuttle, STS-1, on April 12, 1981.

The goal of Yuri's Night is to increase public interest in space exploration and to inspire a new generation of explorers. With a worldwide network of annual celebrations and educational events, Yuri's Night creates a global community committed to shaping the future of space exploration.

Everyone can participate, so find a celebration in your area! This year, Yuri’s Night celebrations will be held from April 4th-12th.

Tomorrow morning I will participate in a Yuri's Night event by running in a 5K "Space Race" on Cocoa Beach!

International Space Station

This really puts things into perspective on the development of the ISS. Take a look at this animation to see how we have "pieced" things together over time! Amazing!

http://i.usatoday.net/tech/graphics/iss_timeline/flash.htm

Expedia's April Fool's Joke.....

The day we can actually purchase a ticket to Mars would be awesome!

http://www.expedia.com/daily/mars/flights-to-mars/?mcicid=Mars_us

Atlantis Arrives at Pad 39A for STS-125 Preparations

We're finally back at the pad ready to launch Atlantis again! Originally, the launch was delayed because of a technical issue with the Hubble Space Telescope and then it was adjusted in the timeline with another orbiter as a "launch on need".

What makes this mission unique? The Hubble Space Telescope is in a different orbit than the International Space Station. The astronauts onboard Atlantis cannot seek safe haven to the ISS if a major problem develops that might prevent a safe re-entry. As a result, space shuttle Endeavour will be moved to launch pad 39B on April 17 to serve as an emergency rescue mission, if needed.

If the mission goes as planned and we have no emergency, then Endeavour will be moved to pad 39A after Atlantis lands for normal processing and launch around June 13 to the International Space Station.

Discovery Lands at KSC!

On Saturday at 3:14 pm, Discovery landed on runway 15 at Kennedy Space Center! This completed the 13-day mission successfully delivering the final pair of large power-generating solar array wings and the S6 truss segment for the International Space Station.



I wasn't able to see the landing for myself because I was in Pennsylvania visiting Ridley Park High School. On Friday I visited the high school to talk about the Orbiter and the Thermal Protection System. I received some great questions from the students and they enjoyed the demo parts I brought for them to see.

Earth Hour

VOTE EARTH
YOUR LIGHT SWITCH IS YOUR VOTE

This year, Earth Hour has been transformed into the world’s first global election, between Earth and global warming.

For the first time in history, people of all ages, nationalities, race and background have the opportunity to use their light switch as their vote – Switching off your lights is a vote for Earth, or leaving them on is a vote for global warming. WWF are urging the world to VOTE EARTH and reach the target of 1 billion votes, which will be presented to world leaders at the Global Climate Change Conference in Copenhagen 2009.

This meeting will determine official government policies to take action against global warming, which will replace the Kyoto Protocol. It is the chance for the people of the world to make their voice heard.

Earth Hour began in Sydney in 2007, when 2.2 million homes and businesses switched off their lights for one hour. In 2008 the message had grown into a global sustainability movement, with 50 million people switching off their lights. Global landmarks such as the Golden Gate Bridge in San Francisco, Rome’s Colosseum, the Sydney Opera House and the Coca Cola billboard in Times Square all stood in darkness.

In 2009, Earth Hour is being taken to the next level, with the goal of 1 billion people switching off their lights as part of a global vote. Unlike any election in history, it is not about what country you’re from, but instead, what planet you’re from. VOTE EARTH is a global call to action for every individual, every business, and every community. A call to stand up and take control over the future of our planet. Over 74 countries and territories have pledged their support to VOTE EARTH during Earth Hour 2009, and this number is growing everyday.

We all have a vote, and every single vote counts. Together we can take control of the future of our planet, for future generations.

VOTE EARTH by simply switching off your lights for one hour, and join the world for Earth Hour.

Saturday, March 28, 8:30-9:30pm.

The ISS after STS-119

So how are the Solid Rocket Boosters retrieved?

As soon as the solid rocket boosters are jettisoned from the space shuttle, they splash down into the Atlantic Ocean. The retrieval ships, Liberty Star and Freedom Star, are already onsite about 9.2-11.5 miles from the splash down area. Each ship recovers one booster.

Upon arrival, the team first conducts a visual assessment of the flight hardware. The main parachutes are the first items to be brought on board. Their shroud lines are wound onto each of three of the four reels on the ship's deck. The drogue parachute, attached to the frustum, is reeled onto the fourth reel until the frustum is approximately 50 feet astern of the ship. The 5,000-pound frustum is then lifted from the water.

Once the chutes and frustum are recovered, the dive team prepares for booster recovery. Two small inflatable boats, with retrieval divers aboard, are deployed to install a Diver-Operated Plug (DOP) in the nozzle of the booster. The DOP is 22 feet in length and weighs 1,100 pounds. It is neutrally buoyant in water, meaning it neither floats nor sinks, and is easily guided to the aft skirt at a depth of about 110 feet by the divers. A quick inspection of the nozzle is conducted and then the DOP is inserted into the booster nozzle. Once the DOP legs are locked in place and the nozzle sealed, an air hose is attached from the ship.

The second dive team double-checks the aft skirt and DOP installation to ensure there are no problems. After the second dive is completed, dewatering operations begin by pumping air from the ship through the DOP and into the booster, displacing the water within the casing. In doing this, the booster rises in the water until it becomes top-heavy. It falls horizontally, like a log in the water. Air pumping continues until all water is expelled from the empty casing.

The final step in the ocean retrieval procedure is to connect the ship's tow line. Once the tow connection is made, the divers return to the ship everyone returns to the hangar on at Cape Canaveral Air Station.

Below are some pictures from the booster retrieval after the STS-119 launch!!!

(STS-125) Atlantis moves to the Vehicle Assembly Building

This morning Atlantis moved to the Vehicle Assembly Building to be mated with the Solid Rocket Boosters and External Tank for STS-125.

The launch for Atlantis is scheduled for May 12 on a final mission to service and upgrade the Hubble Space Telescope.

Mims Elementary Astronomy Night

Last night I helped out with Astronomy Night at Mims Elementary. Radio Disney was there "DJing" and we had an educator from the Orlando Science Center come out and talk to the kids about the planets and moons. We set up a bunch of different stations in the cafeteria that were related to space for the kids to visit. My station was teaching kids about comets.

As the night progressed and it became darker, the Brevard and Kennedy Space Center Astronomical Society set up their awesome telescopes and the kids got to view Saturn, the brightest star Sirius, the star Betelgeuse which is the second brightest star in the Orion constellation, the planet Venus, and so much more!! Everyone had such a great time!

Space Shuttle Flight Simulator

While working out here in Houston, I had a chance to try out the Space Shuttle Flight Simulator and it was AMAZING!! The flight simulator is what the astronauts use as part of their training for launch, reentry, and landing scenarios.



The simulator positioned us on our backs to feel like we were in the 90 degree launch position. We then felt the launch sequence of liftoff, solid rocket booster separation, external tank jettison, and main engine cutoff.

The most awesome part was when I got to sit in the commander's seat and land the orbiter. I wasn't to shabby in the simulator!! :)




After landing the orbiter, I even got a "report card" rating me on my landing! :)



Ever wonder what the "bathroom" onboard the orbiter looks like?? Well here ya go!! Can you imagine trying to hold on to those handle bars in the microgravity environment?

Inspecting the Thermal Protection System

We spent the afternoon and night reviewing imagery of the thermal protection system. Overall the vehicle looked in great condition! There are a couple of anomalies that we detected, but nothing off-nominal. We're complete for tonight and will be meeting early in the morning to continue our assessment.


Photo Credit: Phil Hsieh

STS-119: Flight Day 3

Today, Discovery will do a rendezvous pitch maneuver (RPM) or "orbiter backflip" before it docks with the International Space Station. The crew on board the ISS will take high res photos and downlink them to us for review. We will be identifying and debris impacts, protruding gap fillers, or anomalies with the thermal protection system. So far we have heard there are no major issues with the Orbiter. Discovery will be docking with the ISS a little after 5pm EDT!

Over night, the astronauts used Discovery's 50-foot-long boom on the end of the robot arm to perform laser scans and get high-res imagery of the nose cap and wing leading edge panels. The other half of our group is looking for any signs of impact damage as well.

Overall, there were no obvious signs of debris or damage seen in video downlinked from the shuttle during launch, but we will be verifiying that over the next couple of days in here in Houston as we perform a detailed assessment on the imagery.