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Space Shuttle
Flight Details 13
STS-122 (Atlantis)Mission Statistics:
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EVA's:
Payloads:
Mission Highlights: This space shuttle mission was originally scheduled for December 2007, but was delayed until February 2008 because of malfunctioning fuel sensors in the main external fuel tank used during launch. NASA engineers had to redesign the electrical connectors on the sensors to solve the problem. In addition to rotating space station crew members Daniel Tani (down from ISS-16) and Leopold Eyharts (up to ISS-16), the main purpose of this Atlantis mission was to deliver to the space station the European "Columbus" laboratory module. Atlantis astronauts Walheim, Love, and Schlegel are scheduled to perform a total of 3 spacewalks to attach Columbus and make necessary electrical and other connections to the space station. During an almost 8-hour spacewalk on February 11, 2008, astronauts Love and Walheim, with assistance from other astronauts using the space station's robotic arm, moved the Columbus module to its permanent position mated to the Harmony module. Columbus added more than 2,600 cubic feet of pressurized volume to the space station, which includes four experiment racks and one storage rack. During the second spacewalk on February 12, astronauts Walheim and Schlegel installed a large nitrogen tank to outside of the the station to be used in pressurizing the station's ammonia-based cooling system. The old, empty tank was then placed in Atlantis' cargo bay for return to Earth. The astronauts also made some minor repairs to the debris shield on the outside of the American Destiny lab module. The third and final spacewalk of this mission was performed on February 15 by astronauts Walheim and Love. They installed two science experiments to the outside of the European Columbus lab, stowed an old space station gyroscope unit in the shuttle's cargo bay for return to Earth, and inspected a handrail on the Quest airlock module to determine if it might have been the cause of glove tears on the suits of spacewalking astronauts on several earlier shuttle missions. After a very successful mission, Atlantis landed safely at the Kennedy Space Center on February 20 after almost 13 days in orbit. Among the returning crew was ISS-16 crew member Daniel Tani, who had spent a total of 120 days in space (107 aboard the International Space Station).
STS-123 (Endeavour)Mission Statistics:
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Mission Highlights: The Endeavour crew delivered two more elements of the International Space Station, a pressured storage module for the Japanese "Kibo" (or "Hope") laboratory and "Dextre" a Canadian-built two-armed robot that will take over simple tasks outside the space station that otherwise would have to be performed by spacewalking astronauts. In addition, this mission saw the rotation of space station crew members Leopold Eyharts (down from ISS-16) and Garrett Reisman (up to ISS-16). With a planned mission time of 16 days, Endeavour's flight was the longest to date to the International Space Station and, with 5 planned spacewalks, one of the busiest. On March 14, astronauts Linnehan and Reisman prepared the Japanese ELM-PS for attachment to the Harmony module and began to assemble Dextre. Initially there were problems getting power to Dextre, which was later traced to a defective power cable. During the second spacewalk, on March 16, astronauts Linnehan and Foreman attached Dextre's two 11-foot manipulator arms. Meanwhile, inside the space station, Japanese astronaut Doi began outfitting the ELM-PS module. During the third spacewalk, on March 18, astronauts Linnehan and Behnken completed the assembly and installation of Dextre and installed equipment on the outside of the Quest airlock module, but were unable to latch an experiment package to the Columbus lab. Astronauts Benhnken and Foreman performed the fourth spacewalk on March 20 to practice techniques for repairing space shuttle protective tiles and to replace a faulty circuit breaker on the space station's truss assembly. The fifth and final spacewalk, again by astronauts Behnken and Foreman, took place on March 22 to move a sensor boom from Endeavour to the space station to accomodate installation of the large Kibo laboratory module during a future shuttle mission. The sensor boom will be returned to Earth after the next shuttle flight. The astronauts also mounted to Columbus the experiment package that was originally to be attached during the third spacewalk, and the again inspected the starboard solar array joint that has been a cause for concern because the joint was found to have metal debris during an earlier shuttle mission. Endeavour returned to Earth safely on the evening of March 26, landing at the Kennedy Space Center. Among the returning crew was European astronaut Leopold Eyharts, who spent 48 days in space as part of the ISS-16 crew.
STS-124 (Discovery)Mission Statistics:
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EVA's:
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Mission Highlights: The Discovery crew delivered another major element of the International Space Station, the main pressurized module for the Japanese "Kibo" (or "Hope") laboratory. In addition, this mission saw the rotation of space station crew members Garrett Reisman (down from ISS-16) and Greg Chamitoff (up to ISS-17). During three spacewalks, assisted by other crew members inside the space station and Discovery, the astronauts completed the installation of the Kibo module and an attached robotic arm. During the first almost 7-hour spacewalk on June 3, astronauts Fossum and Garan prepared the Kibo module for attachment to the space station using the station's robotic arm. They also cleaned the station's solar array joint and install a new bearing to the malfunctioning solar array. During the second 7-hour spacewalk on June 5, Fossum and Garan installed camera's to the exterior of the Kibo module, prepared Kibo for attachment of the smaller logistical module that was brought to the station by Endeavour during the STS-123 mission, and inspected the solar array joint on the other side of the station's truss assembly. During the third and final spacewalk on June 8, Fossum and Garan completed a series of maintenance and housekeeping tasks to complete the activation of the Kibo module and improve the performance of the station's solar array movement mechanisms. Discovery landed safely at the Kennedy Space Centers on June 14, 2008, after a completely successful and trouble-free mission. Among the returning crew was astronaut Garrett Reisman, who spent 95 days in space as part of the ISS-16 crew.
STS-126 (Endeavour)Mission Statistics:
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EVA's:
Payloads:
Mission Highlights: The main purposes of this Endeavour mission was to upgrade the International Space Station systems so that it can accommodate a crew of six (rather than only three) crew members and to repair the rotation joint on one of the station's solar arrays. In addition, this mission saw the rotation of space station crew members Greg Chamitoff (down from ISS-17/18) and Sandra Magnus (up to ISS-18). The upgrades to the space station included adding crew sleeping quarters, a second lavatory unit, a water reclamation/recycling system, and an exercise unit. During four spacewalks of almost 7 hours each, Endeavour crew members completed repairs to the malfunctioning solar array rotating joint. During the first spacewalk, astronauts Stefanyshyn-Piper and Bowen first removed an empty nitrogen tank and placed it in the space shuttle's cargo bay and also removed some insulation from the Japanese Kibo laboratory, then tackled the main task of lubricating the array joint and replacing several defective bearing assemblies. During this spacewalk, a bag of tools slipped away from the astronauts' grasp and was lost as it drifted away from the space station. However, the astronauts completed their tasks sharing a second set of tools. During the second spacewalk, astronauts Stefanyshyn-Piper and Kimbrough continued the task of replacing defective bearing assemblies and cleaning metallic debris from the solar array joint. On the same day, November 20, all of the station and shuttle crew members marked the 10th anniversary of the launch of the first unit of the space station, the Zarya module. During the third spacewalk a couple days later, astronauts Stefanyshyn-Piper and Bowen replaced another set of bearing assemblies and continued cleaning and lubricating the malfunctioning solar array joint. During the fourth and last spacewalk, astronauts Bowen and Kimbrough completed replacing the solar array bearing assemblies and also mounted some additional equipment (including a GPS antenna and a video camera) to the exterior of the space station. Endeavour landed safely at Edwards Air Force Base in California on November 30, 2008, after completely another successful and trouble-free mission. Endeavour was unable to land at the Kennedy Space Center because of bad weather conditions. Among the returning crew was astronaut Greg Chamitoff, who spent 183 days in space as part of the ISS-17 and 18 crews.
STS-119 (Discovery)Mission Statistics:
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EVA's:
Payloads:
Mission Highlights: The main purposes of this Discovery mission was to install the fourth and final solar array to the International Space Station. Three spacewalks were planned during this shuttle flight. In addition, Discovery rotated ISS crew members: Sandra Magnus down from the ISS 18 crew after 134 days in space, and Japanese astronaut Koichi Wakata up to the ISS 19 crew. Discovery was originally scheduled for launch on March 11; however that launch was postponed because of a leak in the fuel line that vents excess hydrogren away from the launch pad. Discovery lifted off into a beautiful sunset sky on March 15, 2009 and docked with the space station 2 days later to begin the process of installing the S6 truss with the final solar array for the station. During the first spacewalk, astronauts Swanson and Arnold guided the astronauts inside the space station in positioning the S6 truss with the station's robotic arm and then went about the task of bolting the truss in place and securing the power and data cables. During the second spacewalk, astronauts Swanson and Acaba prepared a work site where a future shuttle mission will place new batteries for the space station and installed a GPS antenna to the Japanese Kibo module in preparation for the future arrival of the Japanese HTV-1 cargo transport. However, they had trouble installing a cargo carrier attachment system because of misaligned bolts. During the third and last spacewalk of the flight, astronauts Acaba and Arnold relocated a crew equipment cart in preparation for the future arrival of a new module for the Japanese Kibo lab and applied lubricant to the station's robot arm. They also tried to complete balky cargo carrier from the second spacewalk, but were also unable to complete the attachment. Therefore, that task will be added to a future shuttle mission after ground technicians can try to determine the cause of the problem. Space shuttle Discovery returned to the Kennedy Space Center on March 28, 2009, leaving the Internation Space Station with four functioning solar arrays and the electrical capacity to accommodate 6-member station crews.
STS-125 (Atlantis))Mission Statistics:
Astronaut Crew:
EVA's:
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Mission Highlights: This flight of space shuttle Atlantis was slated to be the final service mission to the Hubble Space Telescope (HST). In five planned spacewalks, the shuttle astronauts refurbished or replaced failing components of HST to leave it with optical capabilities 70 times more sensitive than before and extend it's service life by as much as 10 years. During the first 7 1/2-hour spacewalk, on May 14, astronauts Grunsfeld and Feustel installed a new, third generation wide field camera and replaced the telescope's data processing unit. The tricky work was made more difficult by a stuck bolt, but the astronauts were able to successfully complete all tasks. During the second 8-hour spacewalk on May 15, astronauts Massimino and Good replaced three pairs of gyroscopes on the HST. However, one of the three new sets of gyroscopes refused to fit into place, and the astronauts had to instead install a recently-refurbish set in its place. The astronauts also took time to replace three of HST's six television-sized batteries. The original batteries were installed in the Hubble telescope before it was launched in 1990. On May 16, astronauts Grunsfeld and Feustel made their second spacewalk to replace the no longer needed COSTAR corrective lens with a new spectrograph and also made delicate electrical repairs to one of the HST's other cameras. This camera had been damaged in 2007 by an electrical short circuit. On May 17, it was astronauts Massimino and Good's turn at a second spacewalk, to repair an imaging spectrograph and install a new outer blanket layer to protect the Telescope from the elements. They ran into some trouble removing a handhold on the outside of the HST and had to physically pull it off in order to gain access to the imaging spectrograph. As a result, they didn't have time to install the outer blanket layer. The fifth and final spacewalk was on May 18, during which astronauts Grunsfeld and Feustel replaced another battery module, replaced a guidance sensor, and installed three outer blanket layers (including the one left from the prior spacewalk) to further protect the HST from external damage. With all tasks completed, the Atlantis astronauts released the Hubble Space Telescope to once more continue its star-gazing mission. This will likely be the last time that the HST is touched by human hands. Atlantis was originally scheduled to land on Friday, May 22; however, because of bad weather at the Kennedy Space Center, the landing was postponed to Sunday, May 24, with Atlantis having to land at Edwards Air Force Base in California.
STS-127 (Endeavour)Mission Statistics:
Astronaut Crew:
EVA's:
Payloads:
Mission Highlights: After two launch postponements because of a leak in the hydrogen venting system at the launch pad and two more launch postponements because of bad weather, space shuttle Endeavour finally launched into orbit on July 15. The flight's main mission was to complete construction of the Japanese Kibo Laboratory by adding the Japanese Exposure Facility (a permanent external experiment platform) to the pressurized modules that were previously attached to the International Space Station. Endeavour also accomplished another space station crew rotation, with Japanese astronaut Koichi Wakata being replaced by American astronaut Tim Kopra. During the first of five planned spacewalks, on July 18, astronauts Wolf and Kopra prepared the Japanese Exposure Facility for its move from the shuttle cargo bay to its position on the space station and also completed the deployment of an unpressurized cargo carrier attachment system that did not completely unfurl during a previous shuttle mission. During the second spacewalk, on July 20, astronauts Wolf and Marshburn attached spare components, including a Ku-Band antenna, a pump module, and a linear drive unit, to the exterior of the space station where they will be available for future station crews if needed. The two astronauts also mounted a grapple bar to an ammonia tank and instulation for external power connectors on the station. On Monday, July 20, the Endeavour and International Space Station occupants also took some time to commemorate the 40th anniersary of the Apollo 11 landing on the Moon. OnJuly 22, astronauts Wolf and Cassidy began replacing batteries use to store electricity generated by the space station's huge solar arrays. They had to cut short their spacewalk before finishing the planned tasks because of a possible problem with the carbon dioxide filtering system on Cassidy's space suit. The batter replacement tasks were completed on July 24 by astronauts Cassidy and Marshburn during the 4th spacewalk of the STS-127 mission. A total of 12 batteries were placed during the 3rd and 4th spacewalks. The 12 old batteries were stored in Endeavour's cargo bay for return to Earth. Finally, during the mission's last spacewalk, on July 27, astronauts Marshburn and Cassidy installed video cameras to the exterior of the Japanese Kibo laboratory and completed other miscellaneous tasks related to preparing the Kibo module for full operation, plus installing insulation, handrails, and footholds in other areas of the space station's exterior. This marked the 130th spacewalk in support of construction and maintenance of the International Space Station, totaling more than 810 hours of EVA time for space shuttle and space station crew members. Space shuttle Endeavour made a flawless landing at the Kennedy Space Center on the morning of July 31, 2009. Among the returning astronauts was Koichi Wakata of Japan, who had completed 138 days in space, most of those aboard the International Space Station as part of the ISS 19 and 20 crews.
STS-128 (Discovery)Mission Statistics:
Astronaut Crew:
EVA's:
Payloads:
Mission Highlights: Discovery lit up the Florida skies just a few seconds before midnight on August 28, 2009 on a supply mission to the International Space Station. The Leonardo Multi-Purpose Logistics Module inside Discovery's cargo bay was carrying materials and fluid experiment racks, storage racks, a freezer for research samples, a new sleeping compartment, and air purification system, and a treadmill named after comedian Stephen Colbert. The Leonardo module was attached temporarily to the ISS during the mission so that this equipment and a load of supplies can be transferred to the Space Station. Three spacewalks were performed by Discovery crew to replace experiments on the outside of the European Columbus laboratory and install a new ammonia storage tank for the station's heat radiators. The mission marks the beginning of transition from assembly of the space station to continuous scientific research aboard the station. Discovery also accomplished another space station crew rotation, with astronaut Tim Kopra being replaced by Nicole Stott on the International Space Station's Expedition 20 crew. During the first of three spacewalks, astronauts Olivas and Stott removed an empty ammonia tank and stowed it in Discovery's cargo bay for return to Earth. They also retrieved two science experiments from the exterior of the European Columbus module. During the second spacewalk, astronauts Olivas and Fuglesang installed a new ammonia tank and als installed protective lens covers on cameras on the station's robotic arm in preparation for the arrival of the Japanese HTV cargo vehicle later in the month. During the final spacewalk, Olivas and Fuglesang set up a payload attachment system to the Space Station's truss, and installed several items, including a gyro assembly, a remote power control module, and two GPS antennas. Discovery returned to Edwards Air Force Base in California on September 11th after having been waved off from landing at the Kennedy Space Center because of poor weather. Among the returning astronauts was Tim Kopra, who had completed 58 days in space, including 53 aboard the International Space Station as part of the ISS 20 crew.
STS-129 (Atlantis)Mission Statistics:
Astronaut Crew:
EVA's:
Payloads:
Mission Highlights: After a flawless earlier afternoon launch and a couple days to catch up with the International Space Station, Atlantis docked with the station to begin a cargo delivery mission. Using the robotic arms aboard Atlantis and the ISS, the astronauts moved two Express Cargo Carriers from Atlantis' cargo bay to the their permanent locations on the ISS truss. During a series of three spacewalk, they attached additional spare parts to the exterior of the station. During the first EVA, astronauts Foreman and Satcher attached an S-ban antenna to the station's Z-truss, installed cables for a space-to-ground antenna on the Destiny module, replaced a handrail on the Unity module, attached a payload attachment system to the S3-truss, and lubricated various components. During the second EVA, astronauts Foreman and Bresnik installed an antenna (called GATOR) on the European Columbus module, relocated an electrical measurement device, attached two more payload attachment systems and a wireless video system to the S3-truss, and moved a tool holder on the Pressurized Mating Adaptor that connects the Russian and American segments of the station. Even with additional tasks originally scheduled for the third EVA, Foreman and Bresnik completed all tasks quicker than expected. During the third and final EVA of this Atlantis mission, astronauts Satcher and Bresnik, with help from the robotic Canadarm2, installed a 1,240 pound oxygen tank to the space station. They also installed installed various items, including a materials experiment package, insulated covers on cameras, and a fluid connector. Atlantis landed on November 27th, after almost 11 days in orbit, with astronaut Nicole Stott of the ISS-20/21 crews.
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