SPACEFLIGHTWEB | BLOG

Following a successful activation of the newly added Japanese Logistics Module - Pressurized Section (JLP), Expedition commander Peggy Whitson, and Japanese astronaut Takao Doi floated into the new compartment at 8:23 p.m. CDT Friday. They began outfitting the module by turning on the lights, installing air ducts, and activating other things necessary for it to stay open to the International Space Station. They then began the process transferring supplies to and from the new module.

Problems with powering the Canadian “Dextre” robotic hand were also finally solved Friday night, when flight controllers sent commands to have the crew grapple the new devices with Canadarm2, providing the much needed power and heat to the partially assembled component. Mission Specialists Rick Linnehan and Mike Foreman will continue assembly of the new device during a spacewalk Saturday. They began all the preparations to step outside and are sleeping in the Quest Airlock during their sleep shift to prepare for Saturday evening’s expedition.

Astronauts Richard Linnehan and Garrett Reisman stepped outside the Quest Airlock tonight to begin the first spacewalk of the STS-123 mission Thursday night. They prepared the first part of the Japanese Kibo lab, known as the Japanese Logistics Module - Pressurized Section or JLP for its temporary installation on the Node 2 Harmony. They also began initial assembly of the Canadian “Dextre” robotic hand, a task that will take two additional spacewalks to fully complete.

Endeavour and crew have arrived at the International Space Station tonight to deliver two key international components. Commander Dom Gorie guided Endeavour methodically to a docking at 10:49 p.m. CDT Wednesday.

The pressure between the two vehicles was pressurized followed by hatch opening and the usual welcome ceremony and safety briefing at 12:28 a.m. CDT Thursday. Later in the crew’s day, the station’s Canadarm2 transfered a Spacelab pallet containing the new Canadian hand known as “Dextre” to the outside of the station.

Unfortunately, the linkup wasn’t fully successful, and NASA and Canadian engineers are studying why power isn’t flowing to the pallet containing the disassembled hand. Power is required for assembly of the hand, and mission managers say they hope to have a solution in the next few days

Following one of the smoothest and uneventful countdowns in shuttle history, Endeavour roared off of Launch Pad 39-A 1:28 a.m. early Tuesday. Once reaching orbit, the crew climbed out of their spacesuits and began the procedures to prepare the orbiter for the near-record length 16-day mission to the International Space Station.

The second flight day will see the crew scan the orbiter for any possible launch damage and prepare for docking to the station Wednesday night.

Commander Steve Frick guided Atlantis to a picture perfect landing this morning at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida at 8:07 CST, concluding a successful 12-day mission to add a new laboratory to the International Space Station. Three spacewalks were conducting in conjunction with the on-orbit construction by Rex Walheim, Hans Schlegel, and Stanley Love.

Also returning to Earth was former Expedition 16 Flight Engineer Daniel Tani who completed a four-month stay on board the orbital outpost. The crew will rest before returning home to Houston tomorrow.

NASA’s focus now shifts to the next shuttle mission, STS-123, set for launch in less 3 weeks.

After completing a wildly successful mission to bring the European Columbus Laboratory to the International Space Station, Atlantis and her crew of seven is set to return to Earth Wednesday. Weather conditions are set to be pristine for an 8:07 a.m. CST landing at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida.

If conditions unexpectedly deteriorate at the KSC’s Shuttle Landing Facility (SLF), Atlantis will return to Edwards Air Force Base in California instead tomorrow afternoon. Mission managers have said barring any technical problems onboard the shuttle, they will bring Atlantis down on either coast. The reason: the U.S. government is set to shoot down a defunct spy satellite Wednesday afternoon, and NASA doesn’t want any potential mishaps with debris in the atmosphere affecting Atlantis and her crew as they return to Earth.

The crew of Expedition 16 said farewell to the STS-122 Monday morning, as they undocked from the orbital outpost at 3:24 a.m CST. After moving 400 feet away in front of the station, Atlantis’ pilot Alan Poindexter steered the orbiter through a one-loop flyaround to give an opportunity to photograph the newly expanded space station.

Atlantis’ thrusters were then fired carrying it a good distance away from the station. The crew then performed another close-up inspection of Atlantis’ wings for any micrometeoroid damage that could have occurred during the ten days proceeding. They then began initial packing for the return to Earth, now scheduled for Wednesday morning.

Rex Walheim and Stanley Love wrapped up today’s third spacewalk, the final one of the mission at 2:32 p.m. CST Friday. Together they installed two scientific payloads on the outside of the Columbus Lab, which was delivered earlier in the mission.

They also transported a broken Control Moment Gyro (CMG) from the station to Atlantis’ payload bay for the journey back to Earth. Once on the ground, the CMG will be studied and refurbished for backup, should it be needed.

The crew will continue important transfer activities over the next few days before undocking from the space station on Monday morning CST.

Tuesday was another busy one in space, as the crews at work inside the International Space Station opened the hatch to the Columbus Lab and briefly entered the module. After the initial activiation procedures wraped up, the crew fully ingress the module and began their work to set up the new space laboratory.

The crew also began preparations for Wednesday’s second spacewalk of the mission set to begin in the early hours of the morning CST.

Astronauts Stanley Love and Rex Walheim successfully achieved the most critical during today’s first spacewalk of STS-122. Tasks carried out included installing a robot arm grapple fixture on the Columbus Lab, work on the station’s truss, as well as preparing the station externally for the installation of Columbus.

The final major task of Flight Day 5 was Canadarm 2’s slow, methodical removal of Columbus from Atlantis’ payload bay. After a short journey, it became a permanent part of the International Space Station when it was bolted to the Harmony Node at 3:44 p.m. CST.

After a series of leak tests overnight, the crews will enter Columbus early Tuesday and beginning the initial outfitting of the new laboratory.