http://www.lizard-tail.com/isana/tracking/
This uses google earth...
And to see both the shuttle and ISS go here.
Docking will occur Sunday but you can watch shuttle chase the ISS.
Friday, May 14, 2010
Shuttle from Titusviille
This is from a site on the Indian River..by the looks of the bridge SR 402.They call the people on the right birdwatchers.
Launch photos
We have those:
First from space: This is a twiter photo from the Japanese astronaut on the space station and it's the view they had of the final Atlantis launch.
Top photo at the press site...
The final flight of Atlantis?
At least it is far as we know but Congress has money in the current budget to launch again in 2011, more than likely in February. Atlantis would be the shuttle that would be used. The stack is paid for. All NASA has to due is crew the thing.
Middle of the afternoon liftoff from Kennedy Space Center on Merrit Island, Florida at 2:2o PM after an uneventful countdown.
Kennedy Space Center saw a hubbub of VIP's for Atlantis' final voyage, including Defense Secretary Robert Gates, Apollo 11 astronaut Buzz Aldrin and David Letterman, host of the CBS "Late Show." Hope Dave brought his shortwave radio out to the cape.. I used to take mine to Playalinda beach next to b pad...you would be amazed at the water path reception you could get of African stations during the daytime. Long distance AM also pretty amazing.
Middle of the afternoon liftoff from Kennedy Space Center on Merrit Island, Florida at 2:2o PM after an uneventful countdown.
Kennedy Space Center saw a hubbub of VIP's for Atlantis' final voyage, including Defense Secretary Robert Gates, Apollo 11 astronaut Buzz Aldrin and David Letterman, host of the CBS "Late Show." Hope Dave brought his shortwave radio out to the cape.. I used to take mine to Playalinda beach next to b pad...you would be amazed at the water path reception you could get of African stations during the daytime. Long distance AM also pretty amazing.
Thursday, May 13, 2010
Tonights countdown milestones.
Rotating Service Structure begins move away from Atlantis to the park position (5:30 p.m.)
Perform ascent switch list
Fuel cell flow-through purge complete
Resume countdown at T-11 hours (9:55 p.m.)
Activate the orbiter's fuel cells (11:05 p.m.)
Clear the blast danger area of all nonessential personnel
Switch Atlantis’ purge air to gaseous nitrogen (11:55 p.m.)
Launch Day (Friday, May 14)
Complete final walkdowns
Enter 2-hour built-in hold at the T-6 hour mark (2:55 a.m.)
Complete tanking preparations
Launch team verifies no violations of launch commit criteria prior to cryogenic loading of the external tank
Clear pad of all personnel
Resume countdown (4:55 a.m.)
Chill down propellant transfer lines (4:55 a.m.)
Begin loading the external fuel tank with about 500,000 gallons of cryogenic propellants (about 5:05 a.m.)
Enter 2-hour, 30-minute built-in hold at T-3 hours (7:55 a.m.)
Perform inertial measurement unit preflight calibration
Align Merritt Island Launch Area tracking antennas
Complete filling the external tank with its flight load of liquid hydrogen and liquid oxygen propellants (about 7:55 a.m.)
Final Inspection Team and Closeout Crew proceeds to launch pad
Resume countdown at T-3 hours (10:25 a.m.)
Perform open loop test with Eastern Range
Crew departs Operations and Checkout Building for the pad (10:30 a.m.)
Complete closeout preparations in the White Room
Check cockpit switch configurations
Begin Eastern Range final network open loop command checks
Flight crew begins entry into the orbiter (11 a.m.)
Astronauts perform air-to-ground voice checks with Launch and Mission Control
Begin to close Atlantis’ crew hatch (12:05 p.m.)
Perform hatch seal and cabin leak checks
Complete White Room closeout
Closeout crew moves to fallback area
Primary ascent guidance data is transferred to the backup flight system
Enter 10-minute hold at T-20 minutes (1:05 p.m.)
NASA test director conducts final launch team briefings
Resume countdown at T-20 minutes (1:15 p.m.)
Transition the orbiter's onboard computers to launch configuration
Start fuel cell thermal conditioning
Close orbiter cabin vent valves
Transition backup flight system to launch configuration
Enter estimated 45-minute hold at T-9 minutes (1:26 p.m.)
Final launch window determination
Launch director, Mission Management Team and NASA test director conduct final polls for "go/no go" to launch
Resume countdown at T-9 minutes (about 2:11 p.m.)
Start automatic ground launch sequencer (T-9 minutes)
Retract orbiter crew access arm (T-7:30)
Start APU recorders (T-6:15)
Start auxiliary power units (T-5)
Terminate liquid oxygen replenish (T-4:55)
Start orbiter aerosurface profile test (T-3:55)
Start main engine gimbal profile test (T-3:30)
Pressurize liquid oxygen tank (T-2:55)
Begin retracting the gaseous oxygen vent arm (T-2:50)
Fuel cells to internal reactants (T-2:35)
Pressurize liquid hydrogen tank (T-1:57)
Deactivate bi-pod heaters (T-1:52)
Deactivate solid rocket booster joint heaters (T-0:50 seconds)
Orbiter transfers from ground to internal power (T-0:50 seconds)
Ground launch sequencer go for auto sequence start (T-0:31 seconds)
Booster gimbal profile (T-0:21 seconds)
Ignition of three space shuttle main engines (T-6.6 seconds)
Booster ignition and liftoff (T-0)
Preferred launch time: 2:20:07 p.m. EDT
Perform ascent switch list
Fuel cell flow-through purge complete
Resume countdown at T-11 hours (9:55 p.m.)
Activate the orbiter's fuel cells (11:05 p.m.)
Clear the blast danger area of all nonessential personnel
Switch Atlantis’ purge air to gaseous nitrogen (11:55 p.m.)
Launch Day (Friday, May 14)
Complete final walkdowns
Enter 2-hour built-in hold at the T-6 hour mark (2:55 a.m.)
Complete tanking preparations
Launch team verifies no violations of launch commit criteria prior to cryogenic loading of the external tank
Clear pad of all personnel
Resume countdown (4:55 a.m.)
Chill down propellant transfer lines (4:55 a.m.)
Begin loading the external fuel tank with about 500,000 gallons of cryogenic propellants (about 5:05 a.m.)
Enter 2-hour, 30-minute built-in hold at T-3 hours (7:55 a.m.)
Perform inertial measurement unit preflight calibration
Align Merritt Island Launch Area tracking antennas
Complete filling the external tank with its flight load of liquid hydrogen and liquid oxygen propellants (about 7:55 a.m.)
Final Inspection Team and Closeout Crew proceeds to launch pad
Resume countdown at T-3 hours (10:25 a.m.)
Perform open loop test with Eastern Range
Crew departs Operations and Checkout Building for the pad (10:30 a.m.)
Complete closeout preparations in the White Room
Check cockpit switch configurations
Begin Eastern Range final network open loop command checks
Flight crew begins entry into the orbiter (11 a.m.)
Astronauts perform air-to-ground voice checks with Launch and Mission Control
Begin to close Atlantis’ crew hatch (12:05 p.m.)
Perform hatch seal and cabin leak checks
Complete White Room closeout
Closeout crew moves to fallback area
Primary ascent guidance data is transferred to the backup flight system
Enter 10-minute hold at T-20 minutes (1:05 p.m.)
NASA test director conducts final launch team briefings
Resume countdown at T-20 minutes (1:15 p.m.)
Transition the orbiter's onboard computers to launch configuration
Start fuel cell thermal conditioning
Close orbiter cabin vent valves
Transition backup flight system to launch configuration
Enter estimated 45-minute hold at T-9 minutes (1:26 p.m.)
Final launch window determination
Launch director, Mission Management Team and NASA test director conduct final polls for "go/no go" to launch
Resume countdown at T-9 minutes (about 2:11 p.m.)
Start automatic ground launch sequencer (T-9 minutes)
Retract orbiter crew access arm (T-7:30)
Start APU recorders (T-6:15)
Start auxiliary power units (T-5)
Terminate liquid oxygen replenish (T-4:55)
Start orbiter aerosurface profile test (T-3:55)
Start main engine gimbal profile test (T-3:30)
Pressurize liquid oxygen tank (T-2:55)
Begin retracting the gaseous oxygen vent arm (T-2:50)
Fuel cells to internal reactants (T-2:35)
Pressurize liquid hydrogen tank (T-1:57)
Deactivate bi-pod heaters (T-1:52)
Deactivate solid rocket booster joint heaters (T-0:50 seconds)
Orbiter transfers from ground to internal power (T-0:50 seconds)
Ground launch sequencer go for auto sequence start (T-0:31 seconds)
Booster gimbal profile (T-0:21 seconds)
Ignition of three space shuttle main engines (T-6.6 seconds)
Booster ignition and liftoff (T-0)
Preferred launch time: 2:20:07 p.m. EDT
Pre Launch
Wednesday morning, three of the six station crew members prepared for the new module's arrival by moving a Soyuz spacecraft to clear a docking port.
The module, called Rassvet, which means "dawn" in Russian, is equipped with an airlock and a platform for spacewalkers and holds more than three tons of U.S. supplies.
"That thing is packed to the gills with cargo inside," Moses said. If this was on the discovery cable network it would be that hoarding show..
At Kennedy Space Center, launch pad 39A was cleared much of Wednesday while liquid oxygen and liquid hydrogen reactants were loaded into the orbiter's fuel cell system, which produces electricity during flight.
At 5:30 p.m. today, workers plan to open the pad's rotating gantry to its launch position, revealing Atlantis. (see the video stream..will look better around 830 pm edt 0030 GMT)
Shuttle fueling is scheduled to begin around 5 a.m. Friday. If that goes well, the astronauts should board Atlantis at 11 a.m.Training
Shuttle crews training for about 6 months to a year before a typical mission.
Want to see what goes on behind the scenes, look at these five videos.
Want to see what goes on behind the scenes, look at these five videos.
Wednesday, May 12, 2010
l-2 briefing
32 minutes of ho hum. Nothing going on with any systems on the shuttle. No big celebration planned by the launch team.
However this shuttle has a ton of science experiments . They include 33 JAXA experiments plus a NLP experiment with staph that could lead to new ways to prevent this infection
NLP has flow on shuttle before.
However this shuttle has a ton of science experiments . They include 33 JAXA experiments plus a NLP experiment with staph that could lead to new ways to prevent this infection
NLP has flow on shuttle before.
Tuesday, May 11, 2010
Pre launch information
Launch teams can make four attempts in five days before standing down for the planned May 20 launch from Cape Canaveral Air Force Station of a GPS satellite atop a United Launch Alliance Delta IV rocket.
Based on a Friday launch, Atlantis' return to KSC would be expected at 8:36 a.m. May 26.
Based on a Friday launch, Atlantis' return to KSC would be expected at 8:36 a.m. May 26.
Come fly with me
Reisman paid tribute to Ilan Ramon in 2008 when he flew family mementos to the space station during a three-month expedition. This time, he's taking a photo of Asaf on the day of his first solo flight."That's how I intend to commemorate his memory on this mission," he said.
Astronaut Garrett Reisman taught Ilan Ramon's son Asaf to fly and was at his funeral after he died in an F 16 accident this fall.
Astronaut Garrett Reisman taught Ilan Ramon's son Asaf to fly and was at his funeral after he died in an F 16 accident this fall.
l- 3 press brief
Very short No issues with the shuttle and a good chance of great weather for a mid afternoon liftofff of the shuttle. Not too hot not too cold. But with that you could get a low hanging cloud deck which is the only weather item that's being watched.
More tmw in yet another longer press briefing.
More tmw in yet another longer press briefing.
The CD
A CD containing the digital copies of all entries submitted to NASA's space shuttle commemorative patch contest will be flown on STS 132. The winning patch was designed by Blake Dumesnil who is a contractor for Hamilton Standard at JSC in Houston. A total of 85 entries were submitted.
The Missions spacewalks
Spacewalks on Flight day 4, a spare space to ground KU band antenna will be installed on the stations truss or backbone. A new tool platform on the Canada arm Dextre. And they will break the torque blot's that hold batteries on the truss to replace them on the 2nd and third space walks.
This is stuff that would have happened on the last shuttle flight to the space station
On flight day 6, three of the six batteries will get replaced and the old ones put on the cargo carrier for a return to earth. These batteries had been part of ISS for ten years.
Flight day 8 is the last spacewalk and the final three new batteries are installed on the truss.
If time permits a grapple fixture from Atlantis's payload bay will be brought inside the space station for use as a spare.
This is stuff that would have happened on the last shuttle flight to the space station
On flight day 6, three of the six batteries will get replaced and the old ones put on the cargo carrier for a return to earth. These batteries had been part of ISS for ten years.
Flight day 8 is the last spacewalk and the final three new batteries are installed on the truss.
If time permits a grapple fixture from Atlantis's payload bay will be brought inside the space station for use as a spare.
Atlantis history
This shuttle flew it's first mission in 1986 STS 51-J. It launched the Magellan probe to Venus on STS 30 in May of 1989, in October of that year it launched Gailleo to Jupiter on STS 34. It did the first shuttle docking with Mir, the old USSR space station in June of 95 and it did the final Hubble servicing mission on STS 125 in May 09.
This will be Atlantis 11th flight to the International Space Station.
This will be Atlantis 11th flight to the International Space Station.
Call to stations
For the next flight of the space shuttle, and then at the top of the hour, the countdown will start.
A detailed countdown is further down this page
A detailed countdown is further down this page
Monday, May 10, 2010
The Orbiter
The final flight of the Space Shuttle Atlantis, unless of course we get an STS 135 which would be an Atlantis flight.
This final mission will have 3 spacewalks, and will deliver a bunch of things to the International Space station, including a Russian mini module node.
It will be Atlantis's 32nd flight. The current mileage on this shuttle is 115 million miles. And it will be one of the shuttles that doesn't end up in the smithsonian air and space annex near Dulles Airport in Northern Va. (Enterprise already there will be joined by Discovery)
This final mission will have 3 spacewalks, and will deliver a bunch of things to the International Space station, including a Russian mini module node.
It will be Atlantis's 32nd flight. The current mileage on this shuttle is 115 million miles. And it will be one of the shuttles that doesn't end up in the smithsonian air and space annex near Dulles Airport in Northern Va. (Enterprise already there will be joined by Discovery)
STS 132 countdown
Launch-3 Days (Tuesday, May 11)
Prepare for the start of the STS-132 launch countdown
Perform the call to stations (3:30 p.m.)
Countdown begins at the T-43 hour mark (4 p.m.)
Begin final vehicle and facility closeouts for launch
Check out backup flight systems
Launch-2 Days (Wednesday, May 12)
Configure avionics systems for launch
Review flight software stored in mass memory units and display systems
Verify backup flight system software in Atlantis’ general purpose computer
Activate and test navigational systems (5 a.m.)
Complete preparations to load power reactant storage and distribution system (7 a.m.)
Flight Crew Equipment early stow and flight deck preliminary inspections complete (8 a.m.)
Enter 4-hour built-in hold at T-27 hours (8 a.m.)
Clear launch pad of all nonessential personnel
Perform test of the vehicle's pyrotechnic initiator controllers and range safety system
Resume countdown (12 p.m.)
Begin operations to load cryogenic reactants into Atlantis’ fuel cell storage tanks (12 p.m.)
Enter 4-hour built-in hold at T-19 hours (8 p.m.)
Demate orbiter mid-body umbilical unit (8:30 p.m.)
Resume orbiter and ground support equipment closeouts
Launch-1 Days (Thursday, May 13)
Resume countdown (12 a.m.)
Main engine avionics, pneumatics and controller checkout (12 a.m.)
External Tank feedline inspection/camera cleaning
Flight Crew Equipment stowage
Begin removal of pad ground support equipment
Enter built-in 13 hours, 55 minute hold at T-11 hours (8 a.m.)
Activate the orbiter's communications systems
Lower engine support platforms, retract access platforms
External Tank Inspections
Complete Flight Crew Systems time critical stowage (middeck payloads)
Rotating Service Structure begins move away from Atlantis to the park position (5:30 p.m.)
Perform ascent switch list
Fuel cell flow-through purge complete
Resume countdown at T-11 hours (9:55 p.m.)
Activate the orbiter's fuel cells (11:05 p.m.)
Clear the blast danger area of all nonessential personnel
Switch Atlantis’ purge air to gaseous nitrogen (11:55 p.m.)
Launch Day (Friday, May 14)
Complete final walkdowns
Enter 2-hour built-in hold at the T-6 hour mark (2:55 a.m.)
Complete tanking preparations
Launch team verifies no violations of launch commit criteria prior to cryogenic loading of the external tank
Clear pad of all personnel
Resume countdown (4:55 a.m.)
Chill down propellant transfer lines (4:55 a.m.)
Begin loading the external fuel tank with about 500,000 gallons of cryogenic propellants (about 5:05 a.m.)
Enter 2-hour, 30-minute built-in hold at T-3 hours (7:55 a.m.)
Perform inertial measurement unit preflight calibration
Align Merritt Island Launch Area tracking antennas
Complete filling the external tank with its flight load of liquid hydrogen and liquid oxygen propellants (about 7:55 a.m.)
Final Inspection Team and Closeout Crew proceeds to launch pad
Resume countdown at T-3 hours (10:25 a.m.)
Perform open loop test with Eastern Range
Crew departs Operations and Checkout Building for the pad (10:30 a.m.)
Complete closeout preparations in the White Room
Check cockpit switch configurations
Begin Eastern Range final network open loop command checks
Flight crew begins entry into the orbiter (11 a.m.)
Astronauts perform air-to-ground voice checks with Launch and Mission Control
Begin to close Atlantis’ crew hatch (12:05 p.m.)
Perform hatch seal and cabin leak checks
Complete White Room closeout
Closeout crew moves to fallback area
Primary ascent guidance data is transferred to the backup flight system
Enter 10-minute hold at T-20 minutes (1:05 p.m.)
NASA test director conducts final launch team briefings
Resume countdown at T-20 minutes (1:15 p.m.)
Transition the orbiter's onboard computers to launch configuration
Start fuel cell thermal conditioning
Close orbiter cabin vent valves
Transition backup flight system to launch configuration
Enter estimated 45-minute hold at T-9 minutes (1:26 p.m.)
Final launch window determination
Launch director, Mission Management Team and NASA test director conduct final polls for "go/no go" to launch
Resume countdown at T-9 minutes (about 2:11 p.m.)
Start automatic ground launch sequencer (T-9 minutes)
Retract orbiter crew access arm (T-7:30)
Start APU recorders (T-6:15)
Start auxiliary power units (T-5)
Terminate liquid oxygen replenish (T-4:55)
Start orbiter aerosurface profile test (T-3:55)
Start main engine gimbal profile test (T-3:30)
Pressurize liquid oxygen tank (T-2:55)
Begin retracting the gaseous oxygen vent arm (T-2:50)
Fuel cells to internal reactants (T-2:35)
Pressurize liquid hydrogen tank (T-1:57)
Deactivate bi-pod heaters (T-1:52)
Deactivate solid rocket booster joint heaters (T-0:50 seconds)
Orbiter transfers from ground to internal power (T-0:50 seconds)
Ground launch sequencer go for auto sequence start (T-0:31 seconds)
Booster gimbal profile (T-0:21 seconds)
Ignition of three space shuttle main engines (T-6.6 seconds)
Booster ignition and liftoff (T-0)
Preferred launch time: 2:20:07 p.m. EDT
Prepare for the start of the STS-132 launch countdown
Perform the call to stations (3:30 p.m.)
Countdown begins at the T-43 hour mark (4 p.m.)
Begin final vehicle and facility closeouts for launch
Check out backup flight systems
Launch-2 Days (Wednesday, May 12)
Configure avionics systems for launch
Review flight software stored in mass memory units and display systems
Verify backup flight system software in Atlantis’ general purpose computer
Activate and test navigational systems (5 a.m.)
Complete preparations to load power reactant storage and distribution system (7 a.m.)
Flight Crew Equipment early stow and flight deck preliminary inspections complete (8 a.m.)
Enter 4-hour built-in hold at T-27 hours (8 a.m.)
Clear launch pad of all nonessential personnel
Perform test of the vehicle's pyrotechnic initiator controllers and range safety system
Resume countdown (12 p.m.)
Begin operations to load cryogenic reactants into Atlantis’ fuel cell storage tanks (12 p.m.)
Enter 4-hour built-in hold at T-19 hours (8 p.m.)
Demate orbiter mid-body umbilical unit (8:30 p.m.)
Resume orbiter and ground support equipment closeouts
Launch-1 Days (Thursday, May 13)
Resume countdown (12 a.m.)
Main engine avionics, pneumatics and controller checkout (12 a.m.)
External Tank feedline inspection/camera cleaning
Flight Crew Equipment stowage
Begin removal of pad ground support equipment
Enter built-in 13 hours, 55 minute hold at T-11 hours (8 a.m.)
Activate the orbiter's communications systems
Lower engine support platforms, retract access platforms
External Tank Inspections
Complete Flight Crew Systems time critical stowage (middeck payloads)
Rotating Service Structure begins move away from Atlantis to the park position (5:30 p.m.)
Perform ascent switch list
Fuel cell flow-through purge complete
Resume countdown at T-11 hours (9:55 p.m.)
Activate the orbiter's fuel cells (11:05 p.m.)
Clear the blast danger area of all nonessential personnel
Switch Atlantis’ purge air to gaseous nitrogen (11:55 p.m.)
Launch Day (Friday, May 14)
Complete final walkdowns
Enter 2-hour built-in hold at the T-6 hour mark (2:55 a.m.)
Complete tanking preparations
Launch team verifies no violations of launch commit criteria prior to cryogenic loading of the external tank
Clear pad of all personnel
Resume countdown (4:55 a.m.)
Chill down propellant transfer lines (4:55 a.m.)
Begin loading the external fuel tank with about 500,000 gallons of cryogenic propellants (about 5:05 a.m.)
Enter 2-hour, 30-minute built-in hold at T-3 hours (7:55 a.m.)
Perform inertial measurement unit preflight calibration
Align Merritt Island Launch Area tracking antennas
Complete filling the external tank with its flight load of liquid hydrogen and liquid oxygen propellants (about 7:55 a.m.)
Final Inspection Team and Closeout Crew proceeds to launch pad
Resume countdown at T-3 hours (10:25 a.m.)
Perform open loop test with Eastern Range
Crew departs Operations and Checkout Building for the pad (10:30 a.m.)
Complete closeout preparations in the White Room
Check cockpit switch configurations
Begin Eastern Range final network open loop command checks
Flight crew begins entry into the orbiter (11 a.m.)
Astronauts perform air-to-ground voice checks with Launch and Mission Control
Begin to close Atlantis’ crew hatch (12:05 p.m.)
Perform hatch seal and cabin leak checks
Complete White Room closeout
Closeout crew moves to fallback area
Primary ascent guidance data is transferred to the backup flight system
Enter 10-minute hold at T-20 minutes (1:05 p.m.)
NASA test director conducts final launch team briefings
Resume countdown at T-20 minutes (1:15 p.m.)
Transition the orbiter's onboard computers to launch configuration
Start fuel cell thermal conditioning
Close orbiter cabin vent valves
Transition backup flight system to launch configuration
Enter estimated 45-minute hold at T-9 minutes (1:26 p.m.)
Final launch window determination
Launch director, Mission Management Team and NASA test director conduct final polls for "go/no go" to launch
Resume countdown at T-9 minutes (about 2:11 p.m.)
Start automatic ground launch sequencer (T-9 minutes)
Retract orbiter crew access arm (T-7:30)
Start APU recorders (T-6:15)
Start auxiliary power units (T-5)
Terminate liquid oxygen replenish (T-4:55)
Start orbiter aerosurface profile test (T-3:55)
Start main engine gimbal profile test (T-3:30)
Pressurize liquid oxygen tank (T-2:55)
Begin retracting the gaseous oxygen vent arm (T-2:50)
Fuel cells to internal reactants (T-2:35)
Pressurize liquid hydrogen tank (T-1:57)
Deactivate bi-pod heaters (T-1:52)
Deactivate solid rocket booster joint heaters (T-0:50 seconds)
Orbiter transfers from ground to internal power (T-0:50 seconds)
Ground launch sequencer go for auto sequence start (T-0:31 seconds)
Booster gimbal profile (T-0:21 seconds)
Ignition of three space shuttle main engines (T-6.6 seconds)
Booster ignition and liftoff (T-0)
Preferred launch time: 2:20:07 p.m. EDT
The first shuttle launch was in 1981
The last could be the end of this year or early in 2011.
This is the end of the shuttle era. You won't see a re-usable space plane that goes into orbit and lands on a runway anytime soon, that's manned. Unless the Chinese are working on something we don't yet know about.
This is the end of the shuttle era. You won't see a re-usable space plane that goes into orbit and lands on a runway anytime soon, that's manned. Unless the Chinese are working on something we don't yet know about.
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