Top Stories
|
|
|
|
|
 A Zombiesat menace - The out-of-control Galaxy 15 satellite threatens to scramble signals from three more spacecraft by the end of August.
Good news for NPP - The next U.S. weather satellite receives its final observation instrument.
Curiosity's first steps - NASA drives the next Mars rover for the first time inside a California clean room.
ESA looks abroad - Europe's next space science missions depend on international help.
Clash in Congress - The House and Senate have proposed vastly different visions for NASA's human space program.
Taurus 2 update - Orbital Sciences says it will fly a standalone Taurus 2 rocket flight with extra NASA money.
Boeing unveils capsule - Boeing is developing a crew capsule to serve the International Space Station and private orbiting outposts.
Booster stacking begins - The solid rocket boosters for the final scheduled space shuttle mission are being assembled.
Bringing Mars to Earth - The multi-billion dollar effort to return samples from Mars could begin in 2018.
House presents bill - The House version of the NASA authorization act would undo White House proposals.
Spirit's future - The best time to hear from the hibernating Spirit rover again will be October.
WISE completes survey - NASA's WISE telescope finishes its first scan of the infrared universe.
|
|
|
|
|
|
Station crew clears spot for new module launching soon
BY JUSTIN RAY
SPACEFLIGHT NOW
Posted: January 25, 2010
While launch pad technicians were buttoning up Endeavour's payload bay on Saturday, the crew aboard the International Space Station completed a critical robotics job to vacate the port where a new module will be attached during the space shuttle mission.
The station astronauts used the Canadian-built robotic arm to remove the Pressurized Mating Adapter No. 3 from the left side of the station's Unity node and relocate the conical structure to the top side of the Harmony module.
Artist's concepts show PMA No. 3 on the side of Unity before the move (top image) and its new location on Harmony (bottom image). Credit: NASA
|
The PMAs are tunnel-like and serve as connectors between two large objects at the space station. PMA No 1. bridges the divide between U.S. and Russian segments of the station by connecting Unity to Zarya. PMA No. 2 is anchored on the front of Harmony and is the docking port used by space shuttles.
A successful transfer of PMA No. 3 from its storage spot on the side of Unity was seen as a major step in preparations for Endeavour's upcoming construction mission. The shuttle will deliver the new Tranquility module and attach it to the same port where the PMA had been residing.
After Tranquility is hooked up and activated during the shuttle visit, the astronauts will again use the Canadian arm to move PMA No. 3, shifting the adapter to the new module's outer berthing slot.
An artist's concept shows space station's new configuration after Endeavour's construction mission to deliver Tranquility. Credit: NASA
|
Down at the Kennedy Space Center, the Italian-made Tranquility has been tucked inside Endeavour's cargo hold and secured for blastoff. The shuttle's 60-foot-long payload bay doors were closed and locked for flight on Saturday.
Senior officials will gather at KSC on Wednesday for the Flight Readiness Review. The meeting will examine all aspects of mission preparations and formally schedule Endeavour's launch date.
NASA says there are no major constraints being addressed and that liftoff remains targeted for 4:39 a.m. EST on February 7.
Additional coverage for subscribers:
 VIDEO:
SHUTTLE EVACUATION PRACTICE PLAY | HI-DEF
VIDEO:
ASTRONAUTS BOARD ENDEAVOUR PLAY | HI-DEF
VIDEO:
THE LAUNCH DAY SIMULATION BEGINS PLAY | HI-DEF
VIDEO:
PAD BUNKER TRAINING FOR THE CREW PLAY | HI-DEF
VIDEO:
CREW BRIEFED ON EMERGENCY PROCEDURES PLAY | HI-DEF
VIDEO:
TEST-DRIVING AN EMERGENCY ARMORED TANK PLAY | HI-DEF
VIDEO:
NIGHTTIME APPROACHES IN TRAINING AIRCRAFT PLAY | HI-DEF
VIDEO:
ASTRONAUTS CHAT WITH REPORTERS AT PAD 39A PLAY
VIDEO:
SPACEWALKER UPDATES COOLING HOSE FIX PLAY | HI-DEF
VIDEO:
ROBINSON'S THOUGHTS ON SHUTTLE RETIREMENT PLAY | HI-DEF
VIDEO:
ASTRONAUTS ARRIVE FOR PRACTICE COUNTDOWN PLAY | HI-DEF
VIDEO:
TRANQUILITY DELIVERED TO PAD 39A PLAY | HI-DEF
VIDEO:
PAYLOAD TRANSPORTER GOES UPRIGHT PLAY | HI-DEF
VIDEO:
PACKING UP PAYLOAD FOR LAUNCH PLAY | HI-DEF
VIDEO:
SHUTTLE ENDEAVOUR'S FRIGID ROLLOUT TO PAD PLAY | HI-DEF
VIDEO:
ENDEAVOUR HOISTED FOR ATTACHMENT TO TANK PLAY | HI-DEF
VIDEO:
CRANE ROTATES THE ORBITER VERTICALLY PLAY | HI-DEF
VIDEO:
ENDEAVOUR MOVES TO ASSEMBLY BUILDING PLAY | HI-DEF
VIDEO:
TIME-LAPSE SHOWS ENDEAVOUR ASCENDING IN VAB PLAY
VIDEO:
TIME-LAPSE SHOWS THE MOVE TO ASSEMBLY BUILDING PLAY
VIDEO:
ORBITER READY TO LEAVE HANGAR PLAY | HI-DEF
VIDEO:
EXTERNAL TANK ATTACHED TO BOOSTERS PLAY | HI-DEF
VIDEO:
ENDEAVOUR'S MAIN ENGINE INSTALLATION PLAY | HI-DEF
VIDEO:
ASTRONAUTS VISIT THEIR SPACECRAFT PLAY | HI-DEF
VIDEO:
CREW INSPECTS MISSION PAYLOADS PLAY | HI-DEF
VIDEO:
FUEL TANK UNLOADED FROM THE BARGE PLAY | HI-DEF
VIDEO:
EXTERNAL TANK ARRIVES AT SPACEPORT PLAY | HI-DEF
VIDEO:
FORWARD THRUSTER POD CHECKED OUT PLAY | HI-DEF
VIDEO:
ENDEAVOUR TOWED OFF RUNWAY FROM STS-127 PLAY | HI-DEF
VIDEO:
TRANQUILITY HATCH SEALED FOR LAUNCH PLAY | HI-DEF
VIDEO:
CUPOLA ATTACHED TO TRANQUILITY PLAY | HI-DEF
VIDEO:
THE SPACE STATION'S NEW CUPOLA PLAY | HI-DEF
VIDEO:
TRANQUILITY UNPACKED IN FLORIDA PLAY | HI-DEF
VIDEO:
NEW MODULE ARRIVES FROM EUROPE PLAY | HI-DEF
SUBSCRIBE NOW
|
|
|
|
Apollo Collage
 This beautiful one piece set features the Apollo program emblem surrounded by the individual mission logos.
U.S. STORE
Current Shuttle Mission Patch
Free shipping to U.S. addresses!
 The final planned flight of space shuttle Atlantis is symbolized in the official embroidered crew patch for STS-132. Available in our store!
U.S. STORE
WORLDWIDE STORE
STS-130 Mission Patch
Free shipping to U.S. addresses!
 The official embroidered patch for shuttle Endeavour's flight to launch the Tranquility module and cupola to the space station now available in our store!
U.S. STORE
WORLDWIDE STORE
Project Orion
 The Orion crew exploration vehicle is NASA's first new human spacecraft developed since the space shuttle a quarter-century earlier. The capsule is one of the key elements of returning astronauts to the Moon.
U.S. STORE
Fallen Heroes Patch Collection
 The official patches from Apollo 1, the shuttle Challenger and Columbia crews are available in the store.
U.S. STORE
WORLDWIDE STORE
STS-131 Patch
Free shipping to U.S. addresses!
 The official embroidered patch for shuttle Discovery's STS-131 flight to launch science and supplies for the space station now available in our store!
U.S. STORE
WORLDWIDE STORE
|
