STS-122

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kibatme
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STS-122

Post by kibatme »

As some may already be aware I have a 'connection' to an ESA astronaut through my wife's family.

Back in '68-69, her family hosted a German foreign exchange student by the name of Hans Schlegel. In 1993 he flew as a payload specialist on STS-55 (German Spacelab D-2 mission), and as his 'American family' we were all invited to the launch as VIP's. It was an experience almost beyond description for a guy who grew up glued to the TV screen thoughout the Gemini and Apollo years!

In June of this year, Hans was named to the STS-122 crew for a flight to the ISS, delivering the ESA's Columbus Laboratory.

Hans joined us for Thanksgiving this year and during our conversation I learned that he's checked out for the planned EVA's and is working with the team in Houston right now with the detailed logistical planning for installing Columbus, replacing an ISS gyro and a number of other tasks.

I hope to get some 'behind the scenes' information from Hans in the months ahead and will posted snippets of it here.
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Post by Jon Hickman »

Very cool! He sounds like an interesting fellow, and would probably make a wonderful keynote speaker if some astronomical related group were, say, trying to put together an evening's entertainment......

cricket, cricket.....
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Post by kibatme »

Jon Hickman wrote:Very cool! He sounds like an interesting fellow, and would probably make a wonderful keynote speaker if some astronomical related group were, say, trying to put together an evening's entertainment......

cricket, cricket.....
I've no doubt I could get Hans to leave the warm climate of Houston for a brief visit to Minnesota during the cold, dark days of late winter. I hadn't mentioned it because I sensed a preference for an 'astronomy-focused' speaker (e.g. someone from JPL) vs. a 'general space' speaker (i.e. an astronaut).
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Post by benhuset »

I'd be happy if he came up and spoke at a meeting.

--Ben
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destroyed in sending this message but several thousand electrons were mildly
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Post by kibatme »

Woo-hoo! Got THE letter today -- our official invite to attend STS 122/1E as launch guests! :D (Invitation also extends to landing at KSC.) Launch is scheduled no earlier than 12/6 of this year. Sending our RSVP tomorrow.
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Post by Jon Hickman »

kibatme wrote:Woo-hoo! Got THE letter today -- our official invite to attend STS 122/1E as launch guests! :D (Invitation also extends to landing at KSC.) Launch is scheduled no earlier than 12/6 of this year. Sending our RSVP tomorrow.
Wow, dad! That's exciting, when do we leave????
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Post by Ben Mullin »

Hey I'm closer to being able to pass as Mike's son, I'll go instead. Jon, you can be his brother or something. :lol:

Very cool Mike. We expect you to give a monthly meeting presentation afterwards of course.

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Post by kibatme »

Jon Hickman wrote:
kibatme wrote:Woo-hoo! Got THE letter today -- our official invite to attend STS 122/1E as launch guests! :D (Invitation also extends to landing at KSC.) Launch is scheduled no earlier than 12/6 of this year. Sending our RSVP tomorrow.
Wow, dad! That's exciting, when do we leave????
Well, at least you didn't refer to me as 'GRAND-dad'! :wink:
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Post by kibatme »

Hmm, the mission isn't off to the best of starts:
May 2, 2007

Katherine Trinidad
Headquarters, Washington
202-358-3749

Kyle Herring
Johnson Space Center, Houston
281-483-5111

RELEASE: 07-97

NASA SUPPORTS TRAIN-DERAILMENT RECOVERY IN ALABAMA

WASHINGTON - Officials from NASA and ATK Launch Systems, Edina, Minn., are assisting the Federal Railroad Administration during its
investigation of a train derailment Wednesday morning near
Pennington, Ala. The train was carrying space shuttle reusable solid
rocket motor segments from the ATK Launch Systems manufacturing site in Brigham City, Utah, to NASA's Kennedy Space Center, Fla.

"Several members of the NASA family were injured in this serious
accident. Today our prayers are for those who have been injured and their families. Our employees work in hazardous jobs every day, and it is our goal to keep them safe," said NASA's Space Shuttle Program Manager Wayne Hale.

The special train carrying only solid rocket motor segments and a
passenger car to monitor their transportation was crossing a bridge
or a trestle, which collapsed under the locomotives. Six people were
injured when the two locomotives and the passenger car dropped about 10 feet and turned on their sides.

One of the cars carrying a solid rocket motor segment is also on its
side. The remaining cars containing seven solid rocket motor segments and two aft exit cone segments are upright.

The hardware was intended for use on shuttle Discovery's STS-120
mission in October and shuttle Atlantis's STS-122 mission in
December. These segments are interchangeable, and ATK Launch Systems has replacement units that could be used for the shuttle flights, if necessary.

Each segment weighs approximately 300,000 lbs. and is protected by a white or yellow colored fiberglass cover during shipment. The
condition of the rocket motor segments will be assessed as soon as
teams conduct a full inspection. Solid Rocket Motor segments have
been transported across country by rail for more than 26 years with
an excellent record of safe transportation. For information about the Space Shuttle Program, visit:

www.nasa.gov/shuttle


-end-
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Post by kibatme »

We've got our airplane tickets and ground arrangements for heading off the FL for the launch. Here's a copy of an email I sent to relatives, for those interested:
Here is my collection of Internet links / resources I've been using to track progress on Hans' flight and to get photos of Hans and the crew over the past couple months.

Based on everything I've read this weekend it sounds like everything is 'go' for launch on the 6th.

The crew's launch rehearsal / training went well this past week.

Shuttle preparations out on the pad have gone so well the ground crew was given the 4 day Thanksgiving weekend off.

The last of three preparatory space walks by space station crew completed yesterday, meaning the station is ready to accept the Columbus module the shuttle is delivering.

Next Friday, the 30th, is a key milestone -- the final flight readiness review (FRR). There will be a press conference no earlier than 4pm ET that day to announce whether the shuttle will launch on the 6th as planned (weather permitting).

Also, the shuttle may get a two day extension of their visit to the ISS to continue evaluation that was started during the last shuttle mission regarding a solar array problem in its rotating joint that keeps the array pointed sunward.

I'll email if I come across any 'new news'.

NASA TV via Internet:
http://playlist.yahoo.com/makeplaylist. ... ent=149773

Getting NASA TV (on your dish or working with your cable provider)
http://www.nasa.gov/multimedia/nasatv/digital.html

Crew photograph:
http://www.nasa.gov/images/content/2021 ... 1607_a.jpg

Human spaceflight gallery (search keywords 'STS-122' and / or 'Schlegel'
http://spaceflight.nasa.gov/gallery/index.html

Main space shuttle page:
http://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/shutt ... index.html

Mission overview:
http://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/shutt ... rview.html

Animations of various mission activities:
http://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/shutt ... tions.html

Launch and landing details, status:
http://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/shutt ... index.html

STS-122 roll-out:
http://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/shutt ... index.html

STS-122 roll-out video (RealPlayer required):
http://anon.nasa-global.edgesuite.net/a ... llout1.ram

Launch rehearsal photos:
http://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/shutt ... llery.html

Arrival and launch training video (Windows media format):
http://anon.nasa-global.edgesuite.net/a ... _tcdt1.asx

Non-NASA 'insider' discussions
http://forum.nasaspaceflight.com/forums ... .asp?fid=3

Launch preparations (most recent info is found on the higher-numbered pages...use the 'Jump to page' link and select '>' to reach the most current page)
http://forum.nasaspaceflight.com/forums ... 16&start=1

Atlantis info:
http://www.nasa.gov/centers/kennedy/shu ... -info.html

ISS information, status:
http://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/stati ... index.html
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Post by kibatme »

O.k. -- NOW I'm really pumped!!!
Nov. 30, 2007

Mike Curie
Headquarters, Washington
202-358-4715
michael.j.curie-2@nasa.gov

Candrea Thomas
Kennedy Space Center, Fla.
321-867-2468
candrea.k.thomas@nasa.gov

RELEASE: 07-262

NASA GIVES "GO" FOR SPACE SHUTTLE LAUNCH ON DEC. 6

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. - NASA senior managers completed a thorough
review Friday of space shuttle Atlantis' readiness for flight and
selected Dec. 6 as the official launch date for mission STS-122.
Commander Steve Frick and his six crewmates are scheduled to lift off
to the International Space Station at 4:31 p.m. EST.

During the 11-day mission, the crew will install the European Space
Agency's new Columbus laboratory. Columbus will expand the research
facilities of the station and provide scientists around the world
with the ability to conduct a variety of life, physical and materials
science experiments. The mission will include at least three
spacewalks, delivery of a new crew member to the station and the
return of another astronaut after nearly two months aboard the
station.

Atlantis' launch date was announced after the conclusion of Friday's
Flight Readiness Review. During the one-day meeting, top NASA and
contractor managers assessed any risks associated with the mission
and determined whether the shuttle's equipment, support systems and
procedures are ready for flight.

Joining Commander Frick on STS-122 will be pilot Alan Poindexter and
mission specialists Leland Melvin, Rex Walheim, Stanley Love and
European Space Agency astronauts Hans Schlegel and Leopold Eyharts.
Eyharts will replace current station crew member Dan Tani, who has
lived on the outpost since October. Eyharts will return to Earth on
shuttle Endeavour's STS-123 mission, currently targeted for launch on
Feb. 14, 2008.

For more information about the STS-122 mission, including images and
interviews with the crew, visit:

http://www.nasa.gov/shuttle
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Post by kibatme »

Heck -- based on the published timetable, it looks like Schlegel's 1st EVA starts just as we're on the plan heading back to MSP. Maybe NASA TV will rerun it later in the day, during crew sleep period...hope so. Still bummed to miss such a significant event in 'real-time'... :(

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Post by kibatme »

Beeee-ute-ee-full weather here in FL! Patrick AFB meteorology group reports a better than 90% chance of favorable launch weather on Thursday. Shuttle just went into a planned hold at T-19 hours. All is going well. We head over to KSC tomorrow morning to get our guest credentials and get the VIP tour -- hope we'll get bussed up to the pad just as we did during STS-55. Just being so close to a machine of those proportions and power, all prepped and poised to leap into orbit....MAN, WHAT A RUSH!
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Post by Ben Mullin »

Mike,

I'm very envious here. I sure hope you are taking lots of pictures and plan to put on a little show and tell at some future MAS meeting...

Ben
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Post by kibatme »

Put some photos from yesterday in the 'Terrestrial' album. About to head out for launch day!
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Post by kibatme »

Launch for Thr just got scrubbed. Two ECO sensors failed to report. May be able to fix on pad and try again tomorrow -- but weather goes from 90% favorable to something like 50% on Friday. Oh, well -- weather is still beautiful here today. We'll make the best of it.
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Post by kibatme »

Well, if you've been following the news, you probably know NASA is going to try again on Sunday. Unfortunately, we'll be back in the Twin Cities about an hour before planned launch time. :cry: Tried all the combinations of late Sunday flights, early Monday flights, but 'no joy' -- we've got to leave Sunday morning as planned.

But, that's the way it goes. We still had a good trip to Florida--got some sun, did the 'Disney thing', hit the beach, yadda, yadda. I guess in the 'good news' category, it means we will be around when Hans first floats from the airlock on his EVA! :)
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Post by SEmert »

Hi Mike, as it turns out it's a good thing you didn't switch flights around to see the liftoff scheduled for today (Sunday, December 9), as the continuing problems with the fuel sensors have now delayed launch until January.

Sorry you didn't get the chance to see the shuttle lift off, but glad that you had a good Florida vacation.
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Post by kibatme »

SEmert wrote:Hi Mike, as it turns out it's a good thing you didn't switch flights around to see the liftoff scheduled for today (Sunday, December 9), as the continuing problems with the fuel sensors have now delayed launch until January.

Sorry you didn't get the chance to see the shuttle lift off, but glad that you had a good Florida vacation.
Yeah, I was up at 6:15am to check progress on tanking and got the news in 'real-time'. A disappointment, and I'm sure a frustrating situation for the launch team and a stressful one for the crew.

But, it does open the possibility of a brief return trip to FL in January for the rescheduled launch.

This is similar to the circumstances of the STS-55 launch 15 years ago or so -- scrubbed at T-3, and we all left disappointed. But I was able to fly into FL while traveling on business and got to see the rescheduled launch. Hope that works out again!

Plus, depending on the exact launch date, it appears the launch could take place in the pre-dawn hours -- now THAT would be something to see!!!
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Post by merle »

We've all got our fingers crossed you'll be able to make a return trip!!
Clear skies,
Merle Hiltner
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Onan Observatory • Sylvia A. Casby Observatory • HotSpot Classroom
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Post by kibatme »

Launch date announced today -- 1/10 @ 2:26am. A NIGHT LAUNCH -- now THAT would be cool!

Of course, that date depends on completing the current troubleshooting, confirming the suspected cause, getting a fix and testing it. But, ever the optimist, I already have an itinerary in mind!...

:)
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Post by kibatme »

kibatme wrote:Launch date announced today -- 1/10 @ 2:26am. A NIGHT LAUNCH -- now THAT would be cool!

Of course, that date depends on completing the current troubleshooting, confirming the suspected cause, getting a fix and testing it. But, ever the optimist, I already have an itinerary in mind!...

:)
Not only in mind, but executed as well ... beeeee-u-tee-ful view of the launch today. Tracked the shuttle well past SRB separation with binoculars and got a bit of Quicktime video of the launch.

Will post more once I've caught my breath and regrouped -- a long day! Off to a post-launch celebration hosted by Han (in absentia) and his wife...
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Post by Jon Hickman »

Congrats on getting there for the actual launch! Anxious to see your images (still and moving) when you return!
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Post by kibatme »

Oh, and two things -- does anyone have software to 'flip' a QuickTime video (I had my camera flipped during recording)?

Also, for someone with a DVR and access to the NASA channel -- would appreciate any and all video of the launch, post-launch and eventual docking, space walks, etc. (Particularly since my mother-in-law -- and Hans' 'American Mom' -- can't get NASA TV on her cable system. Will gladly cover your costs and '...a little something, you know...for the effort...you know.'
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Post by Jon Hickman »

kibatme wrote:Oh, and two things -- does anyone have software to 'flip' a QuickTime video (I had my camera flipped during recording)?

Also, for someone with a DVR and access to the NASA channel -- would appreciate any and all video of the launch, post-launch and eventual docking, space walks, etc. (Particularly since my mother-in-law -- and Hans' 'American Mom' -- can't get NASA TV on her cable system. Will gladly cover your costs and '...a little something, you know...for the effort...you know.'
Yes, and yes.
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