News From Space - STS-114 Mission Journal Part 3

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Coverage continues at Part 4 of our Mission Journal.

UPDATE - First and second EVAs complete. NASA mulls Discovery repairs. No foam hits, but EVA3 will feature unprecedented repair.

30 July - Evening Update - The first of this mission's EVAs is in the books. NASA reports:

One Down, Two To Go; First-time Spacewalkers Receive a 'Job Well Done'
STS-114 Mission Specialists Soichi Noguchi and Steve Robinson completed the first of their three spacewalks at the International Space Station at 12:36 p.m. EDT today. They began the excursion at 5:46 a.m. EDT. Today's spacewalk was not only the first of mission STS-114 but also a first for Noguchi and Robinson.

"I'm happy to welcome Steve and Soichi in the EVA hall of fame," said Lead EVA Officer Cindy Begley in an early afternoon briefing after their first spacewalk. "I'm just more than happy with the performance today."

After setting up tools, the spacewalkers conducted tests of Shuttle heat shield repair techniques inside Space Shuttle Discovery's payload bay. Then, they completed several assembly and repair tasks on the International Space Station. They replaced an antenna and swapped out connectors to supply power to Control Moment Gyroscope (CMG) No. 2. They also prepared the Station for their upcoming spacewalks slated for Monday and Wednesday.

Mission Operations Representative Phil Engelauf said the two-man spacewalk crew worked so efficiently they were able to add a few tasks to their time outside the spacecraft. Noguchi used a new digital camera to take more images of the Shuttle's exterior.

The International Space Station crew and STS-114 astronauts continue to unload supplies and equipment from the Raffaello Multi-Purpose Logistics Module. Raffaello, a reusable cargo carrier, arrived at the Station in Space Shuttle Discovery's payload bay. It was attached to the ISS on Friday. Before Raffaello is returned to the payload bay for the trip home, the crews will fill it with unneeded items from the Station.

STS-114 Pilot Jim Kelly used the Shuttle’s robot arm to conduct more focused inspections of Discovery’s wing edges.

Mission managers are trying to stretch Discovery's consumables so that they can spend more time at the station, and leave more water.
30 July 2005 - Flight Day 5 - The first of STS-114's three EVAs has begun. NASA reports:

Spacewalkers Complete Repair Test
Mission Specialists Soichi Noguchi and Steve Robinson continue to roll along as they perform STS-114’s first spacewalk. They have successfully completed the first major task of the excursion. They conducted tests on thermal protection system repair techniques inside Space Shuttle Discovery’s payload bay.

Noguchi and Robinson are now working on International Space Station assembly and repair tasks. These activities will set the stage for replacement of the Station’s Control Moment Gyro (CMG) No. 1 during the second spacewalk and the installation of the External Stowage Platform-2 during their third and final spacewalk. Other tasks for today's spacewalk include replacement of an antenna and efforts to restore power to CMG No. 2.

The orbital stroll began at 5:46 a.m. EDT today. It is scheduled to wrap up at 12:16 p.m. EDT.

Inside, STS-114 and Expedition 11 crewmembers will continue transferring equipment and supplies from the Raffaello Multi-Purpose Logistics Module to the Station. Focused inspections of Discovery's heat shield are slated to resume later today.

Follow the EVA with the play-by-play links at top right. Flight Day 4 videos and pics are up in the NASA Gallery. More launch pics here.

29 July 2005 - Evening Update - Discovery docked with ISS - foam shed from tank no danger - Shuttle fleet grounded until cause is known and resolved. NASA reports:

Crew Takes Focused Look at Shuttle Heat Shield
Crewmembers aboard Space Shuttle Discovery and the International Space Station have completed another successful workday. The STS-114 crew conducted more inspections of Discovery's heat shield today. The crew used the Orbiter Boom Sensor System attached to the Shuttle’s robot arm to take a closer look at areas of interest.

Based on analysis so far, it appears Discovery has not sustained any damage that would prevent a safe return to Earth on Aug. 7. Early indications are that Discovery has less damage than Shuttles on previous flights.

This morning, STS-114 astronauts used the Station's robot arm to attach the Raffaello Multi-Purpose Logistics Module to the Unity Module. The two crews will take time over the next several days to transfer supplies and equipment in Raffaello to the Station and then load Raffaello with unneeded items from the Station.

The crews also prepared for Saturday's spacewalk by Mission Specialists Soichi Noguchi and Steve Robinson. Before the crew sleep period, the hatches between the two spacecraft were closed in order to lower pressure in the Shuttle. The lower pressure allows Noguchi and Robinson to become gradually acclimated to the lower pressures of their spacesuits.

Saturday’s spacewalk is the first of three scheduled for STS-114. It is slated to begin at 4:44 a.m. EDT and wrap up about 11:14 a.m. EDT. Discovery is slated to undock from the Space Station on Aug. 5.

Flight Day 3 videos and pics are up in the NASA Gallery. Discovery's mission may be stretched a day.
29 July 2005 - Flight Day 4 - Happy Friday. Today, the Raffaello MPLM will be docked to the Station, so that cargo transfer can begin. NASA reports:

Crew to Install Raffaello
The crew of Space Shuttle Discovery was awakened at 11:46 p.m. EDT Thursday for the first full day of docked operations at the International Space Station.

Among the activities on tap for today are installation of the Multi Purpose Logistics Module Raffaello, additional Shuttle exterior surveys and preparations for Saturday's spacewalk.

Among the activities on tap for today are installation of the Multi Purpose Logistics Module Raffaello, additional Shuttle exterior surveys and preparations for Saturday's spacewalk.

STS-114 Mission Specialist Wendy Lawrence and Pilot Jim Kelly will use the Station's Canadarm2 to pluck Raffaello from Discovery's payload bay and install it on the Station's Unity module. Raffaello is carrying 15 tons of supplies and equipment for ISS that will be transferred to the ISS during the coming days.

Flight Day 3 Gallery here. Check this collection of newspaper front pages from launch day (thanks NASA Watch!).

28 July 2005 - Evening Update - Docked operations began today, as the two crews met. NASA reports:

Expedition 11 Welcomes Shuttle Crew Aboard Station
For the first time since December 2002, a Space Shuttle is docked with the International Space Station. The two spacecraft linked up at 7:18 a.m. EDT today as they flew over the southern Pacific Ocean west of Chile.

Expedition 11 Commander Sergei Krikalev and Flight Engineer John Phillips welcomed the visiting Shuttle astronauts onto the Station just after the hatches opened at 8:50 a.m. EDT. Their work today will include preparations for possible additional inspections of the Shuttle’s heat shield and the three STS-114 spacewalks.

The two crews will also begin transferring cargo from the Shuttle to the Station. Discovery is delivering supplies and equipment to the Station, most of which is located in the Raffaello Multi-Purpose Logistics Module. Raffaello, a reusable cargo container, is scheduled to be lifted out of the Shuttle's payload bay and attached to the Station’s Unity Module on Friday.

On the ground, NASA officials provided reporters an update on today’s activities and imagery analysis.

Read NASA Administrator Miike Griffin's statement about the foam shedding here. Flight Day 2 videos and pics are now available in the NASA Gallery. Flight Day 2 Mission Status Briefing here.
28 July 2005 - DOCKING - Flight Day 3 is all about linking Discovery to the ISS, where Expedition 11 will greet the Shuttle crew. NASA reports:

Discovery Arrives at Space Station
Space Shuttle Discovery reached its orbital destination this morning. Discovery docked with the International Space Station at 7:18 a.m. EDT to begin an eight-day stay at the Station. During the approach to the ISS, the Shuttle crew performed a maneuver to allow the Station crewmembers to take more imagery of the Station's heat shield.

The seven-member Shuttle crew will enter the ISS later this morning [about two hours after docking] and begin work with the Expedition 11 crew. After [the initial greetings and] a safety briefing, the two crews will begin eight days of joint operations.

Unprecedented imagery of the Shuttle from a variety of sources continues to provide NASA with valuable data for the safety of this flight and future flights. A team of about 200 people across the country are working to analyze Discovery's first photos. Foam loss from the external tank indicates a need for more improvements to the tank's insulation. Shuttle program managers want to understand this problem and deal with it before flying another mission.

NASA's Mission Management Team Chair Wayne Hale said Wednesday that according to current data, Discovery is in good shape for a safe return home. More detailed analysis will follow over the next few days to be sure.

NASA has stated that the shuttle program is grounded until the cause of the foam shedding from the ET is fixed. Flight Day 2 Gallery here.