STS-129 News and Updates

[Star Voyager]

Have they resolved the problem with digital video camera downlink yet?

I'm sure they have. It's a given because they have the technology to do it.

 

[Harmsway]

This was another beautiful Shuttle launch. Afternoon flights are nice because the sun lights up the Shuttle on the side we are viewing from. Even though there was some clouds the sky was clear. The booster separation was visible and we were able to see the booster fall for quite awhile.

The Shuttle doesn't have exterior lights of any sort.

Gene Harm

 

[agentgonzo]

Atlantis is due to dock today to the ISS at 16:53 UTC (11:53 EST).

TI Burn in [eventTimer]2009-11-18 14:05;%hh% hours, %mm%mins[/eventTimer].
RPM is due to begin in [eventTimer]2009-11-18 15:52;%hh% hours, %mm%mins[/eventTimer].
Docking at [eventTimer]2009-11-18 16:53;%hh% hours, %mm%mins[/eventTimer].

Events may not be televised:

---------- Post added at 13:27 ---------- Previous post was at 12:37 ----------

NSF: "KU-radar data is good, so no video from shuttle during docking"
Sounds like the docking won't be visible on NasaTV.

 

[Orbinaut Pete]

Sounds like the docking won't be visible on NasaTV.

Aww, I haven't seen continuous live docking video since STS-126 1 year ago.

 

[STS]

What exactly means "Ti" Burn ? Is it the last NC burn?

 

[agentgonzo]

What exactly means "Ti" Burn ? Is it the last NC burn?

Terminal phase Initiation. It's similar to the NC burns but is the last major burn that puts the orbiter on the final rendezvous profile to meet up with the station for the RPM manoeuvre.

 

[Orbinaut Pete]

Oh wow! Check out this BEAUTIFUL on-orbit photography from STS-129!

Hi-res: www.spaceflight.nasa.gov/gallery/images/shuttle/sts-129/hires/s129e006253.jpg

Hi-res: www.spaceflight.nasa.gov/gallery/images/shuttle/sts-129/hires/s129e006235.jpg

Hi-res: http://www.spaceflight.nasa.gov/gallery/images/shuttle/sts-129/hires/s129e006210.jpg

 

[orb]

Atlantis docked with ISS adapter #2 on Harmony node at 16:51 UTC (11:51am EST) while between Australia and Tasmania.
http://www.nasaspaceflight.com/2009/11/atlantis-rpm-docking-with-iss/


BTW. During launch, ET was one of the cleanest tanks on record after separation:
http://www.nasaspaceflight.com/2009/11/sts-129-tps-inspections-fd2-photos-extremely-clean-et-133/

 

[McWgogs]

I've photographed them through telescope and made a movie:
That's about a half an hour before docking.
[ame="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Pxv-w22JKGo"]YouTube- ISS and STS-129 flyby through telescope[/ame]

 

[Poscik]

I was watching them through telescope too! But I didn't take a photo. They were too fast Hand tracking isn't good method...

 

[McWgogs]

You need to attach the camera (with unlimited burst shooting option) to the eyepiece and target them with the finder scope. I had the ISS on most of the photos. It's pretty easy with some practice and the scope lubed good.

 

[tblaxland]

Would have been fun... :dry:

Crews awakened by false fire, depressurization alarms
http://spaceflightnow.com/shuttle/sts129/091119fd4/index3.html

The crews of the shuttle Atlantis and the International Space Station were awakened Thursday night by what flight controllers quickly concluded was a false alarm indicating a sudden depressurization. That false alarm caused ventilation fans to shut down, resulting in a fire alarm tripping in the European Space Agency's Columbus laboratory module.

---------- Post added at 16:08 ---------- Previous post was at 16:05 ----------

BTW, get the audio here: http://forum.nasaspaceflight.com/index.php?topic=19542.msg506801#msg506801

 

[Lucy]

I would not like to be woken up by that alarm while onboard ISS. Must've been quite a morning.

 

[SiberianTiger]

When I watched a documentary about the Mir fire, the words of Alexander Lazutkin have embossed in my memory: "In these smoke-filled innards of the station, I've been fighting hard against the urge to open a window and let the room be aired".

 

[Moonwalker]

HD downlink of flight day 3. Great footage (and sound) of the backflip maneuver from inside the flight deck:

And part 2, which inludes the docking as seen through the aft observation windows:

 

[flying coffin]

looks to me like that was actually the RPM. It was very cool hearing the callout for item 19, just like on the UNIVPTG MFD!

 

[Moonwalker]

looks to me like that was actually the RPM.

Which is the same

 

[Star Voyager]

Just got an e-mail from a friend who works for United Space Alliance at the Cape. Here's what it says:

"Around 7 a.m. EST a smoke and fire alarm was generated by the Japanese Kibo laboratory, part of the International Space Station complex. A rapid
investigation proved the alarm was false, the third false station alarm during the STS-129 mission. The two previous alarms originated in the new Russian
Poisk mini research module. Transfer operations underway aboard the complex might have stirred up dust particles that triggered the sensitive station alarm
sensors. Operations are returning to normal."

Did anyone else know about this?

 

[DaveS]

Just got an e-mail from a friend who works for United Space Alliance at the Cape. Here's what it says:

"Around 7 a.m. EST a smoke and fire alarm was generated by the Japanese Kibo laboratory, part of the International Space Station complex. A rapid
investigation proved the alarm was false, the third false station alarm during the STS-129 mission. The two previous alarms originated in the new Russian
Poisk mini research module. Transfer operations underway aboard the complex might have stirred up dust particles that triggered the sensitive station alarm
sensors. Operations are returning to normal."

Did anyone else know about this?

Yes. No issue. Transfers are wrapping up as hatch closure nears. Was noted in today's Mission Status Briefing.

 

[Star Voyager]

Alright, thanks DaveS.