STS-124 Shuttle Mission

01101001 · #1 (**permalink**) 17-April-2008, 05:00 AM

NASA Mission Overview: Hope Takes Flight on Shuttle Discovery

Quote:

STS-124 will launch the main segment of the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency's – or JAXA’s – station laboratory. Kibo’s Japanese Pressurized Module, or JPM, is 14.4 feet in diameter and 36.7 feet long, so big that it barely fits inside Discovery's payload bay.

The bus-sized module will be the station’s largest laboratory and will be the second component of Japan's laboratory complex to fly to the station. The first, the Japanese Experiment Logistics Module, was launched in March on shuttle mission STS-123.

The Kibo pressurized module weighs in at 32,000 pounds. It’s so large that the shuttle’s Orbiter Boom Sensor System was left at the station during the last mission. There’s not room in Discovery's cargo bay for both the boom and the lab.

And the module is so heavy that only its primary set of avionics systems can be launched inside it. The second set was launched in the logistics module delivered on STS-123 so that it will be available, if needed, when Kibo is activated.

Launch target:
2008, Saturday, May 31, 1402 PDT
2008, Saturday, May 31, 1702 EDT
2008, Saturday, May 31, 2102 UTC

About 6 weeks to launch

NASA Space Shuttle Mission Pages
NASA Mission Status Updates
NASA STS-124 Mission Information
NASA Mission Overview: Hope Takes Flight on Shuttle Discovery
Wikipedia: STS-124
NASA Launch Schedule
NASA Kennedy Space Center Shuttle Countdown Status
NASA Shuttle Launch and Landing
NASA Shuttle Launch Blog (active about 6 hours before liftoff)
CBS News Space Place
SpaceFlightNow STS-124 Mission Coverage (if set up, sparse at first)
BAUT Forum topic STS-123 Space Shuttle Mission (previous mission)
NASA TV (or NASA TV Yahoo! source or high-resolution)

KaiYeves · #2 (**permalink**) 18-April-2008, 12:05 AM

Hurrah for hope! We all need something to be hopeful about nowadays.

Swift · #3 (**permalink**) 18-April-2008, 02:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by KaiYeves

Hurrah for hope! We all need something to be hopeful about nowadays.

Quote:

The Kibo pressurized module weighs in at 32,000 pounds. It’s so large that the shuttle’s Orbiter Boom Sensor System was left at the station during the last mission. There’s not room in Discovery's cargo bay for both the boom and the lab.

You know, originally they were going to use a giant spring to move the Hope module out of the shuttle cargo bay, because it is so big and heavy. But NASA decided against that, because it would take forever. What, you never heard "Hope springs eternal"!

01101001 · #4 (**permalink**) 18-April-2008, 04:12 PM

Today, we are serving alphabet soup:

JAXA: About Kibo

Quote:

Japan develops an experiment module called Kibo which means Hope in Japanese. Kibo is the first manned facility of Japan in which a maximum of four astronauts can perform experimental activities for a long duration of time. Kibo consists of four components. Two experimental facilities, the Pressurized Module and Exposed Facility, logistics modules attached to each of them and, a Manipulator to be used for experiments or for ORU changeout tasks.

Includes an image: Kibo structure diagram of the various parts of Kibo:

Pressurized Module (PM or JPM)
Exposed Facility (EF or JEF)
Experiment Logistics Module -- Pressurized Section / Exposed Section (ELM-PS and ELM-ES or JLP and JLE)
Remote Manipulator System (JEM RMS)

STS-124 will carry the Pressurized Module (PM or JPM) and the Remote Manipulator System (JEM RMS).

Previous shuttle mission, STS-123, carried the Experiment Logistics Module Pressurized Section (ELM-PS or JLP).

The Exposed Facility (EF or JEF) and the Experiment Logistics Module - Exposed Section (ELM-ES or JLE) will be launched about a year from now.

Wikipedia: Japanese Experiment Module (JEM)

Quote:

The Japanese Experiment Module (JEM) (Japanese: Kibō きぼう, Hope) is a Japanese space module for the International Space Station. It is the largest planned module for the international side of the ISS. It has been built and delivered to the United States.

The Wikipedia Kibo diagram (from NASA Aerospace Scholars: The Laboratories) might be even better:

KaiYeves · #5 (**permalink**) 18-April-2008, 07:30 PM

Quote:

You know, originally they were going to use a giant spring to move the Hope module out of the shuttle cargo bay, because it is so big and heavy. But NASA decided against that, because it would take forever. What, you never heard "Hope springs eternal"!

Y'know, my personal name for STS-123 was "DEXTRE and the Lab", after the classic cartoon show, Dexter's Lab.

01101001 · #6 (**permalink**) 18-May-2008, 09:02 PM

I love it when a plan comes together.

STS124 Image Gallery

+

=

Launch target:
2008, Saturday, May 31, 1402 PDT
2008, Saturday, May 31, 1702 EDT
2008, Saturday, May 31, 2102 UTC

13 days to launch

KaiYeves · #7 (**permalink**) 18-May-2008, 09:13 PM

Quote:

I love it when a plan comes together.

Me, too.

novaderrik · #8 (**permalink**) 19-May-2008, 01:58 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 01101001

I love it when a plan comes together.

how do you think they'll get B.A. Barackus into the shuttle? drug his milk, maybe?
i pity the fool that is sitting next to him as the main engine and SRB ingnitions wake him up..

BetaDust · #9 (**permalink**) 20-May-2008, 05:43 PM

Some way to wake up....

->

01101001 · #10 (**permalink**) 26-May-2008, 08:02 PM

NASA Space Shuttle Mission Pages

Quote:

Discovery, Crew on Track for May 31 Liftoff

[...] space shuttle Discovery is in place at NASA Kennedy Space Center's Launch Pad 39A. Final preparations are on schedule for liftoff May 31 at 5:02 p.m. EDT. The countdown begins May 28 at 3 p.m., counting from the T-43 hour mark.

Launch target:
2008, Saturday, May 31, 1402 PDT
2008, Saturday, May 31, 1702 EDT
2008, Saturday, May 31, 2102 UTC

5 days, 1 hour to launch

novaderrik · #11 (**permalink**) 27-May-2008, 03:03 AM

one of the astronauts on this flight is from Vining, MN- about 30 miles from me. her dad makes metal sculptures and displays them around the town, and made one of an astronaut to honor his daughter.

Swift · #12 (**permalink**) 29-May-2008, 02:55 PM

The latest from NASA

Quote:

May 29
Countdown clocks at NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida began counting down from the T-43 hour mark at 3 p.m. EDT yesterday, following the seven-member STS-124 crew's midday arrival at Kennedy. The launch team is tracking no issues as technicians continue preparing space shuttle Discovery for liftoff on May 31 at 5:02 p.m. EDT.

A prelaunch news conference is scheduled for this morning at no earlier than 11 a.m. The event will be carried live on NASA TV.

There is a possibility for isolated coastal showers on the morning of launch, but the weather forecast is good overall, with an 80% chance of favorable weather at liftoff time.

01101001 · #13 (**permalink**) 29-May-2008, 09:02 PM

NASA Space Shuttle Mission Pages

The plumber's soon underway.

Quote:

May 29
New parts to fix an intermittent problem with the Russian toilet on the International Space Station arrived in the United States last night and were packed inside space shuttle Discovery well before dawn at NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida.

The crew of Discovery and the residents of the International Space Station will install the new parts, including a pump, during the STS-124 mission that is scheduled to launch Saturday at 5:02 p.m. EDT. The three station residents already in orbit currently are using alternatives to the toilet.

Launch target:
2008, Saturday, May 31, 1402 PDT
2008, Saturday, May 31, 1702 EDT
2008, Saturday, May 31, 2102 UTC

At the sound of the tone, 48 hours to launch. Beep, beep, beep, booop.

KaiYeves · #14 (**permalink**) 29-May-2008, 09:09 PM

Final exams are coming up... Take me with you, Discovery!

mike alexander · #15 (**permalink**) 29-May-2008, 10:44 PM

And the replacement toilet part arrived on time and in good shape.

Waiting for jokes about $600 toilet plunger.

01101001 · #16 (**permalink**) 30-May-2008, 05:41 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by novaderrik

one of the astronauts on this flight is from Vining, MN- about 30 miles from me. her dad makes metal sculptures and displays them around the town, and made one of an astronaut to honor his daughter.

Flickr: Nyberg Astronaut Sculpture has a bunch of Nyberg sculptures.

The other Nyberg astronaut, Karen Nyberg:

Extravoice · #17 (**permalink**) 30-May-2008, 12:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mike alexander

And the replacement toilet part arrived on time and in good shape.

Yesterday afternoon, NPR reported that the repair parts were delivered from Russia in a diplomatic pouch. For some reason, that struck me as humorous.

JustAFriend · #18 (**permalink**) 30-May-2008, 01:02 PM

It took a while to pack the cargo bay....

Swift · #19 (**permalink**) 30-May-2008, 03:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Extravoice

Yesterday afternoon, NPR reported that the repair parts were delivered from Russia in a diplomatic pouch. For some reason, that struck me as humorous.

I heard that too and I also thought it fun. I suspect it was done that way to clear Customs faster. Makes you wonder what else has been transported in diplomatic pounches.

Swift · #20 (**permalink**) 30-May-2008, 03:15 PM

The latest from NASA

Quote:

May 30
At NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida, technicians are putting the finishing touches on space shuttle Discovery one day before its scheduled liftoff on mission STS-124. Launch is set for May 31 at 5:02 p.m. EDT.

"After months of hard work and preparation, Discovery and its crew are ready to fly," said NASA Test Director Jeff Spaulding during a morning briefing on Discovery's countdown status. "All of our systems are in great shape, we're tracking no issues, and we're right on schedule for tomorrow's launch."

01101001 · #21 (**permalink**) 31-May-2008, 05:02 AM

CBS News Space Place

Quote:

3:15 PM, 5/30/08, Update: Shuttle countdown on track

The shuttle Discovery's countdown today ticked smoothly toward launch Saturday on a space station assembly mission. There are no technical problems of any significance and forecasters are continuing to predict an 80 percent chance of good weather.

And for this launch's product-placement news... I mean, Behind the Scenes: What's Going Up:
Buzz Lightyear to Soar with Discovery

Quote:

More accustomed to soaring among the galaxies on fold-out wings and a backpack rocket, [Buzz] Lightyear will take to space on Discovery’s STS-124 mission stowed inside a locker in Discovery's crew compartment. The 12-inch-tall action figure is flying as part of a partnership between NASA and Disney Parks to encourage students to pursue studies in science, technology and mathematics, one of NASA’s main educational goals.
[...]
STS-124 Pilot Ken Ham is responsible for the entertainment - CDs of the ESPN [Sports] Radio show "Mike and Mike in the Morning." Ham is also expected to talk to hosts Mike Golic and Mike Greenberg from space towards the end of his mission to the International Space Station.

A plastic microphone stand with the ESPN logo is also making the trip.
[...]
A yellow jersey from Lance Armstrong's record-setting seven victories at the Tour de France bicycle race, the backup jersey Eli Manning took to the Super Bowl, and the last jersey baseball's Craig Biggio wore in a game have places inside the orbiting locker room.

Launch target:
2008, Saturday, May 31, 1402 PDT
2008, Saturday, May 31, 1702 EDT
2008, Saturday, May 31, 2102 UTC

16 hours to launch

Nicolas · #22 (**permalink**) 31-May-2008, 05:44 AM

Time zones and abbreviations... I'm still trying to figure out when's the launch in my local time...

BetaDust · #23 (**permalink**) 31-May-2008, 07:58 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Nicolas

Time zones and abbreviations... I'm still trying to figure out when's the launch in my local time...

I got they same problem. keeping NASA tv running helps a bit.

Dennis

Nicolas · #24 (**permalink**) 31-May-2008, 10:01 AM

Ah, The Netherlands, that's compatible. Have you figured it out yet?

(it's not only time zones, it's winter/summer time as well)

I'll let you know when I have an educated guess on our local time for the launch

Nicolas · #25 (**permalink**) 31-May-2008, 10:07 AM

My guess: PDT = Belgium/Netherlands (that's CET, right?) -6H, so a launch at 14.02 CET would be at 20.02H CET.

Can anyone confirm this? I don't want to miss another launch by one hour

.

Lord Jubjub · #26 (**permalink**) 31-May-2008, 01:16 PM

PDT is Pacific Daylight Time--Los Angeles. UTC is Universal Time. Belgium is an hour ahead of London and (with Summer Time) two hours ahead of UTC.

That puts the launch at 2300 hours in western Europe.

Here is a link that shows the abbreviations

Nicolas · #27 (**permalink**) 31-May-2008, 01:43 PM

Oh right, thanks. Ok, that's a bit late but if it's not delayed too much and I don't have to get in the car too soon, I'll be able to see it.

Doodler · #28 (**permalink**) 31-May-2008, 02:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by novaderrik

how do you think they'll get B.A. Barackus into the shuttle? drug his milk, maybe?
i pity the fool that is sitting next to him as the main engine and SRB ingnitions wake him up..

Now we just have to shoot off twenty thousand chunks of ice and not hit anything....

BetaDust · #29 (**permalink**) 31-May-2008, 02:32 PM

T- 6 h 30 min

01101001 · #30 (**permalink**) 31-May-2008, 05:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Nicolas

I don't want to miss another launch by one hour

.

You're just the kind of person I do these n-hours-until launch articles for.

Do you display article-posting times in your local time? If not there is a vBulletin option (User CP :: Edit Options :: Date and Time Options) for that. If so, just add the article-posting time to the n and get the event time in your local time.

NASA Shuttle Launch Blog is active now (started 6 hours before launch). That might help you predict the launch time.

NASA Shuttle Launch and Landing has an animated launch clock (but it's the launch-countdown clock with occasional holds, not real time).

NASA TV (or Yahoo! alternative) has begun coverage.

(3 hours, 40 minutes to launch.)

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