I was thinking of mentioning the twin Gemini
mission as I remember the first launch
attempt of the second craft failed as some
poor guy left a valve cover in the pipework
of the engine and it shut down with some
exhaust cloud visible to the orbiting crew.
I was trying to follow US forces radio on an
old wartime set with much static. I just about
heard the reporter say "Oh no!" and that was
it. The main television news gave the full
story a little bit later. The commander in
orbit was reported as saying "We saw it start
up, we saw it shut down!"

Thing are a little bit better today.

Another four full days please crew and
get home safely.

From NASA twitter (http://twitter.com/nasa):
Amazing image!

I found a close up: Solar transit
And I'm out of superlatives today. That image is right up there for me. Wow. Wow. Wow.

__________________

No good link goes unpunished:

NASA Space Shuttle Mission Pages
NASA STS-125 Mission Status Updates
NASA STS-125 Mission Information
NASA STS-125 Mission Overview
NASA Hubble Space Telescope Servicing Mission 4 Overview
NASA News Twitter
Wikipedia: STS-125
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)
NASA Shuttle Landing Blog (active about 2 hours before touchdown)
National Weather Service, Southeast Sector, Base Reflectivity
National Weather Service, Melbourne Florida, Hourly Weather Forecast Graph
CBS News Space Place
Spaceflight Now STS-125 Mission Coverage
Spaceflight Now STS-125 Mission Status Center
BANews Twitter
BAUT Forum topic STS-119 Space Shuttle Mission (previous mission)
NASA TV (or NASA TV Yahoo! source or high-resolution)

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I had a good time listening to (and occasionally watching) a live stream of the EVA this afternoon. Too bad I didn't think to turn it on until they already had everything installed and were finishing up. Still, it was fascinating to see how they work up there - and amusing to listen in on the astronauts haggling with Mission Control over what to do with that problem bolt.

I just want to say: wow. And I don't care that you already said it. I'll even say it again... Wow! That yellow thingy at 150 million km is big...

I remember from a previous ISS mission that the ISS crew could see the shuttle reentering through night sky, and that they were recording it. If true, does anyone know if that footage is available?

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"Ignorance more frequently begets confidence than does knowledge" -- Charles Darwin
"Your right to hold an opinion is not being contested. Your expectation that it be taken seriously is." -- Jason Thompson
Meet the OOONG TOE.

Hey guys thanks for the links....
these are just phenomenal captures.
0.8 seconds!!...to be shooting in this time frame....
Fantastic shots. thanks for sharing the links.

__________________
clear skies

If you want to make an apple pie from scratch, you must first create the universe. CARL SAGAN

Mak: Pass the pepperoni please.
Fazor: "Hail, Bautainia! We pledge our hearts to thee! Science and woo, some babbling too, and astron-oh-meee!"
slang: And it made ash out of yew and tree.

My sentiments exactly. I have GOT to share that on Marvel.com! (I'm keeper of the official spaceflight thread there.)

__________________
I want to go back to the moon.
I don't care which rocket you use, whichever one you pick, I'll like it, I swear.
"If you think the LHC will create black holes, you might as well believe Hobbits are at the bottom of your garden."- Dr. Mike Inglis
Rovers forever! - ToSeek

When they were having trouble getting the bolt undone on Wide Field Camera II ... that was nerve wracking. The chatter on nasa tv indicated that if the bolt would not come off ... or if it snapped, then they would not be able to remove the camera and install the new one.

Then when they took the torque limiter off and just went for brute strengh on the ratchet... with the knowledge that the bolt is rated to possibly snap at ~56 ft-lbs (correct units? I think the commentator said 56 ft-lbs) yet their torque limiter was slipping at ~48 ft-lbs ... I was sweating!

Anyone else have their heart skip a beat when the ratchet suddenly spun the bolt loose? I didn't know if it snapped or if it finally came loose until the astronaut's voice said it was a success and it came loose about a second later. High drama!

Gotta get the popcorn out for tomorrow's EVA coverage.
-doma

CBS News Space Place

EVA-1 results. All good.

Coming up (times EDT):
05/15/09:
04:31 AM: Crew wakeup
08:16 AM: EVA-2 begins
09:01 AM: Gyro R&R begins
12:21 PM: Battery R&R
02:46 PM: EVA-2 ends
03:30 PM: Mission briefing
08:31 PM: Crew sleep begins
08:45 PM: HST update
09:00 PM: Daily highlights

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Thank you. Thank you, all with Atlantis. Thank you all on ground. Smooth Operators!

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clear skies

If you want to make an apple pie from scratch, you must first create the universe. CARL SAGAN

Mak: Pass the pepperoni please.
Fazor: "Hail, Bautainia! We pledge our hearts to thee! Science and woo, some babbling too, and astron-oh-meee!"
slang: And it made ash out of yew and tree.

EVA-2 in progress. About 2 hours in. About 4-1/2 hours to go.

First gyro unit passed aliveness test. Go to begin second.

NASA TV (or NASA TV Yahoo! source or high-resolution)

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great mission so far. Are they saving the hardest part for last?

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"I will do my best to understand and explain the universe from big to small without invoking miracles, unrepeatable events, or divine intervention. In place of those things I will use observations, mathematics, and science."


-Cross
My travel blog

Some of my Astrophotography


Those that lack education have a hard time understanding its value. - Cross

They are roughly saving the least important for last. Priority order. In case the day or mission is cut short.

NASASpaceflight.com: NASA reviews mission parameters for Hubble flight via FRR had it:

They have already done different, but maybe that's part of adjustments, for instance, making tasks fit within EVA times, like moving a small task, like soft capture, to fit in an earlier block. Scheduling is tricky stuff.

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Hardest part is the ACS repair?

I think so, with its pulling and replacing sharp electronics boards blind. The 111 screws might be the easy part.

Edit: I think I confused ACS with STIS. STIS has the 111 little screws. ACS is a lot of little tasks to get right.

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Second gyro unit refuses to be seated. Will try third unit in that space.

Edit: Third unit went easily in. I suppose they'll try for recalcitrant unit 2 into the third spot now.

Edit: Stubborn second unit won't seat anywhere. Going to a extra back-up spare -- but it's an older design.

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Final gyro (a spare of old design) was trouble, but finally installed.

Battery work next.

Edit: about 5 hours in. About 90 minutes behind planned timeline. All 6 gyros reported alive.

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I must see the WFPC the next time I visit the Smithsonian. (Note: I have visited the Smithsonian exactly twice in my life, 4 years apart, so I can expect to be back sometime in 2012.)

__________________
I want to go back to the moon.
I don't care which rocket you use, whichever one you pick, I'll like it, I swear.
"If you think the LHC will create black holes, you might as well believe Hobbits are at the bottom of your garden."- Dr. Mike Inglis
Rovers forever! - ToSeek

From Spaceflightnow:
Phew!

__________________

Tonight, on BAUT TV, Extreme Orbital Observatories!


Latest update:

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At night the stars put on a show for free (Carole King)

One Earth, One Sky - IYA 2009
All moderation in purple

Hatch closed.

Since briefing was rescheduled to about 45 minutes after EVA, that probably puts it about an hour from now. Roughly.

Edit: NASA Space Shuttle Mission Pages



NASA TV (or NASA TV Yahoo! source or high-resolution)

Edit: NASA TV just put the briefing at 1800 EDT (1500 PDT, 2200 UTC).

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“My friend Leonidas has a couple of words for you guys that are appropriate right now,” shuttle commander Scott Altman told the spacewalkers, jokingly referring to the ancient Spartan king. “Remember this day, men, for it will be yours for all time.”

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If they can get you asking the wrong questions, they don't have to worry about the answers.

Why do I get this mental image of a spacewalking astronaut screaming "SPARTAAAAAAAA!!!" as he wrenches that stuborn bolt loose without using the torque limiter?

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To the regular visitor of internet bulletin boards it is clear that it's an excellent idea your parents get to choose your real name.

I'm curious as to how the astronauts eat during these mammoth spacewalks; they must get hungry. And it's not like they can pop back in for a quick bite.

Hm. Probably some liquid goo stored in their suits.

__________________

Briefing about to start. See 4 posts up for NASA TV link.

__________________
"Ignorance more frequently begets confidence than does knowledge" -- Charles Darwin
"Your right to hold an opinion is not being contested. Your expectation that it be taken seriously is." -- Jason Thompson
Meet the OOONG TOE.

Better than goo. Or was. But they seem to prefer to eat before work.

EVA FAQ:

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Tony Ceccacci: succesful day, TAL(?) inspection, vehicle cleared for re-entry, performed all tasks in spacewalk, sleep shifted one hour,

Tomas Gonzalez-Torres: 7:56 mins, few hurdles with RSU replacements, probs with 2nd, *shows RSU*, battery change no issues, some get-ahead for ACS tasks of tomorrow

Preston Burch: 2 for 2 in EVA's, did everything we set out to do despite some rough spots, great crew. running a little behind on schedule but accomodating for that. almost halfway, looking forward to tomorrow because first instrument repairs coming up.

David Leckrone: EVA 3 predicted to be most difficult, I predict it will go smooth as per Murphy. Preliminary testing of new instruments look really good, 100%. Hubble needs to be tamed after being without contact with people for 7 years. Long way into extending longetivity of Hubble already. Thanks to folks on ground, crew, work is physically demanding, and guys holding up good.

q: change in gyro line up, does it change lifetime?
a: we tested a lot of that, effects are very small

q: why did you fly spare (old) RSU (gyro) along?
a: we always send one along on every servicing mission

q: pls give serial# on rsu..
a: [numbers]

q: RSU for #2 is refurbished one from 1999? What's the difference?
a: only hubble uses these gyroscopes. these are best for us, precise, low signal loss. taken advantage of brought back items to cut down on program costs, thus refurbished, also received components from DOD missions that have never flown (you reading, nicholas? )

q: stuck bolts etc due to aged telescope?
a: don't think aging is a factor. in case of RSU the mounting bolts and mounting areas are built to extreme tolerances, so easy to get problems installing. stuff shrinking/expanding due to temperature, environment, etc. some talk about latch problem of yesterday
a (tomas): the easy things turned out to be the difficult things (WFPC opposed to ACS), unexpected rsu problems, but trained well so coped with them

q: tomorrows space walk, why that one so challenging?
a: because we compressed 2 EVA's into 1 EVA, also due to location of box, spacecraft strut nearby interfering with movement of astronaut, remind you: in 2002 power control unit predicted to be THE MOST difficult, but John spacesuit had problems, 2 hour delay then, and still did all their tasks smoothly.

q: hold-your-breath time starts tomorrow?
a: every day turns out to be hold-your-breath. this is first time we attempt to REPAIR an instrument IN SPACE.. that is hold-your-breath time

q: schedule adjustment to keep crew rested?
a: you never know what to expect but make contingency plans. we're optimistic when planning EVA timelines. go in hoping for best but prepared for worst.

q: start of EVA, radio didn't work?
a: astronaut accidently bumped a switch. if not discovered, go back to air-lock, hook up line, so can talk that way, or go to window
q: removed RSU said to be 'banged up'?
a: probably referring to alignment pins showing multiple attempts

q: looking at ACS vs STIS
a: we really one to get at least one instrument repaired... wait if repair doesn't work in first try? may bump something on 5th spacewalk to try again.
a2: both are same priority, shooting to get acs completed in one day, but some avenues planned for in case of problems with acs or stis, already have different timeline planned for EVA 5, just in case

q: is there a limit to the amount of time you can go over schedule? already 2 hrs ish over in two days
a: no, there's no set limit, evaluate each day. even if eva goes over planned time, they a day off before next, always talking to doctors etc.

q: ?
a: 7 hr EVA won't affect post EVA activities, but 7h30m will affect them a bit. so we plan for 6h30m so we have some wiggle room. when we start tasks we have to finish them, not so easy to plan. time for eva depends on tasks, how crew feels, etc. FES(?) [problems discussed, couldn't follow]

Sorry, distracted, can't do last questions.

__________________
"Ignorance more frequently begets confidence than does knowledge" -- Charles Darwin
"Your right to hold an opinion is not being contested. Your expectation that it be taken seriously is." -- Jason Thompson
Meet the OOONG TOE.

Great job, slang.

__________________
If they can get you asking the wrong questions, they don't have to worry about the answers.

I've seen both NASA people and reporters call these the first instrument repairs in space. A repair kit was certainly installed on the GHRS during STS-61 and that would seem to count, although not at the level of complexity of either the STIS or ACS efforts. Is there some reason this is omitted, or just short memories?

(And under Extreme Orbital Observatories- two have worked with no gyros. FUSE did it as a last resort as its gyros went bad one by one, and MOST - AKA Sponge-Bob in Space - did it as part of the design. Don't try this with Hubble.)