STS-131 Shuttle Mission to the International Space Station Launches Monday 11:21 BST

The Leonardo de-pressurisation process is underway. The process for releasing the 16 bolts and 4 latches will start around 20:00 and the lifting procedure should start around 45 minutes later.

EDIT: 21:47

Leonardo is finally unberthed from the port of the Harmony node.

EDIT:

Leonardo is now positioned above the payload bay of Discovery and will now probably remain there until morning.
 
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No probably about it. :p

Also, the STS-131 crew get a one hour lie in in the morning due to the late finish today. Very generous of NASA. :p
 
Definitely time I joined them, but I want to see the mission status briefing first (@ 23.15, I hope - there's this guy called Barack on NASA TV right now).
 
444579mainiss023e021088.jpg

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Flight Day 12 Plan:

• Completion of Leonardo Multi-purpose berthing in Discovery’s cargo bay

• Heat Shield Inspection

• OBSS berth

Leonardo is now back in the payload bay and latched in place.
 
445181mainlenardo.jpg


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Flight Day 13 Plan:

• Farewells and Hatch Closure

• Rendezvous Tool checkout

• Discovery undocking from ISS and flyaround

• Final separation from the station


Undocking will take place at 13:52 BST.

With the extra day in orbit STS-131 is now due to land at KSC on Monday 19th at 13:48 BST (08:48 EDT).
 
Discovery has now undocked from the ISS.

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The thermal protection systems have been cleared for landing but the early forecast for Monday’s landing is not favourable with showers predicted.
 

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Flight Day 14 Plan:

• Cabin stowage

• Flight Control System checkout

• Reaction Control System hot-fire test

• Deorbit Preparation Briefing


Discovery is due to land tomorrow at 13:51 BST
 
Something different:

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Alan Poindexter, STS-131 commander, poses for a photo in the Cupola of the ISS.
 
Almost home:


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Flight Day 15 plan:

• Deorbit burn

• KSC Landing

Deorbit ignition is at 12:43 BST.

Landing is now on for 13:48 BST (08:48 EDT).

The weather forecast for KSC is still problematic and if the weather prevents the first landing there will be a second opportunity one orbit later at 15:23 BST (10:23 EDT).
 
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i have a question:
the camera shots where the craft is above the earth in space away from the ISS, how do they do that?
is there a satelitte above the spacecraft? it seems a good few miles up
i always see it, but didnt think twice about it until now?
 
The latest weather briefing says that the weather is improving around KSC and the rain forming system should be clear of the coast around noon.
 
iamtheoneneo said:
i have a question:
Click to expand...

Huh? I don't get you.

If the shuttle is within a few miles of the ISS, they can use the ISS cameras. Anything further will be CG.

PS - Haven't forgotten that I owe you lot a report, and some photos. Will have to wait until after landing now but better late than never I guess. :)
 
Discovery’s landing track:

445286mainksc222long.jpg


The landing timeline (BST):

11:20 Crew suit up
11:43 Crew strap into their seats
12:10 Orbital Maneuvering System engine gimbal checks
12:21 Auxiliary power unit prestart
12:33 Mission Control "go/no-go" decision for the deorbit burn
12:38 Maneuver to the deorbit burn attitude
12:43 Deorbit burn
13:35 Merritt Island, Fla. tracking station acquires signal from Endeavour
13:48 Landing​
 
Low cloud is moving in around KSC so landing is looking very iffy. A decision to land will be made in around fifteen minutes.
 
The weather has stopped the first landing opportunity. :(

The second opportunity weather permitting will be one orbit later at 15:23 BST (10:23 EDT).

Should the new attempt be cancelled the next landing opportunities will be on Tuesday with options available for both KSC and Edwards Air Force Base.
 
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There is some fog around the landing site which should burn off with the morning sun and a few showers around the landing zone. The weather is improving. Mission control have told Discovery to continue with their checklist and we wait for the go/no-go for landing.

EDIT: Now about 20 minutes before the go/no-go.
 
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Doubt it will improve in time. Looks pretty mucky tbh.

Karma I guess, launch weather was perfect - 25 mile plus visibility, hardly any wind, and not a cloud to be seen anywhere. Getting launch weather that good is very rare indeed.
 
Today’s landing has been cancelled.

Tuesday landing opportunities are:

KSC - 12:33
EDW - 14:00
KSC - 14:08
EDW - 15:36
EDW - 17:11​
 
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