STS-134 Shuttle Mission to the International Space Station Launches Monday 16th @ 13:56 BST

Back in time again showing Endeavour with people for a size comparison. One from December 1999 ahead of STS-99 and the other from April 2009 ahead of STS-127:

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Back to the present. The faulty electrical distribution Load Control Assembly 2 (LCA-2) box has been replaced and forensic engineering testing is taking place on the faulty box. Testing of the new box will take place before managers meet tomorrow to give us a firm launch date.
 
Slightly off topic. A minutes silence in memory of Maria Motta, ISS Flight Engineer’s mother who passed away on May 2nd:

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RIP :(


And on a lighter note 50 years ago on May 5th 1961 Alan Shepard became the first American in space:

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Managers have met and said that the earliest Endeavour can now launch is Monday, May 16 at 13:56 BST (08:56 EDT). Work will continue testing/repairing the electrical circuitry.
 
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Yesterday’s press conference and confirmation of launch next Monday at 13:56 BST (08:56 EDT):

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A brief update - The crew have just arrived to prepare for Monday’s launch. There is nothing else to report apart from saying that the countdown clock will start at 12:00 BST (07:00 EDT) tomorrow.

So while we wait a look back at Discovery’s last mission:

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Take some time out to watch the great video and its comprehensive look at a complete mission to the ISS. Enjoy. :)
 
Yesterday's briefing:

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The forecast is at 70% favourable conditions for launch on Monday.

The plan for today:

56...56...00...05:00 .....SRB PIC test
56...11...00...05:45 .....Master events controller pre-flight BITE test

53...56...00...08:00 .....Resume countdown

52...26...00...09:30 .....Fuel cell oxygen loading begins
49...56...00...12:00 .....Fuel cell oxygen load complete
49...56...00...12:00 .....Fuel cell hydrogen loading begins
47...26...00...14:30 .....Fuel cell hydrogen loading complete
46...26...00...15:30 .....Pad open; ingress white room

45...56...00...16:00 .....Begin 8-hour built-in hold

45...56...00...16:00 .....PRSD offload
44...56...00...17:00 .....Crew module clean and vacuum
41...56...00...20:00 .....Remove APU vent covers
40...56...00...21:00 .....SSME throat plug removal
39...26...00...22:30 .....OMBUU demate​

Sunday

37...26...00...00:30 .....Countdown resumes

37...56...00...00:00 .....Main engine preps
37...56...00...00:00 .....MECs 1 and 2 on; avionics system checkout
34...56...00...03:00 .....FRCS Tyvek cover removal/inspect

31...26...00...06:30 .....Deflate RSS dock seals; tile inspection
30...56...00...07:00 .....Tile inspection
30...56...00...07:00 .....TSM prepped for fueling

29...56...00...08:00 .....Begin 13-hour 36-minute hold​
 
Right, that teacher who's covering for the good one and wants me to go sit in a room all day and do pretty much **** all can go **** herself, no way am i choosing that over watching this :)
 
All looking good for tomorrow:

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The plan for today:

31...26...00...06:30 .....Deflate RSS dock seals; tile inspection
30...56...00...07:00 .....Tile inspection
30...56...00...07:00 .....TSM prepped for fueling

29...56...00...08:00 .....Begin 13-hour 36-minute hold

28...26...00...09:30 .....RSS rotation preps
28...26...00...09:30 .....OIS communications check with JSC
28...11...00...09:45 .....Crew weather briefing
27...36...00...10:20 .....JSC flight control team on station
26...56...00...11:00 .....L-1 engineering briefing
26...26...00...11:30 .....Comm activation
25...56...00...12:00 .....Crew module voice checks
24...56...00...13:00 .....Flight crew equipment late stow
20...56...00...17:00 .....RSS to park position
19...56...00...18:00 .....Final TPS, debris inspection
19...26...00...18:30 .....Ascent switch list

16...20...00...21:36 .....Resume countdown

16...00...00...21:56 .....Pad clear of non-essential personnel
16...00...00...21:56 .....APU bite test
15...10...00...22:46 .....Fuel cell activation
14...20...00...23:36 .....Booster joint heater activation​

Monday

13...50...00...00:06 .....MEC pre-flight bite test
13...35...00...00:21 .....Tanking weather update
12...50...00...01:06 .....Final fueling preps; launch area clear
12...20...00...01:36 .....Red crew assembled
11...35...00...02:21 .....Fuel cell integrity checks complete

11...20...00...02:36 .....Begin 2-hour built-in hold (T-minus 6 hours)

11...10...00...02:46 .....Safe-and-arm PIC test
10...32...00...03:24 .....Crew wakeup
10...20...00...03:36 .....External tank ready for loading
10...02...00...03:54 .....Mission management team tanking meeting
09...46...00...04:10 .....NASA TV fueling coverage begins

09...20...00...04:36 .....Resume countdown (T-minus 6 hours)

09...20...00...04:36 .....LO2, LH2 transfer line chilldown
09...10...00...04:46 .....Main propulsion system chill down
09...10...00...04:46 .....LH2 slow fill


08...40...00...05:16 .....LO2 slow fill
08...35...00...05:21 .....Hydrogen ECO sensors go wet
08...30...00...05:26 .....LO2 fast fill
08...20...00...05:36 .....LH2 fast fill
06...25...00...07:31 .....LH2 topping
06...20...00...07:36 .....LH2 replenish
06...20...00...07:36 .....LO2 replenish

06...20...00...07:36 .....Begin 2-hour 30-minute built-in hold (T-minus 3 hours)​
 
rainmeister said:
assuming a clear sky, will the shuttle be visible at 1415, or will the sky be too bright to see it? Frustrating how the window has changed from evening to early afternoon.
Click to expand...

The shuttle will already be in a low earth orbit and won't be visible.
 
Phew. My bribery of the engineer with the heat gun obviously worked. :p I'm now back home, with internet, and can watch the mission. \o/

Of course most of the good stuff will happen while I'm asleep or at work, but at least I'm in the country. :)

Slight problem - my internet will be disconnected before Endeavour lands. Hope to do something about that tomorrow.
 
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