03-08-2008, 01:26 AM | #1 |
Da Guy Wut Owns Dis Joint
Join Date: Mar 2007
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STS-123 & The ATV
For your entertainment this weekend…
My calendar reminded me that Jules Verne, ESA's first Automated Transfer Vehicle is set for lift-off from Europe's Spaceport in Kourou, French Guiana, at 05:03 CET (04:03 UT), on Sunday 9 March. That would be 10:03 PM Central Standard Time on Saturday, March 8, I think. You can watch the launch on ESA’s web site: http://www.esa.int/esaCP/SEMPKSK26DF_index_0.html ATV “Jules Verne” Launches Saturday Night for its Trip to the International Space Station 22 tons of stuff headed for the space station For more fun, see the BBC’s ATV Mission Guide: http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/science/nature/6249578.stm Also don’t forget that STS-123 will launch for the space station on Tuesday, March 11 on the longest-duration ISS mission yet! STS-123 Crew Endeavour will dock at the ISS on March 13, 2008 and undock on March 27, 2008. Jules Verne will hang out in orbit, checking itself out, while the meat beings are at the space station. It will do a couple of rendezvous maneuvers after the Space Shuttle leaves. Then the ATV has docking windows on April 3 through April 6. On April 7, the Russian Progress M-63 will undock so ol’ Jules will either be docked by then or have to get out of the way. Jules Verne’s contingency docking day is April 21, 2008. Exciting, ain’t it?
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03-11-2008, 01:29 AM | #2 |
Da Guy Wut Owns Dis Joint
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The ATV launched on schedule! Melva said that they are having some kind of trouble with it but I haven't had time to get caught up.
Endeaver is ready for STS-123! Meanwhile, Endeavour is on the pad and still GO for launch tonight at 1:28 AM US Central time! Since I'm already short on sleep (darn daylight-saving time!) I'll probably miss this launch. Darn it. Good luck, guys!
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03-13-2008, 03:43 AM | #3 |
Da Guy Wut Owns Dis Joint
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At this moment, Endeavor is about 30 feet from the space station, initiating final approach.
Cute story: About a half hour ago, CAPCOM made a call the space station and called them "Atlantis." When Peggy Whitson asked him about it, he said, "That's what happens when the CAPCOM switches rooms!"
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03-20-2008, 04:09 PM | #4 |
Da Guy Wut Owns Dis Joint
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And, after several days of doing amazing things, the crew is preparing for the fourth spacewalk tonight.
If all goes well, they will be out the hatch (or at least off their umbilicals) at 6:38 PM Eastern US daylight time.
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03-27-2008, 12:46 AM | #5 |
Da Guy Wut Owns Dis Joint
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After a successful mission, they're home safe!
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03-27-2008, 06:45 AM | #6 |
Day late & a dollar short
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Always a good day (or night as the case may be) when there's a safe homecoming!
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