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STS-123 is the current Space Shuttle mission to the International Space Station (ISS) which is being flown by Space Shuttle Endeavour. STS-123 will be the 1J/A ISS assembly mission. The original launch target date was February 14, 2008 but after the delay of STS-122 NASA managers set the launch date for no earlier than March 11, 2008. It is the twenty-fifth shuttle mission to visit the ISS, and will deliver the first module of the Japanese laboratory, Japanese Experiment Module (Kibō), and the Canadian Special Purpose Dexterous Manipulator, (SPDM) Dextre robotics system to the station. The current mission duration is set for sixteen days and will be the first mission fully utilizing the SSPTS, allowing space station power to augment the shuttle power systems. With extension days built in, this mission has the ability to be the longest shuttle flight in history.[2] The completion of the mission will leave nine flights remaining in the Space Shuttle program until its end in 2010, excluding two as-yet-unconfirmed Contingency Logistic Flights.
Crew
Number in parentheses indicates number of spaceflights by each individual prior to and including this mission.
Mission parameters
- Mass: TBD
- Perigee: 90 nautical miles (170 km)
- Apogee: 140 nautical miles (260 km)
- Inclination: 51.7 degrees
- Period: TBD
- ISS rendezvous altitude: 172 nautical miles (319 km)
Note: the 90x140 is the operational orbit parameters to catch up to ISS.
Mission payloads
STS-123 is scheduled to deliver the pressurized section of the Japanese Experiment Logistics Module (ELM-PS) as well as the SPDM to the International Space Station. The SPDM will be delivered disassembled on a Spacelab Pallet (SLP) and assembled over 3 spacewalks at the station.
Shuttle processing
In August of 2007, STS-123 crew members participated in crew equipment interface tests for the ELM-PS at Kennedy Space Center.[3] Processing continues on schedule for Endeavour 's launch in early 2008. NASA engineers applied the same ECO sensor modifications used on STS-122's external tank, to Endeavour's tank. In January, a HEPA filter contamination issue was discovered, but was resolved and with no impact to the mission.[4]
On Monday, February 11, 2008, Endeavour was "rolled over" to the Vehicle Assembly Building in preparation for mating with the external tank and solid rocket boosters.[4] On Wednesday, February 13, Endeavour was successfully mated with its external tank and solid rocket boosters, and was rolled out to Launch Pad 39A in the early hours of Monday, February 18, for its planned launch on March 11.[5][6] The Terminal Countdown Demonstration Test, a full dress rehearsal for launch with the crew, took place February 23-25.[7]
Mission background
The mission will mark:
- longest shuttle mission to the ISS to date
- 153rd manned US space launch
- 122nd space shuttle flight since STS-1
- 97th post-Challenger mission
- 9th post-Columbia mission
- 30th Night Launch
- 21st launch of Endeavour
- 2nd mission of Endeavour since Return to Flight[8]
Mission timeline
March 11 Morning (Launch & flight day 1)
Endeavour launched on time at 2:28:14 a.m. EDT (06:28:14 UTC) from Launch Complex 39A at the Kennedy Space Center.
The Flash Evaporator System switched from its primary controller to the backup controller during launch, and instrumentation for a few left-side control thrusters was lost due to a card failure. These anomalies are not expected to impact the mission.[9]
March 11 (Flight day 2)
• Endeavour Thermal Protection System Survey with OBSS • Extravehicular Mobility Unit Checkout • Centerline Camera Installation • Orbiter Docking System Ring Extension • Orbital Maneuvering System Pod Survey • Rendezvous Tools Checkout
March 12 (Flight day 3)
• Rendezvous with the ISS • Rendezvous Pitch Maneuver Photography by the Expedition 16 Crew • Docking to Harmony/Pressurized Mating Adapter‐2 (docking at 10:49 CST above Singapore)• Hatch Opening and Welcoming • Station‐to‐Shuttle Power Transfer System (SSPTS) Activation • Canadarm2 Grapple of Spacelab Pallet containing the Dextre Special Purpose Dexterous Manipulator (SPDM) and transfer and mate to the Payload Orbital Replacement Unit Attachment Device (POA) on the Mobile Base System. • Reisman and Eyharts exchange Soyuz seatliners; Reisman joins Expedition 16, Eyharts joins the STS‐123 crew • Extravehicular Activity (EVA) 1 Procedure Review • EVA 1 Campout by Linnehan and Reisman.
March 13 (Flight day 4)
• EVA 1 by Linnehan and Reisman Japanese Experiment Logistics Module‐Pressurized Section (ELM‐PS) unberth preparations, Orbital Replacement Unit and Tool Changeout Mechanism installation on each of Dextre’s two arms • JEM ELM‐PS Grapple, Unberth and Installation on Zenith Port of Harmony.
March 14 (Flight day 5)
• JEM ELM‐PS Ingress Preparations • JEM ELM‐PS Ingress • Canadarm2 Grapple of OBSS and Handoff to Shuttle Robotic Arm • EVA 2 Procedure Review • EVA 2 Campout by Linnehan and Foreman.
March 15 (Flight day 6)
• EVA 2 by Linnehan and Foreman (Dextre assembly) • Dextre Joint and Brake Tests and Diagnostics • JEM ELM‐PS Outfitting.
March 16 (Flight day 7)
• JEM ELM‐PS Racks and Systems Outfitting • Dextre Arm and Brake Tests • EVA 3 Procedure Review • EVA 3 Campout by Linnehan and Behnken.
March 17 (Flight day 8)
• EVA 3 by Linnehan and Behnken (Orbital Replacement Unit stowage, MISSE‐6 lightweight adapter plate assembly installation and transfer of MISSE‐6 experiments to Columbus and Dextre spare part platform and tool handling assembly) • Dextre End Effector Checkout and Calibration.
March 18 (Flight day 9)
• Crew Off Duty Periods • Canadarm2 Grapple of Dextre and Transfer to Power and Data Grapple Fixture on Destiny Laboratory; Dextre’s L.C. Arms are Stowed • T‐RAD EVA Hardware Preparation.
March 19 (Flight day 10)
• Crew Off Duty Periods • EVA 4 Procedure Review • EVA 4 Campout by Foreman and Behnken.
March 20 (Flight day 11)
• EVA 4 by Foreman and Behnken (T‐RAD DTO, Remote Power Control Module replacement including temporary CMG‐2 shutdown and spinup) • Retrieve the JEM TV Electronics Boom from the ELM‐PS.
March 21 (Flight day 12)
• OBSS Inspection of Endeavour’s Heat Shield • Mobile Transporter Move from Worksite 6 to Worksite 4 • EVA 5 Procedure Review • EVA 5 Campout by Foreman and Behnken.
March 22 (Flight day 13)
• EVA 5 by Foreman and Behnken (OBSS stow on station truss, repair and replacement of Destiny Laboratory micrometeoroid debris shields, release of launch locks on Harmony port and nadir Common Berthing Mechanisms) • Installation of Trundle Bearing Assembly 5 in starboard SARJ • SARJ Inspection.
March 23 (Flight day 14)
• Joint Crew News Conference • Crew Off Duty Periods • Rendezvous Tools Checkout • Final Transfers.
March 24 (Flight day 15)
• Final Farewells and Hatch Closing • Undocking • Flyaround of the ISS • Final Separation.
March 25 (Flight day 16)
• Flight Control System Checkout • Reaction Control System Hot‐Fire Test • Cabin Stowage • European Space Agency’s (ESA’s) PAO Event • Eyharts’ Recumbent Seat Set Up • Crew Deorbit Briefing • Ku‐Band Antenna Stowage.
March 26 (Flight day 17, landing)
• Deorbit Preparations • Payload Bay Door Closing • Deorbit Burn • KSC Landing.
Extra-vehicular activity
-
Five spacewalks will take place during the flight, as confirmed by NASA in January 2008.[2][10]
Wake-up calls
A tradition for NASA spaceflights since the days of Gemini, is that mission crews are played a special musical track at the start of each day in space. Each track is specially chosen, often by their family, and usually has a special meaning to an individual member of the crew, or is applicable to their daily activities.[11][12]
Contingency mission
STS-324 is the designation given to the Contingency Shuttle Crew Support mission which would be launched in the event Space Shuttle Endeavour becomes disabled during STS-123.[13] It would be a modified version of the STS-124 mission, which would involve the launch date being brought forward. The crew for this mission would be a four-person subset of the full STS-124 crew.[13]
Media
References
- ^ NASA (2008). Space Shuttle STS-123. National Aeronautics and Space Administration. Retrieved on 2008-01-26.
- ^ a b Dean, Brandi. "All Aboard for STS-123: The Station Goes Global", Johnson Space Center. Retrieved on 2008-02-14.
- ^ JAXA (2007). Crew Equipment Interface Test (CEIT) for Kibo. Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency.
- ^ a b Chris Bergin (2008). Endeavour rolls to VAB. NASA Spaceflight.com. Retrieved on February 11, 2008.
- ^ Craig Covault (2008). Endeavour Headed To Launch Pad Feb. 18. Aviation Week. Retrieved on February 13, 2008.
- ^ NASA (2008). NASA's Space Shuttle Endeavour to Move to Launch Pad Monday. NASA. Retrieved on February 13, 2008.
- ^ Katherine Trinidad (2008). Space Shuttle Endeavour Arrives at Launch Pad, Countdown Test Set. NASA. Retrieved on February 20, 2008.
- ^ "Mission Quick-Look 1", CBS, 2008-02-24. Retrieved on 2008-03-11.
- ^ Spaceflight Now | STS-123 Shuttle Report | Mission Status Center
- ^ NASA Sets Briefings to Preview March Space Shuttle Mission, STS-123. NASA (2008-01-29). Retrieved on 2008-02-16.
- ^ Fries, Colin. "Chronology of Wakeup Calls", NASA, 2007-06-25. Retrieved on 2007-08-13.
- ^ NASA (2008). STS-123 Wakeup Calls. NASA. Retrieved on March 11, 2008.
- ^ a b Bergin, Chris. "NASA sets new launch date targets through to STS-124", NASASpaceflight, 2007-04-15. Retrieved on 2007-08-21.
External links
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