Endeavour, STS-127 Crew Begin Complex Mission

Thu, 16 Jul 2009 12:00:01 PM UTC+1200

Endeavour is safely in orbit. Its 16-day mission includes 5 spacewalks and will complete the station's Japanese module.

Space shuttle Endeavour and its crew of seven astronauts are in orbit after an on-time launch at 6:03 p.m. EDT from NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida. Following a smooth countdown with no technical issues and weather that steadily improved throughout the afternoon, the shuttle lifted off from Launch Pad 39A and began its orbital chase of the International Space Station.

"It was a testimony for this entire launch and flight control team," Launch Director Pete Nickolenko said of the countdown and successful liftoff, which came on the sixth launch attempt after technical issues and weather concerns prevented the first five tries. "It was an outstanding effort, and it made the complex look really easy. It really was a case of persistence."

Bill Gerstenmaier, associate administrator for Space Operations, also commended the launch effort, but cautioned that the mission to come is "very challenging," with five spacewalks and robotic activities scheduled. "The teams are fully prepared -- they're ready to go do what they need to go do, and we look forward to the exciting activities as we install the Exposed Facility out on the Kibo module."

NASA Build more Space Stations!!!

I know that everything happens for a good reason, nevertheless, I am getting a little impatient with all the sts-127 mis-launches. I can't imagine how the sts_127 crew and their families must be feeling. God give you strength!

I have a suggestion, to avoid future launch delays, why can't NASA construct an Obama Space Centre in Central Australia or Africa?
It will be well-worth the money spent and we can have multiple launches and missions to speed up our space-explorations. I know that we have made major advances and space discoveries in the recent decades but let's start speeding things up a bit and make it easier for our children's children.

I believe that NASA needs to spread its wings and embrace our entire planet Earth first in order to make extra-ordinary breakthroughs in Space.

I do pray we have a successful launch in 22 hours 30 minutes time...all through the Grace of GOD! Room 8 is waiting anxioulsy for our space questions to be answered from space, live on NASA TV.

Good luck and God Speed sts-127
Mrs Kree Raman

Endeavour Launch Rescheduled for Wednesday

Tue, 14 Jul 2009 12:41:26 PM UTC+1200


Liftoff of space shuttle Endeavour on the STS-127 mission has been rescheduled for Wednesday, July 15 at 6:03 p.m. EDT.

Monday's attempt was canceled due to poor weather conditions within the launch area at NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida. Anvil clouds and storm cells containing lightning flared up toward the end of the countdown, violating stringent launch safety rules.

"Technically, we've been really clean the last two days with our vehicle," Launch Integration Manager Mike Moses said of Endeavour's launch attempts on Sunday and Monday. "It's just been the weather scenario that got us."

The outlook is better on Wednesday, with only a 40 percent chance of weather conditions prohibiting liftoff.

http://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/shuttle/main/index.html

STS-127 Countdown in Final Planned Hold

Tue, 14 Jul 2009 09:57:40 AM UTC+1200

At NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida, the countdown clock has paused for 45 minutes at the T-9-minute mark. This is the final built-in hold for today's countdown to liftoff of space shuttle Endeavour on its STS-127 mission.

The countdown is going relatively smoothly, with no technical issues in work. Although launch managers and weather officials are monitoring weather conditions around the launch area and Shuttle Landing Facility very closely, liftoff remains scheduled for 6:51 p.m. EDT.

Watch for countdown clocks to resume ticking backwards at 6:42 p.m. when the T-9-minute hold is released.

http://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/shuttle/main/index.html

God Speed STS_127 - our thoughts and prayers are with you on this 4th launch. Have a blast!!

Latest Space Shuttle Newshttp://www.nasa.gov/shuttle en-us

Careful Testing Under Way After Lightning Strikes
Sun, 12 Jul 2009 03:59:52 AM UTC+1200


The launch of space shuttle Endeavour was postponed until Sunday evening so engineers could evaluate the spacecraft's myriad systems following 11 lightning strikes in the Launch Complex 39A area.

None of the strikes hit the shuttle or its external tank and solid rocket boosters, but there were strikes to the lightning mast and water tower. The launch pad is equipped with a lightning protection system of wires that is intended to steer bolts away from the shuttle.

"We've seen nothing so far that shows anything affected any of the systems," said Mike Moses, chairman of the pre-launch Mission Management Team.

Two of the strikes were strong enough to trigger an evaluation by engineers just to make sure all of Endeavour's systems are ready for flight. Although early evaluations showed no problems, engineers wanted more time to make sure they have checked everything correctly.

"We need to be 100 percent confident that we have a good system across the board," Moses said.

The launch time for Sunday is 7:13 p.m. EDT. The weather forecast calls for a 60 percent chance of acceptable conditions.

Astronaut Mark Polansky will answer our question live from Space on NASA TV

Refer to Polansky Question Picks
Questions 6 & 8 from Room 8, Kelvin Road School...how cool?

STS-127 Space Shuttle Endeavour Launch 11 July 2009

Room 8 wishes the Crew of STS-127 a safe, happy and successful mission. You are in our thoughts and prayers. We hope you all have an exciting journey to Space and return safely back to Earth. God Speed.





STS-127 Mission Overview
The 16-day mission will feature five spacewalks and complete construction of the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency's Kibo laboratory. Astronauts will attach a platform to the outside of the Japanese module that will allow experiments to be exposed to space.
The STS-127 crew members are Commander Mark Polansky, Pilot Doug Hurley and Mission Specialists Dave Wolf, Christopher Cassidy, Tom Marshburn, Tim Kopra and Canadian Space Agency astronaut Julie Payette. Kopra will join the space station crew and replace Japanese astronaut Koichi Wakata. Wakata will return to Earth on Endeavour to conclude a three-month stay at the station.

Read more about Dwarf Planets

Dwarf Planets

Dwarf Planets

 

Why is Pluto not a Planet anymore by Robert Hurt

Astronaut Mark Polansky to answer Room 8’s question in Space

Click on this link NASA link ...scroll to the bottom of the page, under the heading "Polansky Question Picks" click on question number 6 to view Joseph & Shar's question, which will be answered from space, live on NASA Television. Wow! :-)

Space Question for Astronaut Mark Polansky from Kimball & Brooklyn

Astro_Kree >>>Mrs Raman visits Stardome Observatory

Welcome Home Atlantis

Atlantis and the crew of the STS-125 mission landed safely in California at Edwards Air Force Base after completing the Hubble Servicing Mission on Sunday, May 24, 2009. The almost 5.3-million-mile mission included five spacewalks to repair and upgrade the world-famous observatory.
Image Credit: NASA/Carla Thomas

Video Footage

NASA Image Gallery Link:

 

Click on NASA Link, then click Slideshow

Atlantis' journey back home from Hubble repair mission - notice the thin line of Earth's atmosphere glowing in the background...22 May 09

Question for Astronaut Mark Polansky from Marino, Jyris & Karnvir

Follow Astronaut Mark Polansky on Twitter

Space: Key Words

planet - A large object from space that revolves around a star and often has one or more satellites.





moon - A planet's natural satellite.



star - A ball of gas that gives out heat and light.



universe - All of space. Everything.



galaxy - A system of billions of stars and other things.



solar system - A sun that has planets and other things orbiting it.



asteroid - Space objects that are between 1 and 500 kilometres across and that orbit around the sun.



astronaut - A person who goes into space and explores it.



gravity - A force that draws planets and other objects near it.



space shuttle - The rocket that is used to go into space.

Space: Key Questions

These are the questions we have about Space:

Phyllis: How hot is the sun and how big is it?
Shavanah: How long does it take to get to Mars?
Shar: Is there water on Mars?
Chase: How was the black hole made?
Te Kawehau: What is the Milky Way made out of?
Euphrasia: How many galaxies are there?
Karnvir: How many moons are there?
Kimball: Which planet has the most moons?
Quinton: What is the name of the biggest star?
Ariana: Did people live on Mars millions of years ago?
Nikita: What is a comet?
Tyson: What is the biggest star?
Kingi: How was the galaxy formed?
Taylah: How close is the sun to the earth?
Brooklyn: How close is the moon to Earth?
Ben: What is the size of the biggest moon?
Marino: What is the biggest planet?
Jyris: What are meteors?
Joseph: Why do people explore Mars but not other planets?
Kaiya: How do you walk on the moon when there is zero gravity?
Susan: Which planet has the biggest moon?
Memory: Is Pluto a planet?

Term 2 Science Topic: Space - The Solar System

The planets:
My ..............MERCURY
Very.............VENUS
Earthly..........EARTH
Mother...........MARS
Jane.............JUPITER
Seymour..........SATURN
Uses.............URANUS
Nut..............NEPTUNE
Pips.............Pluto (Dwarf Planet)