Mission Control Status Report #2
8 a.m. CDT Friday May 8, 1992
Endeavour and the Intelsat-VI communications satellite are
set to continue their orbital rendezvous dance later this
morning when Intelsat flight controllers perform the second
of three planned burns to lower the satellite's orbit to an
altitude that the shuttle can reach.
The first maneuver took place at 10:44 p.m. CDT Thursday and
successfully lowered the low point of the 300 nautical mile
orbit to 191 nautical miles. The second burn will lower the
high point of the orbit to 223 nautical miles about 8:56 a.m.
CDT.
Endeavour fired its orbital maneuvering system engines
briefly at 11:52 p.m. Thursday to begin its preparations for
an encounter with Intelsat. That burn raised Endeavour's
orbit to 182 by 145 nautical miles.
Endeavour's next burn is scheduled for 3:45 p.m. CDT today,
and is intended to raise its apogee or highest point to 189
nautical miles.
Meanwhile, flight controllers on the ground continued their
overnight planning. Endeavour's crew is scheduled to
depressurize the cabin to 10.2 psi and check out the
space suits in anticipation of the flight day 4 space walk to
grapple Intelsat. The crew also is scheduled to power up the
remote manipulator system robot arm and perform a survey of
the payload bay with the arm's cameras.
All systems aboard the new orbiter are working well, with the
exception of a few minor anomalies. Controllers are checking
the status of one of the avionics bay fans because of a
pressure change reading that is slightly high. The crew
already has performed one in-flight maintenance activity to
check filters, but found no lint that might be clogging the
avionics bay's airways.
The crew was unable to activate one of its onboard personal
computers before going to sleep, but flight controllers have
been working to solve the malfunction and will suggest a
possible solution when the crew awakens.
Endeavour is currently in a 183 by 147 nautical mile orbit,
and Intelsat is in a 304 by 189 nautical mile orbit.
MISSION CONTROL CENTER
Status Report #3
STS-49, May 8, 1992, 6 p.m. CDT Friday
Flight day 2 has proven busy for Endeavour's crew as it prepares
for Sunday's rendezvous, retrieve, repair and reboost of the Intelsat
VI satellite stranded in a useless orbit two years ago.
The final orbit lowering burn of the satellite occurred on time at
about 1:35 CDT this afternoon. The burn put the satellite in an orbit
196 x 191 nautical mile orbit on track to reaching its imaginary
rendezvous control box. One final burn is scheduled for about 3:30
tomorrow morning to refine and circularize the satellite's orbit at
about 197 nm.
While Intelsat headquarters in Washington, D.C., maneuvered its
spacecraft, flight controllers in Houston's Mission Control Center and
the crew aboard Endeavour continued maneuvering of the orbiter to
close the distance between the two spacecraft. The orbiter performed a
14 feet per second burn to raise the high point of its orbit to 189
from 183 nm. The current orbit is 189 x 148 nm. Endeavour's next burn
will slightly lower the low side of the orbit by about one nautical
mile. That burn is scheduled for midnight.
The crew depressurized the cabin atmosphere to 10.2 pounds per square
inch from 14.7 psi in preparation for the spacewalks on Sunday,
Monday and Tuesday. The crew also began unstowing equipment that will
be used for the spacewalks including the four spacesuits tucked in the
airlock. Complete checkout of the suits to make sure they are in
proper working order will take place later this evening.
Endeavour's robot arm was put through a complete checkout to make sure
it is working properly. The arm plays a significant role in all three
planned spacewalks as it will be used to transport astronauts and
payload equipment in and out of the payload bay.
Other activities today including removing a buildup of lint on a mesh
filter screen on one of the tactical air navigation units in the
avionics bay that experienced the higher than normal fan speed. After
clearing the lint, the fan speed appeared to slow down.
Prior to start of the sleep period tonight, Commander Dan Brandenstein
will become the astronaut with the most time in space aboard the Space
Shuttle. Norm Thagard holds the current Shuttle record with 604 hours
45 minutes 6 seconds. Brandenstein began the mission with 575:49:18.
A special visit to the Mission Control Center by His Excellency Leonid
Kravchuk, President of the Ukraine, occurred early this morning. He
spoke briefly with Brandenstein wishing the crew luck on the mission
and a safe return home.
MISSION CONTROL CENTER
Status Report #4
STS-49, May 8, 1992, 11:30 p.m. CDT
Astronauts aboard the Space Shuttle Endeavour spent their first full
day in space conducting key preparations for their feature performance
on Sunday - the capture and repair of the Intelsat VI satellite.
While Intelsat controllers in Washington, D.C. have had great success
in lowering their stranded satellite to the final capture altitude,
Endeavour's relative position and closing rate was also tweaked with a
height adjust maneuver this afternoon. The remainder of the
rendezvous maneuvers prior to the close encounter on Sunday, will
involve small precision burns to enhance lighting condition and
approach angle at the time of capture.
Early in the day the crew depressurized the cabin atmosphere to 10.2
pounds per square inch from 14.7 psi in preparation for the three
spacewalks on Sunday, Monday and Tuesday. This lower cabin pressure
will serve to allow nitrogen in the crew's bloodstream to outgas,
lowering the overall content of nitrogen in their blood. This will
eliminate the need for a lengthy prebreathe of pure oxygen prior to
beginning the space walks. The intent is to eliminate nitrogen which
can expand in bloodstream when the crew is exposed to the decreased
pressure of the suits - about 4.5 ppsi - which could cause the bends.
Using this protocol, each space walker will need to prebreathe in
their suits for only 30-40 minutes.
A complete and thorough checkout of the space walkers' suits was
conducted to make sure they are in proper working order. All four
suits checked out and appear to be in excellent condition.
Endeavour's robot arm was also flexed as mission specialist Bruce
Melnick put it through a complete checkout also. The arm plays a
significant role in all three planned spacewalks as it will be used to
transport astronauts and payload equipment in and out of the payload
bay. The robot arm checked out and is in good shape.
Just prior to sleep tonight, the crew will trim Endeavour's orbital
perigee from 147 to 148 nautical miles to further refine the closing
rate between Endeavour and the Intelsat. Just about the same time,
Brandenstein becomes the astronaut with the most time in space aboard
the Space Shuttle. Norm Thagard held the previous Shuttle record with
604 hours 45 minutes 6 seconds. Brandenstein began the mission with
575:49:18.
MISSION CONTROL CENTER
STS-49 Status Report #5
Saturday, May 9, 1992, 7 a.m. CDT
Planning shift flight controllers continued to review the
activities for Endeavour's third day in orbit, but the team's
duties were light as the newest shuttle in the fleet continues
to perform almost flawlessly.
The crew is scheduled to be awakened about 9:40 a.m. CDT Saturday.
After the crew completes its post-sleep activities, Mission
Specialist Bruce Melnick will power up the robot arm and move it
into position to shoot video of a simultaneous waste and supply
water dump. That activity is scheduled for about 1:25 p.m. CDT.
About 3:12 p.m. CDT, Endeavour's orbital maneuvering engines will
fire to put Endeavour in an orbit proportionally equivalent but
just below that of Intelsat, which is in a 198 by 196 nautical
mile orbit. Endeavour will converge with Intelsat at noon Houston
time Sunday. A plane change maneuver, intended to coordinate the
arrival of both spacecraft at their orbital apogees one hour
before capture, is scheduled for 11:17 p.m. Saturday.
Intelsat flight controllers reported earlier this morning that the
spacecraft's spin had been reduced from 9 to 5 rotations per
minute. A rotation of 0.6 rpm is required for Astronaut Pierre
Thuot to latch onto the Intelsat using a JSC-developed and built
capture bar.
Just before 9 p.m. CDT Saturday, the crew will talk with
Congressman Jim Bacchus and four of the original 7 Mercury
astronauts Sen. John Glenn, Wally Shirra, Scott Carpenter and Alan
Shepard. The Mercury astronauts will be honored at the "Give Kids
the World" annual gala at the Peabody Hotel in Orlando.
MISSION CONTROL CENTER
Status Report #6
STS-49, Saturday, May 9, 1992, 5 p.m. CDT
The Intelsat VI satellite officially reached the center of its
imaginary rendezvous box right on schedule at 4:45 p.m. CDT setting the
stage for tomorrow's rendezvous with Endeavour and crew for the repair
and reboost portion of the mission.
Endeavour performed two burns today to fine tune its orbit to 190 x 187
nautical miles. Following those burns, Endeaavour was closing in on
the satellite at about 75 nautical miles per orbit.
The crew documented a simultaneous supply and waste water dump using
the camera mounted on the robot arm. The water dump was viewed to
verify the performance of the new nozzles.
Just before 9 p.m. CDT, the crew will talk with Congressman Jim
Bacchus and four of the original 7 Mercury astronauts Sen. John Glenn,
Wally Shirra, Scott Carpenter and Alan Shepard. The Mercury astronauts
will be honored at the "Give Kids the World" annual gala at the Peabody
Hotel in Orlando.
Intelsat Headquarters in Washington, D.C., continues to monitor the
health of its satellite reporting all systems remain very stable and
ready to support tomorrow's rendezvous.
MISSION CONTROL CENTER
Status Report #7
STS-49, Saturday, May 9, 1992, 11:30 p.m. CDT
The Intelsat VI satellite reached its rendezvous target right on
schedule today at 4:45 p.m. CDT setting the stage for tomorrow's
rendezvous and repair. Intelsat's rate of rotation has been slowed to
2.33 rpm and satellite nutation (or wobbling) has been reduced from 2
degrees to .3 degrees - an extremely stable state.
Endeavour's crew performed three adjustment maneuvers today to fine-
tune their closing rate on the stranded satellite. Circling Earth in a
nearly identical but lower orbit than that of the Intelsat, Endeavour
is gradually closing the gap by about 80 nautical miles each orbit.
The objective of all remaining maneuvers will be to assure that the
terminal phase maneuver, set for about 2:33 pm central time tomorrow,
will occur at orbital apogee and coincident with orbital noon. This
will be critical in providing Endeavour commander Dan Brandenstein with
the proper lighting conditions for manually flying his ship into
position below the satellite.
Flight controllers in Houston are continually refining their
calculations for the remaining burns, and the start of terminal phase
tomorrow may
be slightly adjusted based on those refinements. But at this point,
the burn is set for 2:33, and changes should not be substantial.
Just before 9 pm central time tonight, the crew spoke with Congressman
Jim Bacchus and five of the original 7 Mercury astronauts. Sen. John
Glenn, Scott Carpenter, Gordon Cooper, Deke Slayton, and Alan Shepard
all spoke with the crew from the Peabody Hotel in Orlando during the
annual "Give Kids the World" gala.
Major activities will begin Sunday morning at 8 am with the final
Intelsat spindown from 2.33 rpm to .65 rpm. At 8:40, the crew will be
awakened. After a couple of small adjustment maneuvers, and Intelsat
systems safing, the final phase will get underway. Spacewalkers Pierre
Thuot and Rick Hieb will emerge from Endeavour's airlock at about 3:33
pm and, if all goes well, Intelsat should be in the grasp of the robot
arm by 5:00.
MISSION CONTROL CENTER
Status Report #9
STS-49, Sunday, May 10, 1992, 8:30 p.m. CDT
Endeavour rendezvoused with the INTELSAT VI communications
satellite early this afternoon, but an attempt by the crew to
capture the free-floating satellite was unsuccessful.
After attempts by spacewalker Pierre Thuot to attach a capture bar
mechanism to the craft, Endeavour backed away to avoid the
spacecraft. The capture attempts had imparted a large wobble to
the INTELSAT that made further attempts unproductive.
After Endeavour reached a safe distance from INTELSAT, the
satellite's controllers in Washington D.C. stabilized the
spacecraft. Endeavour is now continuing to back away from the
INTELSAT at about 5 nautical miles per orbit, and flight
controllers and mission control are comparing notes as they plan a
second attempt to grasp the stranded INTELSAT tomorrow.
A description of the day's activities by the Endeavour crew is
expected later this evening as they show videotape of the attempts
to flight controllers.
Endeavour and INTELSAT remain in good health, with all systems
working well aboard both spacecraft.
From: yee@trident.arc.nasa.gov (Peter E. Yee)
Date: Sun, 17 May 1992 05:34:02 GMT
Organization: NASA Ames Research Center, Moffett Field, CA
Message-ID: <1992May17.053402.1851@news.arc.nasa.gov>
Newsgroups: sci.space.news
MISSION CONTROL STATUS
STS-49 Status Report #17
May 14, 1992, 1 a.m. CDT
Intelsat 6 is on its way.
Following the longest spacewalk in the history of the U.S. space
program--and the 100th EVA in the history of manned space flight-
-Endeavour astronauts and flight controllers on Earth were able
to celebrate the successful retrieval, repair and deploy of the
wayward communications satellite.
The EVA, which lasted 8 hours and 29 minutes, eclipsed the
previous all time record, set on the Apollo 17 flight back in
1972. That EVA record, held by Eugene Cernan and Harrison
Schmitt, was 7 hours 37 minutes.
The deploy of Intelsat now sets the stage for the firing of its
new perigee kick motor tomorrow and its eventual arrival at
geosynchronous Earth orbit--almost two years late but by all
indications none the worse for wear.
Meanwhile, mission managers decided to extend the mission by one
extra day to allow for a fourth spacewalk on Thursday to practice
space station assembly techniques, followed by a leisurely day on
Friday in preparation for a landing Saturday afternoon.
--- Squish v1.00
* Origin: Casino & Micro Maniacs Combo (2:220/801.801)
From: yee@trident.arc.nasa.gov (Peter E. Yee)
Date: Sun, 17 May 1992 05:35:04 GMT
Organization: NASA Ames Research Center, Moffett Field, CA
Message-ID: <1992May17.053504.2137@news.arc.nasa.gov>
Newsgroups: sci.space.news
MISSION CONTROL STATUS
STS-49 Status Report #19
5 p.m. Thursday, May 14, 1992 CST
Spacewalking astronauts Kathy Thornton and Tom Akers stepped outside
the orbiter's airlock shortly after 4 p.m. CDT to conduct a series of
tests and evaluations to aid in the verification and planning of
procedures that may be required during the Space Station Freedom era
later this decade.
The two astronautss will finish constructing the ASEM truss that was
partially built Wednesday to support the Intelsat capture and also
will test mass-handling techniques with the Multi Purpose Experiment
Support Structure in the payload bay and over the nose of the orbiter
where Space Station Freedom assembly will take place.
Later today during the spacewalk, Thornton and Akers will test three
of the five crew self rescue systems planned for evaluation on the
mission: the crew propulsive device, the bistem pole and the
inflatable pole.
The spacewalk began at 4:10 p.m., but an alarm on Thornton's suit
required her returning to the airlock for attachment to the service
and cooling umbilical until flight controllers in Mission Control
could evaluate the problem.
Once all were satisfied that the suit was working properly, she was
allowed to disconnect from the umbilical and continue with the tasks
assigned.
--- Squish v1.00
* Origin: Casino & Micro Maniacs Combo (2:220/801.801)
MISSION CONTROL STATUS
STS-49 Status Report #20
May 14, 1992, 11 p.m. Thursday CDT
Endeavour astronaut Kathy Thornton set a new standard for space walking
women today as she and Tom Akers worked outside their space ship to
test and evaluate procedures that could apply to the assembly of the
Space Station Freedom within the next five years. The unprecedented
fourth "EVA" of the mission lasted 7 hours and 45 minutes - the second
longest American space walk and more than twice as long as the 1984
walks of U.S. astronaut Kathy Sullivan and Russian cosmonaut Svetlana
Savitskaya - the only other women to have ever walked in space.
Akers and Thornton completed a pyramid-shaped structure intended to
emulate a Space Station truss and then docked it to a pallet on the end
of Endeavour's robot arm - simulating the installation of crew module
nodes to station truss structures.
One of the key elements of the evaluations was to quantify the
logistics, workload, and timing of specific assembly sequences. The
progress of the demonstrations was slower than the timelines developed
on the ground and based on underwater training, pointing to the real
need for the evaluation of assembly concepts in orbit before Space
Station Freedom construction begins.
Earlier today, the Intelsat control team fired the perigee kick motor
which was installed on their satellite by Endeavour spacewalkers Pierre
Thuot and Rick Hieb. The firing was successful, and the Intelsat VI
satellite in excellent health.
The Endeavour crew will start their sleep shift tonight at 1:40 am
central time and will be awakened at 9:40 am Friday morning. Friday's
activities will consist, primarily, of preparations for a landing at
Edwards Air Force Base in California on Saturday at 3:57 pm central
time. In addition, a crew press conference is planned for Friday
afternoon at 3:17 pm central time.
MISSION CONTROL STATUS
STS-49 Status Report #22
May 15, 1992, 3:30 p.m. Friday, CDT
Endeavour and its crew of seven sailed into the ninth day of the
mission by preparing orbiter systems for the trip home Saturday
afternoon.
The checkout of the flight control surfaces for entry and landing went
well with no problems identified. Checkout of the redundant nosewheel
steering system also was performed without incident.
One of the reaction control system jets failed because of a small leak
in its oxidizer system during the hotfire checkout of the thrusters,
but poses no impact to the entry phase of landing.
While the orbiter systems were checked out, crew members on the middeck
stowed the four spacesuits back in the airlock for the trip home.
In Mission Control, entry flight controllers worked any changes
necessary for Saturday's landing and received a complete weather
briefing from the Spaceflight Meteorology Group at the Johnson Space
Center.
The weather forecast for a landing at Edwards AFB on orbit 141 at 1:57
p.m. PDT remains favorable, but winds are expected to increase for the
two later landing opportunities.
Weather conditions at the Kennedy Space Center in Florida are marginal
for the first landing opportunity at that site, but are expected to
improve for the second at 6:43 p.m. EDT on orbit 142.
The weather conditions for Sunday and Monday at both Edwards and KSC
currently are expected to be unstable due to a cold front moving into
the southern California area increasing the possibility of high winds
and a tropical wave in the KSC area that could bring rain to the
vicinity.
Later today cabin stowage will be completed before going to bed at
11:40 CDT tonight.
Intelsat headquarters in Washington, D.C., reports that the Intelsat VI
satellite is in a 40,600 x 195 nautical mile orbit following the first
burn of its onboard liquid apogee motor. Sunday and Wednesday the
satellite will commanded to fire the motor again to raise the low end
of the orbit up to 22,000 miles.
Thursday the motor will fire once again to lower the apogee or high
point of the orbit to circularize the orbit at 22,300 miles. Friday
the antenna will be deployed putting the satellite in the proper
operating configuration.
MISSION CONTROL STATUS
STS-49 Status Report #23
May 15, 1992, 10:00 p.m. Friday CDT
The crew of Endeavour spent their last full day in orbit preparing
their spacecraft for the hour-long journey back to Earth tomorrow.
The key activities of the day included a detailed checkout of
Endeavour's flight control surfaces, checkout of a new backup nosewheel
steering system, and a brief firing of the attitude control thrusters.
All went smoothly with the exception that one of those thrusters
developed a small leak after firing. After the system thermally
restabilized, the leak cleared up and is not considered a factor for
entry and landing.
Weather predictions for landing at Edwards AFB tomorrow are currently
favorable for the first opportunity at 3:57 p.m. central time. Winds
are expected to pick up there later in the day which could hinder two
later landing opportunities. Weather at the Kennedy Space Center
landing site in Florida is expected to be marginal tomorrow afternoon
but could improve for a later landing opportunity there at 5:43 p.m.
CDT, should California winds not cooperate.
Weather for Sunday and Monday at both sites is expected to be less
favorable. Edwards could be effected by a cold front moving into the
southern California area, and KSC by a tropical wave that could bring
rain to the area.
At Intelsat headquarters in Washington, D.C., work to position the
Intelsat VI satellite in it's operational orbit continues to go well.
Early next week, the satellite's orbit will be circularized at
geostationary altitude - 22,300 miles.
The Endeavour crew will head for bed at 11:40 pm tonight and will be
awakened to prepare for the journey home at 7:40 am tomorrow. Assuming
a landing at Edwards at 3:58 pm central time, the crew is expected to
arrive home in Houston, at Ellington Field, at about 3 pm Sunday.
MISSION CONTROL STATUS
STS-49 Status Report #24
Saturday, May 16, 1992, 8 a.m. CDT
The crew of Endeavour will end a full eight-hour sleep shift at
7:40 a.m. CDT and begin making final preparations for the journey
back to Earth today.
Weather predictions for landing at Edwards AFB are favorable for
the first opportunity at 3:57 p.m. CDT. Winds are expected to
pick up there later in the day, which could hinder two later
landing opportunities. Edwards runway 22 is prime. The crew is
scheduled to begin preparations for deorbit at 10:52 a.m. CDT.
There are two Kennedy Space Center landing opportunities today,
and weather is more favorable for the latter, about 5:43 p.m. CDT.
Weather for Sunday and Monday at both sites is expected to be less
favorable.
A detailed checkout of Endeavour's flight control surfaces, a new
backup nosewheel steering system, and a brief firing of the
attitude control thrusters that will be used during landing all
went smoothly Friday. The only exception was one thruster that
developed a small leak after firing. After the system thermally
restabilized, the leak cleared up and is not considered a factor
for entry and landing.
At Intelsat headquarters in Washington, DC, work to position the
Intelsat VI satellite in it's operational orbit continues to go
well. Sunday through Wednesday maneuvering burns will circularize
the satellite's orbit at geostationary altitude - 22,300 miles.
Assuming a landing at Edwards at 3:57 p.m. CDT, the crew is
expected to arrive home in Houston, at Ellington Field, about
3 p.m. Sunday.