The Soil Moisture Active Passive (SMAP) mission is one step closer to launch. On January 28, the mobile service tower (top) rolled back to reveal the Delta II rocket (second image). Liftoff of the Delta II rocket and its satellite cargo is targeted for launch from Vandenberg’s Space Launch Complex 2 at 6:20 a.m. PST […]
Countdown Coverage Begins at 7 a.m. EST
Join us for continuous countdown coverage Thursday morning beginning at 7 a.m. EST. Liftoff of NASA’s SMAP spacecraft aboard a United Launch Alliance Delta II rocket is scheduled for 9:20 a.m. from Vandenberg Air Force Base in California. In the meantime, visit this page for in-person viewing information, and check out our new video highlighting …
Robonaut’s Legs Powered Up, Station Lowers Orbit
The Expedition 42 crew worked Wednesday with fruit flies, a humanoid robot and a Dragon spacecraft. Also, Europe’s Automated Transfer Vehicle-5 fired its engines for nearly five minutes, slightly lowering the station’s orbit to prepare for an upcoming ISS Progress 58 resupply mission. Commander Barry Wilmore and Italian astronaut Samantha Cristoforetti packed gear inside the …
ISS Daily Summary Report – 01/28/15
Sally RideEarth Knowledge Acquired by Middle School Students (Sally Ride EarthKAM): Samokutyaev installed the 180 mm lens on the EarthKam and continued with the week long imaging session. Not everyone can go to space, but everyone can see Earth from an astronaut’s perspective with the Sally Ride EarthKAM program. Thousands of students can remotely control …
SMAP Set to Investigate Earth
SMAP is ready to go! The Soil Moisture Active Passive (SMAP) mission, which will map the water content of soils worldwide, passed its “launch readiness review” on January 27. There is also a favorable weather forecast for a launch on January 29. So the SMAP team is ready. “It has reached the point where it’s an […]
Launch Readiness Review Clears SMAP for Launch
Managers from NASA and United Launch Alliance (ULA) met Tuesday at Vandenberg Air Force Base in California to assess the status of NASA’s Soil Moisture Active Passive (SMAP) spacecraft and the ULA Delta II rocket that will boost SMAP into space. At the conclusion of the Launch Vehicle Readiness Review, a poll was taken and …
SMAP and Delta II Prepared for Flight
NASA’s Soil Moisture Active Passive (SMAP) spacecraft will be boosted into orbit aboard a United Launch Alliance Delta II rocket from Vandenberg Air Force Base in California. Learn how SMAP and the Delta II were readied for liftoff.
ISS Daily Summary Report – 01/27/15
Loss of Port Thermal Radiator (PTR) Multiplexer/Demultiplexer (MDM): This morning, there was a loss of the PTR MDM. This MDM controls and provides insight to the Radiator Beam Valve Module (RBVM) system on External Thermal Control System (ETCS) Loop B. This afternoon, flight controllers downlinked and analyzed supplementary telemetry then reinitialized the MDM without issue. …
Virts and Wilmore Preparing for Trio of Spacewalks
NASA astronauts Terry Virts and Barry Wilmore are getting a pair of U.S. spacesuits ready for a set of spacewalks beginning in February. Throughout Tuesday in the Quest airlock, they recharged suit batteries and checked out fans and other suit components. Virts also joined Italian astronaut Samantha Cristoforetti transferring cargo to and from the SpaceX …
SMAP Launch Weather Forecast 80 Percent ‘Go’
Weather forecasters from the U.S. Air Force 30th Weather Squadron are predicting an 80 percent chance of favorable weather for launch of NASA’s SMAP observatory aboard a United Launch Alliance Delta II rocket. Liftoff from Vandenberg Air Force Base in California is targeted for 9:20 a.m. EST on Thursday, Jan. 29 at the opening of …