Post-EVA Operations: Flight Engineer (FE)-5 Mastracchio and FE-3 Hopkins performed nominal post-EVA maintenance on the Extravehicular Mobility Unit (EMU) suits. In addition, samples from the Liquid Cooling and Ventilation Garments (LCVG) were transferred into bags to be returned to the ground for analysis. These samples will support the EMU 3011 water in the vent loop …
USOS Extravehicular Activity (EVA) #25: Michael Hopkins (EV1) and Rick Mastracchio (EV2) performed USOS EVA 25 on December 24, 2013. This EVA was the second of two EVAs to replace the degraded S1 Pump Module (PM) that control External Thermal Control System (ETCS) Loop A with a spare PM. Hopkins attached the four ammonia lines …
US Extravehicular Activity (EVA) 25 Prep: The USOS crew is scheduled for a half-duty day today in advance of tomorrow’s EVA. FE-3 Hopkins and FE-5 Mastracchio continued their preparation for the second Pump Module (PM) Remove and Replace (R&R) EVA, scheduled for Tuesday, December 23. The crew has terminated the battery charging, configured the tools …
Every month we offer a puzzling satellite image here on Earth Matters. Every month someone seems to figure it out quickly. So in December 2013, we threw down the gauntlet. For the first time, we put a false-color image—this swirl of purple and pink—into play. A week later, we have received many thoughtful responses but no […]
Extravehicular Activity (EVA) Mobility Unit (EMU) Resize: Following yesterday’s EVA, the feed water switch on EMU 3010 was inadvertently switched on for 2-3 seconds. EMU suit 3010 has been declared no-go until proper drying can be performed due to concerns of water entering the sublimator. Today, FE-3 Hopkins and FE-5 Mastracchio resized their suits such …
USOS Extravehicular Activity (EVA) #24: Flight Engineer (FE)-5 Mastracchio and FE-3 Hopkins successfully completed a 5 hour and 28 minute EVA. The crew was able to remove the degraded pump module, install the PM jumper and stow the degraded PM on the Payload ORU Accommodation (POA). FE-6 Wakata provided Space Station Remote Manipulator System (SSRMS) …
Extravehicular Activity (EVA) preparation: Flight Engineer (FE)-3 Hopkins, FE-5 Mastracchio, and FE-6 Wakata performed a final tool gather and audit needed for tomorrow’s planned EVA. The crew also reviewed procedures associated with the Ammonia decontamination protocol, EVA timelines, and a briefing package for Long Duration Tie Down Tether (LDTDT) configuration. EVA #24 hatch open is …
External Thermal Control System (ETCS) Loop A Status: All Interface Heat Exchangers (IFHXs) are still bypassed and isolated from ETCS Loop A, resulting in half of the loads in the Node 2, JEM and Columbus modules to remain powered off. Extravehicular (EVA) Preparations: In preparation for Saturday’s planned EVA, Flight Engineer (FE)-5 Mastracchio completed pre-EVA …
A bright fireball event occurred on Dec. 17 at 8:20:40 PM CST. It started out 52 miles above I-24 just south of Manchester, TN and moved to the northwest at 50,000 mph. The all sky camera lost track of it at an altitude of 23 miles just to the northwest of Shelbyville. Below is a …
External Thermal Control System (ETCS) Loop A Status: Following yesterday’s S1-1 MDM software patch, Flight Controllers continued to perform characterization tests on ETCS Loop A to regain fine temperature control of ETCS loop A. The Node 2 Moderate Temperature Loop (MTL) IFHX is still isolated from ETCS Loop A, resulting in half of the loads …
