February 2004
ARSM-2 "Go for Launch""
Posted Wednesday, February 25, 2004
Unmanned Space Flight Director Neal Pizik reports no delays for the March 1st launch of the second Apollo Resupply Mission, ARSM-2. "All systems are go and I know we will have another successful mission," Pizik told reporters.
The Saturn IB rocket carrying the resupply segment has completed its long journey to Launch Complex 34 and is in final preparations prior to launch. The mission will bring much needed supplies to the SimNASA SkyLab-Columbia Space Station, which will allow the station crew to continue in their mission. The current mission crew (SCSS-2) has just passed the eighty-day mark, while the Space Station has been in orbit for a total of 350 days.
- Reporting for SimNASA: Mike Caruso, Public Affairs Officer,
Modules Attached to SCSS
Posted Monday, February 23, 2004
With some corrections, the Science and airlock modules delivered by STS-3 "Dawn Trader" are now reported as hard docked and hard latch engaged. The problem previously reported stemmed from an awkward Shuttle positioning causing the Shuttle RMS arm to twist to attempt to move the modules into position. Moving the Shuttle to a temporary new location more suitable to the RMS arm eased the installation for STS-3 CDR Chris Keever.
The new modules were put through three press/depress cycles to check for leaks or other hull compromises. The first cycle brought the airlock to 16.2 PSI with a humidity level of 45% - all within nominal limits. Camera scans showed no vapor espace over a ten minute period. Cycles two and three also showed no atmospheric fluctuations during their one-hour cycles. Following the module tests, SCSS CDR. Chuck Boudreaux declared the modules as operational and cleared the STS-3 for departure. "Thanks to the crew of ST3-3 for their help and delivery of the new station components and commodities - they were much appreciated," Boudreaux radioed to the Shuttle crew.
The crew of the space station will perform one spacewalk to externally inspect the new modules. STS-3 has undocked from the station, but is station-keeping a short distance away before the scheduled daylight landing at Kennedy Space Center.
- Reporting for SimNASA: Mike Caruso, Public Affairs Officer,
SimNASA Fly-In Tonight
Posted Friday, February 20, 2004
SimNASA is hosting a fly-in at Cleveland-Hopkins (KCLE) tonight, February 20 at 1900 PT / 0300 UTC on the Flight Project International network (FPI) to celebrate the first American to orbit the Earth. John Glenn was born in Cambridge, Ohio, just south of Cleveland. All pilots are welcome to join in, flying any aircraft in which they have qualified. ATC will once again be provided by Troy J. on the FPI network.
Troy reports that pilots can download the current Charts/Approach plates for KCLE at:
http://www.myairplane.com
For this event, depending on weather and level of traffic in the area, all pilots should expect vectors to active runways - depending upon aircraft type and the flight rules in effect.
Frequencies of Interest:
KZOB_CTR: 134.900MHz
KCLE
ATIS ARR..........127.850
DEPARTURE......132.375
TOWER.............120.900
GROUND...........121.700
DELIVERY.........125.05
These frequencies will be in effect only if ATC is manned for those above positions.
Runway Statistics:
ILS CAT II/III: 6R only
ILS CAT I : 6R/L; 24R/L; 28
RNAV/GPS : All rwys
Runway Phyisical Properties:
RWY ELEV Length x Width
6R 768 8999 x 150'
6C 770 7096 x 150'
6L 774 6800 x 150'
10 763 6017 x 150'
24R 782 6800 x 150'
24C 784 7096 x 150'
24L 786 8999 x 150'
28 792 6017 x 150'
Please note: If Traffic becomes heavy at KCLE during the fly-in, one should expect taxiway instructions to West Side Cargo Ramp (twy B).
For missed approach or GO/Around; climb/maintain 3000' and expect vectors to VOR DJB (South/West bound Traffic) or PASLE WP (North/East bound Traffic)
For outbound flights: Pilots should expect established departure routes for assigned runway.
Following the fly-in, all pilots are welcome to stay and participate in the discussions regarding aviation, aerospace, as well as getting to know your fellow pilots.
Thanks to Ian Walkeden and Troy Jensen for organizing this event and providing the above information.
- Reporting for SimNASA: Mike Caruso, Public Affairs Officer,
STS-3 Reports Science Module Troubles
Posted Thursday, February 19, 2004
STS-3 CDR Chris Keever has reported problems with the attachment of the new Science and airlock modules to the SkyLab-Columbia Space Station. Although details as to the cause of the trouble is not fully known, the current space station crew has been alerted and is preparing a set of spacewalks to resolve the situation and complete the module attachment.
STS-3 "Dawn Trader" is scheduled to return this Saturday to the Kennedy Space Center, but the return may be delayed if this situation is not rectified soon.
- Reporting for SimNASA: Mike Caruso, Public Affairs Officer,
STS-3 Docked to SCSS
Posted Thursday, February 12, 2004
STS-3 CDR Chris Keever and PLT Ibrahima Diallo report a successful soft and hard dock of the Shuttle "Dawn Trader" with the SkyLab-Columbia Space Station. Although the launch did have its share of problems when the External Tank would not separate initially, the Shuttle and ground crews were able to solve the situation before the mission was in serious jeopardy. The cause of the problem has not fully been identified.
"Within approximately one orbit we where close enough to Skylab-Columbia to make the first insertion orbit burn and within following another half orbit we made the second insertion burn, bringing our approach to Skylab-Columbia from 1000 km/sec to just under 300 km/sec. We were later able to make a smooth approach to Skylab-Columbia and docked at 1158UT," CDR Keever reported.
The crew is expected to begin moving the Shuttle payload - the new Science Module - later today.
- Reporting for SimNASA: Mike Caruso, Public Affairs Officer,
Bill is Back!
Posted Wednesday, February 11, 2004
This morning, Administrator Brad Hodges welcomed Bill Mullins back to SimNASA. Mullins, who previously led the Fleet & Facilities Division and later became a member of the Executive Committee, left SimNASA for personal reasons. Bill Mullins is currently temporarily assigned to the Research & Development Division, and has again become a member of the Executive Board.
Please join the SimNASA Staff in welcoming Bill Mullins back to SimNASA!
- Reporting for SimNASA: Mike Caruso, Public Affairs Officer,
STS-3 Finally Launches
Posted Tuesday, February 10, 2004
STS-3 "Dawn Trader" successfully lifted off yesterday and is enroute to the SkyLab-Columbia Space Station. The mission of STS-3 is to delvier the newly constructed Science Module, which will enable expanded scientific capabilities aboard the station.
Instrument failures and communication problems delayed the launch for several days, which was originally scheduled to launch last Friday. CDR. Keever reports no problems now aboard Dawn Trader, and should report a safe docking with the station soon.
- Reporting for SimNASA: Mike Caruso, Public Affairs Officer,
A Rush of Streamlining Changes
Posted Saturday, February 7, 2004
In order to increase efficiency and productivity, SimNASA Administrator Brad Hodges shall soon announce "some significant changes" in the organizational structure. "We are going to begin to streamline a number of areas and finally get some programs online that have been waiting for over a year and half," Hodges claimed this afternoon.
In a related story, there will soon be a purge of the forum names. SimNASA regulations state that all forum names are to be based upon the actual name of the member, and not a nickname or "pseudo-name". Forum accounts not following this rule shall be deleted and the email address banned.
- Reporting for SimNASA: Mike Caruso, Public Affairs Officer,
STS-3 Scrubbed, Next Attempt Tomorrow"
Posted Friday, February 6, 2004
The SimNASA Manned Space Flight Division announced that the launch of STS-3 has been scrubbed. At a countdown time of 1:50:00 complications arose when during normal checklist the IMU Platform did not position correctly and the Gyrocompass did not align. The launch has been pushed back to tomorrow.
- Reporting for SimNASA: Mike Caruso, Public Affairs Officer,
STS-3 Launch Just Two Days Away
Posted Tuesday, February 3, 2004
While the Unmanned Space Flight Division has been busy with the surface of Mars, the Manned Space Flight Division is in final preparations for its launch in approximately two days.
STS-3 will use the Shuttle "Dawn Trader" to launch from Launch Complex 39A in order to deliver the science module to the SkyLab-Columbia Space Station (SCSS). The newly constructed science module will allow more complex experimentation aboard the station.
CDR Chris Keever and PLT Ibrahima Diallo are reported to be "ready and fully prepared to complete their mission with due diligence."
- Reporting for SimNASA: Mike Caruso, Public Affairs Officer,
MER Program "A Success"!"
Posted Tuesday, February 3, 2004
Both MER-A "Spirit" and MER-B "Opportunity" have been deemed successful missions, according to the SimNASA administration and the Unmanned Space Flight Division.
"The landing site of our Opportunity mission was off from that of the NASA Opportunity. NASA's site was 354 degrees East and 3.03 degrees South. We landed to the west and south of that position. However, our Spirit mission was excellent, and not too far off at all from that of NASA," claimed Neal Pizik, Director of the SimNASA Unmanned Space Flight Division.
Once the SimNASA MER rovers left their respective landing pads upon the surface of Mars, they began to study the Red Planet by using a variety of onboard instruments. Microscopes, cameras, a rock abrasion tool, and a spectrometer all encompass the package necessary to study the formation, compostion, and history of Mars.
The data has been streaming to SimNASA for further study. See the "Mars Rovers" section of the website for pictures and additional information on this historic SimNASA mission.
- Reporting for SimNASA: Mike Caruso, Public Affairs Officer,
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