December 2004
STS-6 to Launch on January 7
Posted Friday, December 31, 2004
The first launch for SimNASA of 2005 will be the STS-6 mission scheduled for January 7th. Shuttle "Dawn Trader", already in place on the launch pad, and her crew shall deliver and properly attach a fuel module to the Lunar Orbiting Logistical Station (LOLS). This mission is necessary in order to prepare the LOLS for its journey to the Moon. Currently, this station is docked to the SimNASA SkyLab-Columbia Space Station (SCSS) until fully assembled.
Administrator Brad Hodges shall fill in for CDR Brian Lang, which gives Hodges an opportunity to inspect the SCSS during his brief stay.
- Reporting for SimNASA: Mike Caruso, Public Affairs Officer,
AFD now officially open
Posted Tuesday, December 28, 2004
The Atmospheric Flight Division officially opened as promised on December 25, 2004. Qualified pilots may now apply directly for a position within AFD. To qualify pilots must meet the following criteria:
Completion of introductory flight training.
Completion of MSF/USF training.
Successful completion of a Long Duration Mission (LDM).
Have been award at least the Mission Specialist rating in MSF.
Use Flight Simulator 2002 and above.
Have 50 or more Flight Hours.
Pilots can currently apply for the Test Pilot Program with the Flight Service Program becoming available sometime in the first quarter of 2005.
To apply for AFD members will need to complete an application. The application is available through the navigation menu either through division links or pilot services.
Questions about the AFD program should be address to the AFD Director Dr. Robert Foster."
Splashdown! AESC-2 & SCSS-4 Safe
Posted Thursday, December 23, 2004
AESC-3 CDR Neal Pizik reports another successful mission completed for SimNASA. CDR Pizik delivered the SCSS-5 crew via the AESC-3 capsule last Sunday. After three days, Pizik began the return process when he then piloted the previous AESC-2 capsule to safely return the SCSS-4 crew to Earth.
AESC-2 was undocked from the space station on December 22 at 1900 UT. The first burn occurred at 1930 UT to lower the AESC-2 orbit, followed by a sceond burn at 2015 UT to stabilize this new lower orbit. There was then a prolonged rest period until today, when the main engines were fired for deorbit at 1100 UT.
Splashdown occurred almost two hours later, at 1243 UT, fifty-eight miles north by northeast of the Turks Islands, part of the West Indies, in the Atlantic Ocean. The astronauts were picked up by a recovery ship and are now on their way back to the Cape.
- Reporting for SimNASA: Mike Caruso, Public Affairs Officer,
AESC-3 Launch Successful
Posted Sunday, December 19, 2004
The third SimNASA Apollo Escape Capsule (AESC-3) mission lifted off from Launch Complex 34B today at 03:33:52 UT. "The launch was perfect, no flaws to report," stated CDR Neal Pizik.
AESC-3 completed its final alignment burn at 07:02 UT. Three and a half hours later, the capsule reached the SkyLab-Columbia Space Station (SCSS) and shortly after ward achieved hard dock at 11:18 UT.
"Neal - Excellent work!" Administrator Brad Hodges replied from Ground Control - just after the docking occurred.
The SCSS-5 crew has now exited the capsule and is undergoing the transfer of operation of the station from the SCSS-4 crew. The SCSS-4 crew will travel back to Earth with CDR Pizik aboard the previous AESC-2 capsule no earlier than December 21. The SCSS-5 crew, consisting of: CDR Brian Lang, MS Ronald Freudenthal, MS Jason Hyatt, MS Luis Afonso, and MS Frank Inklaar will now continue their Mission Specialist Training.
The SCSS-4 crew: CDR Sergej Puksic, Acting CDR Jose Rodriguez, MS Craig Trudell, MS Miguel Villamor, MS Richard Douglas, and MS Telmo Nobre will have the option - upon return to the Earth - to either stay with the Manned Space Flight Division or to join the Atmospheric Flight Division and become a SimNASA Test Pilot or Flight Services Pilot.
- Reporting for SimNASA: Mike Caruso, Public Affairs Officer,
AESC-3 Set for Sunday Launch
Posted Thursday, December 16, 2004
Assembly of the AESC-3 mission stack has been completed at Launch Complex 34 and in now undergoing final checks before its launch this Sunday. During this mission, CDR. Neal Pizik shall deliver the new replacment Apollo Escape Capsule to the SkyLab-Columbia Space Station (SCSS), as well as the fifth station crew, SCSS-5. CDR Pizik will then use the currently station-docked AESC-2 capsule to return to Earth with the SCSS-4 crew.
- Reporting for SimNASA: Mike Caruso, Public Affairs Officer,
AFD to Officially Open December 25th
Posted Monday, December 13, 2004
Today, SimNASA Administrator Brad Hodges and Atmospheric Flight Division Director Dr. Robert A. Foster announced the long-awaited Atmospheric Flight Division will officially open on December 25th. Any pilot who has completed the initial training phase (Basic Training as well as the Introduction to Manned Space Flight and Unmanned Space Flight) is eligible for entry into the AFD Test Pilot Training program. In January, AFD will broaden its score when it will open the Flight Service program, which will allow any pilot that has completed the training to fly SimNASA administrative, scientific, and research flights using a wide variety of aircraft. These Flight Service flights also shall be available to those in MSF or USF as well, as one does not have to be a member of AFD to fly these missions. In addition, it is planned by June 2005 to have opened the Weather Research flight division under AFD.
For more information please contact Dr. Robert Foster, Director of AFD.
- Reporting for SimNASA: Mike Caruso, Public Affairs Officer,
GLOB-1 Successfully Lifts-Off & Deploys
Posted Sunday, December 12, 2004
The second launch attempt of the GLOB-1 mission, "Peace in Space", proved to be successful, when the Saturn IB rose from Launch Complex 34 today at 1800 UT. The entire mission plan was followed with only minor communication and guidance errors. The necessity of a launch today was imperative, as a delay during the full SimNASA launch schedule would not allow for any other attempts until 2005.
Having achieved a proper orbit, the GLOB-1 satellite was deployed at 2010 UT. First communication with the satellite occurred twenty minutes later. The remaining upper stage of the Saturn rocket was allowed to safely deorbit and burn the Earth's atmosphere a few hours afterward.
Now in position in low Earth orbit, the GLOB-1 satellite shall image the effect of global warming on different tropical areas.
GLOB-1 deployed and in position:
The GLOB-1 Team:
Team Leader - MS Telmo Nobre
Primary Controller - MS Richard Douglas
Primary Communications Controller - MS Craig Trudell
Secondary Communications Controllers - MS Miguel Villamor, MS Preston Barttlet, and MS Jose A. Rodriguez
Acting Commander - MS Jose A. Rodriguez
Mission Commander - MS Sergej Puksic
Check for mission screenshots and additional information coming soon on the Current Launch Information section of the website, as well as the Unmanned Space Flight pages. With the GLOB-1 launch complete, Launch Complex 39A is now ready for construction of the Saturn stack for the AESC-3 mission, which is set for a December 19 launch. A great job by the entire team!
- Reporting for SimNASA: Mike Caruso, Public Affairs Officer,
"Return to Moon" Pages Officially Open"
Posted Saturday, December 11, 2004
Now, anyone can easily access to the "Return to Moon" portion of the SimNASA website by clicking the button found on our home page. Currently, only the overview pages are available, but additional maaterial shall appear as the missions develop. This overview gives a great look at what SimNASA plans to accomplish during these daunting tasks.
- Reporting for SimNASA: Mike Caruso, Public Affairs Officer,
AESC-2 Moved for AESC-3
Posted Thursday, December 9, 2004
The fourth and current SkyLab-Columbia Space Station crew, SCSS-4, has been busy preparing for their return to Earth. Unfortunately, SCSS-4 CDR. Sergej Puksic has become ill. Jose Rodriguez has been appointed Acting Commander for the duration of this mission.
The older AESC-2 capsule was moved today at 0800 UT. Although he was ill, Sergej Puksic took the initiative to move the capsule to Port 1 of the SCSS. The move was necessary in order to make room for the upgraded capsule, AESC-3, which is to arrive later this month.
AESC-2 at Port 1 of SCSS:
- Reporting for SimNASA: Mike Caruso, Public Affairs Officer,
GLOB-1 Rescheduled for December 12
Posted Wednesday, December 8, 2004
With the communication and guidance problems now repaired, the delayed GLOB-1 mission launch has been rescheduled for December 12 at 1800 UT. The crew assigned to this managing this unmanned mission are reportedly excited to complete this mission successfully.
The AESC-3 mission, therefore, has been postponed to December 19.
- Reporting for SimNASA: Mike Caruso, Public Affairs Officer,
GLOB-1 Launch Delayed
Posted Monday, December 6, 2004
The GLOB-1 launch, originally set for December 5, was unable to launch, "due to problems found in the guidance and communication systems of the craft". A new launch time has not been set.
This delay could cause the GLOB-1 mission to be delayed until late December or early January, as the upcoming AESC-3 mission will require the same Launch Complex as the GLOB-1 mission. The current AESC-2 is reaching the end of its service life and needs to be replaced. Launch Complex 34 is currently the only pad situated for Saturn IB use.
- Reporting for SimNASA: Mike Caruso, Public Affairs Officer,
First RTM Launch Successful
Posted Monday, December 6, 2004
This weekend marked the beginning of the SimNASA "Return to Moon" (RTM) missions, which the successful launch of the Lunar Orbiting Logistical Station (LOLS). The unmanned launch occurred at 04:08:17 UT on December 5 with the Saturn IV-B stage shutdown soon afterward at 04:22:51 UT.
On December 6, the LOLS rendezvoused with the SkyLab-Columbia Space Station, achieving harddock at 09:12:34 UT with the station's docking wing, Port 6. All systems are reported to be nominal.
A short clip of this night launch can be found at:
Movie of LOLS launch
A great job by the RTM Team!
- Reporting for SimNASA: Mike Caruso, Public Affairs Officer,
Double Launch Dec 5 - LOLS & GLOB-1
Posted Wednesday, December 1, 2004
"December 5th is going to be a busy day for SimNASA!" claimed Administrator Brad Hodges in a press conference this morning. This is a valid claim since SimNASA will have two launches, one in the morning and another in the afternoon.
The first launch is the beginning of the SimNASA "Return to Moon" (RTM) missions. At 04:08 UT, a Saturn V will launch in order to deliver the Lunar Orbiting Logistical Station (LOLS). This will temporarily dock with the currently orbiting SkyLab-Columbia Space Station (SCSS) for final preparation before delivery to Lunar orbit. Once in place, the LOLS shall serve as a platform for additional hardware to be brought to the surface of the Moon for construction of the MoonBase. In addition, the first TUG, "Armstrong", will be part of this launch for future delivery to the Moon.
Later that same day, the GLOB-1 satellite shall be launched at 15:00 UT. This satellite will not only take images from low Earth orbit in order to help study the effect of global warming on different tropical areas of the Earth, but also serve as a training mission for our Unmanned Spaceflight Division.
- Reporting for SimNASA: Mike Caruso, Public Affairs Officer,
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