August 2006
Magellan lands, Freedom prepares
Posted Thursday, August 31, 2006
Tuesday morning STS-17 pilot Craig Trudell landed "Magellan" on runway 22 at Edwards Air Force Base bring to an end the last crew transfer flight for the aging Shuttle Transport System.
The crew of SCSS-7 commanded by Jose Rodriguez was returned to Earth after spending over 6 months aloft in the orbiting space station. During the past six months the crew of SCSS-7 completed requirements for there long duration mission in addition to seeing a period of intense activity while SimNASA test flights new space hardware for future space exploration missions.
While Magellan landed at Edwards, technicians at Kennedy Space Center prepared STS-18 "Freedom" for roll out on Friday morning to launch complex 39A.
"The shuttle era is coming to a quick close." Brad Hodges, Administrator of SimNASA told a group of reporters. "It is our hope in the next few months to see the successful deployment of the next generation of spacecraft." Hodges who is now commanding the current crew aboard the Skylab Columbia Space Station is expected to remain space bound until the end of February next year.
Launch of STS-18 is expected in mid-September and is schedule to last about 14 days. The primary mission of STS-18 is to place two Pressurized Matting Adapters (PMA's) to SCSS. Landing for STS-18 is also expected at Edwards Air Force Base.
STS-17 Launches, Docks with SCSS
Posted Sunday, August 27, 2006
STS-17 "Magellan" sucessfully launched today from SimNASA Launch Complex 39A. Aboard, CDR Brian Lang and PLT Craig Trudell report no problems with the launch, which occurred at 10:50:00 UT. Main engine cut-off was reported at 11:04:24 UT, achieving a 248.9 x 56.06 kilometer orbit, with external tank separation 9 minutes later.
Later, the cargo bay doors were opened, and the radiators and ku band antenna was deployed. Following an OMS burn, a 244.8 x 255.0 kilometer orbit was achieved. STS-17 then continued its progress towards the SkyLab-Columbia Space Station (SCSS), with which it docked today at 21:56:20 UT.
STS-17 shall conduct a SCSS crew swap, delivering SCSS-9, and returning SCSS-8. This shall be the final mission for "Magellan".
- Reporting for SimNASA: Mike Caruso, Public Affairs Officer
STS-17/SCSS-9 poised for launch
Posted Saturday, August 26, 2006
The crews of STS-17 and SCSS-9 are posied for a dawn launch tomorrow at Kennedy Space Center launch complex 39A. Launch is scheduled to occur at 10:50:00 UT.
Weather for tomorrows launch calls for partly cloudy skies at the time of launch. Thunderstorms has blanked the space complex in the late afternoon and evening hours over the past several days. Forecasters are also keeping an eye out on Tropical Storm Ernesto, but indications currently show the storm will have little effect on launch conditions.
This is the second to last flight of the Shuttle Fleet. The primary mission of STS-17 is to deliever the SCSS-9 crew to the station and return SCSS-8.
Launch will be covered live over the SimNASA Ventrilo server.
STS-17 completes initial checkout
Posted Saturday, August 19, 2006
STS-17 - Magellan rolled out the Vehicle Assembly Building (VAB) on yesterday morning making the little over four mile trip to Launch Complex 39A. Throughout the night SimNASA technicians have been running a series of test on the spacecraft and this morning reported that the Magellan is tentatively go for the scheduled August 22nd through September 4th launch window.
Commanding this mission will be Brian Lang, a veteran astronaut since the Mercury program, and Paul Oliver as the Pilot. Magellan’s crew will be joined by Skylab Columbia Space Station Crew – 9 which consists of Commander Brad Hodges and Mission Specialist trainees Aaron Moore, Sergio Rodriguez, Luis Alves, Pawel Klopocki.
The mission of Magellan will be relative short as it will exchange crews at SCSS. Both crews are expected to arrive this coming week to Kennedy Space Center from Ellington Field. An on-line fly-in event is scheduled this Sunday (August 20th) starting at 2000 hrs UT (4PM Eastern Time).
ATV-5 Launches and Docks
Posted Monday, August 14, 2006
ATV-5, the latest test of the newest hardware for SimNASA, launched on August 12 at 11:55:00 UT. By 16:00 the solar planels were deployed and no problems were reported. By the 13th, two burns at 22:34 and 23:19 UT put the vessel into a 380 x406 kilometer orbit and in place to chase the SkyLab-Columbia Space Station (SCSS). Hard dock was achieved at 15:54 UT.
The ATV-5 will need to stay at the SCSS for at least a week, since the SCSS-8 crew needs to unload a lot of cargo and store I with things they don't longer need (garbage). The SCSS-8 crew shall attempt to use the new station robotic arm to move the ATV-5 to a new location. Next weekend the ATV-5 shall undock and be positioned in order to burn up in the atmosphere.
- Reporting for SimNASA: Mike Caruso, Public Affairs Officer
ATV-5: Anything but Ordinary
Posted Monday, August 7, 2006
SimNASA is currently counting down towards the launch of the ATV-5 flight next weekend. The mission name of ATV-5 might suggest that it’s a routine launch - but you couldn’t be more wrong.
The ATV-5 mission is nothing like any previous SimNASA mission and contains three very important test of new hardware.
First: the launcher - not the old, but faithfull, Saturn-1B but the brand new ARES-I launcher on it’s maiden flight. Some may remember the SRB testflight under the cryptic name of AMEV1A-1 earlier this year that delivered some 100 tons of water to the Atlantic 124 miles due east of the Cape. Now we have a working second stage equipped with two powerfull J-2S engines the will deliver the ATV-5 all the way up to orbit.
Well, almost to orbit, in fact. Just like the Shuttle, the ATV-5 will need to make a perigee raising burn and the ARES-I will fall back to Earth. This burn will be made with the Multi-Purpose Service Module (MPSMS). This is also the first ‘in space’ test of this piece of equipment, that in the future will also be a part of our manned configuration. The MPSMS will provide the ATV with propulsion, power and will keep it pressurized. The second test of the ATV-5 flight will be to see if the MPSMS will be able to get the ATV to Skylab-Columbia.
The ATV itself forms the third test of new hardware. The new version is the ATV-Mk1a and will be our new ‘pressurised cargo to LEO’ vessel for SimNASA. It is completely autonomous in approach and docking. Future upgrades will allow it to make an Earth reentry as well. The ATV can supply Skylab-Columbia Space Station with food, water, supplemental oxygen, RCS fuel and off course all kinds of hardware needed on board.
STS-16 Mission Successful
Posted Saturday, August 5, 2006
This week, STS-16 "Freedom" landed safely at the Kennedy Space Center. CDR Craig Trudell and PLT Dave Barlow effectively returned the Rafaello module from the SkyLab-Columbia Space Station (SCSS), as well as the RTM-3 Commander.
STS-16 approaches Runway 33:
Touchdown! SimNASA welcomes the return of STS-16 "Freedom":
Total mission time: 8 Days, 8 Hours, 21 Minutes, 11 seconds. This mission marks the final flight for Shuttle "Freedom". Decommissioning ceremonies shall take place this week. Only two more Shuttle missions remain before SimNASA moves to the next generation of launch vehicles.
- Reporting for SimNASA: Mike Caruso, Public Affairs Officer
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