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By DIRECT2TheMoon on 18 June 2009 at 2:43PM
NASA is ready to launch the "first step back to the Moon" - LRO/LCROSS - this afternoon. The unmanned probes will share a ride atop an Atlas V rocket from Cape Canaveral's LC-41. NASA reports:
Image above: NASA's LRO and LCROSS spacecraft on top of the Atlas V rocket await liftoff at Complex 41 on Cape Canaveral Air Force Station. Photo credit: NASA
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› Watch NASA TV
Mission Overview
NASA's Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter and Lunar Crater Observation and Sensing Spacecraft will fly to the moon atop the same Atlas V rocket, although they will use vastly different methods to study the lunar environment. LRO will go into orbit around the moon, turning its suite of instruments towards the moon for thorough studies. The spacecraft also will be looking for potential landing sites for astronauts.
LCROSS, on the other hand, will guide an empty upper stage on a collision course with a permanently shaded crater in an effort to kick up evidence of water at the moon's poles. LCROSS itself will also impact the lunar surface during its course of study.
Liftoff currently is scheduled for June 18 at 5:12 p.m. EDT. There are two more launch opportunities that day at 5:22 p.m. and 5:32 p.m.
Image above: NASA's LRO, and LCROSS spacecrafts on top of the Atlas V rocket waiting liftoff at Complex 41 with space shuttle Endeavour in the background at its respective launch pad. Photo credit: NASA/Jack Pfaller
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Additional Resources
› LRO Fact Sheet
› LRO/LCROSS Press Kit
› LRO/LCROSS Launch Coverage Events
Live webcast at SpaceVidCast. Launch blog at NASA. Countdown, pics and video at KSC. News video at CFNews13. More clips at Space Multimedia. Live video at SFN. Discussion at Nasaspaceflight. Check the links at right for play-by-play and NASA TV.
By DIRECT2TheMoon on 17 June 2009 at 2:00AM
After lightning delayed Shuttle Endeavour's fueling by almost 3 hours, the old gaseous hydrogen leak issue surfaced again. Mission managers declared a scrub at 1:55 EDT this morning. NASA reports:
Image above: Rays of light frame space shuttle Endeavour as the launch countdown continues at NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida. Image credit/NASA TV
Space shuttle Endeavour's STS-127 second launch attempt was cancelled early Wednesday, June 17 due to a liquid hydrogen leak associated with the ground umbilical carrier panel. It's the same location where a similar leak scrubbed Endeavour's first launch attempt on June 13.
Endeavour's next launch attempt is targeted for July 11 at 7:39 p.m. EDT.
Image above: At NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida, space shuttle Endeavour is bathed in light at Launch Pad 39A. Image credit: NASA TV
STS-127 Additional Resources
› Mission Press Kit (6.3 Mb PDF)
› Mission Summary (484KB PDF)
› Meet the STS-127 Crew
› Flow Valve Fact Sheet (447 Kb PDF)
Preflight pics are up at CBC, JSC, and Sentinel. Launch blog at NASA. Pics and video at KSC. More clips at Space Multimedia. Live video at SFN. Discussion at Nasaspaceflight. Check the links at right for play-by-play and NASA TV.
By TonyF on 16 June 2009 at 7:55PM
It looks like 5:40AM Wednesday for Shuttle Endeavour's liftoff to the International Space Station - if they can get her fueled up. Weather concerns have delayed the scheduled start of tanking, but mission managers have until about 10PM tonight to start loading the giant External Tank. NASA reports:
Image above: At Launch Pad 39A at NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida, space shuttle Endeavour stands ready for liftoff after rollback of the pad's rotating service structure. Image credit/NASA TV
All times listed in EDT
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| Tuesday Launch Day Highlights |
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8 p.m.
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NASA TV coverage of fueling begins |
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8:15 p.m.
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Countdown resumes at the T-6 hour mark with the fueling of Endeavour |
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9 p.m.
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Liquid hydrogen sensors go to "wet" state |
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11:15 p.m.
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Countdown enters a 2-hour, 30-minute built-in hold at the T-3 hour mark; fueling enters stable replenish |
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11:30 p.m.
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Ascent Team of flight controllers on duty for its shift in Mission Control, Houston |
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| Wednesday Launch Day Highlights |
| 12:30 a.m. |
Live launch coverage begins on NASA TV and Launch Blog |
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1:45 a.m.
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Countdown resumes at T-3 hours |
| 1:50 a.m. |
Endeavour astronauts depart crew quarters for Launch Pad 39A |
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2:20 a.m.
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Astronauts arrive at the launch pad and begin to board Endeavour |
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3:35 a.m.
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Endeavour hatch is closed and latched for launch |
| 4:25 a.m. |
Countdown enters a 10-minute planned hold at the T-20 minute mark |
| 4:35 a.m. |
Countdown resumes at the T-20 minute mark |
| 4:46 a.m. |
Countdown enters a 40-minute planned hold at the T-9 minute mark, during which the Mission Management Team and Launch Control team will conduct polls to give a final "go" decision for launch |
| 5:31 a.m. |
Countdown resumes at the T-9 minute mark |
| 5:35 a.m. |
Auxiliary Power Units start at the T-5 minute mark |
| 5:40 a.m. |
Endeavour launches on the STS-127 mission |
| 5:49 a.m. |
Main Engine Cut Off (MECO) |
Live HD webcast at SpaceVidCast. Preflight pics are up at CBC, JSC, and Sentinel. Launch blog at NASA. Pics and video at KSC. More clips at Space Multimedia. Live video at SFN. Discussion at Nasaspaceflight. Check the links at right for play-by-play and NASA TV.
By TonyF on 15 June 2009 at 10:15PM
With the hydrogen leak repair scheduled for completion Tuesday afternoon, and some schedule shuffling for range clearance, Endeavour is now set for launch early (ugh!) Wednesday morning. The LRO/LCROSS moon mission will now launch Thursday at 5:12PM. NASA reports:
 NASA managers have scheduled the next launch attempt of Endeavour's STS-127 mission for 5:40 a.m. EDT on Wednesday, June 17. The flight's seven astronauts remain at NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida.
Technicians at Kennedy are working to fix a leak associated with the gaseous hydrogen venting system outside Endeavour's external fuel tank. The leak postponed Endeavour's Saturday morning scheduled launch to the International Space Station. Teams on Kennedy’s Launch Pad 39A are in the process of changing out internal seals in the Ground Umbilical Carrier Plate, or GUCP, which is attached to the external tank. The vent line runs from the GUCP, away from the launch pad to a "flare stack" where excess hydrogen is safely burned off.
News video at CFNews13. Preflight pics are up at CBC, JSC, and Sentinel. Launch blog at NASA. Pics and video at KSC. More clips at Space Multimedia. Live video at SFN. Discussion at Nasaspaceflight. Check the links at right for play-by-play and NASA TV.
By TonyF on 14 June 2009 at 10:08PM
Ground personnel are working on the solution to the gaseous hydrogen leak that scrubbed Endeavour's launch Saturday morning. Mission managers say the flight could go on as early as Wednesday, but that is the day that the LRO/LCROSS moon probes are scheduled to launch. NASA reports:
 Technicians at NASA's Kennedy Space Center are working to fix a leak associated with the gaseous hydrogen venting system outside Endeavour's external fuel tank. The leak postponed Endeavour's Saturday morning scheduled launch to the International Space Station. Teams on Kennedy’s Launch Pad 39A are in the process of changing out internal seals in the Ground Umbilical Carrier Plate, or GUCP, which is attached to the external tank. The vent line runs from the GUCP, away from the launch pad to a "flare stack" where excess hydrogen is safely burned off.
 Managers met Sunday afternoon to evaluate how repairs are going and assess when Endeavour's next launch attempt will be. The earliest the shuttle could be ready for liftoff is June 17, however there is a conflict on that date with the scheduled launch of NASA's Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter/Lunar Crater Observation and Sensing Satellite from Cape Canaveral Air Force Station, Fla.
The 16-day mission will feature five spacewalks as the crews of Endeavour and the International Space Station work to install the Kibo Japanese Experiment Module Exposed Facility and Experiment Logistics Module Exposed Section on the orbiting outpost.
Preflight pics are up at the JSC Gallery and Sentinel. Launch blog at NASA. Pics and video at KSC. More clips at Space Multimedia. Live video at SFN. Discussion at Nasaspaceflight. Check the links at right for play-by-play and NASA TV.
By TonyF on 13 June 2009 at 5:29AM
A hydrogen leak has forced a delay in Endeavour's launch. We are looking at a minimum 4-day turnaround. Mission managers declared the scrub at 12:26AM EDT Saturday morning, before the crew had boarded. The issue is the same as the one that had delayed Discovery's STS-119 launch in March. NASA reports:
Image above: At Launch Pad 39A at NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida, space shuttle Endeavour stands ready for liftoff after rollback of the pad's rotating service structure. NASA Photo/Kim Shiflett
At NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida, the launch of space shuttle Endeavour's STS-127 mission to the International Space Station is on hold due to a leak associated with the gaseous hydrogen venting system outside the external fuel tank. The system is used to carry excess hydrogen safely away from the launch pad. At 12:26 a.m. EDT Saturday, June 13, shuttle managers officially scrubbed the launch for at least 96 hours.
Shuttle managers will meet Saturday morning to discuss what steps to take next, including targeting a new launch date.
The 16-day mission will feature five spacewalks as the crews of Endeavour and the International Space Station work to install the Kibo Japanese Experiment Module Exposed Facility and Experiment Logistics Module Exposed Section on the orbiting outpost.
STS-127 Additional Resources
› Mission Press Kit (6.3 Mb PDF)
› Mission Summary (484KB PDF)
› Meet the STS-127 Crew
› Flow Valve Fact Sheet (447 Kb PDF)
Launch postponement briefing at Sentinel. Preflight pics are up at the JSC Gallery and Sentinel. Launch blog at NASA. Pics and video at KSC. More clips at Space Multimedia. Live video at SFN. Discussion at Nasaspaceflight. Check the links at right for play-by-play and NASA TV.
By TonyF on 11 June 2009 at 11:04PM
Mission managers have given the final go-ahead for Saturday morning's launch of Shuttle Endeavour to the ISS. The seven STS-127 astronauts arrived at KSC on June 8 and are making their final preparations for liftoff on 13 June 2009 at 7:17AM EDT.
With six men already aboard the Station, this will mean a record-setting 13 people will be in space at the same time. It's gonna get mighty crowded up there! NASA reports:
Image above: At NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida, STS-127 Mission Specialists Julie Payette and Christopher Cassidy check equipment as part of pre-pack and fit check in preparation for space shuttle Endeavour's launch on June 13 to the International Space Station. Image credit: NASA/Kim Shiflett
› View High-res
Space shuttle Endeavour is in place at Launch Pad 39A at NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida, undergoing final preparations for its upcoming 16-day mission to the International Space Station. Mission STS-127 is the 32nd flight dedicated to station construction, and the final of a series of three flights dedicated to the assembly of the Japanese Kibo laboratory complex.The STS-127 payload is the Kibo Japanese Experiment Module Exposed Facility and Experiment Logistics Module Exposed Section.
STS-127 Additional Resources
› Mission Press Kit (6.3 Mb PDF)
› Mission Summary (484KB PDF)
› Meet the STS-127 Crew
Webcast Friday at 10AM EDT. Preflight pics are up at the JSC Gallery. Launch blog at NASA. Pics and video at KSC. More clips at Space Multimedia. Live video at SFN. Discussion at Nasaspaceflight. Check the links at right for play-by-play and NASA TV.
By Rick on 3 June 2009 at 12:18PM
It has been a long haul to the launch pad, but the U.S. Air Force and Boeing are gearing up to loft the X-37B – an unpiloted military space plane. Launch is targeted for January 2010.
[Hat Tip: Drudge]
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