STS-130

STS -130 (English Space Transportation System) is the name of a space flight mission of the U.S. Space Shuttle Endeavour ( OV 105) of NASA.

The launch took place on February 8, 2010 at 9:14 UTC, landing on February 22 (February 21, local time).

STS -130 brought the connection node Tranquility and the Cupola observation deck to the International Space Station. Among the most important tasks Cupolas include the control of the robot arm of the station, communicating with astronauts during an exit as well as observation of the Earth and space.

Team

On 5 December 2008 the team was named:

  • George Zamka ( second space flight), Commander
  • Terry virts ( first space flight), Pilot
  • Robert Behnken ( second space flight), Mission Specialist
  • Kathryn Hire ( second space flight ), Mission Specialist
  • Nicholas Patrick ( second space flight), Mission Specialist
  • Stephen Robinson ( fourth space flight), Mission Specialist

Preparations

After completion of the mission STS -127 on July 31, 2009, Endeavour was drawn into their maintenance hangar where the routine inspections and repairs took place. End of October 2009, the mobile launch platform MLP -2 was moved into the Vehicle Assembly Building ( VAB) and started with the work of the two solid rocket boosters. About a month later, the external tank ET -134 was connected to the two boosters. On December 11, the transfer ( rollover ) of the Endeavour took place in the VAB, where it was mounted in the following days at the outer tank. The transport ( rollout ) of the final shuttle launch building to the launch pad LC - 39A took place on 6 January 2010. Integration of the payload in the orbiter was completed on January 20.

The six crew members were from 19 to 21 January at the terminal countdown demonstration test part, a dress rehearsal of the launch at the Kennedy Space Center. The crew with the equipment for the flight, the start-up procedures and safety precautions at the launch site is made ​​familiar. In the final flight readiness acceptance on January 27, called the Flight Readiness Review, the start date was officially set on the 7th of February. On the night of 2 to 3 February, the team arrived back in Florida, the countdown began one day later.

Mission History

Start, Rendezvous and coupling

The first launch attempt on 7 February at 09:39:50 UTC was canceled over the launch site just before leaving the T-9 minute interrupt due to a cloud band. The cloud bank did not allow for a return to the launch site in case of a crash ( Return To Launch Site RTLS ) due to its location height and size. It was located a 24- hour shift.

On February 8, 2010 at 9:14:08 UTC, the Endeavour finally launched without problems their STS -130 mission. The view was on this day, apart from a thin cloud cover, very good. Observer in Cape Canaveral could the glow produced by the rocket engines of the shuttle even around seven minutes to see with the naked eye. Two minutes after the start of the two solid rocket boosters were burnt out as planned and were dropped, after a total of just under eight and a half minutes, the main engines were shut down and disconnected the external tank. Half an hour later, the shuttle shot with the help of his orbital engine in a first stable orbit. After the crew was preparing the shuttle for the operation into orbit by opening the payload bay doors, the ausklappte Ku- band antenna and the robot arm activated. The payload bay doors also serve as radiators, the Ku- band antenna used for communications with high bandwidth, for example, for the live video.

The second flight day (9 February ) was the usual inspection of the heat shield using the orbiter boom sensor system and preparing the spacesuits and the coupling facilities.

The Endeavour docked on the third flight day (February 10 ) at 5:06 UTC on the International Space Station after the space shuttle had the compulsory rendezvous pitch maneuver performed. At 7:16 UTC, the hatches between the two spacecraft were open and the crews greeted each other warmly. After a safety briefing by the ISS host the united eleven-member crew completed some logistical tasks. Mission Specialist Nicholas Patrick and ISS Flight Engineer TJ Creamer took to the robot arm of the station the OBSS attachment out of the cargo bay of the shuttle and gave him back to the robotic arm of the space shuttle, which was operated by Kathryn Hire and Terry virts. The combination robot arm / OBSS then remained in a parking position. Shuttle commander George Zamka brought spare parts for the water treatment system of the ISS, so that ISS Commander Jeffrey Williams, the system, which processed urine into drinking water, could fix. Robert Behnken and Nicholas Patrick transported their space suits that they are at the spacewalks (EVA ) is contributing to the Quest airlock.

Work on the ISS

On the fourth Mission Day (11 February ), the crew was informed by the mission management that no precise follow-up inspection of the heat shield is necessary. The team prepared the tools and space suits for the next day held EVA. After a press conference with TV and radio stations from the U.S., the crew had some free time. To (especially nitrogen) to reduce the dissolved gases in their bodies, to Behnken and Patrick went into the airlock Quest and spent the night rest there, where they breathed pure oxygen under reduced pressure. This process, called Campout is carried out prior to each exit.

On February 12, the fifth mission day, the two astronauts Bob Behnken and Nick Patrick was the Tranquility module installed at the connection node Unity in the first EVA. Outdoor use began 2:17 UTC, when the two astronauts switch their suits to internal supply. The first task they gave Unity and Tranquility before the impending transfer of the payload bay of Endeavour to the station, including supply lines were that connected the new module with the Endeavour, removed. While Kay Hire and Terry virts tranquility moved by the Canadarm2 from the shuttle to Backbordandockpunkt the Unity node, Behnken and Patrick offset a temporary storage platform Dextres in the station structure and brought two handles on the robot hand. After the new node was firmly anchored to the station, linking the two space -goers heating and data cable. In addition, insulated and the ammonia cooling lines were prepared so that they can be connected at the second spacewalk on February 14 with the station. When the exit after 6 hours and 32 minutes at 8:49 UTC came to an end, reported the mission leadership that all connections were working and a first tightness test was successful. The repaired by Jeffrey Williams water treatment system began to recycle urine, the samples are then analyzed on the earth. If the experts are satisfied with the performance of the system, it is transferred from the Destiny laboratory on the new Tranquility node.

Flight day six (13 February ) was mainly for interior Tranquilitys and preparing the next spacewalk. After 2:17 UTC the hatches were open to the new module began George Zamka, Stephen Robinson and Kathryn Hire, together with Jeffrey Williams the connecting corridor between the modules equip. Terry virts Soichi Noguchi and transported parts of a new fitness device and an air refresher rack in the Tranquility module. Robert Behnken and Nicholas Patrick prepared their tools and spacesuits prior to the upcoming outdoor use. The two also answered questions that Capcom Michael Massimino had collected on his Twitter account. Later, in a conference call Kathryn Hire and Terry virts was accepted by questions from the Associated Press, CBS News and Reuters.

In a second EVA lasting 5:54 hours on 14 February 2010 Bob Behnken and Nicholas Patrick built Tranquility completely in the ISS. It was, for example, Tranquility connected to the cooling system of the ISS. In addition, tranquility was prepared for the conversion of the viewing dome cupola, which was mounted at this time still in their transport position at the end of tranquility.

In the third and last EVA Robert Behnken and Nicholas Patrick 16 February 2010 then a second cooling circuit and the isolation mounted to secure the module during the starting phase of holder Cupola was activated removed. In addition, handrails were attached to tranquility and laid a video cable between S0 and Zarya. The day before, Cupola was moved by Canadarm2 from the transport position to its final place.

Return

On Friday, February 19 0:54 clock the Endeavour docked on the ISS and began their return to Earth. The landing took place on 22 February at 03:22:10 UTC (local time February 21, 22:22:10 clock ) at the Kennedy Space Center.

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