Blogs

Lab Carbon Dioxide Removal Assembly (CDRA) Troubleshooting:  On Monday, Remote Power Controller Module (RPCM) LAD62B_A RPC 12 experienced a trip.  This RPC powers six selector valves internal to the Lab CDRA.  Today, troubleshooting was performed with Mastracchio accessing the Atmosphere Revitalization (AR) rack through the Trace Contaminant Control System (TCCS) opening. He inspected and verified …

Conjunction with Object #35758 Status: Ground teams received updated tracking data for a possible conjunction with Object #35758. The conjunction is of high concern and ground controllers will be tracking it throughout the evening.  If a debris avoidance maneuver is needed, a Pre-Determined Debris Avoidance Maneuver (PDAM) would be executed at approximately 3:42pm CDT on …

Urine Processing Assembly (UPA) Advance Recycle Filter Tank Assembly (ARFTA) Change Out and Shock:  Commander (CDR) Wakata and Flight Enginer (FE)-3 Swanson removed ARFTA serial number (S/N) 1 and installed S/N 2.  Swanson then started a series of activities to shock ARFTA S/N 2 using pretreated water from the Waste and Hygiene Compartment (WHC).  The …

Dust off your telescope and prepare for a spectacular viewing opportunity of Mars in the night sky. The Earth will fly between the sun and Mars on April 8, 2014, and, for the several weeks around that time, Mars will be rising in the east when the sun is setting in the west. Mars will …

X2R12.1 Software Transition:  Today the ground team completed the X2R12.1 software update that was started on Saturday.  All activities were successfully performed and the system is back in nominal configuration.  The X2R12.1 software update provides enhancements to the following Multiplexer/Demultiplexer (MDM)s: External (EXT), Internal (INT), Payload (PL), Lab (LA)-3, Starboard Thermal Radiator (STR), Port Thermal …

38 Soyuz (38S) Dock:  38S completed a thirty-four orbit rendezvous with successful docking to the Mini-Research Module (MRM)-2 port of the ISS at 6:53pm CDT.  The addition of Soyuz crewmembers Skortsov, Artemyev, and Swanson returns the ISS to a full 6-crew complement.  Following hatch opening, the entire crew participated in a welcome ceremony and later …

SpaceX has confirmed that Sunday’s launch of its third contracted resupply mission to the International Station has been postponed due to a range asset issue. More information including a new target launch date will be posted here and at https://www.nasa.gov/spacex as it becomes available. UPDATE – The Air Force said in a statement Thursday: A mandatory …

38 Soyuz (38S) Status:  38S is performing nominally following launch yesterday afternoon.  38S was originally planned to dock to the ISS to last night following a 4-orbit rendezvous plan.  The Soyuz was unable to perform the DV3 burn at the planned time and the 4-orbit rendezvous was down-moded to a 34-orbit rendezvous.  Tracking of 38S …

SpaceX will target its next cargo mission launch to the International Space Station from Cape Canaveral Air Force Station in Florida, for 10:49 p.m. EDT, Sunday, March 30. An on-time launch would put the Dragon’s arrival at the station at about 7 a.m. Wednesday, April 2. We’ll begin our continuous launch coverage at 9:45 p.m. …

Researchers from Western University have released footage of a basketball-sized meteor that was almost as bright as the full moon. The meteor lit up the skies of southwestern Ontario last week. Astronomers are hoping to enlist the help of local residents in recovering one or more possible meteorites that may have crashed in the area …