Blogs

Carrying more than three tons of food, fuel, and supplies for the International Space Station crew, the unpiloted ISS Progress 61 cargo craft launched at 12:49 p.m. EDT (10:49 p.m. local time in Baikonur) from the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan. At the time of launch, the space station was flying above Southeast Kazakhstan. Less than …

­ At 12:30 p.m. EDT, NASA Television will provide live coverage of the launch of a Russian Progress spacecraft carrying more than three tons of food, fuel and supplies for the Expedition 45 crew aboard the International Space Station. Launch of ISS Progress 61 from the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan is scheduled for 12:49 p.m. …

Synchronized Position Hold, Engage, Reorient, Experimental Satellites – Universal Docking Port (SPHERES-UDP):  Kelly reviewed the SPHERES-UDP procedure and test plan and then participated in a conference with the Payload Developer to discuss science operations. He then performed a SPHERES-UDP test run and downloaded data to a Station Support Computer (SSC).  The addition of docking ports …

The Interim Cryogenic Propulsion Stage Umbilical (ICPSU) for NASA’s Space Launch System was lifted and attached to the A Tower mobile launcher simulator Sept. 28 at the Launch Equipment Test Facility at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida. The ICPSU will provide super-cooled hydrogen and liquid oxygen to the rocket’s interim cryogenic propulsion stage, or …

A new Russian cargo craft loaded with more than three tons food, fuel and supplies is ready for launch to the International Space Station. The crew inside the orbital lab continues ongoing science activities and routine maintenance. Russia’s ISS Progress 61 (61P) cargo craft is at the launch pad in Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan counting …

Combustion Integration Rack (CIR) / FLame Extinguishment Experiment (FLEX)-2J Fiber Arm Replacement:  Kelly replaced the FLEX-2J Fiber Arm today as part of routine maintenance operations for the CIR.  He removed the Multi-user Droplet Combustion Apparatus (MDCA) Chamber Insert Assembly (CIA) from the CIR Combustion Chamber, and restrained it on the Maintenance Work Area (MWA) work …

The latest Russian resupply ship, the Progress 61, rolled out to its launch pad today, getting set for a Thursday launch at 12:49 p.m. EDT (4:49 p.m. UTC) and a docking to the Zvezda service module at 6:54 p.m. Meanwhile, Japan’s cargo craft, the “Kounotori” HTV-5, is descending to Earth this afternoon after completing a …

H-II Transfer Vehicle (HTV)-5 Departure:  This morning Yui and Lindgren finished closing out the Node 2 vestibule by demating all umbilicals to HTV-5.  Meanwhile, Kelly depressurized the vestibule between HTV-5 and Node 2 in preparation for the unberth. Commands were then sent to release Common Berthing Mechanism (CBM) bolts prior to unberth.  Robotic Flight Controllers …

A meteor flashes by the Moon at the beginning of the September 27,  total lunar eclipse. From the NASA meteor camera in Mayhill, New Mexico.

Following a slight delay, Expedition 45 Flight Engineer Kimiya Yui of JAXA, backed up by NASA Flight Engineer Kjell Lindgren, commanded the station’s Canadarm2 robotic arm to release JAXA’s H-II Transfer Vehicle (HTV)-5 from the International Space Station at 12:53 p.m. EDT while the spacecraft was flying 256 miles above the Southern Pacific, after it …