Blogs

Launch and mission managers are stationed at their consoles and countdown activities are in progress at Vandenberg Air Force Base in California, where NASA's Soil Moisture Active Passive spacecraft awaits liftoff aboard a United Launch Alliance Delta II rocket. Liftoff remains scheduled for 9:20 a.m. EST. SMAP is a three-year mission to study and map …

Managers from NASA and United Launch Alliance (ULA) met yesterday at Vandenberg Air Force Base in California and gave a "go" to proceed with the launch of NASA's Soil Moisture Active Passive (SMAP) spacecraft atop a ULA Delta II rocket this morning at 9:20 a.m. EST (6:20 a.m. PST). Liftoff is scheduled for the opening …

Epigenetics:   Wilmore retrieved 12 culture bags from MERLIN.  The crew transferred the third generation larva samples from incubated culture bags to new culture bags using the transfer syringe. The procedure was repeated for all 12 samples.  The culture bags were then placed in the Cell Biology Experiment Facility (CBEF) to start a 4 day incubation.  …

The Deep Space Climate Observatory (DSCOVR) is scheduled to launch at 6:10 p.m. EST Sunday, Feb. 8 from Space Launch Complex 40 at Cape Canaveral Air Force Station in Florida on a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket. A backup launch opportunity is available on Feb. 9 at 6:07 p.m., if needed. NASA Television coverage of the …

We have a host of photos from Astrotech where the DSCOVR spacecraft is being prepared for launch Feb. 8. The photos include recent testing of the solar arrays, including unfurling them as they will after the DSCOVR gets into space.

The launch of NASA's Soil Moisture Active Passive (SMAP) observatory, which will produce the highest-resolution maps of soil moisture ever obtained from space, has been delayed to a targeted launch date of Jan. 31, pending completion of minor repairs to the United Launch Alliance Delta II launch vehicle. During inspections following the Jan. 29 launch …

Japanese Experiment Module (JEM) Small Satellite Orbital Deployer (JSSOD) Install:  Wilmore started the JSSOD activities by reviewing an instructional video on how to install a JSSOD to the Multi-Purpose Experiment Platform (MPEP).  He then extended the JEM Airlock (JEMAL) slide table into the JEM, attached the JSSOD, and proceeded to retract the slide table and …

Launch of NASA's Soil Moisture Active Passive mission aboard a United Launch Alliance Delta II rocket now is scheduled for tomorrow, Jan. 30, at 9:20 a.m. EST. The forecast for Jan. 30 shows a 90 percent chance of favorable weather conditions for the launch tomorrow. Coverage will begin at 7 a.m.

A pair of docked space freighters is being loaded in preparation for next month’s departure activities. The ISS Progress 57 (57P) resupply ship is being packed with trash and discarded gear for a fiery disposal over the Pacific Ocean. The SpaceX Dragon commercial cargo craft is being loaded with experiment samples, spacesuit gear and other …