Endeavour crew set for ISS gig

[Rick]

The crew of space shuttle Endeavour is set for tomorrow's scheduled launch to the International Space Station on mission STS-126 to equip the outpost with extra kit for its intended expansion to accommodate six full-time residents.

More: http://www.theregister.co.uk/2008/11/13/endeavour_launch/

[Rick]

The US space shuttle Endeavour has launched on the final orbiter mission of 2008, carrying cargo bound for the International Space Station (ISS).

Endeavour is taking equipment to refit the ISS for six crew members, instead of the current three, and will also drop off astronaut Sandra Magnus.

Four spacewalks on the 15-day flight are planned, including repairs to joint damage on the station's solar arrays.

More: http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/science/nature/7730099.stm

[Rick]

A Nasa shuttle is due to dock with the International Space Station in a few hours time as part of a mission to refit its living quarters.

The Endeavour is carrying 14,000lb (6,350kg) of fittings to allow the station to accommodate six crew members instead of the current three.

More: http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/science/nature/7732235.stm

Edit: Now reports successful docking.)

[Rick]

Astronauts working on the International Space Station have lost a tool bag.

Heidemarie Stefanyshyn-Piper watched helplessly as the kit drifted away from her as she serviced the solar array system on the orbiting platform.

The briefcase-sized tool bag is one of the largest items ever lost on a spacewalk.

The event occurred during the first spacewalk of the latest shuttle flight to the ISS, which is intended to give the orbiting platform a major makeover.

More: http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/science/nature/7737250.stm

[Rick]

Endeavour pair prep for ISS spacewalk

Endeavour mission STS-126 specialists Steve Bowen and Heide Stefanyshyn-Piper will this afternoon venture outside the International Space Station for the first of four planned spacewalks on this shuttle jaunt to the orbiting outpost.

More: http://www.theregister.co.uk/2008/11/18/endeavour_spacewalk/

Spacewalking astronaut drops toolbag

Space shuttle Endeavour mission specialist Heide Stefanyshyn-Piper yesterday dropped her toolbag as she and Steve Bowen worked outside the International Space Station, in the process consigning to oblivion "two grease guns, scrapers, several wipes and tethers and some tool caddies".

More: http://www.theregister.co.uk/2008/11/19/dropped_toolbag/

NASA readies remodeled ISS ENose

NASA astronauts aboard Endeavour's STS-126 mission will soon be testing the space agency's latest generation of "electronic nose," designed to monitor the International Space Station's crew cabin for harmful chemicals.

More: http://www.theregister.co.uk/2008/11/20/nasa_tests_enose_on_iss/

Heidemarie 'Toolbag' Piper set for second spacewalk

Endeavour mission specialists Shane Kimbrough and Heide Stefanyshyn-Piper are getting ready for the second mission STS-126 spacewalk outside the International Space Station this afternoon, scheduled to get under way at 18:45 GMT.

More: http://www.theregister.co.uk/2008/11/20/second_iss_spacewalk/

[Rick]

Repairs to jammed mechanical joints on the International Space Station's solar collectors have been successful, says Nasa.

On Tuesday the space walkers lost an expensive tool bag while attempting similar repairs.

This time they took no chances triple checking all their equipment to make sure it was all tied down.

More: http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/science/nature/7741582.stm

[Rick]

They called it Zarya, which means Dawn.

The enterprise itself was meant to be just that - a new dawn for human space exploration.

Moments after the launch, the then head of Nasa, Dan Goldin, said: "Within a few years, the brightest star ever will appear in the sky."

He said it would be a sign of hope because nations who had once fought each other had now come together to use their ingenuity, not to blow up humanity, but to make a better world.

More: http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/science/nature/7739200.stm

[Rick]

When European astronaut Frank De Winne reaches the International Space Station next year, he can look forward to something rarely afforded to travellers in space - a bit of privacy.

To prepare for a permanent six-member crew, Nasa is flying four private boudoirs to the orbital outpost.

More: http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/science/nature/7743258.stm

[Rick]

Astronauts from the International Space Station have completed a third spacewalk to solve the latest glitch.

They are trying to fix a jammed joint that is supposed to keep the station's solar panels pointed towards the sun.

Scientists are still struggling to repair a new recycling system intended to convert astronauts' urine into drinking water.

More: http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/science/nature/7744318.stm

[Rick]

The space shuttle Endeavour has returned to Earth after an eventful mission to repair parts of the International Space Station (ISS).

The shuttle's landing site was switched from Florida to Edwards Air Force Base in California due to bad weather.

The shuttle touched down safely at around 1325 local time (2125GMT).

More: http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/science/nature/7757792.stm

[Rick]

The space shuttle Endeavour landed safely at Edwards air force base in California yesterday, completing a 16-day mission to the International Space Station (ISS).

The shuttle had been slated to set down at Kennedy Space Center in Florida, but weather concerns led to the use of the backup runway. Endeavour will be shipped back to Kennedy piggybacking on a jumbo jet in "7-10 days", according to NASA, before being prepped for a new mission next May.

More: http://www.theregister.co.uk/2008/12/01/shuttle_down_after_op_golden_barrel/