Not the whole of space, that would take ages but I’ll update you on NASA’s goings on as I haven’t mentioned the space programme in quite a while.
The last mission saw STS-127 blast off on the 15th of July at 6.03pm EDT and delivered the Kibo module to the ISS.
Endeavour set sail on its 23rd mission with the Kibo Japanese Experiment Module Exposed Facility and Experiment Logistics Module Exposed Section. The facility provides a type of “front porch” for experiments in the exposed environment, and a robotic arm that is attached to the Kibo Pressurized Module and is used to position experiments outside the station. The mission included five spacewalks.
Nasa.gov
The mission was classed as a total success and was completed with the wheels down of the shuttle on July 31st. Due the delays in getting the shuttle launched (thanks to both weather and technical reasons) the next mission to the the space station was very much in preparation when STS-127 landed.
STS-128 is scheduled for a August 24th Launch at 1.24am EDT, this mission will see Discovery launch on it’s 36th flight since it’s commissioning in 1984 and will see it deliver supplies and a new occupant to the ISS.
Discovery’s flight will deliver supplies and equipment to the International Space Station. Inside
the shuttle’s cargo bay is the Leonardo Multi-Purpose Logistics Module (MPLM), a pressurized
“moving van” that will be temporarily installed to the station. The module will deliver science
and storage racks, a freezer to store research samples, a new sleeping compartment and the
COLBERT treadmill. The 13-day mission will include three spacewalks to replace experiments
outside the European Space Agency’s Columbus laboratory, and install a new ammonia storage
tank and return the used one. Ammonia is used to move excess heat from inside the station
to the radiators located outside. Discovery also will deliver a new crew member and bring
back another after almost two months aboard the space station.
Nasa.gov
As this is a night launch, I will repeat what I have said a number of times before, if you can watch this one do… If you never watch another launch so be it, but night launches are something special to see. For the UK residents it’s not a bad time really with the launch at 6.24am BST.
There are also only a few shuttle missions left in the program now with the last targeted to launch on September 16th 2010. This will then lead the way for the Ares launch vehicles and the beginning of the Constellation program to return to the Moon and to go to Mars.
To watch coverage of the Launch on the 24th of August got http://www.nasa.gov/ntv
For more info on STS-127 or STS-128 head to http://www.nasa.gov/missions
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