STS-130

[JLM]

I might as well start the thread for Endeavour's next mission: STS-130

Crew:
Position[8]    Astronaut
Commander    George D. Zamka
Second spaceflight
Pilot    Terry Virts
First spaceflight
Mission Specialist 1    Kathryn P. Hire
Second spaceflight
Mission Specialist 2    Stephen Robinson
Fourth spaceflight
Flight Engineer
Mission Specialist 3    Nicholas Patrick
Second spaceflight
Mission Specialist 4    Robert L. Behnken
Second spaceflight

Endeavour is set to carry the new node/module Tranquility and the attaching Cupola module to the space station.

About three spacewalks are planned for this mission.

Endeavour was rolled from her hangar to Shuttle Processing facility (OPF) #2 on December 11.

[JLM]

Specifications for the Cupola Module:

Cupola Module:

    * Overall Height: 1.5 m
    * Maximum Diameter: 2.95 m
    * Launch Mass: 1,805 kg
    * On Orbit Mass: 1880 kg
    * Dome: Forged Al 2219-T851
    * Skirt: Al 2219-T851
    * Windows: Fused Silica and Borosilicate Glass
    * MDPS Shutters: Kevlar/Nextel sheets
    * Electrical Power: Node 120 V Interface
    * Top Window: 80cm Diameter
    * Thermal Control: Goldised Kapton Multi-Layer Insulation Blanket
 Source is from Wikipedia:

View from outside:



View from inside, can't wait to see through those windows from space!:

[bjbeard]

Oh yea! That is the module I would love to sleep in!!! Wonder why they waited until now to put it up.

[bjbeard]

Well Endeavor is hard down on the pad. This is scheduled to be the final night launch of the STS program. One last glorious chance to see night become day as the shuttle climbs to orbit.

[Admin]

Well Endeavor is hard down on the pad. This is scheduled to be the final night launch of the STS program. One last glorious chance to see night become day as the shuttle climbs to orbit.

And BTW - LAUNCH TICKETS ARE AVAILABLE ALREADY AT THE KSC! GO GRAB THEM!

/Admin

[bjbeard]

SOLD OUT!

[Admin]

SOLD OUT!

Sorry to hear... any free rooftops around Titusville?

/Admin

[spaceboy7441]

Breaking news!!!
http://www.nasaspaceflight.com/2010/01/sts-130-may-postponed-node-3-threatens-swap/

[bjbeard]

That is a slightly embarrassing problem...

Due to the history options could be a full redesign, a tweak, a new vendor – which would mean a slip to the nominal mission timeline.

Err yea, a slip...right into 2014!!!!

None of that will happen, and if the problem cant be fixed, then STS-130 may be scrubbed altogether. Now we cant even build a pressurized can with windows... I guess no one "showed them the money!"

[Dappa]

That is a slightly embarrassing problem...

Due to the history options could be a full redesign, a tweak, a new vendor – which would mean a slip to the nominal mission timeline.

Err yea, a slip...right into 2014!!!!

None of that will happen, and if the problem cant be fixed, then STS-130 may be scrubbed altogether. Now we cant even build a pressurized can with windows... I guess no one "showed them the money!"

STS-130 would not slip into 2014. The problems are in the thermal control system, so this is probably the only system that needs redesigning. I believe this is something that can be achieved in a matter of months.

Just like STS-125, which launched only a few months after the original schedule, because of some trouble with Hubble.

[bjbeard]

trouble with Hubble...that made me laugh! Thanks I needed it!

I hope it wont take a long time. I think that cupola is the most anticipated ISS component from the crews standpoint, I know I would love to just float in it looking at the Earth for hours...

[bjbeard]

Now the cold weather could impact the launch.

Keep your fingers crossed!

[Steven]

Now the cold weather could impact the launch.

Keep your fingers crossed!

Still a month out from the current launch date.  It'll warm up by then, shouldn't be an issue (but then again, I'm used to eating my own words at times...).

[Moonwalker]

Well, while everything is going on well for the launch of STS-130, we are going to face a great show starting this Sunday with a chance of 70% for launch regarding weather limitations.

http://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/shuttle/main/index.html

For me this mission is one of the most exciting ISS assembly missions, since already posted above in this thread, it includes the installation of the 7-windowed cupola as part of the Tranquility module. What an amazing image this has to be, floating inside the cupola with an available view of 360° horizontally and about 180° headlong (and how amazing it must be to have this feature available inside a 3D ISS within SSM sometime in future ). I just can't wait to get the first HD video downlink from inside the cupola with all shutters fully open, once the tranquility node is installed and ready for use. I will follow every minute of this mission live on NASA TV as far as possible.

STS-130 Preflight Briefing (The Mission):

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MEXArdW4CUo

STS-130 Behind The Scenes Volume 1:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SmzJeIUIvv4&feature=channel

STS-130 Gallery:

http://spaceflight.nasa.gov/gallery/images/shuttle/sts-130/ndxpage1.html


T-02:12:57:00 and counting!

[Moonwalker]

ESApod about the Cupola:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KeZDkZlnNAk