Updates STS-132 Updates

[Star Voyager]

Here's the flyaround video after undocking:

[nomedia="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g5Cz7wpidPg"]YouTube- STS-132 Flyaround[/nomedia]


How come in the beginning of the video, the ISS's solar panels are grey on top and reddish-orange on the bottom (meaning is that weathering or the panel itself)?

 

[Orbinaut Pete]

How come in the beginning of the video, the ISS's solar panels are grey on top and reddish-orange on the bottom (meaning is that weathering or the panel itself)?

The arrays on the top are rotated so that the active side is facing forward, and the arrays on the bottom rotated to that the active side is facing backward/the inactive side is facing forward.

---------- Post added at 07:52 PM ---------- Previous post was at 07:49 PM ----------

Another awesome Solar transit of the Atlantis/ISS complex from Thierry Legault.

---------- Post added at 07:56 PM ---------- Previous post was at 07:52 PM ----------

Spaceflight Now: "Atlantis completes flawless visit to the space station".

Farewell ceremony & hatch closing.
[nomedia="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cUg2XnS3eyU"]YouTube- Shuttle, Station Crews Part Ways[/nomedia]

 

[Star Voyager]

The arrays on the top are rotated so that the active side is facing forward, and the arrays on the bottom rotated to that the active side is facing backward/the inactive side is facing forward.

I get it, but is the reason because they're trying to get power sources from all sides?

 

[Orbinaut Pete]

From ISS Daily Report for 23/05/2010:

ISS and Atlantis are flying in separate orbits again following undocking earlier today.

Crew activities before and during undocking included:
. FE-2 Caldwell-Dyson & FE-5 Noguchi reviewing DCB (Double Cold Bag) sample packing & transfer procedures, then transferring the remaining bio samples to the Shuttle.
. Timothy & Ken Ham terminating O2 (oxygen) pump-over to the ISS and tearing down the O2 transfer equipment [Total O2 transferred: 63 lbs, with 47 lbs going to the HGPT (High Pressure Gas Tank) mounted outside the Quest A/L, the remainder going to Quest A/L campout prebreathing. Total N2 (nitrogen) transferred: 19 lbs].

After the undocking:
. TJ & Tracy depressed PMA-2 and conducted the subsequent leak check (by periodically monitoring pressure readings) at the MPEV (Manual Pressure Equalization Valve).
. Soichi Noguchi removed the THC (Temperature & Humidity Control) IMV (Inter Module Ventilation) air duct in Node 2.

TJ configured the PDGF (Power & Data Grapple Fixture) retrieved from Atlantis’s Payload Bay during EVA-3 for final stowage in the Quest A/L CL (Crew Lock).

After Shuttle departure, Oleg Kotov & Sasha Skvortsov had another 2 hours set aside for transferring cargo from MRM-1, keeping a running account of the moves in the IMS (Inventory Management System).

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Undocking & flyaround time-lapse.
[nomedia="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b_rAo2RDPEE"]YouTube- STS-132 Final fly around of International Space Station by Space Shuttle Atlantis[/nomedia]

---------- Post added at 11:02 PM ---------- Previous post was at 10:55 PM ----------

The arrays on the top are rotated so that the active side is facing forward, and the arrays on the bottom rotated to that the active side is facing backward/the inactive side is facing forward.

As an addition, you can see the active (darker coloured) and passive (lighter coloured) sides of the solar arrays in this photo taken during STS-132 EVA-3.

Hi-res version.

---------- Post added 24th May 2010 at 02:43 AM ---------- Previous post was 23rd May 2010 at 11:02 PM ----------

A beautiful "Soichi Shot" via Twitter - Atlantis & MRM-1!!! :thumbup:

 

[tblaxland]

I get it, but is the reason because they're trying to get power sources from all sides?

No, you can only get power when the active side is facing the sun. Late last year they were having some issues with the beta gimbals sticking in certain thermal conditions but all that's been resolved IIRC. Perhaps they are just doing it as a form of manual voltage regulation if they don't need the power from those panels at present :shrug:

 

[orb]

NASA published Automated DOL PAD for landing at KSC from orbit 186 and 187.

{colsp=3}

Landing Ground Tracks​

{colsp=3} Deorbit on orbit 186:

Long-range​

|

Mid-range​

|

Close-range​

| |

{colsp=3} Deorbit on orbit 187:

Long-range​

|

Mid-range​

|

Close-range​

| |

Weather forecast for Wednesday:

LANDING FORECAST FOR STS-132

EXPECTED LANDING DATE: 05/26/10
TIME: 1248Z
SITE: KENNEDY SPACE CENTER...FL

U.S. LANDING SITES - EOM - WEDNESDAY 05/26/10

SHUTTLE LANDING FACILITY...KENNEDY SPACE CENTER FL
KSC SCT030 BKN100 BKN250 7 33012P18
CHC SHRA WI 30NM

EDWARDS AIR FORCE BASE CA
EDW FEW040 SCT080 BKN250 7 22013P19
SLGT CHC SHRA WI 30NM

NORTHRUP STRIP...WHITE SANDS SPACE HARBOR NM
NOR FEW060 7 14008P10


FLIGHT RULE VIOLATIONS:
KSC ... PRECIP
EDW ... PRECIP
NOR ... NONE

---------- Post added at 16:48 ---------- Previous post was at 16:15 ----------

And here is O-F Calendar event for landing updated with detailed timers for both landing attempts on May 26 (i.e. 8:48:14 a.m. EDT / 12:48:14 UTC, and 10:22:58 a.m. EDT / 14:22:58 UTC).

 

[Orbinaut Pete]

The OBSS TPS late inspection has been completed, with no damage detected.

Spaceflight Now: "Astronauts check Atlantis heat shield one more time".

Late inspection time-lapse:
[nomedia="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9UmQz73XuMU"]YouTube- sts-132 Late inspection[/nomedia]

---------- Post added at 05:21 PM ---------- Previous post was at 05:15 PM ----------

View of MRM-1's interior - it's a LOT smaller than I thought it'd be!!! :speakcool:

Hi-res version.

In the top-right of this image, you can see the PDGF (Power & Data Grapple Fixture) that was retrieved from Atlantis’s Payload Bay during EVA-3, and in the top-middle of the image, you can see the Cupola crew restraint, now uninstalled!

Hi-res version.

---------- Post added at 08:04 PM ---------- Previous post was at 05:21 PM ----------

Another view into MRM-1! :thumbup:

Hi-res version.

 

[Orbinaut Pete]

Yet another "Soichi Shot" - Atlantis during flyaround.
You know, I'm really going to miss Soichi’s photos when he leaves Station next week - we need to start training his replacement!

 

[Orbinaut Pete]

The OBSS TPS late inspection has been completed, with no damage detected.

I worked out earlier today: That was the last ever movement made by Atlantis’s RMS.

---------- Post added at 09:57 PM ---------- Previous post was at 02:17 PM ----------

Atlantis is scheduled to return to Earth for the final time tomorrow, with a KSC RWY 33 landing planned at 8:48:14 AM EDT/12:48:14 PM GMT. Weather is currently 50% GO.

For full details plus info on other landing opportunities, see Spaceflight Now: “Flight director hopeful about '50-50' landing weather”.


NASASpaceFlight: “DAT Clear Atlantis’ Thermal Protection System for Landing”.

-----

FD-11 HD Crew Choice Downlink Video:
[nomedia="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qpM1svEbJy0"]YouTube- Shuttle Crew Enjoys Final Days of Mission[/nomedia]


STS-132 Astronauts pay tribute to Atlantis' final flight:
[nomedia="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=85YEY83gles"]YouTube- STS-132: Astronauts pay tribute to Atlantis' final flight[/nomedia]


CSA Astronaut Chris Hadfield's Tribute to Space Shuttle Atlantis:
[nomedia="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C5m1tav0BmI"]YouTube- CSA Astronaut Chris Hadfield's Tribute to Atlantis[/nomedia]

 

[orb]

Deorbit burn has just been performed. Atlantis will land at KSC SLF (KSC33 is targeted, but both runways are good for landing), at first landing opportunity from orbit 186, at 8:48:14 a.m. EDT / 12:48:14 UTC.

 

[Orbinaut Pete]

I can't believe this is really going to happen. I think everyone should take a moment to recognise the historic event we are about to observe.
Anyhow, GO ATLANTIS – do it right one last time. Good luck, and Godspeed.

 

[Dambuster]

Awesome landing

 

[Lucy]

Sweet landing. A worthy sendoff.

Main gear touched down at MET 11 days 18 hours 28 mins 2 secs, nose wheel at MET 11 days 18 hours 28 mins 12 secs, wheel stop at MET 11 days 18 hours 29 mins 9 secs.

Atlantis covered 4,879,978 miles and 186 orbits this trip to bring her odometer to over 120,000,000 miles total. An amazing legacy and a wonderful machine.

 

[orb]

Landed safely on KSC33.

Main Gear Touchdown: 12:48:11 UTC / 8:48:11 a.m. EDT

Nose Gear Touchdown: 12:48:21 UTC / 8:48:21 a.m. EDT

Wheels Stop: 12:48:18 UTC / 8:49:18 a.m. EDT

 

[Lucy]

Heh, sorry mate, I edited my post with that lot without seeing yours. >.<

 

[Orbinaut Pete]

Beautiful landing. I watched it in HD on Sky News!

Well, I suppose that's that - STS-132 is over, and Space Shuttle Atlantis is now a history artefact.

From the bottom of my heart, I would like to say thank you to Atlantis and her crews for all you have done. You have given me something very special, like nothing else on Earth (quite literally!) can give me - inspiration and dreams. For that, I will always be indebted to you.

So, Atlantis, here's to you!

 

[orb]

Heh, sorry mate, I edited my post with that lot without seeing yours. >.<

The same reason I edited my post and removed MET from it.

 

[Lucy]

The same reason I edited my post and removed MET from it.

S'all good then.

 

[Orbinaut Pete]

Atlantis's APUs have been shut down for the final time.

 

[Lucy]

She may be gone from our skies, but she lives on in our hearts and our default Orbiter packages.