Updates STS-134 Updates

[Yoda]

I think the Grissom, Chaffee and White families (amongst many others) would disagree with you there. We may have lost a few pretty pictures, let's not overdramaticise it.

---------- Post added at 13:01 ---------- Previous post was at 12:59 ----------

On the subject of the photos, as I understand it, they took a camera and lens (lenses?) into the Soyuz to take the photos, then left the camera in the service module to burn up. Anyone know what camera/lenses burnt up in the atmosphere and if this is the first time they've left cameras to burn up on reentry?

Apollo 1 was not in the same catagory since that was a tragic accident, so don't even compare that in regards to my statement ( I actually resent that statement)

 

[Ripley]

As many of you did, I also heard on the undocking night (Europe here) that Paolo Nespoli, after taking pictures and videos, had to remove the cartridges, and secure the HD cameras in the module that would've burned up in the atmosphere.

As a Nikon fan myself I was happy to read that they have high-end Nikon cameras aboard the ISS (http://www.nikon.com/news/2009/1221_NASA-D3S_01.htm), but I was sort of "scandalized" to hear that those cameras had to burn up, ouch!!

There was a heavy emphasis of the official speaker on the things Paolo should subsequently do (videos -> cards extraction -> cameras securing, etc).
He repeated it twice, so I guess that means it was an official well-thought NASA-procedure to follow...After all, maybe it wasn't 100% well-thought-out...

 

[Eli13]

Why though? I'm not sure i understand the procedure.

 

[Wishbone]

I've got an entirely uneducated guess: to keep the SA balanced and its CoG within defined bounds... A sensible thing to do, if you ask me.

 

[Eli13]

I suppose....
i don't know if it's just me, but it seems like a waste of a good camera if you ask me.
All i've got is the 3.2 in my phone at the moment.

 

[Ripley]

Why though? I'm not sure i understand the procedure.

...to keep the SA balanced and its CoG within defined bounds...

Yes, it could well be because of weight. Also because the hardware did its job. There was no point in returning it safe to Earth.
Hey, they dispose and burn up an entire Orbital Module, what are 2 or 3 Nikon cameras (and some lenses, argh!!!) in comparison?

I could have used them proficiently though!!
:shrug:

 

[garyw]

I suppose....
i don't know if it's just me, but it seems like a waste of a good camera if you ask me.
All i've got is the 3.2 in my phone at the moment.

And the ET which burns up is a perfectly good tank, the ATV which burns up is a perfectly good cargo vessel and so on.

I suspect the reason they decided to not bring the cameras back was due to a lack of stowage space for them in the descent module. They were aready bringing back some experiments, the tallest astrouaunt to ever fly on a Soyuz and a host of other things. Cameras were just too much to store.

There are dangers with having things not stowed properly as Alan Bean well knows. An improperly secured camera nearly killed him on Apollo 12.

---------- Post added at 15:11 ---------- Previous post was at 15:08 ----------

On the subject of the missing memory cards - there are three rumours doing the rounds:

1. They are missing.
2. They are not missing.
3. They are not missing but not been given any time due to Nespoli not feeling well and some time critical experiments that had to be unloaded.

It's only Wednesday. NASA PAO said they were planning on uploading the imagery today. It's early in the US so let's give them more time. Photos are not urgent. Nespoli's health and the time critical experiments are.

 

[Krikkit]

I am sure NASA just has to edit out all the UFOs, misaligned shadows, waiving flags, and Illuminati spy satellites before they release the photos.

 

[Yoda]

I am sure NASA just has to edit out all the UFOs, misaligned shadows, waiving flags, and Illuminati spy satellites before they release the photos.

:rofl:Classic:rofl:

 

[agentgonzo]

Access to Soyuz images in about the week; the cards are still in the Soyuz which is in transfer to Moscow.

 

[IronRain]

New video of the STS-134 launch

[ame]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bJla-JsVNpw&feature=feedu[/ame]

---------- Post added 05-26-11 at 10:03 AM ---------- Previous post was 05-25-11 at 09:24 PM ----------

Daily Mission Recap - FD10

[ame]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c0jbhAj_5kI&feature=feedu[/ame]

 

[C3PO]

One of the right SRB's chutes failed, but I guess reusability isn't really a big issue right now.

 

[SiberianTiger]

Amazing!

Student Balloon Photographs Shuttle Endeavour's Launch Into Orbit

A camera-toting balloon captured unique views of NASA's space shuttle Endeavour as it soared into space for the final time today (May 16), snapping pictures from the stratosphere as part of a student-led project.

The helium-filled balloon carrying the so-called "Senatobia-1" payload was launched near Gainesville, Fla. at 7:30 a.m. EDT (1130 GMT) this morning

 

[Donamy]

One of the right SRB's chutes failed, but I guess reusability isn't really a big issue right now.

It is, if they are planning on using, that type of chute for a manned spacecraft, in the future. :blink:

 

[IronRain]

Quite early today
Daily Mission Recap - FD11

[ame]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aTXuwi_1d0Q&feature=feedu[/ame]

 

[C3PO]

It is, if they are planning on using, that type of chute for a manned spacecraft, in the future. :blink:

Oh! I'm a fan of reusable astronauts! I hope they get it sorted.

 

[IronRain]

Just to let you all know, final EVA in the Space Shuttle era has begun

This EVA will push the total EVA time for ISS assembly passed 1,000 hours

Shuttle astronauts venture into space for final time

NASA HD stream

 

[mojoey]

I remember somewhere that the final shuttle flight would be to put the finishing touches on the ISS then fire the main engines and put some spin to induce some gravity. Not enough to make a big difference but some.

 

[C3PO]

Just to let you all know, final EVA in the Space Shuttle era has begun

This EVA will push the total EVA time for ISS assembly passed 1,000 hours

Shuttle astronauts venture into space for final time

NASA HD stream

"Station assembly complete".
I wonder if that call will wake up any US citizen (or even politician) to the fact that US manned space flight is effectively ending this year. Personally I doubt it.

 

[garyw]

I remember somewhere that the final shuttle flight would be to put the finishing touches on the ISS then fire the main engines and put some spin to induce some gravity. Not enough to make a big difference but some.

Got a link for that?

Won't happen because it would put too much stress on the stack, Soyuz & progress wouldn't be able to dock, it would cause major issues with the solar arrays attempting to track the sun and it affect the reason for having the ISS - Microgravity research.

---------- Post added at 16:00 ---------- Previous post was at 15:59 ----------

"Station assembly complete".
I wonder if that call will wake up any US citizen (or even politician) to the fact that US manned space flight is effectively ending this year. Personally I doubt it.

Give it two years or so until people start asking 'why aren't we seeing any shuttle flights' and things like 'When are the new shuttles going to be launched?'