STS133: Early end to spacewalk.

Upside down, up, or what? Doesn't matter in space.

The second spacewalk of STS133 has been completed. Astronauts Stephen Bowen and Alvin Drew managed to prepare a broken ammonia tank for later return to the surface, and keep the toxic ammonia spray away from the station and spacesuits. You don't want that stuff getting into your air supply.

Working on the Canadarm2.

The astronauts performed other tasks working to leave the station in great condition for the time when the shuttle doesn't return to the ISS. At the end though, one of the astronauts had a broken light fixture on his suit which prompted the early end of the spacewalk. Despite the strange end to the spacewalk, the objectives were completed and the mission goes on.

More Space for Astronauts on ISS

Canadarm's grapple hooks onto the PMM in the Discovery cargo bay.

The Permanent Multipurpose Module was pulled from the Discovery on Tuesday. Using the magnificent Canadarm robotic arm, astronauts guided the module into its new home on the Unity Node of the ISS. It has been dubbed the "Leonardo" after its original name as a reusable cargo transfer module. With the shuttle program ending soon, there would be no further need for the module, and it was repurposed as an extra module for the ISS.

View from ISS. PMM in Discovery payload bay.

Inside the Leonardo, Robonaut 2 (R2) is awaiting unpacking and getting set to work. R2 is the first humanoid robot to be assigned to space life aboard the ISS and will assist astronauts in maintenance and other duties.

Clear view of PMM in the payload bay.

Docking the PMM to the Unity Node.

Fantastic view. Leonardo in place, Soyuz docked to the left, Discover to the right.

Leonardo was "christened" and officially open at 5:17, and Commander Kelly was the first to enter. They must be cheering in Italy today. After being built in Italy, the module made seven trips to the ISS and now permanently resides there.

A bit of bad news as well - permission was denied to undock a Soyuz for a photo fly-by of the ISS during this historic visit. Many people wanted to get a great picture of all the international spacecraft docked at the ISS during this mission. NASA officials- chill out! You need to do some fun stuff some times...

STS133: First Spacewalk Completed

Back of an Astronaut in the center.

At the end of six and a half hours, astronauts Steve Bowen and Al Drew completed some relocation of station exterior tools and rails, and moved the 800-pound broken ammonia pump. It was quite a list of tasks to accomplish. They were assisted with use of the robotic Canadarm operated by astronaut Mike Barratt and Commander Scott Kelly. Kelly is the twin brother of Commander Mike Kelly who will be commanding STS134, and who is also the husband of Congresswoman Gabriella Giffords who was wounded in the head in the infamous Arizona shooting recently.

And they pay them to do this!?!

Cool!

Steve Bowen has another record. Not only is he the first astronaut to do back-to-back missions, he is also the first astronaut to do spacewalks on consecutive missions. He replaced astronaut Tim Kopra, who was injured in a bicycle accident before the launch.

Discovery's Last RPM

Discovery in holding pattern at ISS. Open cargo bay displays the Permanent Multipurpose Module and the Express Logistics Carrier 4.

Space Shuttle Discovery arrived at the ISS around mid-day Saturday. Before docking, all shuttle flight snow perform the RPM, or Rendezvous Pitch Maneuver. This nice piece of flying involves flipping the shuttle end-over-end so the cameras on the ISS can get great shots of the reentry tiles on the shuttle bottom. These shots will later be analyzed by NASA engineers to determine if the shuttle is safe for its later de-orbit burn and landing. After the RPM, the pilot swoops the shuttle upward in a 90 degree arc to position the open bay towards the ISS docking port. Finally, ever so slowly the shuttle is moved into docking with the ISS.

View of ISS through shuttle docking port. The crosshairs point to exactly where Discovery will be docking. The shuttle is below the ISS, but not in position for docking yet.

In position for the RPM. Note the interesting shadow of the ISS on the shuttle nose.

Here she goes...

Shuttle at 90 degrees up, pointing directly at the ISS cameras.

Starting to flip onto it's back.

Passing 180 degrees and still flipping. Shuttle main engines in view.

About 280 degrees and continuing.

Alllllllmost there...

RPM complete, 90 degree swoop into docking position complete, and edging closer to the ISS (in upper corner).

On Final Approach to the docking port. part of station blocks the view of the shuttle, but you can see Discovery's nose underneath the module right of center.

Graphic in Mission COntrol. Shuttle approaching the ISS.

Closing on the docking port.

Capture. Docking complete.

Discovery docked, view blocked by Japanese module. In this view you have a real snapshot of international cooperation. Modules from Japan, Russia, USA, ESA, and CanadArm.

Discovery on Last Voyage to ISS

Go Discovery!

Mission Controllers were a bit nervous as the shuttle stack waited on Pad 39A. Because of some concerns with time running out for today's launch window, it seemed the shuttle might not go. Finally at 2:53 p.m. MST, the engines and boosters ignited and the shuttle lifted off the Pad, with about 1 second of the launch window to spare.

Robonaut 2 will be permanently transfered to the ISS to assist astronauts in performing maintenance duties. The mechanoid "twittered" to its followers during the trip and will continue to do so for the duration of its mission.

Also on board is the PMM, the Permanent Multipurpose Module, currently filled with Robonaut 2 and an enormous amount of supplies and equipment for the station. Attached to the PMM is the Express Logistics Carrier 4, an exterior storage rack that holds larger experiment equipment.

Discovery is due to dock with ISS on Saturday.

ESA ATV-2 docks with ISS

ATV-2 on final approach.

EUropean Space Agency's ATV-2, the Johannes Kepler, has successfully docked at the International Space Station this morning. Using a combination of remote controls and its own autoguidance system, the cargo pod safely approached the station and finally was secured to the end of the Zvesda module on ISS.

ATV-2 location on the right.

The large cargo spacecraft is delivering crew supplies, oxygen, propellant, and research supplies. Enough of the propellant is reserved for using the ATV-2's engines to boost the ISS to a slightly higher orbit. Keep in mind that the solar wind helps to push the ISS lower and lower over long periods of time. The old Skylab station was eventually pushed into a burn-up de-orbit because of this.

ATV-2 hidden behind Zvesda solar panel on left. Two Soyuz or Progress vehicles can also be seen docked to ISS.

STS-133 Gets Ready for Launch

Night view of Discovery on Pad 39A.

The Countdown has started. Mission STS-133 on shuttle Discovery is set to launch on Thursday, February 24th at 2:50 pm MST. This last mission for the Discovery will take supplies in the Express Logistics Carrier 4 to the International Space Station. The Cargo container was previously known as the LEONARDO Multi-Purpose Logistics Module (MPLM). It is planned to leave the module attached to the station to act as an additional storage area and space for some experiments.

T-38 parking zone.

The crew of STS-133 arrived at Kennedy Space Center in a small squadron of T-38 jets. Astronauts use the jet trainers as rapid transit across the country during their busy training schedule. Now they'll prepare for the actual launch this week.

Meet R2.

Although Discovery isn't taking any human crewmembers to the ISS, it is carrying a passenger. R2, or Robonaut 2, will become a permanent inhabitant of the ISS helping the astronauts with their tasks. It's task to help scientists and engineers learn how humanoid robots can act in microgravity to help human crews explore space.

As this is Discovery's last space trip, it is one to watch and wonder.