Surprise! Military shuttle X-37B lands at KSC

Front view of the X-37B on the shuttle runway at the Kennedy Space Center. Engineers wear protective suits so they will avoid contamination by any volatile chemicals. (US Air Force photo from Spaceflightnow.com)

The fourth X-37B mission has finally come to an end. Currently the US Air Force has two X-37 spacecraft (that we know of), and this was spacecraft number - well, we don't know, because the US Air Force does not officially disclose which of its spacecraft are up there during a mission. We DO know that it lifted off on May 20, 2015, on an Atlas 5 booster from Cape Canaveral LC-41. It spent 718 days in space.

 

 Side view of the X-37B. (US Air Force photo from Spaceflightnow.com)

For more information on this mission, check out SpaceFlightNow.com:
https://spaceflightnow.com/2017/05/07/x-37b-spaceplane-returns-to-earth-and-makes-precision-autopilot-landing/

Endeavor prepares for last trip to Museum

Shuttle Carrier 747 lands at Kennedy Space Center.

Shuttle Endeavor is preparing for its last trip.

Endeavor was built after the loss of the shuttle Challenger. The shuttle program came to an end when orbiter Atlantis landed at Kennedy Space Center in July of 2011. The shuttles are being dispersed to museums around the country. Endeavor will take off tomorrow on the back of the 747 and fly to Los Angeles for transfer to the California Science Center. Liftoff expected at sunrise, with a fly-over of the space center for all the fans.

Endeavor attached to the back of the shuttle carrier 747.

STS135: Atlantis rolls safely to a stop

Heads up display inside Atlantis cockpit.

At 3: 57 a.m. MDT Thursday, July 21, shuttle orbiter Atlantis touched down on the long runway at the Kennedy Space Center in Florida. The drogue chute deployed, slowing the craft while it braked to ensure it didn't roll right off the tarmac. When it came to a stop, so did the STS program.

Well at least you can see the drogue chute.

The landing took place just before the first rays of dawn hit the East Coast, so it was still pretty dark. The shuttle's arrival was first announced by the twin sonic booms as it entered Florida airspace faster than the speed of sound. NASA infrared cameras picked up the falling orbiter, glowing in infrared from its fiery journey through the atmosphere. The astronauts guided the craft through a series of turns, bleeding off excess speed while dropping like a huge brick from the sky.

Infrared view of the end of the journey.

Once stopped, the orbiter released pent-up gases and heat while astronauts began shutting down systems. When the shuttle was off and the gases safe enough, the hatch was opened and the astronauts released to the ground, gaining their Earth-legs again.

Move along, folks. It's all over. Nothing to see here.

STS135: Atlantis prepares for final landing

Atlantis undocked and free of the station.

The astronauts on board shuttle Atlantis have been preparing their ship for its final return to Earth scheduled for Thursday. After undocking from ISS and moving the shuttle away from the station, astronauts used the robotic arm to take a final inspection of the heat tiles underneath the orbiter, ensuring they had no problems with the protective shield.

In the flight deck: Commander Chris Ferguson (back left) and pilot Doug Hurley. In front are mission specialists Sandy Magnus (left) and Rex Walhelm.

The crew also checked out the craft's landing and thruster systems, and the commander and pilot simulated landing procedures using a laptop computer simulator program.

Expedition 28 astronaut Mike Fossum took this beautiful picture of Atlantis just before the undocking sequence. Perfect view of the Raffaello logistics module in the shuttle cargo bay.

Milestone alert: The crew also found time to launch a small micro satellite, named PicoSat. This remarkable little explorer, under 10 inches in largest dimension, is designed to test some new solar cells during its time in orbit. This launching marks the 180th payload to be deployed during the shuttle program.

It was also the Last. Bon Voyage, PicoSat!

STS-135: Packing for trip home

ISS camera shows Raffaello cargo module in shuttle cargo bay.

Just about an our ago astronauts used the robotic arms to disconnect the Raffaello logistics module from the ISS and attach it back into the cargo bay of shuttle Atlantis. The Raffaello is packed with finished experiments and garbage that is designated for return to Earth for studies.

Raffaello at the end of the CanadArm 2.

Final supplies have been stored and prepared aboard the space shuttle and all systems are ready for undocking this morning. The last step is to perform a final shuttle undocking ceremony for the cameras and then close the hatch. The ISS crew gave astronaut Mike Fossum of the Atlantis crew a model of the shuttle, representing a small monument if you will, in honor of all those whose spirits soared with the shuttle on each flight. Another item passed along is a special flag, which had originally flown on the very first shuttle mission, STS-1 with shuttle Columbia. The challenge to the ISS astronauts is that it should be returned on the next US spacecraft to visit the ISS, hopefully not too far away in our future. The flag was presented to astronaut Ron Garan.

Closing Ceremony.

The closing ceremony was fairly touching, besides the exchange of momentos, there were words of thanks and congratulations on a mission well done. The ISS now stands ready to begin its lonely vigil in the outpost of Earth Orbit, with only cargo pods and Soyuz ferry rockets to look forward to. We will miss the shuttle and its unique ability to transfer huge cargos and pieces of the station. Not only that, but the shuttle offered the only other airlock useable for conducting maintenance spacewalks and offered unique safety capabilities for the station.

In the airlock tunnel, ISS astronauts close the Atlantis hatch.

With the end of the ceremony, the crew of Atlantis floated through the hatch and the ISS astronauts helped them secure the airlock. Atlantis will depart from ISS tomorrow.

Ron Garan closing the hatch in Node 2 airlock on ISS. The special Flag is affixed to the hatch out of picture.

STS-135: Update

Joint crew of STS135 and Expedition 28.

My employers unexpectedly required me to be in San Diego for a work conference last week, and so I was unable to make a few mission blogs covering the launch of shuttle Atlantis and the crew of STS-135. By now you all should be aware that the launch was successful, and that operations on the ISS are proceeding as planned.

Launch from Pad 39A.

Despite some concerns about possible weather delays, the shuttle took off last Friday on the official last mission of a space shuttle to the ISS. Its four member crew performed visual checks of the shuttle heat tiles the next day, and docked to ISS on Sunday. DUring the next couple of days the ground controllers monitored potential danger from nearby Russian space junk.

View from spacewalking astronaut Ron Garan.

On Tuesday, Astronauts Ron Garan and Mike Fossum conducted the last spacewalk during a shuttle mission to ISS. During the six-and-a-half hour EVA, they Retrieved a failed pump for return to Earth, installed a couple of experiments, and constructed a new base for the station's robotic arms.

Astronaut Sandy Magnus floats amidst supply packs.

Astronauts also continued to unload cargo from the Rafael resupply module stored in the shuttle's cargo bay. This task was made easier by using the robotic arms to pick up the cargo pod and move it into docking with the station itself! During all the resupply operations, astronauts also conducted interviews with reporters and took a special phone call from President Obama.

Time alone to ponder. Sandy Magnus in the Observation cupola.

Atlantis is scheduled to return in four days.

STS-135: Atlantis prepares for Last Shuttle Launch

Flight Deck view of technician helping astronauts get seated.

This is it.

Time has passed quickly this summer, and we've reached the last mission of the Space Transportation System, or STS. Atlantis is preparing for a launch from Cape Kennedy at 9:26 a.m. MDT. Weather is not looking good, and there is a good chance that the mission will be scrubbed this morning. However, the window of opportunity for launch to the ISS is open and the crew is anxious to begin the mission they were trained for.

Atlantis ready on the pad, fueled up and all systems being checked.

On this last mission of the shuttle program, Atlantis will carry four astronauts, supplies, and the Raffaello logistics module to be installed on the station. One spacewalk is planned during their stay. The crew is Commander Chris Fergusson, Pilot Doug Hurley, with Sandy Magnus and Rex Walhelm serving as mission specialists.

STS135: Atlantis Roll Out

From inside the VAB: Atlantis heads for the pad.

A few hours before shuttle Endeavour touched down on the long runway at Kennedy Space Center, the great doors of the Vehicle Assembly Building (VAB) began to open. For the last time, a space shuttle was taking the long drive on the giant crawler out to the launch pad. Held firmly in place by giant clamps, the crawler moved Atlantis out of the building and along the trackway at a stately rate of less than a mile per hour. The trip would take about six hours to cover the 3.4 mile journey.

Earlier in May: Atlantis lifted up to attach to the stack.

While the media focus had rightly been on the last launch of shuttle Endeavour and the adventures of mission STS134, the shuttle Atlantis was driven to the VAB. Clamped into a giant lifting cradle, the orbiter was lifted up and oriented 90 degrees to vertical, then slowly brought to its position on the "stack"; that is the External Tank (ET) with its attached Solid Rocket Boosters (SRM's). Once all attachments were complete, systems checked, and safety tests confirmed, it was time for the rollout.

Once in place on Launch Pad 39A, the crawler disengaged from the launch platform itself and began the return trip back to the VAB area. If there are any problems or dangers, as from a hurricane, the crawler will return to the pad and bring the shuttle back. However, that is a very rare event.

The shuttle is scheduled to launch July 8th.

STS134: Touchdown!

Infrared camera view of Endeavour about to land.

STS 134 came to an end this morning at 12:34 a.m. MDT when Endeavour landed perfectly on the giant runway built for shuttles at the Kennedy Space Center. This was the final landing for Endeavour, which will now be retired to a museum.

This great shuttle, built to replace the loss of the Challenger, has completed a remarkable series of 25 missions since 1992. The mileage rackup just for this mission is impressive: 6,510,221 miles around the Earth in low orbit, preforming science and helping to build the ISS.

The total mileage for all of its missions now stands at a whopping 122,883,151 miles. Wow!

In addition to mileage, Endeavour has completed 299 days in space, making 4,671 orbits around the Earth. Its next numbers goal will be how many visitors it will receive in a museum.

STS134: Endeavour headed home.

Departing Shuttle from ISS Camera.

Endeavour undocked from the ISS about 11:55 p.m. MDT Sunday night. It slowly moved away and around the station. Then came the encore! The shuttle approached the station again, on a practice docking maneuver, in order to test a new sensor installed on the station. The new sensor will help future docking attempts by spacecraft carrying supplies and crew to the ISS.

Endeavour's mission will end late tomorrow night when the orbiter touches down in darkness at the Kennedy Space Center. Landing is scheduled for about 12:35 a.m. Wednesday morning.

STS134: Time to go home.

Endeavour cockpit.

Well, the time has come and gone. It was time for the crew of STS134 to say goodbye to the crew of new Expedition 29 on the ISS. After loading items onto the shuttle that needed to be returned from ISS for study, the crews met together for the last time for a farewell ceremony.

STS134 and Expedition 28 crews.

After a brief conference the crew of Endeavour headed down into their spacecraft and hatches were secured at about 7:20 a.m. EDT. Time to power up the old gal for one last ride through the bumpy atmosphere. Undocking is scheduled for 11: 50 something EDT tonight.

View of Endeavour, and Earth below. Time to go home.

STS134: The Mundane Stuff?

Endeavour's crew gather for a crew picture.

With the 4th and last spacewalk complete, what does the shuttle crew do now? The picture above gives one clue. They are assembled in the Japanese science module KIBO for a picture. Lots of photos get taken in the ISS. This is amazing technology, and the crew is on an exciting adventure. These pictures get placed in newsppapers, magazines, the internet, and books. The publicity efforts of the astronauts inspire kids and adults alike to pay more attention to science and technological developments going on in orbit overhead. It helps promote the goals of not only NASA, but also the National Science Foundation, corporation interests like Boeing, medical companies and technology companies. NAd more.

Today the astronauts are helping the current 3-man crew of the ISS to maintain the Carbon Dioxide Removal Assembly, which is essential for keeping the life support system functional and making for living, breathing astronauts. Actually, this makes me chuckle, because as a flight director for the CMSEC simulator Magellan, I often cause the CO-2 scrubbers to malfunction to see how a crew responds to that emergency. Shades of Apollo 13.

The crew is also making a number of public appearances through the communications network, talking with reporters from television stations from Michigan and Ohio today.

And last but not least, there is still plenty of cargo to move from the shuttle to the ISS, and placing important garbage and items from the station into the shuttle for return to Earth. Not everything is burnt up in the atmosphere, some of it goes back to NASA for scientists to examine for scientific research.

All in a day's work for six guys who get TO FLY AROUND IN ZERO-G. Geesh. They look like it's so much fun!

STS134: Final Shuttle Spacewalk

Spacewalking.

Astronauts Chamitoff and Fincke completed the 4th and last spacewalk for the STS134 mission last night. Even as Early as I get up, the walk was already over and the suits were being stored as I quickly turned on NASA TV. Thanks to NASA TV, I'll be able to watch the highlights of the EVA later today. With no spacewalks planned during STS135, this concludes shuttle program EVAs for the ISS.

The spacewalkers stowed away the boom extension for the CanadArm2, and placed another grapple and power fixture point on the station so the arm can have greater reach along the truss. Once several other smaller procedures were completed, they headed for the airlock.

According to NASA figures, the astronauts reached a special milestone during the EVA. There have now been over 1,000 hours of EVA spent building and maintaining the International Space Station, shared between the United States and Russia primarily. It was the 118th time astronauts have used the ISS airlocks. No doubt there will be many more as the shuttles end their trips to ISS and will not be able to bring up supplies and crews.

Today also marks a special notice for astronaut Mike Fincke, who now stands at nine spacewalks and 48 hours in EVA. Today he will pass the 377 day record of time in space set by Peggy Whitson. Go Mike!

STS134: Third spacewalk complete

247th US spacewalk.

During the third spacewalk of the STS134 mission, mission specialists Drew Feustel and Mike Fincke completed a series of modifications to the station that will allow the ISS to perform more efficiently when the shuttles are retired.

Modifications were made to the Russian Zarya module so that a bcakup solar power system is available, and a new base was created for attaching the station's CanadArm-2 to the module, thus extending its reach. The two astronauts also completed some communications maintenance on the exterior of the station.

Expedition 27: The Voyage Home

TMA-20 Soyuz docked at the Rassvet module.

At 3:35 p.m. MDT the Last crew of Expedition 27 to the ISS undocked from the station, LEaving the Rassvet module in their SOyuz TMA-20 spacecraft, they backed away from the docking port at about 1/10 meter per second. When safely away from the station, they used thrusters to maneuver the craft to perform a special duty this time.

Backing away from the hatch.

This is the first time that a Soyuz undocked from the ISS while a shuttle was parked there, and this is Endeavour's last trip into space. Russian planners therefore agreed to have the departing Expedition 27 crew make a fly-around of the station and shuttle complex for a special photo shoot!

TMA-20 on left, Endeavour on right.

Once the craft was some 600 feet away, cosmonaut Paulo Nespoli then opened the interior hatch of the Soyuz to move into the cargo module to take the pictures and video. The station rotated about 130 degrees to give him the best views possible.

Undocking view from Soyuz.

Because of the nature of the camera equipment, the crew won't be able to transmit the images to Earth. They will have to wait until they get safely on the ground when engineers will rush to get the views on line and distributed to the agencies involved.

Passing through Endeavour's shadow.

The crew will perform a deorbit burn at about 9:36 EDT and head for home. Estimated arrival time is 10:26 p.m. in Kazakhstan.

Another view of the two spacecraft.

Soyuz Camera view of ISS in orbit. A rare view of a shuttle parked at the station.

TMA-20 reaches camera position. Soon it''s back to Earth for them.

STS134: Heat shield OK'ed for landing

Small chunk missing from tiles under the orbiter.

NASA engineers have examined the photos of Endeavour's heat shield and determined there is no danger for the orbiter to re-enter the atmosphere on it's last return to Earth. The damage was probably cause by a piece of falling insulation from the External Tank during liftoff. It was larger damage than this that caused shuttle Columbia to lose integrity during re-entry and its destruction.

Expedition 27: Chess in Space!

Greg Chamitoff and the ISS chess board.

It's Greg vs. Greg in a space chess match on the ISS. STS134 astronauts Greg Chamitoff and Greg Johnson are competing. Their space moves are being covered on Twitter, which you can follow on http://twitter.com/#!/chessmagnet. The game will be played in between the busy schedule of the astronauts during Endeavour's 14-day stay at the ISS. You can join the game yourself! Go to the United States Chess Federation website at http://www.uschess.org/content/blogcategory/301/629/ and suggest moves to the players!

STS134: Spacewalk 2: Check

Placing a container back in the airlock.

Astronauts on Sunday completed a record-making spacewalk. SPacewalk 2 of the STS134 mission, this walk lasted eight hours and twenty minutes! According to NASA, it was also the 246th spacewalk completed by American astronauts, as well as the 116th made from the ISS airlocks. There have now been 157 spacewalks made in order to build or maintain the ISS. Astronauts Drew Feustel and Mike Fincke performed the duties this time. They refueled cooing loops for the station with a new supply of ammonia and lubricated the joints for one of the huge solar panel arrays.

STS134: First Spacewalk done, Important Call

ISS Airlock module.

Early Friday astronauts on board the ISS completed the first spacewalk of the mission, replacing a couple of experiments and performing maintenance. On Saturday, astronauts made a closer inspection of possible damage to the heat tiles underneath the shuttle Endeavour. Ground experts will examine the new pictures.

STS134 crew (dark blue) and ISS Expedition 27 crew.

Both crews gathered together for a space first: Pope Benedict XVI called the crews on a special call to praise them for their hard work and important missions performed on behalf of the people of Earth.

The next spacewalk is scheduled for Sunday.

STS134: Here's Your AMS...

Artist version of AMS being removed from cargo bay.

Using the CanadArm on the shuttle and the CanadArm2 on the ISS, astronauts removed the Alpha Magentic Spectrometer 2 from the cargo bay of Endeavour and attached it to its new home on the ISS. The AMS is designed to detect and bend cosmic rays using a powerful magnet to search for evidence of dark matter. The AMS was built in Europe and is the culmination of efforts from 60 countries! Oh, and it cost about $2 billion. In my opinion, if it doesn't detect some dark matter than that is a serious matter... Ahem.

Computer image showing new location for AMS.

Computer image credits from NASA TV as usual. Currently, the astronauts are preparing for the first spacewalk of the mission, which should start about 1:16 am Friday and last about six and a half hours. Drew Feustel and Greg Chamitoff will perform the first spacewalk to retrieve two experiments, set out two more, and perform maintenance on the station. Three other spacewalks are planned for this mission after this one.

Astronauts prepare the EVA suits.