STS-134: Endeavor set for launch May 16

Endeavor prepared for launch.

The LCA-2 was removed from the shuttle Endeavor is being replaced. This unit fed power to the fuel line heaters and malfunctioned, endangering the liftoff. With the problem resolved and the repairs underway, NASA has given a green light to start the countdown again for the last launch of Endeavor on Mission STS-134. Blastoff is now scheduled for May 16th, Monday, at 6:56 am MDT.

Load Control Assembly-2. Bad thingy.

50 YA: Freedom 7 Launches First American

Freedom 7 lifts off of Pad 5.

Congratulations, America, you've had astronauts in space for fifty years!

On May 5, 1961, astronaut Alan Shepard donned his spacesuit for a second attempt at launching into a suborbital flight over the Atlantic Ocean. Once placed in his spacecraft, there was another long hold while NASA worked to clear the flight for blast off. The long wait was excruciating for a man who'd had perhaps too many cups of coffee before putting on the suit. After all, the flight was only supposed to last 15 minutes. Finally the GO was given, the countdown resumed, and the rocket blasted off. Many thousands of onlookers watched from the roads around Cape Canaveral, and Americans and people around the world watched on television. The highest point of the launch reached an altitude of 116 miles. During the flight, Shepard was able to test the attitude controls and make observations of Earth. Coming back through re-entry, Shepard had to endure over 11 G's of force as the capsule plunged to Earth. The parachutes deployed, and the craft landed in the ocean near the Bahamas islands. The US Navy was ready to pick up Shepard and the capsule. Later inspection showed the craft is in remarkably good shape and actually could have been used again. Today, the capsule is on display at the Naval Academy. Shepard later was awarded the Distinguished Cross by President John F. Kennedy at the White House.

Suit preparation.

Entering the Cleanroom.

Preparing to board.

View of Shepard in the capsule.

Dr. Von Braun (left) and Gordon Cooper (CAPCOM) in the launch blockhouse at LC-5.

As Capsule Communicator, Cooper had direct communications link to Shepard.

Blast Off! Freedom 7 is on its way!

Shepard during the flight.

View from the capsule.

Carrier USS Lake Champlain awaiting splashdown.

SHepard hoisted aboard the rescue helicopter. Capsule below.

2nd Helicopter recovers the capsule.

Shepard on deck of the carrier.

During the quick voyage back to the Cape.

Huntsville, Alabama celebrates. The rockets were built in Huntsville.

White House celebration. Shepard receives the Distinguished Cross from President Kennedy.

50 YA: America Chooses its First Astronaut to Fly

The Mercury 7.

The American citizenry were kept in the dark about who would be chosen to fly on the first Mercury flight. Seven astronauts had been preparing for years for this moment, but only one could fly first. Of course, there would be more flights than one and NASA management had to consider which pilot would be suited for which mission. The first mission was considered very dangerous by the very nature of being first to put a man in the Mercury capsule.

Glenn, Grissom and Shepard pose at LC-5.

By May, NASA had selected three astronauts for the first three flights. John Glenn was a Marine test pilot who had broken transcontinental speed records across the USA. Gus Grissom was from the US Air Force and test flew jets as well. Alan Shepard was a Navy carrier pilot who graduated to test flight and tested many of the navy's carrier jest in the 1950's. Both Glenn and Grissom had fought as combat pilots during the Korean War. Grissom flew 100 combat missions during the war. Glenn was a decorated war hero. During WW2 he flew against the Japanese in over 57 combat missions. During the Korean War he flew 100 combat missions and eventually shot down 3 enemy MiG jets.

Shepard in spacesuit.

On May 2nd, America had its answer: Alan Shepard would fly Freedom 7, the name he chose for the capsule he would ride into space. The discovery came during a now all-too-familiar problem: a launch delay. The rocket was ready to fly, and attempt was made on May 2nd. Unfortunately, bad weather closed in on the Cape and the mission was scrubbed. The next try would be May 5th.

The rocket is readied...

Readied, but it's a No-go. Flight delayed. Picture before the storm.

50 YA: Preparing for Freedom 7

Redstone rocket with Mercury capsule at pad 6.

Fifty years ago, space enthusiasts across America were on pins and needles waiting for the first US astronaut to fly into space. We had been stunned by the record-setting firsts made by the Soviet space program, and our reputation as a technological leader was in jeopardy. Then on April 12, 1961 the Soviets shocked the world with the launch of the first human in space, Yuri Gagarin. Meanwhile, NASA stumbled with problems in the control systems and finalizing safety equipment.

Finally it was time.

Evolution of the man-rated Redstone.

NASA prepared for the launch of it's first manned flight. The Redstone rocket at Launch Complex 5 was prepared with Mercury spacecraft #7 perched on top. The Redstone would not have enough thrust to propel the capsule into orbit around the Earth. We would need the Atlas rocket for that, but it was not ready. This flight was therefore planned as a sub-orbital mission, to send a man into space, and recover the spacecraft and astronaut in the Atlantic Ocean. US Naval vessels spread out into the downrange recovery area, awaiting the launch.

But who would ride the first rocket?

STS-134 Launch Delayed

Endeavor on Pad 39A.

By now you may have heard that the launch of mission STS-134 has been delayed. The culprit appears to be a faulty heater in the aft avionics section of the orbiter. NASA engineers now plan to replace Load Control Assembly-2 this week in order to prepare the shuttle for another opportunity to launch.

Technician begins repairs.

The picture above gives a clear view of one of the aft sections near the engines on the orbiter. You can clearly see the large pipes which bring in fuel from the External Tank (ET) to be ignited in the main engines. Heaters in the section control the temperature of the freezing-cold liquid fuel.

Endeavor is scheduled now for a flight no earlier than May 10. The mission to ISS is purposed to deliver the Alpha Magnetic Spectrometer-2, the Express Logistics carrier with supplies, and spare parts for the Dextre robotic helper.

Progress 42 Docks at ISS

Steady, steady... stand by for docking...

Russian mission controllers did their best to get a supply spacecraft in to the ISS before the shuttle arrived at the station. Six hours before the STS-134 was supposed to launch (and didn't!), the remote-controlled Progress 42 spacecraft docked successfully with the station. Cargo on this trip includes propellant, oxygen, water, over a ton of maintenance equipment, and supplies. The craft blasted off from Kazakhstan on Wednesday.

Endeavor Launch Delayed

Pilot Greg Johnson in Shuttle Training Jet.

Back to the simulators. Endeavor was all set for launching on Friday, with tremendous crowds on hand to observe this last flight of this orbiter on mission STS-134. Alas, it was not meant to be. A heater problem in Auxiliary Power Unit 1 (APU-1) is under investigation as the culprit for the delay. As of this posting, the problem is not resolved, but a decision is expected Sunday morning on whether there will be a launch attempt Monday.

President Obama boarding Air Force One.

Also there to watch the flight of Endeavor was POTUS (President of the United States) Obama. Well, at least I know that he has now experienced what I've experienced every time I went to Kennedy Space Center to watch a launch: Frustration at a launch delay.

Lightning at the pad Thursday night.

It just so happened that Thursday night I was teaching class on Space Exploration Merit Badge at the Space Center. During the class I activated NASA TV on the main screen in the room, and lo and behold there was a tremendous lightning storm in progress. The boys in the class were duly impressed as bolt after bolt lit up the night scene and illustrated my impromptu lesson on the launch tower lightning rods! I usually don't get such a coincidental opportunity!