 | STS-121
Credit - NASA
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4 July 2006 18:38 GMT. Landing Date: 2006-07-17 13:14:00. Flight Time: 12.78 days. Flight Up: STS-121. Flight Back: STS-121. Call Sign: Discovery. Crew: Lindsey, Kelly Mark, Fossum, Nowak, Wilson, Sellers. Program: ISS. The shuttle was launched using external tank ET-119 and solid motors RSRM-93. Cameras revealed that large chunks of foam were still shed from the external tank during the ascent to orbit. However examination of the heat shield using a new extension and sensors attached to the shuttle's robot arm revealed no significant damage. Discovery docked with the PMA-2 adapter on the Destiny module of the ISS at 14:52 GMT on 6 July. On July 7 the Leonardo cargo module was moved from the shuttle payload bay by the robot arm and docked to the Unity Module of the ISS between 09:42 and 11:50 GMT. The crew then began unloading the spare parts and supplies in the module to the station. A series of three EVAs conducted on 8 to 12 July tested the new equipment and techniques for repairing the shuttle heat shield in case of damage, and did some preliminary installations on the exterior of the ISS to pave the way for continued station assembly missions. On 14 July, the station's SSRMS robot moved the Leonardo module from the station back to the shuttle cargo bay between 13:08 and 14:50 GMT. The shuttle separated from the ISS, and fired its engines at 12:07 GMT on 17 July to make a 92 m/s deorbit maneuver. Discovery landed at the Kennedy Space Center at 13:14 GMT. European astronaut Reiter was left behind to make up part of the EO-13 resident crew on the station.
NASA Official Mission Summary
STS-121
Mission: International Space Station Assembly Flight ULF1.1
Space Shuttle: Discovery
Launch Pad: 39B
Launched: July 4, 2006, 2:37:55 p.m. EDT
Landing Site: Kennedy Space Center, Fla.
Landing: July 17, 2006, 9:15:49 a.m. EDT
Runway: 15
Revolution: 202
Mission Duration: 12 days, 18 hours, 37 minutes and 54 seconds
Main Gear Touchdown: 9:14:43 a.m. EDT
Nose Gear Touchdown: 9:14:53 a.m. EDT
Wheel Stop: 9:15:49 a.m. EDT
Rollout Distance: 4.2 miles
Miles Traveled: 5.3 million
Crew Members: Commander Steven W. Lindsey, Pilot Mark E. Kelly, Mission Specialists Stephanie D. Wilson, Michael E. Fossum, Piers J. Sellers, Thomas Reiter and Lisa M. Nowak.
Launch: July 4, 2006, at 2:38 p.m. EDT. Launch of Discovery was scrubbed twice, July 1 and 2, due to weather concerns. After a day's standdown, the launch attempt resumed on July 4 and Discovery lifted off on time.
Landing: July 17, 2006, at 9:15 a.m. EDT. Runway 15 at Kennedy Space Center. Main gear touchdown: 9:14:43 a.m. Nose gear touchdown: 9:14:53 a.m. Wheel stop: 9:15:49 a.m. Rollout distance: 4.2 miles. Mission duration: 12 days, 18 hours, 37 minutes and 54 seconds. Logged 5.3 million miles. Landed on first opportunity at Kennedy, marking the 62nd landing at the center.
Mission Highlights:
STS-121 was the second return-to-flight mission, demonstrating techniques for inspecting and protecting the shuttle's thermal protection system and replacing critical hardware needed for future station assembly. The mission also restored the station to a three-person crew for the first time since May 2003, leaving ESA astronaut Reiter aboard to join Expedition 13.
This was the most photographed shuttle mission in history, with more than 100 high-definition, digital, video and film cameras documenting the launch and climb to orbit. The images helped assess any damage sustained and potential risk for landing. In addition, the crew used the orbiter boom sensor system with a laser dynamic range imager, laser camera system and intensified television camera on the end, to examine the shuttle's nose cap, port wing, leading edge of the starboard wing, and outside of the crew cabin. No risk was found.
After docking to the station, the crew transferred the multi-purpose logistics module Leonardo to the Unity module from which they moved 7,400 pounds of supplies and equipment during their stay. The cargo included a new heat exchange for the common cabin air assembly that collects condensation out of the air on the station, a new window and window seals for the Microgravity Sciences Glovebox, and a spare U.S. extravehicular activity suit and emergency jet pack.
Astronauts performed three spacewalks:
EVA No. 1 -- 7 hours, 31 minutes. Mission Specialists Piers Sellers and Michael Fossum installed a blade blocker on the S0 truss in the zenith interface umbilical assembly to protect the undamaged power, data and video cable. They rerouted the cable through the IUA in order to move the mobile transporter rail car and replace the trailing umbilical system with the severed power and data cable. After that task, they tested the combination of the shuttle robotic arm and OBSS as a platform for spacewalking astronauts to repair a damaged orbiter if ever needed. The EVA was the fourth for Sellers and first for Fossum.
EVA. No. 2 -- 6 hours, 47 minutes. Sellers and Fossum restored the station's mobile transporter car to full operation, replacing the nadir-side trailing umbilical system, including a new interface umbilical assembly without a blade (the previous IUA had a blade, which inadvertently cut the cable that required the replacement). During the spacewalk, Fossum's emergency jet thruster backpack came loose on one side, requiring Sellers to secure it.
EVA No. 3 -- 7 hours, 11 minutes. The third and final spacewalk focused on testing repairs on thermal protection system reinforced carbon-carbon panels. Under evaluation was a pre-ceramic polymer sealant containing carbon-silicon carbide powder known as NOAX for use on damaged panels. Sellers and Fossum made three gouge repairs and two crack repairs. They also photographed the samples, as well as an area of Discovery's port wing. An added task during the EVA was removing the fixed grapple bar on the integrated cargo carrier in Discovery's payload bay and installing it on an ammonia tank inside the station's S1 truss to facilitate moving the tank on a later mission.
Refilled with 4,600 pounds of experiment samples, broken equipment and trash to be returned to Earth, Leonardo was moved back to Discovery's payload bay.
The return flight to Earth was delayed one day in order to add the third spacewalk. The mission management team determined there were enough consumables to extend the mission to test repair techniques and test a thermal imaging camera.
The trip home was one crew member short. Reiter remained behind to join Expedition 13, marking the first time since May 2003 that the station houses three crew members.
After unberthing from the station, the shuttle crew again used the robotic arm and boom sensors to inspect the starboard wing and nose cap heat shield. Still no concerns were noted.
Statistics
Cargo loaded in the payload bay was as follows:
- Bays 1-2: Orbiter Docking System - about 1800 kg
- Bay 4S: APC with SPDU - about 20 kg
- Bays 5-6: Integrated Cargo Carrier (ICC) - about 1500 kg, with Keel Yoke Device (KYD), Trailing Umbilical System) for an ISS Mobile Transporter repair, EATCS-PM pump module for the ISS truss, and a fixed grapple bar.
- Bay 7S: ROEU - about 20 kg
- Bays 7-12: Leonardo cargo module (MPLM-1) - 9500 kg - with the MELFI freezer rack, the Express Transportation Rack with the European Modular
Cultivation System, the Oxygen Generation System rack, three Resupply Stowage Racks and five Resupply Stowage Platforms with consumable supplies. A Remotely Operated Electrical Umbilical mounted on the sidewall routed power to Leonardo.
- Bay 13: Lightweight MPESS Carrier with DTO 848 protection system repair kit demonstator - 954 kg
- Sill-mounted: OBSS 202 robot arm extension, that would allow an astronaut to be carried underneath the shuttle for inspection and repairs - about 450 kg, and RMS 303 robot arm - 390 kg
- Total cargo mass: about 14594 kg
STS-121 Chronology - 2006 Feb 3 - International Space Station Status Report: SS06-005
Space station crewmembers released a spacesuit-turned-satellite during the second spacewalk of their mission last night. Called SuitSat, it faintly transmitted recorded voices of school children to amateur ...more...
- 2006 Feb 24 - International Space Station Status Report: SS06-007
Aboard the International Space Station this week, Expedition 12 Commander Bill McArthur and Flight Engineer Valery Tokarev have been preparing for upcoming spacecraft arrivals and departures. Managers decided to postpone the planned station "campout" this week until next ...more...
- 2006 Mar 3 - International Space Station Status Report: SS06-008
Entering the homestretch of a half-year mission, International Space Station Commander Bill McArthur and Flight Engineer Valery Tokarev monitored the departure of one of two Russian cargo ships today. Filled with trash and items no longer needed, the Progress 19 vehicle undocked from ...more...
- 2006 Apr 7 - International Space Station Status Report: SS06-016
After orbiting Earth more than 3,000 times during six months on the International Space Station, Expedition 12 Commander Bill McArthur and Flight Engineer Valery Tokarev returned to the planet Sunday morning in Kazakhstan. With them was Marcos Pontes, Brazil's first astronaut. The Soyuz spacecraft ...more...
- 2006 Apr 14 - International Space Station Status Report: SS06-017
The 13th crew of the International Space Station is wrapping up its first week flying solo in its new orbiting home. The crew's work has included station maintenance, medical and other experiments ...more...
- 2006 Apr 21 - International Space Station Status Report: SS06-018
The Expedition 13 crew this week focused on experiments, maintenance and preparations for the arrival of two and a half tons of food, supplies and equipment. Expedition 13 Commander Pavel Vinogradov and Flight Engineer and NASA Science Officer ...more...
- 2006 Jun 23 - International Space Station Status Report: SS06-030
New supplies arrived at the International Space Station Monday as an unpiloted Russian cargo spacecraft linked up to the station's Pirs Docking Compartment. Filled with 2.5 tons of food, fuel and supplies for the station's Expedition 13 ...more...
- 2006 Jun 26 - International Space Station Status Report: SS06-032
New supplies arrived at the International Space Station Monday as an unpiloted Russian cargo spacecraft linked up to the Pirs Docking Compartment. Filled with 2.5 tons of food, fuel and supplies for the station's Expedition 13 ...more...
- 2006 Jun 30 - International Space Station Status Report: SS06-033
The Expedition 13 crew welcomed a Russian resupply ship this week and prepared for the arrival of Space Shuttle Discovery. Discovery’s launch is scheduled for 3:49 p.m. EDT Saturday. Discovery's STS-121 ...more...
- 2006 Jul 4 - STS-121 Crew: Lindsey, Kelly Mark, Fossum, Nowak, Wilson, Sellers, Reiter. Spacecraft: Discovery. Payload: Discovery F32 / Leonardo. Mass: 121,094 kg (266,966 lb). Launch Site: Cape Canaveral. Launch Vehicle: Shuttle. Duration: 12.78 days. Perigee: 332 km (206 mi). Apogee: 351 km (218 mi). Inclination: 51.60 deg. Period: 91.40 min.
The shuttle was launched using external tank ET-119 and solid motors RSRM-93. Cameras revealed that large chunks of foam were still shed from the external tank during the ascent to orbit. However examination of the heat shield using a new extension and sensors attached to the shuttle's robot arm revealed no significant damage. Discovery docked with the PMA-2 adapter on the Destiny module of the ISS at 14:52 GMT on 6 July. On July 7 the Leonardo cargo module was moved from the shuttle payload bay by the robot arm and docked to the Unity Module of the ISS between 09:42 and 11:50 GMT. The crew then began unloading the spare parts and supplies in the module to the station. A series of three EVAs conducted on 8 to 12 July tested the new equipment and techniques for repairing the shuttle heat shield in case of damage, and did some preliminary installations on the exterior of the ISS to pave the way for continued station assembly missions. On 14 July, the station's SSRMS robot moved the Leonardo module from the station back to the shuttle cargo bay between 13:08 and 14:50 GMT. The shuttle separated from the ISS, and fired its engines at 12:07 GMT on 17 July to make a 92 m/s deorbit maneuver. Discovery landed at the Kennedy Space Center at 13:14 GMT. European astronaut Reiter was left behind to make up part of the EO-13 resident crew on the station.
- 2006 Jul 4 - STS-121 MCC Status Report #01
On the nation’s 230th birthday, Discovery rocketed into the Florida sky this afternoon, returning the shuttle fleet to space after almost a year. The first human spacecraft to launch on an Independence Day holiday, Discovery has ...more...
- 2006 Jul 5 - STS-121 MCC Status Report #02
Discovery's astronauts are awake and ready to begin their first full day in space. Today the crew will focus on thermal protection system inspections, preparing for ...more...
- 2006 Jul 5 - STS-121 MCC Status Report #03
The Astronauts of Space Shuttle Discovery examined their spaceship with the Orbiter Boom Sensor System today and found no evidence of any damage from debris during yesterday’s ride to orbit. The several hours of inspection began just after 6:00 a.m. when Mission Specialists ...more...
- 2006 Jul 6 - STS-121 MCC Status Report #04
A third crewmember will join the International Space Station today after the docking of the Space Shuttle Discovery. It will mark the first time since May 2003 that more than two long-duration crew ...more...
- 2006 Jul 6 - STS-121 MCC Status Report #05
There is a crew of three aboard the International Space Station today for the first time in more than three years, and for the first time ever that crew includes an American, a Russian and a European. European Space Agency astronaut Thomas Reiter of Germany was delivered as the newest ...more...
- 2006 Jul 7 - STS-121 MCC Status Report #06
After a successful docking to the International Space Station Thursday, the focus of the STS-121 shuttle mission now turns to unloading more than 7,000 lbs of cargo, continued shuttle inspections and preparations for the mission’s first spacewalk. The first task of the day will be the relocation of the Leonardo Multi-Purpose Logistics ...more...
- 2006 Jul 7 - STS-121 MCC Status Report #07
The STS-121 Mission Management Team Friday decided to extend Discovery’s flight by an additional day to 13 days after reviewing the rate at which the orbiter’s consumables are being used. The extra day will allow a third spacewalk to test thermal protection system repair ...more...
- 2006 Jul 8 - STS-121 MCC Status Report #08
The first spacewalk of Discovery's STS-121 mission to the International Space Station will highlight Saturday activities for crews of both docked spacecraft. Spacewalkers Piers Sellers and Mike Fossum have two major tasks. First they will ...more...
- 2006 Jul 8 - STS-121 MCC Status Report #09
Astronauts from Space Shuttle Discovery prepared the International Space Station’s rail car for restoration and tested a repair crane during a 7 hour 31 minute long spacewalk today, while their colleagues delivered a new oxygen generator and laboratory freezer to the station. Mission Specialists Piers Sellers and Mike Fossum turned their spacesuits to battery ...more...
- 2006 Jul 9 - STS-121 MCC Status Report #10
Continued unloading of the Multi-Purpose Logistics Module will be the focus of the Space Shuttle Discovery and International Space Station’s crew today. Some preparations for the second spacewalk, on Monday, also are on today's plan. The ...more...
- 2006 Jul 9 - STS-121 MCC Status Report #11
Delivering the equipment and supplies loaded in an Italian-built moving van was the primary activity for the crews of Space Shuttle Discovery and the International Space Station today. The astronauts also made preparations for the second spacewalk during joint docked ...more...
- 2006 Jul 10 - STS-121 MCC Status Report #12
Discovery Mission Specialists Mike Fossum and Piers Sellers will work on the International Space Station’s mobile transporter and install a pump module today on the second of three spacewalks of the STS-121 mission. The shuttle crew was awakened at 1:08 a.m. CDT by "Clocks," performed by Coldplay. ...more...
- 2006 Jul 10 - STS-121 MCC Status Report #13
A six-hour, 47-minute spacewalk by astronauts from Space Shuttle Discovery today restored the International Space Station’s Mobile Transporter rail car to full operation and delivered a spare pump module for the station’s cooling system. Spacewalkers Piers Sellers and Mike Fossum exited the Quest module’s airlock at ...more...
- 2006 Jul 11 - STS-121 MCC Status Report #14
Repacking the multi-purpose logistics module Leonardo will be the focus of today’s activities for the Space Shuttle Discovery and International Space Station crews. More than 4,300 pounds of experiment results, unneeded hardware and trash is scheduled ...more...
- 2006 Jul 11 - STS-121 MCC Status Report #15
In between spacewalks, the joint crews aboard Space Shuttle Discovery and the International Space Station today turned their attention to packing the Leonardo logistics module in preparation for its return to Earth. Additional time was set aside today for procedural review for the third spacewalk ...more...
- 2006 Jul 12 - STS-121 MCC Status Report #16
The third and final spacewalk of the STS-121 space shuttle mission will be the focus of today’s space activities. Mission Specialists Mike Fossum and Piers Sellers will test techniques to inspect ...more...
- 2006 Jul 12 - STS-121 MCC Status Report #17
Astronauts aboard Space Shuttle Discovery gathered valuable new data during the third spacewalk today as part of an ongoing evaluation of repairing a damaged orbiter. Mission Specialists Piers Sellers and Mike Fossum began the spacewalk at 6:20 a.m. ...more...
- 2006 Jul 13 - STS-121 MCC Status Report #18
After eight days in space, three spacewalks and six days of cargo transfer, the Space Shuttle Discovery crew today gets a much deserved day off. The crew woke at 12:08 a.m. CDT to "Charlie's Angels Theme Song." It was for the ...more...
- 2006 Jul 13 - STS-121 MCC Status Report #19
Astronauts on board Space Shuttle Discovery today got a much deserved day off after having completed three successful space walks and thousands of pounds of supply and equipment transfers earlier in the flight. The only events scheduled today were interviews for both the International Space ...more...
- 2006 Jul 14 - STS-121 MCC Status Report #20
It’s back to work for the Space Shuttle Discovery crew. After a day off, the crew will spend much of today getting ready for their undocking ...more...
- 2006 Jul 14 - STS-121 MCC Status Report #21
Emptied of its cargo and refilled with returns, the Multipurpose Logistics Module Leonardo is back in the payload bay of Space Shuttle Discovery with just hours left before the orbiter undocks from the International Space Station and heads home. First thing this morning Shuttle Commander Steve Lindsey and ISS Flight Engineer ...more...
- 2006 Jul 15 - STS-121 MCC Status Report #22
Today marks the final day of joint operations for the Space Shuttle Discovery and International Space Station crews. After almost nine days together, Discovery is scheduled to undock from the station ...more...
- 2006 Jul 15 - STS-121 MCC Status Report #23
The Space Shuttle Discovery is on its way home with six astronauts on board, one fewer than when it launched 11 days ago. The delivery of European Space Agency astronaut Thomas Reiter to join Expedition ...more...
- 2006 Jul 16 - STS-121 MCC Status Report #24
The Space Shuttle Discovery crew is scheduled for their last full day in space today, as they make their final preparations for deorbit and landing tomorrow. Their day began at 12:18 a.m. with “Just Like Heaven,” by The Cure for Mission Specialist ...more...
- 2006 Jul 16 - STS-121 MCC Status Report #25
Discovery is targeted for a landing at 8:14 a.m. CDT Monday at the Kennedy Space Center in Florida. For that landing, Discovery's engines would be fired at 7:07 a.m. CDT Monday to ...more...
- 2006 Jul 17 - STS-121 MCC Status Report #26
A smooth landing by the Space Shuttle Discovery at the Kennedy Space Center this morning completed the second return to flight test mission and set the stage to resume assembly of the International Space Station later this summer. Discovery and its crew of six astronauts touched down on runway 15 at the Shuttle ...more...
- 2006 Jul 28 - International Space Station Status Report: SS06-035
The International Space Station's Expedition 13 crew members are a week away from their first U.S. spacewalk. They spent much of this week preparing themselves and their gear, and they activated ...more...
- 2006 Aug 25 - International Space Station Status Report: SS06-039
With the countdown clock ticking toward the launch of Space Shuttle Atlantis on the STS-115 mission, the International Space Station crew continues to prepare for visitors. Commander Pavel Vinogradov, Flight Engineer, NASA Science Officer Jeff Williams ...more...
- 2006 Sep 28 - International Space Station Status Report: SS06-042
After six months aboard the International Space Station that included arrival of two space shuttle missions, resumption of construction of the orbiting laboratory and the restoration of a three-member crew, Expedition 13 landed at 9:13 p.m. EDT in the steppes of Kazakhstan. Commander Pavel Vinogradov and NASA station science officer Jeff Williams landed ...more...
Bibliography and Further Reading
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