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Polansky, Mark Lewis 'Roman'

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Polansky Credit: www.spacefacts.de

Status: Inactive; Active 1996-2012. Born: 1956-06-02. Spaceflights: 3 . Total time in space: 41.45 days. Birth Place: Paterson, New Jersey.

Grew up in Edison, New Jersey. Educated Purdue; Edwards.

Official NASA Biography as of June 2016:Mark L. Polansky
NASA Astronaut (FORMER)

PERSONAL DATA: Born June 2, 1956 in Paterson, New Jersey. Considers Edison, New Jersey, his hometown. Enjoys ice hockey, snow skiing, light aircraft flying, music, and the arts. Married to the former Lisa Ristow of San Antonio, Texas. They have a daughter and a son. His mother, Edith Polansky, resides in Edison, New Jersey.

EDUCATION: Graduated from John P. Stevens High School, Edison, New Jersey, in 1974; received a Bachelor of Science degree in aeronautical and astronautical engineering, and a Master of Science degree in aeronautics and astronautics, from Purdue University, both in 1978.

ORGANIZATIONS: Member of the Society of Experimental Test Pilots, American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics, and the Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association.

SPECIAL HONORS: Distinguished Graduate of the USAF Test Pilot School (1987). Distinguished Graduate of USAF Undergraduate Pilot Training (1980). Recipient of the USAF Flying Training Award (1980). Awarded Air Force Meritorious Service Medal and Air Force Commendation Medal with two Oak Leaf Clusters.

EXPERIENCE: Polansky received an Air Force commission upon graduation from Purdue University in 1978. He earned his pilot wings in January 1980 at Vance Air Force Base (AFB), Oklahoma. From 1980 to 1983, he was assigned to Langley AFB, Virginia, where he flew the F-15 aircraft. In 1983, Polansky transitioned to the F-5E aircraft and served as an Aggressor Pilot, where he trained tactical aircrews to defeat enemy aircraft tactics. He was assigned in this capacity to Clark Air Base, Republic of the Philippines, and Nellis AFB, Nevada, until he was selected to attend USAF Test Pilot School, Edwards AFB, California, in 1986. Upon graduation, he was assigned to Eglin AFB, Florida, where he conducted weapons and systems testing in the F-15, F-15E, and A-10 aircraft. Polansky left active duty in 1992 to pursue a career at NASA. He has logged more than 5,000 flight hours in more than 30 different aircraft.

NASA EXPERIENCE: Polansky joined NASA in August 1992, as an aerospace engineer and research pilot. He was assigned to the Aircraft Operations Division of the Johnson Space Center, Texas. His primary responsibilities involved teaching the astronaut pilots Space Shuttle landing techniques in the Shuttle Trainer Aircraft and instructing astronaut pilots and mission specialists in the T-38 aircraft. Polansky also conducted flight testing of the NASA T-38 avionics upgrade aircraft.

Selected as an astronaut candidate by NASA in April 1996, Polansky began training in August 1996. Having completed two years of training and evaluation, he was initially assigned as a member of the Astronaut Support Personnel team at the Kennedy Space Center, Florida supporting space shuttle launches and landings. Polansky also served as Chief of the CAPCOM branch (April 2002 to December 2002), Chief Instructor astronaut (April 2003 to January 2004) and Chief of the Return to Flight and Orbiter Repair branches. A veteran of three space flight, Polansky has logged more than 993 hours in space. He was the pilot on STS-98 and the mission commander on STS-116 and STS-127. Polansky also served as Director of Operations at the Gagarin Cosmonaut Training Center in Star City, Russia. He retired from NASA in June 2012.

SPACE FLIGHT EXPERIENCE: STS-98 Atlantis (February 9 to February 20, 2001). The STS-98 crew continued the task of building and enhancing the International Space Station by delivering the U.S. laboratory module Destiny. The shuttle spent seven days docked to the station while Destiny was attached and three spacewalks were conducted to complete its assembly. The crew also relocated a docking port, and delivered supplies and equipment to the resident Expedition-1 crew. Mission duration was 12 days, 21 hours, 20 minutes.

STS-116 Discovery (December 9 to December 22, 2006). The seven-member crew on this 12-day mission continued construction of the International Space Station by adding the P5 spacer truss segment during the first of four spacewalks. The next two spacewalks rewired the station's power system, preparing it to support the addition of European and Japanese science modules by future shuttle crews. The fourth spacewalk was added to allow the crew to coax and retract a stubborn solar panel to fold up accordion-style into its box. Discovery also delivered a new crew member and more than two tons of equipment and supplies to the station. Almost two tons of items no longer needed on the station returned to Earth with STS-116. Mission duration was 12 days, 20 hours and 45 minutes.

STS-127, International Space Station Assembly Mission 2J/A, Endeavour (July 15to July 31, 2009) delivered the Japanese-built Exposed Facility (JEM-EF) and the Experiment Logistics Module Exposed Section (ELM-ES) to the International Space Station. The crew completed the construction of the KIBO Japanese Experiment Module, installed scientific experiments on its Exposed Facility and delivered critical spare parts and replacement batteries to the orbital complex, in addition to transferring 24,638 pounds of hardware and 1,225 pounds of water to the station. While the shuttle was docked, the mission featured a record 13 astronauts working aboard the station representing all five International Space Station partners -- NASA, the Russian Space Agency, the Canadian Space Agency, the European Space Agency and the Japanese Space Agency (JAXA). The 16-day mission included five spacewalks and was accomplished in 248 orbits of the Earth, traveling 6,547,853 million miles in 15 days, 16 hours, 44 minutes and 58 seconds.

JULY 2012

This is the only version available from NASA. Updates must be sought directly from Mark Polansky.

NAME: Mark L. Polansky

NASA Astronaut Candidate (Pilot)

PERSONAL DATA:

Born June 2, 1956 in Paterson, New Jersey. Considers Edison, New Jersey, his hometown. Enjoys ice hockey, snow skiing, light aircraft flying, music, and the arts. His parents, Irving and Edith Polansky, reside in Edison, New Jersey.

EDUCATION:

Graduated from John P. Stevens High School, Edison, New Jersey, in 1974; received a bachelor of science degree in aeronautical and astronautical engineering, and a master of science degree in aeronautics and astronautics, from Purdue University, both in 1978.

ORGANIZATIONS:

Member of the Society of Experimental Test Pilots, American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics, and the Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association.

SPECIAL HONORS:

Distinguished Graduate of the USAF Test Pilot School (1987). Distinguished Graduate of USAF Undergraduate Pilot Training (1980). Recipient of the USAF Flying Training Award (1980). Awarded Air Force Meritorious Service Medal and Air Force Commendation Medal with two Oak Leaf Clusters.

EXPERIENCE:

Polansky received an Air Force commission upon graduation from Purdue University in 1978. He earned his pilot wings in January 1980 at Vance Air Force Base (AFB), Oklahoma. From 1980 to 1983, he was assigned to Langley AFB, Virginia, where he flew the F-15 aircraft. In 1983, Polansky transitioned to the F-5E aircraft and served as an Aggressor Pilot, where he trained tactical aircrews to defeat enemy aircraft tactics. He was assigned in this capacity to Clark Air Base, Republic of the Philippines, and Nellis AFB, Nevada, until he was selected to attend USAF Test Pilot School, Edwards AFB, California, in 1986. Upon graduation, he was assigned to Eglin AFB, Florida, where he conducted weapons and systems testing in the F-15, F-15E, and A-10 aircraft. Polansky left active duty in 1992 to pursue a career at NASA. He has logged over 5,000 flight hours in over 30 different aircraft.

NASA EXPERIENCE:

Polansky joined NASA in August 1992, as an aerospace engineer and research pilot. He was assigned to the Aircraft Operations Division of the Johnson Space Center. His primary responsibilities involved teaching the astronaut pilots Space Shuttle landing techniques in the Shuttle Trainer Aircraft and instructing astronaut pilots and mission specialists in the T-38 aircraft. Polansky also conducted flight testing of the NASA T-38 avionics upgrade aircraft.

Selected by NASA in April 1996, Polansky reported to the Johnson Space Center in August 1996 to begin two years of training and evaluation. Successful completion of initial training will qualify him for various technical assignments leading to selection as a pilot on a Space Shuttle flight crew.

• Birth of Mark Lewis 'Roman' Polansky - . Nation: USA. Related Persons: Polansky. American test pilot astronaut 1996-2012. American test pilot astronaut 1996-2012. 3 spaceflights, 41.5 days in space. Flew to orbit on STS-98 (2001), STS-116, STS-127..

• NASA Astronaut Training Group 16 selected. - . Nation: USA. Related Persons: Brown, David, Burbank, Cagle, Caldeiro, Camarda, Carey, Clark, Fincke, Forrester, Frick, Guidoni, Herrington, Higginbotham, Hobaugh, Kelly, James, Kelly, Mark, Kelly, Scott, Lockhart, Loria, Magnus, Massimino, Mastracchio, McCool, Morin, Nowak, Pettit, Phillips.

  The group was selected to provide pilot, engineer, and scientist astronauts for space shuttle flights.. Qualifications: Pilots: Bachelor's degree in engineering, biological science, physical science or mathematics. Advanced degree desirable. At least 1,000 flight-hours of pilot-in-command time. Flight test experience desirable. Excellent health. Vision minimum 20/50 uncorrected, correctable to 20/20 vision; maximum sitting blood pressure 140/90. Height between 163 and 193 cm.

  Mission Specialists: Bachelor's degree in engineering, biological science, physical science or mathematics and minimum three years of related experience or an advanced degree. Vision minimum 20/150 uncorrected, correctable to 20/20. Maximum sitting blood pressure of 140/90. Height between 150 and 193 cm.. 10 pilots and 25 mission specialists selected from over 2,400 applicants. 9 additional international astronauts.

• ISS Status Report: ISS 01-01 - . Nation: USA. Related Persons: Cockrell, Curbeam, Gidzenko, Ivins, Jones, Polansky, Shepherd. Program: ISS. Flight: Soyuz TM-31. The Expedition One crew moved into its tenth week in orbit today aboard the International Space Station (ISS) as preparations stepped into high gear for the launch of the next Shuttle assembly flight to the outpost.. Additional Details: here....

• ISS Status Report: ISS 01-02 - . Nation: USA. Related Persons: Cockrell, Curbeam, Gidzenko, Ivins, Jones, Polansky, Shepherd. Program: ISS. Flight: Soyuz TM-31.

  Expedition One crewmembers are busily preparing the International Space Station for its next visitors - the five astronauts of the STS-98 mission of Atlantis - set to launch at 2:11 a.m. EST on January 19 from the Kennedy Space Center in Florida. Atlantis' precious cargo is the U.S. Laboratory Destiny, which will provide the orbiting outpost with its first science facility. STS-98 marks the seventh shuttle mission to the station and twelfth overall devoted to the assembly of the ever-growing international outpost in low Earth orbit. Additional Details: here....

• ISS Status Report: ISS 01-03 - . Nation: USA. Related Persons: Cockrell, Curbeam, Gidzenko, Ivins, Jones, Polansky, Shepherd. Program: ISS. Flight: Soyuz TM-31.

  With Space Shuttle Atlantis' STS-98 mission delayed three weeks, the Expedition One crew aboard the International Space Station will continue to review documents and procedures in preparation for the arrival of the station's newest module - the U.S. Laboratory Destiny. Additional Details: here....

• ISS Status Report: ISS 01-05 - . Nation: USA. Related Persons: Cockrell, Curbeam, Gidzenko, Ivins, Jones, Polansky, Shepherd. Program: ISS. Flight: Soyuz TM-31. Activity aboard the International Space Station continues to focus on preparations for the arrival of Space Shuttle Atlantis late next week bringing the first scientific laboratory on the STS-98 mission.. Additional Details: here....

• STS-98 Mission Status Report #01 - . Nation: USA. Related Persons: Burbank, Cockrell, Curbeam, Gidzenko, Ivins, Jones, Polansky, Shepherd. Program: ISS. Flight: Soyuz TM-31, STS-98.

  Atlantis' five astronauts blasted off from the Kennedy Space Center at sunset tonight to deliver the U.S. Laboratory Destiny to the International Space Station (ISS), the cornerstone of scientific research on the complex and the new command and control center for Station operations. Additional Details: here....

• STS-98 - . Call Sign: Atlantis. Crew: Cockrell, Curbeam, Ivins, Jones, Polansky. Payload: Atlantis F23. Mass: 90,225 kg (198,912 lb). Nation: USA. Related Persons: Cockrell, Curbeam, Ivins, Jones, Polansky. Agency: NASA Houston. Manufacturer: Boeing. Program: ISS. Class: Manned. Type: Manned spaceplane. Flight: STS-98. Spacecraft Bus: Shuttle. Spacecraft: Atlantis. Duration: 12.89 days. Decay Date: 2001-02-20 . USAF Sat Cat: 26698 . COSPAR: 2001-006A. Apogee: 337 km (209 mi). Perigee: 183 km (113 mi). Inclination: 51.30 deg. Period: 89.71 min.

  ISS Assembly flight. Launch delayed from January 18 and February 6. International Space Station assembly mission; delivered the Destiny and PMA-2 modules. Destiny was an American ISS module, an 8.4 meter long and 4.2 meter wide cylindrical structure with a mass of 15 tonnes. It was to function as a science and technology module and the primary control module for the ISS. The shuttle orbiter was placed in an initial 74 x 323 km x 51.6 deg orbit. At 2357 GMT the OMS engines fired for the OMS-2 burn which raised Atlantis' orbit to 204 x 322 km x 51.6 deg. Atlantis docked with the Station at 1651 GMT on February 9 at the PMA-3 port on Unity's nadir. At 1500 GMT on Feb 10 Marsha Ivins used the RMS arm to unberth the PMA-2 docking port from Unity. Tom Jones and Bob Curbeam then conducted three spacewalks on Februay 10 to 14 to attach the Destiny and PMA-2 modules to the station. The crew also delivered over a tonne of food, fuel and equipment to the ISS. Atlantis undocked from Alpha at 1406 GMT on February 16. Atlantis landed at Edwards AFB on February 20; plans to land on February 18 and 19 were called off due to persistent wind problems at Kennedy Space Center. The deorbit burn was at 1927 GMT and lowered the orbit from 370 x 386 km to about 50 x 380 km. The nominal entry interface at 122 km came at 2002 GMT and touchdown on runway 22 was at 20:33 GMT. On March 1 Atlantis was flown on the back of NASA's SCA 911 carrier aircraft to Altus AFB, Oklahoma, en route to Kennedy.

• STS-98 Mission Status Report #02 - . Nation: USA. Related Persons: Cockrell, Curbeam, Gidzenko, Ivins, Jones, Polansky, Shepherd. Program: ISS. Flight: Soyuz TM-31, STS-98.

  The five-member crew of Atlantis is in its first full day in space continuing its pursuit of the International Space Station. After a slightly abbreviated sleep period, Atlantis' astronauts were awakened at 6:13 a.m. Central time as the Shuttle trailed the Station by approximately 2,000 statute miles (3,200 kilometers). The first wakeup call of the flight was "Where You At", a jazz selection by Pilot Mark Polansky's late uncle, Zoot Sims. Additional Details: here....

• STS-98 Mission Status Report #03 - . Nation: USA. Related Persons: Cockrell, Curbeam, Ivins, Jones, Polansky. Program: ISS. Flight: Soyuz TM-31, STS-98.

  With the 16-ton, bus-sized Destiny laboratory now virtually weightless in its cargo bay, the Space Shuttle Atlantis today drew ever closer to Destiny's permanent home, the International Space Station, and the five shuttle astronauts prepared for the complex construction job to come. Additional Details: here....

• STS-98 Mission Status Report #22 - . Nation: USA. Related Persons: Cockrell, Curbeam, Gidzenko, Ivins, Jones, Polansky, Shepherd. Program: ISS. Flight: Soyuz TM-31, STS-98. Atlantis' astronauts were awakened just before 4 a.m. Central time Sunday, ready for a homecoming to the Kennedy Space Center later today, weather permitting.. Additional Details: here....

• STS-98 Mission Status Report #23 - . Nation: USA. Related Persons: Altman, Cockrell, Curbeam, Gidzenko, Ivins, Jones, Polansky, Ross, Shepherd. Program: ISS. Flight: Soyuz TM-31, STS-98. Atlantis' homecoming was delayed today until Monday as gusty winds at the Kennedy Space Center forced a waveoff of the Shuttle's landing at the Florida spaceport.. Additional Details: here....

• STS-98 Mission Status Report #24 - . Nation: USA. Related Persons: Cockrell, Curbeam, Gidzenko, Ivins, Jones, Polansky, Shepherd. Program: ISS. Flight: Soyuz TM-31, STS-98.

  After an extra day in orbit, Atlantis' astronauts will try again to return to the Kennedy Space Center today to wrap up a 4.9 million mile mission to deliver the U.S. Laboratory Destiny to the International Space Station (ISS). Preliminary weather forecasts indicate the possibility of gusty winds and decks of broken clouds at the Shuttle Landing Facility at the Cape this afternoon, similar to the conditions that forced a waveoff of the Shuttle's return yesterday. Additional Details: here....

• STS-98 Mission Status Report #25 - . Nation: USA. Related Persons: Cockrell, Curbeam, Gidzenko, Ivins, Jones, Polansky, Ross, Shepherd. Program: ISS. Flight: Soyuz TM-31, STS-98. For the second day in a row, Atlantis' astronauts were foiled in their attempt to land at the Kennedy Space Center by high winds which caused another 24-hour delay in their homecoming until Tuesday.. Additional Details: here....

• STS-98 Mission Status Report #27 - . Nation: USA. Related Persons: Cockrell, Curbeam, Gidzenko, Ivins, Jones, Polansky, Shepherd. Program: ISS. Flight: Soyuz TM-31, STS-98. Atlantis' astronauts glided to a belated but textbook touchdown at Edwards Air Force Base, California today, wrapping up a 5.3 million mile mission to deliver the U.S. Laboratory Destiny to the International Space Station (ISS).. Additional Details: here....

• STS-98 Mission Status Report #26 - . Nation: USA. Related Persons: Cockrell, Curbeam, Gidzenko, Ivins, Jones, Polansky, Ross, Shepherd. Program: ISS. Flight: Soyuz TM-31, STS-98.

  Atlantis' astronauts are hoping that the third time will be the charm today as an improving weather forecast at the Kennedy Space Center holds hope for the Shuttle's return to the Florida spaceport following two consecutive days of weather related wave-offs. Additional Details: here....

• Landing of STS-98 - . Return Crew: Cockrell, Curbeam, Ivins, Jones, Polansky. Nation: USA. Related Persons: Cockrell, Curbeam, Ivins, Jones, Polansky. Program: ISS. Flight: STS-98. STS-98 landed at 20:33 GMT. .

• STS-116 MCC Status Report 01 - . Nation: USA. Related Persons: Curbeam, Fuglesang, Higginbotham, Lopez-Alegria, Oefelein, Patrick, Polansky, Reiter, Tyurin, Williams. Program: ISS. Flight: Soyuz TMA-9, STS-116, STS-117 ISS EO-15, STS-121 Astrolab. The Space Shuttle Discovery rocketed into a dark Florida sky at 7:47 p.m. CST today, the third shuttle launch in five months, but the first night launch in more than four years.. Additional Details: here....

• STS-116 MCC Status Report 02 - . Nation: USA. Related Persons: Curbeam, Fuglesang, Lopez-Alegria, Polansky, Reiter, Tyurin, Williams. Program: ISS. Flight: Soyuz TMA-9, STS-116, STS-117 ISS EO-15, STS-121 Astrolab. The Space Shuttle Discovery crew, Commander Mark Polansky, Pilot Bill Oefelein, and Mission Specialists Nicholas Patrick, Joan Higginbotham, Bob Curbeam, Sunita Williams and Christer Fuglesang, are beginning a busy first full day in space.. Additional Details: here....

• STS-116 MCC Status Report 03 - . Nation: USA. Related Persons: Curbeam, Fuglesang, Higginbotham, Oefelein, Patrick, Polansky, Reiter, Williams. Program: ISS. Flight: Soyuz TMA-9, STS-116, STS-117 ISS EO-15, STS-121 Astrolab. The Space Shuttle Discovery crew spent much of its first full day in space using the shuttle's robotic arm and an extension boom-mounted sensor system to inspect heat shielding on Discovery's wing leading edges and nose.. Additional Details: here....

• STS-116 - . Call Sign: Discovery. Crew: Curbeam, Fuglesang, Higginbotham, Oefelein, Patrick, Polansky, Williams. Return Crew: Curbeam, Fuglesang, Higginbotham, Oefelein, Patrick, Polansky, Reiter. Payload: Discovery F32 / P5. Mass: 120,420 kg (265,480 lb). Nation: USA. Related Persons: Curbeam, Fuglesang, Higginbotham, Oefelein, Patrick, Polansky, Reiter, Williams. Agency: NASA. Manufacturer: Boeing. Program: ISS. Class: Manned. Type: Manned spaceplane. Flight: Soyuz TMA-9, STS-116, STS-121 Astrolab. Spacecraft Bus: Shuttle. Spacecraft: Discovery. Duration: 12.86 days. Decay Date: 2006-12-10 . USAF Sat Cat: 29647 . COSPAR: 2006-055A. Apogee: 358 km (222 mi). Perigee: 326 km (202 mi). Inclination: 51.60 deg. Period: 91.40 min.

  The mission used solid rocket booster pair RSRM-95 and external tank ET-123. At SSME burnout Discovery was in a 58 km x 220 km x 51.6 deg preliminary burn. The OMS-2 burn at 02:25 GMT placed the shuttle in a stable 225 x 250 km orbit from which rendezvous maneuvers began. Discovery docked with the ISS at 22:12 GMT on December 11. In the most demanding ISS assembly mission ever, the crew would require an additional spacewalk to complete installation of the P5 truss, retraction of the recalcitrant port P6 solar array wing, and activation of the truss electrical and cooling system. Sunita Williams rode the shuttle to the station, and remained behind with the EO-14 crew; ESA astronaut Thomas Reiter, already aboard the station, was returned to earth. Due to weather problems a landing at White Sands was considered; but in the end Discovery landed safely at Kennedy Space Center, after which it was to enter a year-long overhaul cycle.

• STS-116 MCC Status Report 05 - . Nation: USA. Related Persons: Curbeam, Fuglesang, Higginbotham, Lopez-Alegria, Oefelein, Patrick, Polansky, Reiter, Tyurin, Williams. Program: ISS. Flight: Soyuz TMA-9, STS-116, STS-117 ISS EO-15, STS-121 Astrolab. Astronauts on the Space Shuttle Discovery and the International Space Station were united today, and the joint crew immediately began the complex work associated with installing a new truss section and rewiring the station's power grid.. Additional Details: here....

• STS-116 MCC Status Report 04 - . Nation: USA. Related Persons: Curbeam, Fuglesang, Higginbotham, Lopez-Alegria, Oefelein, Patrick, Polansky, Reiter, Tyurin, Williams. Program: ISS. Flight: Soyuz TMA-9, STS-116, STS-117 ISS EO-15, STS-121 Astrolab. The Space Shuttle Discovery continues its pursuit of the International Space Station, a chase that should culminate in the docking of the two spacecraft at 4:05 p.m. CST today.. Additional Details: here....

• STS-116 MCC Status Report 06 - . Nation: USA. Related Persons: Curbeam, Fuglesang, Higginbotham, Lopez-Alegria, Oefelein, Patrick, Polansky, Reiter, Tyurin, Williams. Program: ISS. Flight: Soyuz TMA-9, STS-116, STS-117 ISS EO-15, STS-121 Astrolab. The first spacewalk by Discovery's crew members, an excursion that will install a new, two-ton segment on the port side of the International Space Station's girder-like truss, will highlight today's work on mission STS-116.. Additional Details: here....

• STS-116 MCC Status Report 08 - . Nation: USA. Related Persons: Curbeam, Fuglesang, Higginbotham, Lopez-Alegria, Oefelein, Patrick, Polansky, Reiter, Tyurin, Williams. Program: ISS. Flight: Soyuz TMA-9, STS-116, STS-117 ISS EO-15, STS-121 Astrolab. Retracting a solar array wing that has been extended in space for six years will highlight the activities aboard the International Space Station and the Space Shuttle Discovery today.. Additional Details: here....

• STS-116 MCC Status Report 09 - . Nation: USA. Related Persons: Curbeam, Fuglesang, Lopez-Alegria, Polansky. Program: ISS. Flight: Soyuz TMA-9, STS-116.

  The first phase of the electrical and thermal makeover of the International Space Station was completed tonight as the outpost's newest solar arrays began rotating to follow the sun and ammonia flowed into the station's permanent cooling system for the first time. Additional Details: here....

• STS-116 MCC Status Report 12 - . Nation: USA. Related Persons: Curbeam, Fuglesang, Higginbotham, Lopez-Alegria, Oefelein, Patrick, Polansky, Reiter, Tyurin, Williams. Program: ISS. Flight: Soyuz TMA-9, STS-116, STS-117 ISS EO-15, STS-121 Astrolab. With half the International Space Station's electrical system rewired, the crew of Space Shuttle Discovery gets half a day off today before they finish the job during a third spacewalk set for Saturday.. Additional Details: here....

• STS-116 MCC Status Report 13 - . Nation: USA. Related Persons: Curbeam, Fuglesang, Higginbotham, Lopez-Alegria, Oefelein, Patrick, Polansky, Reiter, Tyurin, Williams. Program: ISS. Flight: Soyuz TMA-9, STS-116, STS-117 ISS EO-15, STS-121 Astrolab. The crews of Space Shuttle Discovery and the International Space Station tried again to refold an accordion-like solar array with help from engineers and flight controllers on the ground, but none of the techniques succeeded in clearing the jam.. Additional Details: here....

• STS-116 MCC Status Report 14 - . Nation: USA. Related Persons: Curbeam, Fuglesang, Higginbotham, Lopez-Alegria, Oefelein, Patrick, Polansky, Reiter, Tyurin, Williams. Program: ISS. Flight: Soyuz TMA-9, STS-116, STS-117 ISS EO-15, STS-121 Astrolab. The third spacewalk of Discovery's mission to the International Space Station is scheduled to begin at 1:37 p.m. CST to complete the rewiring of the orbiting laboratory's power system.. Additional Details: here....

• STS-116 MCC Status Report 17 - . Nation: USA. Related Persons: Curbeam, Fuglesang, Higginbotham, Oefelein, Patrick, Polansky, Williams. Program: ISS. Flight: Soyuz TMA-9, STS-116.

  Flight controllers today put the finishing touches on plans for the fourth spacewalk recently added to the mission. On board the Space Shuttle Discovery and the International Space Station astronauts finished transferring the bulk of supplies between the two spacecraft. Additional Details: here....

• STS-116 MCC Status Report 16 - . Nation: USA. Related Persons: Curbeam, Fuglesang, Higginbotham, Oefelein, Patrick, Polansky, Reiter, Williams. Program: ISS. Flight: Soyuz TMA-9, STS-116, STS-117 ISS EO-15, STS-121 Astrolab. Astronauts will spend much of today getting ready for a fourth spacewalk during Discovery's mission to the International Space Station.. Additional Details: here....

• STS-116 MCC Status Report 20 - . Nation: USA. Related Persons: Curbeam, Fuglesang, Higginbotham, Lopez-Alegria, Oefelein, Patrick, Polansky, Reiter, Tyurin, Williams. Program: ISS. Flight: Soyuz TMA-9, STS-116, STS-117 ISS EO-15, STS-121 Astrolab. Space Shuttle Discovery astronauts will leave the orbiting laboratory today after four successful spacewalks, delivery and installation of a new segment of the International Space Station's main truss and reconfiguring the station's power system.. Additional Details: here....

• STS-116 MCC Status Report 21 - . Nation: USA. Related Persons: Curbeam, Fuglesang, Higginbotham, Lopez-Alegria, Oefelein, Patrick, Polansky, Reiter, Tyurin, Williams. Program: ISS. Flight: Soyuz TMA-9, STS-116, STS-117 ISS EO-15, STS-121 Astrolab. Crews aboard the Space Shuttle Discovery and the International Space Station bid one another farewell at 4:10 p.m. CST today, wrapping up eight days of docked operations.. Additional Details: here....

• STS-116 MCC Status Report 22 - . Nation: USA. Related Persons: Curbeam, Fuglesang, Higginbotham, Lopez-Alegria, Oefelein, Patrick, Polansky, Reiter, Tyurin, Williams. Program: ISS. Flight: Soyuz TMA-9, STS-116, STS-117 ISS EO-15, STS-121 Astrolab. Discovery crew members will make a final check of the shuttle's heat shields today, using a sensor-equipped 50-foot extension of the shuttle's robotic arm.. Additional Details: here....

• STS-116 MCC Status Report 23 - . Nation: USA. Related Persons: Curbeam, Fuglesang, Higginbotham, Lopez-Alegria, Oefelein, Patrick, Polansky, Reiter, Tyurin, Williams. Program: ISS. Flight: Soyuz TMA-9, STS-116, STS-117 ISS EO-15, STS-121 Astrolab. Inspection of Discovery's heat shield was conducted today as the seven crewmembers began the task of preparing their ship for their high-speed return to Earth on Friday.. Additional Details: here....

• STS-116 MCC Status Report 24 - . Nation: USA. Related Persons: Curbeam, Fuglesang, Higginbotham, Lopez-Alegria, Oefelein, Patrick, Polansky, Reiter, Tyurin, Williams. Program: ISS. Flight: Soyuz TMA-9, STS-116, STS-117 ISS EO-15, STS-121 Astrolab. Discovery's astronauts will spend today preparing to return to Earth. They will test flight control surfaces, steering jets and other entry and landing systems while they stow equipment in Discovery's cabin.. Additional Details: here....

• STS-116 MCC Status Report 25 - . Nation: USA. Related Persons: Curbeam, Fuglesang, Higginbotham, Lopez-Alegria, Oefelein, Patrick, Polansky, Tyurin, Williams. Program: ISS. Flight: Soyuz TMA-9, STS-116, STS-117 ISS EO-15. Discovery's astronauts completed preparations for a planned return to Earth on Friday and received word from Mission Control that their final inspection showed the shuttle's heat shield is in good shape.. Additional Details: here....

• STS-116 MCC Status Report 26 - . Nation: USA. Related Persons: Curbeam, Fuglesang, Higginbotham, Lopez-Alegria, Oefelein, Patrick, Polansky, Reiter, Tyurin, Williams. Program: ISS. Flight: Soyuz TMA-9, STS-116, STS-117 ISS EO-15, STS-121 Astrolab. Discovery's wakeup call said it all. The song was "Home for the Holidays," sung by Perry Como for the crew, requested by the Mission Control Center.. Additional Details: here....

• STS-116 MCC Status Report 27 - . Nation: USA. Related Persons: Curbeam, Fuglesang, Higginbotham, Oefelein, Patrick, Polansky, Reiter. Program: ISS. Flight: Soyuz TMA-9, STS-116, STS-121 Astrolab. The crew of Space Shuttle Discovery made it home in time for Christmas, gliding to a perfect landing as the sun set over NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida.. Additional Details: here....

• Landing of STS-116 - . Return Crew: Curbeam, Fuglesang, Higginbotham, Oefelein, Patrick, Polansky, Reiter. Nation: USA. Related Persons: Curbeam, Fuglesang, Higginbotham, Oefelein, Patrick, Polansky, Reiter. Program: ISS. Flight: STS-116, STS-121 Astrolab.

• STS-127 - . Call Sign: Endeavour. Crew: Cassidy, Hurley, Kopra, Marshburn, Payette, Polansky, Wolf. Payload: Endeavour F23 / ISS 2J/4. Mass: 120,000 kg (260,000 lb). Nation: USA. Agency: NASA. Program: ISS. Class: Manned. Type: Manned spaceplane. Flight: Soyuz TMA-14, Soyuz TMA-15, STS-127. Spacecraft Bus: Shuttle. Spacecraft: Endeavour. Duration: 15.60 days. Decay Date: 2009-07-31 . USAF Sat Cat: 35633 . COSPAR: 2009-038A. Apogee: 336 km (208 mi). Perigee: 328 km (203 mi). Inclination: 51.60 deg. Period: 91.20 min.

  Crew: Polansky, Hurley, Cassidy, Marshburn, Wolf, Payette. Deliver to the ISS and install the Kibo Japanese Experiment Module Exposed Facility (JEM EF); Kibo Japanese Experiment Logistics Module - Exposed Section (ELM-ES); and Spacelab Pallet - Deployable 2 (SLP-D2).