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Thomas, Andrew Sydney Withiel

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Thomas Andrew Credit: www.spacefacts.de

Status: Inactive; Active 1992-2010. Born: 1951-12-18. Spaceflights: 4 . Total time in space: 177.38 days. Birth Place: Adelaide, South Australia.

Educated Adelaide.

Official NASA Biography as of June 2016:Andrew S. W. Thomas (Ph.D.)
nasa Astronaut (FORMER)

PERSONAL DATA:  Born December 18, 1951, in Adelaide, South Australia.  Married to Astronaut Shannon Walker.  He enjoys horse riding and jumping, mountain biking, running, wind surfing, and classical guitar playing.  His father, Adrian C. Thomas, resides in Hackham, South Australia.  His mother, Mary E. Thomas, resides in North Adelaide, South Australia.

EDUCATION:  Received a Bachelor of Engineering Degree in Mechanical Engineering, with First Class Honors, from the University of Adelaide, South Australia, in 1973, and a Doctorate in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Adelaide, South Australia, in 1978.

ORGANIZATIONS:  Honorary Fellow, The Institution of Engineers Australia. 

EXPERIENCE: Dr. Thomas began his professional career as a research scientist with the Lockheed Aeronautical Systems Company, Marietta, Georgia, in 1977.  At that time, he was responsible for experimental investigations into the control of fluid dynamic instabilities and aircraft drag.  In 1980, he was appointed Principal Aerodynamic Scientist to the company and headed a research team examining various problems in advanced aerodynamics and aircraft flight test.

This was followed in 1983, by an appointment as the head of the Advanced Flight Sciences Department to lead a research department of engineers and scientists engaged in experimental and computational studies in fluid dynamics, aerodynamics and aeroacoustics. He was also manager of the research laboratory, the wind tunnels, and the test facilities used in these studies.  In 1987, Dr. Thomas was named manager of Lockheed’s Flight Sciences Division and directed the technical efforts in vehicle aerodynamics, flight controls and propulsion systems that supported the company’s fleet of production aircraft.

In 1989, he moved to Pasadena, California, to join the Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL) and, shortly after, was appointed leader of the JPL program for microgravity materials processing in space.  This NASA-sponsored research included scientific investigations, conducted in the laboratory and in low gravity on NASA’s KC-135 aircraft, as well as technology studies to support the development of the space flight hardware for future shuttle missions.

NASA EXPERIENCE:  Dr. Thomas was selected by NASA in March 1992 and reported to the Johnson Space Center in August 1992.  In August 1993, following one year of training, he was appointed a member of the astronaut corps and was qualified for assignment as a mission specialist on space shuttle flight crews. 

While awaiting space flight assignment, Dr. Thomas supported shuttle launch and landing operations as an Astronaut Support Person (ASP) at the Kennedy Space Center.  He also provided technical support to the Space Shuttle Main Engine project, the Solid Rocket Motor project and the External Tank project at the Marshall Space Flight Center.  In June 1995, Dr. Thomas was named as payload commander for STS-77 and flew his first flight in space on Endeavour in May 1996.  He next trained at the Gagarin Cosmonaut Training Center in Star City, Russia in preparation for a long-duration flight.  In 1998, he served as Board Engineer 2 aboard the Russian Space Station Mir for 130 days.  From August 2001 to November 2003, Dr. Thomas served as Deputy Chief of the Astronaut Office.  Dr. Thomas completed his fourth space flight on STS-114 and has logged more than 177 days in space.  He retired from NASA in February 2014.

SPACE FLIGHT EXPERIENCE:  STS-77 was a 10-day mission during which the crew deployed two satellites, tested a large inflatable space structure on orbit and conducted a variety of scientific experiments in a Spacehab laboratory module carried in Endeavour’s payload bay.  The flight was launched from the Kennedy Space Center on May 19, 1996 and completed 160 orbits 153 nautical miles above the Earth while traveling 4.1 million miles and logging 240 hours and 39 minutes in space. 

On January 22, 1998, Dr. Thomas launched aboard space shuttle Endeavour as part of the STS-89 crew to dock with the Mir space station.  He served aboard Mir as flight engineer 2 and returned to earth with the crew of STS-91 aboard space shuttle Discovery on June 12, 1998, completing 141 days in space and 2,250 orbits of the earth.

STS-102 Discovery (March 8 to March 21, 2001) was the eighth shuttle mission to visit the International Space Station and Dr. Thomas’s third flight.  Mission accomplishments included the delivery of the Expedition-2 crew and logistics resupply with the Leonardo Multi-Purpose Logistics Module, and the return to earth of the Expedition-1 crew.  During the mission, Dr. Thomas performed a 6.5-hour spacewalk to install components to the outside of the space station.  Mission duration was 307 hours and 49 minutes.

STS-114 Discovery (July 26-August 9, 2005) was the Return to Flight mission following the Columbia accident during which the crew continued the assembly of the International Space Station.  Dr. Thomas tested and evaluated new procedures for flight safety and inspection and repair techniques for the shuttle’s thermal protection system.  After a 2-week, 5.8 million mile journey in space, the Orbiter Discovery and its crew returned to land at Edwards Air Force Base, California.  Mission duration was 333 hours, 32 minutes, 48 seconds.

MARCH 2014

Thomas, Andrew.

• Birth of Dr Andrew Sydney Withiel Thomas - . Nation: Australia, USA. Related Persons: Thomas, Andrew. Australian-American engineer mission specialist astronaut 1992-2010. 4 spaceflights, 177.4 days in space. Flew to orbit on STS-77 (1996), STS-89, STS-102, STS-114..

• NASA Astronaut Training Group 14 selected. - . Nation: USA. Related Persons: Barry, Brady, Coleman, Catherine, Gernhardt, Grunsfeld, Horowitz, Jett, Kregel, Lawrence, Linenger, Linnehan, Lopez-Alegria, Parazynski, Rominger, Scott, Winston, Smith, Steven, Tanner, Thomas, Andrew, Weber, Mary.

  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.. Four pilots and 15 mission specialists, nine civilians and ten military. Chosen from 2054 applicants, 87 of which screened in December 1991/January 1992. Five additional international astronauts.

• STS-77 - . Call Sign: Endeavour. Crew: Brown, Bursch, Casper, Garneau, Runco, Thomas, Andrew. Payload: Endeavour F11 / GBA-9. Mass: 12,233 kg (26,969 lb). Nation: USA. Related Persons: Brown, Bursch, Casper, Garneau, Runco, Thomas, Andrew. Agency: NASA Houston. Program: STS. Class: Manned. Type: Manned spaceplane. Flight: STS-77. Spacecraft Bus: Shuttle. Spacecraft: Endeavour. Duration: 10.03 days. Decay Date: 1996-05-29 . USAF Sat Cat: 23870 . COSPAR: 1996-032A. Apogee: 285 km (177 mi). Perigee: 274 km (170 mi). Inclination: 39.00 deg. Period: 90.10 min.

  Deployed and retrieved Spartan 2; deployed PAMS-STU; carried Spacehab module. Payloads: Shuttle Pointed Research Tool for Astronomy (SPARTAN) 207/Inflatable Antenna Experiment (IAE); Technology Experiments Advancing Missions in Space (TEAMS) 01 (includes Vented Tank Resupply Experiment (VTRE), Global Positioning System (GPS) Attitude and Navigation Experiment (GANE) (RME 1316), Liquid Metal Test Experiment (LMTE) and Passive Aerodynami-cally Stabilized Magnetically Damped Satellite (PAMS) Satellite Test Unit (STU); SPACEHAB-4; Brilliant Eyes Ten-Kelvin Sorption Cryocooler Experiment (BETSCE); 12 getaway specials attached to a GAS bridge assembly (GAS 056, 063, 142, 144, 163, 200, 490, 564, 565, 703, 741 and the Reduced-Fill Tank Pressure Control Experiment (RFTPCE); Aquatic Research Facility (ARF) 01; Biological Research in Canisters (BRIC) 07, Block III.

• Landing of STS-77 - . Return Crew: Brown, Bursch, Casper, Garneau, Runco, Thomas, Andrew. Nation: USA. Related Persons: Brown, Bursch, Casper, Garneau, Runco, Thomas, Andrew. Flight: STS-77. STS-77 landed at 11:10 GMT. .

• STS-89 - . Call Sign: Endeavour. Crew: Anderson, Dunbar, Edwards, Joe, Reilly, Sharipov, Thomas, Andrew, Wilcutt. Payload: Endeavour F12 / Spacehab Double Module. Mass: 116,277 kg (256,346 lb). Nation: USA. Related Persons: Anderson, Dunbar, Edwards, Joe, Reilly, Sharipov, Thomas, Andrew, Wilcutt. Agency: NASA Houston. Manufacturer: Douglas. Program: Mir. Class: Manned. Type: Manned spaceplane. Flight: Soyuz TM-26, STS-86 Mir NASA-5, STS-89, STS-89 Mir NASA-6. Spacecraft Bus: Shuttle. Spacecraft: Endeavour. Duration: 8.82 days. Decay Date: 1998-01-31 . USAF Sat Cat: 25143 . COSPAR: 1998-003A. Apogee: 382 km (237 mi). Perigee: 359 km (223 mi). Inclination: 51.60 deg. Period: 92.00 min.

  Penultimate Shuttle mission to Mir. Andy Thomas replaced David Wolf as the resident NASA astronaut. Endeavour docked with the SO module on Mir at 20:14 GMT on January 24, 1998.

  Payloads included:

  • Orbiter middeck: CEBAS (German/US biological module with fish and snails); dinosaur skull (part of a museum educational program)
  • Bay 1: Tunnel Adapter
  • Bay 3: Orbiter Docking System/External Airlock
  • Bay 4-7: Transfer Tunnel
  • Bay 8-12: Spacehab Double Module (payloads included supplies for Mir, X-ray crystallography detector planned for the International Space Station)
  • Bay 13P: Getaway Special GABA carrier with G-141, G-145 (German materials processing experiments)
  • Bay 13S: Getaway Special GABA carrier with G-093 (University of Michigan fluid dynamics experiment), G-432 (Chinese materials processing experiment)

  Despite fits problems with his Sokol emergency spacesuit, Andy Thomas replaced David Wolf as a Mir crew member on January 25. Endeavour undocked from Mir on January 29 at 16:57 GMT and made one flyaround of the station before departing and landing at Kennedy Space Center's runway 15 at 22:35 GMT on January 31.

• Landing of STS-91 - . Return Crew: Chang-Diaz, Gorie, Kavandi, Lawrence, Precourt, Ryumin, Thomas, Andrew. Nation: USA. Related Persons: Chang-Diaz, Gorie, Kavandi, Lawrence, Precourt, Ryumin, Thomas, Andrew. Program: Mir. Flight: Soyuz TM-27, STS-89 Mir NASA-6, STS-91. STS-91 landed at 18:00 GMT with the crew of Precourt, Gorie, Lawrence, Chang-Diaz, Kavandi, Ryumin and Thomas Andrew aboard..

• STS-102 Mission Status Report #01 - . Nation: USA. Related Persons: Gidzenko, Helms, Kelly, James, Richards, Paul, Shepherd, Thomas, Andrew, Voss, Wetherbee. Program: ISS. Flight: Soyuz TM-31, STS-102, STS-102 ISS EO-2. Shuttle Discovery blasted off from the Kennedy Space Center at sunrise this morning to deliver a new resident crew to the International Space Station (ISS) as the third shuttle mission in less than four months began in flawless fashion.. Additional Details: here....

• STS-102 Mission Status Report #02 - . Nation: USA. Related Persons: Gidzenko, Helms, Kelly, James, Richards, Paul, Shepherd, Thomas, Andrew, Voss, Wetherbee. Program: ISS. Flight: Soyuz TM-31, STS-102, STS-102 ISS EO-2. Space Shuttle Discovery continues to close in on the International Space Station following Thursday morning's flawless launch from the Kennedy Space Center. Docking is scheduled for 11:36 Friday night.. Additional Details: here....

• STS-102 - . Call Sign: Discovery. Crew: Helms, Kelly, James, Richards, Paul, Thomas, Andrew, Usachyov, Voss, Wetherbee. Payload: Discovery F29. Mass: 116,884 kg (257,685 lb). Nation: USA. Related Persons: Helms, Kelly, James, Richards, Paul, Thomas, Andrew, Usachyov, Voss, Wetherbee. Agency: NASA Houston. Manufacturer: Boeing. Program: ISS. Class: Manned. Type: Manned spaceplane. Flight: STS-102, STS-102 ISS EO-2. Spacecraft Bus: Shuttle. Spacecraft: Discovery. Duration: 12.83 days. Decay Date: 2001-03-21 . USAF Sat Cat: 26718 . COSPAR: 2001-010A. Apogee: 381 km (236 mi). Perigee: 370 km (220 mi). Inclination: 51.50 deg. Period: 92.06 min.

  STS 102 was an American shuttle spacecraft that carried a crew of seven astronauts (six American and one Russian). The primary mission was to deliver a multi-rack Italian container (Leonardo MultiPurpose Logistics Module, LMPLM) to the Destiny Module of the International Space Station, ISS. It docked with the ISS at 05:34 UT on 9 March. The 6.4 m x 4.6 m cylindrical LMPLM delivered new equipment to Destiny, and retrieved used/unwanted equipment, and trash back to the shuttle. The crew did a few spacewalks to install a platform on the ISS to support a Canadian robot arm when it arrives next month. The STS 102 left behind three of the astronauts (two American and one Russian) and brought back the three astronauts (one American and two Russian) who had been inhabiting the ISS for about four and a half months. It landed at Cape Canaveral at 07:31 UT on 21 March.

  Discovery was launched on mission STS-102 (Space Station flight 5A.1) into an initial 60 x 222 km x 51.6 deg orbit. The mission was delivery of supplies and equipment, and changeout of the Expedition One and Expedition Two station crews. STS-102 carried the Leonardo Multi Purpose Logistics Module (MPLM), built by Alenia Spazio (Torino), to the International Space Station. The 6.4 m x 4.6 m cylindrical MPLM was a descendant of the Spacelab long modules. Also carried was a Spacehab/Energia unpressurized Integrated Cargo Carrier with LCA/MTSAS-A, RU, and PFCS. A sidewall adapter beam with two GAS canisters (G-783 and WSVFM) was also on board. WSVFM measured vibration during launch. Another adapter beam, probably at the rear of the payload bay, carried SEM-9. SEM-9 and G-783 contained high school microgravity experiments.

  Leonardo carried 16 'racks' of equipment, including the Human Research Facility Rack (Rack 13) which allowed the astronauts to do extensive medical experiments, the CHeCS Rack (28), the DDCU-1 and DDCU-2 racks (7 and 9), the Avionics-3 (Rack 6), and the MSS Avionics/Lab (Rack 11) and Avionics/Cupola (Rack 12) racks for a total of 7 equipment racks to be installed on Destiny. Three Resupply Stowage Racks (50, 51, 52) and four Resupply Stowage Platforms (180, 181, 182 and 188) remained installed on Leonardo, with their equipment bags being individually transferred to the Station. System Racks 2, 3, 4, 5 and 8 were already on Destiny together with stowage racks 110 through 117. Each rack had a mass of 150-300 kg.

  The orbiter fired its OMS engines at 1221 GMT to raise the orbit to 185 x 219 km. Discovery docked with the PMA-2 port on the Station at 0639 GMT on March 10. The LCA (Lab Cradle Assembly) was attached to Destiny's +Z side during an EVA. It was to be used on the next mission to temporarily place a Spacelab pallet on Destiny during installation of the Station's robot arm. Later, it would be the site for the main Station truss, beginning with segment S0.

  The PMA-3, on Unity at the -Z nadir position, had to be moved to the port position to make room for Leonardo. An external stowage platform was attached to Destiny and the External Stowage Platform and the PFCS Pump Flow Control System were added to the port aft trunnion on Destiny. A rigid umbilical (RU) was connected to the PDGF grapple fixture on Destiny to support the Station's future robot arm. Leonardo was docked to Unity at -Z for a while so that its cargo could be transferred to the station easily; it was then be returned to the payload bay and brought back to earth.

  At 0232 GMT on March 19 command of ISS was transferred to Expedition 2 and the hatches were closed. Discovery undocked at 0432 GMT and flew once around the station before departing at 0548 GMT. ISS mass after undocking was 115527 kg. The OMS engines fired for the deorbit burn at 0625 GMT on March 21, and Discovery touched down on runway 15 at Kennedy Space Center at 0731 GMT.

• STS-102 Mission Status Report #04 - . Nation: USA. Related Persons: Gidzenko, Helms, Kelly, James, Richards, Paul, Shepherd, Thomas, Andrew, Voss, Wetherbee. Program: ISS. Flight: Soyuz TM-31, STS-102, STS-102 ISS EO-2. With the International Space Station 300 miles ahead, the crew of the Space Shuttle Discovery awoke this afternoon to begin a third day in space, a day that will bring a new crew to the growing International Space Station.. Additional Details: here....

• STS-102 Mission Status Report #03 - . Nation: USA. Related Persons: Gidzenko, Helms, Kelly, James, Richards, Paul, Shepherd, Thomas, Andrew, Voss, Wetherbee. Program: ISS. Flight: Soyuz TM-31, STS-102, STS-102 ISS EO-2.

  Discovery continues its pursuit of the International Space Station, currently trailing the outpost by 3,520 miles and closing that distance at the rate of about 660 miles with every orbit of the Earth. All systems aboard the Space Shuttle Discovery are ready for tonight's docking, scheduled for 11:34 p.m. as the two spacecraft fly just off the east coast of Brazil. Additional Details: here....

• STS-102 Mission Status Report #06 - . Nation: USA. Related Persons: Gidzenko, Helms, Richards, Paul, Shepherd, Thomas, Andrew, Voss. Program: ISS. Flight: Soyuz TM-31, STS-102, STS-102 ISS EO-2.

  With an exchange of space station crew members already under way, Discovery's crew turns its attention to continuing assembly of the orbital outpost, conducting a space walk set to begin just before 11 p.m., or earlier, to reposition a docking port and installing gear in preparation for the arrival of the station's Canadian-built robotic arm next month. Additional Details: here....

• STS-102 Mission Status Report #05 - . Nation: USA. Related Persons: Gidzenko, Helms, Kelly, James, Richards, Paul, Shepherd, Thomas, Andrew, Voss, Wetherbee. Program: ISS. Flight: Soyuz TM-31, STS-102, STS-102 ISS EO-2. Commander Jim Wetherbee waited patiently as International Space Station controllers locked solar arrays in place before he steered the Space Shuttle Discovery to a 12:38 a.m. CST Saturday docking.. Additional Details: here....

• STS-102 Mission Status Report #07 - . Nation: USA. Related Persons: Helms, Richards, Paul, Shepherd, Thomas, Andrew, Voss, Wetherbee. Program: ISS. Flight: Soyuz TM-31, STS-102, STS-102 ISS EO-2. STS-102 Mission Specialists Susan Helms and Jim Voss donned space suits and stepped outside Discovery late last night to prepare one of the International Space Station's berthing ports for the Leonardo transfer module.. Additional Details: here....

• STS-102 Mission Status Report #08 - . Nation: USA. Related Persons: Helms, Richards, Paul, Shepherd, Thomas, Andrew, Voss. Program: ISS. Flight: Soyuz TM-31, STS-102, STS-102 ISS EO-2. The crews of Discovery and the International Space Station will join forces again today as hatches between the spacecraft are reopened, a change of shift aboard the science outpost continues, and a cargo carrier is attached to the complex.. Additional Details: here....

• STS-102 Mission Status Report #09 - . Nation: USA. Related Persons: Helms, Richards, Paul, Shepherd, Thomas, Andrew, Voss, Wetherbee. Program: ISS. Flight: Soyuz TM-31, STS-102, STS-102 ISS EO-2. Leonardo, the first of three logistics modules developed and built by the Italian Space Agency, was affixed to a berthing port on Unity overnight as mission specialist Andy Thomas carefully maneuvered it into place at 12:02 CST a.m. today.. Additional Details: here....

• STS-102 Mission Status Report #10 - . Nation: USA. Related Persons: Helms, Kelly, James, Richards, Paul, Shepherd, Thomas, Andrew, Voss. Program: ISS. Flight: Soyuz TM-31, STS-102, STS-102 ISS EO-2. Aboard the Space Shuttle Discovery and the International Space Station tonight, crews are preparing for a day of unloading and installing equipment both inside and outside the two spacecraft.. Additional Details: here....

• STS-102 Mission Status Report #11 - . Nation: USA. Related Persons: Gidzenko, Helms, Kelly, James, Richards, Paul, Shepherd, Thomas, Andrew, Voss, Wetherbee. Program: ISS. Flight: Soyuz TM-31, STS-102, STS-102 ISS EO-2. Astronauts Paul Richards and Andy Thomas spent six and a half hours outside the International Space Station this morning, continuing work to outfit the station and prepare for delivery of its own robotic arm next month.. Additional Details: here....

• EVA STS-102-1 - . Crew: Richards, Paul, Thomas, Andrew. EVA Duration: 0.26 days. Nation: USA. Related Persons: Richards, Paul, Thomas, Andrew. Program: ISS. Flight: STS-102. Spacecraft: ISS.

  The airlock was depressurized at 0518 GMT and the hatch opened at 0520 GMT. The astronauts took the External Stowage Platform from the ICC carrier to the port side of the Destiny module, and then installed the spare Pump Flow Control System on it. The ESP was used to store on-orbit-spare equipment. Next they hooked up cables on the robot arm's umbilical, and travelled up to the top of the P6 tower to fix a solar array latch - it just needed a good thump - and inspect the FPP experiment. The astronauts returned to the airlock at 1132 GMT and began repressurizing at 1144 GMT.

• STS-102 Mission Status Report #14 - . Nation: USA. Related Persons: Helms, Kelly, James, Shepherd, Thomas, Andrew, Voss, Wetherbee. Program: ISS. Flight: Soyuz TM-31, STS-102, STS-102 ISS EO-2. The crew of Discovery and the International Space Station will begin packing for the trip home today, having virtually completed unloading almost five tons of equipment and experiments brought by the shuttle.. Additional Details: here....

• STS-102 Mission Status Report #16 - . Nation: USA. Related Persons: Ross, Thomas, Andrew, Wetherbee. Program: ISS. Flight: Soyuz TM-31, STS-102, STS-102 ISS EO-2.

  The 10 astronauts and cosmonauts aboard Discovery and the International Space Station will spend another day docked to the orbiting science outpost to pack for the trip home. Discovery's STS-102 mission now will end with a landing back in Florida about 1 a.m. Wednesday. Additional Details: here....

• STS-102 Mission Status Report #15 - . Nation: USA. Related Persons: Helms, Kelly, James, Richards, Paul, Shepherd, Thomas, Andrew, Voss, Wetherbee. Program: ISS. Flight: Soyuz TM-31, STS-102, STS-102 ISS EO-2. Aboard the International Space Station today, astronauts and cosmonauts assembled and partially activated a key piece of construction equipment - the control station for a 58-foot-long robot arm that will be delivered to the station next month.. Additional Details: here....

• STS-102 Mission Status Report #18 - . Nation: USA. Related Persons: Gidzenko, Kelly, James, Richards, Paul, Thomas, Andrew, Wetherbee. Program: ISS. Flight: Soyuz TM-31, STS-102, STS-102 ISS EO-2.

  The crews of Discovery and the International Space Station will spend a final full day today packing the Leonardo cargo module on the station before they detach Leonardo from the complex Saturday night and secure it in the Shuttle payload bay for the trip home. Additional Details: here....

• STS-102 Mission Status Report #19 - . Nation: USA. Related Persons: Gidzenko, Helms, Kelly, James, Richards, Paul, Shepherd, Thomas, Andrew, Voss, Wetherbee. Program: ISS. Flight: Soyuz TM-31, STS-102, STS-102 ISS EO-2. The crews of Discovery and the International Space Station spent their day carefully packing the Leonardo cargo transfer module and reboosting the station's orbit.. Additional Details: here....

• STS-102 Mission Status Report #21 - . Nation: USA. Related Persons: Gidzenko, Kelly, James, Richards, Paul, Shepherd, Thomas, Andrew, Voss, Wetherbee. Program: ISS. Flight: Soyuz TM-31, STS-102, STS-102 ISS EO-2.

  Carrying nearly one ton of trash and excess equipment, along with personal items belonging to the returning Expedition One crew, the Leonardo cargo carrier was detached from its port on the International Space Station early this morning and gently placed back in Discovery's payload bay by Mission Specialist Andy Thomas. Additional Details: here....

• STS-102 Mission Status Report #23 - . Nation: USA. Related Persons: Gidzenko, Helms, Kelly, James, Richards, Paul, Shepherd, Thomas, Andrew, Voss, Wetherbee. Program: ISS. Flight: Soyuz TM-31, STS-102, STS-102 ISS EO-2. The Space Shuttle Discovery undocked from the International Space Station at 10:32 p.m. CST Sunday, leaving the second station crew to get settled in and begin in earnest the research planned aboard the orbiting laboratory.. Additional Details: here....

• STS-102 Mission Status Report #25 - . Nation: USA. Related Persons: Gidzenko, Helms, Kelly, James, Richards, Paul, Ross, Shepherd, Thomas, Andrew, Voss, Wetherbee. Program: ISS. Flight: Soyuz TM-31, STS-102, STS-102 ISS EO-2. All of Discovery's systems are checked out for landing, with Commander Jim Wetherbee and his team ready to escort home the first International Space Station expedition crew late Tuesday.. Additional Details: here....

• STS-102 Mission Status Report #26 - . Nation: USA. Related Persons: Gidzenko, Helms, Kelly, James, Richards, Paul, Shepherd, Thomas, Andrew, Voss, Wetherbee. Program: ISS. Flight: Soyuz TM-31, STS-102, STS-102 ISS EO-2. Discovery's astronauts were awakened at 3:42 p.m. Central time today to begin preparing for a landing at the Kennedy Space Center in Fla. later this evening.. Additional Details: here....

• STS-102 Mission Status Report #27 - . Nation: USA. Related Persons: Gidzenko, Helms, Kelly, James, Richards, Paul, Shepherd, Thomas, Andrew, Voss, Wetherbee. Program: ISS. Flight: Soyuz TM-31, STS-102, STS-102 ISS EO-2. After a surprising turnaround in the Florida weather, Discovery's astronauts -- and the first International Space Station residents -- returned home to Kennedy Space Center at 1:31 a.m. CST Wednesday.. Additional Details: here....

• Landing of STS-102 - . Return Crew: Gidzenko, Kelly, James, Krikalyov, Richards, Paul, Shepherd, Thomas, Andrew, Wetherbee. Nation: USA. Related Persons: Gidzenko, Kelly, James, Krikalyov, Richards, Paul, Shepherd, Thomas, Andrew, Wetherbee. Program: ISS. Flight: Soyuz TM-31, STS-102. STS-102 landed at 07:31 GMT with the crew of Wetherbee, Kelly, Thomas Andrew, Richards Paul, Gidzenko, Krikalyov and Shepherd aboard..

• STS-114 MCC Status Report #01 - . Nation: USA. Related Persons: Camarda, Collins, Eileen, Kelly, James, Krikalyov, Lawrence, Noguchi, Phillips, Robinson, Thomas, Andrew. Program: ISS. Flight: Soyuz TMA-6, STS-114. Discovery launched into a clear Florida sky this morning, returning the Shuttle fleet to space and beginning a journey of exploration to the Moon, Mars and beyond.. Additional Details: here....

• STS-114 - . Call Sign: Discovery. Crew: Camarda, Collins, Eileen, Kelly, James, Lawrence, Noguchi, Robinson, Thomas, Andrew. Payload: Discovery F31 / Raffaello. Mass: 116,884 kg (257,685 lb). Nation: USA. Related Persons: Camarda, Collins, Eileen, Kelly, James, Lawrence, Noguchi, Robinson, Thomas, Andrew. Agency: NASA. Manufacturer: Boeing. Program: ISS. Class: Manned. Type: Manned spaceplane. Flight: Soyuz TMA-6, STS-114. Spacecraft Bus: Shuttle. Spacecraft: Discovery. Duration: 13.90 days. Decay Date: 2005-08-09 . USAF Sat Cat: 28775 . COSPAR: 2005-026A. Apogee: 350 km (210 mi). Perigee: 313 km (194 mi). Inclination: 51.60 deg. Period: 91.20 min.

  Return to flight after loss of Columbia. Delayed extensively as NASA attempted to fix the external tank foam-shedding problem that resulted in the loss of Columbia (first planned for September 12, 2004, the launch slipped to March; May 14, 15 and 22; July 13, 2005). Discovery safely reached orbit at a total mass of 121,485 kg, but extensive video coverage detected external tank foam shedding during ascent. Discovery docked at the Pirs module of the ISS on 28 July 28 at 11:18 GMT. Following replenishment of the station (using the Raffaello MPLM-6 module with 8240 kg of supplies), a series of spacewalks verified the integrity of the shuttle's heat shield and tested repair techniques, Discovery undocked from the ISS at 07:24 GMT on 6 August and landed safely on Runway 22 at Edwards Air Force Base at 12:11 GMT on 9 August. However the shuttle fleet was immediately grounded again while NASA attempted to find a permanent fix to the external tank foam woes.

• STS-114 MCC Status Report #04 - . Nation: USA. Related Persons: Camarda, Collins, Eileen, Kelly, James, Krikalyov, Lawrence, Noguchi, Phillips, Robinson, Thomas, Andrew. Program: ISS. Flight: Soyuz TMA-6, STS-114. Visitors on a Space Shuttle will arrive at the International Space Station for the first time in over two years today. The Space Shuttle Discovery is scheduled to catch up and dock to the Station at 6:18 a.m. CDT Thursday.. Additional Details: here....

• STS-114 MCC Status Report #03 - . Nation: USA. Related Persons: Camarda, Collins, Eileen, Kelly, James, Krikalyov, Lawrence, Noguchi, Phillips, Robinson, Thomas, Andrew. Program: ISS. Flight: Soyuz TMA-6, STS-114.

  Discovery crewmembers completed a camera survey of the heat shields of the leading edges of the orbiter's wings and its nose cone Wednesday. They also began preparations for Thursday's docking with the International Space Station and the mission's spacewalks. Additional Details: here....

• STS-114 MCC Status Report #02 - . Nation: USA. Related Persons: Camarda, Collins, Eileen, Kelly, James, Krikalyov, Lawrence, Noguchi, Phillips, Robinson, Thomas, Andrew. Program: ISS. Flight: Soyuz TMA-6, STS-114.

  The crew aboard the Space Shuttle Discovery has awakened to its first full day in space. Today it will focus on thermal protection system inspections, preparing for docking to the International Space Station and getting spacesuits ready for three spacewalks. Additional Details: here....

• STS-114 MCC Status Report #05 - . Nation: USA. Related Persons: Camarda, Collins, Eileen, Kelly, James, Krikalyov, Lawrence, Noguchi, Phillips, Robinson, Thomas, Andrew. Program: ISS. Flight: Soyuz TMA-6, STS-114. The Space Shuttle Discovery docked with the International Space Station smoothly and right on time Thursday morning, after doing a planned back flip so Station crewmembers could photograph its thermal protection system.. Additional Details: here....

• STS-114 MCC Status Report #06 - . Nation: USA. Related Persons: Camarda, Collins, Eileen, Kelly, James, Krikalyov, Lawrence, Noguchi, Phillips, Robinson, Thomas, Andrew. Program: ISS. Flight: Soyuz TMA-6, STS-114. The first full day of joint Space Shuttle and International Space Station operations will be highlighted by installation of a cargo transportation module, additional orbiter heat shield inspections and spacewalk preparations.. Additional Details: here....

• STS-114 MCC Status Report #08 - . Nation: USA. Related Persons: Camarda, Collins, Eileen, Kelly, James, Krikalyov, Lawrence, Noguchi, Phillips, Robinson, Thomas, Andrew. Program: ISS. Flight: Soyuz TMA-6, STS-114. Astronauts Soichi Noguchi and Steve Robinson will step outside for their first spacewalk, and the first of this mission, early Saturday. The six and a half hour spacewalk is scheduled to begin from Discovery's airlock at 3:44 a.m. CDT.. Additional Details: here....

• STS-114 MCC Status Report #07 - . Nation: USA. Related Persons: Camarda, Collins, Eileen, Kelly, James, Krikalyov, Lawrence, Noguchi, Phillips, Robinson, Thomas, Andrew. Program: ISS. Flight: Soyuz TMA-6, STS-114.

  Space Shuttle and International Space Station crewmembers installed the Raffaello Multi-Purpose Logistics Module and began unloading the pressurized cargo carrier Friday. They also carried out a survey of selected areas of Discovery's thermal protection system and continued preparations for Saturday's spacewalk. Additional Details: here....

• STS-114 MCC Status Report #09 - . Nation: USA. Related Persons: Camarda, Collins, Eileen, Kelly, James, Krikalyov, Lawrence, Noguchi, Phillips, Robinson, Thomas, Andrew. Program: ISS. Flight: Soyuz TMA-6, STS-114.

  Space Shuttle Discovery's heat protective tiles and thermal blankets have been pronounced fit for entry after engineers reviewed the imagery and other data to judge their health. Analysis remains on the reinforced carbon-carbon wing leading edges and the protruding gap fillers identified earlier. Aerodynamics experts are evaluating the effect on surface heating that the gap fillers may cause to decide whether any work is necessary to reduce their size. Additional Details: here....

• STS-114 MCC Status Report #12 - . Nation: USA. Related Persons: Camarda, Collins, Eileen, Kelly, James, Krikalyov, Lawrence, Noguchi, Phillips, Robinson, Thomas, Andrew. Program: ISS. Flight: Soyuz TMA-6, STS-114.

  Now spacewalk veterans, Astronauts Soichi Noguchi and Steve Robinson will step outside for the second of three planned spacewalks today at 3:14 a.m. CDT. The sole objective of the 6 ½-hour excursion is to replace a failed International Space Station attitude control gyroscope. Additional Details: here....

• STS-114 MCC Status Report #11 - . Nation: USA. Related Persons: Camarda, Collins, Eileen, Kelly, James, Krikalyov, Lawrence, Noguchi, Phillips, Robinson, Thomas, Andrew. Program: ISS. Flight: Soyuz TMA-6, STS-114. The transfer of equipment and supplies from Discovery to the International Space Station and preparations for Monday's planned spacewalk by Mission Specialists Soichi Noguchi and Steve Robinson were the focus of today's activities in space.. Additional Details: here....

• STS-114 MCC Status Report #14 - . Nation: USA. Related Persons: Kelly, James, Krikalyov, Lawrence, Noguchi, Phillips, Robinson, Thomas, Andrew. Program: ISS. Flight: Soyuz TMA-6, STS-114. The Space Shuttle Discovery and International Space Station crews will continue transferring equipment and supplies between the two vehicles today. They will also review updated tasks for the third planned spacewalk of the mission.. Additional Details: here....

• STS-114 MCC Status Report #13 - . Nation: USA. Related Persons: Camarda, Collins, Eileen, Kelly, James, Krikalyov, Lawrence, Noguchi, Phillips, Robinson, Thomas, Andrew. Program: ISS. Flight: Soyuz TMA-6, STS-114.

  STS-114 mission managers Monday gave the go-ahead for astronauts to remove two protruding gap fillers in Discovery's heat shield during a Wednesday space walk. Soichi Noguchi and Steve Robinson will attempt to simply pull the thin fabric fillers from between tiles in the forward area of the orbiter's underside. If the pull method is unsuccessful, the two will have tools to cut the material flush with the surface. Additional Details: here....

• STS-114 MCC Status Report #15 - . Nation: USA. Related Persons: Collins, Eileen, Kelly, James, Krikalyov, Lawrence, Noguchi, Phillips, Robinson, Thomas, Andrew. Program: ISS. Flight: Soyuz TMA-6, STS-114.

  Space Shuttle mission managers Tuesday cleared Discovery's wing leading edge heat shield for re-entry as they methodically deal with concerns over the protruding tile gap fillers. The mission management team also discussed a "puffed out" insulating blanket outside the commander's cockpit window and has decided it poses no risk of overheating during entry. Engineers will continue to analyze whether it could pose a debris problem if it came loose during aerodynamic flight. Additional Details: here....

• STS-114 MCC Status Report #16 - . Nation: USA. Related Persons: Camarda, Collins, Eileen, Kelly, James, Krikalyov, Lawrence, Noguchi, Phillips, Robinson, Thomas, Andrew. Program: ISS. Flight: Soyuz TMA-6, STS-114.

  The Space Shuttle Discovery crew begins their ninth day in space with preparations for the third spacewalk of the mission. This extravehicular activity (EVA) was a preplanned activity for the mission, but now includes a new task -- repair of two protruding gap fillers between tiles on the bottom the Shuttle. Additional Details: here....

• STS-114 MCC Status Report #17 - . Nation: USA. Related Persons: Camarda, Collins, Eileen, Kelly, James, Krikalyov, Lawrence, Noguchi, Phillips, Robinson, Thomas, Andrew. Program: ISS. Flight: Soyuz TMA-6, STS-114. Despite days of anticipation and intense planning, space-walking astronaut Steve Robinson made it look easy as he gently pulled two protruding gap fillers from between thermal protection tiles on Discovery's underside Wednesday morning.. Additional Details: here....

• STS-114 MCC Status Report #20 - . Nation: USA. Related Persons: Camarda, Collins, Eileen, Kelly, James, Krikalyov, Lawrence, Noguchi, Phillips, Robinson, Thomas, Andrew. Program: ISS. Flight: Soyuz TMA-6, STS-114.

  Now in their eleventh day of the mission and with three successful spacewalks behind them, the STS-114 crew of Space Shuttle Discovery is slated to begin preparations for undocking and the final day with their International Space Station counterparts. Their activities for the day include final equipment transfers, stowage and return of the robotic arm, boom and cargo container to the Shuttle payload bay. Additional Details: here....

• STS-114 MCC Status Report #21 - . Nation: USA. Related Persons: Camarda, Collins, Eileen, Kelly, James, Krikalyov, Lawrence, Noguchi, Phillips, Robinson, Thomas, Andrew. Program: ISS. Flight: Soyuz TMA-6, STS-114. Discovery astronauts and their hosts on the International Space Station undocked the Raffaello Multi-Purpose Logistics Module from the Station's Unity Node Friday and reberthed it in the Shuttle's cargo bay.. Additional Details: here....

• STS-114 MCC Status Report #24 - . Nation: USA. Related Persons: Camarda, Collins, Eileen, Kelly, James, Krikalyov, Lawrence, Noguchi, Phillips, Robinson, Thomas, Andrew. Program: ISS. Flight: Soyuz TMA-6, STS-114. Discovery's astronauts will begin turning their attention toward coming back to Earth Monday by stowing equipment and verifying operation of the orbiter's flight control surfaces and system.. Additional Details: here....

• STS-114 MCC Status Report #23 - . Nation: USA. Related Persons: Camarda, Collins, Eileen, Kelly, James, Lawrence, Noguchi, Phillips, Robinson, Thomas, Andrew. Program: ISS. Flight: Soyuz TMA-6, STS-114. Discovery is flying solo today, following its early morning departure from the International Space Station, concluding nine days of cooperative work between the two crews.. Additional Details: here....

• STS-114 MCC Status Report #22 - . Nation: USA. Related Persons: Camarda, Collins, Eileen, Kelly, James, Krikalyov, Lawrence, Noguchi, Phillips, Robinson, Thomas, Andrew. Program: ISS. Flight: Soyuz TMA-6, STS-114. After more than a week of working together in space, the Space Shuttle Discovery and International Space Station crews bid each other farewell tonight.. Additional Details: here....

• STS-114 MCC Status Report #25 - . Nation: USA. Related Persons: Camarda, Collins, Eileen, Kelly, James, Krikalyov, Lawrence, Noguchi, Phillips, Robinson, Thomas, Andrew. Program: ISS. Flight: Soyuz TMA-6, STS-114. Discovery's crew is spending what should be its last night in space, with an early morning landing planned Monday at NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida, concluding a voyage of 5.35 million miles.. Additional Details: here....

• STS-114 MCC Status Report #26 - . Nation: USA. Related Persons: Camarda, Collins, Eileen, Kelly, James, Krikalyov, Lawrence, Noguchi, Phillips, Robinson, Thomas, Andrew. Program: ISS. Flight: Soyuz TMA-6, STS-114. Discovery's Return to Flight mission is scheduled to conclude with a landing at NASA's Kennedy Space Center early Monday morning.. Additional Details: here....

• STS-114 MCC Status Report #28 - . Nation: USA. Related Persons: Camarda, Collins, Eileen, Kelly, James, Krikalyov, Lawrence, Noguchi, Phillips, Robinson, Thomas, Andrew. Program: ISS. Flight: Soyuz TMA-6, STS-114. Discovery glided to a pre-dawn landing at Edwards Air Force Base in California this morning concluding a journey of 5.8 million miles, touching down at 7:11 a.m. CDT.. Additional Details: here....

• Landing of STS-114 - . Return Crew: Camarda, Collins, Eileen, Kelly, James, Lawrence, Noguchi, Robinson, Thomas, Andrew. Nation: USA. Related Persons: Camarda, Collins, Eileen, Kelly, James, Lawrence, Noguchi, Robinson, Thomas, Andrew. Program: ISS. Flight: STS-114.