Archive - Jun 12, 2007
NASA Open to ISS Use by Industry, U.S.
NASA is ready and willing to share the international space station (ISS) with other U.S. government agencies and commercial firms once construction of the $100 billion orbital outpost is finished in 2010.
That is the main thrust of a 14-page report NASA sent to Congress in late May outlining a plan for operating the U.S. segment of ISS as a "national laboratory" supported and used by entities other than NASA.
http://www.space.com/spacenews/070611_iss_businessmonday.html
NASA Extends Space Shuttle Mission, Adds Fourth Spacewalk
NASA's shuttle Atlantis will spend two extra days in orbit to allow its astronaut crew to repair minor heat shield damage and perform an extra spacewalk at the International Space Station (ISS), mission managers said late Monday.
The extra time will allow engineers on Earth to draw up plans to repair a damaged heat-resistant blanket on the aft exterior of Atlantis, John Shannon, head of NASA's STS-117 Mission Management Team, told reporters during mission briefing here at NASA's Johnson Space Center.
"The right answer here, the better part of valor, was to go ahead and put it down and secure it," Shannon said of the damaged blanket.
Internet connections?
Does anybody know if the crew has internet up there? If so, how's their connection speed.
JSC Education Office Gains Ham Operator
An Amateur Radio on the International Space Station (ARISS) member from the JSC Teaching from Space office received training and took and passed his amateur radio license exam. His training in amateur radio will enable him to more effectively participate in the ARISS program and with school partners.
Station Spreads New Wings; Crew to Prep for Spacewalk
The International Space Station spread its new set of wings today, and now the STS-117 crew members can turn their attention to the mission's next spacewalk.
The solar arrays on the newly installed Starboard 3 and 4 (S3/S4) truss segment deployed to their full length with the assistance of the STS-117 crew. The S3/S4 was installed onto the station Monday before the start of STS-117's first spacewalk, during which STS-117 astronauts began activating the truss. The arrays will increase the station's ability to generate power when they go online.