Endeavour Launch Preps in the Cold

Endeavour Launch Preps in the Cold While Managers Evaluate Cooling Lines


Fri, 08 Jan 2010 17:09:25 -0600

At NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida, throughout the weekend technicians will prepare space shuttle Endeavour for prelaunch propellant servicing at Launch Pad 39A

The shuttle continues to be sheltered from the Space Coast's uncharacteristically cold temperatures with heaters and warm air purges. This process will keep the spacecraft's systems at an appropriate temperature.

As International Space Station and shuttle teams prepared for February’s launch, a high-pressure ammonia jumper hose assembly failed during a prelaunch test Thursday. Four such hoses, which will be used to connect the new Tranquility module to the station’s cooling system, are to be installed and activated by spacewalkers during the STS-130 mission.

The teams are continuing to work toward a target launch of Endeavour on Feb. 7, however engineers are reviewing data from the test and evaluating whether there will be any impact to the shuttle mission. The analysis is expected to continue for several days.
 
STS-130 Crew Portrait
 

 
Attired in training versions of their shuttle launch and entry suits, these six astronauts take a break from training to pose for the STS-130 crew portrait. Seated are astronauts George Zamka (right), commander; and Terry Virts, pilot. From the left (standing) are astronaut Nicholas Patrick, Robert Behnken, Kathryn Hire and Stephen Robinson, all mission specialists.
 
STS-130 Mision Insignia

 
The STS-130 patch was designed by the crew to reflect both the objectives of the mission and its place in the history of human spaceflight. The main goal of the mission is to deliver Node 3 and the Cupola to the International Space Station (ISS). Node 3, named "Tranquility," will contain life support systems enabling continued human presence in orbit aboard the ISS. The shape of the patch represents the Cupola, which is the windowed robotics viewing station, from which astronauts will have the opportunity not only to monitor a variety of ISS operations, but also to study our home planet. The image of Earth depicted in the patch is the first photograph of the Earth taken from the moon by Lunar Orbiter I on August 23, 1966. As both a past and a future destination for explorers from the planet Earth, the moon is thus represented symbolically in the STS-130 patch. The Space Shuttle Endeavour is pictured approaching the ISS, symbolizing the Space Shuttle's role as the prime construction vehicle for the ISS.