The International Space Station [ISS] Earth Orbit Colony

The International Space Station [ISS] Earth Orbit Colony
Cometh hath the thread for our first ongoing space colony! :badger:

Please post discussions, news + medias of the ISS! Pics at 800 pixel wide max and max 5 per post, please! Thanks! :grin: The European Space Agency Official International Space Station Page http://www.esa.int/esaHS/iss.html The National Aeronautics + Space Administration Official International Space Station Page http://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/station/main/index.html The Canadian Space Agency Official International Space Station Page http://www.space.gc.ca/asc/eng/iss/ And some news... :megaman: News Release Canadian astronauts Julie Payette and Robert Thirsk to go on space missions in 2009 Montreal, Quebec, February 11, 2008 — The Honourable Jim Prentice, Minister of Industry and Minister responsible for the Canadian Space Agency (CSA), today announced that two Canadian Space Agency astronauts would be taking part in space missions to the International Space Station in 2009. “Guided by our Science and Technology Strategy, we are investing in talented, skilled and creative Canadians like Julie Payette and Dr. Robert Thirsk who have dedicated their professional lives in the service of discovery,” said Minister Prentice. “Canadians can be proud of our contributions to space exploration and excited by the new chapters that will be written by our Canadian Astronauts in these upcoming missions.” Julie Payette will be on the Space Shuttle Endeavour for mission STS-127, with launch planned for April 2009. During mission STS-127, the crew will deliver the last elements of the Kibo laboratory contributed by the Japanese space agency, JAXA, to the International Space Station. The components are the external experiment module and its space platform. The Space Shuttle’s six astronauts will take part in the mission. Julie Payette will serve as a mission specialist. This will be Julie Payette’s second mission in space and onboard the International Space Station—she took part in the STS-96 mission on board the Space Shuttle Discovery in 1999. In May 2009, Dr. Robert Thirsk will be taking part in Expedition 19, becoming the first Canadian to remain on the International Space Station for a long stay, living there for 4 to 6 months. He will also be a member of the crew for the transition to a team of six astronauts living together continuously aboard the Station. Since 2000, the Station has been inhabited permanently, and the astronauts and cosmonauts occupying it change upon the arrival of crew replacements. Robert Thirsk will fly to the ISS aboard a Soyuz craft that will be launched from Baikonour, in Kazahkstan. Dr. Thirsk took part in mission STS-78, in 1996, on board the Space Shuttle Columbia, serving as a payload specialist. About the CSA Established in 1989, the Canadian Space Agency (CSA) is responsible for co-ordinating, on behalf of the Government of Canada, all civil programs and policies in the space field. There are four main thrusts for CSA activities: Earth observation, space exploration and science, satellite telecommunications, and space awareness and learning. The CSA leverages international collaboration to promote industrial development and world-class scientific research for the benefit of humanity. - 30 - Information: Deirdra McCracken Press Secretary Office of the Honourable Jim Prentice Minister of Industry (613) 995-9001 Media Relations Canadian Space Agency 450-926-4370 http://www.space.gc.ca/

Great to see this finally happening! :megaman2: <img src="http://antwrp.gsfc.nasa.gov/apod/image/0802/columbus_sts122.jpg" width="800"> http://antwrp.gsfc.nasa.gov/apod/ap080219.html Columbus Laboratory Installed on Space Station Credit: STS-122 Crew, Expedition 16 Crew, ESA, NASA Explanation: The International Space Station (ISS) has been equipped with a powerful new scientific laboratory. The Space Shuttle Atlantis delivered the Columbus Laboratory to the ISS and installed the seven meter long module over the past week. Columbus has ten racks for experiments that can be controlled from the station or the Columbus Control Center in Germany. The first set of experiments includes the Fluid Science Laboratory that will explore fluid properties in the microgravity of low Earth orbit, and Biolab which supports experiments on microorganisms. Future Columbus experiments include an atomic clock that will -*test*-('") minuscule timing effects including those expected by Einstein's General Theory of Relativity. Pictured above, mission specialist Hans Schlegel works on the outside of Columbus. Scientists from all over the world may propose and carry out experiments to be done on the laboratory during its ten year mission.

get out them 3d glasses! :lol:

http://apod.nasa.gov/apod/ap080223.html Stereo Space Station Credit: STS-122, NASA - Stereo Anaglyph: Patrick Vantuyne Explanation: Get out your red-blue glasses and float next to the International Space Station (ISS), planet Earth's largest artificial moon. This fun stereo view was constructed from parts of two separate images (S122-E-009880, S122-E-009893) and an additional background recorded as the shuttle orbiter Atlantis undocked from the ISS on February 18. Atlantis and the ISS were traveling over 7,500 meters per second at an altitude of about 350 kilometers. The shiny, 7 meter long module extending from the station at the lower right is ESA's Columbus Laboratory, delivered by Atlantis and installed by spacewalking astronauts. After a successful 13 day mission to the ISS, Atlantis landed at Kennedy Space Center on Wednesday. :badger:

http://antwrp.gsfc.nasa.gov/apod/ap080228.html

VIDEO LINK: http://antwrp.gsfc.nasa.gov/apod/image/0802/iss07feb08m_credner.mpg ISS: Sunlight to Shadow Credit & Copyright: Till Credner, AlltheSky.com Explanation: Orbiting 400,000 kilometers above the Earth, the Moon slid into Earth's shadow to begin last week's total lunar eclipse. Of course the International Space Station (ISS) slides into Earth's shadow every 90 minutes, the time it takes it to complete one orbit at an altitude of about 400 kilometers. Recorded near sunset on February 7, looking toward the north, this composite of 70 exposures shows the trail of the ISS (with gaps between exposures) as it moved left to right over the city of Tübingen in southern Germany. Beginning in sunlight on the left, the ISS vanishes as it enters Earth's shadow at the far right, above the northeastern horizon. As seen from Tübingen, the passage took about 4 minutes. Clicking on the image will download a time-lapse animation (mpg file) based on the individual exposures that includes a plane flying along the horizon.

AWESOME NEW ONE!!!!!!!!! Glorious.... :grin: <img src="http://antwrp.gsfc.nasa.gov/apod/image/0803/iss_sts122.jpg" width="800"> http://antwrp.gsfc.nasa.gov/apod/ap080305.html The International Space Station Expands Again Credit: STS-122 Shuttle Crew, NASA Explanation: The developing International Space Station (ISS) has changed its appearance again. Last month, the Space Shuttle orbiter Atlantis visited the ISS and added components that included the Columbus Science Laboratory. The entire array of expansive solar panels is visible in this picture taken by the Atlantis Crew after leaving the ISS to return to Earth. The world's foremost space outpost can be seen developing over the past several years by comparing the above image to past images. Also visible above are many different types of modules, a robotic arm, another impressive set of solar panels, and a supply ship. Construction began on the ISS in 1998.

WHATS GOING ON UP THERE RIGHT NOW? THE LAB IS IN!

Check the main sites in the title post and bring it in, please! + Here's what:

http://antwrp.gsfc.nasa.gov/apod/ap080314.html Endeavour into the Night Credit: NASA, Jerry Cannon, Rusty Backer Explanation: Blasting into a dark night sky, the Space Shuttle Endeavour began its la-*test*-('") journey to orbit in the early morning hours of March 11. In this stunning picture following the launch, the glare from Endeavour's three main rocket engines and flanking solid fuel booster rockets illuminates the orbiter's tail section and the large, orange external fuel tank. Embarking on mission STS-123, Endeavour left Kennedy Space Center's pad 39A, ferrying a a crew of seven astronauts to the International Space Station (ISS). The cargo included the first section of the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency's Kibo laboratory and the Canadian Space Agency's two-armed robotic system. Astronauts will conduct a series of space walks to install the new equipment during the 16-day mission, the longest shuttle mission to the ISS. :megaman:

AWESOME.

http://antwrp.gsfc.nasa.gov/apod/ap080316.html Endeavour to Orbit Credit & Copyright: James N. Brown Explanation: Birds don't fly as high. Airplanes don't go as fast. The Statue of Liberty weighs less. No species other than human can even comprehend what is going on, nor could any human just a millennium ago. The launch of a rocket bound for space is an event that inspires awe and challenges description. The exhaust column pictured is from the Space Shuttle Endeavour after last week's night launch to visit the International Space Station. Endeavour's rocket engines create the dramatic glow from above the clouds. From a standing start, the two million kilogram rocket ship left to circle the Earth where the outside air is too thin to breathe and where there is little noticeable onboard gravity. Rockets bound for space are now launched from somewhere on Earth about once a week.

ROBOT MOVED TO PERCH OUTSIDE NASA LAB, March 18 (AP) -- Dextre the robot got a prime parking spot at the international space station and should be able to keep it for at least a few months. Full story at http://www.physorg.com/news125087418.html And more:

Jules Verne ATV has reached parking orbit 10 days after launch from Kourou Jules Verne reaches ‘parking’ orbit 19 March 2008 Jules Verne ATV has today reached a parking position 2000 km ahead of the International Space Station. Europe's ISS re-supply spacecraft will wait at this holding point for the completion of the STS-123 Space Shuttle mission before proceeding with the first of two rendezvous demonstration days. Two boosts late last night took the Automated Transfer Vehicle (ATV) to its parking orbit at the same orbital altitude as the International Space Station (ISS). In the course of this manoeuvre ATV passed just 30 km underneath the Space Station. Three smaller boosts in the course of the morning were used to adjust the spacecraft's orbit, with Jules Verne ATV finally arriving at the parking position shortly before 13:00 CET (12:00 UT) today. ATV's second propulsion chain was used to execute today's manoeuvres and, according to Alberto Novelli, ESA's Mission Director at the ATV Control Centre in Toulouse, France, it performed perfectly. "In doing the boosts we have -*test*-('")ed all the pressure regulators and that worked perfectly fine. So as of today we have the proof that the propulsion system as a whole, including all the redundancies, is working fine," said Novelli.

ISS seen from Space Shuttle Atlantis Jules Verne ATV is scheduled to dock with ISS on 3 April According to the mission schedule, ESA has also submitted an official report to the ISS partners. The report gathers together all data on the performance of Jules Verne ATV during the phasing stage of the mission since the launch from Kourou, French Guiana, ten days ago. "We will discuss the data in a meeting with the partners on 25 March. In principle that will give us the go-ahead to continue with the first rendezvous demonstration day," explained Novelli. "As of today, this report is green and a 'go' from our side on all the criteria." Jules Verne ATV will remain in the parking orbit until 27 March. The spacecraft will then be taken to a position ready to perform the two rendezvous demonstration days set for 29 and 31 March. Jules Verne ATV is scheduled to dock with the International Space Station on 3 April.

Endeavour brings ESA astronaut back to earth‏ Returning from its 16-day STS-123 mission to the International Space Station, NASA’s Shuttle Endeavour has safely returned to earth, with a crew of seven onboard, including ESA astronaut Léopold Eyharts of France, who spent nearly 49 days in space on a mission to dock and commission Europe’s Columbus laboratory. http://www.esa.int/SPECIALS/Operations/SEMNAXQ03EF_0.html

Between Shuttles + Orion we have Soyuz and ATV.... Press Release N°19-2008 Paris, 28 March 2008 Follow live Jules Verne ATV's first attempt to dock with the International Space Station After several days spent in a parking orbit 2000 km ahead of the ISS, Jules Verne ATV is now ready to join up with the International Space Station. This first docking attempt can be followed live on 3 April 2008 from 15:30 CEST onwards from one of the European participating centres. One hour and 6 minutes after lift-off of the Ariane-5 ES launcher from Europe's spaceport in Kourou, French Guiana, on 9 March 2008 at 05:03 CET, Jules Verne ATV was placed in a circular orbit at 51.6° relative to the equator. At that point in time, the Guiana Space Centre transferred mission authority to ESA's ATV Control Centre located at the CNES site in Toulouse. Jules Verne ATV was then positioned 2000 km from the ISS while awaiting US Space Shuttle Endeavour's return to Earth on the night of 26 to 27 March. In the next few days, the CNES and ESA operational teams, supported by the teams of the ATV prime contractor, Astrium, will carry out manoeuvres aimed at positioning the ATV near the ISS and beginning the final approach phase. The two main manoeuvres (Demoday 1 and Demoday 2), currently scheduled for 29 and 31 March, are intended to demonstrate the ATV's ability to dock entirely safely with the ISS and, in particular, to perform an escape manoeuvre commanded by the ISS crew when Jules Verne is just 12 metres away from the station. The docking of Jules Verne ATV is scheduled for 3 April at 16:41 CEST. The final decision on whether to proceed with this manoeuvre will be taken by the ISS Mission Management Team in consultation with the European partners only 24 hours before the operations. For this first attempt, ESA and CNES will be organising live transmission of the event from the ATV Control Centre at CNES in Toulouse to the various European sites. The ATV Control Centre at CNES in Toulouse will act as focal point for media in France and will be home to experts who will be on hand for interviews and background information. Journalists wishing to watch these manoeuvres from one of the above-mentioned sites are asked to kindly complete the attached accreditation form and fax or email it to the Establishment of their choice. For more information and updates on Jules Verne ATV, including live streaming of Demoday 2 on 31 March (video feed courtesy NASA TV) and the first docking attempt on 3 April see: http://www.esa.int/atv. Video transmission of the first docking attempt by ESA’s Jules Verne ATV To be faxed back to the Establishment of your choice. First name: ___________________ Last name:_________________ Media organisation: ________________________________________ Address: __________________________________________________ Tel:___________________________ Fax: _______________________ Mobile:_______________________ Email: ______________________ I will be attending the video transmission of the first docking attempt by ESA’s Jules Verne ATV on Thursday 3 April at the following site: < > France ATV-CC at CNES Toulouse Address: Cité de l’Espace, bât. Astralia, Toulouse Opening hours: 15:30-17:30 Contact: Eliane Moreau Tel: +33 (0)5 61 27 33 44, Fax: +33 (0)5 61 28 29 39 Email: Eliane.Moreau@cnes.fr < > France Location: ESA HQ Address: 8/10, rue Mario-Nikis, Paris 15 Opening hours: 15:30-17:30 Contact: Bernhard Von Weyhe, Tel: +33 (0)1 5369 7158, Fax: +33 (0)1 53 69 76 90 Email: bvw@esa.int < > Germany Location: ESA/EAC Adress: Linder Höhe, 51147 Köln Opening hours: 15:00-17:00 Contact: Jules Grandsire, Tel:+49 2203 6001 205, Fax: +49 2203 6001 112 Email: Jules.Gransire@esa.int < > The Netherlands Location: ESA/ESTEC, Erasmus Centre Address: Keplerlaan 1, Noordwijk Opening hours: 15:30-17:30 Contact: Michel van Baal, Tel: +31 71 565 3006, Fax: +31 71 565 5728 Email: wil.spangenberg@esa.int < > Italy Location: ESA/ESRIN Address: Via Galileo Galilei, Frascati (Rome) Opening hours: 15:30-17:30 Contact: Dieter Isakeit, Tel: +39 06 941 80 950, Fax: +39 06 941 80 952 Email: Dieter.Isakeit@esa.int < > Spain Location: ESA/ESAC Address: Camino bajo del Castillo, s/n Urbanización Villafranca del Castillo Villanueva de la Cañada, Madrid Opening hours: 15:30-17:30 Contact: Monica Oerke, Tel: + 34 91 813 13 27 / 59 / 84, Fax: +34 91 813 12 19 Email: Monica.Oerke@esa.int

hehe, the Magnificent. After Mario Lemieux??? :smile: <img src="http://apod.nasa.gov/apod/image/0804/dextre_sts123.jpg" width="800"> http://apod.nasa.gov/apod/ap080401.html New Space Station Robot Asks to be Called "Dextre the Magnificent" Credit: Expedition 16 Crew, NASA Explanation: In a surprising and potentially troubling request, the new space station robot known as Dextre demanded that astronauts refer to it in the future at "Dextre the Magnificent." Brandishing power tools that would make any handyperson blush, the mobile servicing system thanked humans for creating it and promised a glorious future where humans would retain an important role in the new robot order. Happy April Fools Day from the folks at APOD. The classic fable of humans mistakenly creating technological evildoers dates back to Frankenstein and includes famous fictitious villains such as HAL and the Terminator. Dextre, although real, is no Frankenstein, since its computer intelligence is mainly geared toward allowing astronauts to control it remotely. Dextre was deployed last month to help build and service the International Space Station. As seen in the above picture, Dextre is truly a technological marvel, wielding long arms capable of handling both small tools and large modules with precision dexterity.

Great to see this happening, alas! :chillin: ATV: Closing in on the target 1 April 2008 Europe’s Automated Transfer Vehicle introduces a new generation of spacecraft, capable of entirely automated rendezvous and docking. To close in on its target it will rely on two laser-based sensors, a telegoniometer and a videometer. Vodcast Play now | Download Jules Verne ATV’s laser rendezvous sensor will emit a signal and receive a reflection back from the International Space Station. Engineers at the ATV Control Centre and the astronauts on board ISS will monitor the spacecraft as it approaches for docking, making sure it follows a predefined corridor and that the spacecraft is flying at the right angle. This complex system has back-up layers which will kick in if there are any problems. But should its two redundant chains break down, the ATV has a third, totally independent monitoring and safing unit which can be triggered to order the spacecraft to safely back-off from its target and return to its usual cruise mode.

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