Spaceflight Now





BY JUSTIN RAY

Follow space shuttle Discovery's STS-128 mission to the International Space Station. Reload this page for the latest updates.

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SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 6, 2009
0341 GMT (11:41 p.m. EDT Sat.)
EVA ENDS. Repressurization of the Quest airlock module commenced at 11:40 p.m. EDT, marking the official end of today's spacewalk by Danny Olivas and Christer Fuglesang.

The excursion outside the International Space Station deployed a payload mounting mechanism, replaced a failed power controller and orientation sensor, installed two new Global Positioning System antennas and pre-staged umbilical cables in preparation for the Tranquility module.

The EVA lasted 7 hours and 1 minute. That brings the total time for the three spacewalks conducted during Discovery's mission to 20 hours and 15 minutes.

0334 GMT (11:34 p.m. EDT Sat.)
The spacewalkers are back into the airlock and the hatch is confirmed closed and locked.
0324 GMT (11:24 p.m. EDT Sat.)
Tool inventories are underway as the spacewalk nears a conclusion.
0318 GMT (11:18 p.m. EDT Sat.)
Olivas finished wrapping the protective sleeve around the power connector that the spacewalkers couldn't get attached despite multiple tries.
0315 GMT (11:15 p.m. EDT Sat.)
Fuglesang speculates he must have bumped the latch to his helmet assembly while fighting with the power cable.
0301 GMT (11:01 p.m. EDT Sat.)
The entire camera and headline assembly came off Fuglesang's helmet. Olivas has unplugged the cable and taken the equipment. Mission Control says Fuglesang should head back to the airlock now, before orbital sunset occurs. Olivas will finish the worksite cleanup.
0250 GMT (10:50 p.m. EDT Sat.)
The helmet-mounted camera equipment on Christer Fuglesang's suit has come loose.
0248 GMT (10:48 p.m. EDT Sat.)
The latest version of the NASA Television schedule (Rev. K) can be downloaded here.
0239 GMT (10:39 p.m. EDT Sat.)
Now six hours and counting in this final EVA of the mission. The astronauts retrieved a thermal sleeve to put over the last connector that's giving the crew difficulty and might not get installed tonight. This is the primary power cable for the Tranquility node that launches next February.
0215 GMT (10:15 p.m. EDT Sat.)
The spacewalkers are struggling to the get the last of the cabling mated up with connectors at the space station.
0154 GMT (9:54 p.m. EDT Sat.)
After the cable work is finished, Olivas will relocate a portable foot restraint and Fuglesang will remove an old slidewire on the Unity node to clear the way for the future Tranquility module.
0112 GMT (9:12 p.m. EDT Sat.)
The spacewalkers have to unreel these long cables, tie them to handrails along the path and hook up the one end to the Z1 truss.
0059 GMT (8:59 p.m. EDT Sat.)
Houston just radioed the spacewalkers with news that the various new pieces of equipment installed on the EVA have successfully powered up.
0033 GMT (8:33 p.m. EDT Sat.)
Fuglesang had to spend some extra time getting the thermal blanket around his GPS antenna tucked down and out of the way. The spacewalkers are about 20 minutes ahead of the timeline now as the cable routing work gets underway.
0009 GMT (8:09 p.m. EDT Sat.)
Now passing the 3.5-hour mark the EVA. The astronauts' next item on the to-do list tonight will be laying two 60-foot-long avonics cables on the exterior of the space station.
SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 5, 2009
2353 GMT (7:53 p.m. EDT)
The spacewalkers have worked in tandem and gotten both of the navigation antennas installed on the Starboard 0 truss as the EVA continues to track ahead of schedule.
2342 GMT (7:42 p.m. EDT)
Olivas is driving the bolts to attach the first GPS antenna.
2322 GMT (7:22 p.m. EDT)
Next up for Danny Olivas will be installation of two new Global Positioning System antennas on the International Space Station.
2317 GMT (7:17 p.m. EDT)
After releasing a simple bolt, Fuglesang pulled out the old power controller and then slid a new one in the slot.
2310 GMT (7:10 p.m. EDT)
Christer Fuglesang has moved to his next chore -- replacing a failed remote power control module on the Starboard 0 truss. To do this job, ground controllers have shut down one of the thermal control loops and other electrical systems.
2304 GMT (7:04 p.m. EDT)
The replacement rate gyroscope assembly has been installed for the International Space Station's control system. These RGA devices help determine the station's orientation as it orbits the Earth.
2256 GMT (6:56 p.m. EDT)
The new box has been bolted in. Connector mates are next.
2242 GMT (6:42 p.m. EDT)
Mission Control says the spacewalkers are running 40 minutes ahead of the timeline.
2241 GMT (6:41 p.m. EDT)
The spacewalkers have released four bolts and two electrical connectors in order to remove this old RGA. It will be parked on an nearby handrail while the astronauts work to install the new unit.
2231 GMT (6:31 p.m. EDT)
Next up will be replacing a failed rate gyro assembly box on the Starboard 0 truss.
2215 GMT (6:15 p.m. EDT)
The spacewalkers are making their way back to the airlock to stow the tools from their first job and retrieve equipment for the upcoming tasks.
2207 GMT (6:07 p.m. EDT)
The new payload mounting mechanism on the International Space Station's Starboard 3 truss has been deployed by the spacewalkers, successfully completing the first task of today's EVA. The next shuttle mission in November will make use of this bracket by installing a pallet of spare parts, including a high pressure gas tank, a control moment gyroscope and pump module.
2206 GMT (6:06 p.m. EDT)
Mission Control says the spacewalkers are running well ahead of the timeline.
2159 GMT (5:59 p.m. EDT)
Final checks are underway on this structure.
2151 GMT (5:51 p.m. EDT)
After some initial alignment concerns, Danny Olivas has gotten the yoke lined up and pinned into place.
2135 GMT (5:35 p.m. EDT)
The spacewalkers have gotten the bracket rotated into the deploy position. Now they must get everything bolted down and the braces reinstalled.
2118 GMT (5:18 p.m. EDT)
Activation of this Payload Attachment System is work deferred from the STS-127 crew. The astronauts on that mission in July ran out of time to do the task.
2106 GMT (5:06 p.m. EDT)
While the spacewalkers remove some structural braces to access and deploy this payload fitting, the astronauts inside the space station have been instructed to refrain from using exercise equipment that would impart vibrations in the complex.
2056 GMT (4:56 p.m. EDT)
The first worksite is the Starboard 3 truss of the space station where the astronauts will unfold a structure to be used in the future to hold a pallet of spare parts.
2049 GMT (4:49 p.m. EDT)
Both spacewalkers have floated out of the airlock. This is the fifth EVA in the careers of both Olivas and Fuglesang.
2039 GMT (4:39 p.m. EDT)
EVA BEGINS. The spacewalkers switched their suits to internal battery power at 4:39 p.m. EDT, marking the official start time for today's EVA by Danny Olivas and Christer Fuglesang. This is the third of three spacewalks planned during Discovery's mission at the International Space Station.
2038 GMT (4:38 p.m. EDT)
The Quest airlock's outer hatch just opened to space.
2022 GMT (4:22 p.m. EDT)
A good leak check has been performed while the depressurization was paused at 5.0 psi.
2010 GMT (4:10 p.m. EDT)
The internal hatch on the airlock has been closed and depressurization is underway.
2000 GMT (4:00 p.m. EDT)
Olivas and Fuglesang have left the suitup area and gone into the portion of the Quest module that will be sealed off and depressurized for the spacewalk. Today's preps continue to go smoothly and ahead of schedule.
1900 GMT (3:00 p.m. EDT)
The helmets are installed and spacesuits are being purged in preparation for the spacewalk. Mission Control says the crew is running about 15 minutes ahead of the timeline so far.
1830 GMT (2:30 p.m. EDT)
Astronauts John "Danny" Olivas and Christer Fuglesang are gearing up for a third and final spacewalk today, a planned six-and-a-half-hour excursion to deploy a payload mounting mechanism, replace a circuit breaker and an orientation sensor, install GPS antennas and to lay 60 feet of cable to power a new module.

Read our full story.

1825 GMT (2:25 p.m. EDT)
The spacewalkers are getting suited up. Today's EVA is slated to start a little before 5 p.m. EDT.
1600 GMT (12:00 p.m. EDT)
Flight Day 9 has dawned for the STS-128 mission. Today will be highlighted by the third and final spacewalk of the flight, an EVA by Danny Olivas and Christer Fuglesang to deploy an external payload attachment bracket, replace a rate gyro assembly and install GPS equipment.
1525 GMT (11:25 a.m. EDT)
The latest version of the NASA Television schedule (Rev. J) can be downloaded here.
0540 GMT (1:40 a.m. EDT)
The astronauts have finished their review of procedures for Saturday evening's spacewalk. The crew got together to go over the game plan and the role each member will play. Danny Olivas and Christer Fuglesang will be moving into the airlock for the overnight campout. Bed time begins at 4 a.m., the start of an 8-hour sleep period.
0138 GMT (9:38 p.m. EDT Fri.)
The joint space shuttle and space station crews just finished their multi-national news conference with reporters in the U.S., Canada and Europe. After the earlier off-duty time and taking their in-flight portrait, the crews are scheduled to resume the Leonardo transfers tonight and finish preparations for tomorrow's spacewalk by Danny Olivas and Christer Fuglesang.

Spaceflight Now Plus
Additional coverage for subscribers:
HIGH DEFINITION TV DAY 7: SPACEWALKERS COME BACK INSIDE PLAY
HIGH DEFINITION TV DAY 7: MORE WORK WITH LEONARDO PLAY
HIGH DEFINITION TV DAY 7: OLIVAS AND FUGLESANG ON EVA PLAY
MORE: STS-128 VIDEO COVERAGE
MORE: HIGH DEFINITION VIDEO COVERAGE
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Read our earlier status center coverage.

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