Monthly Archives: March 2008

Endeavour Returns

Space Shuttle Endeavour landed at Florida’s Kennedy Space Center Wednesday night after a remarkable 16 day mission. The crew of STS-123 accomplished a record five spacewalks, during which they constructed the Dextre Robotics System and installed the first module of the Kibo Japanese Experiment Logistics Module.
The International Space Station will now receive the new Jules Verne Automated Transfer Vehicle, or ATV, from Europe. The ATV is scheduled to dock with the station on April 3rd.

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Arthur C. Clarke 1917 – 2008

The wonderful author and visionary, Arthur C. Clarke, who has written so many thought provoking books, has passed away at the ripe old age of 90.  My favorite, and probably his most famous is “2001: A Space Odyssey.”  I’ve always been a big fan of sci-fi, and Clarke’s books were right at the top of my list, along with H.G. Wells.
Clarke has one of those truly amazing biographies, which includes predicting a global network of communication satellites, writing an astounding amount of books and scientific articles, being knighted as Sir Arthur C. Clarke by Britain’s Queen Elizabeth in [...]

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Skywatch

Have you ever watched for the space shuttle, the space station, or just a satellite flying over?  There’s a real handy tool online called Skywatch, that gives you the exact times and locations where you can see orbiting spacecraft pass over your city.
What a thrill to see the sunlight gleaming off the space station’s solar panels, as it streaks across the sky. I’ve seen satellites in the night sky just by accident, when I’m out camping under dark skies, and it’s always really cool, and I just can’t wait to see it again.
Go to spaceflight.nasa.gov/realdata/sightings to use Skywatch [...]

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Spacewalk # 2

Shuttle crew members Rick Linnehan and Mike Foreman have completed the second spacewalk of Endeavour’s STS-123 mission. They worked outside the International Space Station for seven hours assembling the Canadian-built mechanical maintenance robot called Dextre.
Andrew Potter reports via Reuters Video

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Space Shuttle Endeavour docks with International Space Station

This is a busy time for NASA crews aboard the space shuttle Endeavour and the International Space Station. They’re outfitting the new Japanese Logistics Module with supplies and equipment, which is the first onboard laboratory for the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency. The astronauts are also finishing assembly of the Canadian robotic service system, called Dextre. This shuttle mission (STS-123) will be the longest mission to the space station, because it’s a sixteen day flight. Plus there are five spacewalks planned, two of which are already completed.
Andrew Potter reports via Reuters Video:

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NASA YouTube Channel

Did you know NASA has their own YouTube Channel? Well they do, and here’s a video of the launch of space shuttle Endeavour from NASA’s Kennedy Space Center, beginning the STS-123 mission to the International Space Station. www.youtube.com/user/ReelNASA

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Space Shuttle Endeavour begins mission to International Space Station

NASA’s Space Shuttle Endeavour Begins Mission to the International Space Station
(NASA NEWS RELEASE : 08-077)
CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – Space shuttle Endeavour brought an early sunrise to the East Coast Tuesday, launching from NASA’s Kennedy Space Center at 2:28 a.m. EDT and beginning the STS-123 mission to the International Space Station.
During the 16-day flight, Endeavour’s seven astronauts will work with the three-member space station crew and ground teams around the world to install the first section of the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency’s Kibo laboratory and the Canadian Space Agency’s two-armed robotic system, known as Dextre. STS-123 is the longest shuttle mission [...]

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