 | STS-116
Credit - NASA
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10 December 2006 01:47 GMT. Landing Date: 2006-12-22 22:32:00. Flight Time: 12.86 days. Other Name: ISS-12A.1. Flight Up: STS-116. Flight Back: STS-116. Call Sign: Discovery. Crew: Polansky, Oefelein, Curbeam, Patrick, Fuglesang, Higginbotham. Program: ISS. Of note: First Swedish astronaut. The mission used solid rocket booster pair RSRM-95 and external tank ET-123. At SSME burnout Discovery was in a 58 km x 220 km x 51.6 deg preliminary burn. The OMS-2 burn at 02:25 GMT placed the shuttle in a stable 225 x 250 km orbit from which rendezvous maneuvers began. Discovery docked
with the ISS at 22:12 GMT on December 11. In the most demanding ISS assembly mission ever, the crew would require an additional spacewalk to complete installation of the P5 truss, retraction of the recalcitrant port P6 solar array wing, and activation of the truss electrical and cooling system. Sunita Williams rode the shuttle to the station, and remained behind with the EO-14 crew; ESA astronaut Thomas Reiter, already aboard the station, was returned to earth. Due to weather problems a landing at White Sands was considered; but in the end Discovery landed safely at Kennedy Space Center, after which it was to enter a year-long overhaul cycle. The flight was originally scheduled for July 2003 but was delayed after the Columbia disaster. In comparison with the original crew, Polansky replaced Wilcutt as commander, and Patrick was added. The original flight was to change out a complete three-member ISS crew. By 2006 the core two-member ISS crew was maintained at the station by the more reliable Soyuz. Instead, the only a third ISS crew member - Williams was brought up by STS-116 and exchanged for German astronaut Reiter. Cargo manifest:
- Bay 1-2: Orbiter Docking System - 1800 kg
- Bay 3: Tunnel Adapter - 112 kg
- Bay 4-5: Spacehab Logistics Module - 5399 kg
- Bay 5P: APC with SPDU - 20 kg?
- Bay 7-8: Truss segment P5 - 1860 kg
- Bay 11-12: Integrated Cargo Carrier - 2492 kg total, consisting of: carrier itself - 839 kg; STP-H2, FRAM - 1398 kg; Service Module Debris Panels - 100 kg; RAFT-1 - 4 kg; MARScom - 3 kg; MEPSI 2A/2B - 3 kg; ANDE launch cylinder - 20 kg; ANDE-MAA - 50 kg; ANDE-FCAL - 75 kg
- Sill OBSS 202 - 450 kg
- Sill RMS 303 - 390 kg
- Total - 12,523 kg
The STS-116 mission to the International Space Station was the most complex of the shuttle assembly flights. Seven shuttle astronauts and three station astronauts worked closely with flight to reconfigure the station's electrical power and cooling systems. The station had been running on a temporary electrical system since 1998. The new, permanent configuration incorporated power from the P4 solar arrays that were installed during STS-115. Discovery also delivered and installed the 1820-kg P5 truss element that extended the left side of the overall truss, allowing the P4 solar panels to rotate and it set the stage for the relocation of the P6 solar arrays on a later assembly flight. STS-116 astronaut Sunita Williams was left on the station with the EO-14 long duration crew, while ESA Flight Engineer Thomas Reiter, already aboard the station, was returned to earth. Problems with retraction of the P6 array resulted in the addition of an additional spacewalk and extended the mission by one day over the planned 12 days.
Before any rewiring could be done, half of the station's P6 solar array had to be folded up on flight day 5. To achieve the new power setup, ground control shut down the entire U.S. portion of the station in stages. This complex procedure has never before been attempted. The assembly sequence included three planned and one unplanned spacewalks:
- EVA 1: On flight day 4, Curbeam and Fuglesang aligned and connected the P5 truss segment to P4. However problems were experienced in retraction of the P6 solar array. It could not be fully retracted, although enough was folded up to allow the P4 arrays to rotate freely when relocated.
- EVA 2: On flight day 6, Curbeam and Fuglesang reconfigured power on channels 2 and 3 of the station's electrical system. The feared partial shutdown of the ISS power systems and power-up from the new P4 solar array was conducted without a hitch.
- EVA 3: On flight day 8, Curbeam and Williams reconfigured power on channels 1 and 4 of the station's electrical system. The partial shutdown of the ISS power systems and power-up from the new P4 solar array was conducted without a hitch. They also moved Zvezda module debris protection panels to a storage location on the station exterior and performed other small tasks.
- EVA 4: On flight day 10, Curbeam and Fuglesang conducted an unscheduled spacewalk, and successfully managed to fully retract the P6 solar array.
Other major activities of the mission:
- P5 truss delivery - The shuttle robotic arm transferred the P5 to the station's robotic arm which then placed the component on the truss.
- Spacehab cargo delivery - The pressurized module contained 2600 kg of cargo which the crew transferred to the station.
- Integrated Cargo Carrier cargo delivery - The unpressurized module carried 2500 kg of cargo (capacity 3600 kg)
- The external television camera on the Camera Port 3 was repaired for use on the next shuttle mission, STS-117
- A gyroscope on the Treadmill Vibration Isolation System was repaired during the second spacewalk.
- During the third spacewalk, a newly-designed component was installed in the station's Carbon Dioxide Removal Assembly.
- An Atmospheric Neutral Density Experiment was conducted
- On flight day 12, two microsatellites were launched from Discovery's cargo bay that would measure the density and composition of the low Earth orbit atmosphere.
- First test of a space shuttle main engine with the Advanced Health Monitoring System installed. The system monitored the flow of fuel within the high-pressure fuel pumps of the main engine in monitor-only mode. On future missions the system would be activated, allowing it to shut down the engine in case problems were detected that indicated imminent engine failure.
STS-116 was the 117th space shuttle flight, the 33rd flight for shuttle Discovery and the 20th flight to the station. It was the 29th nighttime shuttle launch and the first since Endeavour lifted off on STS-113 in 2002. During an average day on the station, flight controllers gave approximately 800 commands. During the highly-choreographed power transfer portion of this mission, on flight days 6-8, controllers gave about 4,500 commands. Ground teams had trained for six years to ensure the mission timeline was as efficient and safe as possible. As of STS-116, NASA estimated that 16,000 Americans were working on the Space Shuttle Program.
STS-116 Chronology - 2006 Dec 1 - International Space Station Status Report: SS06-052
The International Space Station crew have been preparing for the planned arrival next week of the Space Shuttle Discovery on a complex mission to rewire the station's electrical system. Shuttle Discovery is due to launch at 8:35 p.m. CST Thursday, Dec. 7 on mission ...more...
- 2006 Dec 9 - STS-116 MCC Status Report 01
The Space Shuttle Discovery rocketed into a dark Florida sky at 7:47 p.m. CST today, the third shuttle launch in five months, but the first night launch in more than four years. Discovery's seven-member crew will link up with the International Space Station ...more...
- 2006 Dec 10 - STS-116 Crew: Polansky, Oefelein, Curbeam, Patrick, Fuglesang, Higginbotham, Williams. Spacecraft: Discovery. Payload: Discovery F32 / P5. Launch Site: Cape Canaveral. Launch Vehicle: Shuttle. Duration: 12.86 days. Perigee: 326 km (202 mi). Apogee: 358 km (222 mi). Inclination: 51.60 deg. Period: 91.40 min.
The mission used solid rocket booster pair RSRM-95 and external tank ET-123. At SSME burnout Discovery was in a 58 km x 220 km x 51.6 deg preliminary burn. The OMS-2 burn at 02:25 GMT placed the shuttle in a stable 225 x 250 km orbit from which rendezvous maneuvers began. Discovery docked
with the ISS at 22:12 GMT on December 11. In the most demanding ISS assembly mission ever, the crew would require an additional spacewalk to complete installation of the P5 truss, retraction of the recalcitrant port P6 solar array wing, and activation of the truss electrical and cooling system. Sunita Williams rode the shuttle to the station, and remained behind with the EO-14 crew; ESA astronaut Thomas Reiter, already aboard the station, was returned to earth. Due to weather problems a landing at White Sands was considered; but in the end Discovery landed safely at Kennedy Space Center, after which it was to enter a year-long overhaul cycle.
- 2006 Dec 10 - STS-116 MCC Status Report 02
The Space Shuttle Discovery crew, Commander Mark Polansky, Pilot Bill Oefelein, and Mission Specialists Nicholas Patrick, Joan Higginbotham, Bob Curbeam, Sunita Williams and Christer Fuglesang, are beginning a busy first full day in space. The astronauts will use the shuttle’s robotic arm to unberth the Orbiter Boom Sensor ...more...
- 2006 Dec 10 - STS-116 MCC Status Report 03
The Space Shuttle Discovery crew spent much of its first full day in space using the shuttle’s robotic arm and an extension boom-mounted sensor system to inspect heat shielding on Discovery's wing leading edges and nose. The data will be analyzed by engineers to ensure the spacecraft's heat shield is ...more...
- 2006 Dec 11 - STS-116 MCC Status Report 04
The Space Shuttle Discovery continues its pursuit of the International Space Station, a chase that should culminate in the docking of the two spacecraft at 4:05 p.m. CST today. Discovery’s crew, Commander Mark Polansky, Pilot Bill Oefelein and Mission Specialists ...more...
- 2006 Dec 11 - STS-116 MCC Status Report 05
Astronauts on the Space Shuttle Discovery and the International Space Station were united today, and the joint crew immediately began the complex work associated with installing a new truss section and rewiring the station’s power grid. Discovery’s crew entered the station complex at 5:54 p.m. CST as Expedition 14 Commander ...more...
- 2006 Dec 12 - STS-116 MCC Status Report 06
The first spacewalk by Discovery's crew members, an excursion that will install a new, two-ton segment on the port side of the International Space Station's girder-like truss, will highlight today's work on mission STS-116. The six-hour, 10-minute excursion by astronauts Bob Curbeam and Christer Fuglesang ...more...
- 2006 Dec 12 - STS-116 MCC Status Report 07
The International Space Station is now two tons heavier, with the installation today of its newest truss segment during the flight’s first spacewalk. Mission Specialists Bob Curbeam and Christer Fuglesang ventured outside the station ...more...
- 2006 Dec 13 - STS-116 MCC Status Report 08
Retracting a solar array wing that has been extended in space for six years will highlight the activities aboard the International Space Station and the Space Shuttle Discovery today. Furling of the wing, the left wing of the station's P6 solar arrays that were launched ...more...
- 2006 Dec 13 - STS-116 MCC Status Report 09
The first phase of the electrical and thermal makeover of the International Space Station was completed tonight as the outpost’s newest solar arrays began rotating to follow the sun and ammonia flowed into the station’s permanent cooling system for the first time. Flight controllers sent commands to enable a large joint to begin rotating around ...more...
- 2006 Dec 14 - STS-116 MCC Status Report 10
The second spacewalk for Discovery's crew members is scheduled for this afternoon. During the spacewalk, set to start about 2:12 p.m. CST, Bob Curbeam and Christer Fuglesang will begin to rewire the station’s power system Curbeam and Fuglesang spent the night in the station's Quest airlock at a reduced ...more...
- 2006 Dec 14 - STS-116 MCC Status Report 11
Two spacewalking electricians completed half of STS-116’s rewiring today, and when flight controllers threw the switch, the lights inside the International Space Station turned on again without a hitch. Mission Specialists Bob Curbeam and Christer Fuglesang began their second spacewalk ...more...
- 2006 Dec 15 - STS-116 MCC Status Report 12
With half the International Space Station’s electrical system rewired, the crew of Space Shuttle Discovery gets half a day off today before they finish the job during a third spacewalk set for Saturday. Mission Specialists Bob Curbeam and Christer Fuglesang rewired channels 2 and 3 ...more...
- 2006 Dec 15 - STS-116 MCC Status Report 13
The crews of Space Shuttle Discovery and the International Space Station tried again to refold an accordion-like solar array with help from engineers and flight controllers on the ground, but none of the techniques succeeded in clearing the jam. The final attempt of the day came at 8:04 p.m. CST when Expedition 14 Flight Engineer ...more...
- 2006 Dec 16 - STS-116 MCC Status Report 14
The third spacewalk of Discovery’s mission to the International Space Station is scheduled to begin at 1:37 p.m. CST to complete the rewiring of the orbiting laboratory’s power system. Discovery Mission Specialist Bob Curbeam and station Flight Engineer Sunita Williams ...more...
- 2006 Dec 16 - STS-116 MCC Status Report 15
During a spacewalk partially choreographed as it happened, STS-116 Astronauts Bob Curbeam and Sunita Williams finished rewiring the International Space Station and shook loose a balky solar array so their crewmates inside could retract it almost two-thirds of the way. By finishing the electrical work, the spacewalkers set the stage for installation ...more...
- 2006 Dec 17 - STS-116 MCC Status Report 16
Astronauts will spend much of today getting ready for a fourth spacewalk during Discovery’s mission to the International Space Station. On Saturday, Mission Specialists Bob Curbeam and Expedition 14 Flight Engineer Sunita ...more...
- 2006 Dec 17 - STS-116 MCC Status Report 17
Flight controllers today put the finishing touches on plans for the fourth spacewalk recently added to the mission. On board the Space Shuttle Discovery and the International Space Station astronauts finished transferring the bulk of supplies between the two spacecraft. Monday’s spacewalk is set to begin at 1:12 p.m. as veteran spacewalkers Robert Curbeam ...more...
- 2006 Dec 18 - STS-116 MCC Status Report 18
Discovery and International Space Station crew members will conduct their fourth spacewalk of the week today, an excursion aimed at freeing a snagged, partially retracted station solar array so it will fully fold properly. Astronaut Bob Curbeam and Christer Fuglesang, a European Space Agency astronaut ...more...
- 2006 Dec 18 - STS-116 MCC Status Report 19
Space Shuttle Discovery Astronauts Bob Curbeam and Christer Fuglesang guided the port overhead solar array wing neatly inside its blanket box during a 6-hour, 38-minute spacewalk. The coordinated effort with flight controllers finished the retraction begun on ...more...
- 2006 Dec 19 - STS-116 MCC Status Report 20
Space Shuttle Discovery astronauts will leave the orbiting laboratory today after four successful spacewalks, delivery and installation of a new segment of the International Space Station’s main truss and reconfiguring the station’s power system. During their eight days docked to the station, the shuttle crew also dropped off ...more...
- 2006 Dec 19 - STS-116 MCC Status Report 21
Crews aboard the Space Shuttle Discovery and the International Space Station bid one another farewell at 4:10 p.m. CST today, wrapping up eight days of docked operations. Staying behind on the newly rewired space station were Expedition 14 Flight Engineer ...more...
- 2006 Dec 20 - STS-116 MCC Status Report 22
Discovery crew members will make a final check of the shuttle’s heat shields today, using a sensor-equipped 50-foot extension of the shuttle’s robotic arm. After the inspection, Discovery will deploy two small scientific satellites. A third ...more...
- 2006 Dec 20 - STS-116 MCC Status Report 23
Inspection of Discovery’s heat shield was conducted today as the seven crewmembers began the task of preparing their ship for their high-speed return to Earth on Friday. One hour after removing the sensor-equipped 50-foot Orbiter Boom Sensor System from ...more...
- 2006 Dec 21 - STS-116 MCC Status Report 24
Discovery’s astronauts will spend today preparing to return to Earth. They will test flight control surfaces, steering jets and other entry and landing systems while they stow equipment in Discovery’s cabin. The crew, Commander Mark Polansky, Pilot Bill Oefelein, and mission specialists ...more...
- 2006 Dec 21 - STS-116 MCC Status Report 25
Discovery’s astronauts completed preparations for a planned return to Earth on Friday and received word from Mission Control that their final inspection showed the shuttle’s heat shield is in good shape. STS-116 Commander Mark Polansky, Pilot Bill Oefelein, and Flight Engineer Bob Curbeam ...more...
- 2006 Dec 22 - STS-116 MCC Status Report 26
Discovery’s wakeup call said it all. The song was "Home for the Holidays," sung by Perry Como for the crew, requested by the Mission Control Center. That 6:18 a.m. CST call began a day that the crew and their support teams on the ...more...
- 2006 Dec 22 - STS-116 MCC Status Report 27
The crew of Space Shuttle Discovery made it home in time for Christmas, gliding to a perfect landing as the sun set over NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida. Discovery touched down on Runway 15 of the Shuttle Landing Facility at 4:32 p.m. ...more...
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