STS-118

Launch, orbit & landing data: Designation  32008 / 07035A Launch date - time  08 Aug 2007 - 22:36:42 UT Launch site  KSC, LC39A Launch vehicle  Space Shuttle Orbiter  Endeavour F20 Primary payload  ITS-S5, MPLM Mass (kg)   Docking date - time   UT Target spacecraft/port  ISS/xx Earth orbit:    - Perigee / Apogee  337 x 348 km    - Inclination  51.63°    - Period  91.38 min Undocking date - time  19 Aug 2007 - 11:56 UT Landing date - time (wheel stop)  21 Aug 2007 - 16:33:20 UT Rollout time  64 sec Landing location  KSC, Runway 15 Flight Duration (d:hr:min)  12d 17h 56m 38s Nbr orbits  201 Landing crew    (crew S-)

Launch & landing Crew

Summary:

Mission report:

• Launch from Cape Canaveral (KSC); landing at Cape Canaveral (KSC); ISS> 13A.1 SH-LSM ITS>-S5. The launch had been delayed 24 hours the week before to get back on schedule after unexpected work to replace a suspect valve in the shuttle′s crew cabin pressurization system.
• Space Shuttle Endeavour was launched on Aug 8, 2007 at 2236 UTC. The STS-118 stack comprised Orbiter OV-105, solid rockets RSRM-97 and external tank ET-117. The solid boosters separated 2 min after launch. At 2245 UTC the orbiter main engines cut off and ET-117 separated into an approximately 57 x 225 km x 51.6 deg orbit. The OMS-2 burn at 2313 UTC put Endeavour in a higher 229 x 317 km orbit as the ET fell back to re-entry around 2346 UTC.
• Cargo bay:
  

  Bay Mass (kg) Orbiter Docking System 1-2 1800 EMU 3010 130? EMU 3017 130? Tunnel Adapter 3 112 Spacehab-SM 5-7 5480? SPDU 8P ? S5 Truss 8-10 1584 ESP-3 11-12 3400 CMG-3R ORU 11-12 540? OBSS Sill 450? RMS 201 Sill 410? ----------------------------------------- Total 14036 kg

  STS-118 payload

  
  
• The Spacehab Single Module carries research equipment and supplies for the Station. The SPDU (Station Power Distribution Unit) lets the Orbiter run off Station electricity during its stay, allowing a longer mission. The S5 truss will be installed on the end of S4, as a short spacer so that when S6 is added later, the S6 solar panels won't hit the S4 ones. The ESP-3 (External Stowage Platform 3) carries a spare nitrogen tank (NTA) for the truss cooling system, a spare truss battery charge/discharge unit (BCDU), a spare Canadarm-2 robot arm pitch roll joint, and a replacement Control Moment Gyro for the Z1 truss.
  
  

  Endeavour approaches the ISS during mission STS-118 with the S5 truss section ready to be installed. - Credit: NASA.

  ISS with his arm.

  
  
  
• Endeavour docked at the PMA-2 adapter on the Station at 1802 UTC on Aug 10 and the hatches to the Station were opened at 2004 UTC. The Shuttle Canadarm (RMS 201) lifted the S5 truss from the payload bay at 2050 UTC on Aug 10, and later handed it to the Station's Canadarm-2 which attached it to the main truss at 1730 UTC on Aug 11.
• First EVA by Mastracchio and Williams on 11.08.2007 (6h 17m) from the Quest airlock using suits EMU 3010 and 3017 respectively. The airlock was depressurized by around 1624 UTC with hatch open at 1628 UTC; the astronauts supervised the S5 attachment process and completed fitting it out; they then monitored the retraction of a thermal radiator on the P6 truss at 2128 UTC, closed the hatch at 2241 UTC and repressurized the airlock at 2245 UTC. While the EVA was underway, the primary command-and-control computer in the U.S. Destiny lab module unexpectedly shut down, but the two others worked on.
• It was then decided to extend the mission for three days, because that for the first time used Station-to-Shuttle Power Transfer System (SSPTS) worked well. SSPTS transfers electrical power from the station to the shuttle, allowing the shuttle to conserve its own power generating resources. It was also reported, that foam hit Endeavour heat-shield during launch. The thermal tile gouge almost reaches shuttle's skin. It was a small but deep, scooped-out pit in the heat shield. Another little damage was later found on the Orbiters window.
• Second EVA by Mastracchio and Williams on 13.08.2007 (6h 28m), with airlock depress at about 1526 UTC and hatch open at 1529 UTC. During the spacewalk they replaced CMG-3, one of the gyroscopes in the Z1 truss segment. At 1626 UTC they removed it from Z1 and stowed it on a temporary bracket. At around 1735 UTC they unberthed the new CMG and its frame from the External Stowage Platform-3 (ESP-3) in the rear of the payload bay, installing it on the ESP-2 platform next to the Quest airlock at 1822. Then, the new CMG was removed from its frame at 1851 UTC and installed in Z1 at 1926 UTC. Next, the old CMG was carried to ESP-2 and placed in the empty frame. The hatch was closed at 2157 UTC with repressurization at 2200 UTC. On Aug 14, ESP-3 was unberthed from Endeavour's payload bay and attached to the P3 truss on the Station, where its spare parts can be reached if needed.
• Meanwhile Mission Specialist and educator astronaut Barbara Morgan along with other crew-members held the first of three planned educational event. Twenty children from Boise in Idaho had the chance to ask different questions to Morgan an her crewmates.
• EVA-3 by Richard Mastracchio and ISS Expedition 15 crew member Clay Anderson was on Aug 15 (5h 28m), with airlock depress at 1434 UTC and hatch open at 1436 UTC. The SASA antenna was relocated from P6 to P1, and the two CETA carts were moved from S1 to P1. At 1850 UTC Mastracchio discovered minor damage on his spacesuit glove, and the spacewalk was cut short. He returned to the airlock at 1855 UTC, with Anderson completing some tasks and returning at 1951 UTC. The hatch was closed at 2000 UTC and the airlock was repressurized at 2005 UTC. Anderson used EMU 3008, which is based on ISS in the Quest airlock.
  At no time was Mastracchio in any danger, NASA said, but flight rules required Mastracchio to end his spacewalking task as a precaution.
• Mission managers then decided, that a repair spacewalk for small gouge on Endeavour's heat shield tiles will not be needed.
• EVA-4 by Williams and Anderson began with Quest depressurization at 1314 UTC on Aug 18 and hatch opening at 1316 UTC and concluded with hatch closure at 1814 UTC and repressurization at 1819 UTC. The astronauts retrieved two MISSE exposure packs and installed an EWIS communications antenna on Destiny. They also installed mounting brackets for the OBSS (Orbiter Boom Sensor System) on the S1 truss. The OBSS will be left at S1 after STS-123 so that STS-124 can use it without having to carry it up (no room in the payload bay).
• Meanwhile it was also decided, to shorten the mission. The earlier landing opportunity was selected in the event Hurricane Dean threatens the Houston area.
• A small gouge on a tile underneath the Orbiter caused some concern during the mission, but it was decided that a repair spacewalk is not required. The Shuttle crew returned to Endeavour on Aug 18 and undocked on Aug 19 at 1156 UTC.
• Endeavour landed on runway 15 at Kennedy Space Center at 1632 UTC on Aug 21. The deorbit burn at 1525 UTC lowered the orbit from 336 x 347 km to about -28 x 342 km; landing mass was 100878 kg.
• On Aug 30 the PMA-3 docking port was moved from Unity's port side to its nadir side, freeing the port side for use by the Harmony module to be launched on STS-120. The Canadarm-2 was used to unberth PMA-3 about 1215 UTC and reattach it at 1309 UTC.

ISS as it will appear after Endeavour undocks.

Astrophilately covers:

Launch cancel KSC. Credit: J. Vd Dr.

Landing cancel KSC. Credit: J. Vd Dr.