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 Previous: Surfin': Back to Earth |  Next: The K7RA Solar Update |
New arrival: Expedition 13 astronaut Thomas Reiter, DF4TR, of the European Space Agency. [NASA Photo] |
Welcoming committee: Expedition 13 Commander Pavel Vinogradov, RV3BS, and NASA ISS Science Officer Jeff Williams, KD5TVQ. [NASA Photo] |
Taking a training break: Astronauts Lisa Nowak, KC5ZTB (left) and Stephanie Wilson, KD5DZE. [NASA Photo] |
There to greet the newcomers when they came aboard the ISS July 6 at 1630 UTC were Expedition 13 Commander Pavel Vinogradov, RV3BS, and Flight Engineer and NASA Science Officer Jeff Williams, KD5TVQ. The shuttle and ISS crews will spend the next week conducting joint operations, including two spacewalks and the transfer of cargo. Discovery delivered hardware and supplies, most of which are located in the Leonardo multi-purpose logistics module, which will be attached to the station's Unity module July 7. Then, the two crews will transfer unneeded items from the station to Leonardo for the trip back to Earth.
NASA astronauts Michael Lopez-Alegria, KE5GTK, and Sunita Williams, KD5PLB, and Russian cosmonaut Mikhail Tyurin, RZ3FT, have been named as the 14th ISS crew. Expedition 14 is scheduled to begin this fall.
Discovery shot into space from Cape Kennedy July 4 -- the first Independence Day shuttle launch ever and only the second since the Columbia disaster in 2003. Relieved mission control personnel reacted with hoots, handshakes and hugs after the twice-postponed Discovery mission STS-121 reached preliminary orbit without a hitch.
The STS-121 crew includes Commander Steven Lindsey; Pilot Mark Kelly; mission specialists Stephanie Wilson, KD5DZE, Lisa Nowak, KC5ZTB; Michael Fossum and Piers Sellers.
Weather worries kept Discovery on the launch pad July 1 and 2. NASA managers also were concerned about a crack discovered in foam insulation near a bracket holding the liquid oxygen feed line in place on the external fuel tank. Some insulation also broke free during launch.
To be on the safe side, prior to docking, Lindsey piloted Discovery through a back-flip maneuver to allow Vinogradov and Williams to eyeball and capture imagery of the orbiter's heat shield for any signs of damage.
NASA is pinning its hopes on a successful Discovery mission, since the space shuttle is the only vehicle capable of transporting the components remaining to complete the ISS, including the ESA's Columbus module, which has been outfitted to accommodate Amateur Radio. More information on the STS-121 Discovery mission is on the NASA Web site.
Expedition 14: Commander Michael Lopez-Alegria, KE5GTK (right), and cosmonaut Mikhail Tyurin, RZ3FT, prepare to don their training versions of their spacesuits at Johnson Space Center. [NASA Photo] |
Expedition 14: Astronaut Sunita Williams, KD5PLB, during training. [NASA Photo] |
| Previous: Surfin': Back to Earth | Next: The K7RA Solar Update |
