STS-119: Space Shuttle Discovery

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This status briefing for STS-119, held on January 9, 2009, discusses the completion of Discovery's attachment to the external tank and the upcoming rollout to Pad A on January 14. Key issues addressed include the replacement of gaseous hydrogen flow control valves due to a failure observed during STS-126 and modifications to the hold down post plunger design to prevent debris during launch. The team expresses confidence in resolving these issues ahead of the scheduled launch on February 12 at 7:23 AM EST.

This recording captures STS-119 on-orbit activities during flight day 6, focusing on the successful deployment of the 1B and 3B solar array wings at 10:52 AM and 12:17 PM, respectively. Key crew members involved include John Phillips, who coordinated the deployment commands, and Mike Fink, who discussed the new distillation assembly's first processing cycle scheduled for 11:54 AM. The deployment activities proceeded smoothly, with no reported anomalies.

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This status briefing for STS-119 discusses the ongoing analysis of the flow control valve issue identified during STS-126, with teams needing additional time to conduct tests and report back on February 10. The briefing highlights the upcoming Delta Flight Readiness Review scheduled for February 12 and emphasizes the importance of ensuring safety before setting a launch date. Additionally, it notes that this mission will be the last flight of major US-built hardware for the International Space Station.

This recording captures the post-landing activities of STS-119, highlighting the successful landing of Discovery on Runway 15 at 3:13 PM Eastern Time. All seven crew members, including Sandy Magnus, who returned after 134 days in space, have safely exited the vehicle. The transcript details the ongoing safing operations, including the installation of protective covers and the crew's traditional walk-around of the orbiter, as well as commentary from NASA officials about the mission's accomplishments.

This recording captures the STS-119 crew debrief shortly after landing, focusing on the crew's reflections on their mission. Notably, the crew discusses the successful deployment of the solar array wings on the International Space Station, which was a significant milestone. The debrief also highlights the importance of the Alpha Magnetic Spectrometer and the ongoing preparations for future missions, including discussions about orbital debris hazards and budget considerations.

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This recording captures STS-119 on-orbit activities during flight day 4, highlighting the grapple and handoff of the S6 truss segment between the Space Station and Shuttle robotic arms at 10:45 AM. Key crew members involved include John Phillips and Sandy Magnus, who operated the station arm, while Tony Antonelli and Joe Acaba managed the shuttle arm. The recording also features preparations for the upcoming EVA, with Steve Swanson and Ricky Arnold getting ready in the airlock for their tasks related to the truss installation.

This recording features STS-119 on-orbit mission commentary, highlighting the upcoming deployment of the S6 truss segment, which is the last integrated truss segment for the ISS. Key speakers include Flight Director Paul Dye and Space Station Flight Controller Kwatsi Alibarahu, who discuss the mission's objectives, including the manual installation of the truss during EVA1 by astronauts Steve Swanson and Ricky Arnold. The commentary also addresses the complexities of solar array deployment and the importance of thermal conditioning to prevent stiction issues.

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This recording captures the second landing opportunity preparations for STS-119, focusing on the decision-making process regarding weather conditions. Flight Director Richard Jones ultimately waved off the first landing attempt due to unpredictable cloud cover and high winds, resetting the clocks for a deorbit burn scheduled for 2:14 PM Central Time. The crew, led by Commander Lee Archambault, was prepared for the deorbit burn, which would occur 1 hour and 10 minutes later, targeting Runway 15 at Kennedy Space Center.

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This recording captures the launch coverage for STS-119, focusing on the terminal countdown from T minus three hours to T minus two hours, 56 minutes, and 31 seconds. Distinctive moments include the monitoring of a drop in helium pressure in one of the liquid hydrogen gap measurement plates, which prompted the deployment of a Red team to manually adjust the ground systems valve. The final inspection team completed their review of the launch pad, noting only a bat on the external tank, and confirmed no issues that would delay the scheduled liftoff at 7:43 PM.

This recording captures the launch coverage for STS-119, focusing on the terminal countdown from T minus six hours to T minus five hours, 9 minutes, and 35 seconds. Distinctive moments include the start of the cryogenic tanking operation at 10:20 AM, the transition to fast fill for both liquid oxygen and liquid hydrogen at 11:07 AM, and the monitoring of the fueling process with no technical issues reported. The launch is scheduled for 7:43 PM.

This recording captures the launch coverage for STS-119, focusing on the terminal countdown from T minus 4 hours, 17 minutes, and 55 seconds to T minus 3 hours and holding. Distinctive moments include the completion of external tank fueling at 1:21 PM, the transition to stable replenish for both liquid hydrogen and oxygen, and the final inspection team's entry to the launch pad. The countdown is set for liftoff at 7:43 PM.

This recording captures the launch coverage for STS-119, focusing on the terminal countdown from T minus 3 hours, 46 minutes, and 54 seconds to T minus 50 minutes, 55 seconds. Distinctive moments include the arrival of the Astrovan at launch pad 39A, the crew's entry into the orbiter Discovery, and the final hatch closure and pressurization checks. Notably, Koichi Wakata is highlighted as the first JAXA astronaut to serve as a resident on the ISS.

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This recording captures the launch coverage for STS-119, focusing on the terminal countdown from T minus 4 minutes to liftoff at 8:21 PM. Distinctive moments include the successful liftoff, solid rocket booster separation, and main engine cutoff. Notably, Koichi Wakata is highlighted as the first Japanese astronaut to serve as a resident on the ISS, marking a significant milestone for Japan's space program.

This recording captures STS-119 post-launch activities during the first day on orbit, focusing on the completion of the post-insertion checklist and the upcoming NC1 burn scheduled for 10:18 PM, lasting 1 minute and 5 seconds. Commander Lee Archambeau discusses telemetry issues with fuel cell 3, while Mission Specialist Joe Acaba and Pilot Tony Antonelli prepare for the checkout of the shuttle's robotic arm. Notably, the crew is adjusting their timeline due to a shortened mission duration, needing to leave the ISS by March 25.

This recording captures STS-119 post-launch activities from L+4 to L+6, highlighting the completion of the robotic arm checkout by crew members Tony Antonelli and Joe Acaba, preparing for the upcoming inspection of the shuttle's thermal protection system. The crew also discusses the new distillation assembly intended to enhance the station's water recovery system, addressing previous issues with the old unit. Notably, Commander Lee Archambeau and CAPCOM Greg Johnson coordinate pre-sleep activities and timeline adjustments as the crew prepares for their first night on orbit.

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