Flight Events – International Space Station 2013

Here is the current calendar of flight events for 2013 for International Space Station as listed on the Forum at NASASpaceFlight on 21 November 2012:

2013

• Complete
• Upcoming
• January 17 – ISS orbit’s reboost by Progress M-17M engines
• February 6 – ISS orbit’s reboost by Progress M-17M engines
• February 10 – Progress M-16M undocking (from Pirs)
• February 11 – Progress M-18M launch
• February 11 – Progress M-18M docking (to Pirs)
• March 1 – Dragon (SpX-2) launch
• March 3 – Dragon (SpX-2) capture and berthing (to Harmony nadir) by SSRMS
• March 15 – Soyuz TMA-06M undocking (from Poisk) and landing [Novitskiy, Tarelkin, Ford]
• March 28 – Soyuz TMA-08M launch [Vinogradov, Misurkin, Cassidy] and docking (to Poisk)
• April 2 – Dragon (SpX-2) unberthing (from Harmony nadir) and releasing by SSRMS
• April – spacewalk (ISS Russian EVA-32) from Pirs airlock [Vinogradov, Romanenko]
• April 15 – Progress M-17M undocking (from Zvezda)
• April 18 – ATV-4 “Albert Einstein” launch
• April 23 – Progress M-18M undocking (from Pirs)
• April 24 – Progress M-19M launch
• April 26 – Progress M-19M docking (to Pirs)
• May 1 – ATV-4 “Albert Einstein” docking (to Zvezda)
• May 14 – Soyuz TMA-07M undocking (from Rassvet) and landing [Romanenko, Hadfield, Marshburn]
• May 28 – Soyuz TMA-09M launch [Yurchikhin, Parmitano, Nyberg]
• May 30 – Soyuz TMA-09M docking (to Rassvet)
• June – spacewalk (ISS Russian EVA-33) from Pirs airlock [Yurchikhin, Misurkin]
• July 23 – Progress M-19M undocking (from Pirs)
• July 24 – Progress M-20M launch
• July 26 – Progress M-20M docking (to Pirs)
• August 4 – HTV-4 “Kounotori-4” launch
• August 9 – HTV-4 “Kounotori-4” capture and berthing (to Harmony nadir) by SSRMS
• August – spacewalk (ISS Russian EVA-34) from Pirs airlock [Yurchikhin, Misurkin]
• August – spacewalk (ISS Russian EVA-35) from Pirs airlock [Yurchikhin, Misurkin]
• September 6 – HTV-4 “Kounotori-4” unberthing (from Harmony nadir) and release by SSRMS
• September 11 – Soyuz TMA-08M undocking (from Poisk) and landing [Vinogradov, Misurkin, Cassidy]
• September 25 – Soyuz TMA-10M launch [Kotov, Ryazanskiy, Hopkins] and docking (to Poisk)
• October – spacewalk (ISS Russian EVA-36) from Pirs airlock [Yurchikhin, Ryazanskiy]
• October 15 – ATV-4 “Albert Einstein” undocking (from Zvezda)
• October 16 – Progress M-21M launch
• October 18 – Progress M-21M docking (to Zvezda)
• November 10 – Soyuz TMA-09M undocking (from Rassvet) and landing [Yurchikhin, Parmitano, Nyberg]
• November 25 – Soyuz TMA-11M launch [Tyurin, Wakata, Mastracchio]
• November 27 – Soyuz TMA-11M docking (to Rassvet)
• December – spacewalk (ISS Russian EVA-37) from Pirs airlock [Tyurin, Ryazanskiy]
• December 11 (TBD) – MLM launch (or 2014)
• December 18 – Progress M-20M with Pirs module undocking (from Zvezda nadir)
• December 20 (TBD) – MLM docking (to Zvezda nadir) (or 2014)

2014

• January – spacewalk (ISS Russian EVA-38) from Poisk airlock [Tyurin, Ryazanskiy]
• January – spacewalk (ISS Russian EVA-39) from Poisk airlock [Tyurin, Ryazanskiy]
• January – spacewalk (ISS U.S. EVA-21) from Quest airlock
• January – spacewalk (ISS U.S. EVA-22) from Quest airlock
• February 5 – Progress M-22M launch
• February 7 – Progress M-22M docking (to MLM nadir)
• March 12 – Soyuz TMA-10M undocking (from Poisk) and landing [Kotov, Ryazanskiy, Hopkins]
• March 25 – Progress M-22M undocking (from MLM nadir)
• March 26 – Soyuz TMA-12M launch [Skvortsov, Artemyev, Swanson]
• March 28 – Soyuz TMA-12M docking (to MLM nadir)

Updated 1 January 2013

Flight Events 2012

Dragon – Return to Earth – Release and Leaving the ISS

Acronymns You can follow the orbital track of Dragon N2YO.com. At 5:41 AM Phoenix time (1241 UTC) we are about 45 minutes away from release of the Dragon. The process of unberthing has been completed. Dragon Ready for Release from the SSRMS Canadarm Image Credit: NASA TV The prime release window is from 6:26 – 6:47 AM Phoenix time (1326 – 1347 UTC). The Backup release window is from 6:59 – 7:21 (1359-1421 UTC). Following release, Dragon will make an initial burn at 6:27 to begin moving away from the ISS. It will make a second burn at 6:29 and move beyond the 200 meter Keep Out Sphere about 6:36 AM Phoenix time. At 7:22 AM Phoenix time, Dragon will execute an apogee reduction burn, and at 11:28 AM, Dragon will execute a perigee reduction burn and begin the de-orbit process, leading to splashdown off the coast of Baja California at 12:20 PM Phoenix time. Dragon Rocket Burns Leaving the International Space Station Image Credit: NASA TV At 6:11 AM Phoenix time we are about 15 minutes from release, and about 260 miles above the Earth, passing over Spain and Portugal. With 10 minutes until release, the teams at NASA and SpaceX have been polled for release and both teams are green. Go for release. Snares are being released. At 6:29 AM Phoenix time (1329 UTC), we have audio confirmation of the release of the Dragon spacecraft. The ISS is out of range for KU communication and we have no video. Departure burn one is complete. Dragon Leaving the International Space Station Image Credit: NASA TV The second burn is complete. View from the ISS of Dragon Leaving after the Second Burn Image Credit: NASA TV View of the ISS from Dragon after the Second Burn Image Credit: NASA TV View of the ISS from Dragon Prior to the Yaw Maneuver Image Credit: NASA TV View of the ISS from Dragon During the Yaw Maneuver Image Credit: NASA TV The third burn is complete, and the Dragon is moving rapidly away from the Space Station.

Dragon – Capture and Berthing – Images

Capture of the Dragon was completed by Sunita Williams and Akihiko Hoshide at 3:56 AM Phoenix time (10:56 UTC). Suni: “Looks like we tamed the dragon, she’s on board with us.” Referring to the fact that Dragon is capable of carrying powered equipment to and from the space station, the space station crew reported that they had captured Dragon and were looking forward to the chocolate-vanilla swirl ice cream in the freezer aboard the space craft. Dragon Attached to ISS – In The Sunlight Above Earth Image Credit: NASA TV At 4:45 Phoenix time, the space station crew is preparing for Common Berthing Mechanism (CBM) inspection. The CBM has been inspected and has been confirmed to be in good condition. Since the ISS is out of range of KU communication, there will be a 10-15 minute wait until the crew can move the robotic arm to the pre-install position. Dragon Moving Carefully to the Berthing Position on the Harmony Node Image Credit: NASA TV In the image below, the Dragon Common Berthing Mechanism (CBM) is in the upper right and the Harmony Node is in the lower left. The ISS crew is waiting to receive permission to move the Dragon to the pre-install position. Dragon Common Berthing Mechanism Image Credit: NASA TV At 5:15 AM Phoenix time (12:15 UTC), Dragon is being moved to the pre-install position. Dragon Being Moved to the Pre-Install Position Image Credit: NASA TV The ground crew is preparing to give the go ahead to berth the Dragon. Currently the Flight director hand-over is in work for transition from Orbit-1 to Orbit-2. The flight director has begun to continue the process leading up to berthing. Suni is checking that the thrusters have been safed. At 5:41 AM, the Dragon is again in motion, moving toward the bottom of the Harmony module. And Suni has confirmed contact: “We are ready to latch”. Dragon Makes Contact and is Ready To Latch Image Credit: NASA TV First stage capture is complete and the bolts have been tightened. The robotic arm has been “limped”, but not disengaged. Second stage capture is underway, 272 Miles above the South Atlantic. With the re-establishment of solid comm, Suni can proceed. At 6:03 AM (13:03 UTC), installation has been confirmed. Dragon Installed on the International Space Station Image Credit: NASA TV Graphic showing all the vehicles currently attached to the International Space Station. Dragon in the International Space Station Parking Lot Image Credit: NASA TV

Dragon – Capture By ISS – CRS-1

Dragon 12 Meters from the International Space Station Image Credit: NASA TV Acronyms. NASA TV provides coverage of the SpaceX/Dragon rendezvous and grappling. SpaceX will also provide coverage. Latest Key times: 5:13am et/2:13am pt – 250 meter hold (go/no-go) 6:25am et/3:25am pt – 30 meter hold (go/no-go) 6:57am et/3:57 am pt – 10 meter hold (go/no-go for capture) 7:17am et/4:17 am pt – Capture/grapple And we are at the 10 meter capture point at 3:43 AM Phoenix time. About 10 minutes ahead of schedule. NASA has given GO for capture. Dragon Ready for Grapple by Canadarm on the International Space Station Image Credit: NASA TV One Meter to go. Capture complete at 3:56 AM Phoenix time. Everything has gone according to plan and ahead of schedule. Dragon One Meter From Canadarm on the International Space Station Image Credit: NASA TV Dragon One Captured By Canadarm on the International Space Station Image Credit: NASA TV Close Up of Dragon One Attached to the Canadarm Image Credit: NASA TV Dragon Attached to ISS – In The Sunlight Above Earth Image Credit: NASA TV

Dragon – Rendezvous and Grappling – CRS-1

COTS 2,3 Dragon Rendezvous with the International Space Station Image Credit: SpaceX Acronyms. NASA TV provides coverage of the SpaceX/Dragon rendezvous and grappling. SpaceX will also provide coverage. Events for this evening and tomorrow morning: Height adjust burns start adjusting altitude higher toward station COTS Ultra-high Frequency Communication Unit (CUCU) and on-board UHF communication system between Dragon and ISS is configured Height adjust burn: Dragon begins burns that bring it within 2.5 km of station (go/no-go) Dragon receives and sends information from/to the CUCU unit on station Height adjust burn brings Dragon 1.2 km from station (go/no-go) Height adjust burn carries Dragon into the station’s approach ellipsoid (go/no-go) Dragon holds at 250 meters (go/no-go) for confirmation of proximity sensors targeting acquisition Dragon begins R-Bar Approach Dragon holds at 30 meters (go/no-go) Dragon holds at capture point, 10 meters below the station (go/no-go) Crew captures Dragon using the station’s robotic arm (SSRMS) Dragon is attached to the station This means 3:30 AM Phoenix time with grappling scheduled for roughly 4:00 to 4:30 AM tomorrow morning (11:00 UTC). We will keep making updates here. Dragon Chasing the International Space Station about 8:30 PM Phoenix time Image Credit: kevlar on You Tube

Dragon On Course For The International Space Station

Dragon Rendezvous with the International Space Station Image Credit: SpaceX While a lot of attention has been drawn to the drama of the launch of the SpaceX Falcon 9 Sunday night and the engine anomaly, the Dragon space craft is making steady progress toward a rendezvous with the International Space Station (ISS) on Wednesday morning. Day 2: Tuesday: Dragon Phasing – Approaching the Space Station Coelliptic burn places Dragon in a circular orbit Day 3: Wednesday: Height Adjustment Maneuvers to R-Bar and Grappling (R-Bar – Radial Bar – is an imaginary line connecting station to the center of the Earth) Height adjust burns start adjusting altitude higher toward station COTS Ultra-high Frequency Communication Unit (CUCU) and on-board UHF communication system between Dragon and ISS is configured Height adjust burn: Dragon begins burns that bring it within 2.5 km of station (go/no-go) Dragon receives and sends information from/to the CUCU unit on station Height adjust burn brings Dragon 1.2 km from station (go/no-go) Height adjust burn carries Dragon into the station’s approach ellipsoid (go/no-go) Dragon holds at 250 meters (go/no-go) for confirmation of proximity sensors targeting acquisition Dragon begins R-Bar Approach Dragon holds at 30 meters (go/no-go) Dragon holds at capture point, 10 meters below the station (go/no-go) Crew captures Dragon using the station’s robotic arm (SSRMS) Dragon is attached to the station Day 4: Thursday: Hatch Opening And from Facebook, SpaceX says: Tonight, Dragon will make its final approach to the station, passing a series of GO/NO-GO points determined by both Mission Control in Houston and the SpaceX team in Hawthorne. It will also establish its close-range guidance systems, comprised of LIDAR and thermal imagers. If all goes according to plan, at approximately 5:30AM ET, Dragon will be permitted to enter the Keep-Out Sphere (KOS), an imaginary circle drawn 200 meters (656 feet) around the station that prevents the risk of collision, and continue its approach to the capture point. Grapple is currently targeted for 7-7:30AM ET; however, this time is variable. Live coverage will begin at 6:30AM ET at spacex.com/webcast This means 3:30 AM Phoenix time with grappling scheduled for roughly 4:00 to 4:30 AM tomorrow morning. Dragon Grappled by Canadarm on the the International Space Station Image Credit: SpaceX For greater detail on the process, see this post on the COTS 2,3 mission last May. Acronyms.