[sarex] Power Transfer System Activated

[Arthur Rowe]

SUBMITTED BY ARTHUR N1ORC - AMSAT A/C #31468

*Power Transfer System Activated*

Image above: The STS-118 and Expedition 15 crews greet each other after 
hatch opening. Image: NASA TV

TO VIEW IMAGE GO 
TO:http://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/shuttle/main/index.html

The STS-118 and Expedition 15 crews are conducting joint operations 
aboard Space Shuttle Endeavour and the International Space Station. 
Also, the crew activated the Station-to-Shuttle Power Transfer System 
(SSPTS) at 5:17 p.m. EDT Friday.

These activities began within hours of STS-118’s arrival at the space 
station. Endeavour docked with the station at 2:02 p.m. and the STS-118 
was welcomed aboard the station at 4:04 p.m.

Animations: + Approach to Station 
<javascript:watchNASAOnDemandTV('http://mfile.akamai.com/18566/wmv/etouchsyst2.download.akamai.com/18355/wm.nasa-global/STS-118/Approach.asx')> 
| + Backflip 
<javascript:watchNASAOnDemandTV('http://mfile.akamai.com/18566/wmv/etouchsyst2.download.akamai.com/18355/wm.nasa-global/STS-118/RPM.asx')> 
| + Docking 
<javascript:watchNASAOnDemandTV('http://mfile.akamai.com/18566/wmv/etouchsyst2.download.akamai.com/18355/wm.nasa-global/STS-118/Docking.asx')> 


The SSPTS is designed to reroute power from the station to a visiting 
shuttle. If the transfer system works as expected, mission managers 
could elect to extend STS-118’s mission from 11 to 14 days and increase 
the number of spacewalks from three to four. A decision on a possible 
extension could occur Sunday.

The two crews are preparing for STS-118's first spacewalk, which is set 
to begin at 12:31 p.m.(1631 UTC) Saturday. The spacewalkers will assist 
in the installation and activation of the Starboard 5 (S5) truss. 
Friday’s preparations included transfer of spacewalk equipment and the 
review of procedures. Also, the two crews used the shuttle robot arm to 
lift the S5 out of the payload bay and hand it off to the station 
robotic arm.

The two spacewalkers, Mission Specialists Rick Mastracchio and Dave 
Williams, will enter the station’s Quest airlock where they will spend 
the night. This procedure is performed to help prevent decompression 
sickness.

*Mission Information*
+ View Barbara Morgan Video 
<javascript:watchNASAOnDemandTV('','http://mfile.akamai.com/18565/rm/etouchsyst2.download.akamai.com/18355/real.nasa-global/sts-118/STS118_Morgan.ram','http://mfile.akamai.com/18566/wmv/etouchsyst2.download.akamai.com/18355/wm.nasa-global/STS-118/STS118_Morgan.asx')>
+ STS-118 Mission Overview 
<http://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/shuttle/shuttlemissions/sts118/index.html>
+ STS-118 Fact Sheet (900 Kb PDF) 
<http://www.nasa.gov/pdf/184910main_sts118_factsheet4.pdf>
+ STS-118 NASA TV Schedule 
<http://www.nasa.gov/multimedia/nasatv/mission_schedule.html>
+ STS-118 Briefing Animations 
<http://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/shuttle/shuttlemissions/sts118/multimedia/sts118_anim_07102007.html>
+ STS-117 Mission Archive 
<http://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/shuttle/shuttlemissions/sts117/main/index.html>