[sarex] Morgan, Drew Participate in Challenger Center Event

[Arthur Rowe]

SUBMITTED BY ARTHUR N1ORC - AMSAT A/C #31468

*Morgan, Drew Participate in Challenger Center Event *

Astronauts Barbara Morgan and Alvin DrewImage above: Mission Specialists 
Barbara R. Morgan, holding a Challenger crew patch, and Alvin Drew talk 
with students at the Challenger Center for Space Science Education in 
Alexandria, Va. Image: NASA
TO VIEW IMAGE GO 
TO:http://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/shuttle/main/index.html

STS-118 crew members will hold class in space and transfer cargo between 
the International Space Station and Space Shuttle Endeavour today. 
Preparations for a possible spacewalk to repair a small ding in 
Endeavour’s thermal protection system tiles will also occupy a 
considerable part of today for the crew.

Mission managers have not decided that a repair spacewalk will be 
needed. But to prepare for that possibility, the crew members will begin 
to get ready to do the repair, should managers determine that is necessary.

The managers did decide to move the flight’s fourth spacewalk from 
Friday to Saturday. If the repair isn’t done, that spacewalk will see 
installation of two antennas and removal of one, installation of a 
stowage stand for the shuttle’s orbiter boom sensor system and other tasks.

Mission Specialists Barbara Morgan and Alvin Drew participated in an 
education event this morning with students at the Challenger Center for 
Space Science Education in Alexandria, Va. Morgan, an educator who 
became an astronaut, was first selected by NASA in 1985 as the backup to 
Teacher in Space Christa McAuliffe.

Following the Space Shuttle Challenger accident in 1986, Morgan 
continued to work with NASA on educational activities and returned to 
teaching elementary school in Idaho. She was selected as an astronaut by 
NASA in 1998. Family members of the Challenger crew have been invited.

Morgan is being honored with the President George H.W. Bush Leadership 
Award, the center’s top award.

Crew members will also talk at 10:16 a.m. with reporters representing 
Associated Press Television, Reuters and Idaho Public Television. Both 
events will air live on NASA TV.

The STS-118 and Expedition 15 crew will continue the cargo transfers 
that began shortly after Endeavour docked Aug. 10. Endeavour delivered 
supplies and equipment to the station, most of which were located in the 
pressurized Spacehab module in the payload. Spacehab will carry items, 
including science experiments, back to Earth.

This afternoon, the crews will enjoy some well-deserved time off.

*Mission Management Team Update*

Mission Control told Space Shuttle Endeavour’s crew Wednesday that 
STS-118’s fourth spacewalk will be moved to Saturday. The decision gives 
the STS-118 and Expedition 15 crew members an extra day to prepare for 
the spacewalk, which was added to the mission after the STS-118 crew 
arrived at the station.

Mission managers in Houston continue to consider whether a spacewalk 
will be needed to repair a small gouge on Endeavour’s heat shield tiles. 
Before going to bed Wednesday, the crew was informed that managers have 
decided the next spacewalk will be moved from Friday to Saturday, but 
that they haven’t decided whether Saturday’s spacewalk will be devoted 
to tile repair or get-ahead tasks.

+ View video of tile damage 
<http://www.nasa.gov/mov/186009main_STS118_Site1_Rev2.mov>