Monday, February 24, 2003
Saturday, February 22, 2003
Kosmos 238
1968-072A
Kosmos-238 was launched in Aug 1968 on a solo mission. It was a test flight to prepare for Soyuz-2 and Soyuz-3.
| Kosmos-238 | |||
| Date | Time | Event | Orbit |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1968 Aug 28 | 1000:00 | Launch by Soyuz | KB |
| 1004 | Blok-I burn | ||
| 1009 | Blok-I sep | 88.55 196 x 210 x 51.70 | |
| 1968 Aug 29 | 0000 | 88.51 189 x 213 x 51.68 | |
| 1968 Aug 30 | 0500 | Orbit raise | 89.10 207 x 253 x 51.67 |
| 1968 Aug 30 | 1430 | Apogee lower | 88.77 202 x 226 x 51.68 |
| 1968 Aug 31 | 0930 | Apogee raise | 89.07 204 x 253 x 51.67 |
| 1968 Sep 1 | 0230 | Orbit lowered | 88.67 192 x 225 x 51.67 |
| 0821? | Deorbit | ||
| 0824? | DO CO | ||
| 0834? | PAO, BO sep | ||
| 0840? | Entry | ||
| 0854? | Landed after 3.95d | ||
Thursday, February 20, 2003
STS-107 (Columbia)
2003-003A
Launch of STS-107, originally planned for July 2002, was delayed just prior to VAB rollover when cracks were found inside fuel lines on Atlantis and Discovery. The launch was eventually carried out in Jan 2003. During ascent, a large piece of SOFI insulation from the ET hit the port wing. It separated at T+1:21.7, and 0.2s later hit the wing at around RCC panel 8 with a relative velocity of around 0.2 km/s (gained by the high drag on the light piece of foam), puncturing the RCC and providing an entry path for hot gas.
After two weeks of successful science on orbit, the Columbia reentered the atmosphere heading for RW33 at KSC. At around 1355 UTC controllers noticed several unrelated sensors go down, and at 1359 UTC they commented to the crew about readings from the main gear break pressure sensors. As the crew were in the middle of replying, voice and telemetry suddenly were lost. The final telemetry shows functioning APUs but empty hydraulic systems.
Launch mass was 119612 kg. Landing mass would have been 106103 kg and EI mass was 106356 kg. On orbit mass after OMS-2 was 115710 kg. Prop load (OMS/RCS) was 12540 kg. Payload mass per QL summary is 11029 kg; Spacehab was 8197 kg at deorbit time (up to but not including Tunnel Adapter). Middeck science cargo was 360 kg. Engines are 2055/2053/2049; tank ET-93A (light weight tank) and BI-116PF.
A 0.3 x 0.4m debris object separated on Jan 17 and reentered on Jan 19. It may have been the critical RCC carrier panel.
| STS-107 | |||
| Date | Time | Event | Orbit |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2002 Apr 25 | EDO installed | ||
| 2002 Nov? | Roll to VAB | ||
| 2002 Dec 9 | Roll to LC39A | ||
| 2003 Jan 16 | 1538:55 | SSME ignition | |
| 1539:00 | Launch | KSC LC39A | |
| 1540:21.9 | T+80s foam hits left wing | ||
| 1541:06 | SRB sep | ||
| 1541:08 | RCS window protect 2s | ||
| 1541:16 | OMS assist 1:42 | ||
| 1542:59 | OMS CO | ||
| 1547:22 | T+8:22 MECO command | ||
| 1547:33 | T+8:33 MECO | 78 x 272 x 39.0 | |
| 1547:44 | ET sep | ||
| 1547:57 | ET Photo +X RCS | ||
| 1549:24 | MPS dump | ||
| 1551:24 | MPS dump complete | ||
| 1620:24 | OMS-2 2:00 56.6m/s | 82 x 288 x 39.0 (OMS dV) | |
| 1622:24 | OMS 2 CO | 90.14 272 x 289 x 39.0 | |
| 1654 | Attitude change for PLBD open | ||
| 1736:01 | PLBD open | ||
| ET impact at 2.28N 139.42W | |||
| 1754 | Ku deploy | ||
| 1847 | Port radiator deploy | ||
| 2003 Jan 17 | 90.13 272 x 289 x 39.0 | ||
| 1442 | Yaw mvr bay-to-earth, tail-forward bias 48deg | ||
| 1517 | Yaw mvr, bay-to-earth, tail-forward | ||
| 1517? | Debris object 2003-03B separates (1530 to 1600 UTC) | ||
| 1625 | Fuel cell purge | ||
| 2139 | Water dump | ||
| 2003 Jan 19 | 2239 | Port radiator stow | |
| 2003 Jan 20 | |||
| 2003 Jan 21 | 90.05 270 x 284 x 39.0 | ||
| 2003 Jan 26 | 89.98 266 x 279 x 39.0 | ||
| 2003 Jan 29 | 89.94 265 x 277 x 39.0 | ||
| 2003 Jan 31 | 89.92 263 x 276 x 39.0 | ||
| 2003 Feb 1 | 89.90 263 x 275 x 39.0 | ||
| 1049:11 | PLBD closed | ||
| 1315:30 | OMS DO 2:38 78.6m/s | ||
| 1318:08 | OMS DO CO | 1 x 275 x 39.0 | |
| 8.3 x 295.6 x 39.0 (MR) | |||
| 1344:09 | Entry interface 120.400 km | ||
| 1348:39 | Left wing LESS strain gauge increase | ||
| 1348:59 | RCC 9/10 attach clevis temp sensor trend | ||
| 1349:07 | Closed loop guidance | ||
| 1349:32 | Begin right roll | ||
| 1349:39 | Four left OMS temp lower than predicted | ||
| 1350:00 | First comm dropout (debris) | ||
| 1350:43 | 5th (last) comm dropout | ||
| 1350:53 | Peak heating begins 74.081 km | ||
| 1351:14 | Heating near panels 9-10, leading edge spar temp | ||
| 1351:14 | Wing spar breach between :14 and :59 | ||
| 1352:05 | Elevon trim adjusted to adapt to yaw torque | ||
| 1352:09 | Comm droput | ||
| 1352:17 | Left main gear brake line temp sensors show rise, 72.1 km | ||
| 1352:25 | Elevon transient | ||
| 1352:25? | Comm droput | ||
| 1352:31 | Elevon transient | ||
| 1352:31 | Comm droput | ||
| 1352:44 | Roll/yaw coeffs change - extra drag | ||
| 1352:49 | Comm droput | ||
| 1352:59? | Gas plume burns through wiring in wing outside wheel well | ||
| 1352:59 | Elevon skin temp sensor off line | ||
| 1353:01 | Trim adjust for roll moment | ||
| 1353:28 | Crosses California coast, left fuselage temp rise | ||
| 1353:32 | Comm droput | ||
| 1353:46 | Upper wing skin breach and separation? | ||
| 1353:46 | Debris shedding observed from ground | ||
| 1353:46 | Main gear brake line temp rise | ||
| 1354:00 | Wheel well wall melting | ||
| 1354:11 | End of observed debris shedding | ||
| 1354:20 | Elevons moving to counteract increasing drag | ||
| 1354:22 | Midfuselage left body line temp x=1215 rise | ||
| Wing deformation now significant | |||
| 1354:33 | First bright flash observed from ground | ||
| 1354:35 | Debris object 6 separates, 100 kg? | ||
| 1354:37 | Visual flash | ||
| 1355:04 | Flash, first of 10 more | ||
| 1355:21 | Increasing drag, 68.3 km | ||
| 1356:00 | Flash, last of 10; comm droput | ||
| 1356:16 | Hot gas in wheel well | ||
| 1356:20 | Upper/lower wing skin temps off line | ||
| 1356:30 | 67.0 km, first roll reversal bank | ||
| 1356:55 | Complete first roll reversal, in left bank | ||
| 1357:11 | Bank to left | ||
| 1357:14 | Kirtland photo shows flow disturbance | ||
| 1357:19 | Tire pressure bit flips | ||
| 1357:35 | Elevon roll trim increased due to left wing drag 65.8 km | ||
| 1358:03 | Major change to dynamic pressure | ||
| 1358:03 | Sharp elevon motions | ||
| 1358:33 | Left gear tire pressures off line | ||
| 1358:39 | Crew tire pressure alarm | ||
| 1359:23 | Loss of realtime telemetry at MCC | ||
| 1359:26 | Increasing left wing drag, more deformation | ||
| 1359 | Increasing attitude rates | ||
| 1359:30 | RCS yaw due to drag | ||
| 1359:31 | 8 degree elevon motion due to drag | ||
| 1359:32 | Last comment from CDR; 61.2 km; LOS | ||
| 1359:36 | Drag forces left wing to roll down | ||
| 1359:38 | Orbiter loss of signal and of control; M=18.16, 61.193 km (early CAIB) | ||
| 1359:46 | Roll reference warning message | ||
| 1359:46 | Large debris event (L OMS pod cover?, Deb A) | ||
| 1359:52 | OMS-L alarm, L OMS pod separates (Deb D) | ||
| 1400:02 | Hand controller possibly engaged? | ||
| 1400:02 | Last telemetry fragment, for 2s | ||
| 1400:02 | Debris B, C left wing portions | ||
| 1400:04 | Left wing separated | ||
| 1400:04 | End of telemetry | ||
| 1400:05 | PLT attempt APU restart | ||
| 1400:11 | OMS tank ruptures | ||
| 1400:14 | Loss of MADS data | ||
| 1400:17 | Debris B | ||
| 1400:18 | Debris C | ||
| 1400:18 | Vehicle catastrophic breakup | ||
| PLBD fails | |||
| Forebody breaks off | |||
| 1400:25 | Forebody separated, 55.1 km | ||
| 1400:27 | Right wing separated | ||
| 1400:30 | Ground video shows multiple contrails | ||
| 1400:31 | Spacehab separates | ||
| 1400:34 | Vertical tail separates | ||
| 1400:34 | Aft fuselage sep | ||
| 1400:35 | Cabin is depressurized | ||
| 1400:43 | Tunnel adapter sep | ||
| 1400:48 | SPACEHAB breakup (D22) | ||
| 1400:50 | SSMEs separate | ||
| 1400:53 | Crew module breakup 42 km | ||
| Middeck destroyed | |||
| 1401:07 | Middeck accom. Rack sep | ||
| 1401:08 | Flight deck destroyed | ||
| 1401:10 | End of cabin destruction, 32 km | ||
| 1404 | First reports of trail debris | ||
| 1414 | Contingency declared | ||
| 1435 | All debris on ground | ||
| 1526 | First reports of ground debris | ||
Tuesday, February 18, 2003
Explorer 36
1968-002A
Geos 2 (Geos B before launch) was orbited on 1968 Jan 11 at 1618 from Vandenberg. It entered a 112.3 min, 1084 x 1577 km x 105.8 deg orbit and was given the designation Explorer XXXVI. It was operational until 1968 Dec 30.
| Geos 2 | |||
| Date | Time | Event | Orbit |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1968 Jan 11 | 1616:00 | Launch by Delta | V |
| SRM out | |||
| T+1:05 Castor II SRM sep | |||
| 1618 | T+2:30 MECO | ||
| T+2:36 Stage 1 sep | |||
| 1618 | T+2:36 SES-1 6:13 | ||
| T+2:40 Fairing | |||
| 1624:40 | SECO-1 T+8:40 | ||
| 1631:48? | St 2 sep | -3680? x 1097 x 105.8 | |
| 1631:48 | T+15:48 FW4D burn 33s | ||
| 1632:19 | T+16:19 FW4D burnout | ||
| 1632? | Despin | ||
| 1633 | FW4D sep | 112.3 1084 x 1577 x 105.8 | |
| 1968 Jan 15 | 1224 | Boom deployed to 9m | |
| 1968 Feb 20 | Science operations begin | ||
| 1968 Dec 30 | End of main ops | ||
Friday, February 14, 2003
Wednesday, February 12, 2003
Kosmos 159
1967-046A
The Earth orbital mission of Kosmos-159 remained mysterious to Western observers for many years, and it was often assumed to be related to the Soyuz or L-1 programs. In the 1990s it was suggested that Kosmos-159 was actually a Luna space probe of the Luna-12 type, E-6LS No. 111, modified to serve as a test of the N-1/L-3 deep space communications and tracking network. The E-6LF cameras were replaced by experimental equipment for the N-1/L-3 program, including comms equipment from the LOK.
| Kosmos-159 | |||
| Date | Time | Event | Orbit |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1967 May 16 | 2144:55 | Launch by Molniya 8K78M | KB |
| 2149 | Blok-A sep | |
| 2149 | Blok-I burn | ||
| 2154 | Blok-I sep | 90.87 200 x 434 x 51.83 | |
| 2251? | BOZ burn | ||
| 2252? | Blok-L burn | ||
| 2256? | Blok-L sep | 1174.2 350 x 60637 x 51.6 | |
| 1967 Jul 25 | 1173.85 671 x 60294 x 51.9 | ||
| 1969 Feb 3 | 1173.86 2133 x 58832 x 53.1 | ||
| 1970 Jan 1 | 1174.16 2444 x 58533 x 53.4 | ||
| 1971 Jan 2 | 1174.34 2307 x 58678 x 53.5 | ||
| 1972 Jan 3 | 1174.25 1675 x 59306 x 52.9 | ||
| 1973 Jan 1 | 1174.02 1023 x 59949 x 52.3 | ||
| 1974 Jan 1 | 1174.08 1013 x 59958 x 53.3 | ||
| 1975 Jan 2 | 1173.46 1427 x 59514 x 54.7 | ||
| 1976 Jan 25 | 1173.18 1541 x 59395 x 54.8 | ||
| 1977 Jan 3 | 1173.33 999 x 59944 x 53.5 | ||
| 1977 Sep 23 | 1173.26 235 x 60705 x 52.0 | ||
| 1977 Oct 11 | 1172.66 163 x 60752 x 51.8 | ||
| 1977 Nov 11? | Reentered | ||
Sunday, February 9, 2003
Friday, February 7, 2003
Kosmos 115
1966-033A
Zenit-2 No. 35 was launched in Apr 1966 and flew a successful week-long mission.
| Kosmos-115 | |||
| Date | Time | Event | Orbit |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1966 Apr 20 | 1040 | Launch by Vostok 8A92 | KB |
| 1045? | Blok-E burn | ||
| 1050? | Blok-E sep | ||
| 89.3 190 x 294 x 65 (TASS) | |||
| 1200 | 89.4 201 x 294 x 65.0 (RAE) | ||
| 1966 Apr 22 | 1904 | 89.25 187 x 286 x 65.0 | |
| 1966 Apr 26 | 0620 | 89.16 182 x 282 x 65.0 | |
| 1966 Apr 28 | 0907? | Landed after 7.93d | |
XSS-10
2003-005B
The XSS-10 inspector microsatellite is built by AFRL. It tests a new propulsion system , hydrazine Guidance, navigation & control (GNC) Miniaturized communications system Primary lithium polymer batteries Integrated camera and star sensor.
Mass is 28 kg. Size is 1.0 long 0.45m dia.
| XSS-10 | |||
| Date | Time | Event | Orbit |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2003 Jan 29 | 1806:00 | Launch by Delta 7925-9.5 | CC LC17 |
| T+1:03 SRM 1-6 out | |||
| T+1:06 SRM 7-9 on | |||
| T+1:07 SRM 1-6 sep | |||
| T+2:12 SRM 7-9 out | |||
| T+4:24 MECO | |||
| T+4:32 St 1 sep | |||
| T+4:38 SES-1 | |||
| T+4:59 Fairing sep | |||
| 1816:53 | T+10:53 SECO-1 | 172 x 198 x 36.9 | |
| 1908:39 | T+1:02:39 SES-2 | ||
| 1909:15 | T+1:03:15 SECO-2 | 187 x 1157 x 37.2 | |
| 1910:08 | T+1:04:08 Stage 2 sep | ||
| SES-3 | |||
| SECO-3 | |||
| SES-4 | |||
| SECO-4? | 703 x 806 x 39.6 | ||
| 2003 Jan 30 | 10035 | XSS-10 sep | |
| Drift 200m away | |||
| 1110 | Inspection approach 1, 100m | ||
| 1120 | Inspection approach 1b, 35m | ||
| 1126 | Drift few 100 m away | ||
| 1245 | Inspection approach 2, 35 and 100m? | ||
| 1325 | Inspection approach 3, 35 and 100m? | ||
| 1340 | Sleep mode | ||
| 1620 | Reactivated | ||
| 1805 | depletion burn | 516 x 804 x 39.8 | |