What's Going on This Week with Space Shuttle Mission STS-120?

If you're keeping track of the current STS-120 NASA Space Shuttle mission through many of the possible ways on Internet, satellite, or via amateur radio, you may want to know when to check in for the most interesting activity. After all, there is no comparable "day" in space (the sun rises and sets every 90 minutes or so), so astronauts may be sleeping when you are ready to see what they're up to. NASA has published a schedule of space shuttle activities, and here's a summary of what's listed on revision "A" of that schedule. You can get the PDF file from NASA's website and keep up to date if the mission changes.

In the first day, the crew was busy getting into space and acclimating. NASA video had a lot of produced video, replaying the launch, ascent and external tank separation. When the crews woke up on the second day, they were busy checking the status of Discovery and relaying images of the exterior down to earth for review.

There were a few problems with the computer network that relayed the images, but they were solved with spare components. As the day went on, they checked their equipment for four of the five space walks which they will be doing, and kept in constant contact with ground control running through checklists.

Video included views of the California wildfires from space, and visits to the International Space Station by video and also a view of the control center in Russia, where the American team's picture is prominently displayed on the wall. Houston, Texas mission control is frequently on display, sometimes sparsely populated during the later hours, with no commentary.

The crew will begin sleeping on the second day at 5:38PM EDT, but the third day will begin at 1:38AM. This day will be occupied with rendezvous preparation activities, with a burn to prepare for arrival occurring at 4:55AM EDT. Docking is scheduled for 7:35AM, but may not be televised, the schedule notes. The welcome ceremony should be at 10:33AM. One long-term resident of the ISS will leave (Anderson), and one will arrive (Tani) about an hour later.

The first EVA (Extravehicular Activity) is scheduled for day 4, and should begin at 6:28AM EDT. It is scheduled to end just after 1:00PM. An overview of the day's activities will be broadcast at 6:00PM Eastern time.

Day 5 begins once again at 1:38AM EDT October 27, and in addition to various transfer activities, also includes live interviews at 2:03PM EDT, with Fox, CBS, and WHAM-TV. Preparations will begin for another EVA, number 2.

On Days 6 and 7, more external work will be performed on an EVA, and the discovery crew will have their "weekend," or off duty period. ABC, NBC, and CNN will conduct in-flight interviews at 1:43PM on October 29. Preparation will begin for yet another EVA to begin on Day 8.

Days 9-16 follow, which will be covered in another article as the first week progresses.

From the interviews with the unique individuals who live and work in space, to the everyday events in a world so unlike our own, to the breathtaking views from the space shuttle and space station, watching live is fascinating and thrilling. When the astronauts step out into space, you can't help but hold your breath, and watch with anticipation as lengthy training in simulated environments comes to fruition in outer space. Some shuttle astronauts are old hands at spacewalks, but it's never a routine event, even if it goes smoothly. Join our modern heroes in space, and watch NASA TV live!

"NASA - Shuttle Mission TV Schedule", http://www.nasa.gov/multimedia/nasatv/mission_schedule.html