Illyria
03-31-2005, 09:50 AM
NASA instructs space-station crew to discard 11-pound hunk of junk metal out into space. Later discover it was actually a German-made communications satellite :cool:
Space station crew releases tiny satellite by hand
By MARK CARREAU
Copyright 2005 Houston Chronicle
The two-man crew of the international space station launched a relatively tiny satellite Monday — by hand.
The task was part of a spacewalk by U.S. astronaut Leroy Chiao, the commander, and Russian flight engineer Salizhan Sharipov.
The 11-pound spacecraft, tossed into orbit by Sharipov, is part of a German experiment to test orbital control and communications systems for small satellites. "One, two, off you go," said Sharipov.
Observing new safety standards, the two men also installed communications antennas on the space station.
The safety procedures were adopted following a Jan. 26 spacewalk by the two men in which Chiao floated too close to the station's steering thrusters.
The changes required the spacewalkers to observe a larger "keep out" zone around the thrusters, which were disabled during the installation of an antenna close by.
The duo fastened four external antennas that will enable a new unmanned European Space Agency cargo capsule to begin deliveries of supplies next year.
They finished their work in 4 1/2 hours, an hour earlier than scheduled.
mark.carreau@chron.com
http://www.chron.com/cs/CDA/ssistory.mpl/space/3106526
Space station crew releases tiny satellite by hand
By MARK CARREAU
Copyright 2005 Houston Chronicle
The two-man crew of the international space station launched a relatively tiny satellite Monday — by hand.
The task was part of a spacewalk by U.S. astronaut Leroy Chiao, the commander, and Russian flight engineer Salizhan Sharipov.
The 11-pound spacecraft, tossed into orbit by Sharipov, is part of a German experiment to test orbital control and communications systems for small satellites. "One, two, off you go," said Sharipov.
Observing new safety standards, the two men also installed communications antennas on the space station.
The safety procedures were adopted following a Jan. 26 spacewalk by the two men in which Chiao floated too close to the station's steering thrusters.
The changes required the spacewalkers to observe a larger "keep out" zone around the thrusters, which were disabled during the installation of an antenna close by.
The duo fastened four external antennas that will enable a new unmanned European Space Agency cargo capsule to begin deliveries of supplies next year.
They finished their work in 4 1/2 hours, an hour earlier than scheduled.
mark.carreau@chron.com
http://www.chron.com/cs/CDA/ssistory.mpl/space/3106526