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In preparation for undocking, the ISS\u2019 Solar Alpha Rotary Joints (SARJ) were locked, and the four giant arrays were feathered, so as to protect the arrays from plume impingement as Discovery pulses her Reaction Control System (RCS) jets to move gently away from the orbital outpost.<\/p>\n
The arrays on both the European ATV-2 (Automated Transfer Vehicle) and those on the Russian segment, were also feathered for the same reason.<\/p>\n
In providing the required approval for the undocking, the Mission Management Team (MMT) met to discuss any hardware issues with the veteran orbiter \u2013 of which there are none.<\/p>\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.nasaspaceflight.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/03\/A44.jpg\" "\\"A4\\"")
\u201cThe MMT met briefly today to review the orbiter systems and mission progress. Discovery continues to perform flawlessly and the teams are working no issues. The MMT gave an unanimous go for Undocking,\u201d noted the managerial meeting.<\/p>\n\u201cThe MMT was thankful for a superb docked mission. The teams went above and beyond expectations. This is a testament of the outstanding teamwork both up on the ISS\/Shuttle complex and the ground. Enjoy the view of the Flyaround!,\u201d added notes in the FD12 Executive Summary.<\/p>\n
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Led by STS-133 Flight Director Bryan Lunney, Discovery and her crew performed the complex undocking and seperation profile without issue.<\/p>\n
\u201cSeparation profile designed to minimize plume impingement and propellant usage. Initial separation sequence combines attitude control firings and +Z burns to achieve opening rate,\u201d outlined a STS-133 flight profile presentation (L2).<\/p>\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.nasaspaceflight.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/03\/A55.jpg\" "\\"A5\\"")
\u201cALT DAP (Digital Autopilot) mode with 0.08 sec. on time limit and variable 10 sec. delay required for attitude control. DAP B and 10 sec. intervals required for +Z translations inside 75 ft. Timing and burn size constraints imposed to protect solar arrays of the Russian docked vehicles.<\/p>\n\u201cPrior to 50 ft., single -X jet configuration continues to be used to avoid requiring a new Loads jet-firing database. 8 degree corridor separation along the +Vbar. Inside 150 ft., \u00b1Y pulses restricted to DAP B. LOWZ between the ranges of 75 ft. and 1000 ft.<\/p>\n
\u201cIf prop available, a 1 lap Twice Orbital Rate Separation\/Flyaround (TORS\/TORF) performed for photographic survey of ISS. Flyaround required to be outside 600 ft. range for plume loads. After TORF, perform Vbar separation sequence.\u201d<\/p>\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.nasaspaceflight.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/03\/A43.jpg\" "\\"A4\\"")
As noted, Discovery carried out a full flyaround of the ISS she helped build over the latter years of her 39 mission career, providing an amazing view of a station, which is host to number docked vehicles, such as ATV-2, the Japanese HTV-2, and several Russian vehicles.<\/p>\nThere had been some hope for a unique view of the Station with Discovery docked, that was to be provided by a Russian Soyuz \u201cFlyabout\u201d during the docked mission. However, despite what is understood to be split opinion between Russian managers (RSC Energia and Roscosmos), the decision was to opt against the historic event due to the risk of using what is effectively a test flight of an upgraded Soyuz.<\/p>\n
With Discovery departing the Station, ISS crewmembers have only a few housekeeping items on their schedule, prior to a well-deserved rest after hosting the STS-133 crew.<\/p>\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.nasaspaceflight.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/03\/A9.jpg\" "\\"A9\\"")
\u201cOverview: Shuttle undocking is early in the crew day. The Shuttle crew performs fly-around and late inspection using OBSS. The ISS crew performs standard post undocking activities to stow the BPSMU, depress PMA2 and remove the CO2 remediation ventilation ducting,\u201d noted a Flight Plan Walkthrough document (L2).<\/p>\n\u201cAfter all the undocking day activities have been complete, the ISS crew is scheduled for a full off duty day.\u201d<\/p>\n
Lead by Commander Scott Kelly, the ISS crew gave Discovery a fitting departure from the Station, following up Flight Day 11\u2019s traditional US Navy dedication of \u201cWe\u2019re going to miss Discovery. A great ship. We wish her fair winds and following seas (FWAFS),\u201d with a four bell salute to the departing flagship of the fleet.<\/p>\n
STS-133 News Articles (over 110 articles): http:\/\/www.nasaspaceflight.com\/tag\/sts-133\/<\/p>\n
Late Inspections:<\/p>\n
Discovery crew still had a busy Flight Day 12, with a several hour task of carrying out Late Inspections on the orbiter\u2019s critical Reinforced Carbon Carbon (RCC) panels and areas of her Thermal Protection System (TPS). This operation mirrored Flight Day 2\u2019s survey via the Orbiter Boom Sensor System (OBSS), providing imagery for the Damage Assessment Team (DAT) to clear the vehicle for Entry.<\/p>\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.nasaspaceflight.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/03\/A81.jpg\" "\\"A8\\"")
\u201cTPS Surveys: All RCC (Reinforced Carbon Carbon) is inspected during the OBSS Starboard Wing, Nose Cap, and Port Wing surveys. The two wing surveys also cover most of the areas of the crew cabin. The OMS Pod is inspected using a handheld camera to take pictures from the aft flight deck windows,\u201d noted Flight Readiness Review (FRR) mission outline documentation (L2).<\/p>\nThe OBSS survey procedures incorporate the use of supplemental IDC (Digital Camera) images during LDRI (Laser Dynamic Range Imager) scans, thus reducing the likelihood of needing Focused Inspection. The OBSS unberth procedure incorporates the LDRI 3D calibration and the starboard survey the flat field calibration.<\/p>\n
Three crewmembers are required continuously during the surveys, two for the SRMS\/OBSS ops and one to operate the situational awareness cameras and sensors. Only two crewmembers are required during unberthing and berthing operations (non-laser ops).<\/p>\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.nasaspaceflight.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/03\/A39.jpg\" "\\"A39\\"")
There haven\u2019t be any repeat issue with the OBSS cables, following mitigation after STS-132\u2019s issues.<\/p>\nScans of the entire starboard wing are scheduled first, given they are not easily performed, or are impossible to perform while docked \u2013 providing a challenge should a docked late inspection be required. The surveys are scheduled to continue through the night passes, but the crew may elect to pause if the night time visuals are not sufficient.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe LDRI survey attitude requires no sun within a +\/-20 degree field of view (FOV) of the laser bore-sight. Additionally, no sun can be within a 10 degree half-cone directly behind the instrument; however it is highly desired to keep the sun at a 90 degree half cone behind the instrument as long as it\u2019s not directly behind,\u201d added the FRR overview.<\/p>\n
The surveys were completed without issue.<\/p>\n
In the highly unlikely event of a major problem being found on Discovery\u2019s TPS, the orbiter will be able to return to the ISS under a safe haven scenario, allowing the crew to await rescue from Endeavour next month.<\/p>\n
Discovery is currently scheduled to return to Earth on Wednesday, with the opening landing opportunity resulting in touchdown at 11:58am Eastern at the Kennedy Space Center (KSC).<\/p>\n
(Further articles will follow. L2 members refer to STS-133 live coverage sections for internal coverage, presentations, images and and updates from engineers and managers \u2013 for full and extensive live Flight Day coverage during the mission. Images used: Lead and within the article via L2\u2019s large collection of unpublished STS-133 mission photos. Graphics via L2 presentations).<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
In an emotional farewell, Discovery has undocked and departed from the International Space Station (ISS) for the final time in her career. The undocking occurred at 6:00am Central Time, ahead of a stunning flyaround of the orbital outpost. As the two vehicles grow the distance between each other, the STS-133 crew completed Late Inspections on […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"inline_featured_image":false,"footnotes":"","_links_to":"","_links_to_target":""},"categories":[2],"tags":[9051],"class_list":["post-40509","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-news","tag-sts-133"],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/starpath.global\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/40509"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/starpath.global\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/starpath.global\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/starpath.global\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/starpath.global\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=40509"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/starpath.global\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/40509\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/starpath.global\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=40509"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/starpath.global\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=40509"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/starpath.global\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=40509"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}