Succesvolle lancering Ariane raket vanacht.

Voor de zoveelste maal een succes voor de Europese ruimevaartvaart met een nieuwe lancering van een Ariane 5 raket vanacht vanop het eiland Frans Guiana. Het ruimtetuig heeft 2 satelieten aan boord, 1 ruimtetelescoop van Spaanse makelij en 1 Duitse militaire communicatiesateliet. Bij de lancering van het ruimtetuig was het verbruik aan brandtof gelijk aan 5 ton per seconde. De lancering van vannacht kan je hier zien in het filmpje van ongeveer 3 minuten.

Nasa beeld van de dag.

In Tandem

In this second spacewalk for the STS-126 mission, astronauts Heidemarie Stefanyshyn-Piper (left) and Shane Kimbrough continued the process of removing debris and applying lubrication around the starboard Solar Alpha Rotary Joint (SARJ), replaced four more of the SARJ's 12 trundle bearing assemblies, relocated two equipment carts and applied lubrication to the station's robotic Canadarm2.

Image Credit: NASA

Nasa beeld van de dag.

The Mission Continues

Astronauts Shane Kimbrough and Heidemarie Stefanyshyn-Piper (out of frame) continued the process of removing debris and applying lubrication around the starboard Solar Alpha Rotary Joint (SARJ), replaced four more of the SARJ's 12 trundle bearing assemblies, relocated two equipment carts and applied lubrication to the station's robotic Canadarm2 during the STS-126 mission's second spacewalk.

Image Credit: NASA

Nasa beeld van de dag.

Being First

STS-126 astronaut Steve Bowen and Heidemarie Stefanyshyn-Piper (out of frame) worked to clean and lubricate part of the station's starboard Solar Alpha Rotary Joints (SARJ) and to remove two of SARJ's 12 trundle bearing assemblies. The spacewalkers also removed a depleted nitrogen tank from a stowage platform on the outside of the complex and moved it into Endeavour's cargo bay. They also moved a flex hose rotary coupler from the shuttle to the station stowage platform, as well as removing some insulation blankets from the common berthing mechanism on the Kibo laboratory.

Image Credit: NASA

Nasa beeld van de dag.

A View to Earth

Space shuttle Endeavour and the International Space Station's robotic Canadarm2 (foreground) are featured in this view while the shuttle as it is docked with the station. A blue and white Earth and the blackness of space provide the backdrop for the scene.

Nasa beeld van de dag.