Orbital Contingency Test Flight
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The Orbital Contingency Test Flight (OCTF) was the name given to a space shuttle mission flown by the Space Shuttles Terra Nova and Patriot. Flown in February of 2010, the mission was designed to be a full scale test of space shuttle contingency procedures, including in orbit crew transfer. The mission also saw the launch of the 11th Tracking and Data Rely Satellite.
The mission marked the first ever in-orbit rendezvous of two orbiters, the most people in space at one time (19), and the first time three space shuttle orbiters have been in orbit simultaneously.
Contents
- 1 Terra Nova crew
- 2 Patriot crew
- 3 Mission parameters
- 4 Mission timeline
- 4.1 February 12 (Flight Day 1: Launch)
- 4.2 February 13 (Flight Day 2)
- 4.3 February 14 (Flight Day 3)
- 4.4 February 15 (Flight Day 4: Spacewalk 1)
- 4.5 February 16 (Flight Day 5)
- 4.6 February 17 (Flight Day 6, Patriot Launch)
- 4.7 February 18 (LON Flight Day 2)
- 4.8 February 19 (LON Flight Day 3: Rescue EVA 1)
- 4.9 February 20 (LON Flight Day 4: Rescue EVAs 2 & 3)
- 4.10 February 21 (LON Flight Day 5: Terra Nova Landing)
- 4.11 February 22 (LON Flight Day 6)
- 4.12 February 23 (LON Flight Day 7)
- 4.13 February 24 (LON Flight Day 8)
- 4.14 February 25 (LON Flight Day 9: Patriot Landing)
- 5 Wake-up calls
- 6 See also
- 7 External links
Terra Nova crew
| Position | Launching Astronaut | Landing Astronaut |
|---|---|---|
| Commander | Frank Rosewood Third spaceflight |
None |
| Pilot | Anatoly Orlav Third spaceflight |
None |
| Mission Specialist 1 | Daniel Baxter Sixth spaceflight |
None |
| Mission Specialist 2 | Thomas Kincaid Second spaceflight |
None |
| Mission Specialist 3 | Clarissa Thomas, ESA Second spaceflight |
None |
Patriot crew
| Position | Launching Astronaut | Landing Astronaut |
|---|---|---|
| Commander | Frank Trenton Second spaceflight | |
| Pilot | Cora Edwards First spaceflight | |
| Mission Specialist 1 | Ixy Comeaux Seventh spaceflight | |
| STS-8W Commander | None | Frank Rosewood |
| STS-8W Pilot | None | Anatoly Orlav |
| STS-8W Mission Specialist 1 |
None | Daniel Baxter |
| STS-8W Mission Specialist 2 |
None | Thomas Kincaid |
| STS-8W Mission Specialist 3 |
None | Clarissa Thomas |
Mission parameters
- Mass:
- Perigee:
- Apogee:
- Inclination:
- 90°
- Period:
- 94 minutes
Docking
- First docking: July 17, 1975 - 16:19:09 UTC
- Last undocking: July 19, 1975 - 15:26:12 UTC
- Time docked: 1 day, 23 hours, 07 minutes, 03 seconds
Mission timeline
February 12 (Flight Day 1: Launch)
Terra Nova launched successfully at 12:37:00 PST (20:37:00 UTC). Per the mission script, at approximately 154 seconds into the launch, crews simulated a foam impact to the orbiter's right wing. Once in orbit the crew opened the payload bay doors, activated the radiators and deployed the Ku band antenna. Daniel Baxter and Clarissa Thomas then proceeded to activate and check out of the Remote Manipulator System (SRMS) and then conducted a survey of the payload bay. The crew was also successful in down-linking imagery and video of the external tank to the ground.
February 13 (Flight Day 2)
A majority of the day was spent inspecting the thermal protection system using the Orbiter Boom Sensor System (OBSS). Special emphasis was given to the right wing. Per the mission script, crews simulated detecting a large breach of the reinforced carbon-carbon panels located on that section of the orbiter. Contingency procedures were initiated at this point, however the crew would have been in no danger had the situation been real.
February 14 (Flight Day 3)
The crew successfully deployed the 11th TDRS satellite.
February 15 (Flight Day 4: Spacewalk 1)
Mission Specialist Baxter tested several in flight repair techniques and attempted to repair the damage to the orbiter's wing, as per the mission script. Baxter was not successful, according to mission planners, and plans were set in motion to launch Patriot on a rescue mission. ISA Director Ian Rubin held a press conference that afternoon to inform the press of the contingency proceedings, and informed the media that the crew was safe. The media was also made aware that the orbiter was in reality undamaged and would make a successful landing at Vandenberg Air Force Base later in the week.
February 16 (Flight Day 5)
On Tuesday, the crew of Terra Nova held a small Mardi Gras party aboard the shuttle, where a king cake was served. Patriot was prepared for launch, and its crew was briefed on final mission procedures.
February 17 (Flight Day 6, Patriot Launch)
February 18 (LON Flight Day 2)
February 19 (LON Flight Day 3: Rescue EVA 1)
On Flight day 3 of STS-509, the first rescue EVA was performed. Ixy Comeaux and Daniel Baxter set up rescue tethers between the two shuttles, and transferred three Personal Rescue Enclosures or "rescue balls" to Terra Nova. Baxter's EMU was transferred back to Terra Nova, and Thomas Kincaid transferred to Patriot.
February 20 (LON Flight Day 4: Rescue EVAs 2 & 3)
February 21 (LON Flight Day 5: Terra Nova Landing)
February 22 (LON Flight Day 6)
February 23 (LON Flight Day 7)
February 24 (LON Flight Day 8)
February 25 (LON Flight Day 9: Patriot Landing)
Wake-up calls
A tradition for NASA human spaceflights since the days of Gemini, mission crews are played a special musical track at the start of each day in space. Each track is specially chosen, often by their families, and usually has a special meaning to an individual member of the crew, or is applicable to their daily activities.
| Flight Day | Song | Artist/Composer | Played for | Links |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Day 2 |
“Takin' Care of Business” | Bachman-Turner Overdrive | Daniel Baxter | WAV MP3 TRANSCRIPT |
| Day 3 |
“Beautiful Day” | U2 | Clarissa Thomas | WAV, MP3 TRANSCRIPT |
| Day 4 |
“Life Is a Highway” | Rascal Flatts | Frank Rosewood | WAV MP3 TRANSCRIPT |
| Day 5 |
“Mardi Gras Mambo” | The Meters | STS-8W Crew | WAV MP3 TRANSCRIPT |
| Day 6 |
“Rescue Me” | Fontella Bass | STS-8W Crew | WAV MP3 TRANSCRIPT |
| Day 7 (LON Day 2) |
“Hold On Tight” | Electric Light Orchestra | STS-8W Crew | WAV MP3 TRANSCRIPT |
| Day 8 (LON Day 3) |
“All Star” | Smash Mouth | STS-509 Crew | WAV MP3 TRANSCRIPT |
| Day 9 (LON Day 4) |
“Hate My Life” | Theory of a Deadman | Clarissa Thomas | WAV MP3 TRANSCRIPT |
| Day 10 (LON Day 5) |
“Homecoming (We're Coming Home Again)” | Green Day | Dedicated to Space Shuttle Terra Nova | WAV MP3 TRANSCRIPT |
| Day 11 (LON Day 6) |
“Shine” | 3 Doors Down | Thomas Kincaid | WAV MP3 TRANSCRIPT |
See also
External links
- The ISA homepage
- The ISA's OCTF page
- ISA Rescue Mission press conference transcript
- Space Shuttle in-orbit abort procedures
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