Space Shuttle Endeavour sitting on launch pad next to sister Atlantis

William Atkins
Friday, 19 September 2008 20:49

Science - Space

NASA is only now resuming its normal flight control duties with the International Space Station after Hurricane Ike temporarily closed the Johnson Space Center, home of NASA’s Mission Control Center.

Read about the closing and the storm at “NASA’s Johnson Space Center remains closed from Ike”.

The MCC is now back to normal flight support for the ISS and its three-person crew, having been re-opened by NASA personel after the building was closed due to the storm, which damaged its roof.

See article “NASA to resume normal ISS operations September 19, 2008”.

The Russian-American crew aboard the International Space Station had to wait four extra days for additional food, supplies, and fuel when the Russian Progress cargo ship, which was launched on September 10, 2008, was stalled in orbit.

It was waiting for NASA support to resume at Mission Control, so that its ISS flight controllers could help direct the Russian supply ship to a rendezvous and docking with the Space Station.

See the article “Astronauts at Space Station don't like Hurricane Ike” for additional information.

The unmanned Soyuz Progress M-65 ship eventually docked with the ISS on Thursday, September 18, 2008, a little over four days after its originally scheduled docking time.

RussiaToday.com reports, “Besides equipment, fuel, water and food the cosmonauts also received sweets, fruit, DVDs and presents from their families.” [RussiaToday.com: “Progress docks with space station”]