On March 4, 2011 at 10:09 UTC the "Taurus-XL” rocket-carrier was launched from Vandenberg Air Force Base, California, USA.
The solid-fueled rocket failed to orbit the "Glory” NASA climate research satellite because the launcher's nose shroud clung to the booster after it was supposed to jettison. The rocket and the Glory satellite likely plummeted into the southern part of the Pacific Ocean.
On March 2, 2011 American astronauts S. Bowen and A. Drew performed a spacewalk. This was the final STS-133 spacewalk. The astronaut performed all EVA’s tasks. The EVA lasted 6 hours and 14 minutes.
In according to collectspace.com website, American astronaut John Lounge passed away on March 1, 2011. John Lounge was a veteran of three space shuttle flights. Total he spent in space 20 days, 02 hours, 25 minutes and 32 seconds.
On March 01, 2011 an Italian-made module was successfully installed and became a part of the ISS.
The vessel is the modified "Leonardo” reusable cargo van that had visited the station seven times, but now it's a permanent fixture. The Leonardo Permanent Multipurpose Module (or PMM) was delivered by Discovery (STS-133). It was attached to the central Unity module. The Permanent Multipurpose Module was pulled from shuttle Discovery's cargo bay by American astronauts M.Barratt and N.Stott, operating the space station's robot arm, then maneuvered the module into position for attachment to Unity's Earth-facing port. After a careful alignment, four latches pulled the module snugly into place and 16 motorized bolts then were driven to firmly lock it to the station.
The PMM originally was built to carry supplies and e
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On February 28, 2011 American astronauts Stephen Bowen and Benjamin Drew performed EVA (extra vehicle activity). They left the station via the American "Quest” module at 15:47 UTC.
photo NASA
The space walkers accomplished last summer's leftover work of packing away a failed cooling pump and routing a power extension cable. Everything planned was accomplished during the 6-hour and 34-minute EVA.
Astronaut Drew became the 200th Earth’s inhabitant performed EVA.
On February 26, 2011 at 19:14 UTC American Space Shuttle "Discovery” (STS-133) docked to the ISS. Discovery’s crew of Steven Lindsey, Eric Boe, Benjamin Drew, Michael Barratt, Stephen Bowen and Nicole Stott joined the Expedition 26 crew of Scott Kelly, Oleg Skripochka, Alexander Kaleri, Dmitry Kondratyev, Paolo Nespoli, and Cady Coleman.
On February 26, 2011 at 03:07 UTC the "Soyuz-2.1b” rocket-carrier was launched from Russian Plesetsk Cosmodrome. The rocket orbited the "Glonass-K” navigation satellite.
photo by Roscosmos
The Glonass satellite network is Russia's answer to the U.S. Global Positioning System, or GPS, and is designed for both military and civilian uses. Both systems allow users to determine their positions to within a few meters.
The Glonass-K, which has a service life of 10 years, will beam five navigation signals - four in the special L1 and L2 bands an
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On February 24, 2011 at 21:53 UTC the American Space Shuttle"Discovery” (STS-133) was launched from Kennedy Space Center (LC39A), Florida, USA.
photo NASA
The crew consists of 6 American astronauts: Steven Lindsey, Eric Boe, Benjamin Drew, Michael Barratt, Stephen Bowen, Nicole Stott.
The Shuttle is to deliver to the ISS the Permanent Multipurpose Module, with extra storage space and an area for experiments, as well as some spare parts and the Express Logistic Carrier, an external platform for large equi
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