Table of Contents

STS-115 Mission Images

• Mission gallery
• Training gallery
• Demonstration Tests for Mission STS-115
• Videos
• Animation clip gallery

Videos

Mission STS-115 video highlights (Images: NASA TV) Video transcription

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STS-115 crew conference, September 21, 2006. (Images: NASA TV) Video transcription

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Concluding mission STS-115, Atlantis and her crew return to Kennedy Space Center on September 21, 2006 at 6:21 a.m. (Images: NASA TV)

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Steve answered questions from Canadian journalists concerning his impressions about mission STS-115 and his first spacewalk. (Images: NASA TV)

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Downlink event with Canadian astronaut Steve MacLean from space (Images: NASA TV) Video transcription

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Dan Burbank and Steve MacLean are conducting the mission's second spacewalk to prepare the newly installed P3/P4 truss for operation. (Images: NASA TV)

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NASA Administrator Michael Griffin comments on the Canadian participation in the International Space Station Program (Images: NASA TV) Video transcription

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Successful launch of Space Shuttle Atlantis. (Images: NASA TV)

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Steve MacLean
Canadian astronaut Steve MacLean spoke to the medias upon his arrival at the Kennedy Space Center for the launch of Mission STS-115. (Images: NASA TV)

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Steve MacLean
A message from astronaut Steve MacLean to Canadians.

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Animations

STS-115 Animation
P3/P4 truss. (Animation: NASA)

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STS-115 Animation - Flight day 2
Steve MacLean and Daniel Burbank use the orbiter boom to conduct a survey of the exterior of Atlantis. (Animation: NASA)

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STS-115 Animation - Flight day 3
Atlantis closes in for docking with the International Space Station and performs the Rendezvous Pitch Manoeuvre. (Animation: NASA)

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STS-115 Animation - Flight day 3
The crew uses the Shuttle's Canadarm to grapple P3/P4 and hand them off to Canadarm2 on the ISS, manoeuvered by Steve MacLean. (Animation: NASA)

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STS-115 Animation - Flight day 4
P3/P4 truss installation. (Animation: NASA)

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STS-115 Animation - Flight day 5
Activation of the SARJ to ensure its proper functioning. (Animation: NASA)

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STS-115 Animation - Flight day 6
Solar Array deployment (Animation: NASA)

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STS-115 Animation - Flight day 7
MacLean operates Canadarm2 and walks it off the Mobile Base System to the Destiny Lab. (Animation: NASA)

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STS-115 Animation - Flight day 9
The Shuttle undocks the ISS (Animation: NASA)

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Transcriptions

Friday, September 29, 2006
Mission STS-115 video highlights

Canadian Space Agency Astronaut Steve MacLean launched onboard Space Shuttle Atlantis on September 9, 2006 at 11:15 EDT from the Kennedy Space Center for a 12-day mission. Mission STS-115 carried the first Canadian astronaut to space since 2001.

The crew successfully resumed the assembly of the International Space Station and Canadian technology played a key role during this mission, and this flight showcased once again the valuable expertise of Canadians.

Steve MacLean took part in the success of mission STS-115 by operating Canadarm2 almost every day, becoming the first Canadian to operate the International Space Station's robotic arm in space. He also used the Space Vision System, developed by Neptec of Ottawa, Ontario, to help install a pair of solar panels on the station. With the addition of these panels, there is now more electricity to run all the station's systems, including life support, daily operations and scientific equipment.

During this mission, Steve MacLean performed his first spacewalk, becoming the second Canadian to step out into the vacuum of space. In preparation for a safe return, MacLean operated the Shuttle's Canadarm with its Canadian-made boom extension and laser camera as part of the inspection of the surface and tiles of the spacecraft.

Canadian Flight Controllers based at the Johnson Space Center in Houston and at the Canadian Space Agency headquarters in Longueuil, Quebec, provided critical support throughout the mission. They worked jointly with their American counterparts to ensure that the two robotic arms functioned smoothly through many delicate operations.

Steve's space flight ended on September 21, 2006 at 6:21 a.m. EDT in a perfect landing at 6:21 a.m. EDT at the Kennedy Space Center in Florida.

Canada will soon see another of its astronauts in space. Astronaut Dave Williams is preparing to embark on mission STS-118, currently slated to launch in June 2007, and he will perform three spacewalks during this assembly mission.

Congratulations Steve! Congratulations STS-115!

Thursday, September 21, 2006
STS-115 crew conference

Lisa Laflamme from CTV National News:
I'd like to ask Steve MacLean: Was there a personal moment that will define this mission for you?

Steve MacLean:
Yes, very much so. When we were working on that bolt, I actually broke a socket initially on another bolt and that was pretty serious because if we lost another socket we would be cranking everything by hand and that would take a lot more time. And when we got to that second bolt, and it didn't go, at first, and it was tight I said: "Oh man, I am not coming inside until this thing is off" but I got it to turn an eight of a turn-and Dan had already stripped it a little bit earlier-but when both of us started to work on it and it started to go even though it took a long time, that was a very good feeling because we kew that we would be able to rotate the solar array joints and that we would have a good mission for sure. And plus, when you are at the end of the truss, like that, you're splitting the Earth and space while you're working and it's a great place to be.

Brent Jett (Mission Commander)
Steve is a very intelligent man and he's very capable in space. He proved that during the spacewalk. He and Dan just did a phenomenal job and Steve really helped us out a lot during the mission. He has extensive experience in robotics and even though he wasn't a prime operator he was always there watching over all the robotics operations and offering his experience and support.

Thursday, September 14, 2006 (Day 6)
Downlink event with Canadian astronaut Steve MacLean from space

Marilyn Steinberg:
Atlantis, this is CSA. Do you hear me?

Steve:
We hear you loud and clear.

Marilyn Steinberg:
Commander Jett and Steve, welcome to the Canadian Space Agency. Joining you this morning, we have young people from Sun Youth Summer Camp, from Collège Durocher, Thorndale School and Steve Maclean Public School, who are very patiently waiting to ask their questions about living and working on the International Space Station. So, without further delay, I would ask our event MCs, Mathieu Caron and Jaimie Sevigny to begin question period.

Mathieu Caron:
Bonjour Steve. Ici, Mathieu Caron. J'ai Lili Trudel du Collège Durocher avec moi, qui aimerait vous poser la première question.

Lili Trudel :
Quels sont les préparatifs avant le décollage?

Steve :
Il y a toutes sortes de préparatifs. Il y a l'entraînement de base. Ensuite, on a l'entraînement avancé. Et au cours de l'entraînement avancé, on étudie beaucoup la robotique et aussi les sorties extravéhiculaires. Et aussi, il est très important d'être en bonne forme physique. Avant tout, je dois dire que nous sommes très occupés, jusqu'à peut-être six mois à un an avant le décollage, on est très occupés pour l'entraînement.

Jacqueline Bouchard:
Hi Steve. My name is Jacqueline Bouchard. I'm from Sun Youth Summer Camp. And my question is: If everything is weightless in space, why do you need a robotic arm to move payloads on orbit?

Steve:
It is true that we are in zero gravity up here, and things aren't affected by gravity but they still have inertia and I guess that's something that Einstein came across about 100 years ago. There is equivalence between mass and gravity and mass and inertia so we need to control something. So if we start moving this 36,000-pound payload, the solar panels that we have, and we just kind of pushed it, it would keep going forever. So, we need the robotic arm to stop it and that's why we have the robotic arm. It is interesting to note though that the arm can't support its weight on Earth. But, on orbit, the big arm, the one that I was trying can actually pick up the shuttle, which is 200,000 pounds, and move it around. And we've never done that yet but it has this capability.

Jaimie Sevigny:
Thank you, Steve. This is Jaimie Sevigny. Hello to both of you. I have a question from Neil Surette from Thorndale School and he's going to ask the question to Commander Jett.

Neil Surette:
Why do you need to fix the solar panels on the International Space Station?

Commander Jett:
Was the question: Why do we have solar panels attached to the Space Station? Did I hear you correctly?

Jaimie Sevigny:
That is correct. The question is: Why do you need solar panels?

Commander Jett:
Okay, on the Space Station, we use the energy from the sun to generate electricity. The way we do that is we use large solar panels, two of which we brought up today, and we proceeded to get them out. And now we've potentially doubled the electrical capability of the Station. Like everything else in your home or at school, we need electricity to power TV cameras, large support systems; just about anything we need to survive; we need it powered by electricity and that comes from the sun through the solar panels.

Mathieu Caron:
Thank you. Merci. Gabriel Mainville du College Durocher posera maintenant la prochaine question à Steve Maclean.

Gabriel Mainville :
M. MacLean, en quoi votre expertise et vos études en physique optique sont-elles importantes à la réalisation de la mission STS-115?

Steve :
Ça c'est une très bonne question parce que j'ai beaucoup étudié dans les lasers, les fibres optiques quand j'étais étudiant. Et ce qui est intéressant, c'est qu'il y a un laser qui a été developpé au Centre national de recherches du Canada, par un collègue à moi, Marc Rioux. On l'utilise ici à bord de la navette pour vérifier les ailes de la navette après le lancement. Et c'est une chose dont je suis très fier, utiliser une technologie sur laquelle j'ai travaillé avec un collègue. Ça fonctionne très bien dans l'espace. C'est un laser 3D. J'ai vu les images. Quand on a pris des images pendant le deuxième jour de la mission, elles étaient très, très bonnes et aussi, pour nous, ça nous a donné confiance parce que les ailes étaient toutes en bon état et sont prêtes pour la rentrée dans l'atmosphère.

Marilyn:
Steve, sorry to break in. I have a special guest on line for you. Mr. Prime Minister, please go ahead.

Stephen Harper :
Oui, merci. Bonjour au commandant Jett et Steve et à tous les étudiants qui sont à Longueuil. C'est pour moi un grand honneur de vous transmettre des salutations et des félicitations de millions de Canadiens et de Canadiennes. Et, Steve, nous sommes tous fiers de toi.

Steve :
Merci beaucoup M. le Premier ministre. C'est vraiment un privilège pour moi de participer à cette mission. Étant donné qu'on a autant de technologie canadienne fantastique, je dois dire que j'ai utilisé quelque chose du Canada à chaque jour de la mission jusqu'à date, et ça va continuer comme ca pour le reste de la mission.

Stephen Harper :
Je comprends que la technologie canadienne est une partie très importante. Steve, as I just said, all of us are very proud of you. We followed your space walk yesterday and your work with Canadarm. What part of the mission have you enjoyed the most so far?

Steve:
I think there are two aspects to it. One is, we've got two generations of robotics up here. Literally, spanning over 30 years and to see those two arms cradling with confidence the critical technology for the International Space Station was really a privilege for me to be a part of that and especially to be 220 miles above the surface of the Earth doing that. But I do have to say that the highlight was the EVA. Especially, when we were working that bolt that did not want to move, the view I had was fantastic. I felt like I was on top of the Station with the curvature of the Earth on one side; totally in blue on one side and totally in black on the other side, and being frustrated with this bolt in the middle. That, for sure was a personal highlight.

Stephen Harper:
I'm sure it's an adventure of a lifetime and I guess we all hope and I expect your mission will inspire millions of young, millions of Canadians, particularly young people and maybe even some who are talking here today have become interested in space and science and technology. My son's interests are maybe a little more pedestrian. He wants to know what time you go to bed up there.

Steve:
Oh that's a good question because in our mission, with where the sun is, we have 55 minutes of daylight followed by 35 minutes of darkness, of the night, and that does affect our circadian rythm of living but what drives us from when we sleep and we wake up, is driven by the rendez-vous that we do with the Station and that's kind of the key milestone. Then we arrange our sleep schedule around that. But you can tell your son that sleeping is safe and wonderful. We all sleep down in the mid-deck. Some of us right side up, some of us on the side and some of us are upside down because there's no orientation up here. Basically, wherever your head is, is up. Then, of course, the whole shuttle is upside down and so it's pretty entertaining.

Stephen Harper:
Well I won't keep you, Steve. I know that you said at the beginning of the mission that you wanted to bring home a gold medal for Canada. From everything I've seen, on your performance yesterday, you're well on your way. So, well done. And to Commander Jett and the entire crew, I hope you enjoy the rest of the mission. I hope it's productive. Have a safe trip home and Steve, on a bien hâte de te voir revenir sur Terre.

Steve :
Merci beaucoup. C'est vraiment un plaisir.

Stephen Harper :
Au revoir.

Marylin Steinberg:
Thank you very much Mr. Harper. Steve, let's get right back to the students' questions. Jamie take it away!

Allright I have a question for astronaut MacLean and this is from Corinne Staff of the Steve MacLean Public School.

Corinne Staff:
I heard that you were going to do the Star Count experiment during your mission. How many stars have you counted?

Steve:
We're planning on doing that experiment at the end of the mission after we undock and the reason for that is that is this window right here is very very good to look at the stars with the attitude we're going to have when we undock. But I'll tell you this when we look at the Milky Way and you adapt your eyes so they are dark adapted what happens is that milky colors of the Milky Way seem to expand into a complete sphere around you and you're actually not only looking at stars but you're looking at intergalactic light as well and that's something that is amazing. But when we undock I'll put out on the Web how that little experiment went and we'll go from there.

Jamie:
Thank you Steve. I now have a question on behalf of Seamus, a 9-year old from the Telus World of Science in Calgary, Alberta, and his question is: "I was wondering if time goes faster in space like it does in sci-fi films?"

Steve:
It's a good question too. We're actually moving at Mach 25, so it takes about 20 minutes to cross Canada, 90 minutes to go around the world, and if we wanted to go to the Moon it would take us 3 days, and if we wanted to go to Mars that would be somewhere between six months to a year depending on where Mars was (on its orbit). But time for us doesn't appear to be slow, but if you ask Eisntein it is. We are going at Mach 25 so we actually end up slowing down time a little bit but it isn't really perceptible to us because we're not up here that long. I'm not sure I believe all that but time to us looks basically the same but we are moving pretty quickly.

Mathieu Caron :
Merci. La prochaine question est pour Steve de Riordan Azam du Cosmodôme de Laval (Québec) qui veut savoir : "Combien d'années d'études avez-vous faites pour devenir astronaute?".

Steve :
On a fait beaucoup d'études différentes pour devenir astronaute. Moi j'étais dans le domaine de la physique et après j'ai travaillé beaucoup dans le domaine de la robotique. Et quand j'ai été sélectionné pour être astronaute, on a subi toutes sortes d'entraînement en commençant avec l'entraînement de base mais je pense que ce que j'ai aimé le plus c'est l'entraînement avancé avec tous les détails de la navette, comment on effectue un rendez-vous et tous les exercices pour cela et comment utiliser les bras robotiques canadiens. J'ai beaucoup aimé cette expérience durant l'entraînement et nous avons aussi une piscine de 200 pieds, par 100 pieds par 40 pieds avec toutes les maquettes de la station spatiale à l'intérieur et je me suis beaucoup entraîné à chaque plongée avec notre combinaison pour les sorties extravéhiculaires.

Marilyn Steinberg:
Commander Jett, Steve, I want to thank you both on everybody's behalf today for taking the time to speak with us and our special guests and really to inspire our next space generation. Thank you very much.

Steve:
Thank you very much, it's my pleasure and I just want to congratulate everybody at the Canadian Space Agency for doing such a good job and helping me to prepare for this mission, and I just want to say a big hello to Canada, it's so much fun up here and I'm glad that it looks like a lot of people are watching and it really makes us all feel good here. The whole team is feeling pretty good about what we've done so far and we look forward to finishing out the mission with total success.

Monday, September 11, 2006 (Day 3)
NASA Administrator Michael Griffin comments on the Canadian participation in the International Space Station Program

Indeed, everything that we do to manipulate objects on the Space Station as we continue with this return to assembly is done with, aided by the Canadian arms. The arms on the Shuttle that we use for inspection and to manipulate payloads are supplied by Canada. I have pointed out on several occasions that where human spaceflight is concerned what we really have come to without a lot of people maybe noticing is that what we have is a world human spaceflight program consisting of those nations who are sufficiently advanced to participate and sufficiently interested to participate. We look forward to adding more partners as we return to the Moon and prepare for voyages to Mars but Canada has been a steadfast partner since day one on the Shuttle, (even) since before day one on the Shuttle, and continues to be a steadfast partner on the Station which I think shows that you don't have to be a large, an extremely large nation, in order to find areas where you can make a real contribution and of course that is symbolized by Steve MacLean's flight today but Steve is hardly the first Canadian astronaut to fly with us and certainly will not be the last.