Table of Contents

Daily Reports

September 21, 2006 (Flight Day 13)

Successful Mission and Landing for Astronaut Steve MacLean

Canadian Space Agency Astronaut Steve MacLean's space flight ended today with a perfect landing of Space Shuttle Atlantis at 6:21 a.m. EDT at the Kennedy Space Center in Florida.

"This has been an incredible adventure!" affirmed Steve MacLean, shortly after landing. "Our crew successfully resumed the assembly of the International Space Station and I am proud to have represented Canada in this endeavour. 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.

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!

September 20, 2006 (Flight Day 12)
Atlantis' Crew Gets Ready for a Landing on Thursday

There was good news from Mission Control Houston for the STS-115 crew this morning: Mission managers cleared Space Shuttle Atlantis for landing. The first available landing opportunity is at 6:21 a.m. EDT Thursday at Kennedy Space Center, Florida.

Word came after engineers reviewed heat shield inspections performed by the crew. Forecasts for Thursday call for acceptable weather at the Florida landing site. A second opportunity is available for a landing at 7:57 a.m. in Florida.

September 19, 2006 (Flight Day 11)

Don't leave without me!
Today, the STS-115 crew woke up to the music of "Ne partez pas sans moi" by Canadian artist Céline Dion played by Mission Control for Canadian Mission Specialist Steve MacLean. Mission control then called the Space Shuttle crew: "Atlantis, this is Houston. Good morning." Steve wished good morning to Mission Control and a great day to his family: "Good morning," he said to Mission Control. "And thank my family for this song. Good morning to my family, Nadine, Jean-Philippe, Catherine and Michèle. We are now above the Pacific Ocean and it's another great day in space! And tell them that we'll be back soon."

Unidentified object
The landing of space shuttle Atlantis was postponed until Thursday, September 21, 2006 at 6:21 a.m. NASA has decided to take additional time to analyze an unidentified object seen. (Visit NASA website for more details at www.nasa.gov.)

Meanwhile, Canadian astronaut Steve Maclean surveyed the night sky over Australia and peered into the Milky Way yesterday for the Star Count experiment. The Star Count experiment challenges children and families across North America to investigate the visual quality of the night sky and measure the extent of light pollution in the atmosphere by counting stars in the night sky of their local community. The results of Steve's experiment will be uploaded to the Canadian Space Agency STS-115 mission website this week. They give participants on Earth an idea of how many stars would be visible in a perfect sky. Championed by Steve MacLean, the data from this student learning opportunity will help us build a continental picture of the quality of our atmosphere while actively engaging children and families in science learning.

September 18, 2006 (Flight Day 10)

Earlier today, Canadian astronaut Steve MacLean used Canadarm to grapple the Canadian-built Orbiter Boom extension for further Shuttle inspection.

Later, Daniel Burbank and Steve MacLean completed inspection of Shuttle tiles with Daniel Burbank using Canadarm with the extension boom. They also inspected the starboard wing and nose cap. Once these important tasks were done, they berthed the boom and powered down Canadarm.

Atlantis is scheduled to touch down at 5:57 a.m. Wednesday at the Shuttle Landing Facility at Kennedy Space Center, Florida.

September 17, 2006 (Flight Day 9)
Farewell

The STS-115 Crew began checking the rendezvous tools in preparation for undocking this Sunday. Then, the crews of Atlantis and the Station bid farewell before the hatches closed and the Shuttle undocked from the Station at 8:50 a.m. EDT.

Atlantis is scheduled to touch down at 5:57 a.m. Wednesday at the Shuttle Landing Facility at Kennedy Space Center, Florida.

September 16, 2006 (Flight Day 8)
STS-115 crew to transfer cargo and rest

Today is the STS-115 crew's last full day at the International Space Station. They enjoy some well-deserved off-duty time after conducting three spacewalks in four days.

The first half of the crew's day was free time. The astronauts resumed cargo transfers from Shuttle to Station. At 8:35 a.m. EDT, the space station and shuttle crews held a joint news conference. Canadian Space Agency astronaut Steve MacLean and his colleagues answered questions from journalists.

Steve answered questions from Canadian journalists concerning his impressions about mission STS-115 and his first spacewalk.

Space Shuttle Atlantis is slated to undock from the station at 8:50 a.m. Sunday. Atlantis is scheduled to land at 5:57 a.m. Wednesday at the Space Shuttle Landing Facility at Kennedy Space Center, Florida.

September 15, 2006 (Flight Day 7)
Flight Day 7 marks the third spacewalk of the mission.

Canadian astronaut Steve MacLean walked Canadarm2 off the Mobile Base System to the Destiny Lab to prepare for the third spacewalk (EVA 3) and to check out Worksite 8 in preparation for mission STS-116.

Mission Specialist Dan Burbank coordinated spacewalk activities, and Steve MacLean used Canadarm2 to support spacewalkers Joseph Tanner and Heidemarie Stefanyshyn-Piper as they released the photovoltaic radiator restraints for deployment, deployed the Solar Alpha Rotary Joint braces, and removed the P3 keel pin to clear the way for the Mobile Transporter. They also retrieved the MISSE 5 experiment, installed an external wireless TV transmission antenna, and conducted other get-ahead work for future spacewalks.

Later in the workday, Canadian Space Agency ground controllers based at Houston moved the Mobile Transporter from Worksite 7 on the truss to Worksite 8 to check the location in preparation for STS-116. They later returned it to its normal parking spot on Worksite 4.

September 14, 2006 (Flight Day 6)

Today, Canadian Space Agency Astronaut Steve MacLean talked with Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper at 11:25 a.m. during an in-flight interview from the Atlantis space shuttle. Prime Minister Stephen Harper called from his office in Ottawa and discussed with Steve the details of the mission, expressed his pride on behalf of all Canadians especially as he watched Steve's spacewalk yesterday during Flight Day 5, Wednesday, September 13, as Steve prepared the solar panels of the newly installed P3/P4 truss on the station. Steve said he was also very proud to use Canadian technology during the last few days and was impressed by the excellent performance of Canadian technology, the Shuttle's Canadarm and its extension for inspecting the Shuttle's outside surfaces, and the Space station's robotic arm, Canadarm2. Steve also talked during this downlink event to Canadian students (age 9-14) from Steve MacLean Public School, Collège Durocher, Thorndale School and Sun Youth Summer Camp from Canadian Space Agency headquarters.

September 13, 2006 (Flight Day 5)
Second Canadian to walk in Space

Taking care of business

Today, the STS-115 crew woke up to the music of "Takin' Care of Business" by Bachman-Turner Overdrive for Canadian Mission Specialist Steve MacLean. Mission control then called the Space Shuttle crew: "Atlantis, Houston, on the big loop, good morning."

Steve MacLean answered: “Okay, we copy that. And listen, I know you didn't hear me the first time, but I just want to thank my family for that music. We did get up very early this morning, and we'll be taking care of business, getting the solar arrays prepared for the ability to rotate so that we can double the power on station and make them a little bit safer with every bend and channel for the increment crews. So Dan and I are looking forward to doing that, and it should be a great day while we take care of business.”

A little later, Canadian Space Agency astronaut Steve MacLean stepped out into space for the very first time.

Dan Burbank and Steve MacLean have conducted the mission's second spacewalk to prepare the newly installed P3/P4 truss for operation. The P3/P4 truss and its solar arrays were attached to the International Space Station on Tuesday. The spacewalkers began today's orbital stroll at 5:05 a.m. EDT.

With American astronaut Daniel Burbank, Steve finished preparations for the activation of the solar panel's alpha rotary joint (SARJ). Daniel Burbank and Steve MacLean have removed launch locks and launch restraints on the Solar Alpha Rotary Joint, which will allow the arrays to track the sun. The two astronauts have also prepared the P3 truss for use by the Mobile Transporter—a platform that allows the station's robotic arm, Canadarm2, to move along the Integrated Truss Structure.

Today's spacewalk concluded at about 12:16 p.m. Inside the Station, mission Specialist Joe Tanner coordinated spacewalk activities, and Mission Specialist Heidemarie Stefanyshyn-Piper operated Canadarm2. Tanner and Piper conducted the first spacewalk and will perform the third on Friday.

September 12, 2006 (Flight Day 4)
Steve once again operated the Space station Canadarm2 and supported the first extravehicular activity (EVA) of Mission STS-115.

During this spacewalk, American astronauts Joseph Tanner and Heidemarie Stefanyshyn-Piper connected power cables, released the Solar Array Blanket Box and prepared the Solar Alpha Rotary Joint for operations. The new truss element, which includes a set of new solar arrays, was attached to the station at 3:48 a.m. EDT. Tanner and Piper began their excursion to install power and data cables between the P1 and P3/P4 structures in preparation for solar array deployment. The third of four bolts was tightened at 4:35 a.m., officially making the P3/P4 a part of the station. Mission Specialist Dan Burbank is coordinating the spacewalk activities while Mission Specialist Steve MacLean and Expedition 13 Flight Engineer Jeff Williams operate the station's robotic arm, Canadarm2. Tonight MacLean will sleep in the Quest Airlock in preparation for his very first spacewalk tomorrow.

September 11, 2006 (Flight Day 3)
Rendezvous with the Space Station and P3/P4 truss handoff

Today was a busy day for Canadian astronaut Steve MacLean. He worked with American astronaut Joseph Tanner to operate the docking systems as Atlantis docked with the Space Station. After boarding the Station, Steve controlled Canadarm2 as it picked up the P3/P4 truss handed over by Canadarm. He became the first Canadian to control the station's robotic arm from space. Shortly after this operation, Steve said, "... and there you have it: the great Canadian handshake."

September 10, 2006 (Flight Day 2 )

On Sunday, Daniel Burbank, assisted by Steve MacLean, grappled and unberthed the Canadian-built orbiter boom with sensor systems at its tip. Extending the reach of the Shuttle's Canadarm, the orbiter boom was used to survey the nose cap and leading edges of the wings on Atlantis. The crew also completed inspections to prepare for their rendezvous with the Space Station on Monday.

September 9, 2006 (Flight Day 1)
Launch is successful: Steve MacLean heads to the International Space Station.

Canadian Space Agency Astronaut Steve MacLean launched successfully aboard Space Shuttle Atlantis at 11:15 EDT from the Kennedy Space Center to begin a 12-day mission. Mission STS-115 carries the first Canadian astronaut to space since 2001.

"Finally, we are flying to the space station after four-and-a-half years of preparations. For me it's a lot like an athletic event; many countries are participating in this venture in a spirit of international cooperation.

"I invite you all to watch what we do every day over the next weeks. It will be exciting. There are complex tasks; it's not easy, but with a team like the one I've been working with for the last four years and, especially, with the focus and dedication of the teams on the ground, I promise you that we will bring home a gold medal," said Steve a few days before launch.

Twelve minutes after launch, Steve took pictures of the external tank to analyze its condition. Canadarm was powered up for checkout.

The crew played back handheld launch video of the external tank and loaded digital photos of the tank and data from sensors on the leading edges of Atlantis' wings into a laptop computer for downlink.