NASA revised EVA schedule affects ARISSat

NASA has informed AMSAT that the schedule of work for EVAs at the International Space Station is being revised.

The planned deployment of ARISSat-1 from the ISS is now being scheduled for either Fall 2010 or early 2011 rather than Spring 2010.

This schedule adjustment also impacts when ARISSat-1 will be flown to the Space Station, with upload likely to take place sometime in Summer 2010 rather than in January.

These revisions were made in response to new higher priority work that must be done during the timeframe of the EVA that ARISSat-1 was originally scheduled in April 2010.

Overall, this revision helps ARISSat-1 because it provides additional time for testing of the spacecraft. Furthermore, it also ensures that the NASA Safety Review process for ARISSat-1 can be concluded prior to shipment of the spacecraft to Russia.

The major items to complete for ARISSat are the IHU software, PSU software, PSU testing and system testing.

The structure is coming together well and the team looks forward to providing an innovative and reliable satellite this coming spring.

Gould, WA4SXM