Table of Contents

STS-118 Mission Timeline

Note: All times given are tentative and subject to change.
All times are in Eastern Daylight Time.

Flight Day 1 – Space Shuttle Endeavour was launched Wednesday August 8, 2007 at
6:36 p.m. EDT

Flight Day 2 – Rendezvous preparations
Thursday, August 9

As Endeavour approaches the International Space Station (ISS), the crew will spend its first day in space checking out equipment. The Canadarm will also be powered up and maneuvered to grapple the Orbiter Boom Sensor System (OBSS) and use it to perform a survey of the starboard, nose and port sections of the shuttle's thermal protection system.

Flight Day 3 – Docking to the ISS – Opening of the Hatch – Handshake Ceremony – Robotic activities
Friday, August 10

Endeavour docks with the ISS at 2:02 p.m. EDT. After successfully docking, the Shuttle Commander Scott Kelly and the Russian ISS Commander Fyodor Yurchikhin will open the hatches from their respective spacecrafts. Following the Handshake Ceremony, astronaut Tracy Caldwell will pick-up the S5 truss segment form the shuttle's cargo bay using the Carnadarm and pass it on to Pilot Charles Hobaugh at the controls of the Canadarm2. The S5 truss segment will remain parked in this position until the next day.

Flight Day 4 – CSA astronaut Dave Williams' first spacewalk (EVA1)
Saturday, August 11

At 12:31 p.m. EDT, Dave Williams will venture outside the space station to take part in his first spacewalk. The walk is scheduled to last about 6 ½ hours.

Dave Williams and partner Rick Mastracchio will firmly fix the new starboard truss segment (S5) onto the existing (S4) backbone of the station using bolts and electrical connectors. Williams and Mastracchio will get spectacular views of the ISS and Earth below since they will be working out on the farthest-most sections of the space station.

Once installed, the astronauts will take a stroll along the main ISS truss using handrails to guide them to the centre of ISS. From there they will climb to the highest point on the station and fold-up a solar panel heat radiator and stow it for future relocation.

Pilot Charles Hobaugh will be at the controls of the Canadarm2.

This day will also see the first tryout of a new Power Distribution Module, the SSPTS (Station-Shuttle Power Transfer System) which enable the Shuttle to convert about 8 kW of electricity from the ISS Electrical Power System. This will eventually allow the orbiter to remain docked at the station for an additional 3-4 days.

NOTE: NASA should confirm the successful activation of the SSPTS and extend the mission to 14 days.

Media: Media will be invited to the CSA for a media event highlighting the first spacewalk by Canadian astronaut Dave Williams. Astronaut Chris Hadfield will be onsite to comment and reflect on the activities.

Flight Day 5 – Focused inspection – PMDIS performed by Canadian Dave Williams
Sunday, August 12

Today, the crew will proceed with a focused inspection of the space shuttle using the Canadian extension boom (OBSS) to ensure safety of the shuttle and crew.

On this day, Canadian astronaut Dave Wiliams and NASA astronaut Alvin Drew will perform the Canadian scientific experiment called Perceptual-Motor Deficits in Space (PMDIS). The experiment will examine if while in microgravity, astronauts have a harder time reaching and pointing to objects on a computer monitor than when they are on Earth. This could be critical in emergency situations.

Williams and Mastracchio will also prepare for tomorrow's spacewalk.

Flight Day 6 – Second spacewalk for Dave Williams (EVA2)
Monday, August 13

At 11:31 a.m. EDT today, Williams will be stepping outside the space station for his second spacewalk. This will be an important day for him given he will have the privilege to ride the Canadarm2, controlled by Hobaugh, for most of the walk. Williams and Mastracchio will be replacing a faulty Control Moment Gyroscope (CMG), which the orbiting outpost uses for attitude control.

Despite weighing nearly 1322.77 lbs (600 kg - about the size of a washing machine), Williams will pick up the CMG and its mounting hardware from Endeavour's payload bay using only his arms and he will be slowly flown back to the ISS. In microgravity, the inertia that the CMG possesses is of great concern to astronauts, so Williams along with his payload in hand will be moved very slowly, taking about 15 minutes to complete his flight over to the ISS.

Media: Media will be invited to the Saskatchewan Science Centre in Saskatoon for a media event highlighting the second spacewalk by Canadian astronaut Dave Williams. Astronaut Chris Hadfield will be onsite to comment and reflect on the activities.

CSA spokespersons will also be available at CSA for comments.

Flight Day 7 – ESP3 install and U.S. Downlink
Tuesday, August 14

This morning, Barbara Morgan and Charles Hobaugh will control the Canadarm and Canadarm2 respectively to install the External Stowage Platform 3 (ESP3). Once more, the Canadian arms will prove to be indispensable for assembling the station.

At 2:56 p.m. EDT, Dave Williams will join Educator Astronaut Barbara Morgan and NASA astronauts Scott Kelly, Tracy Caldwell and Clayton Anderson to take part in a U.S. Educational Downlink.

NASA Astronauts Mastracchio and Anderson will prepare for the third mission spacewalk.

Flight Day 8 – Third mission spacewalk (EVA3)
Wednesday, August 15

Astronauts Anderson and Mastracchio will be replacing parts of the station's communication system, installing a new signal processor and relocating a communication antenna. Mastracchio will also be riding at the tip of the Canadarm2 again to help relocate an S-band antenna.

The two spacewalkers will move the CETA (Crew and Equipment Translation Aid) cart located on the starboard ISS truss to allow for installation of a new transponder. This handrail cart allows both spacewalker and equipment to ride to different points along the main trusses.

The astronauts are scheduled to exit the station's airlock at 11:01 a.m. EDT

Flight Day 9 – Second NASA Educational Downlink – Preparation for final mission spacewalk
Thursday, August 16

A second Educational Downlink is planned with Educator Astronaut Barbara Morgan and colleague Rick Mastracchio in the late morning of Flight day 9.

Astronauts Williams and Anderson will prepare for the final mission spacewalk set for tomorrow.

Flight Day 10 – Media Crew Downlink
Friday, August 17

After a busy week in space, the shuttle crew and the ISS crew will take part in a live downlink scheduled for 1:34 p.m. EDT. Canadian, US and Russian media will be offered the opportunity to speak live with the astronauts in space.

Media: A press event surrounding the Media Downlink will take place at the CSA Headquarter in Longueuil. Media will be invited to confirm their presence in advance in order to be added to the list to ask a question to the astronauts.

Flight Day 11 – Fourth and final mission spacewalk (EVA4) – Canadian astronaut Williams holds the record for the number of hours spent spacewalking
Saturday, August 18

On the mission's fourth and final spacewalk, Williams and Anderson will wrap up the outside work on the station with the installation of a new wireless transmission assembly, which is a new antenna system used with helmet cameras during EVA.

They will also be outfitting the station's hull with new foot restraints and toolboxes to be used by future construction EVAs.

Williams will also mount a special stand onto the side of station to which the shuttle's extension boom (OBSS) can be attached in a future shuttle mission.

The astronauts are scheduled to exit the station's airlock at 10:01 a.m. EDT

Media: Media will be invited to the CSA for a media event highlighting the spacewalk. Astronaut Steve MacLean will be onsite to comment and reflect on the activities.

Flight Day 12 – Undocking – Late inspection
Sunday, August 19

At 7:56 a.m. EDT, the Shuttle will undock and separate from the Space Station.

The crew will proceed with a late inspection of the shuttle using the Canadian extension boom (OBSS) to ensure safety of the shuttle and crew.

Flight Day 13 – Canadian Downlink – Landing preparation
Monday, August 20

Canadian astronaut Dave Williams with astronauts Scott Kelly and Barbara Morgan will take part in the 20 minutes downlink with students from La Ronge in Saskatchewan scheduled to begin at 11:46 a.m. EDT.

The crew will spend the rest of the day configuring the shuttle for landing by performing routine checks of Endeavour's systems.

Media: A media event surrounding the Canadian downlink will take place in La Ronge, Saskatchewan.

Flight Day 14 – Landing at KSC, Florida
Tuesday, August 21

Endeavour is scheduled to land at 12:32 p.m. EDT at the Kennedy Space Center.

Media: Media will be invited to attend the landing at KSC. Media may also view the launch at the CSA in Longueuil. CSA spokespersons will be onsite at both locations.