Expanding the Outpost

Well, folks, the Orbiter undocked successfully this morning and that ends the 13A mission for the ISS team. Of course, we are waiting in anticipation of the the safe landing of Atlantis on Thursday, but we have to continue with our 24/7 operations and planning, as well as some recuperating from the past two weeks. Due to the difficulties encountered this mission, this doesn't just include us folks that supported console operations, but our team members back in the office, who were supporting 24/7 meetings, brainstorming to come up with ideas, so that we on console could do our jobs. A big thanks to them!

Oh, and I have rejoined the world of the living... :)...for those of you who thought I had dropped off the face of the planet.

There are going to be lots of amazing pictures of ISS floating around, but let me start off with one that my branch chief sent out, as well as some words from one of our Flight Directors.

Congratulations to the 13A/STS-117 team – Not just the real time execute teams, but the ‘Team 4’ support, SPAN, the Program and Engineering teams and everyone else who stepped up to help out.

With the undocking this morning of STS-117 from the ISS, we have completed one of the most amazing demonstrations of team effort that the Programs have seen in recent memory. The mission objectives were accomplished, and then some. The Station is one step further along to final configuration. But beyond the measurable objectives, the joint Station and shuttle team, and the international ISS team, have elevated their team efforts to an unprecedented level.

What was more important, though, was the way the entire community stepped up to this challenge. Over the next several days the whole NASA team, and the ISS partners, engaged in a magnificent exhibition of teamwork, technical competence, and old-fashioned determination to work through the options and resolve the problems. We demonstrated the best of what we value as Mission Operations Directorate (MOD)– Teamwork; Discipline; Toughness. And it wasn’t confined to the MOD team, or the station or the shuttle teams.

Every member of this community engaged with whatever they could bring to the table. The Engineering and Program Office communities were fully engaged and the level of cooperation was exceptional. The RIO and HSG teams played a crucial role in helping us engage with our Russian partners, whose willingness to work with us for a solution was remarkable. Offers of assistance came in from around the Agency, and many former NASA and MOD team members came back from their new positions to add whatever they could.

Every member of the team performed in an exemplary manner, and each of you can be justifiably proud of the job you did. Significant personal sacrifices were made in many cases and the hours were long. Gladly, the outcome was positive and much of the ‘what if’ work was never put into play. But that does not diminish the fact that we stepped up to those challenges as a team we and were prepared to respond to any contingency.
This is the stuff of which NASA’s legacy is made. These are the characteristics and values that made our reputation…and ensure our future.

Congratulations – to the ENTIRE TEAM - on a job well done!