Ares I-X Processing Latest

[ChrisGebhardt]

Yeah. Just got confirmation of the slip. Rollout now Tuesday, October 20 at 12:01a.m.

12:01 am???  you would think they would want to do a rollout in daylight for the photo opportunity??  It will be dark the entire run to the pad???

Photo ops have absolutely nothing to due with vehicle rollouts. NASA always targets 12:01a.m. initially for rollouts so that the rollout occurs during the most stable portion of the day weather wise. Ares I-X has wind limits for rollout. Winds are generally calmest at night. Furthermore, this is Florida. We have thunderstorms. You do NOT want a rocket of any kind stuck on the crawler way during a thunderstorm.  You need to have the rocket in a lightening protected area (i.e. the VAB or launch pad). Furthermore, they target 12:01a.m. so if there is a problem with the crawler on the way to the launch pad or in the VAB, they can still get to the pad at a suitable hour. Also 12:01a.m. begins 3rd shift at KSC. They generally like to get rollouts down in a single shift for workforce considerations.

[I14R10]

Why has the rollout been delayed?

[Stephan]

Why has the rollout been delayed?

"A leak in a hydraulic system that steers the solid rocket motor on the Ares I-X test rocket"

http://blogs.orlandosentinel.com/news_space_thewritestuff/2009/10/hardware-hitch-delays-ares-ix-rollout-by-at-least-one-day.html

[rdale]

Yeah. Just got confirmation of the slip. Rollout now Tuesday, October 20 at 12:01a.m.

12:01 am???  you would think they would want to do a rollout in daylight for the photo opportunity??

No matter how many question marks you put - it's already been addressed. Weather is best overnight. Photo ops can wait, since in the big picture getting to the pad safely allows for a MUCH better photo op than a lightning strike on the way there.

[MarsMethanogen]

Why has the rollout been delayed?

"A leak in a hydraulic system that steers the solid rocket motor on the Ares I-X test rocket"

http://blogs.orlandosentinel.com/news_space_thewritestuff/2009/10/hardware-hitch-delays-ares-ix-rollout-by-at-least-one-day.html

A bit more detail on this taken from the NASA Ares 1-X Flight Test site:

 The rollout of the Ares I-X flight test vehicle scheduled for Monday, Oct. 19 at 12:01 a.m. is being rescheduled by at least 24 hours. This will allow time for the launch team to remove and replace a hydraulic accumulator.

During testing late on Oct. 14, hydraulics engineers detected a gaseous nitrogen leak in the accumulator which is located in the aft skirt of the rocket. The pressurized nitrogen is leaking past a seal and into the area of the accumulator containing hydraulic fluid. The accumulator absorbs hydraulic pressure spikes as the system operates. The accumulator is being removed and replaced today and the retest will begin on Friday.

The same problem has occurred in the past on space shuttle flight hardware, most recently on STS-117 in March 2007.

What effect this will have on the Ares I-X targeted Oct. 27 launch date, if any, is being assessed by management and will be based on when the rollout is finally scheduled to occur.

http://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/constellation/ares/flighttests/aresIx/index.html

[jacqmans]

STATUS REPORT: ARES-I-X-101509

ARES I-X STATUS REPORT

Launch Vehicle: Ares I-X
Launch Date: Oct. 27
Launch Pad: 39B at NASA's Kennedy Space Center, Fla.


Upcoming key milestones:
- No earlier than Oct. 20 - Rollout to Launch Pad 39B targeted for
12:01 a.m. EDT
- Oct. 21 - Satellite live shot campaign at Launch Pad 39B from 6-9
a.m. EDT
- Oct. 23 - L-4 Flight Test Readiness Review followed by a news
conference on NASA TV targeted for 5 p.m. EDT
- Oct. 24 - L-3 Media briefing on NASA TV at 10 a.m. EDT
- Oct. 25 - L-2 Launch Status Briefing on NASA TV at 10 a.m. EDT
- Oct. 26 - Prelaunch News Conference on NASA TV at 1 p.m. EDT
- Oct. 27 (target) - Ares I-X flight test launch at 8 a.m. EDT

Ares I-X Flight Hardware
- The rollout of the Ares I-X flight test vehicle scheduled for
Monday, Oct. 19, is being rescheduled by at least 24 hours. This will
allow time for the launch team to remove and replace a hydraulic
accumulator.
- During testing late on Oct. 14, hydraulics engineers detected a
gaseous nitrogen leak in the accumulator, which is located in the aft
skirt of the rocket. The pressurized nitrogen is leaking past a seal
and into the area of the accumulator containing hydraulic fluid. The
accumulator absorbs hydraulic pressure spikes as the system operates.
The accumulator is being removed and replaced today, and the retest
will begin on Friday.
- The same problem has occurred in the past on space shuttle flight
hardware, most recently on STS-117 in March 2007.
- What effect this will have on the Ares I-X targeted Oct. 27 launch
date, if any, is being assessed by management and will be based on
when the rollout is finally scheduled to occur.

This week's milestones include:
- Upper Stage, Interstage, Frustrum and RoCS closeouts for flight are
complete, and the installation of the flight door is in work
- Power up testing is in work
- First Stage closeouts continue

Upcoming milestones: 
- Rollout

Ares I-X Ground Support Equipment
- At Launch Pad 39B, modifications are complete

The Ares I-X flight test will provide NASA an early opportunity to
check and prove hardware, analysis and modeling methods, and
facilities and ground operations needed to develop the NASA's next
crew launch vehicle.

For more information about the Ares I-X flight test, visit:

http://www.nasa.gov/aresIX

[rdale]

New imagery - http://nasatech.net/Ares1-Xmid091015/

[rsnellenberger]

New imagery - http://nasatech.net/Ares1-Xmid091015/

That was fun, but it triggered my vertigo 

[Chris Bergin]

Ares I-X TVC retesting taking place – Range Safety Waiver overview:

http://www.nasaspaceflight.com/2009/10/ares-i-x-tvc-retesting-range-waiver-overview/

[Edward Carlson]

Thanks for the report Chris that was interesting to read.

[rcoppola]

Interesting video of new stabilization arm at pad 39b.

http://www.cfnews13.com/Space/DestinationSpace/2009/10/14/tour_ares_launch_pad_at_ksc.html

[rdale]

We knew this already - but at least this lists the NTV coverage slots...

NASA RESCHEDULES ROLLOUT OF ARES I-X

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. -- NASA has rescheduled to Tuesday, Oct. 20, the rollout of the Ares I-X rocket to Launch Pad 39B at the Kennedy Space Center in Florida.

The first motion of the Ares I-X out of Kennedy's Vehicle Assembly Building is targeted for 12:01 a.m. EDT. The 4.2-mile journey is expected to last about seven hours. Media activities include a first motion photo opportunity and interviews with Ares I-X managers. In addition, a sunrise photo opportunity will be available at 7 a.m.

Live NASA Television coverage with commentary will start at 11:45 p.m., Oct. 19, and 7 a.m., Oct. 20. Video highlights of the move will air on NASA Television's Video File.

Reporters must arrive at Kennedy's news center by 10:30 p.m., Oct. 19 for transportation to the viewing area. For the sunrise event, reporters must arrive by 6:30 a.m., Oct. 20. Media accreditation for these events is closed.

Badges will be available for pick up at the badging facility on State Road 3 on Monday, Oct. 19, from 8:30 - 10 p.m. Updates with times for all events are available by calling 321-867-2525. All participants must be properly dressed in full-length pants, flat shoes that entirely cover the feet, and shirts with sleeves.

The rollout of Ares I-X originally was set for Monday, Oct. 19. During testing on Oct. 14, engineers detected a nitrogen gas leak in an accumulator located in the aft skirt of the rocket. The accumulator, which absorbs hydraulic pressure spikes as the system operates, was replaced and successfully retested. Management is assessing what effect, if any, this delayed rollout will have on the targeted Oct.
27 launch date.

[klausd]

Will the be any cable to stabelize Ares-1X during Rollout on the MLP?

[Skyrocket]

Will the be any cable to stabelize Ares-1X during Rollout on the MLP?

No

[psloss]

Not sure if 25 knots is a limit for rollout winds, but it's noted in the weather briefing...these were done on Saturday, so maybe some changes since then...