STS-134 Processing Latest

[Venture Star]

Hopefully Chris will get the article out soon, but it doesn't look show-stopping as of right now.

I know Chris isn't one to keep people hanging, but with Glory failure and the Atlas launch later today, the site is quite busy - as well as STS-133 ongoing as well.

Mustang, do you have any particulars on what happened? Could it delay the roll out? etc...

[Rocket Guy]

An ELSA was dropped in the VAB the other day, if that is one of them. No change to rollout as of Friday.

[Moe Grills]

Hopefully Chris will get the article out soon, but it doesn't look show-stopping as of right now.

I know Chris isn't one to keep people hanging, but with Glory failure and the Atlas launch later today, the site is quite busy - as well as STS-133 ongoing as well.

Mustang, do you have any particulars on what happened? Could it delay the roll out? etc...

A delay of roll out might not be a bad thing. It might mean Endeavour
returns to Earth on May/05/2011.
We all know what May/05 will commemorate.

[Chris Bergin]

Sorry, my fault for not following up with 133 dominating.

As RG noted, ELSA incident relating to SSME 2 (mold impressions on the area).

There was also a small filler platform incident relating to SSME 3 (R&Ring PVD duct on the engine).

No delay noted in the flow as a result of the above. I'll write it up Sunday.

[Venture Star]

Thanks, Chris. Glad to hear it will have no effect on the flow.

[Chris Bergin]

Here's the article on the flow:

http://www.nasaspaceflight.com/2011/03/sts-133-endeavour-through-interface-task-eventful-vab-flow/

Used some of the great images from Jacques and the MaxQ guys. 900mb database of some amazing photos and videos in L2.

[NavySpaceFan]

Great article Chris!

[Chris Bergin]

Thanks sir. And ignore the 133 in the URL code. I've got the mission coming out of my ears

[jacqmans]

Here's the article on the flow:

http://www.nasaspaceflight.com/2011/03/sts-133-endeavour-through-interface-task-eventful-vab-flow/

Used some of the great images from Jacques and the MaxQ guys. 900mb database of some amazing photos and videos in L2.

Thanks !!!

[AnalogMan]

Update from the viewing thread is that AMS is causing a launch delay to NET April 23rd.

Interesting.  The AMS-02 website posted an update yesterday saying that it would be loaded into the payload canister two days earlier than planned (i.e. was Mar 18, but is now Mar 16).  Canister moves to pad on Mar 23 as before, but no mention of a launch date.

http://www.ams02.org/2011/03/rollover-completed/

[Galactic Penguin SST]

Update from the viewing thread is that AMS is causing a launch delay to NET April 23rd.

Interesting.  The AMS-02 website posted an update yesterday saying that it would be loaded into the payload canister two days earlier than planned (i.e. was Mar 18, but is now Mar 16).  Canister moves to pad on Mar 23 as before, but no mention of a launch date.

http://www.ams02.org/2011/03/rollover-completed/

Well, the latest article by Chris noted that this is not yet confirmed by the documents from the US side as of a few hours ago. We'll have to see if the delay will happen. (something to do with loading the AMS into the payload bay, perhaps?)

[Chris Bergin]

Yeah, KSC is still on the 19th. Sounds like a false rumor on the ESA side maybe. Will keep watching it.

Anyhoo. New flow update thread for rollout. I'll start it when I've got an article on for Endeavour's depature from the VAB.

[ChrisGebhardt]

Copying this across from the Press Release thread (since I accidentally posted this there this morning).

According to KSC twitter this morning, engineers will be watching the weather tonight as there is a chance of lightening, associated with an approaching frontal system, that could delay rollout if the predictions violate rollout criteria.

In the STS 133 thread, it was mentioned that there was a risk of hail tomorrow at KSC. Could that be a reason to delay the rollout?

I believe so, if that chance were to be in the forecast closer to the time of rollout.  That was a nasty storm front when I ran into the tail of it in New Mexico on Monday; all I got were tropical storm force winds, but it's a bit drier out there.  The timing of the rollout may end up depending on when the front passes through tomorrow...

It will be part of the discussion tonight if the planned stormfront was "scheduled" to arrive during a time when the RSS was not yet surrounding Endeavour. However, as we saw with Discovery's rollout on January 31, they can get that RSS around her pretty quick when needed.

It's all going to depend on what the finalized forecast around 6pm predicts.

[Chris Bergin]

Very self centered of me, but I hope it does delay. Need some blooming sleep

[rdale]

PAO says rollout delayed 24 hours due to storms, no surprise with a long line of tornadoes sweeping across the southeast US.