Author Topic: STS-119 Processing Latest (OPF/VAB/Rollout/Pad) (Read 338601 times)

Davie OPF · « **Reply #80 on:** 09/02/2008 10:51 pm »

Yes, a lot of work goes into making these panels.

glanmor05 · « **Reply #81 on:** 09/11/2008 05:46 pm »

Anyone got any maps of the route taken by the ET barges from MAF to the cape?

I'm assuming that it isn't out in to the Gulf and round the southern tip of Florida???

psloss · « **Reply #82 on:** 09/11/2008 05:49 pm »

Quote from: glanmor05 on 09/11/2008 05:46 pm

I'm assuming that it isn't out in to the Gulf and round the southern tip of Florida???

No; the next tank is still being processed at MAF...it's not due to be shipped to KSC for several weeks. The barge is probably still at the turn basin at KSC.

rdale · « **Reply #83 on:** 09/11/2008 05:49 pm »

I don't recall that Gulf carriers are bound to individual lanes... Watching a look of general ship reports right now shows they are very easily able to vector around a hurricane.

glanmor05 · « **Reply #84 on:** 09/11/2008 06:05 pm »

Wow, so they do go through the Gulf and out into the Atlantic?

I had assumed that there was a less exposed route through a series of canals (I think you call them bayous in that neck of the woods) or connected lakes or something.

What's the history of the decision to build the ET's in such a difficult location then? Was MAF already there?

jeff2space · « **Reply #85 on:** 09/11/2008 06:36 pm »

Quote from: glanmor05 on 09/11/2008 06:05 pm

Wow, so they do go through the Gulf and out into the Atlantic?

I had assumed that there was a less exposed route through a series of canals (I think you call them bayous in that neck of the woods) or connected lakes or something.

What's the history of the decision to build the ET's in such a difficult location then? Was MAF already there?

MAF was already there (the facility actually dates back to WWII). Boeing used the facility in the 60's and 70's to construct the first stage of Saturn V which was so big it could only be transported by barge. The Saturn V second stage also had to travel by ship from California through the Panama Canal. One reason NASA built KSC next to CCAFS was because there was access to shipping lanes.

Almurray1958 · « **Reply #86 on:** 09/11/2008 06:49 pm »

snip from here http://www.nasa.gov/home/hqnews/2004/dec/HQ_04410_ET_move.html

The barge will take four to five days to travel from the Mississippi River-Gulf of Mexico Outlet to Florida's Banana River, which flows into the Atlantic Ocean.

AndrewSTS · « **Reply #87 on:** 09/14/2008 02:22 am »

Quote from: psloss on 09/11/2008 05:49 pm

Quote from: glanmor05 on 09/11/2008 05:46 pm
I'm assuming that it isn't out in to the Gulf and round the southern tip of Florida???
No; the next tank is still being processed at MAF...it's not due to be shipped to KSC for several weeks. The barge is probably still at the turn basin at KSC.

I'm sure I saw it in the turn basin on a KSC Media image a few days ago.

Ford Mustang · « **Reply #88 on:** 09/14/2008 04:32 am »

Quote from: AndrewSTS on 09/14/2008 02:22 am

Quote from: psloss on 09/11/2008 05:49 pm
Quote from: glanmor05 on 09/11/2008 05:46 pm
I'm assuming that it isn't out in to the Gulf and round the southern tip of Florida???
No; the next tank is still being processed at MAF...it's not due to be shipped to KSC for several weeks. The barge is probably still at the turn basin at KSC.

I'm sure I saw it in the turn basin on a KSC Media image a few days ago.

Are you sure that wasn't STS-126's tank, ET-129? STS-119's tank is, as psloss said, not due at KSC for several weeks.

Ronsmytheiii · « **Reply #89 on:** 09/16/2008 10:39 pm »

Work on the Boundary transition test tiles:

http://mediaarchive.ksc.nasa.gov/search.cfm?cat=4

DaveS · « **Reply #90 on:** 09/16/2008 11:43 pm »

Quote from: Ford Mustang on 09/14/2008 04:32 am

Quote from: AndrewSTS on 09/14/2008 02:22 am
Quote from: psloss on 09/11/2008 05:49 pm
Quote from: glanmor05 on 09/11/2008 05:46 pm
I'm assuming that it isn't out in to the Gulf and round the southern tip of Florida???
No; the next tank is still being processed at MAF...it's not due to be shipped to KSC for several weeks. The barge is probably still at the turn basin at KSC.

I'm sure I saw it in the turn basin on a KSC Media image a few days ago.

Are you sure that wasn't STS-126's tank, ET-129? STS-119's tank is, as psloss said, not due at KSC for several weeks.

He's most liekly referring to the barge. It was still in the Turn Basin at the time of the 125 rollout.

ChrisGebhardt · « **Reply #91 on:** 09/17/2008 02:21 am »

Quote from: glanmor05 on 09/11/2008 06:05 pm

Wow, so they do go through the Gulf and out into the Atlantic?

I had assumed that there was a less exposed route through a series of canals (I think you call them bayous in that neck of the woods) or connected lakes or something.

There actually is no system of interconnecting waterways from KSC to MAF. There was, several decades ago, a plan to build a panama canal-type channel across Florida that would provide ships passage from the Atlantic to the Gulf without having to go around the southern tip of Florida. It would have used the St. John's River from Jaxsonville and then cut across the state from just north of Daytona Beach to Cedar Key on the Gulf coast. The plans fell through after construction was started so the only way to get a barge from MAF to KSC is to go around the southern tip of Florida.

Ronsmytheiii · « **Reply #92 on:** 09/17/2008 02:27 am »

Quote from: Trekkie07 on 09/17/2008 02:21 am

Quote from: glanmor05 on 09/11/2008 06:05 pm
Wow, so they do go through the Gulf and out into the Atlantic?

I had assumed that there was a less exposed route through a series of canals (I think you call them bayous in that neck of the woods) or connected lakes or something.

There actually is no system of interconnecting waterways from KSC to MAF. There was, several decades ago, a plan to build a panama canal-type channel across Florida that would provide ships passage from the Atlantic to the Gulf without having to go around the southern tip of Florida. It would have used the St. John's River from Jaxsonville and then cut across the state from just north of Daytona Beach to Cedar Key on the Gulf coast. The plans fell through after construction was started so the only way to get a barge from MAF to KSC is to go around the southern tip of Florida.

Wikipedia link:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cross_Florida_Barge_Canal

glanmor05 · « **Reply #93 on:** 09/17/2008 05:36 pm »

Thank you both for the full answer. Looks like I'm playing catch-up, history wise.

Chris Bergin · « **Reply #94 on:** 09/25/2008 10:30 am »

SSME installation picking up this week.

Ronsmytheiii · « **Reply #95 on:** 09/28/2008 03:36 pm »

Quote from: Chris Bergin on 09/25/2008 10:30 am

SSME installation picking up this week.

And here are the Images:

http://mediaarchive.ksc.nasa.gov/search.cfm?cat=4

STS Tony · « **Reply #96 on:** 09/30/2008 05:04 am »

Glad she's got her engines. Great images!

Chris Bergin · « **Reply #97 on:** 10/01/2008 07:44 am »

Updating Discovery's processing:
http://www.nasaspaceflight.com/2008/10/forward-plan-sts-126-rolling-to-pad-39a-in-two-weeks-sts-125-back-to-vab/

Chris Bergin · « **Reply #98 on:** 10/08/2008 08:45 pm »

STS-119, STS-401 and Discovery RCC R10 status:
http://www.nasaspaceflight.com/2008/10/pending-sts-125-discovery-sts-401/

cd-slam · « **Reply #99 on:** 10/09/2008 09:45 pm »

Hi Chris, any update on the status of MLP-2? As per the old schedule, it was due to be moved to the VAB yesterday in preparation for STS 119 SRB stacking. Nothing on this in last L2 report...