Author Topic: Shuttle RTF Launch to be DELAYED - report (Read 78781 times)

Chris Bergin · « **on:** 04/02/2005 01:41 am »

Sky News just came up over here that there are reports in the US media - sourcing a top Shuttle official - that STS-114 is going to be delayed till July

I know it was tight, but this seemed to be noting a problem and I'm not aware!!?!

Tahii · « **Reply #1 on:** 04/02/2005 01:57 am »

Someone in another thread did say that if the launch was pushed back out of May, it would go up in July. Maybe thats what was meant?

Chris Bergin · « **Reply #2 on:** 04/02/2005 02:01 am »

I think that was our friend from Houston on STS-121's move to September 'should' STS-114 lose the May window.

Asking around, and so far I've heard there is a major paperwork issue...could be that, expanded and over-cooked. Can't find who's running this. More phone calls/e-mails.

Chris Bergin · « **Reply #3 on:** 04/02/2005 02:06 am »

Oh crap

This is why Sky ran it. Sky and Fox are one of the same (Murdoch).

And it's on Fox's FRONT PAGE, but the story is AP! Damn.

http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,152232,00.html

May Shuttle Launch Could Be Delayed
Friday, April 01, 2005

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. — NASA is late in supplying vital information to the task force overseeing the agency's effort to resume shuttle flights for the first time since the Columbia disaster — a delay that could force the postponement of Discovery's launch in May.

A top shuttle official said Friday that it is taking the space agency longer than expected to put together all of the necessary paperwork and documentation, and to complete all the final reviews on the design changes and other improvements made to the shuttle in the wake of the 2003 catastrophe.

WARPed · « **Reply #4 on:** 04/02/2005 10:58 am »

Bugger!

Well lets hope they get it all together in time.

FransonUK · « **Reply #5 on:** 04/03/2005 09:41 am »

Anymore on this?

Chris Bergin · « **Reply #6 on:** 04/03/2005 11:35 am »

Quote

FransonUK - 3/4/2005 10:41 AM

Anymore on this?

Doing a story later today. It's looking way too tight for May 15 - so sensible evaluation is to do all the testing etc. with a July launch in mind. Depends really on how the paperwork progresses.

SpaceMad · « **Reply #7 on:** 04/04/2005 08:42 am »

Seems you're waiting for someone to give you something more concrete yes?

Chris Bergin · « **Reply #8 on:** 04/04/2005 01:33 pm »

It's the only way. We just want to see if there's more out and about refering to the launch date situation. If not I'll include it in the roll-out story (roll-out Tuesday - which can change of course)

SimonShuttle · « **Reply #9 on:** 04/04/2005 01:33 pm »

Here's a question. What if it's going to be July, do they keep Discovey on the pad for months? Is that healthy for the Shuttle and the ET/SRBs etc.

Chris Bergin · « **Reply #10 on:** 04/04/2005 03:09 pm »

Another delay. It's not looking good. Roll-out no sooner than Wednesday morning, early hours.

gyro2020 · « **Reply #11 on:** 04/04/2005 03:57 pm »

What's the odds now for a) a 15th Launch and b) a Launch before June 3? 50/50 60/40 40/60?

JamesSpaceFlight · « **Reply #12 on:** 04/04/2005 04:04 pm »

Looks like that report from AP had someone leaking a lot more than the quotes that always play this thing down. I noticed they said a top shuttle manager in the report and look at the delay that seems to be coming. Someone's not keeping their mouth quiet!

NASA_Twix_JSC · « **Reply #13 on:** 04/04/2005 04:07 pm »

Quote

JamesSpaceFlight - 4/4/2005 11:04 AM

Looks like that report from AP had someone leaking a lot more than the quotes that always play this thing down. I noticed they said a top shuttle manager in the report and look at the delay that seems to be coming. Someone's not keeping their mouth quiet!

More like it was an educated guess by someone who knew the contigency days were fast running out.

WARPed · « **Reply #14 on:** 04/04/2005 05:39 pm »

Quote

gyro2020 - 4/4/2005 5:57 PM

What's the odds now for a) a 15th Launch and b) a Launch before June 3? 50/50 60/40 40/60?

Good question. I'm hanging on booking flights to the US based on this launch. Would be intersting to hear opinion on weather this lauch will make it's window. I'm guessing it is way too early to say at the moment though.

Chris Bergin · « **Reply #15 on:** 04/04/2005 05:59 pm »

Quote

WARPed - 4/4/2005 6:39 PM

Quote
gyro2020 - 4/4/2005 5:57 PM

What's the odds now for a) a 15th Launch and b) a Launch before June 3? 50/50 60/40 40/60?

Good question. I'm hanging on booking flights to the US based on this launch. Would be intersting to hear opinion on weather this lauch will make it's window. I'm guessing it is way too early to say at the moment though.

60/40 in favour of this heading to July. It's not one factor, it's several. Add these one day delays up (from leaving the OPF, to leaving the VAB (which still is only down as 'no sooner than' 2am Wednesday *7am UK time*) then note the two week delay in getting the relevant documents to The Stafford-Covey Return to Flight Task Group, then hope the debris impact review, then add in the Tank Testing in 12 days...and after all that, a similar set of tests for Atlantis!

Well you see how it's looking to me.

Could it be pushed through? Maybe! However, if they are ever not going to push a launch through, it's a Return to Flight launch.

WARPed · « **Reply #16 on:** 04/04/2005 07:46 pm »

Quote

Chris Bergin - 4/4/2005 7:59 PM
Could it be pushed through? Maybe! However, if they are ever not going to push a launch through, it's a Return to Flight launch.

Agreed, no one could argue with them for delaying to get things 100% right. In this game being 1% wrong is all it takes to cost a very heavy price.

Tahii · « **Reply #17 on:** 04/05/2005 10:58 am »

I remember hearing something quite scary (and underratted). 99% is not good enough on the shuttle, that still leaves 2000 things to break/fail.

NASA_Twix_JSC · « **Reply #18 on:** 04/05/2005 02:32 pm »

Correct and I just heard they want to waive at 10 percent, which would mean a Shuttle going up at 90 per cent. Now that would not only be scary but stupid.

Chris Bergin · « **Reply #19 on:** 04/05/2005 05:08 pm »

There is 1 day of contingency time remaing to make a May 15 launch - thats from a guy with USA.