Author Topic: SCRUB: STS-134 - LAUNCH DAY UPDATES - April 29, 2011  (Read 187059 times)

Offline Targeteer

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Re: SCRUB: STS-134 - LAUNCH DAY UPDATES - April 29, 2011
« Reply #380 on: 05/01/2011 04:16 pm »
MCC Houston just passed word of the the press conference to the ISS and offered to switch a streaming feed from CNN to NASA TV to the cover the press conference.  They stated that the launch date was TBD and confirmed that the crew had returned to Houston for a simulation.
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Online TJL

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Re: SCRUB: STS-134 - LAUNCH DAY UPDATES - April 29, 2011
« Reply #381 on: 05/01/2011 04:18 pm »
With 134 NET May 8, will this now affect 135 in June?

Offline robertross

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Re: SCRUB: STS-134 - LAUNCH DAY UPDATES - April 29, 2011
« Reply #382 on: 05/01/2011 04:19 pm »
Article on the latest:

http://www.nasaspaceflight.com/2011/05/sts-134-launch-slips-apu-troubleshooting-lca-fault/

And I'll write another one tomorrow, lots of info coming in, but the above is what we need for now.

Great write-up Chris - nailed it.

Offline racshot65

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Re: SCRUB: STS-134 - LAUNCH DAY UPDATES - April 29, 2011
« Reply #383 on: 05/01/2011 04:21 pm »
With 134 NET May 8, will this now affect 135 in June?

Have about another two weeks after the Atlas launch until it affects 135

Offline D.A.

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Re: SCRUB: STS-134 - LAUNCH DAY UPDATES - April 29, 2011
« Reply #384 on: 05/01/2011 04:22 pm »
With 134 NET May 8, will this now affect 135 in June?

They usually move the shuttle out to the pad a little over a month before launch. So if they get off the ground before on on the 10th there shouldn't be any delay for 135.

Offline iskyfly

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Re: SCRUB: STS-134 - LAUNCH DAY UPDATES - April 29, 2011
« Reply #385 on: 05/01/2011 04:24 pm »
How is this problem not caught in all the testing that occurs during processing?

Offline glanmor05

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Re: SCRUB: STS-134 - LAUNCH DAY UPDATES - April 29, 2011
« Reply #386 on: 05/01/2011 04:29 pm »
Hope you'll allow this question here?

How do they decide where the count will pick up from?

With recent scrubs they've continued from T-11 or T-6.  I'm assuming it depends on the tasks which have had to be backed out from? (i.e. tank drained so it has to be at least T-6)?

With the tasks undertaken this time (gained access to the aft of the orbiter) where might we pick up?
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Offline racshot65

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Re: SCRUB: STS-134 - LAUNCH DAY UPDATES - April 29, 2011
« Reply #387 on: 05/01/2011 04:29 pm »
How is this problem not caught in all the testing that occurs during processing?


Its difficult to test the thermostats on the ground due to needing to isolate them and then cool them down.

So if theres no problems on orbit they assume there good to go for the next flight.

Offline ChrisGebhardt

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Re: SCRUB: STS-134 - LAUNCH DAY UPDATES - April 29, 2011
« Reply #388 on: 05/01/2011 04:55 pm »
With 134 NET May 8, will this now affect 135 in June?

They usually move the shuttle out to the pad a little over a month before launch. So if they get off the ground before on on the 10th there shouldn't be any delay for 135.

This is entirely speculation. There are absolutely no facts contained within these two responses for STS-135's launch date.

So, let's clear this up. The facts are as follows:

Atlantis is currently scheduled to rollout to Pad-A on May 18/19 or 19/20. It takes 11days to reconfigure Pad-A from Shuttle launch to Shuttle Rollout.

The STS-135 pad flow and Crew training timelines are EXTREMELY tight as is to make June 28.

Take from those facts what you will. But those are the facts, nothing else.
« Last Edit: 05/01/2011 04:56 pm by ChrisGebhardt »

Offline ChrisGebhardt

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Re: SCRUB: STS-134 - LAUNCH DAY UPDATES - April 29, 2011
« Reply #389 on: 05/01/2011 04:57 pm »
Hope you'll allow this question here?

How do they decide where the count will pick up from?

With recent scrubs they've continued from T-11 or T-6.  I'm assuming it depends on the tasks which have had to be backed out from? (i.e. tank drained so it has to be at least T-6)?

With the tasks undertaken this time (gained access to the aft of the orbiter) where might we pick up?

The current recycle was to T11hrs and holding.

Offline Chris Bergin

Re: SCRUB: STS-134 - LAUNCH DAY UPDATES - April 29, 2011
« Reply #390 on: 05/01/2011 05:57 pm »
Article on the latest:

http://www.nasaspaceflight.com/2011/05/sts-134-launch-slips-apu-troubleshooting-lca-fault/

And I'll write another one tomorrow, lots of info coming in, but the above is what we need for now.

Great write-up Chris - nailed it.

Thanks Robert :)
« Last Edit: 05/01/2011 05:58 pm by Chris Bergin »
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Offline Ford Mustang

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Re: SCRUB: STS-134 - LAUNCH DAY UPDATES - April 29, 2011
« Reply #391 on: 05/01/2011 05:58 pm »
Launch status update up next.  I'll transcribe.
« Last Edit: 05/01/2011 06:00 pm by Ford Mustang »

Offline Ford Mustang

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Re: SCRUB: STS-134 - LAUNCH DAY UPDATES - April 29, 2011
« Reply #392 on: 05/01/2011 06:03 pm »
Mike Moses and Mike Leinbach today.

Offline Ford Mustang

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Re: SCRUB: STS-134 - LAUNCH DAY UPDATES - April 29, 2011
« Reply #393 on: 05/01/2011 06:07 pm »
Mike Moses:

Teams been working really hard on the troubleshooting plan.  Been getting updates as they go.  Pretty good plan they had.  Leinbach will go into details.

Failure appears to be a power problem in the LCA.  Power isn't getting out to the heaters.

Teams had some options in case it was some ground issues (electrically ground).  Could have wired some stuff up, but this is an upstream problem.  Have to replace the LCA.

No current NET.  Lots of work to do, sorry to disappoint.  Looking at Atlas in between, and then after Atlas would be the Soyuz undocking while we are there.  Won't be any earlier than the 8th, but that DOES NOT mean we are launching on the 8th.  Still a lot of work.

We have a rough plan to pull the box out, put a new one in, retest, and launch, which is a lot of work to do before next week.  We're going to wait on the data before we make a lot of decisions.

Offline Chris Bergin

Re: SCRUB: STS-134 - LAUNCH DAY UPDATES - April 29, 2011
« Reply #394 on: 05/01/2011 06:09 pm »
Mike Moses -

 Notes it's not a ground problem, but upstream on the LCA, so no hotwiring solution would work, has to be a LCA R&R.

 MMT may meet tomorrow or Tuesday on the launch date, but the earliest we can launch is the 8th. That does not mean we'll launch on the 8th. Lots of deconflicting to be done with the range and ISS (Russian undocking).

 Very proud of the team.
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Offline Ford Mustang

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Re: SCRUB: STS-134 - LAUNCH DAY UPDATES - April 29, 2011
« Reply #395 on: 05/01/2011 06:10 pm »
Leinbach:

Lots of telecons over the last few days.  We are getting all our platforms set into the aft, not required for the LCA R&R, but are required for retest.

Disconnect ordinance, offload PRSD, then power Endeavour down tomorrow.  Takes us out of countdown status.  Need to take the old box out, put in the new box, and then retest.  Quite lengthy retest, did this once on STS-70 I believe.  Two full days of retest, 9 systems to test.

Will be a regular 3 day countdown when we get back into it, start from ground zero.  Reload PRSD two days before launch.

The team always likes a good challenge.  We'll be really glad when we get in orbit, but the team is ready to go for this.

Offline robertross

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Re: SCRUB: STS-134 - LAUNCH DAY UPDATES - April 29, 2011
« Reply #396 on: 05/01/2011 06:33 pm »
Q: (para): "What would happen if the spare failed. Do you have another one after that"

Mike Leinbach (para): "What of the spare box failed? We're not going there. The box will work perfectly."

And another:

Q:(para) "What are the rules for them for quarantine, I understand they only see one person a day...."

Mike Moses: "We lock them in a box and they never see anyone"

Almost fell over laughing...

Offline Ford Mustang

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Re: SCRUB: STS-134 - LAUNCH DAY UPDATES - April 29, 2011
« Reply #397 on: 05/01/2011 06:38 pm »
Q&A:

Marcia Dunn -  What do you think is wrong with the LCA, and is it just an illustration of how the Shuttles are getting older?  How long has the LCA been in there?

Leinbach:  Don't know exactly what's wrong with the hybrid driver, and won't know until we send it to the malfunction building.  And no, the Shuttles are machines, and machines do break.  Nothing about getting older.

Moses:  The hybrid drivers are also fuses, sometimes fuses do pop.  We'll have to see.  Not sure how old this LCA is.


Question about effecting STS-135.

Leinbach: Rollover due the 10th, rollout on the 20th.  If we slip past the 8th, we could push that a little.  The key here is pad turnaround time.  Atlantis mission looks fine as of right now.


Question about Rep. Giffords on her travel plan and family.

Moses:  No status on her, you'll have to contact her staffers on that.  No need to keep the family in town, though, since no launch attempt in a week.


Jay Barbaree:  Any good luck scenerio for an attempt before the 8th?

Moses: Could potentially go a little earlier than the 8th, but that was hoping for Atlas to press off the range or have them have an issue.  Not a good thing to hold hope for.


Harwood for the 9th is not available, how soon is the LCA coming out, going in, why it's so complicated to retest:

Moses: 9th wouldn't be available if we went +2 on the mission, undock on the same as Soyuz.  Doesn't mean we couldn't launch on the 9th and go +1 for the mission, didn't think about it earlier as we didn't think we were heading over to that side of the range.

Leinbach: Old box out tomorrow.  New in Tuesday.  Work execution dictates the timeline, retest should be Tuesday night, Wednesday morning.  APU, ECLSS, Booster electric, Water Spray Boilers, SSMEs, OMS, Orbiter Flight Controls (and I know I missed ONE system) to retest.  If you replace the box, the systems downrange should be good to go, but our requirements are to retest those systems.  Could probably write a thesis on the individual systems in those main systems.


Mr. Pearlman: Given you have the time now, are you going to have teams look at the OMS pressure issue?

Mike Moses:  No plans to do that.  That was a creep in the regulator.  Known about that condition pre-flight.  The action we took to fix that seemed fine, no plans other than data reviews to make sure it's good to go.


Todd H: Why not undock two on the same day?  Work environment in the aft?

Moses:  Really comes down to crew work load and shifting.  Especially when it comes to both of the vehicles (Russian and Shuttle).  Soyuz would be undocking and landing in the same day, whereas Shuttle would undock and land a few days later - sleep shifting the same way.  Knowing where we stand, the two sleep shifts could phase in different directions, could be a problem in itself, without Shuttle helping.

Leinbach:  The box in the aft is just inside the door, avionics bay 5.  Access is good.  Could work with the entry platform and one below that.  But have to retest, so have to have all platforms.  When we close out, it's the same as a nominal closeout.  Work isn't that bad.


Question from Houston Public Radio:  Can you describe the normal function for this box downstream, in laymens terms?

Moses:  In your house, it's not the primary fusebox on the outside, but it's the same as a breakout box in your laundry room or your garage.  It's an aft load control assembly, there's 3 in the aft compartment.  One good way to think about this is a lot of these components are redundant, and most have two redundancies.  We're about to disconnect one of the power redundancies.  Have to retest the systems in order to see that they are seeing power from both "panels".  Have to test the bulb at the end in order to make sure the panel works.  The APU heaters are one of maybe 70 or 80 systems that run through this box.  A lot of things besides these APUs go through there.  We do know how to test the APU again now.


USA Today - Any sense about when the astronauts come back and what they are doing now?

Moses:  We will reset and start a new countdown.  Crew will come back on the normal time before a launch.  It will be a cut and dry this is a new target date.  Just not ready to make that decision today.  Crew is going back into training, but still in quarantine back in Houston.  Teams are working to have some ascent sim training on Monday or Tuesday just to refresh themselves.  We give them "free time" but they're always dedicated and checking timelines and checklists.


Ken Kremer - A little about the testing before flight?  Same problem on STS-70?  If the replacement fails?

Leinbach:  Testing leading up to is a lot of the time on-orbit procedure.  Not every box is tested in the OPF.  Last time this box was perfect on orbit, so we didn't actually test it.  Not sure on the second part of the data.  We know we took the box out, which created the retest of those systems.  Chances are that this is not the same failure as this box.  If the replacement box fails... we're not going that way, it will work great.

Moses:  We'll check for no downstream wire damage just to make sure we don't blow a new box by just sticking it in.


Orlando Sentinel - Soyuz undocking complication, are you trying to preserve a 3 day window on the other end of the window?

Moses:  No, we're trying to protect the +2 option to the Shuttle as that's a lot of get ahead tasks for the ISS.  99% wanted to call this a 16 day mission, but had to get on orbit and check everything out first.  Will have to look at all the new math in order to make sure we can have the proper sleep shift on the crew.  Right now, launching on the 9th would be a conflict on the second added docked operation day.


Question on how far we can push this mission to not mess with 135.

Moses: Looks like the 10th is coming close to it.  No longer have multiple teams to do a lot of tasks, and that's a consequence of nearing the ending of the program.  The key will be pad turnaround.  On paper, it looks like we're okay, but if we go a few days past the 9th or the 10th, we could push it a little.


Houston Chronicle - Why do astronauts have to be on quarantine, where in Houston will they be in quarantine, one visitor per day?

Moses:  We lock them in a box and we don't let anyone see them ever again.  :)  Quarantine rules are pretty straight forward.  Need to stay away from any contagious diseases that could manifest and show up while on orbit.  Can visit with more than one person for longer per day, just have to pass quarantine limits.  If you are in primary contact with the crew, you have to show you are healthy as well.  They will be at JSC in crew quarters.  They aren't restricted and locked in the building, they can go into the trainers and NBL if they needed, just don't go home to sleep at night.


Question: Any dates between the 8th and 15th you've ruled out?  Any hybrid driver failures before?
 
Moses:  Not really, they all look good.

Leinbach:  Not sure they're the same failures, but we have had driver failures before.


Question: How big is the LCA?

Leinbach: 40 to 50 pounds.  Have to wiggle it in and attach it, have a system of rails to get it in, a lot easier to use rails than muscle it in.


Moses:  APU Heater lines can withstand a single freeze/thaw scenario, but the concern is after that, which would be an issue on the integrity of the lines after that.  Don't want to get into the freezing issue on orbit.


Question: Can you clear the lines downstream from the LCA?

Moses:  Effectively cleared the wiring outside the box by doing the thermostat test itself, but we still have to clear inside the LCA as well.  Have to confirm after we take the box out that it was inside the LCA, could be the hybrid driver or a simple solder that came apart.

Offline Ford Mustang

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Re: SCRUB: STS-134 - LAUNCH DAY UPDATES - April 29, 2011
« Reply #398 on: 05/01/2011 06:38 pm »
Presser over and into new video inside the aft:
« Last Edit: 05/01/2011 06:39 pm by Ford Mustang »

Offline Ford Mustang

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Re: SCRUB: STS-134 - LAUNCH DAY UPDATES - April 29, 2011
« Reply #399 on: 05/01/2011 06:39 pm »
WOW, he disappeared inside the aft!
« Last Edit: 05/01/2011 06:40 pm by Ford Mustang »

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