Author Topic: 121: Discovery at the pad update thread  (Read 62627 times)

Offline Chris Bergin

RE: 121: Discovery at the pad update thread
« Reply #20 on: 05/23/2006 04:36 pm »
Shame we can't seem to get some better angles.
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Offline psloss

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RE: 121: Discovery at the pad update thread
« Reply #21 on: 05/23/2006 08:15 pm »
I dunno...that's pretty representative with the RSS around the orbiter...personally, I liked the live "loop" through several Complex 39 cameras, but they haven't done that since before Sept. 11, 2001.  I've attached a few inside shots from last year's second STS-114 pad flow for comparison (the OTV camera number is there for reference):


Offline Spirit

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RE: 121: Discovery at the pad update thread
« Reply #22 on: 05/23/2006 09:18 pm »
What is going on with Discovery now? Did they started installing the payload?
Regards,
Atanas

Offline MKremer

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Re: 121: Discovery at the pad update thread
« Reply #23 on: 05/23/2006 10:59 pm »
Quote
eeergo - 22/5/2006  1:31 PM

What is the whitish strip on the lower part of the tank, on the orbiter-free side? I don't recall seeing it in any other flights... There aren't any PAL ramps down there, are they?

There's a temporary fixture mounted at that location for the tank transporter. You can see it at the bottom in the first pic link below, and get a bit better view in the other two picture links:

http://mediaarchive.ksc.nasa.gov/track-image.cfm?mediaid=28741&mr=m
http://mediaarchive.ksc.nasa.gov/track-image.cfm?mediaid=28405&mr=m
http://mediaarchive.ksc.nasa.gov/track-image.cfm?mediaid=27244&mr=m

Offline mkirk

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Re: 121: Discovery at the pad update thread
« Reply #24 on: 05/23/2006 10:59 pm »
Quote
eeergo - 22/5/2006  1:31 PM

What is the whitish strip on the lower part of the tank, on the orbiter-free side? I don't recall seeing it in any other flights... There aren't any PAL ramps down there, are they?

No there are not any PAL ramps down there.  That is a closeout area for late ET work.  The foam in the area is relatively new and has not had a chance to darken like the rest of the tank.  As you may or may not know the foam is very light in color when first applied, it darkens as it is exposed to light/air.

I attached a couple of pictures of the same area on other tanks.  The first is a picture I took during the STS-114 rollback and the other picture is one I took from the MLP a few years ago...I think it is STS-106/Atlantis...I really don't remember.  Anyway you can see the same pattern on these tanks as well.

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Offline mkirk

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RE: 121: Discovery at the pad update thread
« Reply #25 on: 05/23/2006 11:43 pm »
Quote
Spirit - 23/5/2006  4:05 PM

What is going on with Discovery now? Did they started installing the payload?

Here are a couple of pictures from today's payload tranfer into Discovery's Payload Bay.

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Offline Avron

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Re: 121: Discovery at the pad update thread
« Reply #26 on: 05/24/2006 04:35 am »
Looks like they got the payload inverted...;)


Or worse, the signs on the wrong way around.

Offline HKS

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RE: 121: Discovery at the pad update thread
« Reply #27 on: 05/24/2006 08:53 am »
How protective is the RSS, and how much of the orbiter is coverd?
How much tropical rain can the orbiter take?  :)

Offline Jim

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Re: 121: Discovery at the pad update thread
« Reply #28 on: 05/24/2006 11:09 am »
Quote
Avron - 24/5/2006  12:22 AM

Looks like they got the payload inverted...;)


Or worse, the signs on the wrong way around.

The signs will be covered in the payload.  They are for when it is berthed to the ISS

Offline Jim

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RE: 121: Discovery at the pad update thread
« Reply #29 on: 05/24/2006 11:09 am »
Quote
HKS - 24/5/2006  4:40 AM

How protective is the RSS, and how much of the orbiter is coverd?
How much tropical rain can the orbiter take?  :)

Most of the orbiter is covered.  It is the wind that is the determining factor.  Florida typical summer downpouts are on the order of X in/hr and occur daily.

Offline anik

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Re: 121: Discovery at the pad update thread
« Reply #30 on: 05/25/2006 04:53 pm »
NASA's Space Shuttle Processing Status Report - May 24, 2006
http://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/shuttle/news/status-20060524.html

"Space Shuttle Discovery remains at Launch Pad 39B, and technicians continue performing system testing while the vehicle is powered. The external tank camera test was successfully completed, and the lens cap has been reinstalled until launch.

Tuesday, the launch team conducted the flight readiness test of the space shuttle main engines, as well as the liquid hydrogen and liquid oxygen system leak checks. The test ensures the engine hydraulics are properly working.

Technicians also are preparing for the gaseous and liquid hydrogen and oxygen leak checks of the power reactant storage distribution system. The distribution system will be loaded with hydrogen and oxygen next week. The system provides the fuel for the forward reaction control system and the orbiter maneuvering system pods.

The orbiter payload bay doors were opened Tuesday in preparation for the payloads to be installed today. The team continues with other activities including the orbiter weather protection system's activation and the completion of validations of the sound suppression and Firex systems."

Offline mkirk

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Re: 121: Discovery at the pad update thread
« Reply #31 on: 05/25/2006 06:08 pm »
Quote
anik - 25/5/2006  11:40 AM

NASA's Space Shuttle Processing Status Report - May 24, 2006
http://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/shuttle/news/status-20060524.html

Technicians also are preparing for the gaseous and liquid hydrogen and oxygen leak checks of the power reactant storage distribution system. The distribution system will be loaded with hydrogen and oxygen next week. The system provides the fuel for the forward reaction control system and the orbiter maneuvering system pods.


Just FYI:

This paragraph from the status report is wrong.  I think they just confused two separate events into one.

The gaseous/liquid oxygen/hydrogen system leak checks are for the PRSD (power reactant storage and distribution) system which provides cryogenic propellants for the fuel cells (which provide electrical power for the orbiter) and O2 for the environmental system.  The actuall propellant loading for this system occurs during the launch countdown.  This is a completely seperate system from the OMS/RCS fuels.

Hypergolic loading preparations are what I think they were reffering to.  That is the loading of hydrazine and nitrogen tetraoxide propellants for the Reaction Control System and Orbital Maneuvering System engines.  Also during the another phase of the Hypergolic loading they load the Orbiter APUs (auxiliary power units) and the Solid Rocket Booster HPUs (hydraulic power units) with anhydrous hydrazine.

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Offline Chris Bergin

RE: 121: Discovery at the pad update thread
« Reply #32 on: 05/26/2006 05:48 pm »
Mission: STS-121 - 18th International Space Station Flight (ULF1.1) -
Multi-Purpose Logistics Module
Vehicle: Discovery (OV-103)
Location: Launch Pad 39B
Launch Date: Launch Processing Window July 1-19, 2006
Launch Pad: 39B
Crew: Lindsey, Kelly, Sellers, Fossum, Nowak, Wilson and Reiter
Inclination/Orbit Altitude: 51.6 degrees/122 nautical miles

Technicians continue performing system testing on Space Shuttle
Discovery while the vehicle is powered at Launch Pad 39B. Auxiliary
power units No. 1 and 3 connections and leak checks were completed,
with No. 2 in progress.

The orbiter payloads were installed in Discovery's payload bay on
Wednesday. Discovery's payloads include the Italian-built logistics
module Leonardo, which will carry food, clothing, spare parts and
research equipment to the International Space Station. Other payloads
include two cargo carriers which contain heat shield tile samples, a
spare pump module and a replacement mobile transporter reel assembly.

There is no significant holiday weekend work planned.
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Offline shuttlefan

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RE: 121: Discovery at the pad update thread
« Reply #33 on: 05/27/2006 05:39 pm »
Anyone know what day the storbale propellants will be loaded onborad the spherical storage tanks?

Offline shuttlefan

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RE: 121: Discovery at the pad update thread
« Reply #34 on: 05/29/2006 01:35 am »
Do they plan to retract the Rotating Service Structure anytime between now and when they do it for the final time the day before launch, for any reason? :)

Offline Jim

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RE: 121: Discovery at the pad update thread
« Reply #35 on: 05/29/2006 02:38 am »
Quote
shuttlefan - 28/5/2006  9:22 PM

Do they plan to retract the Rotating Service Structure anytime between now and when they do it for the final time the day before launch, for any reason? :)

It is there until approx.  L-16 to 14 hrs.

Offline psloss

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Re: 121: Discovery at the pad update thread
« Reply #36 on: 05/29/2006 11:56 am »
The two "things" I usually think of at the pad are APU hot-fires or the payload canister arriving (if the shuttle gets there first)...what other pre-countdown operations might necessitate rolling the RSS back, if any?

Thanks,

Philip Sloss

Offline Jim

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Re: 121: Discovery at the pad update thread
« Reply #37 on: 05/29/2006 12:11 pm »
Quote
psloss - 29/5/2006  7:43 AM

The two "things" I usually think of at the pad are APU hot-fires or the payload canister arriving (if the shuttle gets there first)...what other pre-countdown operations might necessitate rolling the RSS back, if any?

Thanks,

Philip Sloss

None

Offline psloss

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Re: 121: Discovery at the pad update thread
« Reply #38 on: 05/29/2006 12:13 pm »
Thanks, Jim.

Offline shuttlefan

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Re: 121: Discovery at the pad update thread
« Reply #39 on: 05/30/2006 12:51 am »
We must not forget that the Atlantic hurricane season starts again soon! ;)  :o

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