Author Topic: Shuttle Questions Q and A (2)  (Read 235106 times)

Offline Chris Bergin

RE: Shuttle Questions Q and A (2)
« Reply #60 on: 05/01/2006 02:31 am »
Bringing this over - as the old thread was playing up:

Quote
newsartist - 1/5/2006  3:26 AM

How was that airlock moved from the Internal to External configuration?

Even if it came apart, that seems to be a very unwieldy piece of metal to pass through the crew cabin pressure hull!
Support NSF via L2 -- Help improve NSF -- Site Rules/Feedback/Updates
**Not a L2 member? Whitelist this forum in your adblocker to support the site and ensure full functionality.**

Offline UK Shuttle Clan

  • Veteran
  • Full Member
  • **
  • Posts: 243
  • Liked: 0
  • Likes Given: 0
RE: Shuttle Questions Q and A (2)
« Reply #61 on: 05/01/2006 09:59 am »
We all know how noisey a launch is. How do the astronauts get protected by that incredible noise of the SRBs during ascent when they are just a few hundred feet above those beasts?

Offline Jim

  • Night Gator
  • Senior Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 37440
  • Cape Canaveral Spaceport
  • Liked: 21451
  • Likes Given: 428
RE: Shuttle Questions Q and A (2)
« Reply #62 on: 05/01/2006 12:22 pm »
Quote
UK Shuttle Clan - 1/5/2006  5:59 AMWe all know how noisey a launch is. How do the astronauts get protected by that incredible noise of the SRBs during ascent when they are just a few hundred feet above those beasts?

The orbiter structural protects them and they are wearing helmets. 

Offline Jim

  • Night Gator
  • Senior Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 37440
  • Cape Canaveral Spaceport
  • Liked: 21451
  • Likes Given: 428
RE: Shuttle Questions Q and A (2)
« Reply #63 on: 05/01/2006 12:25 pm »
Quote
newsartist - 1/5/2006  3:26 AMHow was that airlock moved from the Internal to External configuration?Even if it came apart, that seems to be a very unwieldy piece of metal to pass through the crew cabin pressure hull!

It did come apart in pieces and they went out thru the payload bay via the hatch area.  It was design to do this.

Offline Stowbridge

  • Veteran
  • Full Member
  • ****
  • Posts: 426
  • Liked: 0
  • Likes Given: 0
RE: Shuttle Questions Q and A (2)
« Reply #64 on: 05/01/2006 02:23 pm »
Helps having the best double (or tripple) glazing on the flight deck windows too!
Veteran space reporter.

Offline Tony T. Harris

  • Full Member
  • *
  • Posts: 178
  • Liked: 14
  • Likes Given: 2
RE: Shuttle Questions Q and A (2)
« Reply #65 on: 05/01/2006 04:57 pm »
Quote
UK Shuttle Clan - 1/5/2006  4:59 AM

We all know how noisey a launch is. How do the astronauts get protected by that incredible noise of the SRBs during ascent when they are just a few hundred feet above those beasts?

It also helps that the sound is travelling away from them.
Former Saturn V propulsion systems lead engineer.

Offline mkirk

  • International Man Of Mystery
  • Full Member
  • ****
  • Posts: 1751
  • Florida/Texas
  • Liked: 101
  • Likes Given: 5
RE: Shuttle Questions Q and A (2)
« Reply #66 on: 05/02/2006 05:34 pm »
Quote
Tony T. Harris - 1/5/2006  11:57 AM

Quote
UK Shuttle Clan - 1/5/2006  4:59 AM

We all know how noisey a launch is. How do the astronauts get protected by that incredible noise of the SRBs during ascent when they are just a few hundred feet above those beasts?

It also helps that the sound is travelling away from them.

On some of the in-cockpit mission tapes I have, the ambient cockpit sounds can be heard quite well. It gets pretty noisy in the transonic region and around Max Q...you really hear the wind out side the cockpit...kind of a howling/whistling sound, and the instrument panels seem to rattle rather loudly. After SRB sep it is very quiet.

So yes the crew is in front of the noise and they are in a sealed cabin with communication caps ("Snoopy" cap) and Helmets on, but it does get pretty noisy in the cockpit.

Unfortunately my only reference is the SMS (shuttle mission simulator) and what crew members have told me. The SMS is semi-realistic with a little "shake, rattle, and roll" and some simulated noise. Crew members say that the real thing is no comparison...

Mark Kirkman
Mark Kirkman

Offline DaveS

  • Shuttle program observer
  • Senior Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 8526
  • Sweden
  • Liked: 1199
  • Likes Given: 65
RE: Shuttle Questions Q and A (2)
« Reply #67 on: 05/02/2006 06:06 pm »
Here's a question regarding the HRSI tiles on the forward part of the OMS pods. Why were they added? On early flights with the orbiters they lacked them, but later they were added. Any specific reason whey they were added?
"For Sardines, space is no problem!"
-1996 Astronaut class slogan

"We're rolling in the wrong direction but for the right reasons"
-USA engineer about the rollback of Discovery prior to the STS-114 Return To Flight mission

Offline shuttlefan

  • Member
  • Full Member
  • ****
  • Posts: 1608
  • Liked: 13
  • Likes Given: 4
RE: Shuttle Questions Q and A (2)
« Reply #68 on: 05/02/2006 06:22 pm »
Does a shuttle launch leave behind any kind of a long-lasting smell in the pad area and if so does that smell even reach the press site and viewing areas?

Offline Jim

  • Night Gator
  • Senior Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 37440
  • Cape Canaveral Spaceport
  • Liked: 21451
  • Likes Given: 428
RE: Shuttle Questions Q and A (2)
« Reply #69 on: 05/02/2006 06:46 pm »
Quote
DaveS - 2/5/2006  2:06 PMHere's a question regarding the HRSI tiles on the forward part of the OMS pods. Why were they added? On early flights with the orbiters they lacked them, but later they were added. Any specific reason whey they were added?

Turbulent airflow off the chines was striking the pods directly (see STS-1) and was hotter than predicted.  It also shredded the AFRSI on STS-6.  Also they were taking some debris hits.  So the thicker HSRI tiles were added.

Offline Jim

  • Night Gator
  • Senior Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 37440
  • Cape Canaveral Spaceport
  • Liked: 21451
  • Likes Given: 428
RE: Shuttle Questions Q and A (2)
« Reply #70 on: 05/02/2006 06:47 pm »
Quote
shuttlefan - 2/5/2006  2:22 PMDoes a shuttle launch leave behind any kind of a long-lasting smell in the pad area and if so does that smell even reach the press site and viewing areas?

Depends on winds, but there is a smell

Offline DaveS

  • Shuttle program observer
  • Senior Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 8526
  • Sweden
  • Liked: 1199
  • Likes Given: 65
RE: Shuttle Questions Q and A (2)
« Reply #71 on: 05/02/2006 07:23 pm »
Quote
Jim - 2/5/2006  8:46 PM

Turbulent airflow off the chines was striking the pods directly (see STS-1) and was hotter than predicted.  It also shredded the AFRSI on STS-6.  Also they were taking some debris hits.  So the thicker HSRI tiles were added.
Thanks, I suspected it was something like this.
"For Sardines, space is no problem!"
-1996 Astronaut class slogan

"We're rolling in the wrong direction but for the right reasons"
-USA engineer about the rollback of Discovery prior to the STS-114 Return To Flight mission

Offline GLS

  • Member
  • Full Member
  • *
  • Posts: 168
  • Liked: 0
  • Likes Given: 0
RE: Shuttle Questions Q and A (2)
« Reply #72 on: 05/04/2006 10:25 am »
During 41B, ice formed on the dump lines and during entry that ice broke off and hit the left OMS pod. They had to replace that pod with a pod from OV-103. To prevent more damage they changed the tiles in the area. To preserve geometry they also changed the tiles on the right OMS pod.

Thanks to mkirk for the words on the camera lines!
GLS is go for main engine start!

Offline shuttlefan

  • Member
  • Full Member
  • ****
  • Posts: 1608
  • Liked: 13
  • Likes Given: 4
RE: Shuttle Questions Q and A (2)
« Reply #73 on: 05/04/2006 02:25 pm »
I've heard of them changing tiles on the pad. Is that harder to do than in the OPF?

Offline mkirk

  • International Man Of Mystery
  • Full Member
  • ****
  • Posts: 1751
  • Florida/Texas
  • Liked: 101
  • Likes Given: 5
RE: Shuttle Questions Q and A (2)
« Reply #74 on: 05/04/2006 02:31 pm »
Quote
shuttlefan - 4/5/2006  9:25 AM

I've heard of them changing tiles on the pad. Is that harder to do than in the OPF?

It really depends on the location of the tiles in question.  The OPF is by far the best place for tile work since you have the right kind of access and can control the environment easier.  Pad work is doable but not desireable.

Mark Kirkman
Mark Kirkman

Offline Jim

  • Night Gator
  • Senior Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 37440
  • Cape Canaveral Spaceport
  • Liked: 21451
  • Likes Given: 428
RE: Shuttle Questions Q and A (2)
« Reply #75 on: 05/04/2006 03:13 pm »
Quote
mkirk - 4/5/2006  10:31 AM
Quote
shuttlefan - 4/5/2006  9:25 AMI've heard of them changing tiles on the pad. Is that harder to do than in the OPF?
It really depends on the location of the tiles in question.  The OPF is by far the best place for tile work since you have the right kind of access and can control the environment easier.  Pad work is doable but not desireable.Mark Kirkman

They have used scoffolding and temp platforms to do tile work at the pad.  But if it is on the belly between ET, then no access

Offline Chris Bergin

RE: Shuttle Questions Q and A (2)
« Reply #76 on: 05/04/2006 05:39 pm »
Zoomer asks: " have searched and searched and found no question like this. On the NASA mission pages they show the SSMEs used (like SN-2001, etc) Is there a place that shows the different versions of the engines?"

Support NSF via L2 -- Help improve NSF -- Site Rules/Feedback/Updates
**Not a L2 member? Whitelist this forum in your adblocker to support the site and ensure full functionality.**

Offline psloss

  • Veteran armchair spectator
  • Senior Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 17980
  • Liked: 4047
  • Likes Given: 2089
RE: Shuttle Questions Q and A (2)
« Reply #77 on: 05/04/2006 05:47 pm »
I'd suggest searching with some of the different types -- Phase II, Block I, Block IIA...for example, I found this in a Google search:
http://www.stsliftoff.com/reference/2001_3417.pdf

Philip Sloss

Offline PlanetStorm

  • Veteran
  • Full Member
  • **
  • Posts: 238
  • England
  • Liked: 11
  • Likes Given: 4
RE: Shuttle Questions Q and A (2)
« Reply #78 on: 05/05/2006 08:27 pm »

OK, my submission for "dumbest question of the year" award...

Rather than retiring all the shuttles in 2010, would it be possible to leave one permanently docked to the ISS as a lifeboat?

Offline Flightstar

  • Lurking around OPF High Bay 2
  • Full Member
  • ****
  • Posts: 1894
  • KSC, Florida
  • Liked: 78
  • Likes Given: 8
RE: Shuttle Questions Q and A (2)
« Reply #79 on: 05/05/2006 08:31 pm »
Quote
PlanetStorm - 5/5/2006  3:27 PM


OK, my submission for "dumbest question of the year" award...

Rather than retiring all the shuttles in 2010, would it be possible to leave one permanently docked to the ISS as a lifeboat?

The only dumb question is the one that's not asked.

Orbiters can't survive in space for too long. Even if you took away the power requirements, they'd get very ill very fast with the whole enviorment of space.

Tags:
 

Advertisement NovaTech
Advertisement Northrop Grumman
Advertisement
Advertisement Margaritaville Beach Resort South Padre Island
Advertisement Brady Kenniston
Advertisement NextSpaceflight
Advertisement Nathan Barker Photography
0