Atlantis' ET is seeping water

[RJC]

Check this out it seems there is some sort of issue with water absorbed by ET-118's structure!

http://62.189.48.33/Articles/2006/06/23/Navigation/200/207397/NASA+'Water+seeping+from+Space+Shuttle+Atlantis's+propellant.html

[Chris Bergin]

Hey Rob, welcome to the site. Nice to have one of the FI guys here

Crikey, I'll go ask a few ET mechs at KSC on this as it's hardly welcome news.

[Flightstar]

Well this tank is needed for LON with Atlantis, so it's AS important as ET-119.

[James (Lockheed)]

I don't think it's confirmed as "leaking" from the "Intertank" is what the guys here are saying.  Remember this tank was shipped without final pressurization tests to get it to KSC for closeout work on such tests along with ECO R&R.

[Chris Bergin]

James (Lockheed) - 23/6/2006  7:39 PM

I don't think it's confirmed as "leaking" from the "Intertank". Condensation is what the guys here are saying.  Remember this tank was shipped without final pressurization tests to get it to KSC for closeout work on such tests along with ECO R&R.

That could be interesting, because they were due to pressurise the tank around this time (let me check the work schedule for ET-118).

Problem is, if they've done that, and the intertank has an issue found from that pressurisation, then that's a big issue.

I've asked two KSC mechs about it and a couple of guys at MAF if they've heard what it could be.

[James (Lockheed)]

I've checked. This is not an issue for the tank.

[Chris Bergin]

Ok, some selected comments from sources.

There's 93 MAF engineers in the VAB, working seven days a week round the clock with the ECO R&R and it's behind schedule  

The water (which Rob mentioned) leaked in through the IT GSE access door during Katrina at MAF. MAF say they can clear it without a problem.

[Chris Bergin]

NASA Status report.

External Tank

The water that was discovered last week in one of the stringers of the
intertank on ET-118 has been removed. Stringers are reinforcing
channel structures located on the outside of the intertank skin.
Preliminary water analysis indicates that corrosion and salinity
levels are low and will not affect the launch-on-need support for
STS-121 or the STS-115 mission.

[astrobrian]

Both interesting, and sounding good all in one

[Avron]

How would they test that all the water has been removed, or do we wait fo Ice to form..?

[Chris Bergin]

Avron - 27/6/2006  5:26 AM

How would they test that all the water has been removed, or do we wait fo Ice to form..?

Good question and I'll ask.

[astrobrian]

I would think there are moisture detection systems available. Waiting for ice to form sounds to reactive as opposed to proactive

[dutch courage]

And don't forget the rainfall during the time the shuttle is on the pad.

[woketman]

The water got in there in the first place because a portion of the ceiling failed over the ET during Katrina while the tank was in the horizontal position.  H2O was able to enter the Intertank through several paths (the LO2 Feedline hole, GH2 Pressline hole, etc.) and collect at the bottom of the Intertank on the interior.  It entered the stringer through a vent hole that vents the stringer interior to the Intertank interior.  Rain water on the pad can not do this for many reasons.

[Chris Bergin]

Thanks for the info Mark, and welcome to the site.

[MKremer]

Thanks, Mark. I figured it was something due to Katrina while the tank was at MAF.

[Avron]

Chris Bergin - 28/6/2006  7:49 AM

Avron - 27/6/2006  5:26 AM

How would they test that all the water has been removed, or do we wait fo Ice to form..?

Good question and I'll ask.

Did you get an answer?