NASASpaceFlight.com Forum
NASA Shuttle Specific Sections => Atlantis (Post STS-135, T&R) => Topic started by: Chris Bergin on 02/21/2008 05:02 pm
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http://www.nasaspaceflight.com/content/?cid=5363 - Based on L2 presentations focusing on the flow.
L2 Users click STS-125 on the L2 Cloud for the STS-125 subsection (about 60 presentations, over 1000mb already, will be the largest Special Section this year for sure).
This should be fun to follow! Processing latest and images to be added to this thread...
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This will indeed be a great one to follow!
Fascinating points about the new window shields - why the upward & rearward windows, versus the six forward windows? I always thought that the MMOD concerns were for hits on the forward windows.
Also, couldn't help chuckling a bit over the "fiducial markings", using a Sharpie marker! It's not only good for your CD-Rs, it's also good for flying out of the atmosphere! :)
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Can someone explain to me the window shields a bit more? They indicate (unless I read it wrong) that they can/will be installed on orbit - does this require an EVA to do? are they done from the inside? This is the first I have heard of this - any laymans explanations would be appreciated. thank you
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Black Sharpie? Velcro? is there any duct tape involved?
Actually, seems to me very admirable that the simplest solution is employed. Having never seen the shuttle up close, its easy to assume every piece part is magic. But being an engineer, I should know better.
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Chris Bergin - 21/2/2008 7:02 PM
This should be fun to follow!...
It sure will be... I'm still planning to go to Florida to see this launch, so this one has my special intrest !!! :)
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Chris Bergin - 21/2/2008 12:02 PM
http://www.nasaspaceflight.com/content/?cid=5363 - Based on L2 presentations focusing on the flow.
L2 Users click STS-125 on the L2 Cloud for the STS-125 subsection (about 60 presentations, over 1000mb already, will be the largest Special Section this year for sure).
This should be fun to follow! Processing latest and images to be added to this thread...
Really enjoyed reading that article. Full of info!
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jacqmans - 21/2/2008 12:43 PM
Chris Bergin - 21/2/2008 7:02 PM
This should be fun to follow!...
It sure will be... I'm still planning to go to Florida to see this launch, so this one has my special intrest !!! :)
Me, too! :laugh: I just found out yesterday that as an anniversary present my wife is taking the kids and I to KSC to watch the launch. I've been wanting to do this since I can remember. In fact my earliest memory as a child is Alan Shepard's launch. I thought it was my birthday present... :)
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Crikey, maybe we should set up a STS-125 Viewing thread already! :o
Done :cool:
http://forum.nasaspaceflight.com/forums/thread-view.asp?tid=11982&start=1
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The MLP for STS-125 is still sitting at pad 39B, right?
I guess they'll move it into a HB as soon as Endeavour has launched to make sure STS-123 can still come back to a free HB. Is this assumption correct?
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whitewatcher - 22/2/2008 8:44 AM
The MLP for STS-125 is still sitting at pad 39B, right?
I guess they'll move it into a HB as soon as Endeavour has launched to make sure STS-123 can still come back to a free HB. Is this assumption correct?
Hmmm, there's people here who'll know, but if it helps them, STS-125 will use MLP-2, as per 125 Launch Site Review Presentation:
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Edit, the latest doc (Integrated Milestone Chart) on L2 says it's now MLP-1 - after a heads up.
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Chris Bergin - 22/2/2008 4:56 PM
Edit, the latest doc (Integrated Milestone Chart) on L2 says it's now MLP-1 - after a heads up.
Makes sense, currently MLP-1 is the only available MLP. MLP-2 is supporting STS-123/1J/1A and MLP-3 is supporting STS-124/1J. So STS-400 will use MLP-2 and STS-125/HST SM4 will use MLP-1.
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And this will be the last time all three MLPs will be used for Shuttle? One of them will go to be modified for Ares I-X?
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Jason Davies - 22/2/2008 5:36 PM
And this will be the last time all three MLPs will be used for Shuttle? One of them will go to be modified for Ares I-X?
Yes, MLP-1.
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Chris Bergin - 21/2/2008 6:02 PM
http://www.nasaspaceflight.com/content/?cid=5363 - Based on L2 presentations focusing on the flow.
I've added an update to this article, after recieving information that notes the Orbiter’s External Tank Door Mechanisms (revised max/stall torque for the ET door uplock mechanism) has been removed from the flow, as they focus attention on implementation of BRI-18 tile around the Main Landing Gear Doors and the ET Doors (both can't be done in the current flow timeline).
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Hose problem did occur on orbit. Has to be added to the flow for R&R etc.
http://www.nasaspaceflight.com/content/?cid=5367
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Addditional note from L2 that didn't fit the flow of the article above:
"Looking forward to removing the engines from OV-104, processing in engine shop and returning to OV-104 around May 1 to support STS-125. "
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Chris Bergin - 27/2/2008 1:38 PM
Addditional note from L2 that didn't fit the flow of the article above:
"Looking forward to removing the engines from OV-104, processing in engine shop and returning to OV-104 around May 1 to support STS-125. "
So Atlantis will fly STS-125 with the same 3 SSMEs that she flew with on STS-122 providing no major issues are found with them? I know the engines are reusable, but I thought the turnaround time was longer.
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I believe that this is Atlantis, getting her SSME's taken out:
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I forgot to pass on from L2, but she had her ODS removed last week, taking just one day.
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Trekkie07 - 27/2/2008 4:00 PM
Chris Bergin - 27/2/2008 1:38 PM
Addditional note from L2 that didn't fit the flow of the article above:
"Looking forward to removing the engines from OV-104, processing in engine shop and returning to OV-104 around May 1 to support STS-125. "
So Atlantis will fly STS-125 with the same 3 SSMEs that she flew with on STS-122 providing no major issues are found with them? I know the engines are reusable, but I thought the turnaround time was longer.
Like many things in this program, it's possible but it just depends. The engines always come out. If they go back in and where depends on their checkout.
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OV-106 - 16/3/2008 1:24 AM
Trekkie07 - 27/2/2008 4:00 PM
Chris Bergin - 27/2/2008 1:38 PM
Addditional note from L2 that didn't fit the flow of the article above:
"Looking forward to removing the engines from OV-104, processing in engine shop and returning to OV-104 around May 1 to support STS-125. "
So Atlantis will fly STS-125 with the same 3 SSMEs that she flew with on STS-122 providing no major issues are found with them? I know the engines are reusable, but I thought the turnaround time was longer.
Like many things in this program, it's possible but it just depends. The engines always come out. If they go back in and where depends on their checkout.
That would be really cool if it happens to end up that way, though. :)
(wondering how many other orbiters ended up launching with the same engines they had previously for their last launch?)
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NET launch date is in flux due to large scale ET issues.
http://www.nasaspaceflight.com/content/?cid=5386
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Chris Bergin - 20/3/2008 8:31 PM
NET launch date is in flux due to large scale ET issues.
http://www.nasaspaceflight.com/content/?cid=5386
Assuming that both missions are delayed, if there is a time constraint to get to Hubble before its batteries die, could 125 be launched before 124?
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GW_Simulations - 20/3/2008 9:17 PM
Chris Bergin - 20/3/2008 8:31 PM
NET launch date is in flux due to large scale ET issues.
http://www.nasaspaceflight.com/content/?cid=5386
Assuming that both missions are delayed, if there is a time constraint to get to Hubble before its batteries die, could 125 be launched before 124?
Really depends on how this all pans out. We do not believe it is specific to one tank - otherwise that option could come into play. The problem with 125 is you need two flight ready orbiters on the pad at the same time for LON.
The flip side is Mr Shannon is trying to protect the manifest with whatever meetings he's having, so this could all go away, depending on the problem being a really big one with hardware, or an overly-conservative engineering group kicking up a stink over some data (see NESC over the RCC panels).
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Has anyone given any ballpark estimates to how long a delay would be if say it is not an NESC type of deal and is a big one?
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CBS http://www.cbsnews.com/network/news/space/current.html has an article on tank flow from Michoud. It looks like that 124 is on track since it is going to ISS, but 125 may slip to October.
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As a corrollary to the last note - is there talk of moving STS-126 before 125? Making STS-126 fly with ET-127, say, in September, then moving 125/HST-SM4 to October with ET-129, and making Discovery the LON vehicle (STS-400) for that flight? Then if all goes well, flying Discovery on STS-119 as scheduled in December?
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Bubbinski - 24/3/2008 4:57 PM
As a corrollary to the last note - is there talk of moving STS-126 before 125? Making STS-126 fly with ET-127, say, in September, then moving 125/HST-SM4 to October with ET-129, and making Discovery the LON vehicle (STS-400) for that flight? Then if all goes well, flying Discovery on STS-119 as scheduled in December?
Leroy Cain did mention that they would be doing some typical exploring of manifest options. No matter when STS-125 flies, the LON shuttle has to be on Pad B ready to launch. In your scenario, Discovery and the tank following ET-129 would have to be out on the pad when STS-125 lifts off. So they would both need to be ready by October. Or, STS-125 would have to slip until that hardware was ready for STS-400.
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Bubbinski - 24/3/2008 4:57 PM
As a corrollary to the last note - is there talk of moving STS-126 before 125? Making STS-126 fly with ET-127, say, in September, then moving 125/HST-SM4 to October with ET-129, and making Discovery the LON vehicle (STS-400) for that flight? Then if all goes well, flying Discovery on STS-119 as scheduled in December?
Maybe... but remember that NASA has spent a lot of time preparing for the two pad scenario that has to take place with the Hubble mission. Furthermore, there is a reason why Hubble (STS-125) has always targetted Aug/Sept 08 timeframe because of Pad-B. While I can't speak for TPTB, I can tell you that there are a certain amount of modifications that have to be made to Pad-B before the Ares I-X test flight next year... modifications that won't be made until the Hubble mission LON is called off and the rescue vehicle moved to Pad-A for its primary mission.
Furthermore, tank production has been timelined for this unique two-stack scenario. While there are issues facing these two tanks, their production is still linked for these missions. IMHO, I would expect launch dates to change, but not the order in which the flights are manifested unless we get to a point where we'd want to get Chamitoff back to Earth because of mission duration issues (which assuming a May 25 launch for STS-124 would not come into play until December assuming the traditional six month rotation period).
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I have a question about ET-127.
Does ET-127 have the new titanium brackets or the old aluminium brackets?
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faustod - 26/3/2008 8:50 AM
I have a question about ET-127.
Does ET-127 have the new titanium brackets or the old aluminium brackets?
The new ones.
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A quick question... (apologies if this has already been asked and answered)...
In the midst of a discussion about our ongoing drought in the southeast US the other day, someone eventually made the standard comment "we just need a hurricane to pass through"...
If I wasn't already sure I was a space geek, I'm sure it was proved beyond any doubt when the only thing I could think of was this...
When 125 is on 39A and the LON shutle is on 39B, how fast could both shuttles be returned to the VAB if a hurricane decided to make a beeline for the cape? And just to make it interesting, let's assume it's a surprise (i.e., a stormi in the gulf unexpectedly makes a right turn and plows across the penninsula.
Would there be time to move both birds to the barn?
If it was a serious possiblility, would they at least move one shuttle back as a precaution? If so, which one?
These are the thoughts that keep me awake at night... Hopefully someone's got the contingency manuals close at hand and can put me out of my misery...
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The plan indicates they just start the procedure earlier (72 hours in advance vs 48) if more than one shuttle is involved...
http://www-pao.ksc.nasa.gov/kscpao/status/weatstat/hurrican.htm
Hurricanes don't make "that" big of surprise turns, as I recall rollbacks are in the 8 hour range which is impossible for a hurricane to beat them to.
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Processing update:
http://www.nasaspaceflight.com/content/?cid=5391
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JBK - The two can roll simultaneously if they need to. The big issue then would be whether or not both VAB high bays are available to receive the orbiter stacks. If both highy bay 1 and high bay 3 are functional, it's roughly an eight-hour trip on average for each vehicle to the bays. If one high bay is out of operation, there's always the option of using high bay 2 (west side of VAB) to store one. In that case, it's about an extra two hours for the trip, but that's still plenty of margin by which to beat a hurricane to the launch area if the need arises.
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nathan.moeller - 31/3/2008 6:57 AM
JBK - The two can roll simultaneously if they need to.
I kinda wish this would happen - just for the photo opportunity this would give...
No, of course I don't! ;)
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STS-125 delayed to October as per L2. Article shortly.
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Article on STS-125 delay, and processing update:
http://www.nasaspaceflight.com/content/?cid=5396
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Great article. Really look forward to reading about all the ins and outs of processing :)
Shame the mission is delayed, but good that it was only a month or so.
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Updated the NET dates to specific dates, and some Monday processing news:
http://www.nasaspaceflight.com/content/?cid=5396
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Wisi - 4/4/2008 6:19 PM
nathan.moeller - 31/3/2008 6:57 AM
JBK - The two can roll simultaneously if they need to.
I kinda wish this would happen - just for the photo opportunity this would give...
No, of course I don't! ;)
I recall seeing photos of 2 stacks outside the VAB in the night from back when they were having all of those H2 leaks back in the 90's. I think the OVs were Atlantis and Columbia
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JayP - 8/4/2008 9:15 AM
Wisi - 4/4/2008 6:19 PM
nathan.moeller - 31/3/2008 6:57 AM
JBK - The two can roll simultaneously if they need to.
I kinda wish this would happen - just for the photo opportunity this would give...
No, of course I don't! ;)
I recall seeing photos of 2 stacks outside the VAB in the night from back when they were having all of those H2 leaks back in the 90's. I think the OVs were Atlantis and Columbia
There's a thread with images of that, a Shuttle traffic jam :) Can't find it though.
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JayP - 8/4/2008 10:15 AM
Wisi - 4/4/2008 6:19 PM
nathan.moeller - 31/3/2008 6:57 AM
JBK - The two can roll simultaneously if they need to.
I kinda wish this would happen - just for the photo opportunity this would give...
No, of course I don't! ;)
I recall seeing photos of 2 stacks outside the VAB in the night from back when they were having all of those H2 leaks back in the 90's. I think the OVs were Atlantis and Columbia
I don't think this is processing but I've seen this conversation now in two different threads over the past few days. Here's a link to the picture in question. It is of Columbia and Atlantis.
http://www.gcs.k12.in.us/bholt/Columbia%20and%20Atlantis%20on%20CT%20in%201990%20smaller.jpg
In the future, try goolge image serach. I simply typed in "Columbia and Atlantis" and this was the first hit.
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STS-125 Processing latest from L2:
http://www.nasaspaceflight.com/content/?cid=5400
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Boosters:
Buildup is complete. The booster will be transferred to the pallet on Tuesday. (Right Hand buildup first).
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Chris Bergin - 14/4/2008 11:26 AM
Boosters:
Buildup is complete. The booster will be transferred to the pallet on Tuesday. (Right Hand buildup first).
Excellent. Do we have a start stack date?
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On L2's Integrated Milestone Chart, it looks like May 12 for the start of the boosters taking shape on the MLP. The build up beat the schedule by a couple of days...
The 124 stack will be out at the pad by then, so makes sense. Very important too, as it's HB3's last ever Shuttle Stack..and will go to Ares I-X next. Of course, this is all delaying Ares I-X's current April, 09 target, which is no longer going to be the case soon (more like summer 09).
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L2 based processing update:
http://www.nasaspaceflight.com/content/?cid=5403
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To give this flow a bit of an update outside of L2.
TPS waterproofing was completed on Sunday.
Fuel cell single cell volt test will be reperformed beginning later today.
Freon coolant loop #2 servicing was is scheduled to begin later today.
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http://www.nasaspaceflight.com/content/?cid=5408
Includes STS-125 processing update, ET-127 update and Atlantis' newly assigned STS-128 mission
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New photos in STS-125 gallery from recent T-38 flight. Notice how some crewmembers are wearing the cool new STS-125 patch.
http://spaceflight.nasa.gov/gallery/images/shuttle/sts-125/ndxpage11.html
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LAB in the VAB transfer aisle. Now the assembly for this mission is underway:
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LAB segment on MLP now.
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RAB now in the VAB fpr stacking:
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The crane is now being attached to the RAB, in preparations for movement over to the MLP.
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And if I'm not mistaken, the RAB segment has been/is being lowered onto the MLP
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The LAC SRM segment now being lifted into High Bay 1 to be mated to the LAB already on the MLP. So it seems the order stacking is this:
1:LAB
2:RAB
3:LAC
4:RAC
5:LFC
6:RFC
7:LF
8:RF
9:L FWD Skirt Assy
10: R FWD Skirt Assy
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The LAC is now on the MLP:
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STS-125: TPS health takes center stage for Hubble mission - by Chris Gebhardt
http://www.nasaspaceflight.com/content/?cid=5427
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Chris Bergin - 20/5/2008 4:43 PM
STS-125: TPS health takes center stage for Hubble mission - by Chris Gebhardt
http://www.nasaspaceflight.com/content/?cid=5427
Great article, Chris MkII :)
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http://www.nasaspaceflight.com/content/?cid=5396 (six weeks ago) is now official, as per NASA release today.
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Chris Bergin - 22/5/2008 12:17 PM
http://www.nasaspaceflight.com/content/?cid=5396 (six weeks ago) is now official, as per NASA release today.
Yeah, I'm wondering if there's any point to a "press release" thread, when they are so far behind?
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Longhorn John - 22/5/2008 2:18 PM
Chris Bergin - 22/5/2008 12:17 PM
http://www.nasaspaceflight.com/content/?cid=5396 (six weeks ago) is now official, as per NASA release today.
Yeah, I'm wondering if there's any point to a "press release" thread, when they are so far behind?
Sure -- it has some historical value, which will probably increase when we look back at them.
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Yeah, there's no harm in having a PR thread....if anything it's sometimes useful to see articles we produce here being confirmed on the official lines.
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looks like another segment is getting ready to be stacked:
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looks like another segment is getting ready to be stacked:
That's the right forward segment...the view that had been posted was of the left forward segment mating in the integration cell.
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moving
Edit: Now we're Back?
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moving
Edit: Now we're Back?
Yeah, they do that with the upper segments -- you can see the plastic (or something similar) that has been attached. When the segment is positioned over the one it will be attached to in the integration cell, the plastic forms an enclosure around the segments while they're being mated.
Edit -- adding a short movie showing stacking of the last segment, which shows how that attachment (sort of like a shower curtain) is deployed in the integration cell.
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SRB Segment ;)
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Now stacked:
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I missed the stacking pictures. Thanks for posting.
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Thanks psloss great video.
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With the damage to the pad as reported in today's article is there a danger of STS-125 delay? Or 39A pad structures could be repaired pretty quickly?
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With the damage to the pad as reported in today's article is there a danger of STS-125 delay? Or 39A pad structures could be repaired pretty quickly?
We don't know yet, but the assumption is there's enough time before STS-125 (needs to be repared by early September for rollout).
The concern would be Launch on Need (LON) rescue of STS-124, as Pad 39B is not yet ready (in preparation for LON-400). So far, of course, there is no LON requirement for STS-124 and there's no reason to assume there would be one based on the clean ascent.
When we know more, we'll update.
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Is SRB stacking complete?
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Is SRB stacking complete?
Yes, back on the 5th.
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NASA has posted some stills of main engine installation on the Kennedy Media Gallery:
http://mediaarchive.ksc.nasa.gov/search.cfm?cat=4
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Wow! Clearance for the engine insertion looks scary!!!!
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What's with the silver OMS Pods!? :o
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What's with the silver OMS Pods!? :o
Just protective plastic sheets. You can clearly see that in the hi-res version.
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Aren't they going to remove the ODS?
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Aren't they going to remove the ODS?
No, just the APDS. The ODS will be used as the airlock on 125.
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Quick question, I know that the HST needs to be grappled onto something, docked. Its been on all the HST Flights, thats going to fly up on this mission correct?
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It's called the Flight Support Structure (FSS). It's a socket where the HST can be "docked" and then the structure can be rotated as needed.
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In this mission, if I recall correctly, they were going to leave a docking interface to Hubble's rear so that a future Orion/tug/deorbit depot could automatically dock with it. If this is still planned, as I suppose, how are they going to attach it? Will the FSS be a detachable one with the extra hardware mounted below? Or will they undock Hubble, redock it to this new docking interface and finally release it?
EDIT: Ok, I've taken a look at L2 docs (tons of them!) and it appears the Soft Docking Mechanism (SDM) is going to be carried on the FSS, and will only require an astronaut to release a single bolt, so that it can be freed. However, I couldn't find more details, so if anyone has further insight it will be appreciated. :)
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I was under the impression they were going to attach a LIDS docking interface.
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STS-125 Processing latest based on L2 info:
http://www.nasaspaceflight.com/content/?cid=5453
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STS-125 Processing latest based on L2 info:
http://www.nasaspaceflight.com/content/?cid=5453
I do enjoy your fleet-wide updates :D
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Thanks. I do love a good processing update. Really enjoy writing them. ;D
Writing up the ET good news now, which is now protecting STS-125 in October.
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Thanks. I do love a good processing update. Really enjoy writing them. ;D
Writing up the ET good news now, which is now protecting STS-125 in October.
Excellent! It's been fascinating to watch the standups on L2 about tank processing and see all the hardwork everyone's been doing out there at MAF. Awesome.
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Absolutely. Very newsworthy, and more so considering the amount of work these guys put into this. Following Leroy Cain's comment on L2 about the good news, and a very timely Lockheed processing update, wrote it up tonight.
http://www.nasaspaceflight.com/content/?cid=5454
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So, if I read this correctly, the current MAF ship date for STS-125's tank is July 11 and STS-126's tank is August 5; however, those dates will likely move to the left as they've gained additional processing time in their respective flows, correct?
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So, if I read this correctly, the current MAF ship date for STS-125's tank is July 11 and STS-126's tank is August 5; however, those dates will likely move to the left as they've gained additional processing time in their respective flows, correct?
They appear to be hoovering around the first and second weeks of July, with it continuing to move towards the first week. Every day right now adds a contingency day at KSC in the flow (thus vital).
ET-129 will benefit as ET-127 moves through as they can move resources to that other tank.
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Chris, they would not move the launch of 125 to the left with this news, correct?
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Chris, they would not move the launch of 125 to the left with this news, correct?
Correct sir.
They've just got out of having to delay. Every day they save with the shipping date moving left is used to aid some contingency days in the flow. It's still tight.
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Chris, they would not move the launch of 125 to the left with this news, correct?
Correct sir.
They've just got out of having to delay. Every day they save with the shipping date moving left is used to aid some contingency days in the flow. It's still tight.
Eats his own words. Looks like the launch date is going to change.
It is a suprise and under evaluation ahead of a decision in July. Going to write up the L2 info and make it into an article.
All depends on how much more the MAF guys can lose out of the flows in New Orleans at get the tanks to KSC.
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As part of NASAs 50th celebrations this year, wouldn't it be nice for Atlantis to sport the 50th logo (or a simplified version like the one below) on her port wing?
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As part of NASAs 50th celebrations this year, wouldn't it be nice for Atlantis to sport the 50th logo (or a simplified version like the one below) on her port wing?
Would be nice, but they appear to have done all they intend to with the "re-painting" of her flags.
Robert took some pictures for collectSPACE, if he or someone else wants post a link....
Launch date update coming later today, just getting the latest on the ET shippng.
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As part of NASAs 50th celebrations this year, wouldn't it be nice for Atlantis to sport the 50th logo (or a simplified version like the one below) on her port wing?
Would be nice, but they appear to have done all they intend to with the "re-painting" of her flags.
Yes. The only reason why the orbiters got a repaint in the first place was because Dan Goldin didn't like the NASA worm logo.
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Chris, they would not move the launch of 125 to the left with this news, correct?
Correct sir.
They've just got out of having to delay. Every day they save with the shipping date moving left is used to aid some contingency days in the flow. It's still tight.
Eats his own words. Looks like the launch date is going to change.
It is a suprise and under evaluation ahead of a decision in July. Going to write up the L2 info and make it into an article.
All depends on how much more the MAF guys can lose out of the flows in New Orleans at get the tanks to KSC.
Do we know what the new date is?
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Chris, they would not move the launch of 125 to the left with this news, correct?
Correct sir.
They've just got out of having to delay. Every day they save with the shipping date moving left is used to aid some contingency days in the flow. It's still tight.
Eats his own words. Looks like the launch date is going to change.
It is a suprise and under evaluation ahead of a decision in July. Going to write up the L2 info and make it into an article.
All depends on how much more the MAF guys can lose out of the flows in New Orleans at get the tanks to KSC.
Do we know what the new date is?
(I'll answer this seen as it was addressed to me :) )
They are aiming for the start of the month at best. Decision in July. Writing up the article now.
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Here you go:
http://www.nasaspaceflight.com/content/?cid=5459
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October 2nd for a New Launch Date?
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October 2nd for a New Launch Date?
No, that is the absolute earilest they could aim for. A realistic target is two to three days earlier, with the two tanks to decide - as all stated in the article.
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As part of NASAs 50th celebrations this year, wouldn't it be nice for Atlantis to sport the 50th logo (or a simplified version like the one below) on her port wing?
Would be nice, but they appear to have done all they intend to with the "re-painting" of her flags.
Yes. The only reason why the orbiters got a repaint in the first place was because Dan Goldin didn't like the NASA worm logo.
I think means that they've already re-painted the flags and logos ready STS-125.. ;D
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Bill Harwood reports on the teleconference from earlier in the afternoon:
http://www.cbsnews.com/network/news/space/current.html
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STS-125: Planning continues with scheduled EVA-6 option - By Chris Gebhardt.
http://www.nasaspaceflight.com/content/?cid=5460
Will likely have a dedicated thread for the articles, as we're projecting we'll have 50 written pre-launch. (I've got another one coming at the weekend).
For now, this rediculously long URL will take you to 125 articles:
LINK (http://www.google.com/custom?domains=www.nasaspaceflight.com%3Bforum.nasaspaceflight.com&q=STS-125&sitesearch=www.nasaspaceflight.com&client=pub-2321486110874038&forid=1&ie=ISO-8859-1&oe=ISO-8859-1&safe=active&cof=GALT%3A%23FFFFFF%3BGL%3A1%3BDIV%3A%23336666%3BVLC%3AFFFFFF%3BAH%3Acenter%3BBGC%3A003333%3BLBGC%3A105C6C%3BALC%3A66CCCC%3BLC%3A66CCCC%3BT%3A90DCEC%3BGFNT%3A66CCCC%3BGIMP%3A66CCCC%3BLH%3A60%3BLW%3A182%3BL%3Ahttp%3A%2F%2Fwww.nasaspaceflight.com%2F_images%2Flogo.jpg%3BS%3Ahttp%3A%2F%2F%3BFORID%3A1%3B&hl=en)
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Good article, although the documentation is quite old.
I still fear "nice to have" but not critical TPS inspections, "just to be sure" will interfare with and limit the actual mission, which is HST.
One question: Could an on time launch improve cryo margins to 12+2 and take some pressure from the EVA timeline?
Analyst
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I guess option one isn't possible because of the time needed for LON...?
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I don't see the connection.
Analyst
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If they don't get the TPS inspection data on FD2 but on FD9 or 10....how much time would they have to get Endeavour up if serious damage would be detected? Would there be enough time remaining until Atlantis runs out of cryo and stuff?
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If they don't get the TPS inspection data on FD2 but on FD9 or 10....how much time would they have to get Endeavour up if serious damage would be detected? Would there be enough time remaining until Atlantis runs out of cryo and stuff?
Lots of ifs, so I'm not sure how it's a question, but there's Endeavour on the pad for LON so it's not an issue. An orbiter could "lifeboat" for a month at a very big stretch. Irrelevant in this scenario.
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Thanks! Couldn't find the max time as a "lifeboat".
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STS-125: Planning continues with scheduled EVA-6 option - By Chris Gebhardt.
http://www.nasaspaceflight.com/content/?cid=5460
Will likely have a dedicated thread for the articles, as we're projecting we'll have 50 written pre-launch. (I've got another one coming at the weekend).
For now, this rediculously long URL will take you to 125 articles:
LINK (http://www.google.com/custom?domains=www.nasaspaceflight.com%3Bforum.nasaspaceflight.com&q=STS-125&sitesearch=www.nasaspaceflight.com&client=pub-2321486110874038&forid=1&ie=ISO-8859-1&oe=ISO-8859-1&safe=active&cof=GALT%3A%23FFFFFF%3BGL%3A1%3BDIV%3A%23336666%3BVLC%3AFFFFFF%3BAH%3Acenter%3BBGC%3A003333%3BLBGC%3A105C6C%3BALC%3A66CCCC%3BLC%3A66CCCC%3BT%3A90DCEC%3BGFNT%3A66CCCC%3BGIMP%3A66CCCC%3BLH%3A60%3BLW%3A182%3BL%3Ahttp%3A%2F%2Fwww.nasaspaceflight.com%2F_images%2Flogo.jpg%3BS%3Ahttp%3A%2F%2F%3BFORID%3A1%3B&hl=en)
Another good article and not from the normal Chris. Chris MkII is a good writer too, is he a member of the forum?
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If they don't get the TPS inspection data on FD2 but on FD9 or 10....how much time would they have to get Endeavour up if serious damage would be detected? Would there be enough time remaining until Atlantis runs out of cryo and stuff?
Well, as stated in the artcle, it's unlikely that TPS inspections will be traded for HST mission objectives. Afterall, crew safety is paramount as is TPS health determination. This artcile is largely based off information from last year and I haven't seen anything since then on L2 that the consideration of altering the TPS inspection plan went any further than the "Well-we-could-do-this" phase of early, early mission planning.
Furthermore, keep in mind that all the FWAG and mission planning documents we've seen for STS-400 have it launching just a few days after STS-125 in the event of a TPS emergency. That would lend evidence that the initial TPS inspections on FD-2 (and finishing up on FD-3 if necessary) will NOT be altered in anyway to make room for an early rendezvous with HST.
Of course, just because we haven't seen anything on L2 doesn't necessarily mean that conversations within the MOD and senior NASA management aren't ongoing on this subject.
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STS-125: Planning continues with scheduled EVA-6 option - By Chris Gebhardt.
http://www.nasaspaceflight.com/content/?cid=5460
Will likely have a dedicated thread for the articles, as we're projecting we'll have 50 written pre-launch. (I've got another one coming at the weekend).
For now, this rediculously long URL will take you to 125 articles:
LINK (http://www.google.com/custom?domains=www.nasaspaceflight.com%3Bforum.nasaspaceflight.com&q=STS-125&sitesearch=www.nasaspaceflight.com&client=pub-2321486110874038&forid=1&ie=ISO-8859-1&oe=ISO-8859-1&safe=active&cof=GALT%3A%23FFFFFF%3BGL%3A1%3BDIV%3A%23336666%3BVLC%3AFFFFFF%3BAH%3Acenter%3BBGC%3A003333%3BLBGC%3A105C6C%3BALC%3A66CCCC%3BLC%3A66CCCC%3BT%3A90DCEC%3BGFNT%3A66CCCC%3BGIMP%3A66CCCC%3BLH%3A60%3BLW%3A182%3BL%3Ahttp%3A%2F%2Fwww.nasaspaceflight.com%2F_images%2Flogo.jpg%3BS%3Ahttp%3A%2F%2F%3BFORID%3A1%3B&hl=en)
Another good article and not from the normal Chris. Chris MkII is a good writer too, is he a member of the forum?
Yes, he is. ;)
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We've got about 10 article's worth of content into L2 over the last 24 hours or so, but rather than spreading them out one per day, I'm aiming to create big round ups, such as this one that's just gone on:
http://www.nasaspaceflight.com/content/?cid=5461 (brings you up to date on processing etc.)
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I don't understand why the MPL-1 boosters stack will be switched from VAB HB1 to HB3.
I think that the stacking for STS-400 (126) could be performed in HB3.
Am I wrong?
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In the event that a major hurricane were to threaten KSC while both pads are occupied with their various shuttles...what is the minimum time required for NASA to evacuate the shuttles back to the VAB to ride out the storm?
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I don't understand why the MPL-1 boosters stack will be switched from VAB HB1 to HB3.
I think that the stacking for STS-400 (126) could be performed in HB3.
Am I wrong?
Two stacks in the VAB at the same time, and with C-Platform retraction in the High Bay, that's why they are doing it this way around.
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Here's the answer:
http://forum.nasaspaceflight.com/index.php?topic=11969.msg262500#msg262500
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Many thanks! I guess my search on "hurricane" didn't locate the original post...sorry for the duplicate. :)
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I don't understand why the MPL-1 boosters stack will be switched from VAB HB1 to HB3.
I think that the stacking for STS-400 (126) could be performed in HB3.
Am I wrong?
Two stacks in the VAB at the same time, and with C-Platform retraction in the High Bay, that's why they are doing it this way around.
Thanks for the reply.
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Did they switch highbays with the boosters yesterday as planned?
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Did they switch highbays with the boosters yesterday as planned?
Yes.
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Quote from http://www.nasaspaceflight.com/content/?cid=5460
"To accomplish all five back-to-back EVAs with minimal stress on the crew, mission planners have identified the need for four Extra-vehicular Mobility Units (EMUs), one for each spacewalker. In the past, HST repair missions have only carried three EMUs for their spacewalkers"
Only STS-82 had three EMUs. All others (STS-61, STS-103 and STS-109) had four.
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Today, the media was invited to Goddard Space Flight Center in Greenbelt, Maryland, for a series of briefings about STS-125 and the center's role in the mission.
As part of the day's activities, the press was provided an opportunity to view the clean room (the largest in the world) where the STS-125 payloads are being readied for their July 14 departure to Florida.
For more photographs and enlargements, click here (http://www.collectspace.com/ubb/Forum30/HTML/000704.html#gsfc).
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Nice set of photos. Didn't actually know the 125 payload elements were yet to arrive at KSC.
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Didn't actually know the 125 payload elements were yet to arrive at KSC.
Two notes from the briefing with Preston Burch, HST Program Manager:
1. HST hardware won't be ready to support a launch earlier than Oct. 8.
2. There will not be a sixth scheduled EVA.
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Two notes from the briefing with Preston Burch, HST Program Manager:
1. HST hardware won't be ready to support a launch earlier than Oct. 8.
Interesting, as the July meeting for the launch date is soley based on the ET shipping dates, with no mention of any payload long pole - as you've seen via the memo we acquired. Suggests that Chuck Shaw's request for everyone to get back to him ahead of the upcoming decision will have that note of no go (to advance the date) via payload? In fact, payload shouldn't be a long pole for Oct.8 as per flow timeline, so was there a suggestion of a problem?
Nothing in the standups from what I can tell.
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In fact, payload shouldn't be a long pole for Oct.8 as per flow timeline, so has there been a problem?
Burch didn't give any reason to believe there was a problem. They are shipping to KSC as scheduled on July 14, but said that the HST Program would support no earlier than Oct. 8 (saying that reports on the internet about the possibility of an earlier launch date were wrong).
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In fact, payload shouldn't be a long pole for Oct.8 as per flow timeline, so has there been a problem?
Burch didn't give any reason to believe there was a problem. They are shipping to KSC as scheduled on July 14, but said that the HST Program would support no earlier than Oct. 8 (that reports on the internet about the possibility of an earlier launch date were wrong).
Reports on the internet about the possibility of an earlier launch date were wrong? What the.....! It's a memo from Chuck Shaw, Mission Director, Hubble Servicing Mission 4! Wow, I'm really going after that tomorrow, as that's simply not true.
Thanks!
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I owe an apology to Preston Burch for misquoting what he said. I was working off a tired memory and had combined two different comments he had made on separate issues. For the record, here is the transcript of his comments with regards to the launch date:
We're planning to launch on October 8. You may also have heard, I understand was the scuttlebutt on the internet about us going early. I can tell you that we are working very, very closely with our counterparts on the shuttle program. Yes, they right now think they can be ready to launch as much as six or seven days earlier than this launch date, however we don't have that type of flexibility. Our hardware hasn't left Goddard yet, we're finishing up the test program. The hardware will be shipping here within the next week and a half, or two weeks from Goddard to go to the Cape and so there is not a lot of flexibility. The remaining couple of weeks that we have here at Goddard are to finish up our work. At the Cape, approximately half of that time at the Cape is shuttle orbiter processing activities that go on. They don't have a lot of flexibility to compress that time more than what they are currently advertising. As far as Hubble goes, we've got, at most, maybe three days of embedded slack in our schedule. If everything goes extremely well for us, it might be possible for us to be one or two days earlier to launch and the shuttle program, in theory, will be poised to take advantage of that. I wouldn't put a whole lot of money on us going much earlier than October 8. So, that's the real story, so our chances of going a week early, like someone was telling me a while ago are zero, I would say.
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And that's all good. Thanks for transcribing that out Robert!
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STS-125 flow update from L2, includes RCC panel update.
http://www.nasaspaceflight.com/content/?cid=5463
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I have a question in regards to this mission. If I'm in the wrong place, please move it.
I watched the series "When We Left Earth" and Kathryn Thornton commented saying that when they snagged the HST on STS-61, they only had 49% of the propellant onboard. I don't remember the exact quote, but I'm assuming this was in reference to the OMS propellant. With that, how critical will the prop be for the return? Obviously it should be enough, but how close might it be for the deorbit burn?
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Looking good on the second option of using a RCC panel from Discovery with "thermography inspections completed."
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I have a question in regards to this mission. If I'm in the wrong place, please move it.
I watched the series "When We Left Earth" and Kathryn Thornton commented saying that when they snagged the HST on STS-61, they only had 49% of the propellant onboard. I don't remember the exact quote, but I'm assuming this was in reference to the OMS propellant.
Yes.
With that, how critical will the prop be for the return? Obviously it should be enough, but how close might it be for the deorbit burn?
Very critical. HST flights are fairly unique that way. They burn half their OMS prop on the combination of OMS-2 and NH, the other half on deorbit. Generally all other burns are performed with the RCS.
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MAF have three shifts running constant throughout this weekend to try and mitigate, but the shipping dates for both ET-127 and ET-129 and now slipping to the right again, so the advancement of the launch date has no chance, and October 8 is now under some strain.
Hell of an effort by MAF all the same. They got ET-127 up to July 6 shipping at one point, this is now back down to around July 11. ET-129 for STS-400 is still about a week outside of the required Aug 2 (for advancement). Too far off to deterime if outside requirement for support of Oct 8 for STS-125.
Writing an article.
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Another L2 based update, including more on the above:
http://www.nasaspaceflight.com/content/?cid=5464
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It's good for me that they won't launch earlier, because I have already booked plane tickets and accomodation, and I was a bit scared about this.
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ET-127 is about to be completed. Hours to go and will be shipped in the morning (placed on to the barge). Non-L2 users won't know the amount of effort that's gone into this tank over the last few days, so will do an article.
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ET-127 is about to be completed. Hours to go and will be shipped in the morning (placed on to the barge). Non-L2 users won't know the amount of effort that's gone into this tank over the last few days, so will do an article.
I am assuming it was shipped by now?
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ET-127 is about to be completed. Hours to go and will be shipped in the morning (placed on to the barge). Non-L2 users won't know the amount of effort that's gone into this tank over the last few days, so will do an article.
I am assuming it was shipped by now?
Nope. Roll-on-barge according to this morning's NTD report is 1800 local.
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ET-127 is about to be completed. Hours to go and will be shipped in the morning (placed on to the barge). Non-L2 users won't know the amount of effort that's gone into this tank over the last few days, so will do an article.
I am assuming it was shipped by now?
Nope. Roll-on-barge according to this morning's NTD report is 1800 local.
Thanks,
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Article on ET-127 and other things:
http://www.nasaspaceflight.com/content/?cid=5468
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ET-127 has indeed left MAF as shown on this photo on LM's MAF website: http://www.lockheedmartin.com/ssc/michoud/MichoudImages/ET127.html
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SRB mod to the hold down bolts/posts, plus L2 based processing update:
http://www.nasaspaceflight.com/content/?cid=5469
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SRB mod to the hold down bolts/posts, plus L2 based processing update:
http://www.nasaspaceflight.com/content/?cid=5469
Greatly appreciated, thanks.
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Excellent. I'd read about this but forgotten that it was debuting with this mission. Wonderful overview of where things stand now.
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Thanks, as I was going blind with that presentation ;)
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Interesting thing: It's the first time I see someone mention a possible STS-134 in a status report...
Chris, if the ET arrives at KSC on the 16th, do you now when the official mating date with the SRBs will be?
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Interesting thing: It's the first time I see someone mention a possible STS-134 in a status report...
Chris, if the ET arrives at KSC on the 16th, do you now when the official mating date with the SRBs will be?
Well spotted on the STS-134 ;) We thought it was a typo on the L2 presentation, but we don't know. Wasn't going to change the content of the presentation in the article, so placed a "to be decided" type note with it.
ET/SRB Mate review has to take place first, and that's not till next week. Looking at next weekend at the earliest, as we believe some additional work is required on the tank in the checkout cell - might be done after mate, we'll see.
It'll be on L2 processing info next week, so when we know it'll be the first word on a set date.
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Well spotted on the STS-134 ;) We thought it was a typo on the L2 presentation, but we don't know. Wasn't going to change the content of the presentation in the article, so placed a "to be decided" type note with it.
It would seem to be in-line with Mr. Shannon's recent comments to Bill Harwood.
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Thanks, as I was going blind with that presentation ;)
Hmm... I think I know what you mean there. :)
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I wonder when Rollover is for Atlantis.
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I wonder when Rollover is for Atlantis.
Most likely 7 or 8 days prior to rollout. Normally a week in the VAB before rollout.
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she's spent almost a week in the VAB right, what are they doing during that time as far as the testing going to thr obiter?? NIKKI
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she's spent almost a week in the VAB right, what are they doing during that time as far as the testing going to thr obiter??
NIKKI
Mating ops, powered up integrated stack interface testing, and preps for rollout take place during the week in the VAB.
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Heads up, they are pushing for an advancement of the launch dates still. Will write up L2 info when we've collated enough in there.
Based around this idea:
http://www.nasaspaceflight.com/content/?cid=5459
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ET-127 has arrived at KSC. Not offloaded yet.
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ET-127 has arrived at KSC. Not offloaded yet.
Do they plan to offload today?
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I think it all depends on the rain and storms that are around the KSC. Here is a NASA picture of the barge.
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Some nice pictures of ET-127 arriving at KSC in the media gallery now
http://mediaarchive.ksc.nasa.gov/search.cfm?cat=4
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ET-127 has arrived in the VAB now.
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ET-127 has arrived in the VAB now.
And here it is.
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ET-127 is now off the trailer is prepared to be rotated to a vertical orientation for the final lift into the checkout cell.
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ET-127 is now vertical:
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And up she goes
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Timelapse in the transfer aisle. Looks like the disturbance in the Gulf is making rain in the area less diurnal.
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Timelapse in the transfer aisle. Looks like the disturbance in the Gulf is making rain in the area less diurnal.
Thank you! Missed the arrival into the VAB, so this makes it up just fine!
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Thanks for catching the pictures last evening.
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Timelapse in the transfer aisle. Looks like the disturbance in the Gulf is making rain in the area less diurnal.
Heh, nice work!
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Not sure if this is going to hinder any Processing but,
National Hurricane Center says that 3 Systems may be forming, and likely one of them is a TD right now. There is a System off Florida that may Form, that is causing rain all over florida including in the Cape Area.
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Second article on this possibility (now an official Change Request Document, acquited by L2):
NASA managers request change to STS-125, STS-126 launch dates
http://www.nasaspaceflight.com/content/?cid=5472
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Second article on this possibility (now an official Change Request Document, acquited by L2):
NASA managers request change to STS-125, STS-126 launch dates
http://www.nasaspaceflight.com/content/?cid=5472
Question about this bit in the article:
To allow for the launch date to advance from a payload standpoint, the Hubble servicing equipment needs to arrive at the Kennedy Space Center (KSC), from the Goddard Space Center, by September 11.
My understanding is that September 11 is the date the full payload complement needs to arrive at the pad in the payload canister. There will be some work on the different elements of the payload at KSC after it arrives from Goddard but before they go into the payload canister for transport to the pad.
Is September 11 the "need date" for the payloads to get to KSC from Goddard or for the payloads to arrive at the pad?
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Modified the line.
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Second article on this possibility (now an official Change Request Document, acquited by L2):
NASA managers request change to STS-125, STS-126 launch dates
http://www.nasaspaceflight.com/content/?cid=5472
Probably a dumb question, but how did they take the first picture in the article?
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Probably a dumb question, but how did they take the first picture in the article?
I would guess it's a photoshop job
Acutally, I think it's from the mission timeline videos NASA released a few weeks ago.
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Second article on this possibility (now an official Change Request Document, acquited by L2):
NASA managers request change to STS-125, STS-126 launch dates
http://www.nasaspaceflight.com/content/?cid=5472
Probably a dumb question, but how did they take the first picture in the article?
CGI. NASA's released a CGI video and he's taken a screenshot.
See here for the original video:
http://forum.nasaspaceflight.com/index.php?topic=13483.0
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A view inside the PHSF where the HST payloads are being processed. The item covered in black plastic is the Flight Support System.
http://science.ksc.nasa.gov/shuttle/countdown/video/chan11large.jpg
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Here's a capture of what I believe the SLIC:
Strike that! It's a close up of the backside of the FSS!
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Seems that something is coming in:
alright last guess: SLIC. Anyone in the know here?
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L2 Processing information this morning notes they've found a problem with the tank. We're checking into it.
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Seems that something is coming in:
alright last guess: SLIC. Anyone in the know here?
SLIC and ORUC.
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L2 Processing information this morning notes they've found a problem with the tank. We're checking into it.
Problem as in "oh shit we have to do this and this and this and..." or as in "yeah we're gonna have to fix this and then it's good to go"?
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Seems that something is coming in:
alright last guess: SLIC. Anyone in the know here?
SLIC and ORUC.
Alright then, looks like one is being hoisted off the trailer:
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I believe that's SLIC being hoisted.
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L2 Processing information this morning notes they've found a problem with the tank. We're checking into it.
Problem as in "oh shit we have to do this and this and this and..." or as in "yeah we're gonna have to fix this and then it's good to go"?
The latter. R&R (likely) will be within the timelines.
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http://www.nasaspaceflight.com/content/?cid=5473 - on the valve.
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That was fast, images of the SLIC and ORUC are already on KSC images:
http://mediaarchive.ksc.nasa.gov/search.cfm?cat=180
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Seems like they're in the process of removing the plastic covers from the ORUC and SLIC.
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Both the ORUC and SLIC has now been uncovered. I guess the FSS is next up to be uncovered.
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Both the ORUC and SLIC has now been uncovered. I guess the FSS is next up to be uncovered.
Either shifts are changing, or they are done for the night. SLIC is on pallet, ORUC looking close to it.
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Per L2, they are delaying ET/SRB mate by two days (nothing drastic) due to valve R&R (previous article).
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http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rlPJBPG6ZLg
cool video, mostly STS-125 CEIT
Enjoy,
Hogan
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And here's a fat update on the valve and the pad repairs:
http://www.nasaspaceflight.com/content/?cid=5475
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This site totally dominates STS-125 already.
http://www.spacetoday.net/articles_bycategory.php?cid=56
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The NASA-KSC Media Gallery has a few new pix of the work out at Pad A:
http://mediaarchive.ksc.nasa.gov/search.cfm?cat=4
(Attached a sample of one of those; as usual, the full res pics are available from the above link.)
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Maybe this has already been answered before but can somebody explain why the crew for the LON mission of STS 125 is a part of the STS 123 crew ? If I am not mistaking, until now, LON crews were always a part of the crew of the next planned shuttle mission.
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Maybe this has already been answered before but can somebody explain why the crew for the LON mission of STS 125 is a part of the STS 123 crew ? If I am not mistaking, until now, LON crews were always a part of the crew of the next planned shuttle mission.
Because the nature of the rescue mission is substantially different. STS-125 is not docking with ISS.
For an ISS shuttle rescue mission, the shuttle crew stays on the station. The suspect orbiter is undocked and re-enters (either for a possible landing or for destruction). Sometime after that, the rescue shuttle launches and docks with the station as with a typical ISS mission, the stranded shuttle crew boards the docked rescue shuttle, and the two crews return.
For STS-400, the STS-125 crew has to remain on the suspect orbiter, which has much less supplies than ISS. The rescue shuttle must launch and rendezvous with the suspect orbiter and then the STS-125 crew must board the rescue shuttle.
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I know that the LON mission is extremely different than for an ISS mission and that STS-125 can't reach the ISS for a safe heaven. But I don't understand why this special LON mission couldn't be carried by the STS 123 or STS 126 crews.
So, is it a question of training for the two possible crews which could be on the LON mission (STS 123 or STS 126) ?
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The STS-126 crew would then have to train for 3 missions. They have to train for their own mission (STS-126), the LON for STS-124 (STS-326) and the LON for the Hubble mission (STS-400).
There is not a lot of extra training time for a normal crew, so now they have to train for the extra LON while not pushing back the schedule for their own flight
If you train a crew that recently flew (like the STS-123 crew) then you have enough time to make sure they are properly trained and you're sure those in the rescue orbiter are accustomed to being in zero-g.
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I know that the LON mission is extremely different than for an ISS mission and that STS-125 can't reach the ISS for a safe heaven. But I don't understand why this special LON mission couldn't be carried by the STS 123 or STS 126 crews.
So, is it a question of training for the two possible crews which could be on the LON mission (STS 123 or STS 126) ?
I think that the STS-126 crew should be able to get to fly, i mean STS-123 crew has already flown, its time to let someone else's turn.
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I know that the LON mission is extremely different than for an ISS mission and that STS-125 can't reach the ISS for a safe heaven. But I don't understand why this special LON mission couldn't be carried by the STS 123 or STS 126 crews.
So, is it a question of training for the two possible crews which could be on the LON mission (STS 123 or STS 126) ?
Correct. The STS-126 crew does not have time to train for the STS-400 mission on top of their nominal mission. Therefore a separate crew was required. In order to minimize training, a crew that had recently flown together (STS-123) was selected as the STS-400 crew.
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I know that the LON mission is extremely different than for an ISS mission and that STS-125 can't reach the ISS for a safe heaven. But I don't understand why this special LON mission couldn't be carried by the STS 123 or STS 126 crews.
So, is it a question of training for the two possible crews which could be on the LON mission (STS 123 or STS 126) ?
I think that the STS-126 crew should be able to get to fly, i mean STS-123 crew has already flown, its time to let someone else's turn.
The 126 crew will get to fly 126. Flying 400 would be a very unlikely and hoped-to-be-avoided event.
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The STS-126 crew would then have to train for 3 missions. They have to train for their own mission (STS-126), the LON for STS-124 (STS-326) and the LON for the Hubble mission (STS-400).
Of course, 326 is now defunct since 124 landed safely. But the principle is correct. ISS LON missions are similar enough to the nominal missions that the next ISS crew can perform them without dedicated training. That is not the case for 400. It is different enough from 126 that it requires dedicated training and the 126 crew does not have the time.
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Thanks a lot for all the answers. I have yet another question about STS-400 (which I also hope won't be needed). I read in an article on this site that during the EVAs, ACES suits will be transfered between the two orbiters. So, will these suits be transferred without any special packing ? In other words, would the suits resists to the environnment of space without any special precaution ?
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Btw, Atlantis's PLDs have closed, here are some pictures.
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Bill Harwood has an update on launch dates:
http://www.cbsnews.com/network/news/space/current.html
Excerpt:
But crew training, payload processing and work to ready external tanks for flight prompted managers today to request Oct. 5 for launch of the Hubble servicing mission and Nov. 7 for the subsequent space station assembly flight. A decision on whether to actually approve those target dates is expected Aug. 14.
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Btw, Atlantis's PLDs have closed, here are some pictures.
And you can find the higher resolution of said pictures here (http://mediaarchive.ksc.nasa.gov/search.cfm?cat=4).
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Seems like Orbiter processing for Atlantis has been going smoothly, Gee, I wonder when rollover is.
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Seems like Orbiter processing for Atlantis has been going smoothly, Gee, I wonder when rollover is.
Per L2, I believe they are on schedule for August 15th for rollover.
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Seems like Orbiter processing for Atlantis has been going smoothly, Gee, I wonder when rollover is.
Per L2, I believe they are on schedule for August 15th for rollover.
Seems a minor Coincidence, the new Star Wars movie comes out on that day. ;D on Topic anyways, thats great news, I wouldn't think that the ET Issues would hold them up right?
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As of Thursday SRB/ET mate is scheduled for August 3rd and Orbiter/Stack mate for August 18th
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Seems like Orbiter processing for Atlantis has been going smoothly, Gee, I wonder when rollover is.
Per L2, I believe they are on schedule for August 15th for rollover.
Seems a minor Coincidence, the new Star Wars movie comes out on that day. ;D on Topic anyways, thats great news, I wouldn't think that the ET Issues would hold them up right?
As said by Chris in this (http://www.nasaspaceflight.com/content/?cid=5473) article, the GH2 R&R is expected to be within the timeline, and shouldn't hold the schedule up.
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Thanks a lot for all the answers. I have yet another question about STS-400 (which I also hope won't be needed). I read in an article on this site that during the EVAs, ACES suits will be transfered between the two orbiters. So, will these suits be transferred without any special packing ? In other words, would the suits resists to the environnment of space without any special precaution ?
They were originally planning to try to certify the suits for exposure to the vacuum environment, but the latest STS-400 documentation on L2 (part slide below used with special permission on the public thread) points to NASA launching new suits aboard Endeavour in special packing stored in the recumbant seats on the middeck.
The process used for certification would have cost a lot of money and it could have been a dead end, so they decided it would be much easier (and cheaper) to go ahead and launch extra suits for the STS-125 crew. It would also ease the workload during the EVAs. Those suits weigh about 85 pounds a piece, so it would be considerably easier on the crew to just leave the old ones behind on Atlantis.
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L2 based processing update:
http://www.nasaspaceflight.com/content/?cid=5478
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Hi. Long time reader, first time poster. Wanted to post to say your reports, Chris, on the Space Shuttle are great. Been a Shuttle fan since STS-1, and no other site comes close to this site for being able to follow the latest news.
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Hi. Long time reader, first time poster. Wanted to post to say your reports, Chris, on the Space Shuttle are great. Been a Shuttle fan since STS-1, and no other site comes close to this site for being able to follow the latest news.
Thanks very much :)
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Did the Freon loops go back into place ok Chris? I assume so from the lack of a mention in your article?
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Did the Freon loops go back into place ok Chris? I assume so from the lack of a mention in your article?
Radiator Retract Hoses - yes, no problems reported. The main interest is usually in the vertical at the pad when the PLBDs are closed for flight.
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The NASA-KSC Media Gallery has some new pictures; included are a few of work to R&R the ET GH2 2'' disconnect:
http://mediaarchive.ksc.nasa.gov/search.cfm?cat=4
Attached a sample of one of those; as usual, the full res pics are available from the above link.
NASA TV is also airing some footage in the current Video File.
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Did the Freon loops go back into place ok Chris? I assume so from the lack of a mention in your article?
Radiator Retract Hoses - yes, no problems reported. The main interest is usually in the vertical at the pad when the PLBDs are closed for flight.
Very good.
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GN2 2 inch disconnect valve repaired :)
Now on to the Helium Inject Line R&R
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FRR dates, processing latest (wanted to get this on this morning, but we're getting snowed under with L2 - so there's a number of articles coming on 125).
http://www.nasaspaceflight.com/content/?cid=5480
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FRR dates, processing latest (wanted to get this on this morning, but we're getting snowed under with L2 - so there's a number of articles coming on 125).
http://www.nasaspaceflight.com/content/?cid=5480
Added an addition (technically a correction) into the article (thanks to Philip), in regard to the Aug 3 SRB/ET mate (S0003 Ops). Their "improvements to ground processing" is showing S0003 as 15 days, so that would place it as Aug 18. I was told this week the charts are showing Aug 22, but that'll be pre-improvements and changes to ET/SRB mate post valve and Helium Inject Line work, so the additional line in the article now covers and explains.
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If the lon is required would the launch be aired on nasa tv with full coverage (walkout, strap-in, final poll, etc.)?
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If the lon is required would the launch be aired on nasa tv with full coverage (walkout, strap-in, final poll, etc.)?
You mean LON, not lon, it stands for Launch On Need, it's not a word. Also, this LON is STS-400, by Endeavour. Atlantis is launching on STS-125, not LON. This is Atlantis' section.
Answer to the pointless question is probably. Consider people reading your post as "annoyed".
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If the lon is required would the launch be aired on nasa tv with full coverage (walkout, strap-in, final poll, etc.)?
You mean LON, not lon, it stands for Launch On Need, it's not a word. Also, this LON is STS-400, by Endeavour. Atlantis is launching on STS-125, not LON. This is Atlantis' section.
Answer to the pointless question is probably. Consider people reading your post as "annoyed".
Didn't find it annoying. Questions can be asked. And the LON-400 is for Atlantis Rescue. Also, to Answer the question, yes they will cover it, and on the news too.
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What is this:
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ET mate tomorrow...keep your eyes on the webcams (not that it may be possible given the cameras).
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Crane is on its way to pick up the tank...
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have they offically signed off on the modified launch date of 10/2
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have they offically signed off on the modified launch date of 10/2
No! That decision will be made during the August 14 PRCB meeting, not sooner. And right now the CR is for three days each. So the CR is October 5, not October 2.
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have they offically signed off on the modified launch date of 10/2
Read the news site, it'll help you.
http://www.nasaspaceflight.com/content/?cid=5479 - bottom part of the article.
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The tank crossing the transfer aisle...
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The tank crossing the transfer aisle...
here is a touched up version:
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ET is mated to the SRBs. Article will follow.
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And the latest on STS-125's flow:
http://www.nasaspaceflight.com/content/?cid=5483
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Looks like new hardware has arrived at the PHSF:
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That must be the shipping container for the new FGS. The MULE is set to arrive this weel as well.
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That must be the shipping container for the new FGS. The MULE is set to arrive this weel as well.
then say hello to the new FGS:
Edit: Does anyone know when the Imax camera will arrive, or has it already?
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ET is mated to the SRBs. Article will follow.
In today's video file...
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And more shots:
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And here is a look at the disconnect valves:
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These shots are great...thanks!
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I agree. These are really great pictures.
What is the actual schedule for the Atlantis rollover to VAB?
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Believe this is FGS
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I agree. These are really great pictures.
What is the actual schedule for the Atlantis rollover to VAB?
August 18.
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tank pictures now on KSC images:
http://mediaarchive.ksc.nasa.gov/search.cfm?cat=4
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And lowering into position:
Full res: http://mediaarchive.ksc.nasa.gov/search.cfm?cat=4
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Fine Guidance Sensor too:
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Edit: Does anyone know when the Imax camera will arrive, or has it already?
I think the IMAX camera is installed on the ORUC that arrived mid July.
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http://www.nasaspaceflight.com/content/?cid=5484 - relevant to launch date for STS-125
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So, October 5th is pretty much in the bag eh?
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So, October 5th is pretty much in the bag eh?
From the tank shipping point of view, it helps, but the tank schedule wasn't necessarily the only issue.
ET-129 still has to get all the way to the checkout cell in the VAB, which is dependent in large part on the cooperation of the weather. (For example, the barge has had to wait in Port Canaveral before.) Assuming there are no hangups, the program will have a good fix on STS-400 processing at KSC right around the time of the PRCB meeting on the 14th.
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The NASA-KSC video feeds page (http://science.ksc.nasa.gov/shuttle/countdown/video/) switched to a different OTV camera in the VAB...this one in High Bay 3, showing ET/SRB work...
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back at the PHSF, more hardware is being uncovered:
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Engineers are having a few problems with a washer on the tank (ET-127) during SRB mate ops. Still under engineering evaluation and may delay Atlantis rollover, but they have some flexibility to the right of the timeline if there's a slight delay.
Will do a big processing update for the fleet tonight.
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Engineers are having a few problems with a washer on the tank (ET-127) during SRB mate ops. Still under engineering evaluation and may delay Atlantis rollover, but they have some flexibility to the right of the timeline if there's a slight delay.
Will do a big processing update for the fleet tonight.
Course, its Atlantis, Ever hear the quote for Columbia? 'Columbia would never launch but when it did it would give you the best mission.' On topic anyways, what kind of Washer?
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Engineers are having a few problems with a washer on the tank (ET-127) during SRB mate ops. Still under engineering evaluation and may delay Atlantis rollover, but they have some flexibility to the right of the timeline if there's a slight delay.
Will do a big processing update for the fleet tonight.
Course, its Atlantis, Ever hear the quote for Columbia? 'Columbia would never launch but when it did it would give you the best mission.' On topic anyways, what kind of Washer?
Has nothing to do with the orbiter, just the luck of the flow.
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Sorry for the delay in translating the L2 documentation into this article, Army commitments got in the way...hopefully this big update will help:
http://www.nasaspaceflight.com/content/?cid=5486
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Really good article again!!
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Thanking you. Going to get busy with 125 soon, as they head into FRR season.
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SLIC and ORUC being repositioned:
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Rollover on Monday:
http://www.nasaspaceflight.com/content/?cid=5488
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Per L2, no change to the launch dates. Remain as perviously scheduled.
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http://www.nasaspaceflight.com/content/?cid=5489 for the article.
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Chris is rollover still targetted for Monday despite the landing gear door issue?
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Chris is rollover still targetted for Monday despite the landing gear door issue?
Yes. CTS is scheduled for 0600 hours Monday.
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Another L2 based flow update, focusing on the ongoing issue with the Nose Landing Gear (reason for the article going on last thing at night as this was an evolving situation right through to end of shift (and continuing tomorrow).
You might think "wow Chris, you know a lot about the landing gear" - when I don't....I'm mainly paraphrasing a very helpful engineer that's been talking us through the processing documention relating to this on L2. He's the star :)
http://www.nasaspaceflight.com/content/?cid=5491
Her nose gear still isn't raised, they hope tomorrow. If Sunday, they should be able to get her out of the barn on Monday. We'll be following closely.
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Is rollover still set for 0800 Eastern Time, on Monday?
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What is the latest on the "noise" heard from ET 129 (STS 126) when it was being moved in the VAB last week?
Thank you.
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Is rollover still set for 0800 Eastern Time, on Monday?
Yep, but will update in the morning.
What is the latest on the "noise" heard from ET 129 (STS 126) when it was being moved in the VAB last week?
Thank you.
You've read it ;) The most we have is via the morning reports on L2 (which I've also reported in the news articles) and the paper chase at MAF. The latest two or three articles note the plan of action and where they've got to with it. Monday will be interesting to see progress via the next reports on L2 (which I'll report as a news article).
Might be best to keep the ET-129 stuff on Endeavour's section.
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Can anyone provide more details on the delay in the rollover of Atlantis to the VAB because of tropical storm Fay?
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They are delaying, per PAO, per Justin at SFN, USA haven't confirmed yet, but given it's a Sunday and most of the people I know aren't in till tomorrow, it'll be the case.
http://www.spaceflightnow.com/shuttle/sts125/status.html
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NASA PAO note is a phone message.
USA:
No impact to launch schedule. 11 contingency days before payload to pad.
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Rollover is NET Tuesday, but more likely Thursday. Writing a processing report based on Monday's L2 processing reports.
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Rollover is NET Tuesday, but more likely Thursday. Writing a processing report based on Monday's L2 processing reports.
And that's now live:
http://www.nasaspaceflight.com/content/?cid=5492
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Per NASA, rollover is NET Thursday.
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The Tropical Storm is doing what is considered impossible sometimes, Becoming better organized over land. It made landfall with a 993 MB pressure and 60 MPH winds, at 1 PM, it strengthened up to 65 MPH with a pressure of 986 MB with an eye feature forming. The NHC places a Landfall in Georgia as a TS tomorrow night, So, I don't think it will have an effect on Thursday's Rollover weather other than some gusty winds and a few Squall Lines.
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I don't want to stray too far into weather in this thread since we have a Fay one - but some signs are that it just might meander around the JAX area which would have an impact on KSC weather.
NHC paths have been useless so far - the cone is what you want to concentrate on.
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Chris can you check out what they are planning to do for Rollover if you can? This is forecasted to be a Hurricane right off the Cape.
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It's pretty simple....we won't roll.
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I don't want to stray too far into weather in this thread since we have a Fay one - but some signs are that it just might meander around the JAX area which would have an impact on KSC weather.
NHC paths have been useless so far - the cone is what you want to concentrate on.
Boy is that right!!! This thing just seems to be defying the logic of tropical systems at every turn.
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This thing just seems to be defying the logic of tropical systems at every turn.
From my experience, that statement is an oxymoron ;)
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If the forecast track holds, Im pretty confident that we won't roll, they are expecting Tropical Storm force winds.
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can you check out what they are planning to do for Rollover if you can? This is forecasted to be a Hurricane right off the Cape.
It's pretty simple....we won't roll.
If the forecast track holds, Im pretty confident that we won't roll, they are expecting Tropical Storm force winds.
I'm sure they won't roll til it's done.
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I would say Friday is a go however weather wise.
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I would say Friday is a go however weather wise.
If the engineers are comfortable rolling the orbiter to the VAB, then they will do so. They will hang in the OPF until it is completely safe to do so. Until then, we play the waiting game.
We'll get first word of when rollover is planned the first day KSC is back open. Until then, let's wait it out. :)
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Latest news from the NASA EOC:
Kennedy Space Center
Effective since: Tuesday, August 19, 2008 07:11:49 PM EDT
Notice expires: August 20, 2008
CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. - NASA's Kennedy Space Center will remain closed at least through noon EDT Wednesday because of the potential threat to workers from Tropical Storm Fay. Kennedy managers will reevaluate the situation Wednesday morning and update employees at 6 a.m.
So far, there are no reports of any injuries or damage associated with Fay at the center.
The storm is forecast to pass very close to Kennedy Tuesday night and Wednesday morning, bringing heavy rain and possible tropical storm force wind. Kennedy was closed Tuesday morning as Fay made landfall along Florida's southwest coast.
About 200 emergency personnel, known as a "ride-out crew," will stay on site through out the storm to provide real-time assessments.
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Is there still a chance rollover could ocurr Thurs. or is that pretty much ruled out?
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They are staying closed all of today...
CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. - NASA's Kennedy Space Center, Fla., will remain closed Wednesday because of the potential wind threat to workers from Tropical Storm Fay. Center managers decided Wednesday morning to keep Kennedy closed another day to general personnel through at least workers' second shift, which ends late Wednesday night.
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Sorry if this is a stupid question (and I don't have L2, so don't shout at me if the answer is in there somewhere), but are the extra days in the OPF coming straight of contingency or are there tasks that can be moved forward to reduce the impact on the critical path?
If so what are they?
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Sorry if this is a stupid question (and I don't have L2, so don't shout at me if the answer is in there somewhere), but are the extra days in the OPF coming straight of contingency or are there tasks that can be moved forward to reduce the impact on the critical path?
If so what are they?
I believe Chris said somewhere that it was contingency days (they have/had 11, I believe).
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Thanks (although that is a little depressing, I was still hoping for a small advancement in launch date (I'm an optomist)). I thought I'd read 8 days.
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There will not be an advancement in the launch date - the Hubble stuff could at best be ready for a one-day increase, and that wasn't worth the hassle...
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I know its still early over there (as I break for lunch) but any indication if roll-over is likely to be on for today?
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I know its still early over there (as I break for lunch) but any indication if roll-over is likely to be on for today?
I would highly doubt it, as KSC is open for mission-essential personnel, not everyone. I predict sometime this weekend, but I could be wrong.
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Florida Today is reporting in its Space blog that plans to have "mission essential" personnel report this morning have been canceled.
http://www.floridatoday.com/apps/pbcs.dll/section?category=news02
Edit -- NASA noting this, too:
http://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/shuttle/main/index.html
NASA-KSC reported that Fay needs to get at least 30 n.mi. away from the area before the effects of the storm would begin to subside...
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Fay's a slow mover, so It might not even be Friday either.
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As noted in the weather thread - KSC and the Melbourne area are done with extreme rain, so unless they still have significant closures tomorrow then Friday should be fine to reopen. Normally Florida doesn't keep high water too long, but "normal" might not be the case thanks to that historic rainfall.
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FlaTo reporting a rollover after noon today - weather should cooperate with all the heavier activity staying to the northwest.
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FlaTo reporting a rollover after noon today - weather should cooperate with all the heavier activity staying to the northwest.
NET 6pm, meeting hasn't taken place yet.
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FlaTo reporting a rollover after noon today - weather should cooperate with all the heavier activity staying to the northwest.
NET 6pm, meeting hasn't taken place yet.
So its 9:03, safe to assume it did not happen? or did we not see it because the cameras were not switched.
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Management decide to extend past 9pm, and can now roll her anytime tonight. Waiting for a gap in the weather. She's ready to move out of the OPF otherwise.
Could be a long night folks ;)
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Great news, I'll keep an eye open on the cams until around 1 AM EDT.
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They are going to try 10pm rollover.
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10 minutes to Atlantis backing out of OPF-1. Doubt we have any webcam. VAB cam for arrival maybe?
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10 minutes to Atlantis backing out of OPF-1. Doubt we have any webcam. VAB cam for arrival maybe?
None of the cams that are up right now.
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10 minutes to Atlantis backing out of OPF-1. Doubt we have any webcam. VAB cam for arrival maybe?
No cameras that I can find, no.
Weather looks good for it, though:
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Atlantis moving. Around 10-15 minutes past the hour.
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She'll be in the VAB by now?
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Would have thought so. Waiting for an e-mail (probably when they park up in the transfer aisle) but she was just outside a bit ago.
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Ok, that's Atlantis on her way through another milestone.
STS-400 is the long pole to keeping Oct. 8 at this point.
http://www.nasaspaceflight.com/content/?cid=5499
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And thus, STS-125 has begun at least.. IMHO!
Great article, Chris!
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Was ok, more a processing filler for rollover.....I've written far better. Got lots of good ones (based on the documentation being good) coming, however :)
And before anyone asks, yes that is Atlantis, but it's a file photo from KSC Media archives ;)
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Ok, that's Atlantis on her way through another milestone.
STS-400 is the long pole to keeping Oct. 8 at this point.
http://www.nasaspaceflight.com/content/?cid=5499
As usual, on top of things, and first with the news
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During routine inspections of the Space Shuttle's Main Propulsion System (MPS) Liquid Oxygen (LO2) pre-valve, the mechanism provided to maintain the valve in the open position was found cracked. The mechanism is a Vespel roller held against the valve visor by a stack of Belleville springs. The roller has been found cracked 3 times. All three instances were in the same valve in the same location. There are 6 pre-valves on each orbiter, and only one has exhibited this problem. Every-flight inspections were instituted and the rollers were found to be cracked after only one flight. Engineers at Marshall Space Flight Center, Johnson Space Center and Kennedy Space Center worked together to determine a solution. There were several possible contributors to the failure: a mis-aligned visor, an out of specification edge with a sharp radius, an out of specification tolerance stack up of a Belleville spring stack that caused un-predicted loads on the Vespel SP-21 roller, and a dimple machined into the side of the roller to indicate LO2 compatibility that created a stress riser. The detent assembly was removed and replaced with parts that were on the low-side of the tolerance stack up to eliminate the potential for high loads on the detent roller. After one flight, the roller was inspected and showed fewer signs of wear and no cracks.
http://ntrs.nasa.gov/archive/nasa/casi.ntrs.nasa.gov/20080031529_2008030883.pdf
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After the rollout of Atlantis yesterday evening, what is the scheduled date for the rollout on Pad 39A, August 29 or August 30?
Will the rollout take place if the issues on Endeavour and ET-129, are not completely resolved?
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Will the rollout take place if the issues on Endeavour and ET-129, are not completely resolved?
Yes. No need to hold up Atlantis.
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Will the rollout take place if the issues on Endeavour and ET-129, are not completely resolved?
Yes. No need to hold up Atlantis.
Okay. Thankyou very much.
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After the rollout of Atlantis yesterday evening, what is the scheduled date for the rollout on Pad 39A, August 29 or August 30?
If there are no bigger issues found with mating and stack closeout I guess it should be August 29. But we will know more when the next processing reports come in on L2.
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Any word on whether the lifting process has began yet?
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Times are listed in L2. Supposedly beginning at 1pm EDT.
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NASA PAO are seriously letting themselves down this weekend.
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In the grand scheme of NASA operations, moving the shuttle from one building to another really isn't that worthy of front-page headlines...
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NASA PAO are seriously letting themselves down this weekend.
There's that little tropical-storm-flooded-most-of-the-area issue, too...I sure hope it's not a typical weekend when the President declares your county a disaster area.
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NASA PAO are seriously letting themselves down this weekend.
Kennedy Media Gallery has pics of Atlantis rollover!
http://mediaarchive.ksc.nasa.gov/search.cfm?cat=4
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Mating of both LO2 and LH2 umbilicals complete - few complications, but nothing past the usual.
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Some official times per L2:
Rollover: First motion was at 21:55 EDT.
The orbiter was spotted in the VAB transfer isle at 22:50.
S0004 Orbiter/ET Mate lift from the Orbiter Transporter began Saturday at 0905 with hard mate completed Sunday at 13:55.
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NASA.gov's shuttle page has pad rollout targeted for 0001 local on Saturday:
http://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/shuttle/main/
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NASA PAO are seriously letting themselves down this weekend.
There's that little tropical-storm-flooded-most-of-the-area issue, too...I sure hope it's not a typical weekend when the President declares your county a disaster area.
someone was there to take video and pictures of the storm aftermath...
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someone was there to take video and pictures of the storm aftermath...
That was shot on August 21, as noted by PAO; probably by folks on the rideout crew...
ITEM 1 - NASA KENNEDY MINIMALLY DAMAGED BY TROPICAL STORM FAY - KSC (REPLAY)
NASA’s Kennedy Space Center, Fla., sustained minimal damage from Tropical Storm Fay. The storm passed over the
center Aug. 20 and then stalled off shore, bringing with it heavy rain and tropical storm force wind.
Based on initial assessments, there was no damage to spaceflight hardware, such as the space shuttles and Hubble
Space Telescope equipment. Some facilities did sustain minor damage, including the Vehicle Assembly Building, which
had a few exterior panels knocked loose. Most reports are of water intrusion that will require mopping up and a few
partly flooded roads and parking lots.
This video was shot on Aug. 21. Kennedy closed Aug. 19 because of Fay and reopened for normal operations Aug. 22.
TRT: 14:06
The point was to be aware that things don't necessarily return to normal immediately in and/or around work.
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NASA PAO are seriously letting themselves down this weekend.
I would note the time she was moved - and that was after the previous deadline, thus was looking like Saturday for a large part of the day. If PAO started at 9am, then they were into a 13-14 hour day by time she was in the VAB. They aren't robots.
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NASA PAO are seriously letting themselves down this weekend.
I would note the time she was moved - and that was after the previous deadline, thus was looking like Saturday for a large part of the day. If PAO started at 9am, then they were into a 13-14 hour day by time she was in the VAB. They aren't robots.
Well, if they need anyone to cover in between, all they need is to send me a plane ticket...
Also, does NASA not do the Blue/Gold teams for PAO?
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http://mediaarchive.ksc.nasa.gov/search.cfm?cat=180
Atlantis in VAB
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http://mediaarchive.ksc.nasa.gov/search.cfm?cat=180
Some pix of the lift to mate there, now, too...attached a low-res illustration here; the full-res pix are at the above link...
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http://mediaarchive.ksc.nasa.gov/search.cfm?cat=180
Some pix of the lift to mate there, now, too...attached a low-res illustration here; the full-res pix are at the above link...
Just to add to that, more mate images:
Also, I would like to take this opportunity to apologize to the PAO, these are some spectacular shots!
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Remember with the PAO stuff, too, that this was a weekend. Atlantis moved Friday night. The pics went up Monday. That's pretty standard.
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Remember with the PAO stuff, too, that this was a weekend. Atlantis moved Friday night. The pics went up Monday. That's pretty standard.
I figured that would happen, my only gripe is that the VAB webcams were not online to watch the roll over. I knew from the start that photographs would not be available until today.
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Not to wanting to turn this into the KSC PAO are crap there, but these people are paid to fulfil NASA remit of educating and informing the public. If they can work and extra shift on a key day to ensure webcams are working or pics are published in lieu of a day off then they should get out of the media business.
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Not to wanting to turn this into the KSC PAO are crap there, but these people are paid to fulfil NASA remit of educating and informing the public. If they can work and extra shift on a key day to ensure webcams are working or pics are published in lieu of a day off then they should get out of the media business.
You're missing some critical letters / punctuation marks / etc. -- but in any case, you are way off-base in your criticism. Totally inappropriate.
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Not to wanting to turn this into the KSC PAO are crap there, but these people are paid to fulfil NASA remit of educating and informing the public.
Which they did; as noted, the last rollover occurred on a Saturday perhaps a shift later than this one and even with all the stuff going on in the area this time, PAO still published on approximately the same schedule as the last rollover.
If they can work and extra shift on a key day to ensure webcams are working or pics are published in lieu of a day off then they should get out of the media business.
PAO gets its primary feedback from "the media business;" there's not enough interest in real-time or near real-time coverage of a rollover to justify the expense for either "the media" or NASA.
The "webcams" aren't necessarily operated by PAO, either.
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http://mediaarchive.ksc.nasa.gov/search.cfm?cat=180
Some pix of the lift to mate there, now, too...attached a low-res illustration here; the full-res pix are at the above link...
This picture has to be one of the most amazingly beautiful pictures I've ever seen for a mate!
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We're heading into the business end of processing, so we can drop anything other than that now, thanks.
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Problem relating to LH2 umbilical mating is now a bigger issue as there's damage on the orbiter side. Writing up L2 processing info this morning, and we're following evaluations in there to update.
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So this could delay rollout?
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So this could delay rollout?
It's not helping, put it that way. They've backed Atlantis' LH2 umbilical connection to the tank and evaluations are taking place all day.
There is the potential for an orbiter/ET demate to repair Atlantis' LH2 umbilical plate, and that's a delay for sure. It's very live info, so no way to know yet.
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State of Play via L2:
http://www.nasaspaceflight.com/content/?cid=5501
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Very informative article. Can they repair in the VAB?
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Very informative article. Can they repair in the VAB?
Still being evaluated. The hope is they can do something in the VAB, depends on if they can sand down the gouge. We're following on L2 and I'll make additions to the article as we go.
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Thanks for the update Chris...Now that I got my LTT tickets, i am hoping very much the launch date doesnt change.
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Thanks for the update Chris...Now that I got my LTT tickets, i am hoping very much the launch date doesnt change.
It's one of the usual challenges they get with every flow. These birds like to make things interesting ;)
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Thanks for the update Chris...Now that I got my LTT tickets, i am hoping very much the launch date doesnt change.
It's one of the usual challenges they get with every flow. These birds like to make things interesting ;)
Guess we got spoiled with how 'clean' the processing went for STS-124. Too bad Atlantis and Endeavour can't play as friendly as their big sister Discovery. Very interesting to follow though!
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So this could delay rollout?
It's not helping, put it that way. They've backed Atlantis' LH2 umbilical connection to the tank and evaluations are taking place all day.
There is the potential for an orbiter/ET demate to repair Atlantis' LH2 umbilical plate, and that's a delay for sure. It's very live info, so no way to know yet.
Chris can they still begin the Shuttle Interfact Test, with a call-to-stations at 2300 as noted in your article, despite the umbilical plate problem?
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So this could delay rollout?
It's not helping, put it that way. They've backed Atlantis' LH2 umbilical connection to the tank and evaluations are taking place all day.
There is the potential for an orbiter/ET demate to repair Atlantis' LH2 umbilical plate, and that's a delay for sure. It's very live info, so no way to know yet.
Chris can they still begin the Shuttle Interfact Test, with a call-to-stations at 2300 as noted in your article, despite the umbilical plate problem?
They were taking molds of the damage - or trying to as the gap on demate was 2 inches and they needed six inches. That was the last we heard. I don't think it's a constraint to the test, but not sure.
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Rollout delayed to Sunday (at least). Still ranging from repairing the damage to demating the stack - will depend on the results of the repair. Engineering Review Board on forward plan today.
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Ok after talking with some of the techs last night, they got the (or a) pin out last night. There's still a little repair work to do, but they will try and get it done while it's in the VAB. If they need to demate, odds are they will rollback into the OPF Bay 1. If they do have to rollback, it would delay the rollout to the pad, but should not interfere with the launch date.
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If they do have to rollback, it would delay the rollout to the pad, but should not interfere with the launch date.
That's nonsense. There's about three days of contingency left. Demating would kill the launch date.
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Yeah, see that's what i was thinking, but i'm going from what a few of the techs said.
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Yeah, see that's what i was thinking, but i'm going from what a few of the techs said.
There's much better tech info on the L2 thread.
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Another article updating status. Will update that article during the day, with another in the morning.
http://www.nasaspaceflight.com/content/?cid=5502
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Rollout to 39A now NET than Tuesday Sept. 2:
http://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/shuttle/main/index.html
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Rollout to 39A now NET than Tuesday Sept. 2:
http://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/shuttle/main/index.html
Between that storm and now the umbilical issue I've lost count of how many contingency day we have left. So, if we roll Tuesday morning now how many contingency days does this leave for Atlantis?
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Rollout to 39A now NET than Tuesday Sept. 2:
http://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/shuttle/main/index.html
Good spot, that has to be weather related, as the engineering side (which we cover) is actually advancing on the previous timeline - and they may have it repaired within hours.
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Don't blame me ;) NASA.gov says it is for the repair. Maybe that means the advanced timeline could bring it back?
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Rollout to 39A now NET than Tuesday Sept. 2:
http://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/shuttle/main/index.html
Between that storm and now the umbilical issue I've lost count of how many contingency day we have left. So, if we roll Tuesday morning now how many contingency days does this leave for Atlantis?
One or none. I'll find out, as it gets a bit complicated with this flow due to rolling out and then waiting for STS-400 to rollout.
Nothing new, however. They've managed with no contingency days a few times recently.
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In mid July, Chris wrote that Atlantis´payload was only just on the timeline to make October 8 date.
Is it still the case?
Thanks.
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In mid July, Chris wrote that Atlantis´payload was only just on the timeline to make October 8 date.
Is it still the case?
Thanks.
I believe so. The CR (Change Request) for the launch dates was denied for the reason of the payload most likely not being ready to support an October 5th launch.
Feel free to correct me if I'm wrong.
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Atlantis' repair on the LH2 ET Umbilical hareware is complete and good. Going to the Program for approval for flight. Awesome work on that.
Another article coming shortly to round that up.
Lots more to come - I think we've got numerous presentations on L2 to turn into articles for STS-125/400 - now we're at the business end of the flow. Also about three really good presentations on the pad related to STS-125, so we're going to be flooding the news site with articles in the run up to the FRRs.
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We can take it Chris... keep it coming... :)
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Atlantis' repair on the LH2 ET Umbilical hareware is complete and good. Going to the Program for approval for flight. Awesome work on that.
Another article coming shortly to round that up.
Lots more to come - I think we've got numerous presentations on L2 to turn into articles for STS-125/400 - now we're at the business end of the flow. Also about three really good presentations on the pad related to STS-125, so we're going to be flooding the news site with articles in the run up to the FRRs.
Any chance of an earlier rollout Chris?
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Atlantis' repair on the LH2 ET Umbilical hareware is complete and good. Going to the Program for approval for flight. Awesome work on that.
Another article coming shortly to round that up.
Lots more to come - I think we've got numerous presentations on L2 to turn into articles for STS-125/400 - now we're at the business end of the flow. Also about three really good presentations on the pad related to STS-125, so we're going to be flooding the news site with articles in the run up to the FRRs.
Any chance of an earlier rollout Chris?
Morning processing notes on L2 say they are still tracking Tuesday at 00:01.
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excuse me, when is the payload scheduled to arrive at the pad?? shouldn't it arrive before Atlantis??
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excuse me, when is the payload scheduled to arrive at the pad?? shouldn't it arrive before Atlantis??
Not in this case. Due to the extended pad flow for STS-125 because of the unique STS-400 dual flow, Atlantis will rollout before its payload is brought to the pad.
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Quick question - not to sound doom and gloom at all but at what point do they decide to do a rollback (or not roll out at all) if a hurricane is approaching? If they are at the pad can they shield the orbitor up to a certain level or do they roll back even if it turns into just a TS? With the storms lining up faster than x-wives on payday it appears like this could be an interesting month or two.. :)
thanks in advance
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Quick question - not to sound doom and gloom at all but at what point do they decide to do a rollback (or not roll out at all) if a hurricane is approaching?
72 hours.
http://www-pao.ksc.nasa.gov/kscpao/status/weatstat/hurrica2.htm
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Quick question - not to sound doom and gloom at all but at what point do they decide to do a rollback (or not roll out at all) if a hurricane is approaching?
72 hours.
http://www-pao.ksc.nasa.gov/kscpao/status/weatstat/hurrica2.htm
Thanks for the reply rdale - I wasn't clear on my question - I am interested in what level of storm do they stay on the pad for and when do they roll back - ie, would they ride out a Cat 1 but roll back if it was expected to be a cat 3?? Is there any level of hurricane or strong tropical storm that they would ride out with the RSS around the shuttle?
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Thanks for the reply rdale - I wasn't clear on my question - I am interested in what level of storm do they stay on the pad for and when do they roll back
It's the very first line of the link :)
"The Space Shuttle will be rolled back from the launch pad if there is a possibility that wind could exceed a sustained velocity of 60 knots (69 mph)."
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Quick question - not to sound doom and gloom at all but at what point do they decide to do a rollback (or not roll out at all) if a hurricane is approaching?
72 hours.
http://www-pao.ksc.nasa.gov/kscpao/status/weatstat/hurrica2.htm
Thanks for the reply rdale - I wasn't clear on my question - I am interested in what level of storm do they stay on the pad for and when do they roll back - ie, would they ride out a Cat 1 but roll back if it was expected to be a cat 3?? Is there any level of hurricane or strong tropical storm that they would ride out with the RSS around the shuttle?
A bit of trivia to put the rollback decision making process in perspective. Back in 2006, NASA started to rollback Atlantis (STS-115) when Tropical Storm Ernesto was forecast to be a strong tropical storm. When the forecast changed and Ernesto was not predicted to be that strong, they reversed the rollback and sent Atlantis back to the pad to ride out the storm. She was already half way back to the VAB when they reversed the decision.
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Thanks for the reply rdale - I wasn't clear on my question - I am interested in what level of storm do they stay on the pad for and when do they roll back
It's the very first line of the link :)
"The Space Shuttle will be rolled back from the launch pad if there is a possibility that wind could exceed a sustained velocity of 60 knots (69 mph)."
perfect... thankyou
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Search here and you'll find me strongly opposed to the half-rollback ;)
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Search here and you'll find me strongly opposed to the half-rollback ;)
Yes! I remember that well. Good times. Good time. :)
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And the next article on the repair being completed. One final update to that article will be when the repair is cleared for flight - as expected.
http://www.nasaspaceflight.com/content/?cid=5503
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Bit early to panic but I dont like the look of TS Hanna. Possible Hurricane Sunday Am.
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Way too early to whisper the word "panic" let alone write it ;) See the dedicated weather threads in the live forum.
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Boeing pass the repair for flight - that problem is now officially outta here! ;D
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Boeing pass the repair for flight - that problem is now officially outta here! ;D
Great news. I expect them to fix anything these days! :)
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STS-125 launch date is slipping. Looking like NET Oct 11. More soon.
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Ok, another article, processing latest and the launch date slip situation:
http://www.nasaspaceflight.com/content/?cid=5504
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Article on the MFR which arrived at KSC damaged in July, sent back and repaired, to be installed on Tuesday.
http://www.nasaspaceflight.com/content/?cid=5505
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Hello,
Any news on the rollout scheduled for tonight at 12:01 am? There is the possibility of 20% storm-force winds for Florida's east coast-- just wondering if they have announced a hold for rolling the shuttle to the pad.
Thanks!
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That would be posted in this very thread... Chris doesn't usually hold that ;)
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With it being a US holiday, we'll probably get a status later on today - maybe at Call To Stations.
Do know some people who are around, so we'll know if it remains on schedule. Rollout usually has a bit of a natural delay anyway, so don't expect the stack to leave bang on 00:01.
Will update when I know.
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KSC say rollout remains on schedule.
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"A5214 Space Shuttle Transfer to Pad:
o Call-to-Stations is scheduled for 2000 hrs this evening, with first motion at 0001 tomorrow morning pending evaluation of the weather."
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KSC say rollout remains on schedule.
So all the lines are properly mated and the vehicle obviously came through the Shuttle Interface Test with flying colors. That's great!!
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"A5214 Space Shuttle Transfer to Pad:
o Call-to-Stations is scheduled for 2000 hrs this evening, with first motion at 0001 tomorrow morning pending evaluation of the weather."
Hanna has just been upgraded to a hurricane, and the threat cone expanded to include almost the whole of the Eastern coast of Florida, so I'm sure the weather evaluation tonight will be interesting.
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On the KSC phoneline, the rollout of Atlantis has been delayed now at least 24 hours due to concerns on the future track and effects of Hurricane Hanna.
Richard
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On the KSC phoneline, the rollout of Atlantis has been delayed now at least 24 hours due to concerns on the future track and effects of Hurricane Hanna.
Richard
Yes I can confirm also confirm that. They decided this aftter the 1:00 pm WX brief - I was pretty certain they would wait and see what the 6:00 pm brief showed but abviously the Hanna track is not favorable.
Although, they are currently only calling for a 24 hour delay I think we are looking at a longer delay than that - my guess is Fri / Sat at best assuming the other storms in that chain don't add to the problem.
Mark Kirkman
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I agree Mark, Friday evening/Saturday morning looks like the best chance this week to rollout, but by then the next tropical depression, now known as TD #9 may become Hurricane Ike approaching the Bahamas by then according to the NOAA NHC. Depending on its future track, that storm may cause a similar delay in rollout plans, it will be interesting to see when Atlantis can leave the VAB safely.
Richard
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Is it still on for Tuesday 09/02 and what time...I would like to see a roll out it would complete my Shuttle experience..
If you know when 400 rolls out I would be appreciative to that info to...I will be moving out of Orlando at the end of the month.
Thanks
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Is it still on for Tuesday 09/02 and what time...I would like to see a roll out it would complete my Shuttle experience..
If you know when 400 rolls out I would be appreciative to that info to...I will be moving out of Orlando at the end of the month.
Thanks
Welcome to the site's forum.
Right now it's up in the air. Currently it's NET (No Earlier Than) the 24 hour delay, but could be a day on day slip based on weather. Some talk of it being several days.
We're waiting on Endeavour's rollout to 39B's date as the launch date for STS-125 will knock on to Endeavour's milestones.
When something solid is forthcoming, we'll note it.
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Bill Harwood has posted a new story where things stand:
"5:30 PM, 8/29/08, Update: Shuttle rollout delayed by Hurricane Hanna"
http://www.cbsnews.com/network/news/space/current.html
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Bill Harwood has posted a new story where things stand:
"5:30 PM, 8/29/08, Update: Shuttle rollout delayed by Hurricane Hanna"
http://www.cbsnews.com/network/news/space/current.html
Wow, I'm a big fan of Bill's work but I am really impressed that he was able post that story on "08/29/08" at 5:30 PM. :) He is much more "plugged in" than I have given him credit for - the fact that he could have predicted all of this last Friday is very impressive. ;)
Mark Kirkman
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As they've used up most of their contingency days with Fay, will this cause a day-by-day slip in the launch date until they get her to the pad? I know Chris' article said the launch was probably going to slip to the 11th anyways, but still curious.
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Bill Harwood has posted a new story where things stand:
"5:30 PM, 8/29/08, Update: Shuttle rollout delayed by Hurricane Hanna"
http://www.cbsnews.com/network/news/space/current.html
Wow, I'm a big fan of Bill's work but I am really impressed that he was able post that story on "08/29/08" at 5:30 PM. :) He is much more "plugged in" than I have given him credit for - the fact that he could have predicted all of this last Friday is very impressive. ;)
Mark Kirkman
Curses! I thought I could sneak that one by. :P
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I understand that Endeavour (STS-126) has a limited window to fly in November, and if missed would be rescheduled for early '09.
If they were to have Endeavour fly before Atlantis (STS-125), would the Hubble mission have any restrictions to flying in December?
Thank you.
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I understand that Endeavour (STS-126) has a limited window to fly in November, and if missed would be rescheduled for early '09.
If they were to have Endeavour fly before Atlantis (STS-125), would the Hubble mission have any restrictions to flying in December?
Thank you.
Discovery would need to be ready on Pad B for LON.
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Unconfirmed, but rollout may be delayed to the weekend (due to threat of Hanna). We'll know more in a few hours.
And we had notes last week on L2 about the mission swap, but that was in relation to ET-129 failing to be cleared. There's no mention of this yet with regard to the weather issue.
It'll get interesting if there's a heavy delay to 125, as there's a day on day (33 day separation) between 125 and 126 - and Endeavour's window runs out on November 25, but right now it's all still very workable, even with a weekend rollout (as Atlantis was always rolling a bit earlier due to STS-400 following her out of the barn).
Will update as we go.
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Unconfirmed, but rollout may be delayed to the weekend (due to threat of Hanna). We'll know more in a few hours.
And we had notes last week on L2 about the mission swap, but that was in relation to ET-129 failing to be cleared. There's no mention of this yet with regard to the weather issue.
It'll get interesting if there's a heavy delay to 125, as there's a day on day (33 day separation) between 125 and 126 - and Endeavour's window runs out on November 25, but right now it's all still very workable, even with a weekend rollout (as Atlantis was always rolling a bit earlier due to STS-400 following her out of the barn).
Will update as we go.
Still a slim chance they'll roll tonight, depending on today's Hanna forecasts, or has that now been ruled out as well?
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Shuttlefan - read his first line again ;)
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Do you feel that October 8th is a complete scrub?
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Unlikely to rollout before the weekend due to Hanna's threat. Will update the article.
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Saturday rollout is not a big hit on the launch date. Technically they could still do the 8th with one day contingency remaining in the flow (which is why "officially" the launch date is still the 8th). HOWEVER, this is still very likely to slip, as per John Shannon etc.
Overall, even with this delay to rollout, 10/11th looks ok.
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SHUTTLE ATLANTIS' MOVE TO PAD ON STANDBY FOR HANNA
(see press releases topic)
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And once the threat by Hanna passes by, here comes Ike. Possibly.
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And once the threat by Hanna passes by, here comes Ike. Possibly.
Way too early to call.
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Just saying. That's why I said possibly. :)
And just mentioning that behind Ike is another potential storm named Josephine. It's gonna be quite interesting to see if Atlantis makes her 10/11 launch date with all these storms forming in quick succession.
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FYI, the Boston Globe put together an excellent series of 23 pictures from the STS-125 processing and related preparations. I thoroughly enjoyed these:
http://www.boston.com/bigpicture/2008/09/preparing_to_rescue_hubble.html
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Greetings All,
I have been a lurker for a while and enjoyed the great sources and facts on this website. My question is : Is rollout now Saturday?
thanks
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Good to see you join! Scroll back a bit though for more info - rollout has not been set yet. Also note there is a news portion here - http://www.nasaspaceflight.com
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Rollout 10am tomorrow, following today's ops meeting. Can still be moved, but they are going to try and move forward for this.
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Rollout 10am tomorrow, following today's ops meeting. Can still be moved, but they are going to try and move forward for this.
Thanks Chris, that's good news. Hope NASA TV shows it.
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FYI, the Boston Globe put together an excellent series of 23 pictures from the STS-125 processing and related preparations. I thoroughly enjoyed these:
http://www.boston.com/bigpicture/2008/09/preparing_to_rescue_hubble.html
Fantastic pix. Thanks - never would have found the link otherwise.
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FYI, the Boston Globe put together an excellent series of 23 pictures from the STS-125 processing and related preparations. I thoroughly enjoyed these..
Aren't those NASA.gov images? Nice images, but we've seen them before I'm sure. The good factor is a potentially new audience.
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Rob's article on NOAX TPS repair translated from a L2 presentation:
http://www.nasaspaceflight.com/content/?cid=5507
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Rob's article on NOAX TPS repair translated from a L2 presentation:
http://www.nasaspaceflight.com/content/?cid=5507
Good article, Rob. :)
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Rollout 10am tomorrow, following today's ops meeting. Can still be moved, but they are going to try and move forward for this.
Thanks Chris, that's good news. Hope NASA TV shows it.
It's on the schedule:
http://www.nasa.gov/multimedia/nasatv/MM_NTV_Breaking.html
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Rob's article on NOAX TPS repair translated from a L2 presentation:
http://www.nasaspaceflight.com/content/?cid=5507
Your article is fantastic, Rob, great for shuttle buffs like myself!!
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KSC classes rollout as "in progress". Morning report (L2) confirms go for rollout - first motion out of the VAB 10am.
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Looking like a great day at the pad for rollout:
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So does this look promising for an October 8 Launch still? Nasa's site has not yet said otherwise? just wondering. Thanks all
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So does this look promising for an October 8 Launch still? Nasa's site has not yet said otherwise? just wondering. Thanks all
More information on page 27 of this topic or/and in Chris's article http://www.nasaspaceflight.com/content/?cid=5504
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looks like Atlantis :)
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Nasa TV coverage has started
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looking good
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She's on her way:
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Cool shot out of VAB:
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So she rolls!
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Close-up of the nose and aft:
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I need to be careful, great shots but this will go on for six hours !
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I take it she is going by the Propellant Storage and Service Area.
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Roll out pictures starting to arrive on KSC image gallery:
http://mediaarchive.ksc.nasa.gov/
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Looks like they got an early start. What time was first motion?
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Sometime just before 9:30 am EDT this morning.
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Some great shots of Pad A getting ready for company:
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Stack, Pad and Clock ;)
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getting close:
Edit: NOOO!!! We don't need the video file!
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Wow, nice shots on KSC media:
http://mediaarchive.ksc.nasa.gov/search.cfm?cat=4
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2535 is wallpaper grade :)
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Looks like they got an early start. What time was first motion?
First motion was at 9:19am.
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We are back:
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Using visual cues, it looks like roughly 1.1 miles to go
first look of the stack from the pad:
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Shot is back and here is a live shot of the MULE:
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What channel is this on????
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What channel is this on????
http://science.ksc.nasa.gov/shuttle/countdown/video/
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Now entering the range of a new camera:
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Back to NASATV coverage CCAFS in back ground:
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Getting ready to turn into the LC-39A Ramp:
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Approximate location:
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Turning:
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Getting to the guard gate:
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End to NASATV coverage for now:
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Look really closely and you will see the spray truck at work:
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Halfway LC-39A's ramp:
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Making good time with this rollout. Hard down was due after 4pm local.
We'll have an article on site when she's happily on the pad, based on the repair closure and certification/rationale for flight.
Great work with the images everyone :)
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Coming into the camera view now:
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Atlantis has now reached the top of the pad:
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In Some businesses I believe this is called the money shot:
that is it for now, I think Mustang will take it from here on.
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Atlantis and the crawler are fully on LC-39A.
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Crossing the RSS:
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Last from me as I have class, approaching the end:
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Atlantis is now at the pad!
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Always a great sight..
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Final alignment movements in progress:
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Looks like movement has stopped (can't really tell from this angle).
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And the article for her arrival, mainly based around part 1 of Pad 39A's repair closure:
http://www.nasaspaceflight.com/content/?cid=5508
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MLP is being lowered to the "hard down" position:
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Lowering complete. Should now await the confirmation of "hard down" from a pad rat.
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Lowering complete. Should now await the confirmation of "hard down" from a pad rat.
Should be, as the Crawler-transporter is rolling away:
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Lowering complete. Should now await the confirmation of "hard down" from a pad rat.
Should be, as the Crawler-transporter is rolling away:
That would signal it as well. :)
Atlantis is now starting her pad processing, Chris will more than likely start a new thread tonight or tomorrow morning!
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While looking for a White Room camera (and haven't found one... :(), I noticed a few workers around what seems to be the RSS track. Anyone know what time that will be rotated to MATE? Tonight, perhaps?
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Looks like tonight (soon) will be the answer, they're uncovering the RSS tracks that the Crawler/MLP stack had to cross over:
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Atlantis Pad pictures are up:
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Looks like tonight (soon) will be the answer, they're uncovering the RSS tracks that the Crawler/MLP stack had to cross over:
RSS roll was scheduled for around 6:00 pm eastern time - should see it closed within the next hour or so.
Mark Kirkman
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Looks like tonight (soon) will be the answer, they're uncovering the RSS tracks that the Crawler/MLP stack had to cross over:
RSS roll was scheduled for around 6:00 pm eastern time - should see it closed within the next hour or so.
Mark Kirkman
Thanks for the update! Anyone that can catch it on the cams, would be appreciated!!
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Roll started:
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almost there:
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In place?
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And a Gif of the rotation:
http://animageek.com/Gallery/Image.aspx?id=d1978eba-68cb-4151-869c-2756ab39edf3.gif
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Here's the same thing, just in attachment form (I saved and uploaded it for those who can't see the link).
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Can anyone tell me which crawler transporter was used to move STS 125 to the pad ?
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Can anyone tell me which crawler transporter was used to move STS 125 to the pad ?
CT-1. CT-2 is down for the time being. This could cause a bit of complication once both Endeavour and Atlantis is on the pads.
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New launch date to be announced today:
STS 125 10/10 12:33am LAUNCH
STS 125 10/20 9:00pm LAND
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Lot of Work going on in the PHSF, anyone know when the payload canister will leave?
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A ton of people:
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New launch date to be announced today:
STS 125 10/10 12:33am LAUNCH
STS 125 10/20 9:00pm LAND
That's official now.
NASA Changes 2008 Shuttle Target Launch Dates
HOUSTON, Sept. 5 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- NASA has adjusted the target launch dates for the two remaining space shuttle missions in 2008. Shuttle Atlantis' STS-125 mission to the Hubble Space Telescope is targeted for Oct. 10, while Endeavour's STS-126 supply mission to the International Space Station has moved to Nov. 12.
Shuttle managers made the decision after Atlantis was rolled to the launch pad and the effects of Tropical Storm Hanna were beyond NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida. That allowed managers to more accurately assess the impacts of recent tropical systems on the launch schedule.
Atlantis began rolling from Kennedy's Vehicle Assembly Building to Launch Pad 39A Thursday at 9:19 a.m. EDT. The shuttle arrived at the pad at approximately 2 p.m. and was secured at 3:52 p.m. Atlantis now is targeted to launch at approximately 12:33 a.m. EDT, Friday, Oct. 10. NASA Television coverage of launch will begin at 7:30 p.m. EDT on Thursday, Oct. 9. The 11-day flight will include five spacewalks to repair and upgrade the Hubble telescope. Atlantis is scheduled to land at approximately 10:21 p.m., Oct. 20.
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Don't forget this tommorow and Tuesday, all day media-briefings on this exciting mission!
September 8, Monday
8 a.m. - STS-125 Video B-Roll Feed - GSFC (Public and Media Channels)
9 a.m. - NASA Overview Briefing - GSFC (Public and Media Channels)
10 a.m. - Shuttle Program Overview Briefing - JSC (Public and Media Channels)
11 a.m. - Hubble Space Telescope Program Overview Briefing - GSFC (Public and Media Channels)
12:30 p.m. - NASA TV Video File - HQ (Public and Media Channels)
1 p.m. - Hubble Space Telescope Science Overview Briefing - GSFC (All Channels)
September 9, Tuesday
9 a.m. - STS-125 Video B-Roll Feed - JSC (Public and Media Channels)
10 a.m. - STS-125 Mission Overview Briefing - JSC (Public and Media Channels)
11:30 a.m. - STS-125 Spacewalk Overview Briefing - JSC (Public and Media Channels)
1 p.m. - NASA TV Video File - HQ (Public and Media Channels)
2 p.m. - STS-125 Crew News Conference - JSC (Public and Media Channels)
All times are Eastern.
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http://www.nasaspaceflight.com/content/?cid=5510 -
EMU glove plan finalized for STS-125 spacewalkers, by some hack called Chris Bergin ;)
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Nothing too interesting in the 9am briefing... Basically a high level overview in less than 10 minutes, then Seth setting them up with a 3-4 minute question about how bad times are now in NASA with the Griffin memo, Ares problems, and blah blah blah. Ed Weiller turned it around wonderfully by pointing out how much more we do with space science now than when he started...
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Interesting note from Mr Shannon about MMOD not being a STS-400 factor - would be repair in such an event: http://www.nasaspaceflight.com/content/?cid=5507
MMOD at late inspections and 400 may not be able to help and would have to be a repair - unless they can find a way to extend power lifetime on the damaged Atlantis.
STS-400 is for a Columbia style damage event.
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Shannon is officially classing MMOD damage as the #1 risk to the SSP nowadays, followed by SSMEs and SRBs. Interesting...
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Funny about some reporters asking about if NASA will release the 2015 study, and Shannon thinks they won't. It's been on L2 since last week ;D
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Funny about some reporters asking about if NASA will release the 2015 study, and Shannon thinks they won't. It's been on L2 since last week ;D
Well, that's not the study, it's getting ready to do the study...and he laughed and said something to the effect that a lot of internal things are going public these days. :)
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He was talking about the completed study, which isn't done yet. We have the assessment presentation which outlines the study approach, that started last week (which he mentioned).
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Not trying to turn this into a weather thread, but with Ike looking to be going for JSC, I was wondering how it would or would not affect the 125 training schedule, and possibly 400-LON
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Until (if?) it impacts the area - it is IMPOSSIBLE to guess. You're asking for a 7 day forecast on it hitting JSC, then a 10 day forecast on how long it lasts ;) Not even worth wasting the pixel energy on your screen to hazard an outlook.
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Any info on STS 125 payload (understand this is the long pole now)? Key dates?
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Any info on STS 125 payload (understand this is the long pole now)? Key dates?
Not really. This is the final week for hands-on processing of the carriers in the PHSF, payload integration into the canister is scheduled for the 16th with the canister heading to pad on the 19th.
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Many thanks!
Just out of interest (for a novice), is the payload not normally out at the pad before the vehicle?
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Not really. This is the final week for hands-on processing of the carriers in the PHSF, payload integration into the canister is scheduled for the 16th with the canister heading to pad on the 19th.
Actually, Mr. Gerstenmaier quoted the 15th for integration and 18th for the payload canister to Pad A.
(In the PR trivia dept., I guess this might make for a hypothetical photo op with both shuttles on the pad with the RSS retracted on the 18th, depending on the timing of the 400 rollout to Pad B and the canister arrival at the pad...and the weather...)
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Not really. This is the final week for hands-on processing of the carriers in the PHSF, payload integration into the canister is scheduled for the 16th with the canister heading to pad on the 19th.
Actually, Mr. Gerstenmaier quoted the 15th for integration and 18th for the payload canister to Pad A.
Got the dates from the HST briefings. I believe it was Preston Burch that menitioned the dates. It jives with the latest L2 mention that payload to pad date is the 19th.
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Not really. This is the final week for hands-on processing of the carriers in the PHSF, payload integration into the canister is scheduled for the 16th with the canister heading to pad on the 19th.
Actually, Mr. Gerstenmaier quoted the 15th for integration and 18th for the payload canister to Pad A.
(In the PR trivia dept., I guess this might make for a hypothetical photo op with both shuttles on the pad with the RSS retracted on the 18th, depending on the timing of the 400 rollout to Pad B and the canister arrival at the pad...and the weather...)
Been confirmed by USA that the comment to the media was a mistake. It's still the 19th.
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Includes L2 based processing notes and pre-FRR notes:
http://www.nasaspaceflight.com/content/?cid=5512
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Just watched the STS-125 Spacewalk Overview Briefing (thanks John44 for the recording). I wonder why there are no immature jokes about the new EVA toolset yet? ;)
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Some live images of Atalntis at the pad...
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Lots of activity, as you'd expect, with payload processing for 125:
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Just watched the STS-125 Spacewalk Overview Briefing (thanks John44 for the recording). I wonder why there are no immature jokes about the new EVA toolset yet? ;)
no kidding, that looks like one heck of a sidearm there ;D
problem.....terminated
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Just watched the STS-125 Spacewalk Overview Briefing (thanks John44 for the recording). I wonder why there are no immature jokes about the new EVA toolset yet? ;)
Seems like a tool out of Armageddon.
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Just watched the STS-125 Spacewalk Overview Briefing (thanks John44 for the recording). I wonder why there are no immature jokes about the new EVA toolset yet? ;)
Go Ahead Hubble,,,,, Make my day!!!!
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In addition to the JSC closing today, the program FRR was postponed due to Hurricane Ike:
http://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/shuttle/main/
Excerpt:
Sept. 11, 2008
Due to the threat of severe weather posed by Hurricane Ike, NASA's Johnson Space Center in Houston will close at 1 p.m. EDT today, suspending all training preparations for mission STS-125. The closing prompted Space Shuttle Program Manager John Shannon to postpone until sometime next week the STS-125 program-level Flight Readiness Review that had been scheduled for today and Friday.
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In addition to the JSC closing today, the program FRR was postponed due to Hurricane Ike:
http://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/shuttle/main/
Excerpt:
Sept. 11, 2008
Due to the threat of severe weather posed by Hurricane Ike, NASA's Johnson Space Center in Houston will close at 1 p.m. EDT today, suspending all training preparations for mission STS-125. The closing prompted Space Shuttle Program Manager John Shannon to postpone until sometime next week the STS-125 program-level Flight Readiness Review that had been scheduled for today and Friday.
Does this mean the Launch date for STS-125 will be moved to a later date?
Paul
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In addition to the JSC closing today, the program FRR was postponed due to Hurricane Ike:
http://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/shuttle/main/
Excerpt:
Sept. 11, 2008
Due to the threat of severe weather posed by Hurricane Ike, NASA's Johnson Space Center in Houston will close at 1 p.m. EDT today, suspending all training preparations for mission STS-125. The closing prompted Space Shuttle Program Manager John Shannon to postpone until sometime next week the STS-125 program-level Flight Readiness Review that had been scheduled for today and Friday.
Does this mean the Launch date for STS-125 will be moved to a later date?
Paul
No impact. There's a good disconnect, as the SSP FRR is just the latest process. The Agency FRR sets the launch date and that's on Sept, 22.
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That is good news. I have my LTT and my non-refundable vacation package ends on the Oct. 10th. I wish I would have waited to buy my plane tickets, but being frugal can sometime have drawbacks
paul
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http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iBp8DM_k_ZI
Crew members of space shuttle Atlantis flew to NASA's Kennedy Space Center on Sept. 5, 2008 to check out the payload carriers, new science instruments and tools they'll be using to repair the Hubble Space Telescope and enhance its ability and functionality.
This hands-on preflight exercise is called a crew familiarization, or Payload Crew Equipment Interface Test.
I wish we could see there faces.
Hogan
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Forgot to post this across from L2.
Launch window moved 10 minutes to 12:43 - for added ascent performance.
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Quick status update. So far STS-125's launch date hasn't been delayed by the Hurricane. They are getting tight on the FRR timelines, with assessments as to when the SSP can take place being worked on.
They can handle the fallout to the Agency FRR (set for the 22nd) to move as far as the 29th, before the launch date starts being threatened.
We're also checking into what could be delayed crew training.
As of right now, it's still the 10th, and will update if that changes.
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Even if FRR reviews slide, what will be the impact of delayed pad ops? I believe S0017, TCDT (Terminal Countdown Demonstration Test) is planned for next week and that requires JSC support and hardware at KSC, including the crew.
Is this the "what could be delayed crew training" you're referring to Chris?
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Is this the "what could be delayed crew training" you're referring to Chris?
Likely more than just TCDT and maybe not including it. The impact on "pad ops" is much less than areas of work based out of JSC.
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FYI, the Boston Globe put together an excellent series of 23 pictures from the STS-125 processing and related preparations. I thoroughly enjoyed these..
Aren't those NASA.gov images? Nice images, but we've seen them before I'm sure. The good factor is a potentially new audience.
Sorry, forgot about this thread for a bit...yes they're all NASA images to the best of my knowledge. I figure it's a well-condensed selection of the hundreds of STS-125 images so far to share with family and friends who have a lighter interest in space.
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Any payload update?
Last projection was, in canister 16th, out to the pad 19th.
Also (I asked this before but it got lost), is the payload not "normally" out at the pad before the vehicle? If so, why is this time different?
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The canister is in the PHSF airlock right now. Guess the payloads are going into the canister later today. Then it will be sent to the CRF for rotation to vertical before it is sent to Pad A.
Keep an eye on the Pad A RSS as it will be rotated to the PARK position before the canister heads to the pad.
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(In the PR trivia dept., I guess this might make for a hypothetical photo op with both shuttles on the pad with the RSS retracted on the 18th, depending on the timing of the 400 rollout to Pad B and the canister arrival at the pad...and the weather...)
FWIW, Orlando Sentinel reporting there's a chance for this photo op:
http://blogs.orlandosentinel.com/news_space_thewritestuff/2008/09/space-shuttle-h.html
Given that this is the final service mission to Hubble, it is the last time that there will be two shuttles on the launch pads at the same time. In fact, according to NASA's prime shuttle contractor, United Space Alliance, the only and the last time there will be an unobstructed view of two space shuttles on two launch pads will be between 4 PM Thursday and 8 AM on FRIDAY. (We will try to get a picture!)
(Continuing with the trivia, this wouldn't be the only time; the STS-35 and STS-41 vehicles "appeared" this way in early September, 1990...pictures of that are posted here in old threads.)
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(In the PR trivia dept., I guess this might make for a hypothetical photo op with both shuttles on the pad with the RSS retracted on the 18th, depending on the timing of the 400 rollout to Pad B and the canister arrival at the pad...and the weather...)
FWIW, Orlando Sentinel reporting there's a chance for this photo op:
http://blogs.orlandosentinel.com/news_space_thewritestuff/2008/09/space-shuttle-h.html
Given that this is the final service mission to Hubble, it is the last time that there will be two shuttles on the launch pads at the same time. In fact, according to NASA's prime shuttle contractor, United Space Alliance, the only and the last time there will be an unobstructed view of two space shuttles on two launch pads will be between 4 PM Thursday and 8 AM on FRIDAY. (We will try to get a picture!)
(Continuing with the trivia, this wouldn't be the only time; the STS-35 and STS-41 vehicles "appeared" this way in early September, 1990...pictures of that are posted here in old threads.)
Ok... I'm kind of getting lost with this. STS-400/126 rollout to Pad-B is scheduled to begin September 18 at 12:01am. Assuming an ontime start (which we've seen with recent rollouts when they actually do roll) that would put Endeavour at the pad around 7:00am with the RSS moved to the "MATE" position in the early afternoon.
Now, STS-125 payload to pad is scheduled for the early morning hours of September 19 with the RSS moved to the "park" position just before the payload canister starts rolling. So, wouldn't they wait to roll Atlantis' RSS to the "park" position until just before the payload canister leaves the rotation facility rather than moving the RSS to "park" hours before the payload canister is even scheduled to leave for the pad?
The timing here to give us a photo op is off to me by several hours and I don't think NASA is in the business of tweaking processing schedules just to get a photo op of the Orbiters.
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Ok... I'm kind of getting lost with this. STS-400/126 rollout to Pad-B is scheduled to begin September 18 at 12:01am. Assuming an ontime start (which we've seen with recent rollouts when they actually do roll) that would put Endeavour at the pad around 7:00am with the RSS moved to the "MATE" position in the early afternoon.
Double posting from L2; they changed out an APU on Endeavour during the OPF flow, so a pad hot fire is likely necessary. That might explain the timing.
(Still depends on weather and remaining work cooperating...)
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Canister in the PHSF:
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Nice shot on the MLP deck; unusual to see at this stage of a pad flow.
Edit: adding a few other screengrabs from earlier in the day during a swing through some OTV cameras...
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Canister now leaving the PHSF bound for the CRF where it will be rotated to vertical.
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WTH?! They forgot the SLIC! Or was it just the FSS that they loaded into that cansiter?????
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Payload rollout is delayed by at least 24 hours.
Florida Today: Loose Insulation May Slip Atlantis Launch (http://www.floridatoday.com/content/blogs/space/2008/09/loose-insulation-may-slip-atlantis.shtml)
Plans to transport the payload to the pad late Thursday are being held up because engineers and technicians discovered that insulation around new telescope batteries came loose and got caught up in a protective bagging inside a cargo bay carrier.
The carrier was removed from the canister that will transport it to the pad so the loose insulation can be cleaned up.
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WTH?! They forgot the SLIC! Or was it just the FSS that they loaded into that cansiter?????
What's happening here? "Forgot" something or cleaning up insulation...
Is this (as reported) likely to have a direct (hour for hour) impact on launch date?
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Payload is the critical item for the pad flow, but wait for us to get engineering notes on status. All I have so far is a short note from USA saying "not expected to hit schedule" - but that's not much use either. Let me get hold of the lowdown.
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Earlier this afternoon, 'shuttle_guy' on Space.com's forums (http://tinyurl.com/49dnbl) cited "hallway talk" as suggesting:
A contamination incident occurred this morning on the SLIC payload - Super Lightweight Interchangeable Carrier. The carrier holds Hubble’s newest camera, the 980 lb Wide Field Camera 3 and two new batteries. A GSE line came loose from the a non flight enclosure that provided high pressure purge air to the Hubble batteries - the pressure in the line then impinged on TCS blankets and foam that secures the batteries causing particles to be introduced into the SLIC containment bag. This will delay the delivery of the payload to the pad at least 48 hours – and likely longer once they determine the extent of the contamination.
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A contamination incident occurred this morning on the SLIC payload - Super Lightweight Interchangeable Carrier. The carrier holds Hubble’s newest camera, the 980 lb Wide Field Camera 3 and two new batteries. A GSE line came loose from the a non flight enclosure that provided high pressure purge air to the Hubble batteries - the pressure in the line then impinged on TCS blankets and foam that secures the batteries causing particles to be introduced into the SLIC containment bag. This will delay the delivery of the payload to the pad at least 48 hours – and likely longer once they determine the extent of the contamination.
48 hours? That'd be really stressing the launch date?
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Officially, can stlll make the 10/10 launch on current assessment. There was concern of a slip, but that is now retracted from officials.
And we don't know it'll be "48 hours" until the morning report - which is always best for knowing where things officially stand.
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Bill Harwood has posted new story that touches on the payload issue and the STS-400 rollout...
http://www.cbsnews.com/network/news/space/current.html
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Officially, can stlll make the 10/10 launch on current assessment. There was concern of a slip, but that is now retracted from officials.
And we don't know it'll be "48 hours" until the morning report - which is always best for knowing where things officially stand.
Well, it also means we wont get the dual RSS retraction I was so hoping for.... :-[
My sentiments here:
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Officially, can stlll make the 10/10 launch on current assessment. There was concern of a slip, but that is now retracted from officials.
And we don't know it'll be "48 hours" until the morning report - which is always best for knowing where things officially stand.
Well, it also means we wont get the dual RSS retraction I was so hoping for.... :-[
My sentiments here:
I'm positive there will be a dual RSS retraction, whether it's needed or not. This is the last time two shuttles will be on the pad at the same time, so NASA will treat us. Somehow.
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I'm positive there will be a dual RSS retraction, whether it's needed or not. This is the last time two shuttles will be on the pad at the same time, so NASA will treat us. Somehow.
I'm sorry but there won't be any more opportunities. In order to make the current launch dates, the RSS is needed for servicing and vehicle access. For example, they can't start STS-400 hyper loading preps unless the RSS is in the MATE position. And that is a critical activity.
Atlantis on the other hand needs the 39A RSS to support payload ops which currently run until just days before the launch!
So no more RSS retracts, even for the sake of PR. The only times we're going to see RSS retracts, is when the procedures require it(launch, rollbacks etc).
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Processing latest (White Room issue and Payload) with another update to come via L2 processing for Thursday due in later this morning.
http://www.nasaspaceflight.com/content/?cid=5517
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Processing latest (White Room issue and Payload) with another update to come via L2 processing for Thursday due in later this morning.
http://www.nasaspaceflight.com/content/?cid=5517
Speaking of which, the SLIC seems to be covered again:
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I was hoping the launch doesn't get postponed. If it gets push to the 11th I will miss it. I been reading different stories about this, Some say the Launch stay at Oct 10th.. some say the 11th. Only time will tell, but its not looking good.
Paul
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I'm positive there will be a dual RSS retraction, whether it's needed or not. This is the last time two shuttles will be on the pad at the same time, so NASA will treat us. Somehow.
What DaveS said, but just to amplify, NASA has never done this for a photo op. The only time it happened that I'm aware of was when one shuttle (STS-41) was rolled out after an RSS retract for a launch attempt for the other shuttle (STS-35) -- that's mostly why all the footage and pictures of it were from a helicopter, as the pad area was either cleared or being cleared for tanking. It was sort of serendipitous in that case and would be in this case, too. (Although in this case, I'm hoping folks like Ben will get to go out and take a lot of pictures.)
Edit -- heh, I'm being told/shown that it happened at least one other time. Determined that the other occasion was STS-68 and STS-64 on 19 August 1994 with 64 rolling out the night of the 68 RSLS abort.
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Processing latest (White Room issue and Payload) with another update to come via L2 processing for Thursday due in later this morning.
http://www.nasaspaceflight.com/content/?cid=5517
Anybody know yet if:
1. Payload moves today?
2. Endeavour rolls today?
3. Might see some pictures (daylight would be good) with both RSSs (is that the correct plural?) back?
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Just catching up for the "night shift" of Endeavour rollout. The launch date is tight to say the least, as they won't be getting the payload to the pad today, and it looks like late tomorrow/Saturday right now.
They'll likely evaluate the flow when the payload actually gets to the pad.
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What exactly is this pad-cam showing? Temperatures....but of what?
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Ok, at the moment, it looks like payload to Pad early Saturday. No official change to the launch date yet.
Both RSS' (39A and 39B) classed as open at the same time between 7am and 9am Saturday morning - that may also update.
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What exactly is this pad-cam showing? Temperatures....but of what?
Maybe it is the new thermal camera installed to monitor debris on launch?
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What exactly is this pad-cam showing? Temperatures....but of what?
Maybe it is the new thermal camera installed to monitor debris on launch?
Yeah I thought of the debris monitoring presentation with the new cameras too.... Just hard to tell what it's aiming at...
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Seems to be a thermal view from camera OTV-072 on the MLP. The top most object is the bracket for the -Y OWP extending from the FSS. Center-most object is one of the rainbirds on the MLP. Left most object is the left-hand TSM. If you look closely you can make out the sound suppression water system pipes for the left-hand SRB.
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Seems to be a thermal view from camera OTV-072 on the MLP. The top most object is the bracket for the -Y OWP extending from the FSS. Center-most object is one of the rainbirds on the MLP. Left most object is the left-hand TSM. If you look closely you can make out the sound suppression water system pipes for the left-hand SRB.
FWIW, attached a time-lapse of different camera feeds on that "channel" from this morning/afternoon local time...couple of screengrabs from Pad B, including OTV 101...
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Seems to be a thermal view from camera OTV-072 on the MLP. The top most object is the bracket for the -Y OWP extending from the FSS. Center-most object is one of the rainbirds on the MLP. Left most object is the left-hand TSM. If you look closely you can make out the sound suppression water system pipes for the left-hand SRB.
FWIW, attached a time-lapse of different camera feeds on that "channel" from this morning/afternoon local time...couple of screengrabs from Pad B, including OTV 101...
Thanks you guys :)
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Canister entering the PHSF:
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The future place of Hubble is in a museum. But that's never going to happen, bacause of budget :(
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The future place of Hubble is in a museum. But that's never going to happen, bacause of budget :(
More due to the schedule, safety, and the fact that any mission to simply return it would be a major waste. Keep Hubble going for as long as we can.
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View inside the White room:
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The shuttle status at:
http://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/shuttle/main/index.html
mentions a Flight Readiness Review on Oct. 2 and 3. Is this the program FRR or is the agency FRR? If this is not the program FRR when is the program FRR?
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The shuttle status at:
http://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/shuttle/main/index.html
mentions a Flight Readiness Review on Oct. 2 and 3. Is this the program FRR or is the agency FRR? If this is not the program FRR when is the program FRR?
First note I've seen about this. Given that it's scheduled for two days, it would seem to indicate the SSP FRR. However, they could op to combine the SSP and SOMD (angency) FRRs. They've done this in the past.
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I'm positive there will be a dual RSS retraction, whether it's needed or not. This is the last time two shuttles will be on the pad at the same time, so NASA will treat us. Somehow.
I'm sorry but there won't be any more opportunities. In order to make the current launch dates, the RSS is needed for servicing and vehicle access. For example, they can't start STS-400 hyper loading preps unless the RSS is in the MATE position. And that is a critical activity.
So no more RSS retracts, even for the sake of PR. The only times we're going to see RSS retracts, is when the procedures require it(launch, rollbacks etc).
Atlantis on the other hand needs the 39A RSS to support payload ops which currently run until just days before the launch
Why is 39B's RSS retracted on Saturday between 07:00 and 09:00 (I assume 39A will be for payload)?
Will they close 39B at all following roll-out?
Is this just PR?
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Why is 39B's RSS retracted on Saturday between 07:00 and 09:00 (I assume 39A will be for payload)?
Will they close 39B at all following roll-out?
Already noted on Wednesday, just a few pages back -- they are doing an APU hot fire before extending the RSS on the STS-400 vehicle at Pad B. The times likely indicate the short period between when the Pad A RSS is retracted for the payload and the when the Pad B RSS is extended after the APU hot fire.
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The shuttle status at:
http://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/shuttle/main/index.html
mentions a Flight Readiness Review on Oct. 2 and 3. Is this the program FRR or is the agency FRR? If this is not the program FRR when is the program FRR?
That's the Agency (SOMD) FRR. The SSP FRR is next week.
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Why is 39B's RSS retracted on Saturday between 07:00 and 09:00 (I assume 39A will be for payload)?
Will they close 39B at all following roll-out?
Already noted on Wednesday, just a few pages back -- they are doing an APU hot fire before extending the RSS on the STS-400 vehicle at Pad B. The times likely indicate the short period between when the Pad A RSS is retracted for the payload and the when the Pad B RSS is extended after the APU hot fire.
Sorry and thanks!
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Good morning campers :) RSS at 39A is moving back. I'm seeing it on the live feed ch. 3. I see Atlantis :)
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NTV graphic for live shot up...
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And here she is
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Heh; I was wondering how they were going to do a "two-shot" of both vehicles...up now...
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The payload canister is moving out
Change: Taking a higher res pic of the two stacks
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I think PAO deserves thanks for doing this; by and large this is programming that only Shuttle fans would watch.
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First shot is Endeavour, second one Atlantis.
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I think PAO deserves thanks for doing this; by and large this is programming that only Shuttle fans would watch.
KSC PAO seem to be very tuned in to shuttle fan needs this year - from Allard's STS-124 commentary (with flow managers etc joining in) to this.
Don't know who made the specific call to make this happen, but it's a good call :)
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Looks like a rainbow's joining in on the show...
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Should be some good shots later, as there's a helicopter going overhead.
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Should be some good shots later, as there's a helicopter going overhead.
Looking forward to seeing what the press photographers get, too...would be nice to get a hi-res pic such as the one that Robert posted the other day of the STS-68 and STS-64 shuttles in 1994.
Last I heard, the Pad B RSS extend was scheduled for 1000L.
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Some Atlantis pics from the 1200k stream
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Nothing like a space shuttle..or better yet 2 shuttles at the end of a rainbow...the equivalent of a pot of gold i suppose. ;)
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Where is the payload at?
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Where is the payload at?
Doesn't go to the pad until about 6pm local.
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Where is the payload at?
Doesn't go to the pad until about 6pm local.
Yes and right now it is probably in the Cansiter Rotation Facility(CRF) being rotated to vertical.
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Slight chance of an afternoon storm - a few showers north of KSC now - not sure if there is a weather constraint though like there is for shuttle?
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Should be some good shots later, as there's a helicopter going overhead.
And here is the link to those shots on the NASA Multimedia Images page.
http://mediaarchive.ksc.nasa.gov/search.cfm?cat=4
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Should be some good shots later, as there's a helicopter going overhead.
And here is the link to those shots on the NASA Multimedia Images page.
http://mediaarchive.ksc.nasa.gov/search.cfm?cat=4
OMG, I'm going to print a poster of one of those! ;D
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Payload Canister now on the ramp at LC-39A:
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The Payload Canister is now closing in on the RSS:
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Payload Canister can now be seen on OTV-071:
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Inching closer to the RSS:
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Looks like the canister is rotating so it can be picked up and brought into the PCR:
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Under the RSS:
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Motion has stopped under the RSS, looks like they're getting ready to lift it:
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Under the PCR, looks to lift soon?
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A set of Xenon lights are coming on:
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22:30 for the lift. Nice work with the images Ford :)
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And the Xenon lights are now off. Thanks for the information, Chris!
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Still sitting there:
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An hour later, still hasn't budged. Any word on what the problem could be, or just another delay?
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There's not many people around to ask at the moment, but no word of a problem at least. It's overdue for sure.
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They've raised it a bit, but not sure if that's the start of the lift, or if they are moving it to check something..
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A bit more:
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Even more, but stopping after intervals:
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Even more, but stopping after intervals:
Has not moved much, but the floodlights are on:
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Camera just zoomed in a little bit
Update (6:20EDT): OK, that's strange...looks like they lowered it again....anyone knows whats going on? (second pic)
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That's odd..
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Odd? Its 8 O'clock over there now and its light, what the h*ll is going on?
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Canister doesn't seem to have moved within the last two hours. Given that lifting ops were supposed to be completed by around 2.30am and it's now 8.00am with it still beeing down there....
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The payload lift is on hold due to "canister mating issues". Second lift attempt is tentatively planned for second shift tonight pending canister issues being resolved.
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At what point does the payload delay impact the launch date?
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At what point does the payload delay impact the launch date?
Milestone Chart listed payload to pad as Sep 19 when the launch date was Oct 8, so with Oct 10 it should be ok with Sep 21 (today). So hopefully no impact if they get it done today.
If not...IMO it could likely impact the launch date since payload delievery and processing at the pad is the critical path for STS-125.
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At what point does the payload delay impact the launch date?
We'll know on Monday (or this week) via the L2 updates if the launch date has been delayed.
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The payload lift is on hold due to "canister mating issues". Second lift attempt is tentatively planned for second shift tonight pending canister issues being resolved.
Thanks very much Robert.
At what point does the payload delay impact the launch date?
They won't be evaluating until Monday afternoon at the earliest based on the flow. And it might be later in the week until any decisions are made.
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When does the second shift begin? Just curious in order not to miss that second attempt.
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Only update at this stage is they are going to have a meeting later today about the problem. No specifics on what the actual problem is with the lift at the moment.
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The canister is back on the transporter. Issue is with the shoes on the canister. Notes on L2.
Lift delayed until at least 8pm tonight, or even tomorrow.
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Toodled out to Canaveral National Sea Shore for some shots of the birds on the pad.
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Toodled out to Canaveral National Sea Shore for some shots of the birds on the pad.
Great images, and super quality too. Thanks Mike!
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Some support equipment has arrived to aid with the repair of the shoes.
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Written up some of the info we've gained on L2 today - only a short story, but it's all about the issues with the lift into the PCR:
http://www.nasaspaceflight.com/content/?cid=5520
Will update this as they go through the troubleshot - through to the morning reports tomorrow.
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And they've moved the access crane to the opposite side of the canister. They are either taking specs, photos, etc. Or they have started trimming the shoes. I'll ask.
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Stand by for crew arrival at KSC for TCDT.
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First T-38 down.
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Two jets down.
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Third jet on approach.
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Third jet is down.
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Jet No. 4 passing Jet No. 3.
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All five T-38's are down. That's the entire crew now on the ground at the SLF.
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And that's it for NASA TV coverage of crew arrival for TCDT.
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Well they've got the payload guys in for the lift for about three hours now, but nothing obvious happening at the pad yet.
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Payload lift was due to start at 10:45 p.m. EDT, per an update at 10:15 p.m.
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Payload lift was due to start at 10:45 p.m. EDT, per an update at 10:15 p.m.
Thanks for the update Robert. Seems like they're powering up the stadium lights at Pad A.
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Payload lift was due to start at 10:45 p.m. EDT, per an update at 10:15 p.m.
Thanks for the update Robert. Seems like they're powering up the stadium lights at Pad A.
They are, but it looks like the camera iris is too low, so we won't be seeing anything unless someone fixes it.
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Lift operations (lift in progress) have just started I'm told.
(I'm not seeing anything on the webcams?)
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Lift operations (lift in progress) have just started I'm told.
(I'm not seeing anything on the webcams?)
Well, the canister doesn't have any lights on it and the camera operator has forgot to adjust the iris setting to take in account the lower light settings now that the sun has set and it's night.
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Lift successful :)
We'll expand on the series of events (into the article on site) via the morning report.....in the morning.
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Possibly/hopefully were able to get some photos of all the event !?!
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Lift successful :)
We'll expand on the series of events (into the article on site) via the morning report.....in the morning.
That's good news! :)
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Photos of the guide shoe repair now up on the Kennedy Media Gallery
http://mediaarchive.ksc.nasa.gov/search.cfm?cat=180
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Is the Oct 10th Launch date still in jepordy? Or is it still to early to tell?
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The payload canister is now gone and RSS retract is today, anyone know what time?
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Updated the article via the L2 processing update this morning, as promised:
http://www.nasaspaceflight.com/content/?cid=5520
Launch date: Still 50/50 I reckon. No official change at this time (that could change at the drop of a hat).
We do know the 10th is already under pressure and the payload lift issues did not help. However, we expected this to result in a 24 hour slip to the payload installation - and this is showing as Tuesday this morning, so there's still some hope.
If the date changes, we won't hold to L2, I'll post here immediately and then run an article.
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The payload canister is now gone
No, it's still there. You can see the lines from the transporter going up to it...
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If the "date slips" do you feel this would be a 24hr slip or more? Thanks
-Jason
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If the "date slips" do you feel this would be a 24hr slip or more? Thanks
-Jason
Probably "two days" to Oct 11 at 23:45 ish. 47 hours ish delay in other words.
Almost completely convinced the 10th is no longer an option based on milestones. The weekend issue pushed it over the edge.
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When do we expect the RSS to close (is that the correct terminolgy?) for Atlantis?
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If the "date slips" do you feel this would be a 24hr slip or more? Thanks
-Jason
Probably "two days" to Oct 11 at 23:45 ish. 47 hours ish delay in other words.
Almost completely convinced the 10th is no longer an option based on milestones. The weekend issue pushed it over the edge.
Dam, the ONLY day I hope its not is anytime on Saturday lol. Man I am hoping so bad that it either stays the 10th or goes even further back...Sunday and beyond..Hope for the best
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Pictures of today's activities for the TCDT are now uploaded to the Kennedy Media Gallery.
The shots below are the crew training in the M-113 armored personnel carrier.
High resolution shots can be found at the link below.
http://mediaarchive.ksc.nasa.gov/search.cfm?cat=4
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When do we expect the RSS to close (is that the correct terminolgy?) for Atlantis?
RSS Roll is set for tomorrow morning (6:00 am Call to Stations) just prior to Call to Stations for S0017 (Terminal Countdown Demonstration Test).
Mark Kirkman
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Well, I am glad to see in this picture, the crew is all inside the M113. as an Armor officer, it drove me crazy to see those people riding on the top and front of the carrier. They also should be wearing helments, too. But at least they are inside.
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Payload has now been officially delivered to the Pad A PCR! Canister has now been demated and is being lowered to the transporter.
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It's now being lowered down onto the transporter.
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Almost there.
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MOD Approves Final Flight Rules for STS-125:
http://www.nasaspaceflight.com/content/?cid=5521
By Chris Gebhardt.
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Was a meeting held, Monday (as planned) to review launch date? If so, any indication as to outcome (I know you would post as soon as you know, but its a kind of expecting father thing, looking forward to the cigar)?
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I know you would post as soon as you know
Yes, I would and will.
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MOD Approves Final Flight Rules for STS-125:
http://www.nasaspaceflight.com/content/?cid=5521
By Chris Gebhardt.
Great article. Needed something solid this morning after waking up to:
"Atlantis crew trains for disaster on pad" attention grabbing headlines in Florida Today. Why they have to be over dramatic is beyond me.
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MOD Approves Final Flight Rules for STS-125:
http://www.nasaspaceflight.com/content/?cid=5521
By Chris Gebhardt.
Great article. Needed something solid this morning after waking up to:
"Atlantis crew trains for disaster on pad" attention grabbing headlines in Florida Today. Why they have to be over dramatic is beyond me.
Sub editors usually create the headlines for mass media organizations. From experience, they sit at a desk waiting to rip your copy to bits and have a fascination with changing headlines. It's an accurate anyway! They were training for a pad accident - which would be a disaster.
Back to processing, Atlantis is in S0017 Terminal Countdown Demonstration Test (TCDT) with a Call-to-stations at 0730 EDT today and T-0 is scheduled for 1100 EDT tomorrow.
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RSS is on the move
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Nice shot of the track it's moving along.
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Nearly closed
Update: Movement has stopped around 7:47am EDT, RSS seems to have reached closed position. (pic 3)
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MOD Approves Final Flight Rules for STS-125:
http://www.nasaspaceflight.com/content/?cid=5521
By Chris Gebhardt.
Very nice article, Chris. Can someone briefly expand on what an Ascent String is, in the context of an Ascent String Reassignment/restring? I'm just not familiar with the term. thanks.
Dan
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Very nice article, Chris. Can someone briefly expand on what an Ascent String is, in the context of an Ascent String Reassignment/restring? I'm just not familiar with the term. thanks.
There's a copy of generic flight rules available here (note that it's circa 2002):
http://www.jsc.nasa.gov/news/columbia/fr_generic.pdf
Ascent string reassignment is discussed on page 568 of the PDF; section A2-63 in the document.
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Very nice article, Chris. Can someone briefly expand on what an Ascent String is, in the context of an Ascent String Reassignment/restring? I'm just not familiar with the term. thanks.
There's a copy of generic flight rules available here (note that it's circa 2002):
http://www.jsc.nasa.gov/news/columbia/fr_generic.pdf
Ascent string reassignment is discussed on page 568 of the PDF; section A2-63 in the document.
sorry, my question was much more basic than that. what is a string? a particular set of guidance/control elements that are picked from a larger set of redundant elements, such that you have a complete working set to achieve operational capabilities? and per the flight rules, restringing is done when there is a failure in an operational "string" of control elements, so that you regain the complete control (minus the loss of redundancy?)
Dan
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sorry, my question was much more basic than that. what is a string? a particular set of guidance/control elements that are picked from a larger set of redundant elements, such that you have a complete working set to achieve operational capabilities? and per the flight rules, restringing is done when there is a failure in an operational "string" of control elements, so that you regain the complete control (minus the loss of redundancy?)
(Probably should migrate to Q & A section...)
Here's one reference:
http://spaceflight.nasa.gov/shuttle/reference/shutref/orbiter/avionics/dps/databus.html
Flight-critical buses tie the GPCs to flight-critical MDMs, display driver units, head-up displays, main engine interface units and master events controllers. These buses are directed into groups of four compatible with the grouping of four PASS GPCs. Four of these buses-FC1, 2, 3 and 4-connect the GPCs with the four flight-critical forward MDMs, the four aft flight-critical MDMs, the three DDUs and the two HUDs. The other four flight-critical buses-FC5, 6, 7 and 8-connect the GPCs to four forward MDMs, the four aft MDMs, the two mission events controllers and the three main engine interface units. The specific manner in which these units interface is referred to as a string. A string is composed of two flight-critical data buses-one from the first group (FC1, 2, 3 or 4) and one from the second group (FC5, 6, 7 or 8 ).
(I added the emphasis.)
Another reference that I thought was interesting, "Googling" around :
http://klabs.org/DEI/Processor/shuttle/sp-504/section_3/section_3_drivers_requirements.htm
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images of the Payload in the RSS now up on KSC media:
http://mediaarchive.ksc.nasa.gov/search.cfm?cat=4
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Looking like a three day slip to the launch date at the moment, per meetings today. (Oct 12 late at night)
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Thats the best new I have heard all week. Thanks Chris. I will wait for your official Announcement .
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I've only seen ISS payload processing up to this mission (became enthusiast in STS-121), about all the contamination preventions that are being considered...is there any documentation about levels of payload contamination acceptance according to payload function?? Its not the same for the HST compared with the ISS components...what about satellites, or the LDEF, or Spacehab...
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Looking at a five day slip to STS-125 (Evening of October 14). Article shortly.
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Ouch!!! Nothing like being a newbie & making my reservations early.
live 'n learn.
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Latest on processing, FRR etc.
http://www.nasaspaceflight.com/content/?cid=5523
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New STS-125 launch date is Oct. 14:
http://www.nasa.gov/home/hqnews/2008/sep/HQ_M08-181_New_launch_dates.html
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That link states a date of Nov 16 for STS-126 but by my reckoning that pushes the STS-126 docked period into the beta angle cutout by a couple of days. Is this therefore likely to push STS-126 into next year or are they looking at other options?
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Beta angle cutout is listed based on launch date.
(STS126 questions should probably go in the STS126 thread in the future :) )
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The STS-125 delay is okay, but as for STS-126....
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Latest on processing, FRR etc.
http://www.nasaspaceflight.com/content/?cid=5523
Impressive advanced notice again. Good work.
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Thanks Stowbridge. All thanks to the sources/L2 etc, rather than me.
Large set of articles via FRR will be published in the coming days...as we launch the new news site in about 24/48 hours.
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Usually, the crew inspect the payload bay during the TCDT. It seems it didn't happen for this mission because of the problem encountered during the transfer to the payload changeout room.
Will this activity occur later or is not absolutely required ?
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Usually, the crew inspect the payload bay during the TCDT. It seems it didn't happen for this mission because of the problem encountered during the transfer to the payload changeout room.
Will this activity occur later or is not absolutely required ?
I don't think it's required, as the crew obviously knows where everything is in the payload bay! I supose it just helps for EVAs seeing the payload bay and all the equipment... :)
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Usually, the crew inspect the payload bay during the TCDT. It seems it didn't happen for this mission because of the problem encountered during the transfer to the payload changeout room.
Will this activity occur later or is not absolutely required ?
The crew walked down the payloads and payload bay during CEIT in the PHSF ands OPF
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Usually, the crew inspect the payload bay during the TCDT. It seems it didn't happen for this mission because of the problem encountered during the transfer to the payload changeout room.
Will this activity occur later or is not absolutely required ?
The crew walked down the payloads and payload bay during CEIT in the PHSF ands OPF
I beleive they will get a chance to do a walkdown and sharp edge inspection after they arrive at KSC for the start of the Launch Count. Final payload bay door closure is currently scheduled for that time frame.
Mark Kirkman
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For those who haven't heard yet the T-0 for Launch has been adjusted to approximately 10:16 pm - about a 3 minute change from the 10:19 pm target launch time announced earlier.
Mark Kirkman
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Do you think now would be a somewhat safe bet to buy airline tickets? I was thinking of Flying out on Sunday Oct12 and staying untill Thursday Oct 16. Does that seem like a reasonal time to catch the shuttle launch?
Thanks
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Do you think now would be a somewhat safe bet to buy airline tickets? I was thinking of Flying out on Sunday Oct12 and staying untill Thursday Oct 16. Does that seem like a reasonal time to catch the shuttle launch?
Thanks
Launch was delayed to Oct 14, so yea.
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Launch was delayed to NO EARLIER THAN October 14th. That's over two weeks away - so to assume that nothing at all will delay things until then is still risky. Might be better to shift that to Oct 14 - 18th (since there is a week+ stand down if they don't get it up in the first 6 days.)
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Launch was delayed to NO EARLIER THAN October 14th. That's over two weeks away - so to assume that nothing at all will delay things until then is still risky. Might be better to shift that to Oct 14 - 18th (since there is a week+ stand down if they don't get it up in the first 6 days.)
Why is there a week+ stand down after 6 days?
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Hubble-related, it's on L2 now so I'll let Chris or someone else post details or write a story ;)
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Hubble-related, it's on L2 now so I'll let Chris or someone else post details or write a story ;)
I'll look for it there, thanks.
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Hubble-related, it's on L2 now so I'll let Chris or someone else post details or write a story ;)
I'll look for it there, thanks.
It has to do with battery charging. They need to recharge the new HST Battery Module Assemblies(BMAs) after a certain time since their last charge. And that takes a while. After the scrub of STS-31, they had to stand down for 130(if I remember right here!) hours to recharge the HST batteries.
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Usually, the crew inspect the payload bay during the TCDT. It seems it didn't happen for this mission because of the problem encountered during the transfer to the payload changeout room.
Will this activity occur later or is not absolutely required ?
All of our guys who enter the PCR during HSM had/have to get special training. They are being ultra-anal about contamination (and for good reason). Heck, you are not even allowed to dig a hole inside the pad gates because they don't want dust created. Perhaps this may be another reason why the inspection did not take place.
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Launch was delayed to NO EARLIER THAN October 14th. That's over two weeks away - so to assume that nothing at all will delay things until then is still risky. Might be better to shift that to Oct 14 - 18th (since there is a week+ stand down if they don't get it up in the first 6 days.)
On Oct. 3 a news conference will discuss the Flight Readiness Review for the Shuttle Launch. Would it be best to wait untill after Oct 3rd to finalize travel plans.
Paul
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There is no "best" time. It would be BETTER to wait until they officially announce a launch date, but it's still a guesstimate as it assumes no problems occur until then.
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When will HST be "deactivated" and ready for shuttle services? Or it has been working in a safe-mode ?
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No safe mode. Only after the Shuttle is in orbit. Some preparations before.
Analyst
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Really big problem for Hubble may become a really big problem for STS-125's launch date.
Short note:
http://www.nasaspaceflight.com/2008/09/hubble-control-system-failure-threatens-sts-125-launch-date/
Memo's turning up on L2, so will expand on the article shortly.
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Wow, this sucks big time. I really hope Side B cooperates.
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Wow, this sucks big time. I really hope Side B cooperates.
Updated the article a bit with some quotes from one of the memos. Will be more updates to come. This is a big problem right now :(
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There is a media telecon being scheduled for 5:00 p.m. CDT.
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What is A side and B side? Some kind of backup software? Why would the Hubble service mission be delayed to 2009? Can't they capture it without Hubble control system?
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What is A side and B side? Some kind of backup software? Why would the Hubble service mission be delayed to 2009?
There is hardware involved.
From Chris' article:
"If this becomes the case, the mission would have to wait until the replacement part has been tested and sent to the Kennedy Space Center (KSC)."
Layman typing here...
Even if Side B becomes operational, wouldn't it be prudent to delay the mission until a redundant Side A can be flown? I understand the schedule ramifications involved, but given the current planned finality of this repair mission, I can't imagine expending the risk and $$ updating Hubble only to have Side B fail.
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JMS - all those are valid questions. That's what is being worked right now.
I14 - A side is the primary path of operations which they've used since Day 1. B-side is a duplicate system in the Hubble. It's never been used. It might work fine, in which case they address JMS's question. If it doesn't work, they need to bring up the backup from the ground.
It would be delayed until 2009 because you'd have to train the astronauts on replacing it, something that cannot be done in a week.
Hubble can't be captured if it can't be controlled. But again, if it can't be controlled, it's useless so there's no point.
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What is A side and B side? Some kind of backup software? Why would the Hubble service mission be delayed to 2009? Can't they capture it without Hubble control system?
Without a functional CU/SDF, there is no way to send/retrieve data from Hubble's instruments. CU/SDF-B is the back-up control unit to CU/SDF-A (otherwise referred to as "Side A" and "Side B").
So while the shuttle could capture Hubble, there would be little point to upgrading/servicing it if after release it was unable to process commands.
A summary based on a NASA write-up:
The CU/SDF receives ground commands, data requests, science and engineering data, and system signals. Two examples of system signals are "time tags" -- clock signals that synchronize the entire spacecraft — and "processor interface tables" -- communications codes. The CU/SDF transmits commands and requests after formatting them so that the specific destination unit can read them. For example, ground commands and support system module (SSM, the science instrument enclosure like the dome of an Earth-based observatory) commands are transmitted with different formats. Ground commands use 27-bit words and SSM commands use 16-bit words. The formatter translates each command signal into a common format. The CU/SDF also reformats and sends engineering and science data.
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Hubble can't be captured if it can't be controlled. But again, if it can't be controlled, it's useless so there's no point.
Borrowing a minor quote from an L2 memo, "The spacecraft is still operational but unable to operate the instruments."
The CU/SDF-A failure does not prevent control of the Hubble and thus would not prevent capture, but the telescope's instruments would be useless (or at least down to a single control string should 'B' be brought online successfully).
It would be delayed until 2009 because you'd have to train the astronauts on replacing it, something that cannot be done in a week.
There is also time needed to test the back-up CU/SDF unit.
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Attitude control doesn't sound like it's an issue in this instance, but for background on dealing with attitude control, would suggest reading Harwood's STS-103 archive:
http://www.cbsnews.com/network/news/space/STS-103_Archive.txt
Look under: "Hubble gyroscope fails; science operations suspended until shuttle repair mission (11/15/99)".
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CU/SDF info on page 122 of http://hubble.nasa.gov/a_pdf/news/SM2-MediaGuide.pdf
Drawing on 85-87 of http://hubble.nasa.gov/a_pdf/news/sm3b_composite.pdf
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In the teleconference announcement it is stated that STS-125 is being delayed until Feb. 2009:
http://www.nasa.gov/news/media/newsaudio/index.html
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In the teleconference announcement it is stated that STS-125 is being delayed until Feb. 2009:
http://www.nasa.gov/news/media/newsaudio/index.html
So does this mean Atlantis will be rolled back to the VAB? also, will the hubble components be returned to the PHSF?
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This has just happened, and the agency needs time to get its arms around it. It's even possible that the results of the switch to the B side will impact forward plans. In short, no one knows the forward plans yet because there are no forward plans yet. There are only options at this point.
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In the teleconference announcement it is stated that STS-125 is being delayed until Feb. 2009:
They removed the Feb '09 part of the announcement apparently... In any case, the presser is scheduled for 6pm EDT / 22Z.
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In the teleconference announcement it is stated that STS-125 is being delayed until Feb. 2009:
They removed the Feb '09 part of the announcement apparently... In any case, the presser is scheduled for 6pm EDT / 22Z.
In the version I printed the last three words of the second sentence were
"until next February".
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Yes I seen it to. But thats good. Maybe we have a chance of launch on Oct 14.. I am hoping atleast..
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It's even worse than i thought.
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FYI, the nasa.gov pages are now saying "Fixing the problem will delay next month's space shuttle Atlantis' Hubble servicing mission."
The headline on the main shuttle page is "NASA to Discuss Hubble Anomaly and Servicing Mission Launch Delay"
http://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/shuttle/main/
Sounds like a delay.
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It's even worse than i thought.
What is worse?
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Yes I seen it to. But thats good. Maybe we have a chance of launch on Oct 14.. I am hoping atleast..
Surely not?
Even if side B works, they're bound to want to fly up replacement hardware for A or at least add additional EVA tasks (more training and re-prioritisation) for 125.
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MEDIA ADVISORY: M08-187
NASA TO DISCUSS HUBBLE ANOMALY AND SERVICING MISSION LAUNCH DELAY
WASHINGTON -- NASA will host a media teleconference at 6 p.m. EDT today to discuss a significant Hubble Space Telescope anomaly that occurred this weekend affecting the storage and transmittal of science data to Earth. Fixing the problem will delay next month's space shuttle Atlantis Hubble servicing mission.
The briefing participants are:
- Ed Weiler, associate administrator of the Science Mission Directorate at NASA Headquarters in Washington
- John Shannon, Shuttle Program manager at NASA's Johnson Space Center in Houston
- Preston Burch, Hubble manager at NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center in Greenbelt, Md.
To participate in the teleconference, reporters in the U.S. should call 1-800-369-6087 and use the pass code Hubble. International reporters should call 1-773-756-0843.
As a result of the launch delay, NASA has postponed the planned Oct. 3 Flight Readiness Review and subsequent news conference. The review will occur at a later date.
The malfunctioning system is Hubble's Control Unit/Science Data Formatter - Side A. Shortly after 8 p.m. on Saturday, Sept. 27, the telescope's spacecraft computer issued commands to safe the payload computer and science instruments when errors were detected within the Science Data Formatter. An attempt to reset the formatter and obtain a dump of the payload computer's memory was unsuccessful.
Additional testing demonstrates Side A no longer supports the transfer of science data to the ground. A transition to the redundant Side B should restore full functionality to the science instruments and operations.
The transition to Side B operations is complex. It requires that five other modules used in managing data also be switched to their B-side systems. The B-sides of these modules last were activated during ground tests in the late 1980s and/or early 1990, prior to launch.
The Hubble operations team has begun work on the Side B transition and believes it will be ready to reconfigure Hubble later this week. The transition will happen after the team completes a readiness review.
Hubble could return to science operations in the immediate future if the reconfiguration is successful. Even so, the agency is investigating the possibility of flying a back-up replacement system, which could be installed during the servicing mission.
Audio of the teleconference will be streamed live at:
http://www.nasa.gov/newsaudio
Related images for the briefing will be available at:
http://www.nasa.gov/hubble
For more information about the Space Shuttle Program, visit:
http://www.nasa.gov/shuttle
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If anyone can post audio of the telecon afterwards, I would definitely appreciate it. Thanks.
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Well, this could be worse. It could have happened during STS-125, or after. At least now we've got a chance to isolate, plan and fix.
Still hoping for an October launch! To anyone about to point me to clear statements that it won't, I say lalalalalalalala :) At least until we get through the 6pm presser and hear more.
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I'll record it.
And Chris - it won't launch in October.
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There's a silver lining in every cloud. I may now be able to go to KSC to attend this launch. It'll either be that or the Ares I-X launch (wouldn't that be further pushed back from April/June now?).
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I'll record it.
And Chris - it won't launch in October.
True. They would like HST to be in the best possible shape after this final servicing mission and leaving it one step away from complete failure is not the best possible shape.
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There's a silver lining in every cloud. I may now be able to go to KSC to attend this launch. It'll either be that or the Ares I-X launch (wouldn't that be further pushed back from April/June now?).
I would imagine Ares I-x will be pushed back now, since shuttle will be keeping Pad-B until STS-125 is back on the ground.
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There's a silver lining in every cloud. I may now be able to go to KSC to attend this launch. It'll either be that or the Ares I-X launch (wouldn't that be further pushed back from April/June now?).
I would imagine Ares I-x will be pushed back now, since shuttle will be keeping Pad-B until STS-125 is back on the ground.
Yes. Pad B is one of Constellation's worst nightmares at the moments!
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So, I read up that now because STS-125's back to February 2009, STS-126 is the next mission? What about STS-119?
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So, I read up that now because STS-125's back to February 2009, STS-126 is the next mission? What about STS-119?
After STS-125 as far as we know...
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Good question re: STS-119.
If they decide to move Atlantis back to the VAB/OPF, are there any plans floating around to change Atlantis' payload bay to accept STS-119's payload (S6) and roll it back out for a launch before the end of the calendar year?
Or could they have Discovery ready in time for a late Dec/Jan launch (STS-119) and have STS-125 launch in Feb/Mar with STS-127 (Endeavour) being the STS-400 orbiter?
Is it fair to say STS-126 will be the next shuttle flight now?
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Good question re: STS-119.
If they decide to move Atlantis back to the VAB/OPF, are there any plans floating around to change Atlantis' payload bay to accept STS-119's payload (S6) and roll it back out for a launch before the end of the calendar year?
Or could they have Discovery ready in time for a late Dec/Jan launch (STS-119) and have STS-125 launch in Feb/Mar with STS-127 (Endeavour) being the STS-400 orbiter?
Is it fair to say STS-126 will be the next shuttle flight now?
It would take longer to get Atlantis ready to go for STS-119 than to go with Discovery. Basically keep everything the way it is, just switch around dates for the missions.
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Good question re: STS-119.
If they decide to move Atlantis back to the VAB/OPF, are there any plans floating around to change Atlantis' payload bay to accept STS-119's payload (S6) and roll it back out for a launch before the end of the calendar year?
Or could they have Discovery ready in time for a late Dec/Jan launch (STS-119) and have STS-125 launch in Feb/Mar with STS-127 (Endeavour) being the STS-400 orbiter?
Is it fair to say STS-126 will be the next shuttle flight now?
It took a long time to configure Atlantis' payload bay to Hubble mode. Converting back for STS-119 would mean even more delays if you ask me, as things like ODS have to be reinstalled etc.
It's far easier just to launch STS-126 this year and then 125 and 119 in 2009...
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That's true, I hadn't thought about the ODS.
This means we'll get 4 flights total in 2008, maybe 6 in 2009.
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Is there room in the manifest to launch the extra mission (sts125) aswell as the other ISS planned missions in 2009?
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Is there room in the manifest to launch the extra mission (sts125) aswell as the other ISS planned missions?
STS-119 isn't an 'extra' mission. The CLFs are. We'll have to see how things go when we get the official target launch dates...
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Is there room in the manifest to launch the extra mission (sts125) aswell as the other ISS planned missions?
STS-119 isn't an 'extra' mission. The CLFs are. We'll have to see how things go when we get the official target launch dates...
Changed my post to STS125. Made a mistake saying STS119
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Is there room in the manifest to launch the extra mission (sts125) aswell as the other ISS planned missions?
STS-119 isn't an 'extra' mission. The CLFs are. We'll have to see how things go when we get the official target launch dates...
Changed my post to STS125. Made a mistake saying STS119
Oh. In that case i'd say that STS-125 is still necessary as NASA want to keep Hubble alive till for as long as possible (although at this rate it won't see christmas lol!). p
Plus it's been planned for so long now it's pointless cancelling it now...
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Well I can tell you all now, If officially the STS-125 does move past 2008. I have 3 LTT Lunch with astronaut Tickets, I will be trying to go to the November STS-126 Launch SO I will be selling these tickets to whoever wants them.. I need to keep my vacation in 2008 for work related reasons... So send me a PM or email if you wish to buy them. Thanks All
also: NASA has not yet sold the LTT tickets for STS-126 correct? Thanks
-Jason
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Material for the press briefing has been posted at:
http://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/hubble/servicing/SM4/main/20080929_briefing_materials.html
Shows photos of the Science Instrument Control and Data Handling module mounted on bay 10 door of the Support System Module
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MD - wait just 9 minutes for the press conference...
Dont think it will be live on public channel.
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http://www.nasa.gov/newsaudio
I'll transcribe the best I can, and try recording.
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Starting now.
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Anyone else having trouble getting the audio
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Sounds awful. Cant listen to this
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Preston Burch - 810pm on Saturday, Hubble safed the payload computer. Side A has failed, after operating for 18years. Large box, 136lbs.
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All testing and efforts to restore indicate total failure. Only option is to switch over to Side B. That is a major event for Hubble. In order to switch over, PSEA hardware safe mode is required (fallback computer when main computer is offline.)
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Goddard work:
- Explore failure, make sure no way to workaround other than Side B (or new Side A)
- Prepare to switch to Side B, which takes a lot of work and commanding (fortunately this activity was identified as life extension requirement a while ago.)
Started testing with the ground Hubble testbed of procedures. Test readiness review later this week, at that time they'll assess Side B procedures and risks of doing so.
- Putting together plan to take spare unit on ground, qualify for flight, and assess it's flight worthiness.
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Astronauts have already trained for access into the gyro bay - this box hangs on the door of that bay. 10 bolts hold it to the door - single connector to disengage so relatively straightfoward activity. 2 hours or less of EVA time.
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John Shannon: Hubble team has kept us well informed. Discussing various options, but very early in anomaly investigation. Will wait for HST to conclude before bringing up new dates. Obvious that Oct 14 is off the table, FRR will not be held this week.
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Plenty of time to make decision on STS-125. If HST is significantly delayed, for several months (most probable scenario), we would fly STS-126, around Nov 14th.
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Can't move 126 too much before the 14th. Looking at HST next February, another opportunity in April. Would use following ISS mission for LON. RIght now 119 is Feb 12, 127 in May, and we will see where Hubble team ends up and respond appropriately.
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Ok, I want to ask about the plan for locusts which i guess would be next..yes, i'm borrowing a great line from Bill Harwood from the hail storm last year.
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Ed Weiller: Reason we're looking at spare unit on ground - Side B could be brought up and we could put in the new instruments on October 14th. It's theoretically one route we could take, but we're left with system that has several single-point failures. That threatens entire mission. If we wait a few months, we get the full-up spare tested and ready to go, and we'll have observatory that's doubly redundant.
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Done with opening statement - Q&A starting.
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Cost estimate?
ED - $10-$11 million per month for their side to support, so about $30 million.
JOHN - No change in costs since same number of flights in fiscal year. So just normal costs. Not sure if STS125 rolls back, but leading candidate is to remove payload, put it in cannister, let Hubble team keep it, and bring stack back to VAB to HB3.
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Marcia Dunn - Done deal that if it tests well, it'll certainly fly?
Preston - spare unit was last used on ground in 2001 to support NICMOS cooling system. It worked fine, been stored carefully since then, and older style electronics are pretty robust for 18+ years, so pretty darn good.
Similar unit in Landsat - and that's run since 1983 so don't anticipate that we'll have problems, but need to take one bridge at a time.
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Ed - It's old, but duplicate of this system has been in orbit, high radiation, thermally cycled every 90 minutes. This one has been protected on ground.
Marcia - any idea what happened to Side a?
Preston - don't understand precise location of failure inside unit, it runs at relatively high temp, and high temps tend to accelerate degradation, so may be thermal but no exact nature. Probably won't know til unit is on the ground.
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EVA's tightly packed - will you trade off?
John - yes. All 5 EVA's were full, but this is high priority, so will fit in most appropriate time.
Preston - since we think job can be done in less than 2 hours, John Grunsfeld might be able to complete ACS repair on EVA 3 which frees up substantial time on EVA 5.
But a lot of things will have to go right, and we don't want to overextend the crew. We will go over the priority list, do want to minimize EVA changes since astro's have trained specifically.
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Preston - concerns about throwing wrong switch and blowing a fuse, so that's why we'll extensively test on ground for high current grounds, difficulty in switching, etc. as part of standard risk assessment.
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Bill - when do you formally decide 126 is up next? Would it make more sense to launch 119 before 125 due to beta cutouts?
John - 126 decision point, removing payload, putting in canister, rolling 125 stack to HB3, then moving 126 from Pad A to Pad B... If they got go tomorrow, they could launch Nov 2. But crew training or cargo delivery would not support that day - so they have 12 days to make decision and still make Nov 14th. Next Friday make decision.
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March 13 - May 28, two Soyuz launches and significant beta cutout which Hubble isn't restricted by. Might want to launch STS119 first, let Hubble fly during that cutout phase.
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Tariq - are you preserving chance to launch late October?
John - don't want to answer.
Preston - in order to fly spare unit, have to complete checkout. Ground equipment needs to be pulled in for more rigorous testing, vibration, thermal testing, run-time up, etc. Won't be ready to be delivered until first week of January.
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Preston - need hardware fabricated to put the unit on a MULE carrier, so lot of work to get us to point where we're ready to ship hardware to Kennedy. Then install, then put payload back in the bay and get ready to fly. So Feb is looking to be reasonable earliest availability date. Even mid-Jan is out of the question.
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Todd - asking philosophical questions.
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John Johnson LA Times - can we assume that this mission is going to happen? Any talk that things could go badly enough that Hubble will be abandoned?
Preston - every SM has had some hardware failure immediately before launch. 3B had reaction wheels failed, gyro failure required 3 to be split, solar stuff before SM1 -- anyhow, this failure doesn't put us over the fence and have NASA junk the billions of dollars just because of this.
Even if we're a little heavy on the EVA's and we have to give up an instrument, that's still a valid tradeoff. We won't throw in the towel because we have a spend a bit more to pull this mission off.
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Ed - This whole program was declared dead in 1990. HST has a record of coming back from adversity. Team works miracles, I'm not too concerned.
This failure was anticipated 20 years ago, we have hardware on the ground ready to go.
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Someone still confused - is there any way this launch still occurs even without the spare hardware?
Ed - barring some unforseen circumstance, I see no way that'll happen.
What's Hubble's status now?
If/when we get Side B back up, WFPC and ACS and FGS can still do science for next few months until SM4.
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Preston - we do astrometry science with FGS, which is independent of this unit. Still doing science even right now, moving astrometry science up to now until we switch to Side B>
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Something have to leave cargo bay to fit this in weight-wise?
Preston - no. Sufficient space on two carriers, thinking is MULE carrier at back of cargo bay is spot to go.
Lift capacity of orbiter just fine, and by putting on MULE we're putting behind the orbiter's C/G so unload ballast in the orbiter as a result.
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Will new tools be needed?
Preston - no.
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mkirk - any constraint to current configuration of HST? If you can't bring up Side B, any harm?
Preston - no. Limited instrument telemetry, so we can bring up the NSSC1 payload computer that supervises instruments so we can get their condition, but we're fine in this state indefinitely.
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nat geog - confused about plans. Are you switching to Side B until you can fix Side A?
Preston - clarify. Side B and Side A are on same tray, so will switch to Side B, but failed equipment will change out both A&B.
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Any experiments at risk while we're delayed?
Preston - data that we've taken so far has been dumped, so future observations are on hold but chances still exist in the future. So most of the planned obs will just be rescheduled for once Side B is back. Very little in the way of lost science. Certainly any target that comes and goes now would not be recoverable, but those are rare events anyways.
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Ed - this is not an unusual circumstance. Over the 18 years, Hubble has been in safe mode before. You lose a few days or week of science, but for critical obs they get rescheduled.
Nat Geog - whose science got lost?
Ed - we'll reschedule what was lost.
PReston - read the Hubble daily report to see all the obs we do per day.
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Andrew from Science Magazine - was there any discussions about putting spare in SM4 or was it assumed this would work?
Preston - we never talked seriously about changing it out, but we were concerned about lack of capability to crosstrap A&B sides. We developed kit to link those sides for more redundancy. Originally that was in early Hubble design, but too complicated. So when we developed this fix plan last year, we realized it was still pretty complex and not worth it. There are other components on observatory that have redudant parts, so we can't change everything just because it might break later.
Ed - if a unit survives the first month or two, it'll last a long long time. If a radio has been working 18 years - do you really want to unplug it and try a new one? Voyager has worked 40 years, this isn't something you replace just for the sake of replacing.
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Andrew - are there other parts you are looking at?
Ed - that's the decision we've already made. That's why we're waiting a few months on the final mission to make sure we're fully redundant.
Presston - when we switch over to Side B, we have to switch over 5 electronics boxes, and those now become additional single points of failure to science mission. That's why we looked at cross-strapping kit to eliminate those single points.
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Irene - idea on how long the telescope ops are suspended while switching to Side B?
Presston - original plan was to switch to Side B end of this week, now looking to be a day or two delay while complete engineering assessments. Actual switchover takes a full day, then we bring up instruments, so we'll be back doing science within a few days after switchover. Overall total within two weeks of today we'll be back in full ops.
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Irene - if spare doesn't check out properly, would Hubble mission move back to October?
Presston - if spare isn't viable option, we'd want to fly as soon as we can, but that'd be up to John. Maybe a one month delay, but we can't keep shuttle side hanging.
John - there's more to come in troubleshooting, if they can't flight qualify the spare, we'd just adjust our scheduled.
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Peter King - Weighs 135 pounds - but what is the size of replacement?
Presson - 21.5" x 32.5" x 9.5" Easy box to manipulate in space, certainly when compared to instruments / FGS / battery modules / etc.
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How many original elements will be left after SM4?
Presson - electrical power system has been almost totally replaced. 3rd generation of solar arrays. New PCU (heart) on last mission, new batteries coming. So lot of components haven't been changed, but many big things are new.
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Another questioner asking if they are confident ground unit will work.
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Thanks CollectSpace for asking my question
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Robert Pearlman - if you launch Endeavour first, are there any challenges with Discovery as STS-400?
John - kicked off work on software for STS119, but if STS-127 is the LON then we're fine. Either way doesn't sound like he's too worried about it.
Robert - holding pad longer than expected, how will that affect Ares X?
John - have been talking to Constellation all day, there are some things we can do like lightning towers. Bigger concern is MLP that STS125 is on, since that's need for I-X. NEed to discuss how to work that if 125 is delayed.
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Did you notice signs of failure before it happened?
Presson - no. Even looked over telemetry again, and no trend info that pointed to this.
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Since this is last SM, I'm surprised that this wasn't ready for launch anyways.
Presson - would take tremendous amount of money and time to launch every backup we could possibly do. Weigh that against risk we're taking. Huge inventory of hardware that can be changed out, depends on affordabillity and resources.
Ed - and priorities. If you want to replace everything that works with everything we have spares for on ground, it'd be overwhelming. If we only had 3 full EVA's and room for two more, we'd add more, but that's not the case.
Telecon ended.
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866-415-2342 for a recording. I have a 28MB file - that might be too big to attach ;)
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Rdale - many thanks for the excellent summaries - you got everything worth noting :)
(keeping up typing and listening for an hour is tough work)
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Thanks very much for covering the press Rob.
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Is that MP3ed, Rob?
Edit: At that filesize, I mean.
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Thanks for recording, and transcribing, Rob.
Check your PMs. :)
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Many thanks for the transcription rdale.
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IF instead of going before STS-119 they decide to go with STS-127 as LON and let 119 go ahead, would they demate Atlantis and put Discovery on the stack? Would save time...
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IF instead of going before STS-119 they decide to go with STS-127 as LON and let 119 go ahead, would they demate Atlantis and put Discovery on the stack? Would save time...
This is where it gets convoluted. Looks like they are looking into several plans and several versions of those plans. Really thinking it's best to let all the info come in and have another check what's favored tomorrow.
There's critical paths with Discovery for starters (RCC panel).
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IF instead of going before STS-119 they decide to go with STS-127 as LON and let 119 go ahead, would they demate Atlantis and put Discovery on the stack? Would save time...
There's critical paths with Discovery for starters (RCC panel).
Of course if Atlantis is destacked then she could donate the part to Discovery, then get the part from Endeavour when she lands from STS-126, and Endeavour would get the one off STS-119....just mind exercise and would probably not work.
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IF instead of going before STS-119 they decide to go with STS-127 as LON and let 119 go ahead, would they demate Atlantis and put Discovery on the stack? Would save time...
There's critical paths with Discovery for starters (RCC panel).
Of course if Atlantis is destacked then she could donate the part to Discovery, then get the part from Endeavour when she lands from STS-125, and Endeavour would get the one off Discovery....just mind exercise and would probably not work.
Actually, that's the problem. It's not a certainty. The panels are very much orbiter specific. Remember the fit check issues the last time they swapped a panel?
When they had the ET-129 noise problem and there was a chance of a mission/orbiter swap, this was the big concern.
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Thanks to rdale for recording, I have uploaded the STS-125 Hubble issue teleconference. It is 27mb, and runs from start to end. Thanks once again, rdale. :)
Click HERE to download (http://www.sendspace.com/pro/dl/3rbt0n)
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Anyone got any idea when rollback ops are likely to be?
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Nope. Not til the stuff mentioned over the past 5 pages is addressed :)
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What are they going to do with Greg on the ISS? Saying that 125 delays?
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No question mark needed - 125 is delayed. And he wasn't coming back on 125 anyways, as it's not going to ISS.
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I had a wild thought, feel free to shoot it down.
If they add the task to replace the failed control unit, they'd be adding a new task onto a flight with 5 EVA's booked already. Shuttle flights will be ending soon with no more chances to service Hubble, and I'm sure there are a lot of things that could be replaced/upgraded.
Also there is ET-138 and ET-122 available for future flights. Could they add another HST-SM to the manifest in 2010 to finish up servicing with everything they might like to do but can't fit into STS-125? Then make the shuttle carrying up AMS the LON flight and if LON isn't needed, have the AMS flight be the shuttle swan song? (no LON or fabricate an extra ET for LON, make it a museum article if unused)
Just a thought.
EDIT: I realize that there'd be only one pad left, that 39B would be transferred to Constellation. So could they use Endeavour or Discovery for HST servicing and modify the SSPTS system to draw power from Hubble until they could roll out the AMS vehicle to the pad and get it ready for liftoff? They'd have to do Launch-to-Launch, as I recall that was one of the options for STS-400.
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No question mark needed - 125 is delayed. And he wasn't coming back on 125 anyways, as it's not going to ISS.
Yea but how long can he stay up there if they decide not to launch 126 this year?
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Bubb - it's a less than 2 hour task, and might be completed without any impact to the overall priorities. Even if it did knock something off, still not enough for SM5. Hubble can't power Shuttle, even with a HPTS.
Justin - STS126 might be moved up to Nov 14th, there's nothing to indicate it won't launch this year. But if it doesn't - it wouldn't be connected to STS125.
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Bubbinski, certainly lots of interesting things could happen to the manifest. I would recommend we see how this shakes out over the next 4 months with the HST planning and the election. Its possible the whole STS plan gets a serious working over.
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For Greg at least there's always chess to pass the time. :)
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MD - Hubble will be replaced by JWST before needing a 2010+ extension.
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One question. Why did they even bother to remove the ISS docking adapter on Atlantis? Were they that tight on weight for STS-125? Would be pretty handy right now if Atlantis could unload the HST-SM4 payload and then load up with the STS-126 MPLM.
The ODS was removed to support STS-125 EVA activities. Furthermore, it takes a good deal of time to configure the Shuttles' payload bays for mission specific cargo. Atlantis' PLB is configured for the SM-4 payload. It would take months to reconfigure it for the STS-126 payload -- much longer than simply letting Endeavour fly the mission she's configured for in November.
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Yeah, I figured it wasn't that simple. Almost as if it were rocket science. :)
They can still do EVA's with the ODS installed, can't they? I figured they removed it for weight or CG issues. Am I wrong?
Could be wrong, but I thought it had to do with EV crewmember clearance issues with the Super Lightweight Interchangeable Carrier in the PLB.
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One question. Why did they even bother to remove the ISS docking adapter on Atlantis? Were they that tight on weight for STS-125? Would be pretty handy right now if Atlantis could unload the HST-SM4 payload and then load up with the STS-126 MPLM.
The ODS was removed to support STS-125 EVA activities. Furthermore, it takes a good deal of time to configure the Shuttles' payload bays for mission specific cargo. Atlantis' PLB is configured for the SM-4 payload. It would take months to reconfigure it for the STS-126 payload -- much longer than simply letting Endeavour fly the mission she's configured for in November.
Not to mention that STS-126 needs the SSPTS, which Atlantis doesn't have.
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HI , Question for you all.
So is it 100% not possible for a 2008 launch of Atlantis to HST?
Has the date for STS-126 been changed at all? If I cant see STS-125 I am hoping to try to plan for STS-126..
Also have the LTT Tickets for STS-126 gone on sale yet? Thank You very much.
-Jason
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HI , Question for you all.
So is it 100% not possible for a 2008 launch of Atlantis to HST?
Has the date for STS-126 been changed at all? If I cant see STS-125 I am hoping to try to plan for STS-126..
Also have the LTT Tickets for STS-126 gone on sale yet? Thank You very much.
-Jason
LTT tickets aren't relevant to processing (use the viewing thread for that to keep things on track), but it's 95 percent certain that STS-125 is no go for 2008.
STS-126 is being planned for a move to Pad 39A for a November 14 (NET) launch.
All still in the planning stages and memos etc. are going into L2. I will collate key info into articles as we get a solid idea of status.
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Sorry about that Chris. Will ask on other thread. Thanks again
-Jason
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Bill - when do you formally decide 126 is up next? Would it make more sense to launch 119 before 125 due to beta cutouts?
John - 126 decision point, removing payload, putting in canister, rolling 125 stack to HB3, then moving 126 from Pad A to Pad B... If they got go tomorrow, they could launch Nov 2. But crew training or cargo delivery would not support that day - so they have 12 days to make decision and still make Nov 14th. Next Friday make decision.
This seems like the most likely outcome, except 126 would go from (current) pad B to pad A where Atlantis is now, correct?
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Correct - might have transcribed wrong.
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Any ideas on when the girls might begin this pad dance?
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Nope. But when something does come out, it'll be announced here.
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Not that is matters anymore, but images of the payload installation into Atlantis are now on KSC images:
http://mediaarchive.ksc.nasa.gov/search.cfm?cat=4
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Why can't STS-126 be launched from pad B?
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Why can't STS-126 be launched from pad B?
Because the B PCR cannot support payloads. They used items from the B PGHM to get the A PGHM up to date. Also the B PCR isn't up to cleanroom standards anymore.
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Status update rounding up some of the L2 content coming in on this.
http://www.nasaspaceflight.com/2008/10/forward-plan-sts-126-rolling-to-pad-39a-in-two-weeks-sts-125-back-to-vab/
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Does anyone know if Hubble went through a diagnostics exercise/testing process that caused side A SIC&DH to malfunction or is it purely coincidental that it failed just weeks before the service mission?
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Does anyone know if Hubble went through a diagnostics exercise/testing process that caused side A SIC&DH to malfunction or is it purely coincidental that it failed just weeks before the service mission?
There's a HST engineer conducting a Q&A on L2 and he mentioned it happened, or was spotted, during a self-check, but there's no pinpoint to the point of failure yet. They've pulled in one of the original HST guys to help.
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Does anyone know if Hubble went through a diagnostics exercise/testing process that caused side A SIC&DH to malfunction or is it purely coincidental that it failed just weeks before the service mission?
There's a HST engineer conducting a Q&A on L2 and he mentioned it happened, or was spotted, during a self-check, but there's no pinpoint to the point of failure yet. They've pulled in one of the original HST guys to help.
Yes, but I figure that this self-check has been performed regularly through out Hubble’s 18 years in service. Nothing suggests that this self-check were performed only because of the then up coming STS-125 mission.
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Does anyone know if Hubble went through a diagnostics exercise/testing process that caused side A SIC&DH to malfunction or is it purely coincidental that it failed just weeks before the service mission?
There's a HST engineer conducting a Q&A on L2 and he mentioned it happened, or was spotted, during a self-check, but there's no pinpoint to the point of failure yet. They've pulled in one of the original HST guys to help.
The HST engineer has confirmed on L2 that the self-test that caused the safe-mode is running continuously. So in other words it probably was purely coincidental.
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The self-test didn't cause the safe mode... The self-test failed, which put most of the instruments into safe mode.
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For those interested the full transcript of the HST Press Briefing from 29 Sep 08 has been published by NASA
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Per L2, HST payload removal from Atlantis to begin at the weekend.
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Per L2, HST payload removal from Atlantis to begin at the weekend.
Article and a Hubble update - plus other content rounded up from L2:
http://www.nasaspaceflight.com/2008/10/atlantis-payload-removal-to-begin-this-weekend-hubble-troubleshooting-latest/
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Updated the article with the rollback date of October 20 (which can move left or right - most likely left - depending on what works best for the milestones etc.)
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Sorry if this was asked before.
If got my dates right, around 28 days of processing have now been done since the arrival of Atlantis at the pad. How many days of processing will have to be redone when she returns to the pad?
Thanks
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If got my dates right, around 28 days of processing have now been done since the arrival of Atlantis at the pad. How many days of processing will have to be redone when she returns to the pad?
Likely most of it, with perhaps the exception of the TCDT; however, I wouldn't use calendar days the vehicle has physically been at the pad to measure processing time. For one thing, the teams that work on the vehicle at the pad don't work 24/7.
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Last 10 minutes of today's ISS hour (replays on NASA TV this evening) was coverage of Grunsfeld training in the NBL for EVA 5...
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If got my dates right, around 28 days of processing have now been done since the arrival of Atlantis at the pad. How many days of processing will have to be redone when she returns to the pad?
Likely most of it; however, I wouldn't use calendar days the vehicle has physically been at the pad to measure processing time. For one thing, they don't work 24/7.
Thanks, I know that "days" aren't the most suitable unit I could have used but couldn't figure out a better way to formulate my question.
A ballpark number, a fraction or a percentage would do it. But for now I'm satisfied with your "most of it" :-)
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A ballpark number, a fraction or a percentage would do it. But for now I'm satisfied with your "most of it" :-)
Whatever the figures are, it's probably more of an issue of how the work "items" fit into the big picture than a single time period. And that's dependent on lots of factors. I'm sure this site will have all the news on the schedules for the 125 and 4xx vehicles when they get back into launch processing in earnest. (And all the other shuttle and HST program news going on in between.)
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A ballpark number, a fraction or a percentage would do it. But for now I'm satisfied with your "most of it" :-)
Whatever the figures are, it's probably more of an issue of how the work "items" fit into the big picture than a single time period. And that's dependent on lots of factors. I'm sure this site will have all the news on the schedules for the 125 and 4xx vehicles when they get back into launch processing in earnest. (And all the other shuttle and HST program news going on in between.)
Agreed but the SSP or whatever office is in charge need at least some sort of ballpark number to estimate when to bring the stack out to support a give launch date or give a launch date once the prerequisites are dates known (in this case the arrival of the replacement unit for HST).
Maybe this is worth a new thread on how do they make the processing schedule...
Many thanks for your answers
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Agreed but the SSP or whatever office is in charge need at least some sort of ballpark number to estimate when to bring the stack out to support a give launch date or give a launch date once the prerequisites are dates known (in this case the arrival of the replacement unit for HST).
Sure, and they probably have schedules and options laid out for discussions and decisions down the road. For us on the outside, though, we don't have full visibility into the program, which would be largely disruptive. Thanks to the information we get here, we have much better visibility, but it's still minimal, relatively speaking.
(And yes, I agree this should move to probably the Q&A thread.)
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Round up of L2 latest for 125 - and opening preliminary timelines for rollback and postential de-stack:
http://www.nasaspaceflight.com/2008/10/dual-flow-de-stack-debate/
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Thanks for those details. I'm absolutely on the edge of my chair awaiting Side A / B results. Procedure approval, VEST test results, the actual cutover attempt, etc.
In the article, you have a quote apparently from presentation materials:
“On Monday, HST will brief results and plans to Goddard Center Director. Tuesday, HST will take it to HQ. Wednesday, plan is to have them press on with commanding over to side B. When complete VEST work to take the side B routine over, will start flight qualification work on the new SICBH boxes.”
It's not clear to me in there when the VEST runthrough happens. And as I recall from the initial press briefing last week, that process (on VEST and on Hubble itself) would take something like 8 hours (basically a whole day). So it seems like everything is packed in too tight there. I'm sure it's not, just trying to divine more details out of it.
Has anyone found a source for more detailed Hubble status info, similar to the ISS daily reports or a forum like this one?
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Has anyone found a source for more detailed Hubble status info, similar to the ISS daily reports or a forum like this one?
During the presser they mentioned going to their website and getting the Hubble Daily Reports, but they are not available publicly there. If you watch closely they are reposted elsewhere, but not on a NASA or Hubble related site.
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Has anyone found a source for more detailed Hubble status info, similar to the ISS daily reports or a forum like this one?
Seen some on L2 when they are relevant. They aren't very long. There was more detail in the end of week Standup, which are a L2 regular.
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11511 - NSSC-1 is safed, PIT toggle test failed
Upon acqusition of signal at 272/00:52:19 vehicle telemetry was in HF format with NSSC-1 in fixed format. Two 486 ESB messages "D24" (SICDH_TOGGLE_TEST_FAIL) and "D01" (SAFE_HLD_MACROS_ACTIVE_INFO) were received at 00:10:41 according to ESB dump. SCDHSAFA (Safing Macro Active), SDSTOGF (Toggle Failure Counter), SSiCDHT (SIC&DH Toggle OK Flag), and SSIPTBE (PIT Togggle Test) flags were set.
Science Observations Affected in Proposals: WFPC Proposal ID #11289, #11130, #11796, #11113, #11107, #11218, #11302; #11793, #11103, #11797 and ACS Proposal ID #11196,
11515 - GSAcq(1,2,2) failed to RGA Hold (Gyro Control)
Upon acquisition of signal at 272/15:19:30,the GSAcq(1,2,2)scheduled at 272/15:16:41 - 15:24:46 had begun acquisition walkdown, then at 272/15:20:19 acquisition walkdown failed to RGA Hold due to (QF1STOPF) stop indication flag set on FGS-1.
The payload had safed. Affected data are included in the HSTAR 11511.
COMPLETED OPS REQUEST:
18294-3 - Perform NSSC-1 Hardware memory dump @ 272/0554z
18295-0 - Turn off CDH regulator @ 272/0727z
18296-0 - Reset CU command counter @ 272/1734z
18297-0 - Switch to CU RIUB and perform H/W dump @ 272/1815z
18298-0 - power cycle CU/SDF A @ 272/1851z
18300-0 - NSSC-1 Fill Data Test @ 272/2233z
Flash Report:
As a result of NCS cooler and the Sis being safed, the HST load decreased from ~75A to ~53A, resulting in a battery heat up with the increased charge current. Per COP 4.27A the +BB SPA Trim relay (Battery 3) was off-lined as Battery 3's temperature was demonstrating an increasing warming trend and was approaching 3.5 DegC, the yellow ground limit. Commanding to off-line the SPA was performed at DOY 275, 01:04 GMT via Ops Request 18303.
11519 - GSAcq(1,2,1) failed to RGA Hold (Gyro Control)
GSAcq(1,2,1) scheduled at 275/16:37:58 - 16:46:03 failed to RGA Hold due to (QF1STOPF) stop flag indication on FGS-1.
11520 - OM1EBOXT (STIS MAMA1 Electronics Box Temp) Limit Violation
At 275/20:26:03, STIS MAMA1 Electronics Box Temperature (OM1EBOXT) began flagging out of limit intermittently one count below its red low limit of 0.0 deg C at -0.15 deg C.
11521 - GSAcq(1,2,1) failed due to SSLEX @ 276/02:14:40z
During LOS the GSacq(1,2,1) scheduled at 276/02:14:04 failed due to scan step limit exceeded on FGS 1.
11522 - GSacq(1,2,1) failed to RGA control.
During LOS GSacq(1,2,1) scheduled at 276/07:01:44 failed. At AOS stop flags QF1STOPF and QSTOP were set for FGS 1.
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About the issues, which he is asking about, not what Galaxy it's taking photos of. And about the issues, the Standup is better.
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HST payload now out of Atlantis and in the PCR.
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Chris - where are they taking the payload once it's removed from the PCR?
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Chris - where are they taking the payload once it's removed from the PCR?
Back to the Payload Hazardous Servicing Facility (PHSF), where it was integrated and placed in the carrier.
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Chris - where are they taking the payload once it's removed from the PCR?
Back to the Payload Hazardous Servicing Facility (PHSF), where it was integrated and placed in the carrier.
Will it just be stored there or will they haul it to the SSPF? Obviously, there's not much point to having it in the SSPF other than having it in the cleanroom environment, but I don't know much about these things.
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Will it just be stored there or will they haul it to the SSPF? Obviously, there's not much point to having it in the SSPF other than having it in the cleanroom environment, but I don't know much about these things.
Directly back to PHSF, no point in stopping at SSPF since new hardware is needed to be placed in the canister.
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Some launch date memo updates:
http://www.nasaspaceflight.com/2008/10/pending-sts-125-discovery-sts-401/
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Does anyone know the RSS retract times for the payload removal?
Thanks.
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Does anyone know the RSS retract times for the payload removal?
Thanks.
It is planned for 2nd shift tomorrow (oct. 10th) according to preliminary timelines.
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Does anybody know if the observation gantry will be open when the RSS is retracted?
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Does anybody know if the observation gantry will be open when the RSS is retracted?
Very likely, since the canister operations will take several shifts. It's worth repeating that the view of the orbiter on Pad A from the observation gantry is largely obscured whether or not the RSS is in "mate" position or retracted to "park."
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Does anyone know the RSS retract times for the payload removal?
Thanks.
It is planned for 2nd shift tomorrow (oct. 10th) according to preliminary timelines.
Is that late afternoon?
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Does anyone know the RSS retract times for the payload removal?
Thanks.
It is planned for 2nd shift tomorrow (oct. 10th) according to preliminary timelines.
Is that late afternoon?
I believe it's evening actually(6 pm).
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Nov 5 decision on 125's launch date.
Will now be either be Feb 17 or May. Working towards Feb 17 - pending HST switchover.
Will write up the associated memo into the next article (tonight).
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This is an interview with something about the data switching unit spare -that the Hubble needs - having a problematic history and being a bit different in configuration than the one in orbit.
http://space.newscientist.com/article/dn14908-hubble-replacement-part-has-glitches-of-its-own.html
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RSS retract to "park" in progress...
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The payload canister is at the lower end of the PCR:
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Looks like it's departed the pad and is already back in the PHSF:
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Looks like it's departed the pad and is already back in the PHSF:
Those are separate canisters. The canister at the pad is going to be there for a couple of days.
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Ah, thanks. Was wondering how it went into the PHSF within a few hours, but figured it was possible.
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Ah, thanks. Was wondering how it went into the PHSF within a few hours, but figured it was possible.
Ehhh, that second cap is from within the SSPF! Not the PHSF. You can see the Canister here: http://science.ksc.nasa.gov/shuttle/countdown/video/chan12large.jpg
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Tuesday's Hubble briefing will be only be available live as streaming audio at http://www.nasa.gov/newsaudio . However that system did not work last Friday for the MSL briefing. Can someone here with an inside line to NASA PAO ask them if they were aware of this problem? I really really don't want to miss the Hubble briefing on Tuesday.
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Launch date update:
http://www.nasaspaceflight.com/2008/10/sts-125-refines-february-17-hubble/
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Launch date update:
http://www.nasaspaceflight.com/2008/10/sts-125-refines-february-17-hubble/
Thanks for these updates Chris. Always lots of interesting items and easy to understand :)
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http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Yem2ZzYnX1c
The Space Shuttle Minute is NASA's wrap-up of activities surrounding Space Shuttle processing at NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida.
Enjoy,
Hogan
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So what will happen to STS-119 if 125 goes up in Feb?
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So what will happen to STS-119 if 125 goes up in Feb?
IF everything goes smoothly.....possibly late March, early April.
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Cheers. Hubble update conference starting in 5 mins
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Yes, it'll be a bit like the STS-125/STS-126 situation, pre-Hubble trouble.
With Discovery standing by as STS-401, she could technically launch a month later. Windows will be a factor, but baring that, at least there won't be the Beta Angle Cutoff STS-126 was racing against (Nov 25) from what I can tell.
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Confirmation of the Oct 20 rollback now a press release.
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And now the canister has been lowered onto the transporter:
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And now the canister has been lowered onto the transporter:
Yep, RSS rotation tomorrow night.
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Canister on it's way to the PHSF. Canister in the large white object.
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From NASA KSC Multimedia:
Canister transport to the PHSF.
http://mediaarchive.ksc.nasa.gov/search.cfm?cat=4
Don't forget to post the KSC Multimedia link, please (Ford)
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Today's video file has a feed of this morning's HST switchover.
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Hubble and processing update:
http://www.nasaspaceflight.com/2008/10/hubble-switchover-efforts-to-plan/
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And now the canister has been lowered onto the transporter:
Yep, RSS rotation tomorrow night.
Looks like that's complete:
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And in the daytime :)
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Payload canister now in PHSF:
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Payload canister now in PHSF:
And images from KSC images
http://mediaarchive.ksc.nasa.gov/search.cfm?cat=4
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Rollback time updated to 7am Monday.
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Daylight great! Any reason?
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Weather slowing down some ops today.
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Cool, and it'll be on NASA TV. Shame she's going in the wrong direction.
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Cool, and it'll be on NASA TV. Shame she's going in the wrong direction.
As well as a live event here. Thank goodness for having a day off from school. :)
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RSS rollback time?
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A L2 NTD report shows it as 1st shift on Sunday.
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The FSS OWP is being retracted right now. The RSS OWPs was retracted eariler this morning.
So RSS Rotation to PARK should be coming up later today.
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A L2 NTD report shows it as 1st shift on Sunday.
Thanks, so that should be anytime now.
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Retraction of the RSS in about 15 mins.
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RSS is on the move!
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RSS is on the move!
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Atlantis is now fully exposed for tommorow's 7 am Eastern time rollback to HB3:
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Good work with the screenshots. Shame retract is for the wrong reason.
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Atlantis looking majestic on the pad, wont be back here again for four months (at least)
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Atlantis looking majestic on the pad, wont be back here again for four months (at least)
Well, not quite that long if they target mid-February or thereabouts. If that's the decision, they're going to have to put 125 back on Pad A and start the dual pad flows again sometime in January.
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Nice dramatic lighting in this screenshot
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This is nearly a 1000 post thread for 125 processing, so we'll move to a new thread after she's back in the VAB.
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1st motion expected 0700 local
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Any info on delay? Is it worth a visit to KSC??
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Any info on delay? Is it worth a visit to KSC??
Delay was due to weather prohibiting OMS/RCS fuel offload.
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Crawler transporter moved up the slope this morning at approx 4:30am and started jacking up the vehicle at approx 5:45am.
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Crawler transporter moved up the slope this morning at approx 4:30am and started jacking up the vehicle at approx 5:45am.
Thank you for the update and NASA TV coverage have started with natural audio from Cx39A.
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Ready for 1st motion. PA made.
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1st Motion at 6:48am Eastern Time
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Rollback in Motion
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Good bye, Pad 39A.
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Thanks to Voyager for keeping an eye on first motion.
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Looks like a beautiful morning over in Florida.
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Any info on delay? Is it worth a visit to KSC??
Was moved back seven hours, last week. I'd be in the car by now if I was you ;)
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Per L2, this tank has been damaged by a falling steel rod. Will write it up into the latest article (a few hours). Probably will be ok, as they've only seen "dings".
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Thanks for the camera fix! ;)
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Wow she's made a lot of progress. All the best Atlantis - we'll look for you in January!
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She is out of range of OTV-071, unless someone just hasn't panned it across, so NASA TV is the only live footage I can get.
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Nice look at an empty Pad 39A:
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Per L2, this tank has been damaged by a falling steel rod. Will write it up into the latest article (a few hours). Probably will be ok, as they've only seen "dings".
Chris, you're really not learning the AP style of reporting ;) You should have written "Rod smashes through shuttle, Disaster for space station!!" :D
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What's with the water being sprayed? is it to keep dust down from the crawlerway, I didn't see it in the other screen shots though?
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What's with the water being sprayed? is it to keep dust down from the crawlerway, I didn't see it in the other screen shots though?
Yes, keeping down dust. They like to keep contaminants to a minimal.
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Making really good time too.
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Very good time.
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http://www.nasaspaceflight.com/2008/10/atlantis-rollback-vab-et-127-damaged/
(per L2, processing latest for Atlantis and the ET-127 damage).
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Stunning:
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VAB coming into the shot:
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She's made excellent time. They're barely 3.5 hours into the roll and they're closing in on the VAB.
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What I wouldn't give to be on a bus tour at KSC right now...
She's getting really close to the VAB now. Dousing the crawlerway again.
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Now a little over four hours into the roll.
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What I wouldn't give to be on a bus tour at KSC right now...
Not sure they let the tour buses out there during rolls. They didn't for the last rollout until after the crawler had passed the observation gantry.
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And that's the end of live coverage on NTV. They're going to live commentary of the ISS.
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And that's the end of live coverage on NTV. They're going to live commentary of the ISS.
Man and the webcams are on the pad. :'(
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And that's the end of live coverage on NTV. They're going to live commentary of the ISS.
Man and the webcams are on the pad. :'(
She should be almost in the VAB within the next hour or so.
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Not sure they let the tour buses out there during rolls. They didn't for the last rollout until after the crawler had passed the observation gantry.
I was surprised at all the traffic driving by, and trying to imagine the discipline I would have to have to keep my eyes on the road!
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Not sure they let the tour buses out there during rolls. They didn't for the last rollout until after the crawler had passed the observation gantry.
I was surprised at all the traffic driving by, and trying to imagine the discipline I would have to have to keep my eyes on the road!
I'd be in the Banana River ;)
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And that's the end of live coverage on NTV. They're going to live commentary of the ISS.
Check back after that's over. The schedule says the Video File would run at 2 pm Eastern today, after the ISS PAO event that's around 1:20 pm. In between they may go back to KSC, as they did during the 125 rollout.
(And as has been done before, they may show a little live video during the ISS hour.)
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Not sure they let the tour buses out there during rolls. They didn't for the last rollout until after the crawler had passed the observation gantry.
I was surprised at all the traffic driving by, and trying to imagine the discipline I would have to have to keep my eyes on the road!
I'd be in the Banana River ;)
I'd be in the Banana River, sat on top of the sunroof in my sinking car, asking my rescuers to throw me a camera ;)
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Not sure they let the tour buses out there during rolls. They didn't for the last rollout until after the crawler had passed the observation gantry.
I was surprised at all the traffic driving by, and trying to imagine the discipline I would have to have to keep my eyes on the road!
I'd be in the Banana River ;)
I'd be in the Banana River, sat on top of the sunroof in my sinking car, asking my rescuers to throw me a camera ;)
The only problem with this picture is you not having your own camera on a friggin' KSC visit ;)
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Coverage is back :D
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Coverage is back :D
No, just a replay of earlier footage.
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Coverage is back :D
No, just a replay of earlier footage.
Are you sure? Looks about right to me. I've been using that light pole as a reference.
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That was live. They're just doing a few throwbacks every now and again.
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That was live. They're just doing a few throwbacks every now and again.
Thought so. I've never seen them jump back and forth like that.
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Coverage back for the time being; this from the VAB roof:
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NASA-KSC Media Gallery has some pics up now; this one includes the STS-126 shuttle on Pad B.
http://mediaarchive.ksc.nasa.gov/search.cfm?cat=4
(Attached picture is not full res.)
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Let me turn around at my desk and look out my window. Gee, what to I see? But a shuttle returning from the pad
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Let me turn around at my desk and look out my window. Gee, what to I see? But a shuttle returning from the pad
C'mon, Jim. Don't tease us! If you can take any pictures, be sure to post. ;)
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Let me turn around at my desk and look out my window. Gee, what to I see? But a shuttle returning from the pad
C'mon, Jim. Don't tease us! If you can take any pictures, be sure to post. ;)
I tried but my phone cam is crap
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The stack seems to be slowing down now as it closes in on the VAB door:
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Very cool Jim, thanks!
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Getting closer:
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Atlantis is entering in the VAB:
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G'bye, Atlantis. We'll see you again soon!
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Webcams go to a different location looking into the VAB please :)
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Webcams go to a different location looking into the VAB please :)
That's very rare. Last time we've seen inside the VAB was STS-126 booster stacking.
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I hope to see Atlantis go out of VAB asap, direction Pad 39A.
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It's a ghost town
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And coverage has ended.
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Jacking down now....
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She looks ready to fly!!
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More Pics
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Hard Down at 1342hrs Eastern.
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Nice images. And now we've got the STS-125 stack, the build-up of the STS-401/119 stack, and STS-126 on the pad. Rollback is bad, but there's still a huge amount going on!
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She looks ready to fly!!
That is a beautiful photo.
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Let me turn around at my desk and look out my window. Gee, what to I see? But a shuttle returning from the pad
Hey Jim - if you don't wanna get closer, how about getting hold of a better camera!
Nice ;)
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Thanks for the images, Jim and Voyager. :)
They're astounding.
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Nice Pics
Thanks
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Just two of the hundred photos I took at KSC today. LC-39 Observation Gantry was closed. These are from the Apollo/Saturn V Facility about 1.6 miles from VAB. Back to Wisconsin tomorrow. :(
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Just two of the hundred photos I took at KSC today. LC-39 Observation Gantry was closed. These are from the Apollo/Saturn V Facility about 1.6 miles from VAB. Back to Wisconsin tomorrow. :(
If you dont mind, I touched them up to get rid of the haze:
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Thanks Ronsmytheiii.
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Well I have been to KSC before but when I went in August I took 435 Pics ;)
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Just two of the hundred photos I took at KSC today. LC-39 Observation Gantry was closed. These are from the Apollo/Saturn V Facility about 1.6 miles from VAB. Back to Wisconsin tomorrow. :(
Just FYI, the "little" building to the left of the VAB is the RPSF. It's closer to you than the VAB but the perspective makes it look beside the VAB.
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http://www.nasaspaceflight.com/2008/10/atlantis-rollback-vab-et-127-damaged/
(per L2, processing latest for Atlantis and the ET-127 damage).
At least it happened now, and not a week before launch. Excellent turnaround of the information. I see you had Monday processing information on an article that was published about 9am EDT!
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Any info on delay? Is it worth a visit to KSC??
Was moved back seven hours, last week. I'd be in the car by now if I was you ;)
Thanks for the nudge Chris. Nailed it. Capped off the trip nicely :)
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Nice one mate! The cool thing is you've now, officially, been closer to Atlantis than a hell of a lot of us ever will get.
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Crawler on its way to pick up Atlantis
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Thanks for the pictures guys! They're really nice.
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SM4 Payload unloaded from the canister
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More on the damage:
http://www.nasaspaceflight.com/2008/10/endeavour-rollaround-sts-125-damage/
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Inspections picking up via platform access to ET-127 today. Will be either a sanding or PDL repair.
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Looking like STS-125 is moving to April/May. Will write up the memo content in the morning (as we'll likely have more by then).
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Are they gonna destack if it goes to April/May?
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Are they gonna destack if it goes to April/May?
They are setting up the destack plan now.
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Start of play via L2 - with this article to be updated during the day:
http://www.nasaspaceflight.com/2008/10/atlantis-de-stack-hst-spare-hardware/
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Anyone have any ideas of how this delay will affect Ares 1 test flight and pad transformation?
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Anyone have any ideas of how this delay will affect Ares 1 test flight and pad transformation?
Pretty severely. Basically, Ares I-X was scheduled for late spring/early summer 2009. It's probably getting shoved as far to the right as STS-125 is; possibly more. Chris, in the article, you mention orbiter swaps for schedule optimization. Any ideas on which missions might trade orbiters?
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We're not sure until we see it in a FAWG memo/manifest, but we're reasonably sure STS-128 will be a swap.
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Would sts-119 fly before Atlantis?
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Would sts-119 fly before Atlantis?
Yes.
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Will STS-119 use the former STS-125 ET/SRB stack now?
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New delievery date for the spare unit for HST is in line with a May launch, as per telecon.
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New delievery date for the spare unit for HST is in line with a May launch, as per telecon.
I wonder if the $10M per month to support the launch is still applicable? Or does that drop down to something like $1M?
And one more comment of interest: Would they be inclined to consider preparing Atlantis for SSPTS if she will be used on orbit afterwards?
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Will STS-119 use the former STS-125 ET/SRB stack now?
Bill Gerstenmaier said in the 126 post FRR briefing that was the current plan, which would free up MLP-1 for CxP...
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As 125 is launching in May now, is it possible that 128 will still be on target for for July and 127 slipping to June? Or will 3 launches in 3 months be too much?
Also if Atlantis is now launching in May that would rule out the orbiter being used for 128, so I'm guessing Discovery would be next in line for that mission...
I'm looking forward to see what the new manifest will look like. I'm just glad we can continue with the ISS flights as this problem has nothing to do with the shuttle for once!
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As 125 is launching in May now, is it possible that 128 will still be on target for for July and 127 slipping to June? Or will 3 launches in 3 months be too much?
Also if Atlantis is now launching in May that would rule out the orbiter being used for 128, so I'm guessing Discovery would be next in line for that mission...
I'm looking forward to see what the new manifest will look like. I'm just glad we can continue with the ISS flights as this problem has nothing to do with the shuttle for once!
Purely speculation, but this is what I might expect the initial manifest realignment to look like, taking into account the extended OPF turnaround time for Atlantis after STS-125. *NOTE: This is only my opinion:
STS-119: February 2009 (Discovery)
STS-125: May 2009 (Atlantis)
STS-127: June 2009 (Endeavour)
STS-128: August 2009 (Discovery)
STS-129: December 2009 (Endeavour)
STS-130: February 2010 (Atlantis)
STS-131: April 2010 (Discovery) **
STS-132: July 2010 (Endeavour)
STS-133: September 2010 (Atlantis) **
**STS-131 and STS-133 are the Contingency Logistic Flights.
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Purely speculation, but this is what I might expect the initial manifest realignment to look like, taking into account the extended OPF turnaround time for Atlantis after STS-125.
Except that they might be able to get some of that Atlantis work done between now and the new 125 rollover date, cutting the post-125 turnaround quite a bit.
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Purely speculation....
NOTE: This is only my opinion:
STS-119: February 2009 (Discovery)
STS-125: May 2009 (Atlantis)
STS-127: June 2009 (Endeavour)
STS-128: August 2009 (Discovery)
STS-129: December 2009 (Endeavour)
STS-130: February 2010 (Atlantis)
STS-131: April 2010 (Discovery) **
STS-132: July 2010 (Endeavour)
STS-133: September 2010 (Atlantis) **
**STS-131 and STS-133 are the Contingency Logistic Flights.
This speculation is the more realistic and logical one.
I agree at 100%.
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Purely speculation....
NOTE: This is only my opinion:
STS-119: February 2009 (Discovery)
STS-125: May 2009 (Atlantis)
STS-127: June 2009 (Endeavour)
STS-128: August 2009 (Discovery)
STS-129: December 2009 (Endeavour)
STS-130: February 2010 (Atlantis)
STS-131: April 2010 (Discovery) **
STS-132: July 2010 (Endeavour)
STS-133: September 2010 (Atlantis) **
**STS-131 and STS-133 are the Contingency Logistic Flights.
This speculation is the more realistic and logical one.
I agree at 100%.
Me too. :)
It just seems weird seeing Atlantis down for the last flight for the first time. ;D
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Since it'll be nearly five month inside the OPF maybe some more parts of the "mini-OMDP's" can be accomplished.
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Since it'll be nearly five month inside the OPF maybe some more parts of the "mini-OMDP's" can be accomplished.
Yes, I'm sure they will use this time constructively.
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Since it'll be nearly five month inside the OPF maybe some more parts of the "mini-OMDP's" can be accomplished.
That's a good question! We'll check into that.
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BBC article on delay...
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/sci/tech/7701211.stm
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BBC article on delay...
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/sci/tech/7701211.stm
Actually an interesting British news article. Makes a change from reading about premiership footballers wives buying a new pair of boots or a former big brother star getting a parking ticket. Because unfortunately over here thats what we seem to deam to be important in the world. All the information was probably taken from here though so I'm not going to cancel my L2 subscription just yet :)
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De-mate Friday. Atlantis rolls back to the OPF on her wheels on Monday or Tuesday (still being discussed). Will write up an article via L2 processing later today.
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I apologize if this has been answered, but will the use of the ET-127 stack for STS-119 accelerate the February launch date at all?
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No. Launch is still NET Feb. 12.
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No. Launch is still NET Feb. 12.
Thanks Dave. Is that date mostly dependent on Discovery's processing then? Or does it have to do with the upcoming beta-angle cutout?
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No. Launch is still NET Feb. 12.
No, launch is NET May...
Rob - We're talking about STS-119. Apologies if it seems OT for the 125 thread, but it involved the ET-127 stack, so I was unsure about where to ask the question.
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Thanks Dave. Is that date mostly dependent on Discovery's processing then? Or does it have to do with the upcoming beta-angle cutout?
Probably both. The sudden schedule "improvement" in the ET/SRB processing doesn't change the orbiter processing schedule much, if at all. Any significant acceleration/compression of the schedule would require a good deal more advance notice and the STS-125 delay was only about five weeks ago.
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Destack latest:
http://www.nasaspaceflight.com/2008/11/sts-126-display-processor-125-de-stack/
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Thanks Dave. Is that date mostly dependent on Discovery's processing then? Or does it have to do with the upcoming beta-angle cutout?
Probably both. The sudden schedule "improvement" in the ET/SRB processing doesn't change the orbiter processing schedule much, if at all. Any significant acceleration/compression of the schedule would require a good deal more advance notice and the STS-125 delay was only about five weeks ago.
Thanks Philip. I knew it wouldn't accelerate orbiter processing, but I wondered if it was one of those cases where the orbiter is ready to go but the ET/SRB stack isn't. Guess not :)
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Includes some scenarios for STS-125 and LON support:
http://www.nasaspaceflight.com/2008/11/nasa-realign-five-2009-missions-ares-ix-oct-09/
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Includes some scenarios for STS-125 and LON support:
http://www.nasaspaceflight.com/2008/11/nasa-realign-five-2009-missions-ares-ix-oct-09/
Chris are they still demating Atlantis today or has that been delayed until Monday? Read the article but not sure if you meant demate and move to OPF both on Monday, or just demate today and move to OPF Monday. Thanks in advance!
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Demating Monday.
http://www.nasaspaceflight.com/2008/11/sts-126-display-processor-125-de-stack/
"“S0030 Orbiter/ET de-mate operations are scheduled as follows: Orbiter/ET de-mate pre-ops are scheduled to begin tomorrow and complete Friday. Orbiter Sling build-up is scheduled for Friday. Orbiter/ET de-mate is scheduled to begin on Monday (11/10).”"
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What about the Ares 1X lightning tower modifications is incompatible with a Shuttle launch? If the FSS lightning mast were made taller in preparation for Ares 1X, why couldn't the now delayed STS-400 be launched (if needed) with the modification already in place?
Thanks.
Actually, I just read that the extention to the FSS lightening mast is no longer necessary since there is sufficient time to complete the three lightening towers at Pad-B before Ares 1-X.
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What about the Ares 1X lightning tower modifications is incompatible with a Shuttle launch? If the FSS lightning mast were made taller in preparation for Ares 1X, why couldn't the now delayed STS-400 be launched (if needed) with the modification already in place?
Thanks.
Actually, I just read that the extention to the FSS lightening mast is no longer necessary since there is sufficient time to complete the three lightening towers at Pad-B before Ares 1-X.
Yep. Though that is being studied, not yet the absolute forward plan. A lot will be related to when Ares I-X will launch and how far they progress with the Ares I towers.
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Demating Monday.
http://www.nasaspaceflight.com/2008/11/sts-126-display-processor-125-de-stack/
"“S0030 Orbiter/ET de-mate operations are scheduled as follows: Orbiter/ET de-mate pre-ops are scheduled to begin tomorrow and complete Friday. Orbiter Sling build-up is scheduled for Friday. Orbiter/ET de-mate is scheduled to begin on Monday (11/10).”"
She's technically demated as of right now (umbilicals disconnected. Sling being built up in the transfer aisle for the removal of Atlantis from the stack on Monday.
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She's technically demated as of right now (umbilicals disconnected. Sling being built up in the transfer aisle for the removal of Atlantis from the stack on Monday.
Well, the umbilicals aren't the same as the attach points. If they haven't broken the attach point connections, then they haven't broken "hard mate" yet.
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Atlantis back to her OPF late tomorrow.
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Do not know if this Payload Canister was used for the STS-125 payload, but I spotted this one at KSC today.
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Do not know if this Payload Canister was used for the STS-125 payload, but I spotted this one at KSC today.
It's probably the canister from the STS-126 payload. It's shown outside the Canister Rotation Facility so they probably just rotated it back to horizontal.
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She's currently in the transfer aisle with her wheels down. Still on the sling.
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What will happen to Atlantis when she's in the OPF? Will she just be parked there or will they re-processing her in any way?
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Why are they rolling Atlantis back to the OPF on her own wheels? Will this have any impact on the ability of these tires to support the upcoming flight?
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Atlantis returned to OPF-1 at 23:30 local last night.
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Why are they rolling Atlantis back to the OPF on her own wheels? Will this have any impact on the ability of these tires to support the upcoming flight?
Clipping a comment from an engineer on L2 about that:
"Roll from the OPF to the VAB on the OTS since it is much easier to raise the landing gear in the OPF where the hydraulics necessary to do this are already attached and it is a much easier task with the lifts in the floor and other GSE necessary already staged and connected. Before the OTS came to KSC the orbiter was rolled over on the landing gear which required attachment of hydraulics in the VAB transfer aisle."
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Clipping a comment from an engineer on L2 about that:
"Roll from the OPF to the VAB on the OTS since it is much easier to raise the landing gear in the OPF where the hydraulics necessary to do this are already attached and it is a much easier task with the lifts in the floor and other GSE necessary already staged and connected. Before the OTS came to KSC the orbiter was rolled over on the landing gear which required attachment of hydraulics in the VAB transfer aisle."
That's for the opposite, nominal rollover...I believe there were some notes about why they tow on the gear in the fairly rare circumstance of rolling from the VAB back to the OPF.
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Ah yes, here's the more useful comment...
"I believe this is easier since when you go into the OPF you have to have the orbiter centered within a very tight tolerance to correctly mate it with the jacking system. Taking it in on the OTS would make it more difficult to get it centered and also once over there we would have to drop the gear first thing anyway."
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Thanks Chris, that makes since.
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NASA.gov has posted a series of pictures of destacking and tow to OPF-1. Included a couple of thumbnails from the normal site for illustration:
http://mediaarchive.ksc.nasa.gov/
Feel free to go download the hi-res stuff there...
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Ah yes, here's the more useful comment...
"I believe this is easier since when you go into the OPF you have to have the orbiter centered within a very tight tolerance to correctly mate it with the jacking system. Taking it in on the OTS would make it more difficult to get it centered and also once over there we would have to drop the gear first thing anyway."
Thanks Chris and psloss. Much appreciated.
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NASA.gov has posted a series of pictures of destacking and tow to OPF-1.
There's an item in today's Video File, also.
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Thanks for the pics psloss :)
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Thanks for the pics psloss :)
No problem, but these are just links to the primary source. I wish I had been able to take any of these pics or video! :)
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I managed to get a few more shots:
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forgive me for what is probably a stupid n00b question...but, how do they drop the gear in this situation? Ive always wondered that (since I assume there isnt someone inside to do it).
thanks
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forgive me for what is probably a stupid n00b question...but, how do they drop the gear in this situation? Ive always wondered that (since I assume there isnt someone inside to do it).
thanks
they connect a control box to the orbiter and a hydraulic unit for pressure. it's the same system they use inside the OPF when checking out the gear, storing it for flight, etc.
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I swear she looks angry in 1004988.png. You can imagine an angry Atlantis bemoaning that stupid Hubble ;)
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I swear she looks angry in 1004988.png. You can imagine an angry Atlantis bemoaning that stupid Hubble ;)
Wouldn't you be? I'm imagining a cartoon for this one :)
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Launch date NET set in latest FAWG manifest:
http://www.nasaspaceflight.com/2008/11/sts-119discovery-rollover-2009-shuttle-schedule-realigns/
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ET-130, now tank for STS-125 rolled out at Michoud on 19 November.
Is it correct?
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ET-130, now tank for STS-125 rolled out at Michoud on 19 November.
Is it correct?
Yep, L2 daily reports have it arriving on dock on Dec 1. It's making good progress following its shipping from MAF.
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ET-130, now tank for STS-125 rolled out at Michoud on 19 November.
Is it correct?
Yep, L2 daily reports have it arriving on dock on Dec 1. It's making good progress following its shipping from MAF.
These images are from LM site.
http://www.lockheedmartin.com/ssc/michoud/MichoudImages/ET130.html
They reports the old STS-119 task, this is a mistake.
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Is the tank at KSC yet?
If not is the problem bad weather?
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Is the tank at KSC yet?
If not is the problem bad weather?
Yes, it's in the Turn Basin and ET-130 will be offloaded tommorow with lift into the checkout cell planned for Friday.
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I'll have an article up by the end of the day (or a few hours) about ET-130's arrival and the downstream ET status.
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Tank arrival article, which was pushed back from the original publication as a manifest meeting took place - thus wanted to also report that from L2:
http://www.nasaspaceflight.com/2008/12/sts-125s-tank-manifest-meeting-ares-i-x-iss-food-shortage-2/
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"Tanksteps", heh ;) , is this a new coinage? I suppose if you want an existing word for how to follow a well-performing tank it should be in its "wake" - in this case its uncluttered wake.
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"Tanksteps", heh ;) , is this a new coinage? I suppose if you want an existing word for how to follow a well-performing tank it should be in its "wake" - in this case its uncluttered wake.
Journalistic license ;)
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To be followed by one giant leap for tank-kind?
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To be followed by one giant leap for tank-kind?
Ta da! ;)
NASA PAO have put out a release on the May 12 target for 125, by the way. Been known for many weeks, but I reckon this release is related to the manifest meeting yesterday which continued to track May 12.
They've made a mistake with STS-127, as they can't launch two mission within a week or so of each other (125 May, 127 May according to the below), but that's because they are processing Endeavour for May as 400 and 127 if 125 slips again, so it just lacks explaining...
RELEASE: 08-320
NASA SETS TARGET SHUTTLE LAUNCH DATE FOR HUBBLE SERVICING MISSION
HOUSTON - NASA announced Thursday that space shuttle Atlantis' STS-125
mission to repair the Hubble Space Telescope is targeted to launch
May 12, 2009.
The final servicing mission to Hubble was delayed in September when a
data handling unit on the telescope failed. Since then, engineers
have been working to prepare a spare for flight. They expect to be
able to ship the spare, known as the Science Instrument Command and
Data Handling System, to NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida in
spring 2009.
STS-125 is an 11-day flight featuring five spacewalks to extend
Hubble's life into the next decade by refurbishing and upgrading the
telescope with state-of-the-art science instruments and swapping
failed hardware. Scott Altman will command STS-125, with Gregory C.
Johnson serving as pilot. Mission specialists are veteran
spacewalkers John Grunsfeld and Mike Massimino, and first-time space
fliers Andrew Feustel, Michael Good and Megan McArthur.
The manifest has been adjusted to reflect current planning. The next
space shuttle mission, STS-119, is targeted for launch on Feb. 12,
2009. Preparations continue for the STS-127 mission, currently
targeted for launch in May 2009. That launch will be further assessed
and coordinated with NASA's international partners at a later date.
STS-128 is targeted for August 2009, and STS-129 is targeted for
November 2009. All target launch dates are subject to change.
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Seeing that they just had the ET tank arrive at KSC this may be the place for a map of the general route the tank would be on.
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Cheers!
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Are you sure that's the route? In watching previous ship movements I notice they tend to stay closer to the coastline.
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Are you sure that's the route? In watching previous ship movements I notice they tend to stay closer to the coastline.
Yeah, I thought they stuck to the Intracoastal Waterway when possible.
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They could possibly stay closer to the coast, but most articles say that the trip is about 900 miles and if you follow the coast, you add several hundred miles to the trip.
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I like to understand the route closer to KSC as well. It seems from Google Earth that there are loads of potential rivers and tributaries round there?
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They could possibly stay closer to the coast, but most articles say that the trip is about 900 miles and if you follow the coast, you add several hundred miles to the trip.
I guess my question is -- Where exactly did you get the points in the route from?
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The point where they started at is at N 30.929 W 89.929 which is in the first picture below. The end is at the dock at KSC N 28.584 W 80.646 whcih is in the second picture.
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Are you sure that's the route? In watching previous ship movements I notice they tend to stay closer to the coastline.
Yeah, I thought they stuck to the Intracoastal Waterway when possible.
I would have thought so too, but it seems Lawntonlookirs is correct. From:
http://www.nasa.gov/vision/space/travelinginspace/et_tank_dec31.html
Once secured, the barge is towed by one of two ships -- the Liberty Star or the Freedom Star -- that NASA also uses to retrieve the Shuttle's solid rocket boosters after a launch.
Once the ship and barge leave the Mississippi River Delta, the ship's captain steers a course across the Gulf of Mexico heading for the southern tip of Florida. While in open waters, the barge is actually towed about one-quarter-of-a-mile behind the ship, making it easier for the 12-person crew to handle in the ocean's strong currents.
After passing through the Florida Keys, the Liberty Star will travel up the Atlantic coast to Port Canaveral -- the harbor for Kennedy Space Center. The tugboats will take control of the barge once it approaches Kennedy, towing it up the Banana River to the launch complex dock for unloading and the tank's trip to the Vehicle Assembly Building.
--Rolf
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Maybe I'm missing something but I don't see anything in that message that says they don't use the waterway, but I think we're getting way off topic.
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Maybe I'm missing something but I don't see anything in that message that says they don't use the waterway, but I think we're getting way off topic.
The key words are "open water", I think... I'll concede I'm wrong here.
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Chris, are you planning a fleet processing update article, like you usually do? I know STS-126 has dominated, so just inquiring into when your next one is projected?
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Chris, are you planning a fleet processing update article, like you usually do? I know STS-126 has dominated, so just inquiring into when your next one is projected?
I'm not gonna speak for Chris, as he does write the articles, but I will bet my money on after Endeavour is back in KSC.
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Chris, are you planning a fleet processing update article, like you usually do? I know STS-126 has dominated, so just inquiring into when your next one is projected?
As my spokesman mentioned ;) I'll be aiming to covert the next Standup into a fleet roundup, which will work out about Friday evening.
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As promised, processing update via L2 for STS-125:
http://www.nasaspaceflight.com/2008/12/endeavour-sts-127-processing-discovery-rollover-sts-119/
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Thanks Chris!
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Is there a known target launch time for May 12th?
Thanks,
Ray.
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Is there a known target launch time for May 12th?
17:11:17 GMT
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Update on HST hardware status and the launch date discussion:
http://www.nasaspaceflight.com/2008/12/milestone-meeting-in-january-to-discuss-sts-125s-hubble-launch-date/
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Interesting read Chris.
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Interesting read Chris.
Thanks. I'll also write a processing update tomorrow or Saturday for the fleet.
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Great summary and update Chris. I've been wondering about where the hardware was in it's certification.
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To update Atlantis' thread, L2 has a Jan 15 mate for ET-130 with SRB/RSRM sets: BI-137/RSRM-105 (Atlantis' STS-125 boosters).
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To update Atlantis' thread, L2 has a Jan 15 mate for ET-130 with SRB/RSRM sets: BI-137/RSRM-105 (Atlantis' STS-125 boosters).
Interesting. That's a lot earlier than I would have thought.
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Keep in mind, ET-130 and BI-137 were originally slated for Discovery/STS-119. Now that they have some breathing room, I'm certain they're going to make good use of it.
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Keep in mind, ET-130 and BI-137 were originally slated for Discovery/STS-119. Now that they have some breathing room, I'm certain they're going to make good use of it.
Plus I guess they want to have the one stack ready and "out of the way" before heading into dual processing with 125,400,127.
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Per today's presser, they will meet on Jan23rd to look at the single-pad option, and if they choose that based on ability to keep shuttle ready in the VAB and balancing with Ares I-X scheduled. It will move Hubble back two weeks to May 26 and that would delay 2JA a month (to July 13th).
If we don't use single-pad, it could potentially slip I-X all the way back to October.
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Can someone do me a favor and find the images of STS-125 and STS-400 on both pads (overhead shot), as I can't for the life of me find them.
Relates to a very long article I'm writing for the options for Single vs Dual pad article on line shortly.
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Are you thinking of these?
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Are you thinking of these?
Bingo :)
Thanks Carsten!
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ET/SRB mate photos are up in the KSC media gallary.
http://mediaarchive.ksc.nasa.gov/search.cfm?cat=180
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AW&ST has a Frank Morring article this week that indicates testing is still progressing well with the new box. It's not perfect, but still looks better than the one on orbit. There's one more big test coming up over the next month.
http://www.aviationweek.com/aw/generic/story_channel.jsp?channel=space&id=news/BOX013009.xml&headline=Avionics%20Box%20Being%20Cleared%20For%20Hubble%20Flight
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Thanks for the update article rdale.
Here's a reminder of what the replacement SIC&DH assembly looks like, photo taken recently with some of the STS-125 crew.
Can be found here in higher resolution:
http://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/hubble/servicing/SM4/news/HST_astros_cleanrm.html
(http://file:///C:/Users/Nigel/AppData/Local/Temp/moz-screenshot.jpg)
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STS-125 stack ready for rollaround tomorrow:
http://www.nasaspaceflight.com/2009/02/sts-125-stack-vab-rollaround-may-launch-opportunity/
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Looking down for the roll around, what time is it supposed to happen again?
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Looking down for the roll around, what time is it supposed to happen again?
11:30 am EST.
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Quick over view of the circuit lap that the STS-125 stack (sans orbiter) will take:
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I spy with my little eye...
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And that is the last we will see of it until Atlantis rolls out for STS-125
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Comedy moment if you didn't know what was going on...
"Go for rollout!"
"Wait a minute, we forgot something???? OH the fracking orbiter!!"
"Back we go then"
;)
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And that is the last we will see of it until Atlantis rolls out for STS-125
From there, yes, but there's the possibility of a multimedia salvo from NASA PAO.
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And that is the last we will see of it until Atlantis rolls out for STS-125
From there, yes, but there's the possibility of a multimedia salvo from NASA PAO.
Should have specified "Live"
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...there's the possibility of a multimedia salvo from NASA PAO.
No video (yet), but there are pix now of the stack rollaround up on the NASA-KSC multimedia gallery site:
http://mediaarchive.ksc.nasa.gov/
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http://www.nasaspaceflight.com/2009/02/atlantis-and-endeavour-processing-for-may-together/
Includes Atlantis STS-125 processing update from L2 info.
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So when will Rollover be? Checked L2 and they seem close....
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So when will Rollover be? Checked L2 and they seem close....
They appear to be working towards a firm date when they understand if they are going to take the single vs dual pad approach.
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If any info is available, how does the valve issues affect the launch of STS-125?
Thanks,
Ray.
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No expert here, but I would think that if they can't have new valves or better valves then whats in Atlantis/Endeavour then it might be delayed to like June. Now that's an uneducated guess, and just my opinion.
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That's what I was thinking also, but was curious if any information had been obtained to confirm or deny that.
Thanks for your help.
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I haven't seen any info yet, not sure if the folks at NASA know yet or have a firm plan yet.
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Maybe if they get good rationals for 119 and redesign is taking some month, it will be possible to use similar rationals for 125/127.
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If any info is available, how does the valve issues affect the launch of STS-125?
Thanks,
Ray.
NASA officials have said that if STS-119 is launched in March then STS-125 would not be delayed. If STS-119 slips to April then STS-125 will be delayed by a few weeks.
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If any info is available, how does the valve issues affect the launch of STS-125?
Thanks,
Ray.
NASA officials have said that if STS-119 is launched in March then STS-125 would not be delayed. If STS-119 slips to April then STS-125 will be delayed by a few weeks.
Correct. But to get a little more specific STS-125 will still target May if STS-119 gets off before the Soyuz cutout in mid-March (exact dates of which are currently under negotiation). Now, if 119 flies in March and the FCVs perform well (i.e. with no issues), that would go a long way toward clearing Atlantis for flight in May. Basically, this is a flight-by-flight case. The FCVs will be analyzed after 119 so additional data can be placed into the flight rationale decision.
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Now is May 12 still in play, or would it be closer to May 19th or 26th?
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Now is May 12 still in play, or would it be closer to May 19th or 26th?
May 12 for dual pad LON ops.
May 21 for single pad LON ops.
That is the current plan. If/when things change (and those changes are documented on L2) it'll be copied across without delay. ;)
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Any news on when Goddard will ship that replacement data unit for HST to KSC?
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The month-long vacuum test was to start by mid-February so using that timeline it's not going to be out of that test yet.
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Atlantis is on track for the rollover scheduled for March 23, in case I've not mentioned it before.
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Any news on when Goddard will ship that replacement data unit for HST to KSC?
Posted Mar 6, 2009:
At NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center in Greenbelt, Md., environmental testing of the replacement Science Instrument Command and Data Handling Unit (SI C&DH) continues to go well as the unit enters into its final vibration and thermal vacuum tests. The replacement SI C&DH will be shipped to the Kennedy Space Center in early April where it will be loaded on board Atlantis along with the entire servicing mission payload. Engineers from Goddard also participated in a final review of the flight procedure changes that were made as a result of adding the SI C&DH to the manifest.
http://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/hubble/servicing/SM4/news/Busy_week_Mar2009.html (http://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/hubble/servicing/SM4/news/Busy_week_Mar2009.html)
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Awesome, thanks
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Live from PHSF:
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Atlantis is on track for the rollover scheduled for March 23, in case I've not mentioned it before.
When is rollout scheduled? Still one week after rollover?
If discovery launches successfully today on the 11th, how long time do they normally need to prepare the pad for a new Shuttle.
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Yes, rollout is scheduled one week after rollover. I believe the fastest pad turnaround is something on the order of three weeks, or thereabouts. I'm not 100% sure, so I'll let someone else answer, but..
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I believe the fastest pad turnaround is something on the order of three weeks, or thereabouts. I'm not 100% sure, so I'll let someone else answer, but..
Don't know about fastest total turnaround, but since RTF the fastest has been 11/12 days. STS-122 launched Feb. 7, 2008 and STS-123 rolled out on Feb 18/19, 2008. That's all part of their 33day launch to launch limit.
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I believe the fastest pad turnaround is something on the order of three weeks, or thereabouts. I'm not 100% sure, so I'll let someone else answer, but..
That's all part of their 33day launch to launch limit.
That's what I was thinking of, actually, the 33 days between launches. Thanks!
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So it's sounds like Atlantis will be on the pad by March 30th.about 6 to 7 weeks before launch.
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So it's sounds like Atlantis will be on the pad by March 30th.about 6 to 7 weeks before launch.
Yes... remember that dual pad ops require her to be out there longer than usual.
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If dual pad option gets it off the ground even a day sooner I say it's worth it at this point.
The sucker needs to fly before anything crops up that causes yet more delays.
I'm really looking forward to this launch. The only other STS mission left that comes close is Node 3 with the Cupola, AMS is 3rd because it is currently the final mission.
Edit: Best wishes to the whole Shuttle staff and crew on getting a 100% successful HST servicing mission.
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Rollover only six days away if the Mrach 23 date holds!
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So it's sounds like Atlantis will be on the pad by March 30th.about 6 to 7 weeks before launch.
Yep. Rollover next Monday, seven days in the VAB.
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I suppose this belongs here, why are the RSS PCR doors open?
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Looks like something has arrived at the PHSF:
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Click to animate
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To the poster above with the PHSF screen captures, that is the COS: Cosmic Origins Spectrograph. It was loaded from its shipping container into ASIPE (Axial Science Instrument Protective Enclosure) on Wednesday. Everything went smoothly.
:)
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To the poster above with the PHSF screen captures, that is the COS: Cosmic Origins Spectrograph. It was loaded from its shipping container into ASIPE (Axial Science Instrument Protective Enclosure) on Wednesday. Everything went smoothly.
:)
Always good to hear!
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I'm really looking forward to the service mission.
To me the HST SM's have been the highlight of the whole STS program. It's a wide use of the shuttle functionality and services a science instrument that has changed the face of astronomy forever.
Some will say the ISS is a more impressive use of the shuttle and that is fair. But for me HST wins.
I can't wait.
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Does anyone know what time the Atlantis roll over to the VAB will occur on 3/23?
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Does anyone know what time the Atlantis roll over to the VAB will occur on 3/23?
NET 7 am EDT.
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In PHSF:
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Is rollover still on schedule for tomorrow 7am?
thanks!
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Is rollover still on schedule for tomorrow 7am?
thanks!
As far as has been noted, yes.
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Is rollover still on schedule for tomorrow 7am?
thanks!
If it changes, I'd note it. You wouldn't need to ask.
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Atlantis heavily involved in this:
http://www.nasaspaceflight.com/2009/03/ares-i-x-delayed-atlantis-rollover-dual-pad-option/
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Two questions:
1. Any chance that the rollover will be covered live on NASA TV? I don't they've been in the past, we see it via photos and video file later, just thought I'd ask.
2. Leaving the VAB on March 30th for a May 12th launch means 42 days at the pad. I'm used to seeing ~32 day flows at the pad. Is Atlantis spending more time at the pad because they need to get it out of the VAB so that they can get Endeavor stacked up for the LON mission?
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Two questions:
1. Any chance that the rollover will be covered live on NASA TV? I don't they've been in the past, we see it via photos and video file later, just thought I'd ask.
Hopefully. If not then (again, hopefully) one of the KSC Video Feed page cameras will show it in slide-show-mode.
2. Leaving the VAB on March 30th for a May 12th launch means 42 days at the pad. I'm used to seeing ~32 day flows at the pad. Is Atlantis spending more time at the pad because they need to get it out of the VAB so that they can get Endeavor stacked up for the LON mission?
It may partly be because of the payload. There's a LOT more PCR work to prepping a Hubble mission payload than a 'regular' payload in terms of cleaning, clean-room conditions, verifying installation, and bay closeouts.
That's not to say the OPF turnaround time isn't a reason, though.
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Rollover due for the top of the hour, but weather may delay, we're told.
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Light rain showers are scattered all around (and some overhead) KSC. Looks like the rain threat continues til about noon before drier air starts to work in.
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At least it's not all day, so that's good news Rob.
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Roll over delayed until at least 1030. At least that is what the OPF 1 security gaurs just told me. Waited in the rain for an hour until the delay was confirmed.
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Anyone have an update on a more specific time?
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Anyone have an update on a more specific time?
I am hearing noon from the fdw shop
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Can't do it until they can get a hour of no rain.
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Anyone have an update on a more specific time?
I am hearing noon from the fdw shop
LOSTINSPACE: Thanks for the update. Please post here if you have any further updates. There are a bunch of us Hubble folks down here in the MOSB & PHSF that would like to come up and see it.
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The support guys for rollover have been paged back into the OPF for rollover. rmhe check your PMs.
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The support guys for rollover have been paged back into the OPF for rollover. rmhe check your PMs.
Chris, thanks for the PM. I was not aware of this.
As far as the roll over, does this mean its imminent? or an hour or two away? We're in a meeting for at least the next 30 minutes.
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Might not be for a while, as that'd be the return to CTS (Call to Stations) and that's always a good hour or two ahead of first motion.
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Doors opening soon. Better get up there now ;-) They're trying to move her before the rains get worse? rdale?
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Looks like bulk of the rain has pushed west and north, should be drying out soon.
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She's rolling :) (Or more like the OTS is, and she's going for a ride :))
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She's rolling :) (Or more like the OTS is, and she's going for a ride :))
From the last STS-125 rollover:
http://mediaarchive.ksc.nasa.gov/search.cfm
(del the photos since they were not from today!, jacques)
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She's already entering the VAB. Fast rollover by my guestimate.
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Rollover completed, updated the article:
http://www.nasaspaceflight.com/2009/03/ares-i-x-delayed-atlantis-rollover-dual-pad-option/
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Pictures now on KSC's Media Gallery of today's rollover:
http://mediaarchive.ksc.nasa.gov/search.cfm?cat=4
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Second time's the charm! :)
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Click to animate
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Rollover completed, updated the article:
http://www.nasaspaceflight.com/2009/03/ares-i-x-delayed-atlantis-rollover-dual-pad-option/
Most excellent Chris.
So anxious for this launch.
For the non-L2 members, lots of juicy tid-bits, details & facts for what's going on with Ares and Constellation: a must-read article.
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In PHSF:
Is this the storage rack were the scientific instruments are stored or the old Hubble service docking mechanism? I just don't want to get the payload bay components confused. THank you.
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B-roll video of the rollover was shown a few minutes ago, just after the sign-off call to the shuttle crew; should be replayed again at the top of the hour as an item in the Video File.
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STS-125 Rollover pictures to follow:
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Whoops, got to talking with a few friends. Here's the rollover file, and I'll delete this when John44 gets his up:
Click to download (http://www.maxqent.com/Backup/STS-125/STS-125%20Rollover.mpg)
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MLP-1 leaving the pad, making room for Atlantis.
Say good bye guys, this was the last shuttle launch for this platform.
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MLP heading out
Should be for STS-127, STS-125's MLP is in the VAB.
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MLP heading out
Should be for STS-127, STS-125's MLP is in the VAB.
Posted it for the fact that the pad has been cleared, also this MP will be used for Ares I-X next and then retired.
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MLP heading out
Should be for STS-127, STS-125's MLP is in the VAB.
As Ron said, MLP-1 is for Ares I-X. First going to Pad B before it will clear for the STS-400 shuttle. (The MLP for 400/127 is already occupied with the tank/boosters already integrated).
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Okay, thanks. I'm still reading up on a lot of the Ares I-X stuff.
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Pictures now on KSC's Media Gallery of today's rollover:
http://mediaarchive.ksc.nasa.gov/search.cfm?cat=4
Now includes images from lift-to-mate operations overnight.
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Pictures now on KSC's Media Gallery of today's rollover:
http://mediaarchive.ksc.nasa.gov/search.cfm?cat=4
Now includes images from lift-to-mate operations overnight.
NASA TV is running video of this in today's Video File, too.
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To update from L2. Atlantis suffered some damage during the ET mate (soft mate, hard mate, umblicals now complete). She has some tile damage, but they are evaluating repairs. Confidence is high she won't need to be demated and rolled back to the OPF, which could have been likely if the hit was on the ET doors for example.
I'm writing an article on it.
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"Confidence is high she won't need to be demated and rolled back to the OPF"
That's great to hear Chris - I was getting just a little concerned about that. If they would have had to roll back, would they have been able to try for May 12th anyway?
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To update from L2. Atlantis suffered some damage during the ET mate (soft mate, hard mate, umblicals now complete). She has some tile damage, but they are evaluating repairs.
Has a Shuttle ever been damaged during the ET mating process ??
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"Confidence is high she won't need to be demated and rolled back to the OPF"
That's great to hear Chris - I was getting just a little concerned about that. If they would have had to roll back, would they have been able to try for May 12th anyway?
Last I saw there were only 4-days of contingency for May 12.
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"Confidence is high she won't need to be demated and rolled back to the OPF"
That's great to hear Chris - I was getting just a little concerned about that. If they would have had to roll back, would they have been able to try for May 12th anyway?
Last I saw there were only 4-days of contingency for May 12.
4 at the pad and 1 in the VAB...not as much as some other flows but still more then what's planned on STS-127: 0 in VAB, 3 at Pad B, 0 at Pad A.
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"Confidence is high she won't need to be demated and rolled back to the OPF"
That's great to hear Chris - I was getting just a little concerned about that. If they would have had to roll back, would they have been able to try for May 12th anyway?
The L2 reports speak of the damage being in a difficult area, but not a threat to the launch date at this time. I'd wait for Chris' article.
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Article on the tile damage, flow latest and on the replacement HST hardware etc - from L2:
http://www.nasaspaceflight.com/2009/03/sts-125-atlantis-tile-damage-during-et-mating/
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Just read the article. The phrase at the end regarding tracing what was originally thought to be a problem with one of the HST's SIC&DH's subsystems "turned out to be a misbehaving VAX computer. Wow. That took me back. I used a Digitial Equipment Corporation VAX as a server in my work with Geographic Information Software. . . . in 1987. I would guess that such is roughly the vintage of server technology that we're talking about here, given the age of the HST, and particularly its subsystems. I know this is a common occurrence in space hardware (orbiter uses "old" computers and software), but it still caught my eye.
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Article on the tile damage, flow latest and on the replacement HST hardware etc - from L2:
Excellent article Chris.
I would like to ask what that means -
"the socket from the torque wrench was dislodged and fell"?
Have some toubles with visualisation this technical stuff (and translat it into my language). Want ask for a photo or short explanation.
Thanks
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Article on the tile damage, flow latest and on the replacement HST hardware etc - from L2:
Excellent article Chris.
I would like to ask what that means -
"the socket from the torque wrench was dislodged and fell"?
Have some toubles with visualisation this technical stuff (and translat it into my language). Want ask for a photo or short explanation.
Thanks
Thanks :)
We'll see about a picture, but it appears the incident related to a wrench, which the socket was being attached to, but the socket popped out and dropped from one of the high platforms. Complete accident obviously.
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Great news about the SIC&DH subsystem tests, thanks!
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Article on the tile damage, flow latest and on the replacement HST hardware etc - from L2:
Excellent article Chris.
I would like to ask what that means -
"the socket from the torque wrench was dislodged and fell"?
Have some toubles with visualisation this technical stuff (and translat it into my language). Want ask for a photo or short explanation.
Thanks
I would assume that the torque wrench has a 1" or ¾" square drive with different sockets to attach depending on the size of the nut being torqued. This has happened to me when tightening nuts on my vehicles. If the socket is not pushed fully on to the square drive to the detent position (a spring loaded ball in an intentation), then when using the torque wrench at load, especially with an extension drive, the socket spins off the end of the drive. In the case of my car there is not far for it to drop. On a stacked orbiter there is time for the socket to reach substantial speed and presumably cause damage to the TPS unfortunately.
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Putty repair applied overnight, now setting. Rollout will remain on schedule.
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Latest NASA update on Hubble electronics:
"Goddard engineer Steve Leete performs a mechanical fit-check of a contingency tool on the replacement Science Instrument Control and Data Handling (SI C&DH) unit in Goddard’s large clean room. The SI C&DH passed it final functional test and will be transported to Kennedy Space Center on March 29. Once it arrives, it will be integrated onto the Multi-Use Logistics Equipment (MULE) Shuttle Carrier.
Goddard engineers re-install the Cosmic Origins Spectrograph instrument into its Shuttle carrier at the Payload Hazardous Systems Facility at Kennedy Space Center. The SM4 flight hardware is being prepared to re-enter the Shuttle launch flow in preparation for a May 12 launch."
http://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/hubble/servicing/SM4/news/Update_032709.html
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Great -- thanks for the update.
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Latest NASA update on Hubble electronics:
"Goddard engineer Steve Leete performs a mechanical fit-check of a contingency tool on the replacement Science Instrument Control and Data Handling (SI C&DH) unit in Goddard’s large clean room. The SI C&DH passed it final functional test and will be transported to Kennedy Space Center on March 29. Once it arrives, it will be integrated onto the Multi-Use Logistics Equipment (MULE) Shuttle Carrier.
Goddard engineers re-install the Cosmic Origins Spectrograph instrument into its Shuttle carrier at the Payload Hazardous Systems Facility at Kennedy Space Center. The SM4 flight hardware is being prepared to re-enter the Shuttle launch flow in preparation for a May 12 launch."
http://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/hubble/servicing/SM4/news/Update_032709.html
Thanks for that update!
And a great thanks to those on the ground to make it in time and to make it happen! This is exciting. I was one to push this off, but now that it's ready, I'm really pumped.
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what time rollout today?
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what time rollout today?
Not til Monday night (Tuesday morning 3/31 technically)
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It's 04:00 (Tues) now.
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Question, might be the wrong place to post it. When will Endeavour roll out to LC-39B after Atlantis rolls out to LC-39A?
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It's 04:00 (Tues) now.
I don't know where you live, but rollout is for 1 minute past midnight(0001) Easten Daylight Time(EDT) which is the US east coast time zone. EDT is GMT-4. This is for Tuesday.
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Question, might be the wrong place to post it. When will Endeavour roll out to LC-39B after Atlantis rolls out to LC-39A?
April 17. Rollover from OPF 2 is 7 days earlier, April 10.
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DaveS - the times have been updated from what was posted earlier.
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DaveS - the times have been updated from what was posted earlier.
I know that now!
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Not til Monday night (Tuesday morning 3/31 technically)
[/quote]
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Thank you very much rdale,This is my first chat in NasaSpaceFlight , It is milestone for me,I am very glad.
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Some of us had to work over one of the original TDRSS once. I had everybody take the part of the tower climbing class regarding dropping stuff. Part of it was to never pull a socket off the head with the wrench, but always by pulling the socket. Good idea when it can cost you a busted skull or piece of equipment that would take ten dollars a month from your paycheck for 1.3 million years.
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It's 04:00 (Tues) now.
I don't know where you live, but rollout is for 1 minute past midnight(0001) Easten Daylight Time(EDT) which is the US east coast time zone. EDT is GMT-4. This is for Tuesday.
Shuttle Quick Look Status
Monday March 30, 2009
6:16am
STS-125/OV104/ VAB HB-3
Roll out call to stations will be 0001 Tuesday with 1st motion at 0400 hrs
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UK is +5 since Sunday, by the way. I know we tend to get thrown by GMT/UTC etc, when the clocks move back and forth :)
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It's 04:00 (Tues) now.
EDT is GMT-4.
EDT is back to GMT-5 since last weekend. ;D ;D
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EDT is GMT-4.
EDT is back to GMT-5 since last weekend. ;D ;D
Which E?
Eastern Daylight Time is always GMT-4. It's just that it's not followed in most of the region for a bit less than half the year.
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UK is +5 since Sunday, by the way. I know we tend to get thrown by GMT/UTC etc, when the clocks move back and forth :)
I thought GMT was always constant (same as UTC)?
http://wwp.greenwichmeantime.com/what-is-gmt.htm
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UK is +5 since Sunday, by the way. I know we tend to get thrown by GMT/UTC etc, when the clocks move back and forth :)
I thought GMT was always constant (same as UTC)?
http://wwp.greenwichmeantime.com/what-is-gmt.htm (http://wwp.greenwichmeantime.com/what-is-gmt.htm)
Absolutely! What Chris was alluding to was that the UK switched to British Summer Time (BST) on Sunday (which is +1 hour on GMT/UTC), so here we are back to +5 hours on US Eastern Time once more.
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This is a big thread, so we'll start a new one for rollout tonight, which will be pre-empted by a rollout article.
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Some new pix in the Kennedy Media Gallery of the replacement SIC&DH unit at KSC:
http://mediaarchive.ksc.nasa.gov/search.cfm?cat=180
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Rollout now NET 4am (which is a much more friendly 9am UK time ;)).
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EDT is GMT-4.
EDT is back to GMT-5 since last weekend. ;D ;D
Which E?
Eastern Daylight Time is always GMT-4. It's just that it's not followed in most of the region for a bit less than half the year.
Apologies for the appalling post. What I meant was as others have described more accurately with a better choice of words. In the UK we are 5 hours ahead of Eastern time for most of the year, but during the last month it has been 4. :-[ :-[
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Some new pix in the Kennedy Media Gallery of the replacement SIC&DH unit at KSC:
http://mediaarchive.ksc.nasa.gov/search.cfm?cat=180
Also a complementary item on the unit's arrival in the Video File that ran this evening.