NASASpaceFlight.com Forum
NASA Shuttle Specific Sections => Atlantis (Post STS-135, T&R) => Topic started by: Chris Bergin on 05/12/2009 04:17 am
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Live coverage of STS-125 FD2:
FD2 article: http://www.nasaspaceflight.com/2009/05/sts-125-pad-damaged-during-launch-atlantis-inspections/
FD2 via the 125 SSP FRR Mission Overview Presentation (L2):
• NC2/NC3
• OBSS TPS Surveys
– STS-117 Vintage WLE and Nose Cap RCC (LDRI/ best effort IDC)
» OMS Pod imagery RPM Sub Part 2 (see New Ops) incorporated into nominal
procedure pause points
» T-0 Umbilical Area Inspection incorporated (15 min) incorporated into nominal
procedure pause points
• Option to not perform if no concerns w/ Ascent imagery
– STS-125 developed Belly Tile Survey (ITVC/ best effort IDC) - RPM Sub Part 3 (see
New Ops)
» Covers entire Orbiter Belly at required damage detection criteria as well as a ET
door/stripe survey
• Additional 2 hrs 36 min of Inspection time on FD2 (vs ISS FD2)
– 2 hrs 51 w/T0 inspections
– OMS Digital Pics
• Plan is to have all Inspection data on the ground prior to crew sleep on FD2
» Supports FI CHIT Meeting Milestone (if needed) ~ crew sleep FD3
FSS Prep for berthing (Pivot to 90 deg) - (See graphic FD2a)
• A/L Prep, EMU Checkout (4)
• 10. 2 Depress
• RNDZ Tool C/O
Please note, this is interactive, but all posts need to be on topic. If you post images, no more than two per post.
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The specific timeline is off as the latest Flight Plan rev is based on a May 12 launch, but this will still help:
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Simplified list of FD-2's activities, thanks for the detailed L2 info in the first post:
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2 Items of debris floating away from Atlantis. Per PAO a norminal event.
Unfortunately unable to grap a picture, as I´m at work!
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Today's NASA TV schedule.
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Missed the wake up music, anyone?
Changeover at MCC-H.
Sounds like we have a new PAOer on the coverage.
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Missed the wake up music, anyone?
Missed it myself too, but NASA reports:
Today's wake-up music was "Kryptonite" performed by 3 Doors Down. It was played shortly after 5 a.m. EDT for STS-125 Pilot Greg Johnson.
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Flight Day 2 execute package:
http://www.nasa.gov/pdf/345875main_FD02.pdf (http://www.nasa.gov/pdf/345875main_FD02.pdf)
Updated timelines (correct GMT timescales):
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2 Items of debris floating away from Atlantis. Per PAO a norminal event.
Unfortunately unable to grap a picture, as I´m at work!
Probably one of the items..
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No NC2 burn.
ET Umbilical Well flash camera/downloading trouble, again.
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Re.: TPS Inspection. I don't personally expect there to be any problems at this stage. However, I will be sweating out the pre-re-entry inspection.
With reference to the MMOD environment at Hubble's orbit, I recall what I think was the first servicing mission, one of Hubble's solar arrays was visibly twisted and dented. Was it ever confirmed whether that was an MMOD impact?
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The twisted arrays were likely the result of repetitive thermal cycling, being in LEO, going in and out of Earth's shadow, not impacts.
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FSS in work!
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With reference to the MMOD environment at Hubble's orbit, I recall what I think was the first servicing mission, one of Hubble's solar arrays was visibly twisted and dented. Was it ever confirmed whether that was an MMOD impact?
Both of the arrays were warped. I believe it had more to do with thermal cycling, although an MMOD impact may have affected the tension wires such that one of the blankets couldn't be rolled up and brought back with the shuttle. The thermal cycling had bigger impacts on operations, causing jitter.
http://hubblesite.org/the_telescope/team_hubble/servicing_missions.php
Have to go look at the 109 rendezvous video, but I think the second generation of solar arrays were also slightly warped, too.
Edit: better, added a shot from SM-2 instead, showing the 2nd generation arrays after three years of use...
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Latches released. This is ahead of the timeline, given the change to the burns, so this is ahead of OBBS unberth in the timeline.
Camera repositioning to monitor FSS rotation.
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FSS rotating, will take 24 minutes to complete.
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Bit by bit...
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Still moving (slowly).
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This flight support system used back in 1994 for repair of SolarMax satellite.
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This flight support system used back in 1994 for repair of SolarMax satellite.
Nit: 1984.
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Going on to OBSS unberth
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About halfway.
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An eleven minute gap in comms coming up.
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Lost KU for right now
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This flight support system used back in 1994 for repair of SolarMax satellite.
Nit: 1984.
Sorry. I thought I may have got that wrong when I was typing it.
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Lots to write up from L2, including reports the pad was damaged by Atlantis during launch. Writing it up while we check for impacts to downstream flights, though it's worth remembering we're not talking about flying bricks this time, but Fondu Frye concrete, which one assumes they can just pour in and replace reasonable quickly. Several lines also damaged (probably by the liberated concrete).
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FSS at 90 degree point, ready for berthing
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Pivot time for FSS was 23:35
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EVA - Airlock preparation in work
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OBSS unberth
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This flight support system used back in 1994 for repair of SolarMax satellite.
Nit: 1984.
I find it quite appropriate that hardware used for the first on-orbit satellite servicing mission is now being used for the last one.
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I heartily agree.
My first thought when I heard that was amazement that it is 25 year old hardware, then I remembered that the incredibly complex machine that is carrying it is even older.
Mindboggling!
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Latest report is that everything is back on the timeline.
As a largely data free observation, I get the feeling that this crew is under more time pressure than usual in the early stages of a mission and has been performing magnificently just to keep up.
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from obss
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This is Atlantis, not Columbia PAO
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Must have gotten confused between the orbiter and what country she's flying over.
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In starting position
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Article about 30 mins away, flooded with updates and will try and get as much into the article as possible. The pad isn't too bad, we've got damage photos now and it's not even close to STS-124's event.
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Off to doctor, see you guys later
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Inspections on the Stbd WLE
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Looks like the edge of the starboard outboard elevon:
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Nice views of the STBD elevons:
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Inspections continuing underneath the starboard side of Atlantis
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Latest article (a lot of info, collated from L2):
http://www.nasaspaceflight.com/2009/05/sts-125-pad-damaged-during-launch-atlantis-inspections/
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1st: Current location of the inspections
2nd: You can see a corner of the MLGD and part of the STBD RCC
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Latest article (a lot of info, collated from L2):
http://www.nasaspaceflight.com/2009/05/sts-125-pad-damaged-during-launch-atlantis-inspections/
Great article! Never known such a busy FD2 in L2, so that was some job. For people clicking the link, you might be best to click www.nasaspaceflight.com first, as you get a bigger image of the damage on the front page.
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Thanks Martin and thanks to Nick for picking up Ron's coverage.
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TPS inspections continue while the two Mikes are checking out the spacesuits for the EVAs.
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Thanks Martin and thanks to Nick for picking up Ron's coverage.
No problem at all! I'm happy to help as always.
STBD RCC panel inspections proceeding now:
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Can see the opened PLBD above the WLE:
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NASA Vid on HST (just come out)
STS-125 Mission Webcast
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KBB2tuifQZU
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NASA Vid on HST (just come out)
STS-125 Mission Webcast
Not too bad a turnaround time, but that was broadcast on NASA TV Sunday afternoon (Eastern time).
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PAO literally just sent it to me to upload here, I should have said ;)
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For the WLE IDS (Wing Leading Edge Impact Detection System) fans on here (I know there's a lot of you ;)) two triggers noted so far, both very low (and thus probably not impacts, given the system is very sensitive...so zero TPS concern.)
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All quiet right now as Atlantis passes over the ZOE and a loss of comm.
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Working on positioning the OBSS for the next part of the inspection.
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Latest article (a lot of info, collated from L2):
http://www.nasaspaceflight.com/2009/05/sts-125-pad-damaged-during-launch-atlantis-inspections/
Just getting in from work. Great article as always Chris.
Is it too early for any info on the state of the MLP (obviously thinking ahead to 128 and the potential for movement to the right talked about the other day)?
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2nd pic: some white spots? Anyone have any insights?
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Working up the STBD side to the side of the orbiter's nose.
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Latest article (a lot of info, collated from L2):
http://www.nasaspaceflight.com/2009/05/sts-125-pad-damaged-during-launch-atlantis-inspections/
Just getting in from work. Great article as always Chris.
Is it too early for any info on the state of the MLP (obviously thinking ahead to 128 and the potential for movement to the right talked about the other day)?
Thanks much and I think we're going to have to wait at least a day for the full repair plan. The pad damage wasn't even part of the morning report on L2, and was added later in the morning, so very much under assessment still.
2nd pic: some white spots? Anyone have any insights?
Yeah, that is interesting. Can't blame that on OBSS views/shadowing etc. Will see if it matches to preflight images of that area.
Then again, we've seen what looks like entire tiles missing on OBSS views, and the DAT images showed the area was fine, so you never really know with these views (people such as us, via NTV, as opposed to the DAT guys via the hard images)
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Working up around the FRCS area.
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Yeah, that is interesting. Can't blame that on OBSS views/shadowing etc. Will see if it matches to preflight images of that area.
Then again, we've seen what looks like entire tiles missing on OBSS views, and the DAT images showed the area was fine, so you never really know with these views (people such as us, via NTV, as opposed to the DAT guys via the hard images)
Yep, no need to jump to conclusions, it's just those things tend to stand out after watching the monotony of black tile after black tile!
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Getting some nice views of the side of Atlantis's crew cabin
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And there's those white spots again from a different angle in the very bottom right corner of the image.
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Looking at the upper portions of the STBD RCC now.
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Looking down along the OBSS from the RMS elbow
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A beautiful view of Earth. What is their altitude now?
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A beautiful view of Earth. What is their altitude now?
PAO just mentioned 180 miles I think. And Hubble is about 350 miles.
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PAO just mentioned 180 miles I think.
Thanks. I'm not listening, just watching :)
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moving to nose cap survey
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Nose cap, forward tiles ahead of FRCS:
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Yeah, that is interesting. Can't blame that on OBSS views/shadowing etc. Will see if it matches to preflight images of that area.
Then again, we've seen what looks like entire tiles missing on OBSS views, and the DAT images showed the area was fine, so you never really know with these views (people such as us, via NTV, as opposed to the DAT guys via the hard images)
Not to interrupt the live thread too much, but just out of curiosity, I took a look at prelaunch imagery - specifically the high res photo of Atlantis on the sling in the VAB (at the media gallery, image ID KSC-2009-2263) - and zooming in on what I think is the area in question, it doesn't appear that there are any white spots visible. So it does appear to be ascent damage of some kind but obviously the DAT will determine the degree of severity.
Just for reference, it looks like this is in the same area where 104, on STS-27, incurred major damage - so we know how much of a hit the chine area can take. In comparison, this doesn't look bad at all.
Attached a color enhanced pic of the area.
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Thanks for looking. Can't really tell from your image, but the location is useful to log.
No Ku at the moment.
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Current position of the inspections, and the current position of Atlantis over central Australia
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Atlantis is completing her maneuver to the correct attitude for illumination of the next phase of inspection.
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Some more spots?
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Atlantis should be moving into daylight shortly.
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The inspection proceeds along the port side of Atlantis.
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PAO reminder that about 2 1/2 hours from now, the Progress docking will be shown on NTV.
Also, about an hour and 40 minutes from now, the MSB will occur.
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Comm checks underway from the other two EMU checkout procedures.
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Nice view peering up over the port wing of Atlantis, the port OMS pod in view.
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Atlantis about to pass over Mexico, about 145 miles altitude.
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Nice views of the port side of Atlantis, and the T-0 umbilical plate.
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The joint where the wing meets the elevon on the port side, and the edge of the port outboard elevon.
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Now passing the gap between the outboard and inboard elevons, moving inboard.
And coming up on the inboard elevon meeting the fuselage, parts of the Aft RCS visible through the gap.
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Orbit 1 just signing off - with Orbit 2 taking over
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They appear to be moving over the body flap and into starboard territory.
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Moving back out under the port side of Atlantis... sorry bout the green tinge!
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ET umbilical doors
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More of the port ET door.
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And some more of the starboard ET door
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Moving along the MLGD, I believe
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There's those markings again
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Good view of the RCC chin panel.
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Aft end of the NLGD, with a good shot of the forward ET attach point.
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There's those markings again
IIRC, we saw similar markings during 119 with no issues.
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And the forward end of the NLGD. About to lose the signal with Atlantis over the ZOE for several minutes.
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Shift change in MCC almost over as Atlantis travels about 340 miles over the Indian Ocean through the ZOE LOS.
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A shot of the HST control center.
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Crew positioning the boom to continue TPS inspections.
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Capcom confirming the nicks spotted on the Starboard side chines. Crew being told right now it looks like "nothing serious".
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As the Orbit 2 team comes on console, we have passed the 1 day mark of the mission.
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Just so nobody has to go back through the thread, here are the screencaps i got of the area with the nicks just mentioned on NTV. I'm sure Chris is working on finding out more.
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Yep, I've asked. Will report what I get back.
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Back to more inspection imagery.
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A reminder of the MSB coming up in about 10 minutes.
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After the MSB they will provide coverage of the Progress Docking on NASA TV
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MSB up next.
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Mark Carreau!
Nice gesture on Kyle's part to pick on him for first question.
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Ceccacci says that after 2.5 years he's actually happy to be doing this press conference
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Ceccacci:
Crew having busy day, TPS inspections going well. Four good EMUs checked out. FSS pivot performed, ready for berthing. HST commanding to occur this evening to prepare Hubble for RNDZ.
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Asking Ceccacci if he can corralate damage crew saw with Debris events during ascent
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Question about nicks on chines and ascent damage.
Tony C: WLE system tripped at about 103 seconds, inspection showed about 21 inches with "dings" in them. Standard process to be followed to determine next steps.
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Tony C: Standard scans performed, extra pictures taken, trying to get ET umbilical photos to see if anything came off of tank.
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Question about challenges for tomorrow (FD 3).
Tony C: Been here and done this before. Scooter did it last time, crew has practiced a lot. They will be ready for anything that comes up.
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Question on timing of possible FI.
Tony: Planned for FD 5 if necessary. In parallel with EVA prep activities. Although not even discussing FI yet.
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Asking about what Hubble will look like tomorrow.
Tony: Been up for seven years with sun and MMOD, not expecting pristine spacecraft.
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Any situation that could impact capture and berthing ops?
Tony: No.
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Harwood: Asking about starboard wing and making sure that is the only area of damage.
Tony: To my untrained eye, they look minor, but DAT will take a closer look.
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KSC questions: What can FI accomplish that is different from today?
Tony: Different sensors to determine depth of damage, and better map it.
KSC: Describe challenge of grapple tomorrow.
Tony: Like grappling payloads and satellites done before. Scooter will get close, and Megan will grapple. High confidence in success tomorrow.
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Q:What would FI push into the next EVA?
Tony: Can do 1.5 hours of FI without impacting EVA timeline.
Q: Repair options
Tony: Standard repair techniques.
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Q: Update on ASA-1 from ascent.
Tony: Still discussing. Single ASA shorted at liftoff. Still troubleshooting. If one more ASA is lost, need to land next PLS. No trouble indicated with other channels.
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Q: Describe chine location
Tony: Tile area before RCC panels.
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MSB wrapping up. Will have Progress docking next. MMT briefing later this afternoon.
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Neat view from Progress!
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Q: Update on ASA-1 from ascent.
Tony: Still discussing. Shorted at liftoff, down to a single ASA.
Might want to rephrase your paraphrase -- this makes it sound like the capability is reduced to a single ASA, whereas, the problem is isolated to a single ASA.
Yep, I'll reword that. Thanks for the catch. Trying to get as much info from the briefing as quick as possible.
EDIT: changed. Now that I read what I wrote again, it sounded far worse than it is! No need to alarm people as they read that!
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Just so nobody has to go back through the thread, here are the screencaps i got of the area with the nicks just mentioned on NTV. I'm sure Chris is working on finding out more.
DAT make this their first item of interest at the MMT. Data review in work. Well done for spotting it Nick!
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Back in the Shuttle Flight Control Room following the successful Progress docking.
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Damage now believed to have been caused by a liberation from an Ice Frost Ramp (ET). Focused Inspection possible, but not called yet as they evaluate. Notes that the chin tiles are thick, so that's good.
We're getting images etc, so this will be turned around into an article.
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On http://www.cbsnews.com/network/news/space/current.html
you can see an image of the debris
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Damage now believed to have been caused by a liberation from an Ice Frost Ramp (ET). Focused Inspection possible, but not called yet as they evaluate. Notes that the chin tiles are thick, so that's good.
We're getting images etc, so this will be turned around into an article.
We look forward to it!
Inspections continuing. This is the port side of Atlantis, just between the PLDB and the WLE.
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Port side survey continuing
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Port side near the FRSC and nosecap.
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FRCS images.
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And the hatch.
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Larger ports and smaller ports are BOTH part of the RCS? I did not know that, if that's the case.
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Larger ports and smaller ports are BOTH part of the RCS? I did not know that, if that's the case.
Yes, they are.
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Ahh, now I see that here:
http://science.ksc.nasa.gov/shuttle/technology/sts-newsref/sts-rcs.html#sts-rcs
where it states, "The forward RCS has 14 primary and two vernier engines. The aft RCS has 12 primary and two vernier engines in each pod. The primary RCS engines provide 870 pounds of vacuum thrust each, and the vernier RCS engines provide 24 pounds of vacuum thrust each.'
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Cabin depressurization to 10.2 psi has been completed. Will remain that way until after all EVAs are complete.
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It was just mentioned that there has been a depress to 10.2 psi, the goal being to assist in the dissolved N2 purge in the spacewalker's blood. I'm aware of the need for this and the overnight "camp-outs" of EVA personnel the night prior to EVA ops, but is this depress normal for all EVA missions, or is it being done special for this mission? Does this activity serve to reduce at all the time duration of the night-before-EVA campout?
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....I'm aware of the need for this and the overnight "camp-outs" of EVA personnel the night prior to EVA ops, but is this depress normal for all EVA missions, or is it being done special for this mission? Does this activity serve to reduce at all the time duration of the night-before-EVA campout?
The "camp outs" are done on ISS....
There is no "crew lock" large enough for a comfortable "camp out" on the orbiter.
(I believe this is correct... If not, I'm sure we will be informed.)
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There's no campouts for orbiter-based EVAs. Depressing the crew module is the only way to provide a N2 purge.
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It was just mentioned that there has been a depress to 10.2 psi, the goal being to assist in the dissolved N2 purge in the spacewalker's blood. I'm aware of the need for this and the overnight "camp-outs" of EVA personnel the night prior to EVA ops, but is this depress normal for all EVA missions, or is it being done special for this mission? Does this activity serve to reduce at all the time duration of the night-before-EVA campout?
It reduces the time of prebreath in the suit for the ISS and shuttle. The "campout" term only applies to the ISS where the only the 2 EVA'ers are "campingout" in the Quest module at a reduced pressure. The rest of the ISS is at sea level pressure. There is no way of isolating the EVA'ers on the shuttle, so the whole cabin and crew are "exposed" to the reduced pressure. This has been a normal practice of the shuttle since pre Challenger.
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Shot of an RCC panel on Atlantis
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It reduces the time of prebreath in the suit for the ISS and shuttle. The "campout" term only applies to the ISS where the only the 2 EVA'ers are "campingout" in the Quest module at a reduced pressure. The rest of the ISS is at sea level pressure. There is no way of isolating the EVA'ers on the shuttle, so the whole cabin and crew are "exposed" to the reduced pressure. This has been a normal practice of the shuttle since pre Challenger.
IIRC, the first EVA on STS-6 didn't do a depress, which meant the pre-breathe time was on the order of three hours or more. But that may have been the only one like that. Can't remember if the depress to 10.2 was there by the time of STS-41B or not, but wouldn't be surprised.
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Atlantis currently passing about 180 miles over Florida.
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Some nice views of Atlantis from the OBSS.
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Prepping for the OMS pod and T-0 umbilical inspections
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IIRC, the first EVA on STS-6 didn't do a depress, which meant the pre-breathe time was on the order of three hours or more. But that may have been the only one like that. Can't remember if the depress to 10.2 was there by the time of STS-41B or not, but wouldn't be surprised.
Trivia update: didn't do depress on STS-6, did depress to 10.2 on STS-41B. Pre-breathe time at 1 atm was 3.5 hours; with the depress to 10.2 psi, pre-breathe time was reduced to 1 hour.
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Nothing obvious sticking out! (and they do tend to be obvious on the OMS Pods).
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Blankets looking pretty good.
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Atlantis will be moving into orbital night momentarily.
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MMT briefing in about 15 minutes.
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Wow...some of those zoom-ins, being so quick, are kinda scary!
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Crew given go-ahead to prepare for berthing of the OBSS after a long day of scans.
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NC3 might move up 15 mins.
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MMT Briefing up next.
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Rob Navias and Leroy Cain
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Cain: Spectacular launch, first day activity went well. Crew and vehicle in good shape.
Today was busy, inspections and checkout of EMUs and RNDZ tools.
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Cain: MMT met today to review mission.
Launch had a couple of failures.
First was ASA-1. Part of flight control system. Quad-redundant. They control aerosurfaces on ascent and entry. Also control TVC for the SSMEs.
ASA-1 had power failure. No mission impact at all, just loss of redundancy. Teams will review how they want to manage any subsequent failures, and how to configure for entry.
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ET Umblical Well Cameras did take good images (so better than 119), but still can't download them (like STS-119).
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Cain: ET umbilical well cameras have good images on-orbit. No success getting them to the ground yet. Asked to try one more time to download the files. No big deal if not able to.
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Cain: Tyvek covers supposed to tear away early in ascent. Two on thrusters F3D and F4D (each side of nose) have been coming off later (great risk of debris threat). Paying a lot of attention to those two. This mission, they came off later that expected but earlier than other missions. Happy about that.
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Cain: EMUs checked out well. Prelim data from inspections of TPS. Starboard chine damage 21 inches long. Not very deep, not significant, but team will perform normal assessment. Picture shows debris event.
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Cain: WLEIDS event seen around same time as observed event. Interested in if damage is critical, but it doesn't look that way. Probably no FI will be needed. Will take time to review data, will talk about results tomorrow.
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Cain: 39-A flame trenches. 2 or 3 areas with loss of brick in flame deflector. Preliminary data, do not know impact yet. Will get more details tomorrow.
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Cain: Don't see any issues to delay the next flight. Want to understand what happened though.
KSC saw lightning last night. 2 strikes at 39-B last night. Want to evaluate data from that. Teams are assessing. Doesn't look like Endeavour was affected.
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Cain: Mission going exceedingly well. Very pleased. Looking forward to catching up to Hubble tomorrow.
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Awesome...Mark Carreau getting first recognition again.
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Q: Explain where photo of divots came from.
Cain: Using shuttle model to show chine area. Chine area is tile not RCC. Inspections today were performed by OBSS to inspect RCC and tiles. Belly tile survey was new to this mission as there is no RPM. Chines were included in this belly tile inspection. It was those pictures that found the divots. Coating damage to 4 tiles.
Follow-up: What makes you believe this is not major damage, and what more do you want to know?
Cain: DAT are the experts not me. Imagery guys are early in their assessment. Don't want to speculate, but did ask for early assessment of severity. Those areas appear to be shallow in depth. Heating profile is not critical as RCC would be. Not a very large area of damage. Probably will not need FI. But if DAT wants a FI, then we'll do that.
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Q: What do you think debris is and how big?
Cain: Too early. Didn't discuss that. Video shows debris source. Only FD 2, too early to have discussed yet. Will do our best to figure it out.
Follow-up: Talk about the team working overnight.
Cain: DAT comprised of engineers and imagery analysts, and experts on vehicle systems. They evaluate through a screening process. Determine whether anything is on a specific tile. Process gets passed through "screens" to determine what is under the tile, and how much heating is in the area.
Team was created for RTF, evolves over time from lessons learned. Proud to say we have world-class team, high confidence in team to get answers quickly. They give answers during the mission, and post-mission results tend to confirm their findings.
Slot for Hubble mission determined so that DAT had experience on several missions to ISS first.
Team has evolved to a point to pull this off in a short period of time.
That is team that will work overnight. By about 5pm central tomorrow, decision will be made on FI.
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Q: Inspection is longer today. When is final clearance of vehicle anticipated?
Cain: Discussion tomorrow, with decision on FI then. By this time Thursday (FD 4 or 5) final results should be known, pending late inspections after Hubble deploy.
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Q: On most missions, damage has been seen like this. Characterize significance of damage compared to other missions.
Cain: "Vehicle is very, very clean." We continue to improve. This vehicle in same category as last 5/6 missions. Very clean.
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KSC Questions.
Q: Was flame trench debris any concern? Will you look at 39-B also?
Cain: No debris above pad level. All debris was below pad area. Atlantis not in danger of being struck by debris.
127 still planned from 39-A, damaged area can be fixed in short-order. Will be ready for 127. Pad B had been assessed previously. Can launch from B is necessary.
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Q: Have odds for STS-400 been reduced?
Cain: Don't know what it means significantly. Since vehicle looks the way it does today, chances are exceedingly low.
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Loving Leroy's facial expressions to some of the questions :)
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From HQ:
Q: 9 or 10 nicks I counted, how many did you count? Belly or top of chine?
Cain: Didn't count, and probably won't. DAT will count and tell me if they are important. After tomorrow we will know dimensions to fractions of an inch.
Located on "transition area" between belly and top. It is a curved area on the forward portion of wing. Tiles are "kinda on the edge". It is TILE not RCC.
Follow-up: One or multiple pieces of debris?
Cain: Don't know yet. I only see one. DAT will determine. Did not discuss yet.
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Q: Total number of debris events?
Cain: Yesterday, some of the team viewed prelim data. May have been 3 or 4 debris events. It's "few-ish"
Q: Lightning at 39-B?
Cain: Don't know if it was on new lightning towers. Suspect it was not. We have new lightning monitoring system. Use this to detect strikes in vicinity. From that, we look on GSE and Vehicle side to determine what was powered, and evaluate data from those systems for interruptions, etc. Then determine whether to go on from there.
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Q: Status on Endeavour for STS-400 in terms of prep. Has debris strike changed anything.
Cain: Right on timeline. Could launch on Monday. Have not seen anything that makes us think that is necessary. Will not do anything to accelerate timeline, but we are ready should need arise.
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Briefing wrapping up.
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Back to MCC and shots from Atlantis.
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Some data for the burn.
R OMS
Tig: 01/04:25:23.0
V TOT 7.3 fps
TGO 10 seconds
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HST Appature (sp) closing in two minutes.
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HST Control Center. The "STOCC".
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Sequential still video of the re-berthed OBSS.
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About 6 minutes to the NC-3 burn.
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Playback of video is complete for now. Atlantis is bathed in orbital night.
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NC-3 burn completed with no trimming required.
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STS-400 Flight Data Files (FDFs) are now available on the NASA website:
http://www.nasa.gov/centers/johnson/news/flightdatafiles/index.html (http://www.nasa.gov/centers/johnson/news/flightdatafiles/index.html)
List of STS-400 specific documents available (with links):
+ Ascent Checklist (PDF 2.3 Mb) (http://www.nasa.gov/centers/johnson/pdf/345916main_ASC_400_F_1.pdf)
+ Entry Checklist (PDF 628 Kb) (http://www.nasa.gov/centers/johnson/pdf/345917main_ENT_400_F_1.pdf)
+ Flight Plan (PDF 927 Kb) (http://www.nasa.gov/centers/johnson/pdf/345918main_FLT_PLN_400_B.pdf)
+ Orbit Operations Checklist (PDF 4.5 Mb) (http://www.nasa.gov/centers/johnson/pdf/345919main_ORB_OPS_400_F_S206.pdf)
+ PDRS Operations Checklist (PDF 4.6 Mb) (http://www.nasa.gov/centers/johnson/pdf/345920main_PDRS_400_F_A.pdf)
+ Post Insertion (PDF 1.1 Mb) (http://www.nasa.gov/centers/johnson/pdf/345921main_PI_400_B_2.pdf)
+ Rendezvous (PDF 2.1 Mb) (http://www.nasa.gov/centers/johnson/pdf/345922main_RNDZ_125_F_S188_S186_S185.pdf)
[Should be of historical interest only!]
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Another view of Atlantis from the payload bay, as the crew is winding down their day.
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Sounds like there's some crew video about to come down. I'm not gonna cap it unless someone really wants me to, as it'll be available for download later, I'm sure.
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Noticed there was a question about the two lightning strikes on 39B, and if it hit the new tower of the old tower. The old tower is no longer there, it was removed from the top of the FSS for what was going to be a new mast tower for Ares I-X. However, due to I-X delays, the new 600 ft Ares I towers were completed in time to take up the role, so it's just the three big towers now.
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Missed the call, but PAO reporting that the crew was told recently that focused inspection of the chine area will not be required.
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Crew just notified that the Focused inspection on the damaged area will NOT be required... good news..
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Crew just notified that the Focused inspection on the damaged area will NOT be required... good news..
Rather expected based on the MMT briefing earlier, but still good to hear!
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Crew just notified that the Focused inspection on the damaged area will NOT be required... good news..
Rather expected based on the MMT briefing earlier, but still good to hear!
Better than good news, it's GREAT! No impact to EVA!
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STOCC update at 8:30 central time
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Latest call is that they are 8 hours ahead past 11+2 days on their cryos
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There was a call that they are seeing degraded chamber pressure in R5R (in the right pod) so they are going to de-select that thruster for the night to avoid any nuissance alarms during crew sleep.
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The DAT team are awesome. Earlier they were asking for a decision point at 5pm tomorrow, and they've blown that out of the water. This also helps if they have no joy (probably the case) with any final attempts to get images of the tank (given the debris was from one of the ET's IFRs).
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The DAT team are awesome. Earlier they were asking for a decision point at 5pm tomorrow, and they've blown that out of the water. This also helps if they have no joy (probably the case) with any final attempts to get images of the tank (given the debris was from one of the ET's IFRs).
I believe Pat Ryan (PAO for Orbit 2 that's going off shift soon) said that the second try to get the umbilical well images from the camera didn't work, but with a different failure signature. I think he said that since no FI was needed, Flight Director Rick Labrode decided not to further troubleshoot.
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Shame that there's something strange going on with that system, but this seems like less of a failure than 119's as the MMT documentation say they have a good set of images, as opposed to just one (with the flash) as with Discovery. So we'll eventually get to see them :)
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Listening to the call up from earlier, it's probably worth mentioning that no FI on the starboard chine applies only to that area. There may not be any other candidates, but they are still evaluating the whole data set collected yesterday and today.
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NBC makes a mountain out of an ant hill:
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/22425001/vp/30710302#30710302
Really should have used Jim Oberg, then again it would not have had the false sense of disaster.
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The dings look pretty minor from these views, could be a trick of lighting and contrast with the rather poor video quality (at least for us).
Bear in mind back in the 80s they sometimes had ships come back just peppered with tile dings (aka "popcorning") and it did not seem to cause an issue, other than perhaps boundary layer issues.
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NBC makes a mountain out of an ant hill:
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/22425001/vp/30710302#30710302
Really should have used Jim Oberg, then again it would not have had the false sense of disaster.
Need I say it, BBC News had a headline this morning of "Space Shuttle Damaged" and quoted their correspondent as saying that Endeavour was on standby to rescue the shuttle. Of course none of this is untrue, but the general public is not going to receive the full picture we are getting on NASASpaceflight.com. My anti-BBC rant ends now. :)
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NBC makes a mountain out of an ant hill:
Just be glad that none of the media outlets have really latched onto the ASA / FCS problem. Being one FCS component failure away from "Next PLS" makes me very nervous, and I won't begin to relax until they get the new gyros and SIC&DH in on EVA1. Also I'm eagerly anticipating what mitigating wizardry they might figure out in the next day or so to reduce the FCS exposure.
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My local NBC affiliate just had to bring up Columbia in their report tonight.
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Also heard this in the morning radio news in Finland (from the public broadcaster YLE): "Atlantis damaged by space junk, but no mission impact".
Ouch. ;)
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Just showed the Flight Day 2 highlights on NASA TV. Great handheld video of the crew at work and some fun interviews, seems like they are having a ball up there.
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NBC makes a mountain out of an ant hill:
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/22425001/vp/30710302#30710302
Really should have used Jim Oberg, then again it would not have had the false sense of disaster.
Need I say it, BBC News had a headline this morning of "Space Shuttle Damaged" and quoted their correspondent as saying that Endeavour was on standby to rescue the shuttle. Of course none of this is untrue, but the general public is not going to receive the full picture we are getting on NASASpaceflight.com. My anti-BBC rant ends now. :)
Is Marcia Dunn writing headlines for NBC now? ;)
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Folks, no need for media bashing. Not so long ago NASA would have ordered FI for this, actually did an EVA to pull a gapfiller and another one to stitch an OMS blanket. NASA has gone a long way since RTF, it has been hypersensitive with TPS stuff, the media are still reflecting this. Btw. there is a rescue Shuttle on 39B for a 1:400 or so chance of being needed. There is risk aversion in the general public and at NASA. The media are reflecting this. Get used to it.
Analyst
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Will there be a reboost or not?
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Tile Damage- Atlantis, a general feel from my experience: 1981-1992
I am NOT a TPS expert but did have many TPS friends, was heavily briefed yearly on the criticality of the Tile, various types and their locations. I have seen almost every type damage you can imagine, some you can't.
During the STS-2 lift off tape reviews, we witnessed a whole slew of Black Tiles just falling off the Body Flap! You could see them dropping like raindrops from the Orbiter's Body Flap into the Flame trench. They were most likely blown out into the swampy areas surrounding Pad A.
As I moved up the MPS responsibility ladder, I was delegated as Shuttle landing (MPS Engineer) required to support a very unlikely but not improbable RTLS (Return to Launch Site) Abort, which would hopefully land safely at the KSC runway.
Eventually I was the lucky Engineer who kept the responsibility for the Actual planned Shuttle Landings as the program matured. I was there for the first ever KSC Landing of a Space Shuttle which happened to be a Challenger landing at KSC (Post DoD Mission).
As I learned the intricacies of the Landing flow via OMI S0028, I also became very familiar with many safety issues with Tire explosions, Hypergolic TLVs, Possible Cryo/LH2 and LO2 Hazards and to help inspect/report MPS damage (Prime concern) and because I was an extra set of eyes I would help with TPS Damage reporting and even Tire wear, Hydraulic leaks, unusual venting noises etc., etc.
Now for the Chips we have seen in the Black Wing Root Tiles in the Wing Root's Chine section. Big note here, these are Black (Thermally Tough) Tile. However, these "chips" (not the RCC's Grey Carbon material on the Nose and most critical of all, the Wing Leading edges) damaged on Columbia.
These specific areas that are showing up as the White spots in the Chine Tile do see higher temps than the White areas BUT do not see the extremes in Temp and Plasma Ionization "trip points". Yes, the entire Shuttle is bathed in ionizing particles that make up the nice glowing Plasma.
This deadly Plasma is always looking for "cracks in the Armor".
The small areas, on the four Black Tile located on the "Chine" section of the wing root, have been recorded before. Maybe not at this same location, but the same “White Chipped” look due to the Black Thermal coating having been knocked off by an impact event.
The white color is due to the pure Silica that makes up these tiles. The Black Tiles are Thermal rugged coated Silica Tile. A chipped White tile wouldn't look as "bad" due to the extreme contrast in color seen in the Black Tiles.
NASA has cleared these damaged tiles as not a hazard for reentry, at least that’s the last I had heard at the briefing today (Tuesday 5/12/09). I know TPS Engineers have seen this damage many times before, I have seen it Post Landing myself.
How to tell: If it occurred from a small pebble during landing all you see is a bright White area (the Black Coating having been "chipped" off by runway debris). Some cause rough chunks/holes to remain.
If it was already damaged prior to re-entry (like these) then the extreme Turbulent vortices created during re-entry cause a shift from Laminar flow to the very localized areas of extremely Turbulent Vortex flow regimes at the Chipped sites.
We see mini craters on the downstream side of the chipped area. These little craters are small in structure and you “just know” some kind of Aerodynamic Erosion caused the type of “crater” or other damaged shape but with smooth areas not rough areas caused by a small Gator, bug, pebble/rock, even Orbiter debris that fell off during landing (a small nut, bolt, lightning strip, even foam or who knows??) .
Anything thrown up by the Main Tires @ ~250 knots, well it will damage those tiles, especially since I have done it myself, by accident, within a week of Launch in one case. That’s a whole other story folks!
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Will there be a reboost or not?
Not.
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thanks a lot! :)