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NASA Shuttle Specific Sections => Atlantis (Post STS-135, T&R) => Topic started by: Chris Bergin on 08/05/2005 07:47 pm

Title: Atlantis de-stack Sept 7
Post by: Chris Bergin on 08/05/2005 07:47 pm
Well, that's it for a while. Atlantis is getting de-stacked from her ET.
Title: RE: Atlantis de-stack
Post by: Avron on 08/05/2005 08:11 pm
ET Fix in work? or change out of the ET?

So we are talking 90 days at least here until the next attempt at the earliest?
Title: RE: Atlantis de-stack
Post by: Flightstar on 08/05/2005 08:52 pm
Re-config work. No more launches this year if you want an assumption, although I don't like making them.
Title: RE: Atlantis de-stack
Post by: Matty Picard on 08/05/2005 11:03 pm
damn
Title: RE: Atlantis de-stack
Post by: Rocket Guy on 08/05/2005 11:38 pm
No de-stack decisions have been made yet. They will not decide anything until they know for sure the foam needs to be repaired or replaced. They are still studying whether 114's tank was alone in that respect, and they stated this again at today's press conference.

Atlantis is still on a schedule where they are working towards rollout August 18 and launch Sept 22. The schedule, as always, is planned and executed as if they were launching while elsewhere they figure out the problem and make the decision (probably next week) whether they will make September.
Title: RE: Atlantis de-stack (pending decision)
Post by: Chris Bergin on 08/06/2005 12:34 pm
Given the fact that you have a nifty knack of being right, I'll take it ;)

I hope so too, given the potential wishes of a September launch.

The USA guy that told me seemed pretty sure about it, but he's the only one, so let's see.
Title: RE: Atlantis de-stack (pending decision)
Post by: Rocket Guy on 08/06/2005 01:00 pm
The consensus may be that they probably won't make Sept and maybe even have to destack to be sure. But at the moment everything points to the PAL repairs on 114 alone. So that may spell good news in the end.
Title: RE: Atlantis de-stack (Pending Decision)
Post by: Chris Bergin on 08/06/2005 01:11 pm
I've got PAL Ramps on the brain. Woke up today and thought, hmmm, PAL Ramps and Bacon. Went to the newsagents for some cigs, said "I'll have 20 PAL Ramps please" It's not fun! ;)
Title: RE: Atlantis de-stack (Pending Decision)
Post by: Chris Bergin on 08/18/2005 08:37 pm
Atlantis De-Mate (ET-120) on Sept 7th. Shipped back to MAF on Sept 17.
Title: RE: Atlantis de-stack (Pending Decision)
Post by: Rocket Guy on 08/18/2005 08:50 pm
Yep, ET-119 headed back to Michoud. This sucks. This year will see a total of nine launches at Cape Canaveral, down from 14 last year and about 17 on average.
Title: RE: Atlantis de-stack Sept 7
Post by: Jason Sole on 08/18/2005 09:10 pm
Wow, I didn't know the amount of launches was an average of 17. Mainly Deltas and such?

What's the most Shuttle launches in a single year?
Title: RE: Atlantis de-stack Sept 7
Post by: Rocket Guy on 08/18/2005 09:51 pm
Well, 9 in 1985 and 8 in two other years in the 1990s....but technically, the answer is 11, from January 24 1985 to January 28 1986.

All the Shuttle, Delta, Atlas and Titans added up to a lot. But now, with no more Titan or Atlas 2 and 3, and the Shuttle grounded, (and Boeing unable to launch more than one Delta 4 per two year period!!!) it's gotten rather dull here!
Title: RE: Atlantis de-stack Sept 7
Post by: Chris Bergin on 08/19/2005 12:06 am
You know, until you posted that I hadn't realised how much launch activity has reduced of late.
Title: RE: Atlantis de-stack Sept 7
Post by: Matty Picard on 08/23/2005 06:34 pm
Still on target for this date and will NASA TV cover the rollback to the OPF?
Title: RE: Atlantis de-stack Sept 7
Post by: NASA_Twix_JSC on 08/24/2005 10:22 pm
So far it is.
Title: RE: Atlantis de-stack Sept 7
Post by: Avron on 08/29/2005 08:41 pm
ET-120 PAL last rebuild..
Title: RE: Atlantis de-stack Sept 7
Post by: JamesSpaceFlight on 09/01/2005 03:32 pm
Quote
Avron - 29/8/2005  3:41 PM

ET-120 PAL last rebuild..

What is with the metal bar? Is that for the PAL Ramp to set against?
Title: RE: Atlantis de-stack Sept 7
Post by: Avron on 09/01/2005 05:38 pm
Quote
JamesSpaceFlight - 1/9/2005  11:32 AM

Quote
Avron - 29/8/2005  3:41 PM

ET-120 PAL last rebuild..

What is with the metal bar? Is that for the PAL Ramp to set against?

its the cable try
Title: RE: Atlantis de-stack Sept 7
Post by: SimonShuttle on 09/02/2005 02:06 pm
Does that stay in? I find it strange that a metal tray, next to the PAL Ramp would work? The whole ET vibrates and metal against foam wouldn't be too clever?
Title: RE: Atlantis de-stack Sept 7
Post by: MKremer on 09/02/2005 02:42 pm
It's not metal. More like a tough, thick, insulating composite cable conduit with a flat cap.
Title: RE: Atlantis de-stack Sept 7
Post by: nacnud on 09/02/2005 02:54 pm
I didn't know it was from Yorkshire, where is it's whippet? ;)
Title: RE: Atlantis de-stack Sept 7
Post by: Chris Bergin on 09/02/2005 03:09 pm
Quote
nacnud - 2/9/2005  3:54 PM

I didn't know it was from Yorkshire, where is it's whippet? ;)

Temptation of getting photoshop on the job for an ET with Flat Cap on top. I shall name her Shuttle Aye Up :)
Title: RE: Atlantis de-stack Sept 7
Post by: Rocket Guy on 09/02/2005 08:23 pm
Destacking was completed today.
Title: RE: Atlantis de-stack Sept 7
Post by: Rocket Guy on 09/02/2005 09:06 pm
Great fisheye shots as well:

Title: RE: Atlantis de-stack Sept 7
Post by: MKremer on 09/02/2005 10:05 pm
That's a great shot.

You can't really get a feeling of how incredibly *huge* the VAB is until you walk inside. Sure it looks really big from the outside, but inside you get the true scale of the place in all directions.
Title: RE: Atlantis de-stack Sept 7
Post by: Chris Bergin on 09/02/2005 10:32 pm
I do like these shots as it gives one an idea of how tall the VAB is  :o

Anyone know why De-stack was brought forward, or will it take till Sept 7 to take off the SRBs and move the ET?