Author Topic: Re: STS-120 Rollout and Pad Processing Latest (Read 134452 times)

DaveS · « **Reply #300 on:** 10/11/2007 01:01 pm »

RSS has begun rotating:

DaveS · « **Reply #301 on:** 10/11/2007 01:10 pm »

Now cleared the tank:

DaveS · « **Reply #302 on:** 10/11/2007 01:15 pm »

RSS now out view for both cameras:

Chandonn · « **Reply #303 on:** 10/11/2007 01:15 pm »

Given that RSS is retracting, I guess that answers my question about the payload bay doors! I'm still hoping for a good shot of Harmony in Discovery's bay so I can match the SVS targets on my model

DaveS · « **Reply #304 on:** 10/11/2007 01:18 pm »

Discovery's vertical stabilizer can be seen in this shot:

DaveS · « **Reply #305 on:** 10/11/2007 01:20 pm »

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Chandonn - 11/10/2007 3:15 PM

Given that RSS is retracting, I guess that answers my question about the payload bay doors! I'm still hoping for a good shot of Harmony in Discovery's bay so I can match the SVS targets on my model

AFAIK, there's no ASVS markings on Harmony.

psloss · « **Reply #306 on:** 10/11/2007 01:23 pm »

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Chandonn - 11/10/2007 9:15 AM

Given that RSS is retracting, I guess that answers my question about the payload bay doors! I'm still hoping for a good shot of Harmony in Discovery's bay so I can match the SVS targets on my model

There are a few in the KSC Media Gallery taken before the recent crew inspection:

(Edit -- Dave already answered the SVS question)

DaveS · « **Reply #307 on:** 10/11/2007 01:31 pm »

RSS now in the park position:

Chandonn · « **Reply #308 on:** 10/11/2007 02:09 pm »

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DaveS - 11/10/2007 9:20 AM

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Chandonn - 11/10/2007 3:15 PM

Given that RSS is retracting, I guess that answers my question about the payload bay doors! I'm still hoping for a good shot of Harmony in Discovery's bay so I can match the SVS targets on my model
AFAIK, there's no ASVS markings on Harmony.

That seems a bit odd. I was wondering why I wasn't seeing them on the module in pre-processing. I would think they'd be needed nto only for mating to UNity, then Destiny, but also as an aid for mating PMA-2, Columbus, Kibo, andthe MPLMs...

Chris Bergin · « **Reply #309 on:** 10/11/2007 03:05 pm »

All of the presentations from the Oct 9-10 FRR are now uploaded into L2...about 1500 pages. Lots of pictures for those of use who aren't engineers

Bottom line is all is green, bar the RCC.

eeergo · « **Reply #310 on:** 10/11/2007 03:19 pm »

I know no decision has been made so far, but PAO seems to think different...

http://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/shuttle/main/index.html

While the astronauts practiced for launch, shuttle program managers started two days of meetings Tuesday in preparation for next week's Flight Readiness Review, which is scheduled for Oct. 16.

One of the topics discussed before the conclusion of the program review Wednesday involved the reinforced carbon carbon, or RCC, on Discovery’s wing leading edge panels. In the past, there have been post-flight indications that the edges of a couple of panels have lost small amounts of their upper-level coating. Thermography, or thermal imagery, has been used to inspect the panels in order to identify any internal defects that could lead to coating loss.

The NASA Engineering and Safety Center (NESC) has been working with shuttle engineers to better understand the potential causes of coating loss. At Wednesday's meeting, NESC recommended replacing three of Discovery's 44 panels.

Discovery has flown at least twice with these panels in the current condition, and with no indications of degradation based on thermography. At this point, the Space Shuttle Program has determined that Discovery's astronauts can safely carry out their mission without having to replace the panels.

rgerhards · « **Reply #311 on:** 10/11/2007 03:24 pm »

I guess this is typical public announcement speak. Just think about "at **this** point" - that in essence means that next weeks things can be considerably different.

stockman · « **Reply #312 on:** 10/11/2007 03:26 pm »

OR it could be just as stated that this issue, while important and needing to be looked at continuously, is probably not the doom and gloom that has been portrayed. Its sounding to me so far that the leaning tendancy is toward fly as is which is good news. Obviously only the inside engineers and managers have all the data and that will be finalized next week. So far I am optomistic of us launching unless something new comes up.

Chris Bergin · « **Reply #313 on:** 10/11/2007 03:32 pm »

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stockman - 11/10/2007 4:26 PM

probably not the doom and gloom that has been portrayed.

Who's portraying it as doom and gloom? I thought most of the following reports in the media have been restrained. I was fully expecting 101 Columbia references in the mainstream.

Chris Bergin · « **Reply #314 on:** 10/11/2007 03:35 pm »

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eeergo - 11/10/2007 4:19 PM

I know no decision has been made so far, but PAO seems to think different...

Which was accurate, otherwise they'd be rolling her off the pad right now.

Right now, they are proceeding to launch, but no decision will be made until next week at the FRR (sorry if I sound like a scratched record

) Not much use to anyone planning on going to the launch, but that's just how it is. No decision either ways until the FRR.

Speaking of which....

NASA Announces News Conference on Status of Next Shuttle Launch

NASA managers have scheduled a news conference at the Kennedy Space Center, Fla., no earlier than 3 p.m. EDT, Tuesday, Oct. 16, to discuss the status of the upcoming space shuttle mission. The news conference will begin after the conclusion of the Flight Readiness Review, or FRR, which is chaired by NASA's Associate Administrator for Space Operations Bill Gerstenmaier.

A two-day preliminary review to assess preparations for shuttle Discovery's mission, designated STS-120, was held Oct. 9-10. Space Shuttle Program Manager Wayne Hale is chaired that meeting and will provide a summary to the Oct. 16 executive-level FRR. The Oct 16 review is expected to include the selection of an official launch date for Discovery's voyage to the International Space Station. The current targeted launch time is 11:38 a.m. on Oct. 23.

Briefing participants are:
-- NASA Associate Administrator Chris Scolese
-- Associate Administrator for Space Operations Bill Gerstenmaier
-- Space Shuttle Program Manager Wayne Hale
-- Space Shuttle Launch Director Mike Leinbach

stockman · « **Reply #315 on:** 10/11/2007 03:35 pm »

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Chris Bergin - 11/10/2007 11:32 AM

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stockman - 11/10/2007 4:26 PM

probably not the doom and gloom that has been portrayed.

Who's portraying it as doom and gloom? I thought most of the following reports in the media have been restrained. I was fully expecting 101 Columbia references in the mainstream.

overstatement on my part.. just an observation of how it appears some want a rollback at the first sound of possible trouble without the final analysis in... sorry for the overstatement... bad choice of words on my part.

Chris Bergin · « **Reply #316 on:** 10/11/2007 03:39 pm »

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stockman - 11/10/2007 4:35 PM

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Chris Bergin - 11/10/2007 11:32 AM

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stockman - 11/10/2007 4:26 PM

probably not the doom and gloom that has been portrayed.

Who's portraying it as doom and gloom? I thought most of the following reports in the media have been restrained. I was fully expecting 101 Columbia references in the mainstream.

overstatement on my part.. just an observation of how it appears some want a rollback at the first sound of possible trouble without the final analysis in... sorry for the overstatement... bad choice of words on my part.

Na, it's cool. Was just checking there wasn't a report out there that was playing on Columbia (note doom and gloom)....and that we didn't need to start a slapdown thread

It's not a great situation, as per the documentation (note burn through risk) but as we've said, in Hale we trust and they'll work this to a safe conclusion on flight rationale.

Wouldn't be a pre-launch flow without something like this anyway, would it!

James (Lockheed) · « **Reply #317 on:** 10/11/2007 03:41 pm »

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Chris Bergin - 11/10/2007 10:39 AM

Wouldn't be a pre-launch flow without something like this anyway, would it!

I'm just glad it's not the tanks this time

stockman · « **Reply #318 on:** 10/11/2007 03:41 pm »

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Chris Bergin - 11/10/2007 11:39 AM

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stockman - 11/10/2007 4:35 PM

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Chris Bergin - 11/10/2007 11:32 AM

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stockman - 11/10/2007 4:26 PM

probably not the doom and gloom that has been portrayed.

Who's portraying it as doom and gloom? I thought most of the following reports in the media have been restrained. I was fully expecting 101 Columbia references in the mainstream.

overstatement on my part.. just an observation of how it appears some want a rollback at the first sound of possible trouble without the final analysis in... sorry for the overstatement... bad choice of words on my part.

Na, it's cool. Was just checking there wasn't a report out there that was playing on Columbia (note doom and gloom)....and that we didn't need to start a slapdown thread

It's not a great situation, as per the documentation (note burn through risk) but as we've said, in Hale we trust and they'll work this to a safe conclusion on flight rationale.

Wouldn't be a pre-launch flow without something like this anyway, would it!

Agreed..

DaveS · « **Reply #319 on:** 10/11/2007 07:39 pm »

Any updates the APU hotfire?