Author Topic: Re: STS-120 Rollout and Pad Processing Latest (Read 134437 times)

DaveS · « **Reply #320 on:** 10/11/2007 09:22 pm »

RSS going baack around Discovery to support the final prelaunch activties now that the APU hotfire seems to have been completed:

ChrisGebhardt · « **Reply #321 on:** 10/11/2007 09:28 pm »

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Davejfb - 11/10/2007 5:20 PM

The planned launch of the U.S. Harmony module -- and the time-critical construction of the International Space Station -- would be delayed for at least two months.

That would reduce the chance of launching 13 outpost assembly flights and a Hubble Space Telescope servicing mission before September 2010, a presidential deadline for station completion and shuttle fleet retirement.

Um... It should be reiterated that Wayne Hale and Mike Griffin have said repeatedly that there is enough give in the shuttle schedule assuming an average flight rate of 4 flights per year to complete the station ontime even with delays. Besides... a 2 month dealy now (IF that happens... IF) is not that big of a deal right now.

Chris Bergin · « **Reply #322 on:** 10/11/2007 09:42 pm »

I'm still being told to portray caution on which way this will go. It's a bit all over the place with the rationale on launching or not launching and a data gathering proceedure is very much in effect.

So as not to convolute, I'm not writing an article updating status till tomorrow when have a better understanding. The NASA.gov release, as used by some media, is not a basis for new information.

Ford Mustang · « **Reply #323 on:** 10/11/2007 10:10 pm »

Zpoxy · « **Reply #324 on:** 10/12/2007 02:18 am »

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Chandonn - 11/10/2007 10:09 AM

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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...

The SVS targets aren't used any more. Basically, the system just didn't work.

Analyst · « **Reply #325 on:** 10/12/2007 07:38 am »

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Trekkie07 - 11/10/2007 11:28 PM

Um... It should be reiterated that Wayne Hale and Mike Griffin have said repeatedly that there is enough give in the shuttle schedule assuming an average flight rate of 4 flights per year to complete the station ontime even with delays. Besides... a 2 month dealy now (IF that happens... IF) is not that big of a deal right now.

The 2010 "deadline" is completely arbitragy, I ever said this. But IF you want to stick with it: A rollback here, a hailstorm there, a delay ... it all adds up. And someday you can't make your schedule anymore. You erode your schedule margin early in the game.

Let us ASSUME STS-120 gets delayed into December (I don't think it will or has to, but let us assume it.), so you have three missions in 2007 (and you had three in 2006). Now let us ASSUME this trend goes on because problems come up at the same rate in the future. Pretty fast you run into problems with 13 flights remaining in 2008 to 2010. Talking of Hale and Griffin does not help here.

Analyst

rgerhards · « **Reply #326 on:** 10/12/2007 12:47 pm »

I've used yesterday's webcam images to create two animations of the RSS moving. The time resolution is a bit low, but I still think it is interesting to watch them. They are available at my site at

http://www.gerhards.net/module-Pagesetter-viewpub-tid-1-pid-181.phtml
http://www.gerhards.net/module-Pagesetter-viewpub-tid-1-pid-182.phtml

Non-tread related feedback is appreciated at [email protected].

Rainer

catdlr · « **Reply #327 on:** 10/12/2007 04:50 pm »

Rainer
I'm impressed. Thanks for the effort and the contribution.
Tony

jacqmans · « **Reply #328 on:** 10/12/2007 09:11 pm »

Mission: STS-120 - 23rd International Space Station Flight - U.S. Node
2 (Harmony)
Vehicle: Discovery (OV-103)
Location: Launch Pad 39A
Launch Date: Targeted for Oct. 23, 2007
Crew: Melroy, Zamka, Parazynski, Wheelock, Wilson, Nespoli and Tani
Inclination/Orbit Altitude: 51.6 degrees/122 nautical miles

At Launch Pad 39A, the hypergolic propellants have been loaded into
the solid rocket booster hydraulic power units, as well as into
Discovery's orbital maneuvering system, forward reaction control
system and auxiliary power units. On Thursday, the rotating service
structure at the pad was rotated away from Discovery to allow for the
auxiliary power unit hotfire, which was successfully completed. The
rotating service structure was returned to the mate position later
that day. Orbiter aft closeout work begins today.

On Sunday, the STS-120 crew arrived at Kennedy Space Center for the
terminal countdown demonstration test, which involves a launch dress
rehearsal. Crew activities included practicing emergency egress
operations at the pad, reviewing the payload bay configuration, and
suiting up and climbing into the crew cabin of the orbiter to run
through the prelaunch checklist.

On Tuesday and Wednesday, a program-level flight readiness review was
held at Kennedy. Space Shuttle Program managers concluded the review
with a recommendation to proceed toward a targeted launch on Oct. 23.
An agency-level review will take place on Oct. 16 at Kennedy, where
an official launch date will be decided.

Chris Bergin · « **Reply #329 on:** 10/12/2007 09:56 pm »

Very nice Rainer! Good work.

Status update. Very little (actually nothing) mentioned by Wayne Hale in the latest standup (L2) on the RCC, so we are assuming this is not gaining the attention of a serious problem (given the experience of standups and how they really get deep down and dirty with problems).

For the weekend, I'm going to attempt to summarize the FRR, from about 2000 pages and 20 documents on L2 into a news article. No easy task, but it deserves it as it is amazing just how deep they go into detail on the slightest thing to make sure they fully understand the health of the shuttle prior to launch for the purpose of safe flight.

Norm Hartnett · « **Reply #330 on:** 10/12/2007 11:51 pm »

The Flame Trench and Tod Halvorson are going with "Shuttle managers are "go" for Discovery launch" stating that "Shuttle managers next week will recommend launching Discovery on Oct. 23 despite an independent safety group's concerns about tiny cracks in protective coating on critical wing panels." here http://www.floridatoday.com/floridatoday/blogs/spaceteam/ down several pages.

In their new Chat section http://forums.floridatoday.com/viewforum.php?f=38 John Kelly (John Kelly is the Local Editor for Florida Today, and is responsible for their space coverage.) states that "The shuttle program manager Wayne Hale already has decided to recommend flying as-is."

More expected on the Flame Trench Blog tonight and a full article in tomorrow's paper.

Shuttle Man · « **Reply #331 on:** 10/12/2007 11:54 pm »

Argghhh. Florida Today!!!

It doesn't work that way!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Hale does not have an all-powerful "I have decided and no one can question it" veto over bodies like NASA Safety!!!

Peter NASA · « **Reply #332 on:** 10/13/2007 12:03 am »

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Shuttle Man - 12/10/2007 6:54 PM

Argghhh. Florida Today!!!

It doesn't work that way!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Hale does not have an all-powerful "I have decided and no one can question it" veto over bodies like NASA Safety!!!

Exactly. But they are just reporting Hale isn't for a rollback, as we all already know here, and Chris noted already in a previous post about Hale's lack of interest in this via the Standup/Integration report.

People are a bit fast to forget that this site had the exclusive on the RCC issue a day before anyone else and others have been playing catch up since.

Norm Hartnett · « **Reply #333 on:** 10/13/2007 12:03 am »

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Shuttle Man - 12/10/2007 4:54 PM

Argghhh. Florida Today!!!

It doesn't work that way!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Hale does not have an all-powerful "I have decided and no one can question it" veto over bodies like NASA Safety!!!

To be fair later in the Chat post John does say that the final decision will be at the upper levels of NASA and just that Wayne's recommendation is to fly as is.

Flightstar · « **Reply #334 on:** 10/13/2007 12:04 am »

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Shuttle Man - 12/10/2007 6:54 PM

Argghhh. Florida Today!!!

It doesn't work that way!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Hale does not have an all-powerful "I have decided and no one can question it" veto over bodies like NASA Safety!!!

I'd find it funny if FRR members read that and wonder if they should make the effort to attend :laugh:

Chris Bergin · « **Reply #335 on:** 10/13/2007 12:06 am »

Whoa, easy guys! Will be useful if they have Mr Hale on quote, as we don't.

Norm Hartnett · « **Reply #336 on:** 10/13/2007 12:09 am »

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Peter NASA - 12/10/2007 5:03 PM
People are a bit fast to forget that this site had the exclusive on the RCC issue a day before anyone else and others have been playing catch up since.

That was also pointed out in the Chat thread.
:cool:

Chris Bergin · « **Reply #337 on:** 10/13/2007 12:50 pm »

Weekend Work Outlook: Vehicle power is planned for Sunday. Work includes: S1287 Orbiter Aft Closeout Ops and S5009 Ordnance ops including pic tests.

Norm Hartnett · « **Reply #338 on:** 10/14/2007 12:01 am »

The Flame Trench article may have been based in part on this NASA website http://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/shuttle/main/index.html comment:

"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."

Jason Davies · « **Reply #339 on:** 10/14/2007 12:57 am »

Which was a public affairs comment too, on behalf of Hale.