Author Topic: Reviewing the STS-120 FRR - how NASA prepares for safe flight (Read 13866 times)

Chris Bergin · « **on:** 10/14/2007 05:48 am »

http://www.nasaspaceflight.com/content/?cid=5253 - Part 1.
http://www.nasaspaceflight.com/content/?cid=5254 - Part 2.
http://www.nasaspaceflight.com/content/?cid=5257 - Part 3.

from the summary of the STS-120 FRR presentations on L2.

Writing it up in parts, as there's so much info it needs to be written up as a series.

Super George · « **Reply #1 on:** 10/14/2007 04:00 pm »

That is a superb article! Can't wait for the others.

NASA rocks.

George CA · « **Reply #2 on:** 10/14/2007 08:55 pm »

Really enjoyable read, interesting throughout and a lot of respect to NASA USA and others for all their work in making the flights happen smoothly.

Ford Mustang · « **Reply #3 on:** 10/15/2007 12:27 am »

Love the picture of her through the clouds, illuminating them. Do you happen to have a bigger/full res of it?

Great article, too. Loved reading that.

Chris Bergin · « **Reply #4 on:** 10/15/2007 12:58 am »

Thanks.

The image used is one of the images in the NASA Starscapes (internal presentations) on L2 Historical. Here's the best I could manage from screenshoting the powerpoint:

Ford Mustang · « **Reply #5 on:** 10/15/2007 01:02 am »

Thanks for that, Chris. I'll use that as a desktop!

Rocket Guy · « **Reply #6 on:** 10/15/2007 01:11 am »

It is here:
http://mediaarchive.ksc.nasa.gov/detail.cfm?mediaid=9012

Chris Bergin · « **Reply #7 on:** 10/15/2007 01:21 am »

Oh, it's the Hubble launch, the one at dawn?

http://forum.nasaspaceflight.com/forums/thread-view.asp?tid=961&start=1 - one of my favorite launch videos for sure!

Chris Bergin · « **Reply #8 on:** 10/15/2007 04:00 pm »

Part 2 added, see first post. (Got to use my favorite orbiter image of all time too)

By the way, I know we've got some screenshotted off NASA TV, but if anyone's got a good picture of a laptop on the flight/middeck, please add it here, or mail me, as I'd like to put it into the body of the article.

Orbiter Obvious · « **Reply #9 on:** 10/15/2007 04:43 pm »

Cool reads. So is OI-32 the 32nd modification to the flight software? Was STS-1 OI-1?

dotdk · « **Reply #10 on:** 10/15/2007 04:47 pm »

"Windows has been the preferred operating system for NASA, and this continues with the upgrade of the laptops from Windows ME to Windows XP, which makes its debut on Discovery with STS-120."

Windows ME?? Are you serious about that? I thought it was Windows 2000.

Dear god if true

Jorge · « **Reply #11 on:** 10/15/2007 05:00 pm »

Quote

dotdk - 15/10/2007 11:47 AM

"Windows has been the preferred operating system for NASA, and this continues with the upgrade of the laptops from Windows ME to Windows XP, which makes its debut on Discovery with STS-120."

Windows ME?? Are you serious about that? I thought it was Windows 2000.

Dear god if true

You're correct. The PGSCs previously used Windows 2000. And before that, Windows 98. NASA skipped Windows Me entirely.

dotdk · « **Reply #12 on:** 10/15/2007 05:03 pm »

Quote

Jorge - 14/10/2007 7:00 PM

NASA skipped Windows Me entirely.

Like almost everybody else

Jorge · « **Reply #13 on:** 10/15/2007 05:09 pm »

Quote

Orbiter Obvious - 15/10/2007 11:43 AM

Cool reads. So is OI-32 the 32nd modification to the flight software? Was STS-1 OI-1?

No - the OFT flights used a different flight software numbering scheme. And it got complicated at some point, with OI-8A through 8F. After the new GPCs (AP-101S) were introduced, they restarted the OI numbering scheme at OI-20 and incremented it normally from there. Then it got complicated again when the Cockpit Avionics Upgrade (CAU) was being planned. There was an OI (OI-31) that was dedicated to laying the groundwork for CAU. When CAU was cancelled, OI-31 went away and the FSW skipped from OI-30 to 32.

Bottom line is I'd have to dig up some history to figure out just how many versions of the FSW there have been.

j2_ · « **Reply #14 on:** 10/15/2007 05:18 pm »

Anyone know where I can buy a full size poster version of the Orbiter flight deck with the MEDS displays all lit up like the picture in the article? I desperately need it for my office.

SpaceNutz SA · « **Reply #15 on:** 10/15/2007 05:22 pm »

Quote

Ford Mustang - 15/10/2007 3:02 AM Thanks for that, Chris. I'll use that as a desktop!

Ditto - looks awesome!

Chris Bergin · « **Reply #16 on:** 10/15/2007 05:37 pm »

Quote

Jorge - 15/10/2007 6:00 PM

Quote
dotdk - 15/10/2007 11:47 AM

"Windows has been the preferred operating system for NASA, and this continues with the upgrade of the laptops from Windows ME to Windows XP, which makes its debut on Discovery with STS-120."

Windows ME?? Are you serious about that? I thought it was Windows 2000.

Dear god if true

You're correct. The PGSCs previously used Windows 2000. And before that, Windows 98. NASA skipped Windows Me entirely.

Crikey, thanks. I could have sworn I saw a laptop boot up with Windows ME during the last mission. It was FD13 and Commander Kelly booted it up on NASA TV, see below:

Anyway, will correct.

Chandonn · « **Reply #17 on:** 10/15/2007 09:49 pm »

Quote

Jorge - 15/10/2007 1:00 PM

Quote
dotdk - 15/10/2007 11:47 AM

"Windows has been the preferred operating system for NASA, and this continues with the upgrade of the laptops from Windows ME to Windows XP, which makes its debut on Discovery with STS-120."

Windows ME?? Are you serious about that? I thought it was Windows 2000.

Dear god if true

You're correct. The PGSCs previously used Windows 2000. And before that, Windows 98. NASA skipped Windows Me entirely.

Wise choice! ME had so many problems there were rumors that, after XP came out, they were going to rename it "Windows Y-ME?" :laugh:

EDIT: Also, XP is based on the relatively-stable Windows 2000 architecture. That's one reason you don't often hear about the Blue Screen of Death and multiple reboots like you did back in the 95/98/ME days...

Chris Bergin · « **Reply #18 on:** 10/15/2007 10:21 pm »

Quote

j2_ - 15/10/2007 6:18 PM

Anyone know where I can buy a full size poster version of the Orbiter flight deck with the MEDS displays all lit up like the picture in the article? I desperately need it for my office.

All I know is it's of Columbia's flight deck (sadly). It's a NASA image for sure, but I can't for the life of me remember where I put the orginal or where it is on NASA.gov. I orginally used it for a YERO article.

sticksux · « **Reply #19 on:** 10/15/2007 10:23 pm »

Quote

Jorge - 15/10/2007 6:00 PM
You're correct. The PGSCs previously used Windows 2000. And before that, Windows 98. NASA skipped Windows Me entirely.

I didn't know this. I hoped they are using some flavor of Unix. What is PGSC?