Author Topic: LIVE: STS-120: Launch Day / Flight Day 1 - Oct 23 (Read 107002 times)

Chandonn · « **Reply #140 on:** 10/23/2007 01:55 pm »

There's the call for crew module leak test...

Chris Bergin · « **Reply #141 on:** 10/23/2007 01:59 pm »

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TrueBlueWitt - 23/10/2007 2:55 PM

If sky's are clear enough.. anyone have a big mirror to dedirect some sunlight onto that Ice? how about a nice channeled IR beam?

A boffin at MSFC once reccomended a laser for this sort of incident, would you believe.

daveglo · « **Reply #142 on:** 10/23/2007 02:00 pm »

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Chris Bergin - 23/10/2007 8:59 AM

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TrueBlueWitt - 23/10/2007 2:55 PM

If sky's are clear enough.. anyone have a big mirror to dedirect some sunlight onto that Ice? how about a nice channeled IR beam?

A boffin at MSFC once reccomended a laser for this sort of incident, would you believe.

And that would be a bad idea? If so, how?

Felix · « **Reply #143 on:** 10/23/2007 02:01 pm »

Chris Bergin · « **Reply #144 on:** 10/23/2007 02:01 pm »

Seen as we're now officially into "Melt Watch"....That clear ice in the top of the image is not good

Felix · « **Reply #145 on:** 10/23/2007 02:02 pm »

TrueBlueWitt · « **Reply #146 on:** 10/23/2007 02:02 pm »

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Chris Bergin - 23/10/2007 9:59 AM

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TrueBlueWitt - 23/10/2007 2:55 PM

If sky's are clear enough.. anyone have a big mirror to dedirect some sunlight onto that Ice? how about a nice channeled IR beam?

A boffin at MSFC once reccomended a laser for this sort of incident, would you believe.

How about a system that's able to pump slightly heated very dry(big condensor coils) air up from under the pad?

psloss · « **Reply #147 on:** 10/23/2007 02:02 pm »

Interestingly, they (NASA TV) haven't "taken" camera 009 this whole time that PAO has noted the issue...

Chris Bergin · « **Reply #148 on:** 10/23/2007 02:03 pm »

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daveglo - 23/10/2007 3:00 PM

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Chris Bergin - 23/10/2007 8:59 AM

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TrueBlueWitt - 23/10/2007 2:55 PM

If sky's are clear enough.. anyone have a big mirror to dedirect some sunlight onto that Ice? how about a nice channeled IR beam?

A boffin at MSFC once reccomended a laser for this sort of incident, would you believe.

And that would be a bad idea? If so, how?

I believe someone noted that pointing a laser at a fully fueled External Tank was not the cleverest idea in the world, ever, if your laser was to malfuction. That sort of thing makes NASA Safety guys fall off their chairs.

Chandonn · « **Reply #149 on:** 10/23/2007 02:04 pm »

Judging by the camera views, the ice is in shadow to the bottom of the vehicle, which precludes any rapid sun melting. Now, if it was the other feed, it might have a better chance.

eeergo · « **Reply #150 on:** 10/23/2007 02:09 pm »

Does the clear ice seem to be growing over time?

TrueBlueWitt · « **Reply #151 on:** 10/23/2007 02:09 pm »

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TrueBlueWitt - 23/10/2007 10:02 AM

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Chris Bergin - 23/10/2007 9:59 AM

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TrueBlueWitt - 23/10/2007 2:55 PM

If sky's are clear enough.. anyone have a big mirror to dedirect some sunlight onto that Ice? how about a nice channeled IR beam?

A boffin at MSFC once reccomended a laser for this sort of incident, would you believe.

How about a system that's able to pump slightly heated very dry(big condensor coils) air up from under the pad?

Will never happen of course.. but this would make too much sense.. Wouldn't this almost completely elminate ice concerns except possibly on very windy days?

psloss · « **Reply #152 on:** 10/23/2007 02:11 pm »

Update from JSC: new T-0 is 11:38:19 local.

mwfair · « **Reply #153 on:** 10/23/2007 02:14 pm »

Granted that a laser would be a bad idea, and that a blower for the whole pad would be huge, can't something in between be fashioned. I've melted ice on a frozen faucet with a 500W halogen lamp. Seriously, what is the level of explosive hazard on the outside of the ET? What are the standard procedures for pad workers post-tanking, with regard to combustion risks. No smoking, I suppose, but is there a spark hazard also? Are the lights at the pad all explosion proof? Do people carry cell phones? Are there static discharge ports like at a gas station? Can you sit in the shuttle on the pad and then get out to pay for the gas without generating a spark?

psloss · « **Reply #154 on:** 10/23/2007 02:15 pm »

Looking at the RTSP feed, it does appear that there's some melting now, but no idea what that means to the outlook...

mwfair · « **Reply #155 on:** 10/23/2007 02:16 pm »

Regarding ice inspection on the pad, are thermal cameras used at the pad to inspect the entire stack for trouble spots? Could these be streamed as a webcam?

simonbp · « **Reply #156 on:** 10/23/2007 02:16 pm »

I know KSC Applied Physics developed a system of pointing large arc lamps (not lasers, but guided by them) at the ET to melt ice. It was apparently deployed for RTF...

Simon

Ford Mustang · « **Reply #157 on:** 10/23/2007 02:16 pm »

Couldn't they just turn on some Xenon's that would hit that area of the tank?

TrueBlueWitt · « **Reply #158 on:** 10/23/2007 02:17 pm »

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mwfair - 23/10/2007 10:14 AM

Granted that a laser would be a bad idea, and that a blower for the whole pad would be huge, can't something in between be fashioned. I've melted ice on a frozen faucet with a 500W halogen lamp.

Actually what a great idea... turn the big Xenon lights back on.. at least if any of them light that area.. any heat input would help.

Guess I'm not the only one with that idea..

chksix · « **Reply #159 on:** 10/23/2007 02:17 pm »

Electric heaters like on the SRB's would be a better idea but too late to implement now.