Author Topic: LIVE: STS-120: Launch Day / Flight Day 1 - Oct 23 (Read 106996 times)

Chandonn · « **Reply #160 on:** 10/23/2007 02:18 pm »

Actually, I'm starting to wonder if the ice formation is due to this morning's weather, or the colorful history ET-120 has had...

rdale · « **Reply #161 on:** 10/23/2007 02:18 pm »

The Xenon lights would not help - how about a separate thread for heating solutions?

brihath · « **Reply #162 on:** 10/23/2007 02:19 pm »

How long is the window today? Is there more than one?

DaveS · « **Reply #163 on:** 10/23/2007 02:19 pm »

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Ford Mustang - 23/10/2007 4:16 PM

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

They are on! They're simply not visible as the sun outshines them by many magnitudes!

DaveS · « **Reply #164 on:** 10/23/2007 02:20 pm »

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brihath - 23/10/2007 4:19 PM

How long is the window today? Is there more than one?

10 minutes in length for a FD3 rendezvous. If they go for a FD4 rendezvous, it gives 3 more minutes.

Ford Mustang · « **Reply #165 on:** 10/23/2007 02:21 pm »

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DaveS - 23/10/2007 10:19 AM

Quote
Ford Mustang - 23/10/2007 4:16 PM

Couldn't they just turn on some Xenon's that would hit that area of the tank?
They are on! They're simply not visible as the sun outshines them by many magnitudes!

Oh, I figured they'd just turn them off to save energy.. Thanks for clearing that up.

eeergo · « **Reply #166 on:** 10/23/2007 02:22 pm »

Meanwhile in the orbiter: final voice comms check.

RafaelCE · « **Reply #167 on:** 10/23/2007 02:23 pm »

One RTF Mod was replacing the fwd bipod foam ramps with heaters. Seems easy to see now, but still wonder why they didn't think this was also a sensitive area like for adding heaters too

Felix · « **Reply #168 on:** 10/23/2007 02:23 pm »

eeergo · « **Reply #169 on:** 10/23/2007 02:26 pm »

Very good view of our problematic friend:

Felix · « **Reply #170 on:** 10/23/2007 02:27 pm »

Btw T-20mins and holding

Andy_Small · « **Reply #171 on:** 10/23/2007 02:28 pm »

go to clear white room

RafaelCE · « **Reply #172 on:** 10/23/2007 02:30 pm »

Seems like ice is getting thinner, isn't it?

Felix · « **Reply #173 on:** 10/23/2007 02:34 pm »

Closeout Crew is leaving the pad

eeergo · « **Reply #174 on:** 10/23/2007 02:34 pm »

T-20 minutes and counting!

N2 purge of the APUs coming up.

Andy_Small · « **Reply #175 on:** 10/23/2007 02:34 pm »

inspection team getting ready to leave as well.

still talking about the ice

Chris Bergin · « **Reply #176 on:** 10/23/2007 02:35 pm »

Evaluations now discussing. Opening comments from DAT seem positive for launch now...but that doesn't mean much as the MMT will be the ones to say yay or nay.

simonbp · « **Reply #177 on:** 10/23/2007 02:35 pm »

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RafaelCE - 23/10/2007 7:30 AM

Seems like ice is getting thinner, isn't it?

But if the weather doesn't agree, it's all for naught...

Simon

uko · « **Reply #178 on:** 10/23/2007 02:38 pm »

Have they flown with some similar amount of ice in that area before?

Chandonn · « **Reply #179 on:** 10/23/2007 02:39 pm »

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simonbp - 23/10/2007 10:35 AM

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RafaelCE - 23/10/2007 7:30 AM

Seems like ice is getting thinner, isn't it?

But if the weather doesn't agree, it's all for naught...

Simon

Interestingly enough, weather WAS supposed to be the big topic this morning. But there doesn't seem to be much discussion about weather prohibitive of launch, at least through PAO. And the weather looks beautiful on NTV!