STS-122: Post ECO Issue Troubleshooting/Pre Launch Flow Latest

• #100 by mkirk on 14 Dec, 2007 21:34

• Here is the Shuttle Status Report from Candrea Thomas at KSC PAO:

  Mission: STS-122 - 24th International Space Station Flight - Columbus
  Module
  Vehicle: Atlantis (OV-104)
  Location: Launch Pad 39A
  Launch Date: Targeted for Jan. 10, 2008
  Crew: Frick, Poindexter, Schlegel, Eyharts, Love, Melvin, Walheim
  Inclination/Orbit Altitude: 51.6 degrees/122 nautical miles
  
  Shuttle Program managers decided Thursday to target Jan. 10, 2008, to
  launch the STS-122 mission.
  
  At Launch Pad 39A, preparations continue for a Dec. 18 tanking test to
  troubleshoot the engine cutoff (ECO) sensors. Test wiring has been
  spliced into an electrical harness in the aft main engine compartment
  connected with the ECO sensor system. The attached wiring leads to
  the interior of the mobile launcher platform where the time domain
  reflectometry (TDR) test equipment will be located. This wiring is
  being tested today. On Wednesday in the Vehicle Assembly Building,
  the TDR was connected to the external tank to be used for STS-123.
  This allowed a "dry" ambient temperature signature to be identified.
  Friday in Kennedy Space Center's cryogenic test bed facility, TDR
  instrumentation is being exposed to "wet" super-cold temperatures for
  identifying the signature of a cryogenic environment and calibrating
  the TDR equipment. Saturday, the TDR will be taken to the launch pad
  and installed. The GO2 battery recharge was completed and the GH2
  battery recharge is planned for Friday. Aft Propulsion System and
  Forward Reaction Control System GHe QD leak checks and disconnects
  were completed. Hard window cover installation is complete. 
  
  Mark Kirkman

• #101 by Chris Bergin on 14 Dec, 2007 22:34
• NASA TV will be covering the tanking test:
  
  NASA TV Coverage Set for Spacewalk, Shuttle Fueling Test
  
  WASHINGTON, Dec. 14 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- NASA Television will provide simultaneous live coverage of a spacewalk by the International Space Station crew and a shuttle fueling test at NASA's Kennedy Space Center, Fla., on Tuesday, Dec. 18.
  
  
  Expedition 16 Station Commander Peggy Whitson and Flight Engineer Dan Tani are set to venture outside the station at about 6 a.m. EST to perform a detailed inspection of a giant rotary joint where contamination was found last month. The joint is used to rotate the starboard solar arrays of the complex to face the sun. The astronauts also will devote part of the spacewalk to an inspection of a device that tilts the starboard arrays toward the sun. The device, known as a Beta Gimbal Assembly, experienced unrelated electrical problems last weekend.
  
  
  NASA TV's public channel will begin coverage of spacewalk activities at 4:30 a.m. A briefing will follow the spacewalk, originating from NASA's Johnson Space Center, Houston, no earlier than 1:30 p.m. Reporters will be able to ask questions from participating NASA sites. The briefing participants are:
  
  
    -- Mike Suffredini, International Space Station Program manager
    -- Ginger Kerrick, International Space Station spacewalk flight director
    -- Tomas Gonzalez-Torres, International Space Station spacewalk officer
  
  
  
  At 7 a.m. EST, Tuesday, NASA TV's media channel will begin coverage of a fueling test of space shuttle Atlantis at Kennedy's Launch Pad 39A. The fueling test will assist engineering efforts to resolve a problem with an engine cutoff sensor system that prevented Atlantis' launch attempts earlier this month. Reporters will be notified of any plans to hold a news briefing following the test's conclusion.
  
  
    For NASA TV streaming video, schedules, and downlink information, visit:
  
    http://www.nasa.gov/ntv
  
  
  
• #102 by shuttlefan on 15 Dec, 2007 12:52
• Quote

  Chris Bergin - 14/12/2007  5:34 PM
  
  NASA TV will be covering the tanking test:
  
  NASA TV Coverage Set for Spacewalk, Shuttle Fueling Test
  
  WASHINGTON, Dec. 14 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- NASA Television will provide simultaneous live coverage of a spacewalk by the International Space Station crew and a shuttle fueling test at NASA's Kennedy Space Center, Fla., on Tuesday, Dec. 18.
  
  
  Expedition 16 Station Commander Peggy Whitson and Flight Engineer Dan Tani are set to venture outside the station at about 6 a.m. EST to perform a detailed inspection of a giant rotary joint where contamination was found last month. The joint is used to rotate the starboard solar arrays of the complex to face the sun. The astronauts also will devote part of the spacewalk to an inspection of a device that tilts the starboard arrays toward the sun. The device, known as a Beta Gimbal Assembly, experienced unrelated electrical problems last weekend.
  
  
  NASA TV's public channel will begin coverage of spacewalk activities at 4:30 a.m. A briefing will follow the spacewalk, originating from NASA's Johnson Space Center, Houston, no earlier than 1:30 p.m. Reporters will be able to ask questions from participating NASA sites. The briefing participants are:
  
  
    -- Mike Suffredini, International Space Station Program manager
    -- Ginger Kerrick, International Space Station spacewalk flight director
    -- Tomas Gonzalez-Torres, International Space Station spacewalk officer
  
  
  
  At 7 a.m. EST, Tuesday, NASA TV's media channel will begin coverage of a fueling test of space shuttle Atlantis at Kennedy's Launch Pad 39A. The fueling test will assist engineering efforts to resolve a problem with an engine cutoff sensor system that prevented Atlantis' launch attempts earlier this month. Reporters will be notified of any plans to hold a news briefing following the test's conclusion.
  
  
    For NASA TV streaming video, schedules, and downlink information, visit:
  
    http://www.nasa.gov/ntv
  
  
  

  
  Can the public watch the media channel?
• #103 by DaveS on 15 Dec, 2007 13:09
• Quote

  shuttlefan - 15/12/2007  2:52 PM
  Can the public watch the media channel?

  Yes: http://www.nasa.gov/145590main_Digital_Media.asx
• #104 by ChrisGebhardt on 16 Dec, 2007 07:31
• Quote

  aquarius - 14/12/2007  8:58 AM
  
  When does the January launch window close?

  
  
  Aside from the beta angle cutout in May, there will be a stand-down period of approximately 15days in the late-March/Early-April timeframe to allow the Russians time to launch the ISS Expedition 17 crew. That launch is currently scheduled for April 8.
• #105 by Chris Bergin on 16 Dec, 2007 10:52
• Filler about the "new" over-glove, with some 122 notes on pre-tanking....as we build up some big tanking test/ECO articles for next week.
  
  http://www.nasaspaceflight.com/content/?cid=5310
• #106 by ShuttleDiscovery on 16 Dec, 2007 11:06
• Lets hope we'll see less glove damage on future flights!
  
  Thanks for the article Chris.
• #107 by shuttlefan on 16 Dec, 2007 13:34
• Great article Chris!! You mention that tanking begins at 7:00am eastern time Tuesday, however at the end of the article is mentioned that Ed Mango has been instructed to conduct the test later because of people flying down there to view the test. Does that mean tanking will begin later than 7 am?
  
  Thanks in advance!  
• #108 by Chris Bergin on 16 Dec, 2007 14:05
• Quote

  shuttlefan - 16/12/2007  2:34 PM
  
  Great article Chris!! You mention that tanking begins at 7:00am eastern time Tuesday, however at the end of the article is mentioned that Ed Mango has been instructed to conduct the test later because of people flying down there to view the test. Does that mean tanking will begin later than 7 am?
  
  Thanks in advance!  

  
  Thanks and correct. Currently it's 7am...but then Mr Hale noted the above. We'll see how this stands tonight/Monday as they get back to work (most people were given Sunday off head of the tanking test).
• #109 by Mike_1179 on 16 Dec, 2007 14:40
• I'm a bit confused by something in the article:
  
  "Work at the pad has proceeded without any hitches, allowing for the scheduled parking of the RSS (Rotating Service Structure) for tanking on Sunday evening, ahead of what is currently a 7am tanking test on Tuesday. "
  
  So will they be filling the tank on Sunday evening or just begin doing the preparation for filling the tank on Sunday evening so they can actually tank on Tuesday morning?
• #110 by Chris Bergin on 16 Dec, 2007 14:52
• Quote

  Mike_1179 - 16/12/2007  3:40 PM
  
  I'm a bit confused by something in the article:
  
  "Work at the pad has proceeded without any hitches, allowing for the scheduled parking of the RSS (Rotating Service Structure) for tanking on Sunday evening, ahead of what is currently a 7am tanking test on Tuesday. "
  
  So will they be filling the tank on Sunday evening or just begin doing the preparation for filling the tank on Sunday evening so they can actually tank on Tuesday morning?

  
  No, the call to stations/RSS preps are Sunday, tanking is Tuesday. I've moved the sentance around a bit to make that clearer.
• #111 by Chris Bergin on 16 Dec, 2007 19:35
• Call to Stations on track for 8:30pm tonight.
• #112 by shuttlefan on 16 Dec, 2007 20:16
• Quote

  Chris Bergin - 16/12/2007  2:35 PM
  
  Call to Stations on track for 8:30pm tonight.

  
  So, Chris, does an actual countdown begin tonite, with PRSD loading, etc.? Can you give us a bit of a rundown on events between tonite and Tuesday? Will be much appreciated!!
• #113 by Chris Bergin on 16 Dec, 2007 20:21
• Quote

  shuttlefan - 16/12/2007  9:16 PM
  
  

  Quote

  Chris Bergin - 16/12/2007  2:35 PM
  
  Call to Stations on track for 8:30pm tonight.

  
  So, Chris, does an actual countdown begin tonite, with PRSD loading, etc.? Can you give us a bit of a rundown on events between tonite and Tuesday? Will be much appreciated!!

  
  SCAPE operations are complete, and we're deep into S0037.
  
  Next events, from L2:
  
  S0037 SUNDAY- 2030 PRESSURIZE GO2/GH2 CC LINES AND RETRACT TRIPLE FLIPS
  S0037 Monday- RSS MOVE TO PARK 2130 T-11 BIH AT 1900 (DURATION 6 HOURS)
  S0037 Tuesday- T-11 COUNTING AT 0100 /0230 PAD CLEAR /TANKING TO BEGIN 0700
• #114 by shuttlefan on 16 Dec, 2007 20:25
• Quote

  Chris Bergin - 16/12/2007  3:21 PM
  
  

  Quote

  shuttlefan - 16/12/2007  9:16 PM
  
  

  Quote

  Chris Bergin - 16/12/2007  2:35 PM
  
  Call to Stations on track for 8:30pm tonight.

  
  So, Chris, does an actual countdown begin tonite, with PRSD loading, etc.? Can you give us a bit of a rundown on events between tonite and Tuesday? Will be much appreciated!!

  
  SCAPE operations are complete, and we're deep into S0037.
  
  Next events, from L2:
  
  S0037 SUNDAY- 2030 PRESSURIZE GO2/GH2 CC LINES AND RETRACT TRIPLE FLIPS
  S0037 Monday- RSS MOVE TO PARK 2130 T-11 BIH AT 1900 (DURATION 6 HOURS)
  S0037 Tuesday- T-11 COUNTING AT 0100 /0230 PAD CLEAR /TANKING TO BEGIN 0700

  Thanks so much! Is s0037 PRSD load?
• #115 by psloss on 16 Dec, 2007 20:35
• Quote

  shuttlefan - 16/12/2007  4:25 PM
  
  Thanks so much! Is s0037 PRSD load?

  Tanking test.  The activities that Chris posted don't apply to PRSD load.
  
• #116 by Chris Bergin on 16 Dec, 2007 22:11
• Actually, this may help answer a question on the PRSD activities...from one of many presentations (they really have put in a huge effort on these ECO sensors) on L2.

  ---

  
• #117 by shuttlefan on 16 Dec, 2007 23:33
• Thanks for the chart Chris!! Call to stations in 1 hour!!
• #118 by Chris Bergin on 17 Dec, 2007 11:17
• Some Monday morning images:

  ---

  

  
• #119 by shuttlefan on 17 Dec, 2007 12:38
• Hopefully they reposition the cameras so we can see RSS retract tonight.