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

• #480 by Chris Bergin on 04 Jan, 2008 14:58
• Thanks very much!
  
  Putting the next ET article on hold as there's a new issue with STS-122 which appears to be a constraint to launch. Waiting for updates as it came via notes that managers are arranging a meeting within the hour.
• #481 by DaveS on 04 Jan, 2008 16:15
• Quote

  Chris Bergin - 4/1/2008  4:58 PM
  
  Thanks very much!
  
  Putting the next ET article on hold as there's a new issue with STS-122 which appears to be a constraint to launch. Waiting for updates as it came via notes that managers are arranging a meeting within the hour.

  What ?! Can't this mission catch a break sometime?
• #482 by psloss on 04 Jan, 2008 16:21
• Quote

  DaveS - 4/1/2008  12:15 PM
  
  What ?! Can't this mission catch a break sometime?

  These historically tend to come in bunches, rather than being evenly distributed.
  
• #483 by Chris Bergin on 04 Jan, 2008 16:47
• Quote

  DaveS - 4/1/2008  5:15 PM
  
  

  Quote

  Chris Bergin - 4/1/2008  4:58 PM
  
  Thanks very much!
  
  Putting the next ET article on hold as there's a new issue with STS-122 which appears to be a constraint to launch. Waiting for updates as it came via notes that managers are arranging a meeting within the hour.

  What ?! Can't this mission catch a break sometime?

  
  ATVC related on Atlantis. Presentation dated Jan 4 on L2 now, will write it up.
  
  Seems the worst case is a slip to mid Feb (and yes, they are also working off Feb 2 as the launch date NET).
• #484 by Joffan on 04 Jan, 2008 17:01
• That's a new one... I don't recall any thrust vector control issues previously.
• #485 by rdale on 04 Jan, 2008 17:10
• It came up last month on L2.
• #486 by rdale on 04 Jan, 2008 22:20
• Video File running through the weekend:  http://www.nasa.gov/ntv
  
  ITEM 1 - SHUTTLE CONNECTOR SOLDERED - KSC (REPLAY)
  
  Technicians at NASA's Kennedy Space Center on Friday soldered the pins to the sockets
  of the replacement feed through connector that will be installed in space shuttle Atlantis'
  external tank.  Two technicians from United Launch Alliance, who performed this task on the
  Centaur upper stage for Atlas and Titan launches in 1994, were specifically chosen for the task.
  Soldering the connector pins and sockets together addresses the most likely cause of a problem
  in the engine cutoff sensor system.
  
• #487 by Cosmos27 on 04 Jan, 2008 23:00
• Quote

  Chris Bergin - 4/1/2008  10:58 AM
  
  Thanks very much!
  
  Putting the next ET article on hold as there's a new issue with STS-122 which appears to be a constraint to launch. Waiting for updates as it came via notes that managers are arranging a meeting within the hour.

  
  Chris is there any word on any new news that came out of this meeting yet?
• #488 by Chris Bergin on 04 Jan, 2008 23:05
• Quote

  Cosmos27 - 4/1/2008  12:00 AM
  
  

  Quote

  Chris Bergin - 4/1/2008  10:58 AM
  
  Thanks very much!
  
  Putting the next ET article on hold as there's a new issue with STS-122 which appears to be a constraint to launch. Waiting for updates as it came via notes that managers are arranging a meeting within the hour.

  
  Chris is there any word on any new news that came out of this meeting yet?

  
  Good timing. They are taking option one, replace the ATVC.
  
  This has to be done by Sunday, in order to make the Feb 2 launch date target. Writing it up and will have it on site in about an hour. (Apologies for the delay to the article, but I wanted to wait on the decision for accuracy of current status).
  
  Basically, in black and white:

  ---

  
• #489 by Chris Bergin on 04 Jan, 2008 23:44
• And on site (a bit techical, but got as much of the important elements into there):
  
  http://www.nasaspaceflight.com/content/?cid=5323
  
  L2 users, refer to SCOM Document (Page 80 of 1190). Graphics of ATVC from page 519 onwards (copying one here:)

  ---

  
• #490 by Cosmos27 on 05 Jan, 2008 00:00
• Thanks Chris for the great information on this latest issue with STS 122.  So a launch by Jan 24th looks impossible for sure now!  Better to get everything fixed in one shot!
• #491 by Chris Bergin on 05 Jan, 2008 00:16
• Quote

  Cosmos27 - 5/1/2008  1:00 AM
  
  Thanks Chris for the great information on this latest issue with STS 122.  So a launch by Jan 24th looks impossible for sure now!  Better to get everything fixed in one shot!

  
  Thanks.
  
  According to all the engineers and managers I know, Jan 24 was not in with a shot anyway. There was talk about a faster cure time to the foam over the connector area - yet the schedules show they don't even start that process until the 24th! So unless you've got engineers on the pad finishing the foam off at T-0... They'd of had to greatly accelerate the repair and start the foam cure about a week before scheduled, which isn't really viable at all (according to the ET folks).
  
  To add, on L2 we got hold of a memo sent out to all shuttle management today to reiterate that the 24th really was a "if we can skip things forward" style date, that the schedule shows Feb,  and that it was for planning purposes only. In all, they will make Feb 2 (no tanking test) or Feb 8 (with a tanking test) as an official NET date in a week or so's time (remembering we don't actually have an official NET at this time, as per ongoing MSFC testing on ET-125's removed external connector hardware).
  
  Of course, this ATVC R&R already works on the NET Feb 2 schedule, as you can see.
  
  Only making a real point of this as there's been too many reports in the media saying "Jan 24" and they'll likely go running "another delay" when it really never was the case of another delay. While we'd all love her to launch on Jan 24, I for one hate negative media when it comes to "another delay" and the "Jan 24 to Feb 2" really is not "another delay".
  
  I'll likely write some of this up, so people can see the quotes from shuttle management and the schedules, to clarify what I'm going on about.
• #492 by Cosmos27 on 05 Jan, 2008 00:39
• Chris once again thank you for clarifying the January 24th launch issue.  I heard those same various media reports and didn't know what to think.  I knew you could clear up any misunderstanding on this issue.  I have been a reader for sometime now but am glad to be part of the forum now as well!  
• #493 by erioladastra on 05 Jan, 2008 01:55
• "Only making a real point of this as there's been too many reports in the media saying "Jan 24" and they'll likely go running "another delay" when it really never was the case of another delay. While we'd all love her to launch on Jan 24, I for one hate negative media when it comes to "another delay" and the "Jan 24 to Feb 2" really is not "another delay". "
  
  Good summary.  An addition and frustrating problem is that the Jan 24th is a plan to date which means there are now a large amount of products that will be developed for an unrealistic date and will only have to be redone meaning extra working for an already tired work force.  Oh and this is to provide schedule relief!
• #494 by NASA_Twix_JSC on 05 Jan, 2008 05:19
• Quote

  Chris Bergin - 4/1/2008  7:16 PM
  
  

  Quote

  Cosmos27 - 5/1/2008  1:00 AM
  
  Thanks Chris for the great information on this latest issue with STS 122.  So a launch by Jan 24th looks impossible for sure now!  Better to get everything fixed in one shot!

  
  Thanks.
  
  According to all the engineers and managers I know, Jan 24 was not in with a shot anyway. There was talk about a faster cure time to the foam over the connector area - yet the schedules show they don't even start that process until the 24th! So unless you've got engineers on the pad finishing the foam off at T-0... They'd of had to greatly accelerate the repair and start the foam cure about a week before scheduled, which isn't really viable at all (according to the ET folks).
  
  To add, on L2 we got hold of a memo sent out to all shuttle management today to reiterate that the 24th really was a "if we can skip things forward" style date, that the schedule shows Feb,  and that it was for planning purposes only. In all, they will make Feb 2 (no tanking test) or Feb 8 (with a tanking test) as an official NET date in a week or so's time (remembering we don't actually have an official NET at this time, as per ongoing MSFC testing on ET-125's removed external connector hardware).
  
  Of course, this ATVC R&R already works on the NET Feb 2 schedule, as you can see.
  
  Only making a real point of this as there's been too many reports in the media saying "Jan 24" and they'll likely go running "another delay" when it really never was the case of another delay. While we'd all love her to launch on Jan 24, I for one hate negative media when it comes to "another delay" and the "Jan 24 to Feb 2" really is not "another delay".
  
  I'll likely write some of this up, so people can see the quotes from shuttle management and the schedules, to clarify what I'm going on about.

  
  Exactly. Nothing else to add!
• #495 by jacqmans on 05 Jan, 2008 06:41
• Mission: STS-122 - 24th International Space Station Flight - Columbus
  Module
  Vehicle: Atlantis (OV-104)
  Location: Launch Pad 39A
  Launch Date: Under Review
  Crew: Frick, Poindexter, Schlegel, Eyharts, Love, Melvin, Walheim
  Inclination/Orbit Altitude: 51.6 degrees/122 nautical miles
  
  Shuttle Program managers requested Thursday that flight control teams
  and ground operations teams protect for a Jan. 24 launch date. As
  work progresses, that date will be modified as required. Other launch
  opportunities could come between Jan. 24 and the first week of
  February.
  
  At Launch Pad 39A, preparations began for modifications to the engine
  cutoff (ECO) sensors. New external connectors and feed-through
  assemblies will arrive at KSC Jan. 5-6. Change out is expected to be
  completed by Jan. 10. Testing of the faulty ECO sensor continues at
  Marshall Space Flight Center with cryo testing planned next week.
  
  Troubleshooting on the ascent thrust vector control (ATVC) was
  performed Jan. 3, and the ATVC will be removed, replaced, and then
  retested over the weekend.
  
• #496 by eeergo on 05 Jan, 2008 18:16

• KSC's Media Gallery has been updated with work on the soldiering of the pins. Some nice high-resolution images of the actual work with the connectors.
  
  

  ---

  

  
• #497 by Chris Bergin on 05 Jan, 2008 18:47
• And the latest is that they are delaying power up due to issues related to the cold plate (which keeps keep the electronics boxes cool.
  
  Nothing further at this stage. Don't believe it's a biggy.
• #498 by Chris Bergin on 06 Jan, 2008 09:57
• Quote

  Chris Bergin - 5/1/2008  7:47 PM
  
  And the latest is that they are delaying power up due to issues related to the cold plate (which keeps keep the electronics boxes cool.
  
  Nothing further at this stage. Don't believe it's a biggy.

  
  Which is now fixed, and they can go ahead and install the ATVC unit today.
• #499 by Chris Bergin on 06 Jan, 2008 16:02
• Still waiting for ATVC installation as of this morning KSC time. Getting a bit tight (though I'm not sure how long they need to physically install it). Atlantis is powered up.