Author Topic: Constellation Challenges - test and flight schedules under pressure (Read 39580 times)

marsavian · « **Reply #20 on:** 08/11/2008 05:53 pm »

http://www.aviationweek.com/aw/generic/story_channel.jsp?channel=space&id=news/Gap081108.xml&headline=NASA%20Compares%20Ares/Orion%20Targets%20To%20Funding

While a CR will affect the downstream end of the gap, congressional action also could move the near-term side of the gap to the right, narrowing it by a few months. Griffin has told Congress NASA could fly one more shuttle flight beyond the 10 on the flight manifest to deliver the Alpha Magnetic Spectrometer (AMS) particle physics experiment to the ISS, provided another $300 million - $400 million is appropriated.

Right now the final shuttle flight - a mission to preposition large spare parts on the ISS - is set for May or June of 2010, which would leave room before the end of the fiscal year on Sept. 30 to fly the AMS in August 2010.

"If money for the AMS flight is appropriated in fiscal '10 funds, even if we slipped beyond the end of fiscal '10, when the program shuts down, I could still carry the launch team, and could actually launch the shuttle in the first quarter of fiscal '11, and we'd still be OK," Griffin said.

Chris Bergin · « **Reply #21 on:** 08/11/2008 06:34 pm »

This presser will be about CxP, not AMS - though we'll be doing something on that

That is probably the first time Griffin has said on record about going past 2010 with Shuttle.

Max_Peck · « **Reply #22 on:** 08/11/2008 06:54 pm »

Does anyone seriously expect this press event to be much more than "all is well, we're pressing on without major problems"? They might mention schedule pressures and budget issues a little here and there but it will all be glossed over as minor issues.

-MP

marsavian · « **Reply #23 on:** 08/11/2008 06:57 pm »

Quote from: Chris Bergin on 08/11/2008 06:34 pm

This presser will be about CxP, not AMS - though we'll be doing something on that That is probably the first time Griffin has said on record about going past 2010 with Shuttle.

He's an electoral candidate too now

bobthemonkey · « **Reply #24 on:** 08/11/2008 07:00 pm »

I'm thinking its going to be quite the opposite. Not a 'here's our new LV, its called J-120' but a 'the gap is a good bit longer'. Why else would they give only 2 1/2 hours notice, this late in the days news cycle, on a day where the press is full of armed conflict is Russia and the Olymipc Games. Certainly not a bad day to burry bad news.

Chris Bergin · « **Reply #25 on:** 08/11/2008 07:02 pm »

Starting...

They don't want to discuss specific technical issues at this presser, says PAO!

Chris Bergin · « **Reply #26 on:** 08/11/2008 07:05 pm »

March 2015 is what they are adhering to and are on budget.

Confirms one year slip on milestone schedule (noted in article).

Chris Bergin · « **Reply #27 on:** 08/11/2008 07:07 pm »

Everything is super with Ares I, with SRD and moving to PDR. Ares I-X CDR completed. Point of Depatures on Ares V and Altair started.

Chris Bergin · « **Reply #28 on:** 08/11/2008 07:09 pm »

Jeff Hanley speaks of the phase being "Programatic Formulation." (That's a new one). Performing "quite well". Impressive effort by the larger team.

Been to Utah to look at ATK's facilities. White Stands too.

Chris Bergin · « **Reply #29 on:** 08/11/2008 07:10 pm »

Realignment is to bring in line with projected budget. Feeling good about 2015 still. Money made it clear they needed to adjust the schedule. Total plan still being worked for the end of this year.

Chris Bergin · « **Reply #30 on:** 08/11/2008 07:15 pm »

IOC date moving right one year helps the current available dollars.

Chris Bergin · « **Reply #31 on:** 08/11/2008 07:16 pm »

65 percent confidence in March 2015 (though not at all clear if he's talking about Orion 2, or Orion 4 - to the ISS crew rotation).

Chris Bergin · « **Reply #32 on:** 08/11/2008 07:17 pm »

"Confidence has improved at the five year gap situation has improved."

Chris Bergin · « **Reply #33 on:** 08/11/2008 07:18 pm »

Sept. 2014 - launch crew on Orion 2 - commitment for Orion 2 is March 2015. (My words:) So crew rotation on Orion 4 would be March 2016.

Crikey, we've got some dodgy phone lines and record breaking amount of "errs" in questions

Chris Bergin · « **Reply #34 on:** 08/11/2008 07:30 pm »

AP about concerns about morale problems listed in a report today (?) etc.

"The program has gone through a significant review across the agency on our mission and safety requirements. There has been wonderful collaboration on that. I have not seen a list of specific concerns. So I can't respond to specifics. But I am confident we have a (good program) within CxP"

"Are we doing it perfectly, problably not. We'll adjust our plans accordingly."

Chris Bergin · « **Reply #35 on:** 08/11/2008 07:34 pm »

Hanley "We're not blindly removing redundacy on the risk based design of the spacecraft and I couldn't be more pleased on teaching this culture to do risk based design. We're making considerable progress."

AP asks about Astronaut Office not been happy.

PAO cut him off!

"I can't comment on who's happy and who's not happy" - as another reporter takes up the question.

"There will be folks who feel they didn't get heard or get their way or do it the way it's always been done. Such as on the level of redundacy on sub system design."

"To just cook book it and have three of everything is not the right answer."

It's getting tasty now!

kraisee · « **Reply #36 on:** 08/11/2008 07:35 pm »

Quote from: Chris Bergin on 08/11/2008 07:30 pm

AP about concerns about morale problems listed in a report today (?) etc.

Link: http://www.hq.nasa.gov/office/oer/asap/documents/2007_ASAP_Annual_Report.pdf

R.

Chris Bergin · « **Reply #37 on:** 08/11/2008 07:36 pm »

"People voice their concerns when it does not go their way. The managers we put in place are very careful about the decisions they take. We protect the crew to the best of our capabilities." Cooke.

Chris Bergin · « **Reply #38 on:** 08/11/2008 07:38 pm »

Cooke and Hanley being very defensive now.

"We're not going to please everybody. If we did, the spacecraft would never get off the ground."

Namechange User · « **Reply #39 on:** 08/11/2008 07:41 pm »

"I feel like we are doing it quite successfully." Yeah....because pulse rockets that fire in the opposite direction of travel and have to be used to input vibration into your first stage to dampen out the major vibration issue that is caused by the first stage sure does pass the good engineering judgement sniff check.