Author Topic: STS-124: Rollover and VAB Processing Latest (Read 28536 times)

Chris Bergin · « **on:** 04/26/2008 03:54 am »

Still on track for 7am Saturday. Latest news, images and updates will appear here.

Latest article:
http://www.nasaspaceflight.com/content/?cid=5410 (includes pre-rollover latest per L2, ET latest and a JSC Vacuum Chamber incident - nothing serious, but newsworthy).

Webcams of potential - don't hold your breath - use for rollover (as NASA TV doesn't bother with it):

http://webcams.ksc.nasa.gov/ImgCap/default.htm
http://science.ksc.nasa.gov/shuttle/countdown/video/

Any engineers around KSC that are in at that time of the morning...we'd be greatful for any sightings of her as she rolls between OPF-3 and the VAB.

Orbiter · « **Reply #1 on:** 04/26/2008 05:02 am »

If we get to see the Rollover, we might see it on CAM 3 when it enters the VAB

RafaelCE · « **Reply #2 on:** 04/26/2008 09:23 am »

If Cam3 ever comes back, It's showing NO VIDEO at this time

Lawntonlookirs · « **Reply #3 on:** 04/26/2008 11:12 am »

7:10 AM EDT and NASA TV feed arn't showing anything on the rollover that I could find.

This picture was from NASA taken several days ago in preperation for the rollover

DaveS · « **Reply #4 on:** 04/26/2008 11:21 am »

Quote

Lawntonlookirs - 26/4/2008 1:12 PM

7:10 AM EDT and NASA TV feed arn't showing anything on the rollover that I could find.

I would be very suprised if they did. The last time time they did it is just happened to coinidice with the live ISS commentary hour and that was for STS-121.

Orbiter · « **Reply #5 on:** 04/26/2008 12:35 pm »

Anything on L2 (I dont have L2) that says the rollover might have been delayed?

Chris Bergin · « **Reply #6 on:** 04/26/2008 12:37 pm »

Hurrah, USA guys getting into work.

1st motion 7:17
Inside VAB 08:05

Chris Bergin · « **Reply #7 on:** 04/26/2008 12:46 pm »

"The sling is being connected now. Discovery is expected to be lifted in the 9 o'clock hour to be joined to its tank and boosters."

Lawntonlookirs · « **Reply #8 on:** 04/26/2008 12:47 pm »

Good news. I am sure that someone will post some pictures latter.

psloss · « **Reply #9 on:** 04/26/2008 12:49 pm »

Quote

Chris Bergin - 26/4/2008 8:46 AM

"The sling is being connected now. Discovery is expected to be lifted in the 9 o'clock hour to be joined to its tank and boosters."

Which hour? Can they go from spotted in the transfer aisle to lifting off the transporter in a couple of hours or less? Never seen it done that fast.

faustod · « **Reply #10 on:** 04/26/2008 01:15 pm »

Any confirm about the arrival of Discovery into VAB?
Waiting for some pictures.

Chris Bergin · « **Reply #11 on:** 04/26/2008 01:16 pm »

Quote

faustod - 26/4/2008 2:15 PM

Any confirm about the arrival of Discovery into VAB?

Eh? I gave the time of arrival.

psloss · « **Reply #12 on:** 04/26/2008 01:18 pm »

It's the weekend, so there's not likely to be any pictures from NASA until Monday. Not sure if any photographers/people with media credentials were allowed in...if so, maybe we'd see something from them.

faustod · « **Reply #13 on:** 04/26/2008 01:24 pm »

Quote

Chris Bergin - 26/4/2008 8:16 AM

Quote
faustod - 26/4/2008 2:15 PM

Any confirm about the arrival of Discovery into VAB?

Eh? I gave the time of arrival.

Sorry!
I misunderstood.

Johnny Rönnberg · « **Reply #14 on:** 04/26/2008 01:39 pm »

Quote

Chris Bergin - 26/4/2008 1:37 PM Hurrah, USA guys getting into work. 1st motion 7:17 Inside VAB 08:05

07 or 17? In the article have you write 7:07.

psloss · « **Reply #15 on:** 04/26/2008 02:08 pm »

Quote

psloss - 26/4/2008 9:18 AM

It's the weekend, so there's not likely to be any pictures from NASA until Monday.

I stand corrected -- there's a picture on the main shuttle page:
http://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/shuttle/main/

Chris Bergin · « **Reply #16 on:** 04/26/2008 02:19 pm »

Quote

Johnny Rönnberg - 26/4/2008 2:39 PM

Quote
Chris Bergin - 26/4/2008 1:37 PM Hurrah, USA guys getting into work. 1st motion 7:17 Inside VAB 08:05
07 or 17? In the article have you write 7:07.

As I noted here. I must have had fat fingers when I added it into the article

1st motion time was 7:17am EDT.
Discovery arrived in VAB at 8:05am EDT.

Flightstar · « **Reply #17 on:** 04/26/2008 08:02 pm »

Ready to be lifted, I last heard. Mating ops shortly after.

DaveS · « **Reply #18 on:** 04/26/2008 08:28 pm »

Quote

Flightstar - 26/4/2008 10:02 PM

Ready to be lifted, I last heard. Mating ops shortly after.

Already? That was fast! So they're ahead in the S0004 time-line?

shuttlefan · « **Reply #19 on:** 04/27/2008 06:29 pm »

Any updates on mating, possibly from L2?

Chris Bergin · « **Reply #20 on:** 04/27/2008 11:16 pm »

Quote

shuttlefan - 27/4/2008 7:29 PM

Any updates on mating, possibly from L2?

Weekend's don't produce in-depth L2 level processing reports unless there's an issue. Will update status when the L2 flow starts on Monday morning. Golden rule is quiet=good.

Chris Bergin · « **Reply #21 on:** 04/28/2008 10:40 am »

And the news is as expected good.

Orbiter/ET mate (S0004) operations continue per the time line, with the stack now in hard mate.

psloss · « **Reply #22 on:** 04/28/2008 04:20 pm »

FWIW, NASA-KSC is now bringing the multimedia. Rollover and lift-to-mate video running in today's video file (should run again before the end of the current hour) and more stills up on the Kennedy Media Gallery today.

psloss · « **Reply #23 on:** 04/28/2008 04:24 pm »

Renee · « **Reply #24 on:** 04/28/2008 04:26 pm »

looks like stacking is going well, a very good sign! Please post any announcement of time for rollout, and specify if it will be Friday night or Saturday night. Thanks!!

psloss · « **Reply #25 on:** 04/28/2008 04:35 pm »

Quote

Renee - 28/4/2008 12:26 PM

looks like stacking is going well, a very good sign! Please post any announcement of time for rollout, and specify if it will be Friday night or Saturday night. Thanks!!

The staff here will have it covered...but you might want to check back later in the week, especially after the shuttle interface test.

Lawntonlookirs · « **Reply #26 on:** 04/28/2008 05:18 pm »

Stacking of the Discovery playing again on NASA TV. That is one large crane that just picks up the shuttle.

HKS · « **Reply #27 on:** 04/28/2008 05:34 pm »

Pictures are up on the Kennedy Media Gallery now...
http://mediaarchive.ksc.nasa.gov/search.cfm?cat=167

DaveS · « **Reply #28 on:** 04/28/2008 05:37 pm »

Quote

Lawntonlookirs - 28/4/2008 7:18 PM

Stacking of the Discovery playing again on NASA TV. That is one large crane that just picks up the shuttle.

No. The lifting of the orbiter off the OTS and rotating it to vertical is done by two separate cranes in the VAB.

Only the lift into the high bay is done by one crane.

Ford Mustang · « **Reply #29 on:** 04/28/2008 06:05 pm »

Quote

HKS - 28/4/2008 1:34 PM

Pictures are up on the Kennedy Media Gallery now...
http://mediaarchive.ksc.nasa.gov/search.cfm?cat=167

These include both rollover and stacking pictures:

Lawntonlookirs · « **Reply #30 on:** 04/28/2008 06:09 pm »

Dave this is the picture I was talking about. It looks like a single crane.

DaveS · « **Reply #31 on:** 04/28/2008 06:14 pm »

Quote

Lawntonlookirs - 28/4/2008 8:09 PM

Dave this is the picture I was talking about. It looks like a single crane.

It is. That's the crane I was talking about. For the lift off the OTS and rotation to vertical two cranes are used.

psloss · « **Reply #32 on:** 04/28/2008 06:18 pm »

Quote

Lawntonlookirs - 28/4/2008 2:09 PM

Dave this is the picture I was talking about. It looks like a single crane.

When you wrote "pick up," it was hard for me to tell which "lift" you were referring to -- the lift off of the transporter or the lift from the transfer aisle to the high bay. As Dave wrote, the former uses two cranes, the latter one crane.

(And I hasten to add that this is petty nitpicking on my part, of course.

)

DaveS · « **Reply #33 on:** 04/29/2008 07:15 am »

Payload Canister with the JPM mated to the RSS PCR at 39A:

jok · « **Reply #34 on:** 04/29/2008 06:29 pm »

Hallo,

"Kibo, will be taken out to launch pad 39A today about 5 p.m....."

jok

rdale · « **Reply #35 on:** 04/29/2008 06:32 pm »

No concerns with weather for a Saturday rollout.

Chris Bergin · « **Reply #36 on:** 04/29/2008 06:37 pm »

And the rollout review approves Saturday for rollout.

psloss · « **Reply #37 on:** 04/29/2008 07:27 pm »

NASA has a press release out now on the rollout, with a note about TV coverage:
http://www.nasa.gov/home/hqnews/2008/apr/HQ_M08084_Discovery_Rollout.html

Lawntonlookirs · « **Reply #38 on:** 04/29/2008 07:31 pm »

Video of rollover and lifting into high bay.

http://www.space-multimedia.nl.eu.org/video/sts-124/replay3.php

psloss · « **Reply #39 on:** 04/29/2008 11:20 pm »

Quote

jok - 29/4/2008 2:29 PM

Hallo,

"Kibo, will be taken out to launch pad 39A today about 5 p.m....."

jok

Yeah, looks like the canister has arrived at the pad...

perdomo · « **Reply #40 on:** 04/30/2008 01:57 am »

Thanks in advance!

Do you think that if I go to the KSC Visitor Complex on Mar 3rd, Could I see the rollover? I would like to take pictures to the shuttle but it is been a complicate process. I have been visiting the KSC during the last three launches but anytime I got there I see it covered. Quite honest I don't want to go again to see the same. If I can't see it, I would like to reserve my energies to see the launch from Titusville. I appreciate any idea or comment, Thanks!

ChrisGebhardt · « **Reply #41 on:** 04/30/2008 02:10 am »

Quote

perdomo - 29/4/2008 9:57 PM

Thanks in advance!

Do you think that if I go to the KSC Visitor Complex on Mar 3rd, Could I see the rollover? I would like to take pictures to the shuttle but it is been a complicate process. I have been visiting the KSC during the last three launches but anytime I got there I see it covered. Quite honest I don't want to go again to see the same. If I can't see it, I would like to reserve my energies to see the launch from Titusville. I appreciate any idea or comment, Thanks!

Well... It's my understanding that the bus tours will not take you to the Shuttle viewing gantry until the vehicle is hard-down on the pad. Since the shuttle's going to Pad-A, that translates to a poor view of the shuttle from the gantry because the RSS will block your view of the shuttle even though it hasn't been moved to the 'mate' position. Furthremore, rollout is scheduled to begin around 12:01am. It's a 6hr trip to the pad so by the time the Vistor Center opens and the bus tours begin the shuttle will most likely already be on the pad if the rollout begins sometime before 2am. Of course, rollout times can change. That's just my two cents.

MechTech · « **Reply #42 on:** 04/30/2008 06:49 am »

From what I heard, RSS rotation is around 10AM so by the time the bus makes it to the observation gantry, the RSS will be covering the oribiter. If things slip a little then maybe not but who knows if the roads will be open to bus travel or not. I'd say you might get lucky but the RSS does block the view from the gantry. I don't know if the bus will pass by the pad while the RSS is in park, perhaps calling the visitor center and asking if the busses would be driving past the pad during the window of time that might get you the photo you're looking for, would be the best idea.

Renee · « **Reply #43 on:** 04/30/2008 02:30 pm »

Bus tours don't start until 10-10:30 in the morning, and the ride out to LC-39 obersvation gantry takes 20 minutes

Renee · « **Reply #44 on:** 04/30/2008 02:32 pm »

nasa.gov seems to be down right now...could someone clarify if the rollout is midnight on Friday (between friday/saturday) night or Saturday night (between saturday/sunday)?

Thanks!

MechTech · « **Reply #45 on:** 04/30/2008 02:36 pm »

Yes, it's somewhere around midnight Friday night.

Renee · « **Reply #46 on:** 04/30/2008 02:42 pm »

sweet!! thank you very much! look for my pictures from the rollout sometime saturday : )

Lawntonlookirs · « **Reply #47 on:** 04/30/2008 02:48 pm »

It states that it will start at 12:01 AM EDT Saturday with NASA coverage starting at 6:30 AM on Saturday. By the time NASA starts live coverage the rollout will be over.

psloss · « **Reply #48 on:** 04/30/2008 02:53 pm »

Quote

Lawntonlookirs - 30/4/2008 10:48 AM

It states that it will start at 12:01 AM EDT Saturday with NASA coverage starting at 6:30 AM on Saturday. By the time NASA starts live coverage the rollout will be over.

Unless it isn't. They could leave the VAB early, late, or not at all.

STSFan10 · « **Reply #49 on:** 04/30/2008 03:07 pm »

Chris, not been an article on Discovery since rollover. Are you short on new info?

Chris Bergin · « **Reply #50 on:** 04/30/2008 03:12 pm »

Quote

STSFan10 - 30/4/2008 4:07 PM

Chris, not been an article on Discovery since rollover. Are you short on new info?

Na, had to get some other articles out the way. Writing a new round up at the moment.

STSFan10 · « **Reply #51 on:** 04/30/2008 03:55 pm »

Quote

Chris Bergin - 30/4/2008 10:12 AM

Quote
STSFan10 - 30/4/2008 4:07 PM

Chris, not been an article on Discovery since rollover. Are you short on new info?

Na, had to get some other articles out the way. Writing a new round up at the moment.

Awesome, thanks! Always enjoy your processing updates as no other site gets close to the amount of info. :cool:

Chris Bergin · « **Reply #52 on:** 04/30/2008 04:45 pm »

Quote

STSFan10 - 30/4/2008 4:55 PM

Quote
Chris Bergin - 30/4/2008 10:12 AM

Quote
STSFan10 - 30/4/2008 4:07 PM

Chris, not been an article on Discovery since rollover. Are you short on new info?

Na, had to get some other articles out the way. Writing a new round up at the moment.

Awesome, thanks! Always enjoy your processing updates as no other site gets close to the amount of info. :cool:

Thanks

Though I'm just the monkey with the typewriter. If it wasn't for our L2 content, we wouldn't stand a chance.

Here's the update anyway:

http://www.nasaspaceflight.com/content/?cid=5414

Lawntonlookirs · « **Reply #53 on:** 04/30/2008 06:06 pm »

A picture of the payload canister with KIBO and other cargo on the rotating service arm. I just read an article on the process of moving the payload canister out to the launch pad.

It would be interesting to read more on the payload processing. I assume that the cargo is stored in the payload canister and taken to the launch pad and then transferred into the shuttle. Why don’t they load the shuttle in the VAB or SPF prior to rollover?

ChrisGebhardt · « **Reply #54 on:** 04/30/2008 06:18 pm »

Quote

Lawntonlookirs - 30/4/2008 2:06 PM

A picture of the payload canister with KIBO and other cargo on the rotating service arm. I just read an article on the process of moving the payload canister out to the launch pad.

It would be interesting to read more on the payload processing. I assume that the cargo is stored in the payload canister and taken to the launch pad and then transferred into the shuttle. Why don’t they load the shuttle in the VAB or SPF prior to rollover?

Some of the paylaod is installed in the OPF (i.e. sidewall payloads). Furthermore, for some past missions, the payload was installed in the OPF. But I believe the main consideration here is weight. Keep in mind that the cranes in the VAB can only do so much. While they're more than capable of lifting an empty orbiter, their capability is still limited. And you can't install a payload in the VAB as there's no white room/environmentally controlled facility for the payload bay of the orbiter in the VAB.

Lawntonlookirs · « **Reply #55 on:** 04/30/2008 06:53 pm »

Thanks for the comment. I was also thinking after I first posted that the payload canster is also sealed and has air conditioning which controls the atmosphere in the canister. I am not sure if the orbitor when stacked is powered up until it reaches the launch pad?

Ford Mustang · « **Reply #56 on:** 04/30/2008 06:57 pm »

Payload canister rollout and lifting onto the RSS PCR are now in the Kennedy Media Gallery.

Lawntonlookirs · « **Reply #57 on:** 04/30/2008 07:52 pm »

The payload canister transportor is another interesting piece of equipment.

ChrisGebhardt · « **Reply #58 on:** 04/30/2008 08:20 pm »

Quote

Lawntonlookirs - 30/4/2008 2:53 PM

Thanks for the comment. I was also thinking after I first posted that the payload canster is also sealed and has air conditioning which controls the atmosphere in the canister. I am not sure if the orbitor when stacked is powered up until it reaches the launch pad?

Okay... we're drifting into Shuttle Q&A territory, but I'll answer nonetheless. The Orbiter is powered up in the VAB after mating ops to the ET. This is done to ensure that the vehicle stack is functioning as it should.

MechTech · « **Reply #59 on:** 05/01/2008 08:49 pm »

Quote

Trekkie07 - 30/4/2008 1:18 PM

Quote
Lawntonlookirs - 30/4/2008 2:06 PM

A picture of the payload canister with KIBO and other cargo on the rotating service arm. I just read an article on the process of moving the payload canister out to the launch pad.

It would be interesting to read more on the payload processing. I assume that the cargo is stored in the payload canister and taken to the launch pad and then transferred into the shuttle. Why don’t they load the shuttle in the VAB or SPF prior to rollover?

Some of the paylaod is installed in the OPF (i.e. sidewall payloads). Furthermore, for some past missions, the payload was installed in the OPF. But I believe the main consideration here is weight. Keep in mind that the cranes in the VAB can only do so much. While they're more than capable of lifting an empty orbiter, their capability is still limited. And you can't install a payload in the VAB as there's no white room/environmentally controlled facility for the payload bay of the orbiter in the VAB.

Not to mention the crawler would shake the crud out of the payload during rollout.

JMS · « **Reply #60 on:** 05/01/2008 09:37 pm »

Would the crawler journey be more jarring than the ride uphill?

ChrisGebhardt · « **Reply #61 on:** 05/01/2008 09:41 pm »

Quote

MechTech - 1/5/2008 4:49 PM

Quote
Trekkie07 - 30/4/2008 1:18 PM

Quote
Lawntonlookirs - 30/4/2008 2:06 PM

A picture of the payload canister with KIBO and other cargo on the rotating service arm. I just read an article on the process of moving the payload canister out to the launch pad.

It would be interesting to read more on the payload processing. I assume that the cargo is stored in the payload canister and taken to the launch pad and then transferred into the shuttle. Why don’t they load the shuttle in the VAB or SPF prior to rollover?

Some of the paylaod is installed in the OPF (i.e. sidewall payloads). Furthermore, for some past missions, the payload was installed in the OPF. But I believe the main consideration here is weight. Keep in mind that the cranes in the VAB can only do so much. While they're more than capable of lifting an empty orbiter, their capability is still limited. And you can't install a payload in the VAB as there's no white room/environmentally controlled facility for the payload bay of the orbiter in the VAB.

Not to mention the crawler would shake the crud out of the payload during rollout.

Not really. The STS-115/Atlantis rollback/reverse and roll-back-to-pad because of Tropical Storm Ernesto was accomplished with the P3/P4 truss in Atlantis' PLB. I don't think the crawler would induce that much vibration in the PLB. Furthermore, I believe launch vibrations during first stage flight are much more significant than vibrations during rollout.

NOTE: As I've said before... we're drifting here in this thread. This thread is for rollover and VAB processing.

« **Reply #62 on:** 05/02/2008 07:49 pm »

What is the airlock on the Kibo module for? Will astronauts be able to exit through that or will they have to use Quest?

Almurray1958 · « **Reply #63 on:** 05/02/2008 08:03 pm »

experiments for vacuum (outside) platform . No people.

ShuttleDiscovery · « **Reply #64 on:** 05/02/2008 08:17 pm »

Quote

Justin Wheat - 2/5/2008 8:49 PM

What is the airlock on the Kibo module for? Will astronauts be able to exit through that or will they have to use Quest?

It's way too small for astronauts! Just a small airlock for experiment on the future EF.

MechTech · « **Reply #65 on:** 05/02/2008 08:27 pm »

Quote

Trekkie07 - 1/5/2008 4:41 PM

Quote
MechTech - 1/5/2008 4:49 PM

Quote
Trekkie07 - 30/4/2008 1:18 PM

Quote
Lawntonlookirs - 30/4/2008 2:06 PM

A picture of the payload canister with KIBO and other cargo on the rotating service arm. I just read an article on the process of moving the payload canister out to the launch pad.

It would be interesting to read more on the payload processing. I assume that the cargo is stored in the payload canister and taken to the launch pad and then transferred into the shuttle. Why don’t they load the shuttle in the VAB or SPF prior to rollover?

Some of the paylaod is installed in the OPF (i.e. sidewall payloads). Furthermore, for some past missions, the payload was installed in the OPF. But I believe the main consideration here is weight. Keep in mind that the cranes in the VAB can only do so much. While they're more than capable of lifting an empty orbiter, their capability is still limited. And you can't install a payload in the VAB as there's no white room/environmentally controlled facility for the payload bay of the orbiter in the VAB.

Not to mention the crawler would shake the crud out of the payload during rollout.

Not really. The STS-115/Atlantis rollback/reverse and roll-back-to-pad because of Tropical Storm Ernesto was accomplished with the P3/P4 truss in Atlantis' PLB. I don't think the crawler would induce that much vibration in the PLB. Furthermore, I believe launch vibrations during first stage flight are much more significant than vibrations during rollout.

NOTE: As I've said before... we're drifting here in this thread. This thread is for rollover and VAB processing.

I thought they removed the truss for transport....
We only made it to 569 before they spun us around and headed back to the pad. There was a vibration test run back in 2003 where they found if we ran faster than .8MPH the stack receives damaging vibration.

psloss · « **Reply #66 on:** 05/02/2008 09:08 pm »

Quote

MechTech - 2/5/2008 4:27 PM

I thought they removed the truss for transport....
We only made it to 569 before they spun us around and headed back to the pad. There was a vibration test run back in 2003 where they found if we ran faster than .8MPH the stack receives damaging vibration.

They didn't, or at least that's the way the question was answered at the time by program officials.