Author Topic: STS-124: Rollover and VAB Processing Latest (Read 28533 times)

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 »

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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 »

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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 »

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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 »

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

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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 »

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STSFan10 - 30/4/2008 4:55 PM

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

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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 »

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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 »

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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 »

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Trekkie07 - 30/4/2008 1:18 PM

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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.