Author Topic: LIVE: STS-124 Flight Day 3 - RPM/Docking (Read 71586 times)

Norm Hartnett · « **Reply #280 on:** 06/02/2008 08:54 pm »

MSB delayed while awaiting word on status of toilet.

chksix · « **Reply #281 on:** 06/02/2008 08:55 pm »

I hope the NASA TV feed will get back up to speed in time for the MSB. Just before the RPM it stalled and went pixelated.
Now I get moving video but very low audio quality.

Ford Mustang · « **Reply #282 on:** 06/02/2008 08:57 pm »

Ford Mustang · « **Reply #283 on:** 06/02/2008 08:59 pm »

Matt Abbot:

Docked right around 1 PM CDT. Team and flight were beautiful. Crew took R-Bar Pitch Maneuver pictures, being analyzed now.

Ford Mustang · « **Reply #284 on:** 06/02/2008 09:01 pm »

Leroy Cain:

No significant events to talk about. Vehicle and team is preforming wonderfully. During the shuttle arm procedure, there was a frayed blanket. This is not going to be any issue to us, just an item of interest.

Ford Mustang · « **Reply #285 on:** 06/02/2008 09:03 pm »

Ford Mustang · « **Reply #286 on:** 06/02/2008 09:06 pm »

Leroy Cain:

The pad is significantly damaged. This is a 75'x20' patch in the Flame Trench. Something happened, specific to this mission, in terms of the pad structure. We're gonna have to go look at that. Not a concern to the ongoing mission. None of the debris hit the vehicle, and did not come close to it. No concerns with the vehicle. Concerns about the future missions. Investigation team being assembled to figure out what happened. Pad must be repaired before launching again. Discussions about using Pad B, but are discussions at this time, nothing more.

Ford Mustang · « **Reply #287 on:** 06/02/2008 09:07 pm »

Chris Bergin · « **Reply #288 on:** 06/02/2008 09:16 pm »

Interestingly, that "fallout" image is not NASA's, it's Ben's: http://www.launchphotography.com/STS-124_14.jpg

eeergo · « **Reply #289 on:** 06/02/2008 09:21 pm »

Calling the magnitude of the event "unprecedented", they seem to consider it worse than the STS-2/3 problem that was talked about here.

Some damage in other missions, but not to this extent in the flame trench.

Ford Mustang · « **Reply #290 on:** 06/02/2008 09:23 pm »

Great question by Robert Pearlman.. "If the need for LON arises, how would you go about it.. Feel comfortable about launching off of Pad A?"

Cain: We don't have that information today. I'd feel comfortable because I would have a little time to think about it.

SpaceNutz SA · « **Reply #291 on:** 06/02/2008 09:24 pm »

Here we go - Marcia Dunn!!

Ford Mustang · « **Reply #292 on:** 06/02/2008 09:25 pm »

Marcia Dunn: Do you think Discovery got lucky that no debris hit the vehicle, or is it impossible?

Leroy Cain: It's not impossible for it to happen, but I do have great confidence for this vehicle that we did not have that occur.

FOLLOW UP:

Marcia Dunn: So you got lucky this time?

Leroy Cain: I wouldn't call it as luck.

bobthemonkey · « **Reply #293 on:** 06/02/2008 09:25 pm »

Permission to throw something at Marcia Dunn. 'Did Discovery get lucky?' Argh!!!

ETA: There is a great, informative response to a far more eloquent asking of Marcia's question over on L2.

Martin FL · « **Reply #294 on:** 06/02/2008 09:26 pm »

Marcia was fishing for "we got lucky" there, but Leroy didn't fall for it.

chksix · « **Reply #295 on:** 06/02/2008 09:27 pm »

When a reporter hears the reply to his question being given to the previous reporter, why then does he insist on asking it anyway?

(about bricks hitting the vehicle)

gordo · « **Reply #296 on:** 06/02/2008 09:28 pm »

"Breaking News Snap (AP) - shuttle lucky not to blow up on pad" /joke mode off

That woman needs re-assigned, or her credentials removed.

What nobody had not pointed out is that you had the MLP between the Stack and the damage being caused to the trench.

SpaceNutz SA · « **Reply #297 on:** 06/02/2008 09:29 pm »

The damage to the launch pad is going to be an interesting story to follow.

Anyone on the inside have any additional info on this?

Quite unprecedented. Could it have something to do with the water system?? Does anyone have any idea if there were any mal-functions of the water system during launch??

Chris Bergin · « **Reply #298 on:** 06/02/2008 09:29 pm »

There was always going to be a lot of questions about the pad. Robert had the most important/relevant one with LON, because if anything, there's 'probably' (assumption) the back up option of P-t-P (Pad to Pad) for STS-125/LON-400. They did have that option for Hubble before switching to dual pads. And after all, they "probably" will be ok by the time STS-125 comes around.

So LON was the biggy if you ask me - even though the orbiter is clean so far.

Martin FL · « **Reply #299 on:** 06/02/2008 09:30 pm »

Quote from: SpaceNutz SA on 06/02/2008 09:29 pm

The damage to the launch pad is going to be an interesting story to follow.

Anyone on the inside have any additional info on this?

Quite unprecedented. Could it have something to do with the water system?? Does anyone have any idea if there were any mal-functions of the water system during launch??

It's been covered extensively on L2 since yesterday, with about 50 images and pad engineers giving info on what they know.