LIVE: STS-124 Flight Day 7 - JLM relocation / Flight Day 8 JEM RMS deployment

[Jim]

If they end up having a problem in the future with astronauts getting "stuck" in roomy spaces I would imagine they could use a pocket can of compressed air or something like that to propel themselves. 

Has there been planning done by the program for this?

no, because they will eventually move

[jmjawors]

I wonder if they're just confirming it is only grease, and not combined with metal particles from the race ring, indicating premature TBA failure? Sorry if I sound like a broken record, still theorizing the SARJ 'smoking gun'.

I'm confused by this port SARJ grease issue.  I'm sure someone here will clear it up for me, though.     I was under the impression that the grease was a surprise when it was seen.  Yet today at the presser it was mentioned that this grease was seen before in that SARJ's previous inspection. 

So getting back to what you were asking, Robert, I was under the impression that they just wanted to see what the grease was in the first place.  My thought was that any correlation between this grease and the other SARJ's issue may or may not come, but the real interest was just in the grease itself because it was unexpected.

Am I wrong here?  Did they see grease last time?

[nathan.moeller]

If they end up having a problem in the future with astronauts getting "stuck" in roomy spaces I would imagine they could use a pocket can of compressed air or something like that to propel themselves. 

Has there been planning done by the program for this?

It's almost impossible to get stuck in the center of a module on accident.  Dan Barry commented on this one time.  During STS-105, the rest of the crew CAREFULLY positioned him to stay in the middle of the module (probably Destiny).  He said he was stuck for a little while, but after throwing a few things he eventually drifted to the wall.  It's a non-issue.

[Ford Mustang]

If they end up having a problem in the future with astronauts getting "stuck" in roomy spaces I would imagine they could use a pocket can of compressed air or something like that to propel themselves. 

Has there been planning done by the program for this?

It's almost impossible to get stuck in the center of a module on accident.  Dan Barry commented on this one time.  During STS-105, the rest of the crew CAREFULLY positioned him to stay in the middle of the module (probably Destiny).  He said he was stuck for a little while, but after throwing a few things he eventually drifted to the wall.  It's a non-issue.

They also did this yesterday (in Kibo) with Garret Reisman.  After he "swam" and turned, he started drifting.  Sure, it wasn't major movement, but he didn't get stuck/stranded in one spot.

[kneecaps]

If they end up having a problem in the future with astronauts getting "stuck" in roomy spaces I would imagine they could use a pocket can of compressed air or something like that to propel themselves. 

Has there been planning done by the program for this?

It's almost impossible to get stuck in the center of a module on accident.  Dan Barry commented on this one time.  During STS-105, the rest of the crew CAREFULLY positioned him to stay in the middle of the module (probably Destiny).  He said he was stuck for a little while, but after throwing a few things he eventually drifted to the wall.  It's a non-issue.

They also did this yesterday (in Kibo) with Garret Reisman.  After he "swam" and turned, he started drifting.  Sure, it wasn't major movement, but he didn't get stuck/stranded in one spot.

Let's remember that there are air currents too. Also since there is air simple paddle type motions to propel oneself a little will as demonstrated start you drifting in some direction

It's something interesting  to have thought about for sure and is a sensible issue to have covered

[robertross]

I wonder if they're just confirming it is only grease, and not combined with metal particles from the race ring, indicating premature TBA failure? Sorry if I sound like a broken record, still theorizing the SARJ 'smoking gun'.

I'm confused by this port SARJ grease issue.  I'm sure someone here will clear it up for me, though.     I was under the impression that the grease was a surprise when it was seen.  Yet today at the presser it was mentioned that this grease was seen before in that SARJ's previous inspection. 

So getting back to what you were asking, Robert, I was under the impression that they just wanted to see what the grease was in the first place.  My thought was that any correlation between this grease and the other SARJ's issue may or may not come, but the real interest was just in the grease itself because it was unexpected.

Am I wrong here?  Did they see grease last time?

From what I remember from the mission status briefing, 'the grease is from the TBA, and yes there was a 'small' amount of grease last time' (not a direct quote), but now it seems during the spacewalk there was more grease there than expected (along with a groove developing due to likely unequal alignment of the TBA to the surface). I don't think the grease can come from any other localized source other than the TBA. So really, if there is grease on the race ring, the TBAs are failing...

The obvious concern is that grease is finite on the TBA (no reservoir), so once it's gone, the bearing has no more lubrication and could seize. That's why I'm wondering if that's a possible reason why the other SARJ failed, and perhaps it seized and dragged the bearing wheel across the bearing surface. It's that's what is going on, having grease on the race ring can be a good thing for now, but once it's gone (from the surface), it's metal-to-metal 'dragging' contact and definitely the end of that race ring.

Obviously a seperate thread to discuss all this, but if this is indeed the 'smoking gun' cause, then a TBA re-design may be required. What's the point in replacing all the TBA with a new race ring if they have an inherent flaw? Of course just speculating at this point, but the grease is good proof.

[Ronsmytheiii]

Let's remember that there are air currents too. Also since there is air simple paddle type motions to propel oneself a little will as demonstrated start you drifting in some direction

It's something interesting  to have thought about for sure and is a sensible issue to have covered

Ultimately it is moot, because with the racks the open cross section is the same as Destiny, and I have not heard of anyone getting stuck there.

Galactica is on!

[jmjawors]

Alright, thanks Robert.  Yeah, this is probably all new-thread-worthy.  But at least that clears up my confusion.  It's that there was *MORE* grease than expected.

I hate to pass by the rest of what you said, but I'm no expert.  It sounds like a good theory to me!

[daj24]

If there is a fundamental flaw in the TBAs then where is the problem the the other rotary joint?  Just lucky so far?  Most likely still no smoking gun on the problem.

[robertross]

If there is a fundamental flaw in the TBAs then where is the problem the the other rotary joint?  Just lucky so far?  Most likely still no smoking gun on the problem.

Like many problems, the famous saying "it only takes one" to kink up the whole works. I know they were looking to R&R the TBA's on the failed SARJ in a future launch. At the time there weren't enough TBAs on the ground to replace them all, so if you missed one, it might be the suspect unit. So they're off making more (as I understand it). Maybe they are lucky with the good SARJ (slow conenction, too long to know port from starboard right now), but seeing more grease might be a tell-tale sign if immenent problems.

On a different note, did I hear a problem online 1/2 hour ago with one of Discovery's APU's or part thereof?

[troy95843]

I heard part of some issue.   A blown fuse that is located in the payload bay took out a couple of sensors.    And that they were going to have to take 30 minutes of out the schedule each day to do some other type of measurements.

[robertross]

I heard part of some issue.   A blown fuse that is located in the payload bay took out a couple of sensors.    And that they were going to have to take 30 minutes of out the schedule each day to do some other type of measurements.

That was it, thanks! Actually, I think it was under the payload bay? We'll see/hear more about it in the highlights I'm sure. Keep on going baby (Discovery)!

[wjbarnett]

On a different note, did I hear a problem online 1/2 hour ago with one of Discovery's APU's or part thereof?

It was Fuel Cell 3; H2 sensors I believe. Both were Off Scale Low.

[pm1823]

Why Kibo's videos so GREEN? Can JAXA's men calibrate white color balance frоm the ground or it's work for the ISS crew?

[chksix]

Wakeup call in a few minutes now for FD-8.

The tune was for Aki.
"Taking off" by Godaigo

[VB94]

There will be a replay of the ISS Flight Director update at the top of the hour.

[spaceamillion]

Latest Graphic from the TsUP page.

[VB94]

Station passing over the south-west atlantic ocean.

[VB94]

Quest and the Destiny lab:

[VB94]

Six minutes to the Flight Director update.
Shuttle crew has been awake for nearly 1 hour now.