Pad damage STS 124 and repair status

[Charles_oil]

At the lift off of STS124 there was significant damage to the launch pad 39A, which may impact on future missions - especially Hubble which needs two operational pads.
Is this being covered by another thread or can someone shed some light on progress / status / contingencies?

Thanks
Charles

[toddbronco2]

You know, I was wondering that myself.  I'm sure that the L2 guys are having a jolly conversation about the pad damage, but I haven't seen much mention of it on the outside.  In case you're interested, there were some higher resolution pictures of the pad damage posted on the Kennedy Media Archive site.  I'll attach the links since the images are prohibitively large:

http://www-pao.ksc.nasa.gov/kscpao/images/large/08pd1582.jpg

http://www-pao.ksc.nasa.gov/kscpao/images/large/08pd1581.jpg

http://www-pao.ksc.nasa.gov/kscpao/images/large/08pd1583.jpg

http://www-pao.ksc.nasa.gov/kscpao/images/large/08pd1584.jpg

I was kinda hoping to find an image of the part of the concrete slope that buckled or collapsed.  Can anybody make a comment there?

I guess I'm not too surprised by the damage.  It seems like if the SRB's were ever able to tear away a few of those bricks in the flame trench, then a bunch of bricks downstream are going to be removed pretty quickly too.  Still...it threw those far!

[jmjawors]

While there are some details coming to L2, there really isn't much to talk about other than what has already been reported.  What was mentioned first here and then later discussed at MMT briefings towards the start of this mission remains the most current news:  teams are inspecting the area and assessing the damage. 

Once a conclusion has been reached, or at least an assessment of what caused all this, there's just not much to report on. 

*shrug*

[STS Tony]

More than that JMjawors.

L2's two sections were for all the photos that came in ahead of the news breaking here and then the other sites, and for the inspection team notes.  Chris has reported some of the latest on the notes in L2, like on this follow up which you missed, http://www.nasaspaceflight.com/content/?cid=5439 The great thing about L2 being it's coming from pad rats and KSC workers as well as documented notes. Hopefully it's not as bad as it's sounding.

[toddbronco2]

More than that JMjawors.

L2's two sections were for all the photos that came in ahead of the news breaking here and then the other sites, and for the inspection team notes.  Chris has reported some of the latest on the notes in L2, like on this follow up which you missed, http://www.nasaspaceflight.com/content/?cid=5439 The great thing about L2 being it's coming from pad rats and KSC workers as well as documented notes. Hopefully it's not as bad as it's sounding.

You're right! That note about the pad damage in Chris' write up slipped right by and I didn't see it.  Thanks for pointing that out.  I hope they don't discover that they need to  dig up the entire pad or anything like that.  I suppose events like this were the original justification for a redundant launch pad, not that that matters now with hand-off to constellation approaching.

[jmjawors]

Todd and Tony, you're exactly right... I forgot about that particular write-up.  But I think we're talking about apples and oranges here, Tony.  Information about the pad inspections is flowing into L2, and it is amazing to be able to read it as it comes in and speculate upon what implications there may or may not be.  This is the kind of behind-the-scenes stuff that makes L2 worth joining! 

But addressing the original question of this thread -- there is still not enough new information, in my opinion, to write a new article about.  In other words, we are still in the same place we were before... investigations are ongoing and they are still gathering data. 

[rolfkap]

Leroy Cain didn't sound concerned (in the FD3 and FD4 Post MMT briefings) about making the October 8th date for STS-125, by repairing Pad A and/or prepping Pad B.  I am curious what the readiness of the pad to support a LON mission on 29 August would have been.

[edkyle99]

There's a little bit about the refractory fire brick walls in NASA's Moonport.

http://www.hq.nasa.gov/office/pao/History/SP-4204/ch11-7.html

It says the following:

"The selection of a refractory surface for the walls, floor, and an area outside of the flame trench was exacting. Such a surface had to withstand temperatures of 1,922 kelvins and flame velocities four times the speed of sound. Special refractory fire bricks were held to the walls by interlocks, mechanical anchors, and a modified epoxy cement. All concrete surfaces protected by the brick had to have a smoothness tolerance of 0.3 centimeters in 3 meters to provide a bonding surface. This careful work was to limit the maximum temperature in the adjacent concrete structure during launch to 310 kelvins (37 degrees C)."

In addition, Aviation Week has reported on the presence of asbestos insulation that was blown out with the bricks.

http://www.aviationweek.com/aw/generic/story_channel.jsp?channel=space&id=news/PAD06068.xml&headline=Asbestos%20Slows%20Shuttle-Pad%20Inspection

 - Ed Kyle

[Lee Jay]

Leroy Cain didn't sound concerned (in the FD3 and FD4 Post MMT briefings) about making the October 8th date for STS-125, by repairing Pad A and/or prepping Pad B.

Has to be "and" since both pads are needed for STS-125.

[Davie OPF]

In addition, Aviation Week has reported on the presence of asbestos insulation that was blown out with the bricks.
 
http://www.aviationweek.com/aw/generic/story_channel.jsp?channel=space&id=news/PAD06068.xml&headline=Asbestos%20Slows%20Shuttle-Pad%20Inspection
 

....on June 6.
 
On June 3: http://www.nasaspaceflight.com/content/?cid=5439
 
"On Wednesday, evaluations into the damaged wall will continue, with engineers also attempting to stabilize any of the remaining bricks to allow for an asbestos crew to remove/contain the hazardous material in the exposed sections of the wall."

[Chris Bergin]

We had some interesting notes arrive today, so might do an update in the next article.

[Chris Bergin]

By the way, the WESH report claiming that all launches will now be from Pad 39B is utterly incorrect. Thanks to the numorous messages asking me to check.

http://www.wesh.com/spacenews/16568995/detail.html

"NASA said the launch pad will not be used because bricks could be thrust up and damage the space shuttle during future launches.

"A second launch pad will be used for future missions."


I've no idea who they've spoken to, but obviously no one involved, as it's baseless.

The plan at present is a short term repair to Pad 39A to be in good shape to launch Atlantis on STS-125. A full repair (long term) will be carried out ahead of STS-119. Pad 39B will be hosting Endeavour on LON (STS-400) support of Atlantis' mission, then continue CxP mods for Ares I-X.

These reviews are going to be the center of meetings tomorrow.

(And I double checked all of that 10 minutes ago).

[stockman]

Shuttle press conference just going on now and they have quite a good update on the pad damage and repair options. I did not capture all the verbiage but the good news seems to be they are confident of being able to launch STS125 on time in October. Here are some pictures I screen captured for reference (probably already posted somewhere but interesting none the less)

[stockman]

more close ups of the tie bars and tap tests.

[Launch Fan]

I've no idea who they've spoken to, but obviously no one involved, as it's baseless.

Leroy Cain is just saying now the same thing, that they can repair Pad A, so that story was wrong from WESH.

[Chris Bergin]

June 12, 2008

MEDIA ADVISORY: M08-120

NASA SETS JUNE 16 FOR MEDIA VIEWING OF KENNEDY LAUNCH PAD DAMAGE

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. -- Launch Pad 39A at NASA's Kennedy Space Center
will be opened to journalists to allow viewing of a site damaged
during the May 31 launch of space shuttle Discovery. Reporters will
have the opportunity to ask questions about ongoing repair work. The
media tour will take place Monday, June 16, at 10 a.m. EDT.

The damage occurred to an area of the pad known as the flame trench.
Based on analysis to date, repairs are expected to be completed in
time for the next shuttle launch. Atlantis' STS-125 mission to NASA's
Hubble Space Telescope is targeted for Oct. 8.

During Monday's event, Ed Mango, deputy director of the shuttle
program's launch vehicle processing, and Perry Becker, who is leading
the launch pad engineering investigation team, will be available for
interviews.

Reporters planning to attend should arrive at Kennedy's news center by
9 a.m. All participants must dress in full-length pants, flat shoes
that entirely cover the feet and shirts with sleeves. Journalists
without permanent Kennedy credentials should submit their request
online by noon, Friday, June 13, at:

https://media.ksc.nasa.gov

Video B-roll of the pad damage will air on NASA Television's Video
File segment starting Monday afternoon. For NASA TV downlink
information, schedules and links to streaming video, visit:

http://www.nasa.gov/ntv

[Ford Mustang]

The media viewing was today, and images are arriving in the Kennedy Media Gallery.

[TJL]

Prior to 124, which shuttle launch caused the most damge to the pad?
Thanks.

[Chris Bergin]

Prior to 124, which shuttle launch caused the most damge to the pad?
Thanks.

None as bad as this apparently. Some of the engineers mention damage on an early flight (in the 80s) but not to this extent.

[Astromattical]

It's interesting that prior to 124 there wasn't any significant damage.  Then 124 comes along and causes extensive damage.  What could have possibly happened to cause such a large amount of damage to occur now that didn't happen in all the shuttle launches in the past?