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#40
by
Peter NASA
on 24 Jan, 2009 17:22
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Gerst did make some decisions this week.
They decided not to consider November for HST anymore, and HST has a higher priority than 2J/A. Now they just wait to see how Ares I-X does schedule wise.
On work to dates. 125 has always held priority.
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#41
by
robertross
on 24 Jan, 2009 19:40
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One fault path that I didn't see was pad damage beyond it's use. If there were a serious pad failure, and they couldn't use 39B for the near-term, that would push not only LON, but STS-127 as well to the right a far way (depending on extent of damage). I wonder how they would work around that? Push Ares off, or stick with the baseline and delay STS-127; LON would be a distant memory.
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#42
by
Lawntonlookirs
on 25 Jan, 2009 16:41
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One fault path that I didn't see was pad damage beyond it's use. If there were a serious pad failure, and they could use 39B for the near-term, that would push not only LON, but STS-127 as well to the right a far way (depending on extent of damage). I wonder how they would work around that? Push Ares off, or stick with the baseline and delay STS-127; LON would be a distant memory.
I was woundering that same thing. Especially with the damage that was caused on the two flights last year. Both of them took some time to get 39A back in shape.
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#43
by
cb6785
on 25 Jan, 2009 16:57
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One fault path that I didn't see was pad damage beyond it's use. If there were a serious pad failure, and they could use 39B for the near-term, that would push not only LON, but STS-127 as well to the right a far way (depending on extent of damage). I wonder how they would work around that? Push Ares off, or stick with the baseline and delay STS-127; LON would be a distant memory.
I was woundering that same thing. Especially with the damage that was caused on the two flights last year. Both of them took some time to get 39A back in shape.
STS-127 definetly would have to be pushed to the right since there is no way to install the payload at Pad B.
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#44
by
Thorny
on 25 Jan, 2009 17:07
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STS-127 definetly would have to be pushed to the right since there is no way to install the payload at Pad B.
Would it be possible to install the payload in the OPF?
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#45
by
PhoenixRising
on 29 Jan, 2009 19:48
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Do we know when a more definite launch date is going to be set? Is the May 12+ launch date still a runner or are we looking at late May or even further? I've read about the single pad option they are looking at with regard to Ares I-X, just wondering when we can expect a more concrete launch date for 125?
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#46
by
ChrisGebhardt
on 30 Jan, 2009 00:04
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STS-127 definetly would have to be pushed to the right since there is no way to install the payload at Pad B.
Would it be possible to install the payload in the OPF?
No.
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#47
by
ChrisGebhardt
on 30 Jan, 2009 00:07
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Do we know when a more definite launch date is going to be set? Is the May 12+ launch date still a runner or are we looking at late May or even further? I've read about the single pad option they are looking at with regard to Ares I-X, just wondering when we can expect a more concrete launch date for 125?
Yes, May 12 is still a runner. They would not have decided to approve that date for STS-125 last week if it were not. Right now, we're targeting May 12 for dual pad ops and May 21 for single pad ops. The final decision date for single or dual pad ops will be April 1. As we progress closer to that date, and we see a more reasonable schedule for Ares I-X, than we will have a better idea what the official date for 125's launch will be.
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#48
by
Chris Bergin
on 30 Jan, 2009 00:15
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Do we know when a more definite launch date is going to be set? Is the May 12+ launch date still a runner or are we looking at late May or even further? I've read about the single pad option they are looking at with regard to Ares I-X, just wondering when we can expect a more concrete launch date for 125?
Hoping to hear something in a couple of weeks based on the spare hardware shipping date. No pre-emption of a more solid date being set yet, but will report it when that becomes the case.
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#49
by
cd-slam
on 30 Jan, 2009 03:58
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Yes, May 12 is still a runner. They would not have decided to approve that date for STS-125 last week if it were not. Right now, we're targeting May 12 for dual pad ops and May 21 for single pad ops. The final decision date for single or dual pad ops will be April 1. As we progress closer to that date, and we see a more reasonable schedule for Ares I-X, than we will have a better idea what the official date for 125's launch will be.
I've seen this April 1 decision date around for a while. But as per earlier processing data, for a May 12 launch with dual pad ops, Atlantis would need to be rolled over to VAB and mated to its ET stack on March 26. So if a decision is made to change to single pad ops, Atlantis would have to be destacked and returned to OPF.
There's some commentary on Bill Harwood's website noting that Ares 1-X is a month behind schedule and thus dual pad ops are likely to be approved.
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#50
by
Analyst
on 30 Jan, 2009 07:00
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Yes, May 12 is still a runner. They would not have decided to approve that date for STS-125 last week if it were not. Right now, we're targeting May 12 for dual pad ops and May 21 for single pad ops. The final decision date for single or dual pad ops will be April 1. As we progress closer to that date, and we see a more reasonable schedule for Ares I-X, than we will have a better idea what the official date for 125's launch will be.
So if a decision is made to change to single pad ops, Atlantis would have to be destacked and returned to OPF.
Why this? They roll it out a little later (after STS-127 has been at 39A and been rolled back). But why destack?
Analyst
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#51
by
cd-slam
on 30 Jan, 2009 21:35
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Yes, May 12 is still a runner. They would not have decided to approve that date for STS-125 last week if it were not. Right now, we're targeting May 12 for dual pad ops and May 21 for single pad ops. The final decision date for single or dual pad ops will be April 1. As we progress closer to that date, and we see a more reasonable schedule for Ares I-X, than we will have a better idea what the official date for 125's launch will be.
So if a decision is made to change to single pad ops, Atlantis would have to be destacked and returned to OPF.
Why this? They roll it out a little later (after STS-127 has been at 39A and been rolled back). But why destack?
Analyst
Because the second ET-SRB stack won't be ready until mid April. I think the May 21 date quoted above for single pad ops is based on using Endeavour on the first stack and Atlantis on the second stack. Thus Endeavour would have to roll at end of March and Atlantis by mid April. According to Bill's website the decision would be taken in mid March, then it's just a matter of switching orbiters in the rollover sequence.
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#52
by
ChrisGebhardt
on 30 Jan, 2009 22:40
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Yes, May 12 is still a runner. They would not have decided to approve that date for STS-125 last week if it were not. Right now, we're targeting May 12 for dual pad ops and May 21 for single pad ops. The final decision date for single or dual pad ops will be April 1. As we progress closer to that date, and we see a more reasonable schedule for Ares I-X, than we will have a better idea what the official date for 125's launch will be.
So if a decision is made to change to single pad ops, Atlantis would have to be destacked and returned to OPF.
Why this? They roll it out a little later (after STS-127 has been at 39A and been rolled back). But why destack?
Analyst
Because the second ET-SRB stack won't be ready until mid April. I think the May 21 date quoted above for single pad ops is based on using Endeavour on the first stack and Atlantis on the second stack. Thus Endeavour would have to roll at end of March and Atlantis by mid April. According to Bill's website the decision would be taken in mid March, then it's just a matter of switching orbiters in the rollover sequence.
No. The decision will be made on April 1. And Endeavour's current processing timelines show her being mated to her tank on April 7/8. What would happen is that Atlantis would be mated in late March (to perserve the dual pad option) and a decision on pad ops made on April 1. If the decision is for single pad ops, Endeavour will be mated on April 7/8, rolled out on April 14/15, serviced at the pad, rolled back in late April (like the 27 or so), Atlantis rolled out and processed for launch, launched on May 21, and Endeavour rolled back out 6/7 days after Atlantis' launch for a NET STS-400 launch date of STS-125 Launch +15days.
If the decision is made to go with dual pad ops, Atlantis is already mated to her stack and thus you've saved about a week's worth of processing time.
EDIT: Will we have a better idea which pad option we'll be using by mid-March? Possibly. But the final decision will be made on April 1.
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#53
by
Chris Bergin
on 09 Feb, 2009 21:38
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#54
by
khdrummer
on 21 Feb, 2009 23:22
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Since they are planning on removing the lightning mast on Pad 39B soon, perhaps this may shed some light on what they are thinking in regards to dual pad flow. If they were seriously considering this they wouldn't they leave the lightning mast in place?
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#55
by
AnalogMan
on 22 Feb, 2009 00:04
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Since they are planning on removing the lightning mast on Pad 39B soon, perhaps this may shed some light on what they are thinking in regards to dual pad flow. If they were seriously considering this they wouldn't they leave the lightning mast in place?
Interesting information - when, or what is the current plan, to remove the lightning mast on 39B?
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#56
by
khdrummer
on 22 Feb, 2009 14:36
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Quoting Padrat on Page 3--
http://forum.nasaspaceflight.com/index.php?topic=15311.45He says in regards to Pad B:
"Well, just to give you an idea, they are currently scheduled to begin taking down the wires and FSS lightning mast next week. Will be bringing a big crane on to the pad surface next week, but obviously not one of the 21000's scale. "
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#57
by
shuttlefan
on 04 Mar, 2009 18:06
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The lightning tower has come down off Pad B!! Will it still be able to support a rescue shuttle for STS-125 or is this pretty-much an indication that they've decided to go with single-pad, or worse, cancelled STS-125 due to the space debris issue?
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#58
by
rdale
on 04 Mar, 2009 18:08
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There is no talk of canceling STS-125, debris has always and will always be in space.
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#59
by
SgtBulldog
on 04 Mar, 2009 19:44
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So May 12 is looking like the likely launch date then?