Author Topic: LIVE: STS-119: LAUNCH ATTEMPT 2 and FLIGHT DAY 1 - March 15, 09 (Read 113400 times)

Ford Mustang · « **Reply #20 on:** 03/15/2009 01:25 pm »

Quote from: psloss on 03/15/2009 01:23 pm

Quote from: Ford Mustang on 03/15/2009 01:17 pm
"MMT met at 9:45 AM this morning to discuss issues, and there weren't any. Weather is 20% no-go, so very favorable for a launch. When we come out of the T-6 hour hold, Mike Leinbach will give a GO to start loading the external tank" - NASA TV
Nit: the NASA Test Director conducts the countdown, rather than the Launch Director, so it would be Steve Payne.

Thanks, fixed.

OTV-047 on TV now, showing cryo-pumps, the LOX is the one currently steaming, I guess is the word:

Zoe · « **Reply #21 on:** 03/15/2009 01:25 pm »

Quote from: psloss on 03/15/2009 01:23 pm

Nit: the NASA Test Director conducts the countdown, rather than the Launch Director, so it would be Steve Payne.

I thought the launch NTD only came on duty after tanking and another NTD supervised tanking.

Chris Bergin · « **Reply #22 on:** 03/15/2009 01:26 pm »

Quote from: Ford Mustang on 03/15/2009 01:21 pm

Diller just noting that we have a GO for chilldown, though L2 says otherwise..

Could be the different stages of chilldown, as they started cryogenically shocking the lines several minutes prior according to ET. Will be interesting to hear what time he marks slowfill as they are into that now.

Hardly matters. Just don't want to see that GUCP play up again!

psloss · « **Reply #23 on:** 03/15/2009 01:28 pm »

Quote from: Chris Bergin on 03/15/2009 01:26 pm

Could be the different stages of chilldown, as they started cryogenically shocking the lines several minutes prior according to ET. Will be interesting to hear what time he marks slowfill as they are into that now.

Seems odd that they would start early given the countdown changes instituted beginning with STS-120...is this a special case of wanting to see what happens with the GH2 vent a little early?

Ford Mustang · « **Reply #24 on:** 03/15/2009 01:29 pm »

We'll see in a few hours, Chris, but I think we all feel that way!

Looking at one of the umbilicals on Discovery and the ET:

psloss · « **Reply #25 on:** 03/15/2009 01:31 pm »

Quote from: Zoe on 03/15/2009 01:25 pm

Quote from: psloss on 03/15/2009 01:23 pm
Nit: the NASA Test Director conducts the countdown, rather than the Launch Director, so it would be Steve Payne.
I thought the launch NTD only came on duty after tanking and another NTD supervised tanking.

Not sure; either is a possibility given the time-of-day for this tanking.

Ford Mustang · « **Reply #26 on:** 03/15/2009 01:32 pm »

George Diller noting we're in slow fill of the LH2 just now.

MikeMi. · « **Reply #27 on:** 03/15/2009 01:33 pm »

We heard comment of Diller about pumping LOX, he mentioned sth also that LH2 doesnt require using pump.. Did I hear correctly, and why it looks like in this way for hydrogen?

Ford Mustang · « **Reply #28 on:** 03/15/2009 01:33 pm »

The systems on Discovery are now being chilled down for the LOX. - Diller

Chris Bergin · « **Reply #29 on:** 03/15/2009 01:34 pm »

Quote from: Zoe on 03/15/2009 01:25 pm

Quote from: psloss on 03/15/2009 01:23 pm
Nit: the NASA Test Director conducts the countdown, rather than the Launch Director, so it would be Steve Payne.
I thought the launch NTD only came on duty after tanking and another NTD supervised tanking.

There is a room at MAF that monitors tanking via consoles. They were the ones who saw the ECOs go haywire during STS-122. George will be getting his updates via the NTD, via his console, seems a bit behind MAF (four/five minutes), but it's all good, so long as it stays nominal

Zoe · « **Reply #30 on:** 03/15/2009 01:45 pm »

Quote from: Chris Bergin on 03/15/2009 01:34 pm

There is a room at MAF that monitors tanking via consoles. They were the ones who saw the ECOs go haywire during STS-122. George will be getting his updates via the NTD, via his console, seems a bit behind MAF (four/five minutes), but it's all good, so long as it stays nominal

So do they change NTDs after tanking or does the launch NTD have to be on console from T-6 hours to launch?

Ford Mustang · « **Reply #31 on:** 03/15/2009 01:48 pm »

Chris Bergin · « **Reply #32 on:** 03/15/2009 01:52 pm »

We're trying to get an image since it was noted on the console notes, but there's a bat (as in flappy wings) on the tank, refusing to move. Been hanging on the tank since well before tanking.

shuttlefan · « **Reply #33 on:** 03/15/2009 01:54 pm »

A possible constraint, as funny as it sounds?

dawei · « **Reply #34 on:** 03/15/2009 01:55 pm »

Quote from: Chris Bergin on 03/15/2009 01:52 pm

We're trying to get an image since it was noted on the console notes, but there's a bat (as in flappy wings) on the tank, refusing to move. Been hanging on the tank since well before tanking.

Well, I imagine the tank will eventually feel a little bit cool. Might motivate the bat to move on. I'm hoping bat claw marks would not be a concern (foam damage)? Surely not as bad as woodpeckers...

Chris Bergin · « **Reply #35 on:** 03/15/2009 02:00 pm »

Quote from: shuttlefan on 03/15/2009 01:54 pm

A possible constraint, as funny as it sounds?

No.

charlieb · « **Reply #36 on:** 03/15/2009 02:01 pm »

Quote from: MikeMi. on 03/15/2009 01:33 pm

We heard comment of Diller about pumping LOX, he mentioned sth also that LH2 doesnt require using pump.. Did I hear correctly, and why it looks like in this way for hydrogen?

LH2 doen't require a pump due to it's light weight; pressure from the large main storage tank is used to 'pump' the LH2 into the ET.

Ford Mustang · « **Reply #37 on:** 03/15/2009 02:01 pm »

"Into the slow fill on both LH2 and LOX. ECO sensors are WET for both, and we are above 5%. Awaiting the transition to fast fill on the LH2. No technical issues at the moment, weather unchanged with 20% chance of a weather-related scrub." - NASA TV

TrueBlueWitt · « **Reply #38 on:** 03/15/2009 02:03 pm »

What point were they at when they found the LH2 leak on the first attempt?

Are we beyond that point yet?

robertross · « **Reply #39 on:** 03/15/2009 02:03 pm »

I think Diller made an error. He said we are still in slow fill for both LOX and LH2, with fast fill for LH2 up next, but the timeline has LOX fast fill ocurring much sooner.