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#80
by
steveb23
on 18 Sep, 2009 17:55
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Hi all,
Lurker here...but find this forum, articles and depth of information fascinating. Keep up the good work!
Can anyone enlighten me to the process of finalizing the launch date and window for STS-129? - Is this likely to be soon and is there likely to be a some jockeying going on behind the scenes to work with the various range constraints as described in Chris's excellent article.
I'm from the UK and booked a holiday to see this launch. Have travelled to Florida around the same time the last two years and both were scrubbed long term so hoping third time lucky! Would be good to see Atlantis launch on Nov 9th or 12th (I have up to the 15th) but I fully appreciate that there can be technical / safety issues and fully applaud NASA for not going unless they are absolutly sure..
Thanks,
Steve
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#81
by
dsmillman
on 18 Sep, 2009 18:15
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Hi all,
Lurker here...but find this forum, articles and depth of information fascinating. Keep up the good work!
Can anyone enlighten me to the process of finalizing the launch date and window for STS-129? - Is this likely to be soon and is there likely to be a some jockeying going on behind the scenes to work with the various range constraints as described in Chris's excellent article.
I'm from the UK and booked a holiday to see this launch. Have travelled to Florida around the same time the last two years and both were scrubbed long term so hoping third time lucky! Would be good to see Atlantis launch on Nov 9th or 12th (I have up to the 15th) but I fully appreciate that there can be technical / safety issues and fully applaud NASA for not going unless they are absolutly sure..
Thanks,
Steve
STS-129 is targeted to launch Nov. 12. The launch period should run to Nov. 19. From Nov. 20 to early Dec. there is a Beta angle cutoff at the ISS. NASA is showing the launch period from Nov. 12 to Nov. 16. Apparently there is a conflict on the launch range after Nov. 16.
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#82
by
ChrisGebhardt
on 18 Sep, 2009 20:05
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STS-129 is targeted to launch Nov. 12. The launch period should run to Nov. 19. From Nov. 20 to early Dec. there is a Beta angle cutoff at the ISS. NASA is showing the launch period from Nov. 12 to Nov. 16. Apparently there is a conflict on the launch range after Nov. 16.
It's all in the article. Right now, NASA has the range for Nov. 12. Then, Atlas V from the 13-15 (assuming the Atlas stays on target for Nov. 14), then NASA
could have the range back on Nov. 16, then Delta IV has the range reserved from Nov. 17-20.
Hi all,
Can anyone enlighten me to the process of finalizing the launch date and window for STS-129? - Is this likely to be soon and is there likely to be a some jockeying going on behind the scenes to work with the various range constraints as described in Chris's excellent article.
Thanks,
Steve
Steven, You are correct. There will be discussions between NASA, the Atlas V folks, and the Delta IV folks, but nothing will be finalized until we're closer to the launch date. There's always the possibility that Atlas won't be ready for Nov. 14 and that Delta IV won't be ready for Nov 17-20. It's also possible Atlantis may not be ready to Nov. 12 as well. It's just WAY to early to make any type of decisions regarding who gets range priority for mid-November.
As we've seen in the past, this is probably something that (as long as all three rockets keep targeting mid-November) won't be resolved until a week or so before Nov. 12.
As for how range priority is determined, it's very complicated and depends on many factors (i.e. costumer wishes on Atlas and Delta, the criticality of launching Shuttle in the window v. waiting until later, money, etc...).
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#83
by
Ronsmytheiii
on 18 Sep, 2009 21:12
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Steven, You are correct. There will be discussions between NASA, the Atlas V folks, and the Delta IV folks, but nothing will be finalized until we're closer to the launch date. There's always the possibility that Atlas won't be ready for Nov. 14 and that Delta IV won't be ready for Nov 17-20. It's also possible Atlantis may not be ready to Nov. 12 as well. It's just WAY to early to make any type of decisions regarding who gets range priority for mid-November.
As we've seen in the past, this is probably something that (as long as all three rockets keep targeting mid-November) won't be resolved until a week or so before Nov. 12.
As for how range priority is determined, it's very complicated and depends on many factors (i.e. costumer wishes on Atlas and Delta, the criticality of launching Shuttle in the window v. waiting until later, money, etc...).
Not to mention the possibility of extension, which would mean STS-129 would be delayed past this year I believe...
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#84
by
psloss
on 18 Sep, 2009 21:17
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Not to mention the possibility of extension, which would mean STS-129 would be delayed past this year I believe...
At this point, it seems almost too late to delay ULF-3/STS-129 based on an extension decision, which may not come until after the payload and vehicle are at the pad -- or even after the current target launch date. If they are able to launch this year, that will provide more schedule buffer for whichever manifest option emerges (whenever that is).
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#85
by
ChrisGebhardt
on 18 Sep, 2009 22:09
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Not to mention the possibility of extension, which would mean STS-129 would be delayed past this year I believe...
At this point, it seems almost too late to delay ULF-3/STS-129 based on an extension decision, which may not come until after the payload and vehicle are at the pad -- or even after the current target launch date. If they are able to launch this year, that will provide more schedule buffer for whichever manifest option emerges (whenever that is).
Yeah. STS-129 isn't moving because of any extension (which I wouldn't hold my breath for at this point).
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#86
by
dsmillman
on 19 Sep, 2009 19:44
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#87
by
Chris Bergin
on 20 Sep, 2009 03:40
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#88
by
MarsMethanogen
on 21 Sep, 2009 15:55
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#89
by
Chris Bergin
on 21 Sep, 2009 16:42
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#90
by
psloss
on 22 Sep, 2009 21:06
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#91
by
MarsMethanogen
on 22 Sep, 2009 21:10
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#92
by
Ronsmytheiii
on 22 Sep, 2009 22:01
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#93
by
MKremer
on 22 Sep, 2009 22:35
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#94
by
smith5se
on 23 Sep, 2009 05:49
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I never tire of NASA pictures... just thought I'd mention here that launch time has changed to 4:04pm according to the launch schedule at nasa.gov and the Ares I-X test has been pushed foward to Oct. 27th.
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#95
by
Chris Bergin
on 28 Sep, 2009 04:15
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#96
by
cd-slam
on 29 Sep, 2009 02:55
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Been working a couple of big news articles, but both need further work/research, so pushing on a STS-129 processing latest, along with the debate on what is now classed as a fleet-wide issue with the actuators on the Fill and Drain valves (remember that from 128?)
http://www.nasaspaceflight.com/2009/09/sts-129-atlantis-rollover-fill-and-drain-valve-debate/
The photo in the article reminded me. But now I'm surprised. I thought the conclusion following the STS-128 countdown was that it was a sensor problem, nothing to do with the actual valve.
The issue with STS-129 seems to be with the actuator, ie a real problem with the valve itself not the sensor. So does this suggest that STS-128 problem was really with the valve itself and they were just fortunate it flew subsequently without problems?
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#97
by
MKremer
on 29 Sep, 2009 06:17
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It looks to me like the sensors, valve, and valve actuator mechanism are part of a complete sealed assembly. So, no matter what part is actually at fault, sensor lever or sensor itself, the entire valve assy must be R&R'd.
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#98
by
Ronsmytheiii
on 29 Sep, 2009 15:43
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#99
by
Orbiter
on 29 Sep, 2009 21:59
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Question: sorry if this was asked earlier When is Atlantis going to roll out to Pad A? Because last I heard Ares I-X will be on Pad B during that time frame. Thanks!
Orbiter.
Also, its nice to see Atlantis w/ her ODS again.