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#280
by
psloss
on 26 May, 2010 15:31
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Covering the extra mission ground, but a good question from James Dean about what the criteria is for making the decision. Mr. Gerstenmaier says that they largely have the data in front of them and are looking at the cost vs. the benefits. Will be presenting that information to the management/decision makers above them.
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#281
by
Chris Bergin
on 26 May, 2010 15:34
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Marcia on Atlantis finality.
Mike L: I think we were all struck it might be Atlantis' last time. There's an emotional tie to that. The budget is what the budget is that makes the next decision, I just hope it comes soon.
James Dean on Atlantis flying again and ISS support.
Gerst: There's a cost for extending into next year. We can show benefits. We can show what cargo will help ISS. Putting the logical ideas together. It's difficult to be in limbo, people need to make career plans. Aiming for a June decision. The data is there and it's compelling.
James doing excellent fishing on 135
Mike M: Given the shuttle background, we would like to fly, but it's not our decision to make.
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#282
by
psloss
on 26 May, 2010 15:34
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ChrisG with a question about the HYTHIRM opportunity.
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#283
by
Chris Bergin
on 26 May, 2010 15:40
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Chris G on! Noting the BLT plane.
Mike M: We had it scheduled already and online. Had some money spare and gave another flight, it was coincidence we had the gap filler.
On STS-135/335 if Atlantis or Discovery, really well asked too.
Mike M: Looking at trades. There's about 15 options. Want to pick on optimising best option. Notes SSPTS. Don't want to wait too much longer.
Gerst: It's important we don't get distracted from the next two flights. We really have to focus on them, and then we'll see where we are with the additional.
On long 134 processing:
Mike L: She's not done processing yet, if it does move out, we might go to one shift, take Saturday and Sundays off. We have to be careful not to keep adding stuff.
Lovely moment with Chris G ending with "hers and shes" and Mike L responding with "hers and shes"
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#284
by
John44
on 26 May, 2010 15:46
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#285
by
Chris Bergin
on 26 May, 2010 15:50
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Irene on Soyuz LON:
Gerst: Still need the budget approved for the 2011 situation. Then we need to keep the workforce intact and we do not have funding for that.
Notes ATV and HTV flying end of year and start of year, and might have too much cargo, so it would have to move STS-135 later to balance the right amount of spares. We're working a bunch of options, but at some point we need to get serious and execute.
Mike L getting very down about the end milestone questions.
Robert's there, asking about STS-335 processing pace.
Mike L: Pace is always the same for safing etc. That's a week, and then it's into turnaround. Hope to know by end of June if it's a LON or a mission we're aiming for.
On 335 Crew:
Gerst: No decision on the crew.
Bill H: Who is the authority that makes the 135 decision.
Gerst: It's all the White House, OSTP etc. We've prepared some data and concepts to them. Would be less than the $200m a month for extension.
On clean Atlantis knowing she might end up in an exhibition.
Mike L: Very proud, but as a taxpayer, the gap with American rockets bothers me, but it is what it is. Wish commercial providers the best. I'm not against the new problem, but we need to reduce the gap, but to see that vehicle on the runway and saw people looking up at the vehicle, people were wondering why it's her last mission.
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#286
by
Chris Bergin
on 26 May, 2010 15:58
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Lots of none shuttle questions, but Mike L notes Pad 39B is going to be stripped to clean pad as planned. Pad 39A is staying as is incase there's a SD HLV.
Fox want to know why no LON is acceptable for STS-135.
Gerst: Crew size of four would allow for Soyuz LON. Also the performance of the tanks and repair ability is that good do we really need LON anyway. Mike M notes CSCS has gone from 30 to at least 125 days.
Marcia: How important is Falcon 9 being a success next week?
Gerst struggles on how to word it, Mike M saves him with "you're asking him about the maiden flight of a new rocket, he can't give them more pressure". Nice moment.
Notes this is not a NASA flight, this is a SpaceX commercial flight, but we'll help them.
James on if crews will launch from KSC.
Mike L: That's a really, really, really good question (he's not happy). No one knows. I'm sorry, I just don't know.
Chris G again....getting it back on to 132....on RCC clearance timeline.
Mike M: After late inspection they got all the imagery they usually expect, but there's always some risk with not gaining 100 percent imagery quality. So it's not when it was cleared, but when it was risk accceptable. Mike's enjoying this question as he's going 100 mph heh.
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#287
by
iskyfly
on 26 May, 2010 16:11
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somebody tell that guy to shut up (boss of the boss, crooks on wall street).
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#288
by
Chris Bergin
on 26 May, 2010 16:13
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HA! The Italian guy is back and wondering why the "Wall Street crooks got billions and space flight didn't. It's going to make the US look like it's not as powerful"
Mike M: I'm not sure who wants to jump under the bus with that question
Heck I'd love to spend what they make in the movies. You're talking to an audience who'd say yes please, we want to do more. We'd all like to see more budget, but I could say that about my personal life too. (Got to love Mike M).
Mike L: This is more than a profession to us. I look at what we've got and I'm very thankful for this team. There are no more sounder professionals. (Getting very emotional
)
Great presser, mixed in with some rubbish, but overall great and well worth watching the video of that.
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#289
by
Chris Bergin
on 26 May, 2010 16:14
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And there's Atlantis again:
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#290
by
psloss
on 26 May, 2010 16:16
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And there's Atlantis again:
Looks like they are making good progress towards being ready to tow.
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#291
by
psloss
on 26 May, 2010 16:20
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Mission Highlights replay next. Assume Entry team video some time after that.
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#292
by
rjholling
on 26 May, 2010 16:40
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Congrats to everyone who made STS-132 possible! I will miss seeing Atlantis going up, but what a run!
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#293
by
Ford Mustang
on 26 May, 2010 16:46
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Atlantis heading off the runway for the final time, going to her OPF.
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#294
by
Ford Mustang
on 26 May, 2010 16:48
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#295
by
psloss
on 26 May, 2010 16:49
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Atlantis heading off the runway for the final time, going to her OPF.
Looks like booster segments in the background...or at least cars with some containers...
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#296
by
Ford Mustang
on 26 May, 2010 16:50
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Recording this, by the way:
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#297
by
Ford Mustang
on 26 May, 2010 16:52
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#298
by
Ford Mustang
on 26 May, 2010 16:55
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LC-39B in the background:
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#299
by
Ford Mustang
on 26 May, 2010 16:58
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And here's LC-39A, the pad Atlantis' last launch was from, very symbolic IMO:
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