STS-135 Processing Latest (OPF to VAB Flow)

[Chris Bergin]

A lot to be decided yet, such as if STS-135 will be added to the manifest, and if Atlantis gains that flight. So for now this is the STS-335 processing latest thread.

Opening post STS-132 article, into STS-335 processing:

http://www.nasaspaceflight.com/2010/05/atlantis-sts-335-flow-following-impressive-performance/

----

Related articles - in published order, note the manifest - and indeed STS-135 being on, off and maybe on again - needs to be taken into account over the months:

http://www.nasaspaceflight.com/2009/10/nasa-evaluate-sts-335-sts-133-cross-country-farewell/

http://www.nasaspaceflight.com/2009/12/nasa-evaluating-sts-135-addition-to-shuttle-manifest/

http://www.nasaspaceflight.com/2010/02/progress-m-04m-launches-to-cost-cutting-iss-sts-135-addition-removed/

http://www.nasaspaceflight.com/2010/04/obama-at-ksc-ssp-waiting-on-shuttle-direction/

L2 Members, refer to
http://forum.nasaspaceflight.com/index.php?action=tags&tags=STS-135
http://forum.nasaspaceflight.com/index.php?action=tags&tags=2015

[Ronsmytheiii]

5/27/2010

A train delivers the last space shuttle solid rocket booster segments to the Jay Jay Rail Yard in Titusville, Fla. Six Florida East Coast Railway cars transported the segments on their cross-county journey from the ATK solid rocket booster plant in Promontory, Utah.

http://mediaarchive.ksc.nasa.gov/search.cfm?cat=4

[Ronsmytheiii]

The NASA Railroad train transports the last space shuttle solid rocket booster segments over the Indian River on the 13-mile trip from the Jay Jay Rail Yard in Titusville, Fla., to NASA's Kennedy Space Center. Six cars transported the segments along the Florida East Coast Railway, which began at the ATK solid rocket booster plant in Promontory, Utah. The booster segments will be used for shuttle Atlantis on what currently is planned as the "launch on need," or potential rescue mission for the final shuttle flight, Endeavour's STS-134 mission.

http://mediaarchive.ksc.nasa.gov/search.cfm?cat=4

[Orbiter]

FYI Chris, this looks like this will be your last ever processing thread on a space shuttle. :'-(.

Orbiter

[Chris Bergin]

FYI Chris, this looks like this will be your last ever processing thread on a space shuttle. :'-(.

Orbiter

Yep

[steveS]

Chris's latest article mentions: "After what is becoming more likely to have been her last flight, ...."

Is this related to STS-135 if approved being potentially taken away from Atlantis (as it was mentioned in another article).

If so, how is Atlantis qualified to fly STS 335 but not good enough for STS-135? (some in the forum mentions that Atlantis is not certified to fly since an OMDP is overdue while others mention that Atlantis does not have the SSTP bonus). But I assume similar to STS-133, if STS-135 flies it will be a 8/10 day mission which Atlantis could do.

[Ronsmytheiii]

Chris's latest article mentions: "After what is becoming more likely to have been her last flight, ...."

Is this related to STS-135 if approved being potentially taken away from Atlantis (as it was mentioned in another article).

If so, how is Atlantis qualified to fly STS 335 but not good enough for STS-135? (some in the forum mentions that Atlantis is not certified to fly since an OMDP is overdue while others mention that Atlantis does not have the SSTP bonus). But I assume similar to STS-133, if STS-135 flies it will be a 8/10 day mission which Atlantis could do.

Atlantis does not have SSPTS, and with later missions trying to maximize upmass Orbiters like Discovery have removed things like cryo consumables for fuel cells to lift more which necessitates SSPTS for a shorter mission. 

Also, who says that Atlantis will get the STS-335 flight? (more on l2)

[psloss]

If so, how is Atlantis qualified to fly STS 335 but not good enough for STS-135? (some in the forum mentions that Atlantis is not certified to fly since an OMDP is overdue while others mention that Atlantis does not have the SSTP bonus). But I assume similar to STS-133, if STS-135 flies it will be a 8/10 day mission which Atlantis could do.

Not much has changed (yet) since you asked this last time:
http://forum.nasaspaceflight.com/index.php?topic=20630.msg584129#msg584129

In short, Atlantis can still be ready the soonest to fly this mission; however, we've been hearing that there's a good chance the current schedule for 133 and 134 will change.  If the launch schedule changes, there could be more efficient ways to do things. 

ChrisG specifically asked about this at the post landing news conference.  You can download and watch that here:
http://www.space-multimedia.nl.eu.org/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=6021

[Chris Bergin]

Yeah, still too early to know. Thinking about writing up Discovery and Endeavour's flow latest today and will see if map out where they stand right now, and where it might head to.

Chris G is covering STS-133's PRCB/SSP status via a big presentation (L2) for tomorrow too.

[steveS]

Also, who says that Atlantis will get the STS-335 flight? (more on l2)

So it is not confirmed yet whether Atlantis is assigned to the LON (STS-335) of STS-134? or are you mentioning about STS-135  (sorry I do not have L2 access)

[Chris Bergin]

Basically, Steve....

Currently:

STS-133, Discovery - Sept.
STS-134, Endeavour - Nov.
STS-335, Atlantis - to support STS-134 as LON.

What may happen (although I've gone as far right as I've seen/heard, so you could move things left a bit):

STS-133, Discovery - Nov.
STS-134, Endeavour - Feb/March 2011
STS-135, Atlantis or Discovery - June 2011.

Now if you look at that STS-135 option, and indeed if you look at the slips from a STS-335 standpoint alone, Discovery could be processed to do either. You also gain the benefits of Discovery having SSPTS (for STS-135), you also avoid some challenging processing work with Atlantis (for STS-335 and STS-135), and remove Atlantis from the processing flow to work in those job losses - as sad as that is.

Chris G is writing up the STS-335 PRCB presentation from L2 (it's a big presentation) so I won't go on as he'll get to overview a few things. I may also add some documentation into the STS-134 article I'll write up today.

[shuttlefan]

So then it sounds like management may take 135 away from Atlantis and give it to Discovery, meaning 132 was indeed Atlantis's last flight.

[Chris Bergin]

So then it sounds like management may take 135 away from Atlantis and give it to Discovery, meaning 132 was indeed Atlantis's last flight.

Yes, that could be the outcome, but don't jump too far ahead of yourself, as there's no STS-135 mission, yet.

We need to look at STS-135 a bit like STS-134. A political process needs to happen (and is), then you've got things like a mission not being a mission until it goes through to the PRCB's FDRD process for baselining....which is when we'll really know which orbiter has got the flight. They may even do that in pre-emption of government approval.

We should know in about a month, and we'll very likely see the process being pre-empted via a SSP standup report, or an 8th Floor etc. So when we know, you'll all know.

As far as STS-335. Actual engineers working on Atlantis are saying they aren't even sure if they are processing for LON or a Museum, with none of the usual long term flow charts and lots of "U/R" (Under Review) stamps on the near term flow, but that could be expected for a flow that currently does not see the orbiter leave the OPF (unless LON was called).

Bottom line, sit tight and see where this all leads.

[psloss]

So then it sounds like management may take 135 away from Atlantis and give it to Discovery, meaning 132 was indeed Atlantis's last flight.

To (maybe) add to what Chris wrote, the strong implications about assigning Atlantis to 135 are mostly coming from outside the program(s).  (As Mike Leinbach and Mike Moses have said a couple of times now -- there's more talk about 135 outside.)  Since 135 doesn't exist yet, it can't be taken away from Atlantis.

Despite the similarity between the 335 mission and the outline of a 135 mission, that may be a lesser factor in which orbiter would get the flight if it's approved.  The timing of the missions are still officially uncertain and that plays a bigger factor in what to "optimize for," as Mike Moses said during the post-landing conference last week.

Until there's more clarity about schedules and missions, we'll have to wait on decisions.  But it's certainly possible that we've seen Atlantis's last flight.

[steveS]

Thanks a lot Chris and psloss for those great explanations!  . just a thought, if Discovery actually slips to Nov., then again there could be a possibility that it would again slip to Feb. 2011? (November window is some what tight?). And if STS-135 is approved, this could have an impact (if Discovery is chosen)

Anyway currently, seems like that there are a large number of variables on the manifest decisions. As Chris have mentioned, we will have to wait and see  .   

[ChrisGebhardt]

Thanks a lot Chris and psloss for those great explanations!  . just a thought, if Discovery actually slips to Nov., then again there could be a possibility that it would again slip to Feb. 2011? (November window is some what tight?). And if STS-135 is approved, this could have an impact (if Discovery is chosen)

Anyway currently, seems like that there are a large number of variables on the manifest decisions. As Chris have mentioned, we will have to wait and see  .   

But that jumps the gun in terms of STS-133's launch date. It's quite possible we're only talking about a two week slip to 133, or a 4-week slip to get it on the other side of the October Soyuz crew rotation. It's also possible Dual Docked Ops could be approved for 133 in October. Basically, what will drive the 133 launch date is PMM modifications and any additional crew training that might be required with the addition of 2 EVAs and three Flight Days to the mission.

Furthermore, June 2011 is an ESTIMATE to when the HYPOTHETICAL STS-135 mission would be flown. June is the earliest. Gerst has said on numerous occasions "Summer 2011."

[Lee Jay]

It's also possible Dual Docked Ops could be approved for 133 in October.

It is?  If that were to happen, would it be possible to get a high-quality hand-held still of the orbiter docked at the station from the visiting vehicle?

[Chris Bergin]

Will give this a standalone thread.

STS-335: NASA continues planning for contingency Launch On Need mission - by Chris Gebhardt:
http://www.nasaspaceflight.com/2010/05/sts-335-nasa-planning-contingency-launch-on-need-mission/

[Ronsmytheiii]

Last SRB segment has arrived at the Rotation, Processing and Surge Facility

http://mediaarchive.ksc.nasa.gov/search.cfm?cat=4

[DeanG1967]

FYI Chris, this looks like this will be your last ever processing thread on a space shuttle. :'-(.

Orbiter

Yep

I am starting a fund drive to get Atlantis another flight (where is Charles Branson when you need him)