STS-135: Amended Systems Abort-Once-Around practiced before launch

• STS-135: Amended Systems Abort-Once-Around practiced before launch by Chris Bergin on 28 Jun, 2011 04:35
• Great feature article by Philip Sloss and Chris Gebhardt bringing an insight into the sims...the last ones at that:
  
  http://www.nasaspaceflight.com/2011/06/sts-135-amended-systems-aoa-practiced-before-launch/
• #1 by saturnapollo on 28 Jun, 2011 09:35
• Great article. Very interesting indeed.
  
  Now probably a stupid question, but why not launch with one of the crew in the mid deck for just such a scenario?
  
  Keith
• #2 by psloss on 28 Jun, 2011 10:53
• Quote from: saturnapollo on 28 Jun, 2011 09:35

  why not launch with one of the crew in the mid deck for just such a scenario?
  

  Most of the action (displays, switches) is on the flight deck vs. the mid-deck.  At least in these contingency cases they practice, anyway.
  
  In the Systems AOA case we saw, taking one person away from 'upstairs' probably would have made it more difficult to squeeze in all the power-downs on the flight deck.
  
• #3 by DrGuano on 28 Jun, 2011 12:13
• Good article. Rehearsal helps one to be ready for the unexpected and to reveal the unthought of. Reading this reminded me of a radio callout that I hear during ascent and always make a note to find out what it means. It sounds like "press da MECO". MECO is Main Engine Cut Off but "press-da"? Could anyone advise on what are they saying and what does it mean? Another acronym on the time line is TIG. Is that Timed IGnition or Time to Ignition or ? Thanks for any clarification.
• #4 by psloss on 28 Jun, 2011 12:16
• Quote from: DrGuano on 28 Jun, 2011 12:13

  Reading this reminded me of a radio callout that I hear during ascent and always make a note to find out what it means. It sounds like "press da MECO".

  "Press to MECO" -- Wayne Hale provided one of the best summaries I've seen of what that means in this post:
  http://forum.nasaspaceflight.com/index.php?topic=23170.msg686669#msg686669
  
  (It's complicated and non-intuitive.)
  
  
  

  Quote from: DrGuano on 28 Jun, 2011 12:13

  Another acronym on the time line is TIG. Is that Timed IGnition or Time to Ignition or ? Thanks for any clarification.
  

  Time of Ignition
  
• #5 by DrGuano on 28 Jun, 2011 12:25
• Thanks, psloss! Now I know I am not hearing Italian.
• #6 by Longhorn John on 28 Jun, 2011 20:11
• So cool. Would have loved to have been at one of those consoles
• #7 by David AF on 28 Jun, 2011 23:01
• Always been very impressed by the professionalism of these people. Thanks for such a great insight article.
• #8 by Driver31x on 28 Jun, 2011 23:05
• Does anybody know if NTV recorded this run, and could we coax them into posting it on YouTube...it would be a sweet watch!
• #9 by psloss on 28 Jun, 2011 23:17
• Quote from: Driver31x on 28 Jun, 2011 23:05

  Does anybody know if NTV recorded this run, and could we coax them into posting it on YouTube...it would be a sweet watch!
  

  Yes, it was recorded by NASA TV -- it was the last run of the simulation.  NASA TV broadcast a replay of most of the third run and all of the fourth/last (the SysAOA) on the day of the sim.  John44 has posted that recording; link here:
  http://forum.nasaspaceflight.com/index.php?topic=23545.msg759421#msg759421
  
  As for posting on YT, I didn't do an exhaustive search but didn't see that there.  The replay of a large part of the rendezvous sim the next day was posted on the NTV channel.