Mike L reveals that now that's the last launch, they actually make decisions by flipping a coin and using a dark board
"... launched with 58 seconds remaining in the window, which is an eternity lately."
Bob Cabana on KSC refurbishment question
some of the press on site
Question..
I'm really looking forward to seeing the extended footage from the External tank cam coming back in for re-entry. Does anyone know if they were successful getting that footage, how far along they were able to capture, and when it will be available to the public? Or am I mis-remembering what they had planned? Was it just telemetry?
Thanks!
Just wondering...why is it that they always aim to launch in the middle of the launch window? Given that issues like this can come up (and, for example, the range safety issue that almost caused another scrub of STS-133), why don't they aim to launch toward the beginning of the window, so that should an issue occur, they have more time to correct it before the window expires?
They used to, but now want to target maximum performance. Perhaps you could say that, for ISS missions, it's more important that the launch be spot-on than that it occurs on a particular day.
-Alex
But they'll still allow a launch up to about 5 minutes late, because they'd still have sufficient fuel to carry out the mission. So why not just allow a launch say, 4 minutes early? You either have enough fuel to reach the ISS and get back, or you don't. It's not like you can save the extra LOX/LH2 and OMS fuel for future missions.
Actually, the issue with this particular count was the fuel for the APU's. Once the APU's fire up at T-5 minutes, they can only run for a limited time before a scrub. Since the hold happened at T-31 Seconds, the APU's were already running and consuming fuel. They need enough APU fuel for the ascent and entry timelines, plus margin.
Question..
I'm really looking forward to seeing the extended footage from the External tank cam coming back in for re-entry. Does anyone know if they were successful getting that footage, how far along they were able to capture, and when it will be available to the public? Or am I mis-remembering what they had planned? Was it just telemetry?
Thanks!
I imagine it will take a while to get it together, It would have been recorded from various different antennas around the world (hopefully!).
Actually, the issue with this particular count was the fuel for the APU's. Once the APU's fire up at T-5 minutes, they can only run for a limited time before a scrub. Since the hold happened at T-31 Seconds, the APU's were already running and consuming fuel. They need enough APU fuel for the ascent and entry timelines, plus margin.
No, they would have run out of launch window first. The APU pad run time is longer than it was originally back in the 80s. (It's just very seldom been used beyond five minutes.)
1535 news people today
Bill G
Truely awesome day, witnessed something special and amazing
What you saw is the finest launch team and shuttle prep teams in the world
Saw the teams perform everything we’ve asked them, tremendous launch, teams were flawless worked through t-31 second issue professionally
Everything I ask them to do they do, Thank You
Busy mission, docking Sunday
Trying to extend mission by a day
Bob C
Thanks Bill for his leadership
John is the finest manager
Thanks the 2 Mikes, they did an excellent job leading the team
Awesome launch, only would have been better if I had been onboard
Words cant express gratitude I have for the team or the pride, there the most professional, outstanding team of professionals
Did an outstanding job in service to our country
They perform there job flawlessly
Change is difficult but you cant do something better without change
NASA has a plan, were enabling commercial space, 4 folks under contract to build vehicles to take Americans to space
Working hard on a HLV to explore beyond our planet
Pad B is in better shape than A
Inside are new digital controls, fiber optics and lightning protection
MPCV is going on the big rocket, hardware coming to KSC later this year
Announcement on archetiure later this year
Shuttle program has been phenomenal
Weather pilot said – “it was a really really big hole”
Mike Moses
The team are the best in the world, it’s a pleasure to serve with Mike (starts to choke up)
Got a call yesterday about a lightning strike cleared it in 4 hours
In the past we’ve delayed because of them
Decided to go tank despite weather, this was unbelievable leadership
Worked LOX pump issue
At 31 seconds GOX vent arm issue
Came down the wire on weather, range was good, recon aircraft helped with clouds
RTLS rain shower rule – no rain with 20nm of landing
Had a few showers popping up were no go at launch buts its ok due to not being there for 35 mins if we did go
Understood situation and evaluated it, did an amazing job talking about the conditions showers would only affect one end of runway so could land on the other end
Had excess margin if we did catch a rain shower at a bad time
As we were flying there was no shower at RTLS sites
DPDT cabin pressure dropped a little, probably due to cabin stretch due to g forces
Pressure was stable afterwards
MECO on target
OMS 2 perfect
Shuttle program ending as it should built ISS and were stocking it up
Not looking back or forward yet focusing on mission
Mike Leinbach
Tanking Decision – met in Mikes office and flipped a coin (joking)
Had a decent shot with forecast have tanked with worse predictions, got lucky today
Launch weather officer did an outstanding job
Forecast for launch was right on the money, got the little bit of clearing we needed
RTLS issue was more challenging worked through it
Tanking went fine, small issue with LOX pump
Switched to another pump, ECO sensors never came on
Thought we were in the clear till 31 seconds
1 indicator didn’t come on when we retracted GOX vent arm, had to check it, no issue
Launched with 58 seconds in window (an eternity lately)
Theres a party in VAB, don’t ask too many questions
Questions
Q: Describe mood after launch in LC? Did it take longer for people to file out?
A: Took longer to leave control room, have photographer to take pictures of the team. A lot of us walked around and shook hands, we didn’t want to leave.
Q: Is it sweeter to overcome some issues and launch?
A: Anytime we launch and get to orbit safely is fine by me, had a special procedure for GOX vent arm as during testing the sensor hadn’t always worked.
Q: Would you have issued the RTLS waiver if the shuttle was going to fly again?
A: Yes. No consideration of it being the last mission. Problem with flying through rain clouds is you loose energy.
Q: When will work on 39B, be completed, whats happening to 39A ?
A: preparing to launch HLV off 39B (goal 2016) depends on budget doesn’t look feasible now. Want to go pad ready ASAP. No funding to do anything to 39A, will need to use 39A at some point in the future though.
Q: Talk about your medallion? Mike L
A: Flag I gave the team today to remember the good times
Q: Reaction to proposed budget?
A: Too early to react will discuss with senate. Don’t react to these will watch the process and execute with what we get.
Q: This is the last time you will see such execution from launch teams, thoughts on this ?
A: Everyone has grew into a cohesive group. May see it again. Its taken years to grow into this. It will be done again as it has to. Have learnt from shuttle how to work between centres. Feel good this team will go out there and save the world. Will rebuild it when the time comes. Will miss this in the short term.
Q: Did you say anything special to the team when it was over?
A: Theres a tradition in manned space flight the director bids the crew fair well. At the end of the speech to the launch team I wished them good luck and god speed.
Q: Anything set this launch apart?
A: Looked like it was lifting off in slow motion. (Mike M) It was special today, remembering standing there when it went into the cloud deck and it seemed like the cloud plume was growing and drifting north. Put arms around (missed name) and said will never see that again (Mike L)
Q: How do you perceive the challenge to combat perception that US is loosing leadership in manned space?
A: Need to maximise the way we use the ISS. Have a unique chance to do research. Still have an ISS flight team managing 17 launches a year. Have commercial flights coming.
Q: Did you choke up?
A: Yes from both Mikes
Q: Why ?
A: Mike M chokes at every launch, choked up before this launch. Cant see how people that watch these launches don’t choke up.
Q: Future of the VAB ?
A: Would get shot if I did anything but refurbish it. Partnering with commercial companies to bring commercial work here. Need the VAB for a HLV.
Q: Will the government bear all the costs of refurbishment?
A: If commercial companies want to use it they will have to pay.
Q: Why did it take 30 years for the shuttle to get to a point where it would stand down and give commercial companies a chance to meet it’s goals ?
A: Couldn’t have built ISS without the shuttle. Deployed lots of payloads. Don’t think the shuttle program ended early. It fulfilled what it was meant to do. Didn’t meet cost hopes. Met things which weren’t considered achievable though.
Q: Will commercial companies have an easier time developing non human rated craft?
A: Yes, but wont have the shuttles capabilities. Lots of things from the shuttle will help commercial space.
Q: Whats the main objective you want to do before you get home ?
A: Lots of logistic activities. Heaviest MPLM we’ve flown. Station is getting crowded, lots of things to bring back. Want an extra day to do so. Have a failed pump module we want to bring back. Have a refuelling experiment
Q: Any plans for plaques for 39 A ?
A: Working on commerative plaques, for pads and landings.
Q: Any special plans for when Atlantis lands ?
A: Couple of ceremonies after landing, big celebration planned at the visitor centre.
Q: Talk about the importance of weather forecasting ?
A: Need the weather forecast for lots of operations. Mike L has a daily weather call. Weather reporting has played an integral part for the program. Got lots of improvements on lightning predictions. Weather in FL is interesting. Relationship with 45th and SMG is outstanding
Q: How will NASA convince the public it knows where it is going and its worth doing?
A: When we announce the vehicle and why we chose it, it will help tremendously. Working on detailed plans in house on how to go forward.
Q: Do you see this as the end of a golden era in space flight ?
A: Don’t see it as an end, but a transition. Had to quit ISS assembly to focus on research. Have 9 years to focus on research. Will be building HLV and MPCV whilst doing research to go beyond LEO. Not the end of a golden era but a chance to leverage of what we have to go in new directions.
Q: Are you concerned about loosing knowledge?
A: Have a lessons learned program with video archives and a searchable database. Can transfer people from one program to another so they can apply the lessons they learned. A lot of the ISS team came from the shuttle program.
Bill Gerstenmaier mentioned in response to a question about Apollo veterans concerns that he will reach out to them and help them understand NASA’s new direction.
Just about 60 minutes to the NC-1 burn...Ascent team has not quite handed over to Orbit 2 yet.
1535 news people today
Bill G
Truely awesome day, witnessed something special and amazing
What you saw is the finest launch team and shuttle prep teams in the world
Saw the teams perform everything we’ve asked them, tremendous launch, teams were flawless worked through t-31 second issue professionally
Everything I ask them to do they do, Thank You
Busy mission, docking Sunday
Trying to extend mission by a day
Bob C
Thanks Bill for his leadership
John is the finest manager
Thanks the 2 Mikes, they did an excellent job leading the team
Awesome launch, only would have been better if I had been onboard
Words cant express gratitude I have for the team or the pride, there the most professional, outstanding team of professionals
Did an outstanding job in service to our country
They perform there job flawlessly
Change is difficult but you cant do something better without change
NASA has a plan, were enabling commercial space, 4 folks under contract to build vehicles to take Americans to space
Working hard on a HLV to explore beyond our planet
Pad B is in better shape than A
Inside are new digital controls, fiber optics and lightning protection
MPCV is going on the big rocket, hardware coming to KSC later this year
Announcement on archetiure later this year
Shuttle program has been phenomenal
Weather pilot said – “it was a really really big hole”
Mike Moses
The team are the best in the world, it’s a pleasure to serve with Mike (starts to choke up)
Got a call yesterday about a lightning strike cleared it in 4 hours
In the past we’ve delayed because of them
Decided to go tank despite weather, this was unbelievable leadership
Worked LOX pump issue
At 31 seconds GOX vent arm issue
Came down the wire on weather, range was good, recon aircraft helped with clouds
RTLS rain shower rule – no rain with 20nm of landing
Had a few showers popping up were no go at launch buts its ok due to not being there for 35 mins if we did go
Understood situation and evaluated it, did an amazing job talking about the conditions showers would only affect one end of runway so could land on the other end
Had excess margin if we did catch a rain shower at a bad time
As we were flying there was no shower at RTLS sites
DPDT cabin pressure dropped a little, probably due to cabin stretch due to g forces
Pressure was stable afterwards
MECO on target
OMS 2 perfect
Shuttle program ending as it should built ISS and were stocking it up
Not looking back or forward yet focusing on mission
Mike Leinbach
Tanking Decision – met in Mikes office and flipped a coin (joking)
Had a decent shot with forecast have tanked with worse predictions, got lucky today
Launch weather officer did an outstanding job
Forecast for launch was right on the money, got the little bit of clearing we needed
RTLS issue was more challenging worked through it
Tanking went fine, small issue with LOX pump
Switched to another pump, ECO sensors never came on
Thought we were in the clear till 31 seconds
1 indicator didn’t come on when we retracted GOX vent arm, had to check it, no issue
Launched with 58 seconds in window (an eternity lately)
Theres a party in VAB, don’t ask too many questions
Questions
Q: Describe mood after launch in LC? Did it take longer for people to file out?
A: Took longer to leave control room, have photographer to take pictures of the team. A lot of us walked around and shook hands, we didn’t want to leave.
Q: Is it sweeter to overcome some issues and launch?
A: Anytime we launch and get to orbit safely is fine by me, had a special procedure for GOX vent arm as during testing the sensor hadn’t always worked.
Q: Would you have issued the RTLS waiver if the shuttle was going to fly again?
A: Yes. No consideration of it being the last mission. Problem with flying through rain clouds is you loose energy.
Q: When will work on 39B, be completed, whats happening to 39A ?
A: preparing to launch HLV off 39B (goal 2016) depends on budget doesn’t look feasible now. Want to go pad ready ASAP. No funding to do anything to 39A, will need to use 39A at some point in the future though.
Q: Talk about your medallion? Mike L
A: Flag I gave the team today to remember the good times
Q: Reaction to proposed budget?
A: Too early to react will discuss with senate. Don’t react to these will watch the process and execute with what we get.
Q: This is the last time you will see such execution from launch teams, thoughts on this ?
A: Everyone has grew into a cohesive group. May see it again. Its taken years to grow into this. It will be done again as it has to. Have learnt from shuttle how to work between centres. Feel good this team will go out there and save the world. Will rebuild it when the time comes. Will miss this in the short term.
Q: Did you say anything special to the team when it was over?
A: Theres a tradition in manned space flight the director bids the crew fair well. At the end of the speech to the launch team I wished them good luck and god speed.
Q: Anything set this launch apart?
A: Looked like it was lifting off in slow motion. (Mike M) It was special today, remembering standing there when it went into the cloud deck and it seemed like the cloud plume was growing and drifting north. Put arms around (missed name) and said will never see that again (Mike L)
Q: How do you perceive the challenge to combat perception that US is loosing leadership in manned space?
A: Need to maximise the way we use the ISS. Have a unique chance to do research. Still have an ISS flight team managing 17 launches a year. Have commercial flights coming.
Q: Did you choke up?
A: Yes from both Mikes
Q: Why ?
A: Mike M chokes at every launch, choked up before this launch. Cant see how people that watch these launches don’t choke up.
Q: Future of the VAB ?
A: Would get shot if I did anything but refurbish it. Partnering with commercial companies to bring commercial work here. Need the VAB for a HLV.
Q: Will the government bear all the costs of refurbishment?
A: If commercial companies want to use it they will have to pay.
Q: Why did it take 30 years for the shuttle to get to a point where it would stand down and give commercial companies a chance to meet it’s goals ?
A: Couldn’t have built ISS without the shuttle. Deployed lots of payloads. Don’t think the shuttle program ended early. It fulfilled what it was meant to do. Didn’t meet cost hopes. Met things which weren’t considered achievable though.
Q: Will commercial companies have an easier time developing non human rated craft?
A: Yes, but wont have the shuttles capabilities. Lots of things from the shuttle will help commercial space.
Q: Whats the main objective you want to do before you get home ?
A: Lots of logistic activities. Heaviest MPLM we’ve flown. Station is getting crowded, lots of things to bring back. Want an extra day to do so. Have a failed pump module we want to bring back. Have a refuelling experiment
Q: Any plans for plaques for 39 A ?
A: Working on commerative plaques, for pads and landings.
Q: Any special plans for when Atlantis lands ?
A: Couple of ceremonies after landing, big celebration planned at the visitor centre.
Q: Talk about the importance of weather forecasting ?
A: Need the weather forecast for lots of operations. Mike L has a daily weather call. Weather reporting has played an integral part for the program. Got lots of improvements on lightning predictions. Weather in FL is interesting. Relationship with 45th and SMG is outstanding
Q: How will NASA convince the public it knows where it is going and its worth doing?
A: When we announce the vehicle and why we chose it, it will help tremendously. Working on detailed plans in house on how to go forward.
Q: Do you see this as the end of a golden era in space flight ?
A: Don’t see it as an end, but a transition. Had to quit ISS assembly to focus on research. Have 9 years to focus on research. Will be building HLV and MPCV whilst doing research to go beyond LEO. Not the end of a golden era but a chance to leverage of what we have to go in new directions.
Q: Are you concerned about loosing knowledge?
A: Have a lessons learned program with video archives and a searchable database. Can transfer people from one program to another so they can apply the lessons they learned. A lot of the ISS team came from the shuttle program.
Great work Aaron, thanks!
And they replayed the amazing tribute by the closeout crew. One of the most touching things I've seen.
Ascent flight director Richard Jones addressing his team at the end of the final Shuttle ascent shift.
Edit: and his last shift as a Shuttle flight director. (Well, assuming he's not filling in on a shift or two during the flight...)
Very roughly what he said:
We are the thread that makes up the tapestry of space flight
Others will stand on our shoulders just as we stand on the shoulders of the first shuttle flight controllers
Replaying the call from earlier...Butch Wilmore noted that they're already about 23 hours of margin on the cryo H2 side, sounds like they're close to having that extra docked day capability.
