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#220 by shuttlefan on 17 Aug, 2006 00:52
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My understanding is that these shorter-than-specification KU-Band antenna bolts were installed in Atlantis before its first flight in 1985. Is that true, and, if so, why was this problem not found before now?
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#221 by punkboi on 17 Aug, 2006 01:56
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Quote
shuttlefan - 16/8/2006 5:39 PM My understanding is that these shorter-than-specification KU-Band antenna bolts were installed in Atlantis before its first flight in 1985. Is that true, and, if so, why was this problem not found before now?
Because this is the result of NASA's reformed safety culture, post-Columbia
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#222 by jacqmans on 17 Aug, 2006 03:25
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Mission: STS-115 - 19th International Space Station Flight (12A) -
P3/P4 Truss Segment and Solar Arrays
Vehicle: Atlantis (OV-104)
Location: Launch Pad 39B
Launch Date: No earlier than Aug. 27, 2006 at about 4:30 p.m. EDT
Crew: Jett, Ferguson, Tanner, Burbank, MacLean and Stefanyshyn-Piper
Inclination/Orbit Altitude: 51.6 degrees/122 nautical miles
At Launch Pad 39B, functional tests and checkout of the shuttle and
pad systems continue. Hypergolic propellant loading continues and
should be complete by Thursday. Ordnance installation is scheduled
for Thursday and Friday. Replenishing of both the liquid hydrogen and
liquid oxygen storage tanks at Pad 39B is under way. The fuel from
these storage tanks will be transferred to the shuttle's external
fuel tank on launch day.
-end-
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#223 by SimonShuttle on 17 Aug, 2006 09:05
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MKremer - 16/8/2006 5:53 PM
In many cases, the 'doom-and-gloom' stories are from reporters who *don't* attend the NASA briefings.
Most come from the AP, and they are always there. -
#224 by dutch courage on 17 Aug, 2006 13:12
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Which self-respecting technician would screw in a bolt with only 2.3 threads? It might have passed the initial torque test but it isn't structurely safe. Especially if it's going to be subjected to a an intense shaking launch enviroment.
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#225 by shuttlefan on 17 Aug, 2006 13:58
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What amazes me is how Atlantis flew 26 missions before anyone knew about the status of those bolts...
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#226 by Spiff on 17 Aug, 2006 14:17
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What amazes me is that Atlantis has not flown for more than 3 years and no one decided that this might have been a good time to change those bolts.
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#227 by rdale on 17 Aug, 2006 14:51
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Not that hard to believe... The longer it sits idle, the more time you have to review old items that normally would be untouched.
Sort of like your garage - there may be things you should clean up but never get around to it. If you're stuck at home for the next month with nothing do, no TV, no Internet -- odds are good you'll get that cleaned ;> -
#228 by shuttle_buff on 17 Aug, 2006 15:58
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I'm surprized this was not caught during the intial installation. "Wow, these bolts are shorter than the others, wonder if that's right?"
But all said, after 26 flights with no problems, then is there really an issue?
shuttle_buff -
#229 by shuttle_buff on 17 Aug, 2006 16:00
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Be nice if we could get a close-up look on how the antenna is attached to the wall.
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#230 by Avron on 17 Aug, 2006 17:44
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dutch courage - 17/8/2006 8:59 AM
Which self-respecting technician would screw in a bolt with only 2.3 threads? It might have passed the initial torque test but it isn't structurely safe. Especially if it's going to be subjected to a an intense shaking launch enviroment.
And that worries me the most...I really hope that its noted in the Assembly docs.. and in any maintenace docs that were signed off and submitterd for review... if the 25 year foam issue is anything to go by, its noted but no one does a thing about it.. It may just be a blessing to finally find out where the flaw in the process
is, as there must be one for this to be "missed" for that time frame.
I would love to see the design drawings of the interface as well, what I am looking for is the lengths noted and what is listed in the Bill of Materials... -
#231 by DaveS on 17 Aug, 2006 19:04
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shuttle_buff - 17/8/2006 5:47 PM
The KU band antenna is not attached to any "walls". It's attached to the starboard(right) payload bay longeron and and rotates outboard when deployed.
Be nice if we could get a close-up look on how the antenna is attached to the wall. -
#232 by Avron on 17 Aug, 2006 20:25
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#233 by Avron on 17 Aug, 2006 20:41
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shuttle_buff - 17/8/2006 11:47 AM
Be nice if we could get a close-up look on how the antenna is attached to the wall.
I cannot see them bolts.
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#234 by Bruhn on 17 Aug, 2006 20:54
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dutch courage - 17/8/2006 7:59 AM
Which self-respecting technician would screw in a bolt with only 2.3 threads? It might have passed the initial torque test but it isn't structurely safe. Especially if it's going to be subjected to a an intense shaking launch enviroment.
They could be blind bolts in which case you wouldn't know how many threads are engaged. And like somebody mentioned earlier, they're probably lock wired. -
#235 by DaveS on 17 Aug, 2006 22:36
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Spaceflightnow.com has posted the initial version of Bill Harwood's launch countdown list: http://spaceflightnow.com/shuttle/sts115/fdf/115countdown.html
According to that, countdown start is at 6 pm EDT Aug. 24. -
#236 by Mark Dave on 17 Aug, 2006 22:56
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What times is the launch on the 27th?
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#237 by DaveS on 17 Aug, 2006 22:59
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MarkD - 18/8/2006 12:43 AM
Exact T-0:
What times is the launch on the 27th?
EDT: 4:29:55 pm
UTC: 20:29:55 -
#238 by mkirk on 18 Aug, 2006 00:46
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Here are a couple of CAD drawings showing how the CAP access will work for the R&R of the Ku antenna bolts.
http://www.nasa.gov/pdf/154918main_kuband_antenna_access.pdf
Also about T-0; as always the exact time(s) will be refined as we get closer to launch and at the T-9 minute hold. These updates will be based on the latest ISS tracking data.
Current window open: 4:24:55 pm
In plane (preferred): 4:29:55 pm
Current window close: 4:34:54 pm
Mark Kirkman -
#239 by Avron on 18 Aug, 2006 00:48
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mkirk - 17/8/2006 8:33 PM
Here are a couple of CAD drawings showing how the CAP access will work for the R&R of the Ku antenna bolts.
http://www.nasa.gov/pdf/154918main_kuband_antenna_access.pdf
Also about T-0; as always the exact time(s) will be refined as we get closer to launch and at the T-9 minute hold. These updates will be based on the latest ISS tracking data.
Current window open: 4:24:55 pm
In plane (preferred): 4:29:55 pm
Current window close: 4:34:54 pm
Mark Kirkman
Thank-you sir, it really is like surfing in the Payload bay
