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#80
by
Zachstar
on 26 Aug, 2006 23:50
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#81
by
nathan.moeller
on 26 Aug, 2006 23:51
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Haha good answer. I guess the better term would be "target time." I remember Leinbach saying they have four to five hours of leeway time to get the RSS cleared for launch.
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#82
by
shuttlefan
on 27 Aug, 2006 02:57
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Is there any possibility whatsoever that extra inspections or work may require a rollback to the VAB?
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#83
by
Austin
on 27 Aug, 2006 03:10
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shuttlefan - 26/8/2006 7:44 PM
Is there any possibility whatsoever that extra inspections or work may require a rollback to the VAB?
I don't know that your question could really be answered until the inspections are actually completed.
I suppose the literal answer to your question is yes -- there is always the possibility of having to rollback to the VAB in the event that a problem arises that can't be fixed out at the pad. But that is extremely rare and the question is, I think, somewhat hypothetical at this point.
Let's hope not!
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#84
by
Polecat
on 27 Aug, 2006 04:55
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Here's to Monday then.
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#85
by
astrobrian
on 27 Aug, 2006 05:07
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spaceflightnow is saying the booster team wants to run additional tests that could push launch back to mid week
Chris do any of your sources confirm this?
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#86
by
Zachstar
on 27 Aug, 2006 05:44
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Is there any real reason why this needs to be called? I mean that vent arm pryo did it get blasted? And if it did not isn't it in greater danger of being blasted by the strike then the SRB pyros?
Damn if we have to delay (mostly likely ruining a trip for quite a few people and further causing problems with the program PR) because of this then we really really need to go install a better protection system on that pad. This isn't cool...
And monday was supposed to be the best day to launch with 20 percent right? What a stupid call to make when we have the best chance to launch so soon. Esp if the vent arm is fine.
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#87
by
Austin
on 27 Aug, 2006 06:07
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Zachstar - 26/8/2006 10:31 PM
Damn if we have to delay (mostly likely ruining a trip for quite a few people and further causing problems with the program PR) because of this then we really really need to go install a better protection system on that pad. This isn't cool...
A launch delay is frustrating for everyone, but I can assure you that what would REALLY not be cool would be if the hydrogen vent arm pyrotechnics didn't fire correctly at T-0 and Atlantis' ET was damaged as she pushed away from the pad. (or some other pad related malfunction) This was an unprecedented lightning strike.
No matter how technologically advanced man becomes, Mother Nature will occassionally humble us with a display of her power and remind us that she is in control.
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#88
by
Zachstar
on 27 Aug, 2006 06:12
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Indeed about the Vent arm but if it comes up ok is there a REAL cause to delay based on the SRB Pyros? I mean is this a real issue or is it people covering their ass?
Im not trying to be rude and I want the crew to be safe but there is such a thing as too safe.
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#89
by
Austin
on 27 Aug, 2006 06:17
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Zachstar - 26/8/2006 10:59 PM
Indeed about the Vent arm but if it comes up ok is there a REAL cause to delay based on the SRB Pyros? I mean is this a real issue or is it people covering their ass?
Im not trying to be rude and I want the crew to be safe but there is such a thing as too safe.
Zack -- It could very well be a case of people trying to cover their ass. Then again, based upon the intensity of this lightening strike, there could be some real concern. Mike Leinbach (launch director) today said that they were getting one abnormal reading out at the pad (I don't remember what function), and that technicians this morning noted a "charred smell."
Hard to say. I just want the crew to be safe.
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#90
by
Zachstar
on 27 Aug, 2006 06:19
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First of all its Zach please...
2nd that smell was coming from the vent arm NOT the SRB system unless somthing new has come up with the smell.
1923 GMT (3:23 p.m. EDT)
Technicians performing launch pad inspections this morning reported smelling a charred odor near the liquid hydrogen vent arm that extends from the service tower to the backside of the external tank. Engineers will be inspecting all of the wiring and circuitry to verify the pyrotechnics that fire at liftoff to separate the arm from the shuttle weren't harmed in the lightning strike.
I believe this issue is not about the vent but the SRB.
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#91
by
Naraht
on 27 Aug, 2006 08:07
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Zachstar - 27/8/2006 6:59 AM
Indeed about the Vent arm but if it comes up ok is there a REAL cause to delay based on the SRB Pyros? I mean is this a real issue or is it people covering their ass?
It's so hard to tell. I mean, I could just hear Lawrence Mulloy saying that to the Morton Thiokol engineers on the eve of the Challenger launch.
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#92
by
DaveS
on 27 Aug, 2006 11:01
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I decided to check the NHC website for the latest charts on Hurricane Ernesto. Well, it's a good news/bad news situation.
Good news: JSC is no longer threatned by it.
Bad news: the latest 5 day track chart has it blowing right across northen Florida by 8 pm EDT Thursday. This could lead to a rollback to the VAB.
However, it's still a very dynamic situation which could change on a day-by-day basis.
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#93
by
psloss
on 27 Aug, 2006 11:12
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DaveS - 27/8/2006 6:48 AM
Bad news: the latest 5 day track chart has it blowing right across northen Florida by 8 pm EDT Thursday. This could lead to a rollback to the VAB.
The latest discussion (the 5 am EDT one), talks about this:
http://www.nhc.noaa.gov/text/refresh/MIATCDAT5+shtml/270900.shtmlNOW FOR THE REST OF THE BAD NEWS...THE OFFICIAL
FORECAST TRACK HAS BEEN SHIFTED SIGNIFICANTLY TO THE RIGHT OR EAST
OF THE PREVIOUS TRACK...ESPECIALLY AT 96 AND 120 HOURS..AND NOW
TAKES ERNESTO ACROSS THE FLORIDA PENINSULA. THE CONSENSUS OF THE
AVAILABLE MODEL GUIDANCE NOW INDICATES THAT A STRONG SHORTWAVE
TROUGH CURRENTLY OVER THE CENTRAL AND SOUTHERN ROCKIES WILL DIG
EAST-SOUTHEASTWARD INTO THE WESTERN AND CENTRAL GULF OF MEXICO...
CAUSING THE SUBTROPICAL RIDGE SITUATED OVER FLORIDA AND THE
SOUTHEASTERN U.S. TO GRADUALLY ERODE EASTWARD.
Even without a rollback and even if the track were to be more westerly, it would have the system come to strongly influence KSC weather in that mid/late-week timeframe.
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#94
by
psloss
on 27 Aug, 2006 11:36
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Zachstar - 27/8/2006 1:59 AM
Indeed about the Vent arm but if it comes up ok is there a REAL cause to delay based on the SRB Pyros? I mean is this a real issue or is it people covering their ass?
You do realize that these are not toys and it could be both, right?
How would you determine whether or not this was a real issue without testing or analysis?
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#95
by
DaveS
on 27 Aug, 2006 11:43
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#96
by
psloss
on 27 Aug, 2006 11:56
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#97
by
Jim
on 27 Aug, 2006 11:59
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nathan.moeller - 26/8/2006 7:23 PM
Any word on how long the additional testing will take? I saw earlier that the RSS rollback will be postponed until tomorrow evening, but does anyone have a time for that? That'd be great to be one of those workers that get to go out on the LOX and GOX VA's. Gotta love the heights!
VA's
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#98
by
GioFX
on 27 Aug, 2006 12:02
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noooo, i'm leaving for a 10-day vacation tuesday, so i'll not be able to see the launch, damn it!
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#99
by
Jim
on 27 Aug, 2006 12:14
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Zachstar - 27/8/2006 1:31 AM
Damn if we have to delay (mostly likely ruining a trip for quite a few people and further causing problems with the program PR) because of this then we really really need to go install a better protection system on that pad. This isn't cool...
It is the best there is of any pad
Chris do any of your sources confirm this?
