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#200 by jacqmans on 01 Sep, 2006 21:36
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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: Sept. 6, 2006, 12:29 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, preparations for Wednesday's launch are under way,
with the launch countdown scheduled to begin on Sunday at 8 a.m. The
liquid oxygen and liquid hydrogen transfer lines used for filling the
external fuel tank (ET) were reconnected to the mobile launch
platform. The ET hydrogen vent line hook-up is complete. The ordnance
was disconnected to allow for vehicle power-up and will be
reconnected this weekend. The Orbiter Midbody Umbilical Unit (OMBUU)
mate is complete. This is the connection point for lines that will be
used to provide hydrogen and oxygen reactants for the fuel cells.
Weekend work includes pressurization of the orbital maneuvering
system, the reaction control system and the main propulsion system.
The two doors to the aft compartment of Atlantis were removed for
access to ordnance, and they will be closed during the weekend to
allow for the aft confidence test on Sunday. This test involves
powering up and testing all aft systems, such as the main propulsion
system circuits.
On Tuesday, the shuttle was moved off the pad in advance of Tropical
Storm Ernesto, then returned to the pad after traveling about 2 miles
toward the Vehicle Assembly Building when the storm predictions
became more favorable. On Thursday, engineers inspected the ET
thermal protection system, post-rollback, and found three areas of
minor foam damage. One area, about 3/8 inches long, is located at the
midsection of the liquid oxygen tank, about 2 feet outboard of the
ice frost ramps. A second area, about 1 inch long by 1/16 inch wide,
is located near the ET/right SRB aft fairing, which is the attach
point between the two components. Both of these resemble a scratch,
are accessible and are expected to be easily repaired. The third
area, a missing foam nodule from the liquid hydrogen barrel between
the ET and the left SRB, about five feet below the intertank flange
closeouts, will not need repair.
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#201 by Felix on 01 Sep, 2006 21:36
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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: Sept. 6, 2006, 12:29 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, preparations for Wednesday's launch are under way, with the launch countdown scheduled to begin on Sunday at 8 a.m. The liquid oxygen and liquid hydrogen transfer lines used for filling the external fuel tank (ET) were reconnected to the mobile launch platform. The ET hydrogen vent line hook-up is complete. The ordnance was disconnected to allow for vehicle power-up and will be reconnected this weekend. The Orbiter Midbody Umbilical Unit (OMBUU) mate is complete. This is the connection point for lines that will be used to provide hydrogen and oxygen reactants for the fuel cells. Weekend work includes pressurization of the orbital maneuvering system, the reaction control system and the main propulsion system. The two doors to the aft compartment of Atlantis were removed for access to ordnance, and they will be closed during the weekend to allow for the aft confidence test on Sunday. This test involves powering up and testing all aft systems, such as the main propulsion system circuits.
On Tuesday, the shuttle was moved off the pad in advance of Tropical Storm Ernesto, then returned to the pad after traveling about 2 miles toward the Vehicle Assembly Building when the storm predictions became more favorable. On Thursday, engineers inspected the ET thermal protection system, post-rollback, and found three areas of minor foam damage. One area, about 3/8 inches long, is located at the midsection of the liquid oxygen tank, about 2 feet outboard of the ice frost ramps. A second area, about 1 inch long by 1/16 inch wide, is located near the ET/right SRB aft fairing, which is the attach point between the two components. Both of these resemble a scratch, are accessible and are expected to be easily repaired. The third area, a missing foam nodule from the liquid hydrogen barrel between the ET and the left SRB, about five feet below the intertank flange closeouts, will not need repair. -
#202 by nathan.moeller on 02 Sep, 2006 13:56
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STS-115 crew arriving at KSC. All six have landed together.
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#203 by dutch courage on 02 Sep, 2006 14:02
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The STS-115 crew arrived an hour earlier than planned?
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#204 by Avron on 02 Sep, 2006 14:12
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things look very quiet at the pad this morning
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#205 by Felix on 02 Sep, 2006 14:22
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#206 by Avron on 02 Sep, 2006 14:24
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arrival
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#207 by jacqmans on 02 Sep, 2006 14:28
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#208 by Felix on 02 Sep, 2006 14:30
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#209 by jacqmans on 02 Sep, 2006 14:35
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#210 by nathan.moeller on 02 Sep, 2006 14:37
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Quote
dutch courage - 2/9/2006 8:49 AM
The STS-115 crew arrived an hour earlier than planned?
Yeah it surprised me too. It was about 9:35 EDT when they touched down. I had just woken up and looked at the site and saw Jett and Burbank hopping out of the jet. The weather is beautiful! What a sight to wake up to! -
#211 by jacqmans on 02 Sep, 2006 14:39
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#212 by shuttlefan on 02 Sep, 2006 15:52
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If, for some reason, they do not make the launch attempts next week and have to delay until late-October, will the plan be to roll back to the VAB or will they wait it out on the pad.
I would think they would not want to have it exposed to the elements out there for that long if they know they aren't flying for another month and a half... -
#213 by nathan.moeller on 02 Sep, 2006 15:59
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Quote
shuttlefan - 2/9/2006 10:39 AM
If, for some reason, they do not make the launch attempts next week and have to delay until late-October, will the plan be to roll back to the VAB or will they wait it out on the pad.
I would think they would not want to have it exposed to the elements out there for that long if they know they aren't flying for another month and a half...
Depends on how bad they think the "elements" will be. But, I think they'll probably leave it considering rollout usually occurs about six weeks or prior to the scheduled liftoff date anyway. Plus, they're considering relaxing the daylight launch requirement so they can get it off the ground after the Soyuz returns to Earth on September 29. All this remains to be seen but I'm just laying out some facts to which you can compare the situation. As for storms, I think they may be okay next week. All the rain has come to Texas! Thanks Florida! Go Atlantis! -
#214 by astrobrian on 02 Sep, 2006 16:50
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Quote
nathan.moeller - 2/9/2006 10:46 AM
QuoteAll the rain has come to Texas! Thanks Florida! Go Atlantis!
Yeah??? Where!?! just kidding, I know its coming south to Austin eventually and we need it.Would easily rather have rain here then there
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#215 by Avron on 02 Sep, 2006 17:04
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Quote
nathan.moeller - 2/9/2006 11:46 AM
As for storms, I think they may be okay next week. All the rain has come to Texas! Thanks Florida! Go Atlantis!
Nice, look who is comming to my neck of the woods tonight...
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#216 by nathan.moeller on 02 Sep, 2006 17:27
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Quote
Avron - 2/9/2006 11:51 AM
Quotenathan.moeller - 2/9/2006 11:46 AM
As for storms, I think they may be okay next week. All the rain has come to Texas! Thanks Florida! Go Atlantis!
Nice, look who is comming to my neck of the woods tonight...
Wow I didn't think those storms went that far North! Hope you guys come through it as clean as KSC did! Be safe! -
#217 by hey you on 02 Sep, 2006 19:11
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As shown in Naamloos-9kopie.jpg in one of the posts in this thread and as shown in previous posts (probably this thread), at least one
astronaut seems to be wearing two watches. In this case both appear to be on the left hand. In one of the previous posts (where ever) one
watch appeared to be on each hand.
Are they both watches or is one something else that is helpful or useful?
What purpose do those astronauts find is well served by using the two watches (or whatever they really are)?
Signed:
Hey You
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#218 by Avron on 02 Sep, 2006 20:35
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Quote
nathan.moeller - 2/9/2006 1:14 PM
QuoteAvron - 2/9/2006 11:51 AM
Quotenathan.moeller - 2/9/2006 11:46 AM
As for storms, I think they may be okay next week. All the rain has come to Texas! Thanks Florida! Go Atlantis!
Nice, look who is comming to my neck of the woods tonight...
Wow I didn't think those storms went that far North! Hope you guys come through it as clean as KSC did! Be safe!
Its a little less exciting.. but wind is around 10 kts and its a light rain... as long as the Brandy holds out I will be good
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#219 by Avron on 02 Sep, 2006 20:35
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Quote
nathan.moeller - 2/9/2006 1:14 PM
QuoteAvron - 2/9/2006 11:51 AM
Quotenathan.moeller - 2/9/2006 11:46 AM
As for storms, I think they may be okay next week. All the rain has come to Texas! Thanks Florida! Go Atlantis!
Nice, look who is comming to my neck of the woods tonight...
Wow I didn't think those storms went that far North! Hope you guys come through it as clean as KSC did! Be safe!
Its a little less exciting.. but wind is around 10 kts and its a light rain... as long as the Brandy holds out I will be good
