STS-115/Atlantis Pre Launch Processing & Preparations (2)

• #320 by nathan.moeller on 05 Sep, 2006 15:21
• So they plan to have the IFR redesign for STS-117.  Any ideas on what will happen if that redesign doesn't work like they plan?  Could be bad news for STS-118!  Does anyone have a diagram or image of the redesign proposal?
• #321 by rdale on 05 Sep, 2006 16:44
• Not sure that IFR redesing on 117/118 will have any impact on: " STS-115/Atlantis Pre Launch Processing & Preparations"
• #322 by nathan.moeller on 05 Sep, 2006 16:47
• Quote

  rdale - 5/9/2006  11:31 AM
  
  Not sure that IFR redesing on 117/118 will have any impact on: " STS-115/Atlantis Pre Launch Processing & Preparations"

  
  The IFR discussion came up in the thread while the press conference was going this morning so it made sense to keep the topic in here, even though it doesn't impact STS-115.  But keep in mind this is thread is for both STS-115 and STS-117.
• #323 by rdale on 05 Sep, 2006 17:02
• I'd suggest starting a new topic, and this thread is not about 117.
• #324 by nathan.moeller on 05 Sep, 2006 17:18
• Does anyone know the LON liftoff date if 115 gets into trouble?  I know it's in November but I forget the exact date.
• #325 by jacqmans on 05 Sep, 2006 17:21
• 11 November...  (you can find that in L2)
  
• #326 by nathan.moeller on 05 Sep, 2006 17:28
• Quote

  jacqmans - 5/9/2006  12:08 PM
  
  11 November...  (you can find that in L2)
  

  
  Okay.  Sorry for getting off topic but I guess I still don't understand why they wouldn't move up the launch of STS-116 AS STS-116 from mid-December to November if 115 goes well.  Does the STS-301 LON launch date mean that Discovery goes into around-the-clock processing?  That's over one month in between the LON launch date and set launch date.  Haha as for L2, I'm a broke architecture student who can't afford it
• #327 by jacqmans on 05 Sep, 2006 18:38
• 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.
  The external tank camera functional test is complete. Rain covers
  have been installed on the reaction control system thrusters, and all
  engine covers have been removed for launch. Workers continue stowing
  flight crew items in the orbiter crew module. The orbiter
  communications systems have been powered up for flight. The launch
  pad rotating service structure, which protects the shuttle prior to
  launch, will be rolled away from the shuttle today.
  
  Weather officials are predicting favorable conditions for Wednesday's
  launch attempt, with a 30-percent chance of weather prohibiting the
  launch. A low-pressure area may develop over Central Florida on
  Wednesday, increasing the potential for moisture in the atmosphere.
  However, the early launch time is expected to avoid the afternoon
  thunderstorms. The primary concerns for launch are cumulus clouds
  within 10 nautical miles of the launch pad and isolated showers
  within 20 nautical miles of the Shuttle Landing Facility.
  
• #328 by HKS on 05 Sep, 2006 19:19
• Looks like the waether-protection system on the pad is starting to open for RSS retract.

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• #329 by c.steven on 05 Sep, 2006 19:39
• Is it just me, or did anyone else just see what looked like some pretty good lightning near the pad from the LC-39 camera?
• #330 by nathan.moeller on 05 Sep, 2006 20:31
• Still no signs of movement.  Has anyone heard anything about delays?
• #331 by MKremer on 05 Sep, 2006 20:39
• Tariq at Space.com has an update saying the RSS move is delayed until at least 5pm because of thunderstorms in the area.
  
• #332 by leclaire on 05 Sep, 2006 20:40
• Florida Today reports a delay to 5p or 6p for RSS because of a T-storm.
  
  LL
  
• #333 by rdale on 05 Sep, 2006 20:44
• Quote

  c.steven - 5/9/2006  3:26 PM
  
  Is it just me, or did anyone else just see what looked like some pretty good lightning near the pad from the LC-39 camera?

  
  Nope, hasn't been any lightning or storms of any kind anywhere near.
  
  Closest strikes are about 30 miles northwest, I don't see much chance of lightning strikes around KSC.
• #334 by nathan.moeller on 05 Sep, 2006 20:45
• Better safe than sorry!  How long can they delay before it affects the launch time tomorrow?
• #335 by joncz on 05 Sep, 2006 20:50
• Leinbach mentioned during the L-1 about 4 hours of protected time for the RSS rollback before they impact the timeline.
• #336 by DaveS on 05 Sep, 2006 20:53
• They usually book in 4-5 hours for RSS operations.
• #337 by nathan.moeller on 05 Sep, 2006 21:01
• Okay so they should be okay.  Takes only what 50 minutes for the rollback?  Pretty sure that's right.  What ops follow RSS rollback?
• #338 by c.steven on 05 Sep, 2006 21:03
• Here's a link for the current radar loop of the area. It gets updated every 16 minutes or so.
  
  http://www.intellicast.com/IcastPage/LoadPage.aspx?loc=usflct19310&seg=LocalWeather&prodgrp=RadarImagery&product=RegionalRadarLoop&prodnav=none
  
  Pretty nasty little cell down there today, but KSC looks like it might catch an alley as it rotates.
• #339 by DaveS on 05 Sep, 2006 21:07
• RSS is being retracted right now.

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