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#40
by
Amedeo
on 09 Sep, 2006 04:22
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Avron - 8/9/2006 10:51 PM
Are we tracking any issues at this time? And do we know the state of the Failed ECO sensor, is it still in the wet state?
No new issues as of 12EST. LH2 ECO #3 came back about 5hrs after detanking (no longer failed wet).
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#41
by
Austin
on 09 Sep, 2006 04:57
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Countdown clock is holding at T - 06:00:00 (1 hour scheduled hold)
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#42
by
just-nick
on 09 Sep, 2006 04:59
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I haven't had a chance to look at the latest info on L2, so how does this latest news (sensor came back) impact the criteria for launch?
As I understood:
Stays wet == launch with waver.
Turns dry, keeps functioning nominally during tonight's count == launch under standard conditions.
More anomelous behavior (turning dry then failing wet again, etc.) == don't launch.
If we assume that the sensor did come back some hours after tanking, then the first option is out, right? Correct me if I'm wrong but now we need to hope for correct functioning from this point on to get off the ground.
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#43
by
Amedeo
on 09 Sep, 2006 05:16
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If we see the exact same behavior (ECO #3 failing wet again) = launch with waiver.
Nominal = launch
Any other permutation = likely scrub
FYI tanking set to begin at about 01:19 EST
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#44
by
Austin
on 09 Sep, 2006 05:16
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just-nick - 8/9/2006 9:46 PM
I haven't had a chance to look at the latest info on L2, so how does this latest (sensor came back) impact the criteria for launch?
As I understood:
Stays wet == launch with waver.
Turns dry, keeps functioning nominally during tonight's count == launch under standard conditions.
More anomelous behavior (turning dry then failing wet again, etc.) == don't launch.
The first option is out, since the sensor came back dry after draining. So, and please correct me, we need to hope for correct functioning at this point to get off the ground.
If 3 ECO sensors accurately give a "wet" indication following tanking procedures, NASA is considering giving the go ahead, even if the fourth continues to indicate "dry." This would essentially be a flight rule waiver because as it stands, all four sensors must be functioning properly.
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#45
by
psloss
on 09 Sep, 2006 06:11
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#46
by
psloss
on 09 Sep, 2006 06:18
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Austin - 9/9/2006 1:03 AM
If 3 ECO sensors accurately give a "wet" indication following tanking procedures, NASA is considering giving the go ahead, even if the fourth continues to indicate "dry." This would essentially be a flight rule waiver because as it stands, all four sensors must be functioning properly.
That's generally correct; however, some point after the LH2 ECO sensors start reading WET this morning, SIM test commands will be sent to the sensor system, at which point the sensors should give a DRY indication.
http://www.nasaspaceflight.com/content/?cid=4583Yesterday, I believe that initially all four sensors read DRY for the SIM test, but then as Amedeo reported to us, the #3 sensor indication "failed" WET after fast-fill started.
Edit: fixing the sensor reading "history" for SIM tests yesterday.
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#47
by
psloss
on 09 Sep, 2006 06:30
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FWIW, in case anyone is sleepwalking at this hour like me, the NASA TV media channel feed appears to be live from KSC with the shot from east camera site at Pad B. The feed I got appears to have the contrast cranked way down, at least right now, anyway.
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#48
by
Zachstar
on 09 Sep, 2006 06:45
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#49
by
Amedeo
on 09 Sep, 2006 06:47
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We're past the point where ECO #3 failed yesterday and all 4 ECO's appear to be performing nominally. Both tanks are in fastfill.
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#50
by
psloss
on 09 Sep, 2006 06:54
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Amedeo - 9/9/2006 2:34 AM
We're past the point where ECO #3 failed yesterday and all 4 ECO's appear to be performing nominally. Both tanks are in fastfill.
Interesting, since this procedure wasn't in place after the first 114 attempt last year. Obviously, there's still a lot of time for LH2 ECO #3 to behave as it did yesterday, but this sounds like new data.
Thanks for the update.
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#51
by
chksix
on 09 Sep, 2006 08:29
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If we manage to launch today, how much of the mission will be shortened? Will they still be able to do 3 EVAs?
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#52
by
psloss
on 09 Sep, 2006 08:35
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chksix - 9/9/2006 4:16 AM
If we manage to launch today, how much of the mission will be shortened? Will they still be able to do 3 EVAs?
They can fly a nominal mission with 3 EVAs if they launch today.
They were holding extension days for a possible focused TPS inspection (which would be inserted on FD4) and a day for issues with any of the EVAs. They were able to save one extension day by agreeing to undock no later than Sept. 18.
I believe the priority for that day would be focused inspections, but it depends on what is seen in the laser scans on FD2 and the FD3 photography. If they don't need to do inspections, they could use that day to finish up items leftover from the planned EVAs.
Edit: clarifying extension day priorities
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#53
by
DaveS
on 09 Sep, 2006 08:35
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chksix - 9/9/2006 10:16 AM
If we manage to launch today, how much of the mission will be shortened? Will they still be able to do 3 EVAs?
Wayne Hale answered this question during yesterday's post-scrub press conference: No change in duration. All three EVAs, but you loose one contigency day for handling any assembly difficulties or focused inspections.
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#54
by
DaveS
on 09 Sep, 2006 08:36
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T-3 hours and holding.
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#55
by
Earth_Bound_Misfit
on 09 Sep, 2006 08:39
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Or just under 7hrs till Launch.
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#56
by
uko
on 09 Sep, 2006 08:42
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And by nominally i suppose you mean "as expected", because that's what I get from Bill Harwood's latest update from
http://www.cbsnews.com/network/news/space/current.html "Early today, the presumably healthy sensors indicated they were wet, as expected, when they were covered by liquid hydrogen. Computer commands then were sent to simulate a dry condition and again, ECO sensors 1, 2 and 4 operated normally."
GO ATLANTIS!
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#57
by
jacqmans
on 09 Sep, 2006 09:11
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Sept. 8, 4:45 a.m. EDT
At Launch Pad 39B, the loading of Space Shuttle Atlantis' orange external tank with about 528,000 gallons of liquid oxygen and hydrogen began on time at 1:15 a.m. EDT today. The "topping off" of propellants into the tank will continue until liftoff. All systems onboard the space shuttle, including the four engine cut-off (ECO) sensors, are functioning normally and are ready for launch at 11:15 a.m. EDT.
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#58
by
psloss
on 09 Sep, 2006 09:14
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jacqmans - 9/9/2006 4:58 AM
Sept. 8, 4:45 a.m. EDT
At Launch Pad 39B, the loading of Space Shuttle Atlantis' orange external tank with about 528,000 gallons of liquid oxygen and hydrogen began on time at 1:15 a.m. EDT today. The "topping off" of propellants into the tank will continue until liftoff. All systems onboard the space shuttle, including the four engine cut-off (ECO) sensors, are functioning normally and are ready for launch at 11:15 a.m. EDT.
What are you quoting this from?
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#59
by
DaveS
on 09 Sep, 2006 09:17
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