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#360
by
FutureSpaceTourist
on 27 Feb, 2023 07:50
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https://twitter.com/commercial_crew/status/1630128125651632129.@NASA and @SpaceX scrubbed today's launch of the #Crew6 mission to the @Space_Station due to a ground systems issue.
Unfavorable weather on Feb.28 makes the next launch attempt 12:34am ET March 2, pending resolution of the technical issue.
go.nasa.gov/3Y34NBY
https://blogs.nasa.gov/crew-6/2023/02/27/nasa-spacex-look-to-march-2-for-next-available-crew-6-launch-attempt/NASA and SpaceX scrubbed Monday’s launch attempt of the agency’s SpaceX Crew-6 mission to the International Space Station due to a ground systems issue. Mission teams decided to stand down to investigate an issue preventing data from confirming a full load of the ignition source for the Falcon 9 first stage Merlin engines, triethylaluminum triethylboron (or TEA-TEB).
“I’m proud of the NASA and SpaceX teams’ focus and dedication to keeping Crew-6 safe,” said NASA Administrator Bill Nelson. “Human spaceflight is an inherently risky endeavor and, as always, we will fly when we are ready.”
SpaceX has removed propellant from the Falcon 9 rocket and the astronauts have exited the Dragon spacecraft for astronaut crew quarters. Both the Falcon 9 and Dragon are in a safe configuration.
NASA and SpaceX will forgo a launch opportunity on Tuesday, Feb. 28, due to unfavorable weather forecast conditions.
The next available launch attempt is at 12:34 a.m. EST Thursday, March 2, pending resolution of the technical issue preventing Monday’s launch.
NASA and SpaceX will a hold media teleconference prior to the next launch attempt, and more details will be provided as available. Follow along with launch activities and get more information about the mission at: https://blogs.nasa.gov/commercialcrew/.
Learn more about commercial crew and space station activities by following @Commercial_Crew, @space_station, and @ISS_Research on Twitter as well as the Commercial Crew Facebook, ISS Facebook and ISS Instagram accounts.
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#361
by
FutureSpaceTourist
on 27 Feb, 2023 11:42
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New L-2 launch weather forecast for 2 March, 90% GO ascent corridor recovery risk (in the event of an abort) is moderate. Booster recovery risk low to moderate
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#362
by
Ken the Bin
on 27 Feb, 2023 12:59
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Cancel-and-replace NGA notice:
270953Z FEB 23
NAVAREA IV 213/23(11,26).
WESTERN NORTH ATLANTIC.
FLORIDA.
1. HAZARDOUS OPERATIONS, ROCKET LAUNCHING
020529Z TO 020606Z MAR, ALTERNATE
030506Z TO 030544Z AND 040444Z TO 040522Z MAR
IN AREAS BOUND BY:
A. 28-38.91N 080-37.62W, 28-46.00N 080-23.00W,
28-43.00N 080-20.00W, 28-37.00N 080-24.00W,
28-33.96N 080-34.12W.
B. 31-50.00N 077-19.00W, 32-15.00N 076-59.00W,
32-34.00N 076-27.00W, 32-25.00N 076-13.00W,
31-59.00N 076-33.00W, 31-37.00N 077-04.00W.
2. CANCEL NAVAREA IV 191/23.
3. CANCEL THIS MSG 040622Z MAR 23.
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#363
by
mn
on 27 Feb, 2023 14:32
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If they continued the countdown to engine ignition they'd know right away if they got enough TEA-TEB to start the engines.
The only risk is not having enough for restart later on booster reentry/landing.
Is it fair to say they scrubbed to save the booster? (not a bad thing per se, just something to note).
Or is it like 'something is not working as expected, so let's make sure there isn't anything else out of the ordinary that we don't see?
Edit: Or are they loading TEA-TEB for stage 2 at this point?
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#364
by
MechE31
on 27 Feb, 2023 14:41
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If they continued the countdown to engine ignition they'd know right away if they got enough TEA-TEB to start the engines.
The only risk is not having enough for restart later on booster reentry/landing.
Is it fair to say they scrubbed to save the booster? (not a bad thing per se, just something to note).
Or is it like 'something is not working as expected, so let's make sure there isn't anything else out of the ordinary that we don't see?
Edit: Or are they loading TEA-TEB for stage 2 at this point?
Ground TEA-TEB is for T-0 startup only. The relight TEA-TEB is on the vehicle and doesn't go to all engines.
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#365
by
Galactic Penguin SST
on 27 Feb, 2023 14:57
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New webcast for Thursday
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#366
by
FutureSpaceTourist
on 27 Feb, 2023 15:49
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#367
by
FutureSpaceTourist
on 27 Feb, 2023 19:19
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https://twitter.com/astro_alneyadi/status/1630299123319463936I promised my kids to return soon and I didn’t mean this soon! Anyway, our crew is safe and our spirits are high. A launch scrub is one of the things that we are trained to do, as crew safety is always a priority.
Go Dragon 🐉! Go Crew-6 🚀!
📸: @manumazzanti
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#368
by
FutureSpaceTourist
on 27 Feb, 2023 21:44
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A selection of more NASA photos
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#369
by
FutureSpaceTourist
on 27 Feb, 2023 23:31
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#370
by
ChrisC
on 28 Feb, 2023 14:40
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See photos of @NASA management monitoring the countdown in Firing Room 4 during this morning's launch attempt. NASA and @SpaceX teams are targeting March 2 at 12:34am ET for the next attempt. More : https://flic.kr/s/aHBqjAt42F
Nice to see Richard Jones in there!
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#371
by
Ken the Bin
on 28 Feb, 2023 17:27
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L-1 weather forecast. 95% 'Go' for March 2. 70% 'Go' for March 3. 60% 'Go' for March 4. Upper-Level Wind Shear risk is Low-Moderate, Ascent Corridor Recovery risk is Moderate, and Booster Recovery Weather risk is Low-Moderate for March 2. Ascent Corridor Recovery risk is Moderate-High and Booster Recovery Weather risk is Moderate for March 3. Ascent Corridor Recovery risk and Booster Recovery Weather risk are both High for March 4. All other Additional Risk Criteria are Low.
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#372
by
Galactic Penguin SST
on 01 Mar, 2023 06:00
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#373
by
FutureSpaceTourist
on 01 Mar, 2023 07:15
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https://blogs.nasa.gov/crew-6/2023/03/01/nasa-spacex-move-forward-with-march-2-launch-to-space-station/NASA, SpaceX Move Forward with March 2 Launch to Space Station
NASA’s SpaceX Crew-6 mission is ‘Go’ for launch to the International Space Station following completion of a launch readiness review, weather briefing, and mission management meeting on Feb. 28. Launch is targeted at 12:34 a.m. EST Thursday, March 2, on a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket and Dragon spacecraft from Launch Complex 39A from NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida.
Mission teams stood down from a Feb. 27 launch attempt to review an unusual data signature related to confirming a proper bleed in of pad supplied fluid known as triethylaluminum triethylboron (TEA-TEB). TEA-TEB is an ignition fluid used to start the Falcon 9’s nine first stage kerosene/liquid oxygen Merlin engines. The bleed-in process ensures there is an adequate supply of this fluid at each engine to mix with liquid oxygen to start the engines. During prelaunch, the TEA-TEB fluid – which originates in a ground supply tank – flows to the rocket’s interface and back to a catch tank to remove gas from the ground plumbing. During engine start, the fluid then flows to the engines for ignition. Flow into the catch tank is one of several parameters used to determine that the fluid has been properly bled into the system.
After a thorough review of the data and ground system, NASA and SpaceX determined there was a reduced flow back to the ground TEA-TEB catch tank due to a clogged ground filter. This clogged filter fully-explained the signature observed on the launch attempt. SpaceX teams replaced the filter, purged the TEA-TEB line with nitrogen, and verified the lines are clean and ready for launch.
Weather officials with Cape Canaveral Space Force Station’s 45th Weather Squadron continue to predict a 95% chance of favorable weather conditions for Crew-6 launch, with the flight through precipitation rule serving as the primary weather concern. Conditions along the Dragon ascent corridor are within acceptable limits, but will remain a watch item for Thursday’s attempt.
NASA astronauts Stephen Bowen, mission commander, and Warren Hoburg, pilot, along with UAE (United Arab Emirates) astronaut Sultan Alneyadi and Roscosmos cosmonaut Andrey Fedyaev, who join as mission specialists, will travel to the space station for a science expedition mission. The international crew will fly aboard the Dragon spacecraft named Endeavour, which previously flew NASA’s SpaceX Demo-2, NASA’s SpaceX Crew-2, and Axiom Mission 1 astronauts.
After an approximate 24.5-hour transit, the crew will dock to the space-facing port of the microgravity laboratory’s Harmony module about 1:17 a.m. Friday, March 3. Hatch opening is targeted for approximately 3:27 a.m., followed by the welcome ceremony about 3:40 a.m. Arrival coverage on NASA TV and the agency’s website begins Thursday, March 2, at 11:30 p.m.
Starting at 9 p.m. Wednesday, March 1, tune in to a Crew-6 live launch broadcast on NASA TV or the agency’s website and follow along through countdown and other key mission milestones. More details about the mission can be found in the press kit online and by following the Crew-6 blog, @commercial_crew on Twitter, and commercial crew on Facebook.
Author Brittney Ann Thorpe
Posted on March 1, 2023
Format Aside
Categories Commercial Crew
Photo caption:
A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket with the company’s Dragon spacecraft on top is seen at sunset on the launch pad at Launch Complex 39A as preparations continue for the Crew-6 mission, Saturday, Feb. 25, 2023, at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida. NASA’s SpaceX Crew-6 mission is the sixth crew rotation mission of the SpaceX Crew Dragon spacecraft and Falcon 9 rocket to the International Space Station as part of the agency’s Commercial Crew Program. Photo Credit: (NASA/Joel Kowsky)
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#374
by
FutureSpaceTourist
on 01 Mar, 2023 08:16
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#375
by
FutureSpaceTourist
on 01 Mar, 2023 08:28
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A selection of more NASA photos
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#376
by
mn
on 01 Mar, 2023 11:14
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If they continued the countdown to engine ignition they'd know right away if they got enough TEA-TEB to start the engines.
The only risk is not having enough for restart later on booster reentry/landing.
Is it fair to say they scrubbed to save the booster? (not a bad thing per se, just something to note).
Or is it like 'something is not working as expected, so let's make sure there isn't anything else out of the ordinary that we don't see?
Edit: Or are they loading TEA-TEB for stage 2 at this point?
So they confirmed that the issue was with the ground sourced TEA-TEB for the initial ignition.
https://forum.nasaspaceflight.com/index.php?topic=55403.msg2462442#msg2462442So this begs the question: Why abort? Just continue the countdown and you'll know before lift your off if the engines ignite successfully?
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#377
by
FutureSpaceTourist
on 01 Mar, 2023 11:39
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#378
by
FutureSpaceTourist
on 01 Mar, 2023 11:42
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#379
by
Vettedrmr
on 01 Mar, 2023 12:12
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So they confirmed that the issue was with the ground sourced TEA-TEB for the initial ignition.
https://forum.nasaspaceflight.com/index.php?topic=55403.msg2462442#msg2462442
So this begs the question: Why abort? Just continue the countdown and you'll know before lift your off if the engines ignite successfully?
I don't really know, but I'd expect that they would violate GSE-related criteria, and possibly environmental requirements if there was a spill. It would be interesting to know
why this is an abort criteria.