Author Topic: LIVE: STS-116 - Flight Day 12 - Late Inspections (Read 39637 times)

Chris Bergin · « **Reply #40 on:** 12/20/2006 07:25 pm »

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nathan.moeller - 20/12/2006 7:27 PM

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Chris Bergin - 20/12/2006 1:25 PM

Nothing of interest is coming in from sources, so that's all looking fine so far.

Aye. And speaking of lunch I believe I'll join them Hey Chris any idea what's up with all the attitude changes? My guess is so they can gain the most optimal lighting conditions on the area they need to survey but of course that's a guess.

I'd be guessing, but it certainly is likely to be lighting.

Jorge · « **Reply #41 on:** 12/20/2006 07:48 pm »

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Chris Bergin - 20/12/2006 2:08 PM

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nathan.moeller - 20/12/2006 7:27 PM

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Chris Bergin - 20/12/2006 1:25 PM

Nothing of interest is coming in from sources, so that's all looking fine so far.

Aye. And speaking of lunch I believe I'll join them Hey Chris any idea what's up with all the attitude changes? My guess is so they can gain the most optimal lighting conditions on the area they need to survey but of course that's a guess.

I'd be guessing, but it certainly is likely to be lighting.

I believe that's correct. The current attitude in UNIV PTG (TGT ID 4, BODY VECT 5, P 0, Y 315, OM 144) looks like it's designed to put the port wing face-on to the sun for the upcoming port wing inspection.
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JRF

Stardust9906 · « **Reply #42 on:** 12/20/2006 07:48 pm »

JimO · « **Reply #43 on:** 12/20/2006 07:50 pm »

Status report coming up on the top of the hour, by my schedule.

nathan.moeller · « **Reply #44 on:** 12/20/2006 08:00 pm »

Yeah I noticed that too. The graphic showed it coming into orbital day with the port wing facing the sun and rotating to follow it. Has to be lighting. Thanks guys.

nathan.moeller · « **Reply #45 on:** 12/20/2006 08:01 pm »

Great shot on NTV of Discovery passing over city lights in orbital darkness. Wow

nathan.moeller · « **Reply #46 on:** 12/20/2006 08:15 pm »

Port wing inspections continuing. Adjusting position for another pass.

nathan.moeller · « **Reply #47 on:** 12/20/2006 08:20 pm »

Mission Status Briefing starting at JSC

eeergo · « **Reply #48 on:** 12/20/2006 08:38 pm »

Just as a heads-up, from the NASA site:

Tonight, two small scientific satellites will be deployed from the payload bay. The Microelectromechanical System-Based PICOSAT Inspector (MEPSI) mini-satellite will be released from Discovery's cargo bay at 7:16 p.m. MEPSI will demonstrate the use of tiny, low-power satellites to observe larger spacecraft by testing the function of small camera systems and gyroscopes.

The Radar Fence Transponder (RAFT) satellite will be released at 8:56 p.m. RAFT is a student experiment from the United States Naval Academy that uses picosatellites to test the Space Surveillance Radar Fence.

psloss · « **Reply #49 on:** 12/20/2006 08:45 pm »

I guess I'll be looking to see what info comes up on L2 in the next day, but it does sound like the program is preparing to deal with post-landing operations at White Sands (things like purges and power)...Phil Engelauf noted that they can get equipment staged, into C-17s, and out to New Mexico...although that does kind of sound like one of the "waves" of recovery support that would happen in a TAL case...

Mark Nguyen · « **Reply #50 on:** 12/20/2006 08:49 pm »

I'm confused as tto the usefulness of these inspections. Assuming they had found MMOD dmage significant enough to warrant a return to ISS, is there not a drop-dead point at which they must do so? Is it too late already to head back up? And a return would certainly use up any propellant they'd use to return home; are there provisions to refuel and try an unmanned landing if need be?

Mark

lsullivan411 · « **Reply #51 on:** 12/20/2006 08:49 pm »

Interesting comments about Edwards runway reconfigs in 2008 which may bring White Sands into more play in the future.

nathan.moeller · « **Reply #52 on:** 12/20/2006 08:57 pm »

OBSS being lowered into the starboard sill of the payload bay for berthing.

DaveS · « **Reply #53 on:** 12/20/2006 09:02 pm »

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Mark Nguyen - 20/12/2006 10:32 PM

I'm confused as tto the usefulness of these inspections. Assuming they had found MMOD dmage significant enough to warrant a return to ISS, is there not a drop-dead point at which they must do so? Is it too late already to head back up? And a return would certainly use up any propellant they'd use to return home; are there provisions to refuel and try an unmanned landing if need be?

Mark

They usuallly make a burn to be station-keeping with ISS at about 20 NM behind so that they can re-rendezvous with ISS if they find any entry critical damage. And the orbiter can't be refueled on-orbit.

Chris Bergin · « **Reply #54 on:** 12/20/2006 09:04 pm »

nathan.moeller · « **Reply #55 on:** 12/20/2006 09:07 pm »

OBSS berthed in Discovery's payload bay at this time.

nathan.moeller · « **Reply #56 on:** 12/20/2006 09:10 pm »

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Mark Nguyen - 20/12/2006 10:32 PM

...a return to ISS...would certainly use up any propellant they'd use to return home

That's what he said. "One-way trip." If they had to return to ISS they'd be in an LON situation and the end of the program. I won't say never but this situation is extremely unlikely. It's why they're opening up all three sites two days in a row and having 3-4 attempts on either day. Plus, they have dozens of emergency sites around the world they can use in case of emergency and the three sites in the states are out of action due to weather, technical issues and the like.

Chris Bergin · « **Reply #57 on:** 12/20/2006 09:15 pm »

This all might explain why we never had an official standdown to Atlantis' LON, but of course, this would be a hugely unlikely scenario.

nathan.moeller · « **Reply #58 on:** 12/20/2006 09:17 pm »

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Chris Bergin - 20/12/2006 3:58 PM

This all might explain why we never had an official standdown to Atlantis' LON, but of course, this would be a hugely unlikely scenario.

My guess is that they stand down LON when deorbit burn ends. Once they've done that they're locked into a landing somewhere. But you're right Chris, hugely unlikely.

Per this thread...replays of RCC inspections playing on NTV.

vt_hokie · « **Reply #59 on:** 12/20/2006 10:03 pm »

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nathan.moeller - 20/12/2006 4:53 PM

Plus, they have dozens of emergency sites around the world they can use in case of emergency and the three sites in the states are out of action due to weather, technical issues and the like.

I hear Groom Lake has a nice long runway!