Author Topic: STS-120 Processing Latest (Read 153107 times)

whitewatcher · « **Reply #280 on:** 08/22/2007 07:18 pm »

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ApolloLee - 22/8/2007 9:13 PM

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psloss - 22/8/2007 3:06 AM

Right now, there's no place to stack the 122 shuttle, which means that the VAB work in the critical path for 120's rollout to the pad is also in the critical path for 122.

I keep hearing this but don't we have three bays availible for shuttle stacking? What's going on in each of the VAB bays right now?

One's in maintenance (doors) and the other one is for storage of a complete stack only. Fourth one is assigned to constellation, as far as I know.

DaveS · « **Reply #281 on:** 08/22/2007 07:19 pm »

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ApolloLee - 22/8/2007 9:13 PM
I keep hearing this but don't we have three bays availible for shuttle stacking? What's going on in each of the VAB bays right now?

Only two can be used for stacking, high bays 1 and 3. HB 2 is used for hurricane protection of a completed shuttle stack that rolled from the pad for protection when the two other are not available. HB 4 can only support one horizontal orbiter.

Currently HB 3 is unavailable due to some long need maintenance and repair on the VAB high bay doors. This work is scheduled for completion in November.

HB 1 is currently used to stack the STS-120 flight elements.

shuttlefan · « **Reply #282 on:** 08/22/2007 07:20 pm »

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ApolloLee - 22/8/2007 2:13 PM

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psloss - 22/8/2007 3:06 AM

Right now, there's no place to stack the 122 shuttle, which means that the VAB work in the critical path for 120's rollout to the pad is also in the critical path for 122.

I keep hearing this but don't we have three bays availible for shuttle stacking? What's going on in each of the VAB bays right now?

One of the bays has the 120 SRBs stacked in it, the second one is undergoing maintenance on the doors, and the third one, Safe Haven, is not equipped to stack a shuttle, just to accomodate one to protect from a hurricane. Hope that answers your question!

DaveS · « **Reply #283 on:** 08/22/2007 07:22 pm »

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whitewatcher - 22/8/2007 9:18 PM
Fourth one is assigned to constellation, as far as I know.

Not true. The Shuttle program still owns all the KSC facilities. None has been handed over to the Cx program yet. LC-39B was to go to Cx in April of this year, but that didn't happen as the Shuttle program needs it for STS-125 LON.

ApolloLee · « **Reply #284 on:** 08/22/2007 09:16 pm »

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DaveS - 22/8/2007 12:19 PM

Only two can be used for stacking, high bays 1 and 3. HB 2 is used for hurricane protection of a completed shuttle stack that rolled from the pad for protection when the two other are not available. HB 4 can only support one horizontal orbiter.

Currently HB 3 is unavailable due to some long need maintenance and repair on the VAB high bay doors. This work is scheduled for completion in November.

HB 1 is currently used to stack the STS-120 flight elements.

Thanks for the explanation!

Mark Max Q · « **Reply #285 on:** 08/22/2007 09:25 pm »

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shuttlefan - 22/8/2007 1:44 PM

Has anyone heard anything today about the current status of SRB/ET mating. I know I should probably be on L2 for this but I haven't signed up for that. FT reports today that they are leaning towards proceeding with the 120 launch as is.

Yes, you should be on L2, and FT are just reporting what was said at the press briefing yesterday after landing. The circle of media panic over delays and now the change to not being worried is something you would not have suffered by being on L2.

ChrisGebhardt · « **Reply #286 on:** 08/22/2007 10:14 pm »

When will the maintenane on HB 3's doors be complete (i.e. When will have both High Bays available for shuttle stacking)?

psloss · « **Reply #287 on:** 08/22/2007 10:18 pm »

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Trekkie07 - 22/8/2007 6:14 PM

When will the maintenane on HB 3's doors be complete (i.e. When will have both High Bays available for shuttle stacking)?

I believe I heard November 1 in one of the briefings.

ChrisGebhardt · « **Reply #288 on:** 08/22/2007 11:42 pm »

OK... thanks. That's what I thought (NOV. 1) but I couldn't remember if I heard it somewhere or if that was just wishful thinking on my part. Thanks for confirming.

whitewatcher · « **Reply #289 on:** 08/23/2007 11:08 am »

So, STS-122 will be stacked in HB-1 but STS-123 will be stacked in HB-3, is that conclusion correct?

Chris Bergin · « **Reply #290 on:** 08/23/2007 06:53 pm »

Bad news for ET-120. It won't fly as-is. We're getting info in on L2, will be writing it up when we've collated all the facts.

However, still saying target Oct 23. Standby while we get all the info...the meetings literally just concluded.

Lee Jay · « **Reply #291 on:** 08/23/2007 07:59 pm »

Assuming this is about the LOX feedline brackets, I have to say I'm surprised. I figured they'd go for the "flight rationale" path. Hopefully this is good news, namely that they found a relatively-speedy yet effective fix.

Edit: Now that I see the article abstract, we're talking about a new problem with them (X-rays may have found cracks).

Chris Bergin · « **Reply #292 on:** 08/23/2007 09:05 pm »

More to come: http://www.nasaspaceflight.com/content/?cid=5211 - we're still throwing information and documentation into L2 from meetings that literally just concluded.

Chris Bergin · « **Reply #293 on:** 08/23/2007 10:24 pm »

And.....

NASA Holds Teleconference Update About Next Shuttle's Fuel Tank

NASA will host a media teleconference Friday, Aug. 24, at 3 p.m. CDT to discuss a review held prior to the mating of the next shuttle mission's solid rocket booster and external fuel tank. The teleconference will give the status of ET-120, the external tank for space shuttle Discovery's STS-120 mission, targeted for launch in late October.

Space Shuttle Program Manager Wayne Hale will conduct the briefing.

To participate, reporters must contact the newsroom at NASA's Johnson Space Center, Houston, at 281-483-5111 by 2 p.m. on Friday. Live audio will be available online at:

http://www.nasa.gov/newsaudio

Rocket Ronnie · « **Reply #294 on:** 08/24/2007 03:55 am »

Do we know how long it would take to trim the brackets?

Chris Bergin · « **Reply #295 on:** 08/24/2007 11:08 am »

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Rocket Ronnie - 24/8/2007 4:55 AM

Do we know how long it would take to trim the brackets?

We're looking to find out. Not sure if that's the plan yet - or what this will mean for the schedule - but sure is heading that way.

dsmillman · « **Reply #296 on:** 08/24/2007 11:58 am »

For those of who will not have Internet access at 3PM CDT, is there a phone number to use
to listen to the teleconference?

Jim · « **Reply #297 on:** 08/24/2007 12:01 pm »

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dsmillman - 24/8/2007 7:58 AM

For those of who will not have Internet access at 3PM CDT, is there a phone number to use
to listen to the teleconference?

Only media is allowed to call in

Andy USA · « **Reply #298 on:** 08/24/2007 12:58 pm »

Florida Today's main story headline is NASA is unlikely to do anything with the tanks and fly them as they are. So who's telling the truth?

?

shuttlefan · « **Reply #299 on:** 08/24/2007 01:10 pm »

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Chris Bergin - 24/8/2007 6:08 AM

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Rocket Ronnie - 24/8/2007 4:55 AM

Do we know how long it would take to trim the brackets?

We're looking to find out. Not sure if that's the plan yet - or what this will mean for the schedule - but sure is heading that way.

Either way, I think it's getting safer and safer everyday to say that there will be at least a small delay to STS-120, right Chris?