STS-117: Rollback and ET-124 VAB Repair Latest

• #180 by on 15 Mar, 2007 23:09
• Will there be another TCDT for the crew?
• #181 by DaveS on 15 Mar, 2007 23:17
• Quote

  Justin Wheat - 16/3/2007  1:09 AM
  
  Will there be another TCDT for the crew?

  No. Just standard prelaunch preparations from that Atlantis is harddown at 39A again.
• #182 by Chris Bergin on 15 Mar, 2007 23:41
• And to add to the tank latest. Next largescale meetings will be a management meeting on the 21st.
  
  As Dave said, there's no new NET date set. It all appears to be heading to May, but April is still on the table at this time. It will be an ongoing process.
• #183 by Chris Bergin on 16 Mar, 2007 03:40
• Okay dokey, yet another tank article from yours truely:
  
  http://www.nasaspaceflight.com/content/?cid=5049
• #184 by Captain Scarlet on 16 Mar, 2007 09:17
• Good article and I like the previous articles on the damage in the top part. Good to read back and catch up on one that might of been missed.
• #185 by C5C6 on 16 Mar, 2007 17:28
• so the decision is to repair, good news!!!!
• #186 by Chris Bergin on 16 Mar, 2007 17:37
• Quote

  C5C6 - 16/3/2007  6:28 PM
  
  so the decision is to repair, good news!!!!

  
  Yes, but there's another meeting next week, this is ongoing and they could decide to swap tanks and move to June.
  
  However, they have now started full repairs on ET-124, so that's more hopeful.
  
  More info today points towards May, not April, launch targets.
• #187 by DaveS on 16 Mar, 2007 17:43
• Quote

  Chris Bergin - 16/3/2007  7:37 PM
  However, they have now started full repairs on ET-124, so that's more hopeful.
  

  But what could get them is the manual SOFI spraying. This is normally done by a machine at MAF. But now they will have to do it manually.
  
  It all comes down to if they feel comfortable doing the spraying manually or if they feel better by shipping ET-124 to MAF and respraying it there.
  
• #188 by Chris Bergin on 16 Mar, 2007 18:08
• True. The "Non Standard" repair issue.
  
  I don't think the application process will be a problem, though challenging, but ensuring the process keeps the tank within the thermal and aerodynamic parameters will be the kicker.
  
  It's not been mentioned, but I keep thinking about the repair on the STS-114 ET PAL Ramp, which then - though never confirmed - popoed off due to cryopumping.
• #189 by TJL on 16 Mar, 2007 19:48
• Chris...because of that, do you think they'll do a tanking test prior to the countdown?
• #190 by Chris Bergin on 16 Mar, 2007 20:20
• Quote

  TJL - 16/3/2007  8:48 PM
  
  Chris...because of that, do you think they'll do a tanking test prior to the countdown?

  
  I would say that is highly doubtful, but I prefer to work off documented data/info, rather than give my opinion.
• #191 by jacqmans on 16 Mar, 2007 20:43
• Mission: STS-117 - 21st International Space Station Flight (13A) -
  S3/S4 Truss Segment Solar Arrays
  Vehicle: Atlantis (OV-104)
  Location: Vehicle Assembly Building
  Launch Date: Targeted for April 2007
  Launch Pad: 39A
  Crew: Sturckow, Archambault, Reilly, Swanson, Forrester and Olivas
  Inclination/Orbit Altitude: 51.6 degrees/122 nautical miles
  
  Space Shuttle Atlantis, now parked in high bay No. 1 of the Vehicle
  Assembly Building, continues to undergo inspection for hail damage.
  Special scaffolding and access platforms have been erected to allow
  for the mapping and inspection of the external fuel tank, and repair
  methods and criteria are being developed.
  
  Repairs to the orbiter's thermal protection system tiles are nearly
  complete, and technicians are preparing to conduct non-destructive
  evaluation of the vehicle's reinforced carbon-carbon panels on the
  left wing leading edge using thermography equipment.
  
  Shuttle program managers plan to meet next week to assess the damage
  and repair status.
  
• #192 by Chris Bergin on 18 Mar, 2007 02:24
• I see PAO have decided to ignore the ECO wiring issue in the PSB. This is probably the second biggest issue right now with STS-117, second to the tank, obviously.
• #193 by ETEE on 18 Mar, 2007 13:00
• Would splitting and re-routing a length of wiring be a big issue then?
• #194 by Chris Bergin on 18 Mar, 2007 18:01
• Quote

  ETEE - 18/3/2007  2:00 PM
  
  Would splitting and re-routing a length of wiring be a big issue then?

  
  It's about 10 meters of wiring x 4.
• #195 by shuttlefan on 18 Mar, 2007 18:10
• Quote

  Chris Bergin - 18/3/2007  2:01 PM
  
  

  Quote

  ETEE - 18/3/2007  2:00 PM
  
  Would splitting and re-routing a length of wiring be a big issue then?

  
  It's about 10 meters of wiring x 4.

  Is there a potential for a longer delay because of this and could it involve demating the vehicle
• #196 by Chris Bergin on 18 Mar, 2007 18:19
• Quote

  shuttlefan - 18/3/2007  7:10 PM
  
  

  Quote

  Chris Bergin - 18/3/2007  2:01 PM
  
  

  Quote

  ETEE - 18/3/2007  2:00 PM
  
  Would splitting and re-routing a length of wiring be a big issue then?

  
  It's about 10 meters of wiring x 4.

  Is there a potential for a longer delay because of this and could it involve demating the vehicle

  
  No.
• #197 by Mark Dave on 18 Mar, 2007 22:42
• So when might at best guess be Atlantis be moved back to 39A?
• #198 by shuttlefan on 18 Mar, 2007 23:20
• Quote

  MarkD - 18/3/2007  6:42 PM
  
  So when might at best guess be Atlantis be moved back to 39A?

  
  Probably mid-April
• #199 by Chris Bergin on 18 Mar, 2007 23:22
• Quote

  MarkD - 18/3/2007  11:42 PM
  
  So when might at best guess be Atlantis be moved back to 39A?

  
  Will know more on Wednesday. Right now they are following a 45 days in the VAB /22 days at the pad. So mid April for rollout is a guess.