-
#240 by John44 on 22 Mar, 2007 06:02
-
Audio file - NASA teleconference March 21 - status of space shuttle STS-117
http://www.space-multimedia.nl.eu.org/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=1689&Itemid=1 -
#241 by Ducati94 on 22 Mar, 2007 11:46
-
Jim : You are right . It is Stennis Space Center but also ( KSC) Kennedy Space Center and ( JSC) Johnson Space Center. To my suprise there are only 2 Space Flight Centers , Goddard and Marshall. I always think of SSC as one of the now "old" Code M Centers. But whats in a name.
-
#242 by TFGQ on 22 Mar, 2007 14:10
-
did barbee really call someone a idiot
-
#243 by ETEE on 22 Mar, 2007 14:37
-
Quote
TFGQ - 22/3/2007 4:10 PM
It was because the CNN lady was asking exactly how many dings there were in the foam was it 7000 or 2500 and Barbee said she was an idiot because they had just said 2500. Then the moderator said "Let's keep it clean" or something similar. She was thrown by the comment though.
did barbee really call someone a idiot -
#244 by nathan.moeller on 22 Mar, 2007 15:46
-
Just listened to the audio of the teleconference. Very interesting discussions. It's always nice to hear Wayne Hale's confident viewpoints and stern, no bs remarks. I liked the tid-bit about the story not being finished near the end when he was talking to Bill Harwood. Very true statement.
-
#245 by TFGQ on 22 Mar, 2007 16:06
-
so the CNN lady was given a game misconduct and tossed
-
#246 by Chris Bergin on 22 Mar, 2007 16:09
-
Let's keep this on Atlantis. The incident on the media call is pretty transparent.
-
#247 by Lee Jay on 22 Mar, 2007 16:46
-
Quote
Chris Bergin - 22/3/2007 11:09 AM
Let's keep this on Atlantis. The incident on the media call is pretty transparent.
Okay, I have a question. If the new tank arrives 4/10/07, wouldn't it be prudent to make a decision as to whether or not to swap tanks well before that date, so that if the decision is made to swap, destacking operations can begin and be completed before the tank arrives?
Lee Jay -
#248 by nathan.moeller on 22 Mar, 2007 17:01
-
Quote
Lee Jay - 22/3/2007 12:46 PM
QuoteChris Bergin - 22/3/2007 11:09 AM
Let's keep this on Atlantis. The incident on the media call is pretty transparent.
Okay, I have a question. If the new tank arrives 4/10/07, wouldn't it be prudent to make a decision as to whether or not to swap tanks well before that date, so that if the decision is made to swap, destacking operations can begin and be completed before the tank arrives?
Lee Jay
Bear in mind that the tank must go through a few weeks (I believe) of final checkouts in the vertical checkout cell in the VAB before being mated to the SRBs. They'll have plenty of time to make the decision while that checkout work is completed. -
#249 by DaveS on 22 Mar, 2007 17:13
-
Quote
nathan.moeller - 22/3/2007 7:01 PM
Correct. A prime example of this is the STS-114 "stack swap". Discovery had to wait in the transfer aisle on the OTS for a couple of days while technicians readied the STS-121 stack for orbiter mating in HB3.
Bear in mind that the tank must go through a few weeks (I believe) of final checkouts in the vertical checkout cell in the VAB before being mated to the SRBs. They'll have plenty of time to make the decision while that checkout work is completed.
If a tank swap is decided, I would guess that Atlantis would go back to OPF-1 and wait there as the OPF AC environment is much better than the humid environment of the VAB.
The reason is that the PLBDs and OMS pods doesn't like moisture too much. Another month on top of the already month-and-a-half wouldn't be too go for them. Better to wait in the OPF and then rollover again and perform standard ET/Orbiter mating procedures than risking the PLBDs and OMS pods not working. -
#250 by nathan.moeller on 22 Mar, 2007 18:31
-
Quote
DaveS - 22/3/2007 1:13 PM
Quotenathan.moeller - 22/3/2007 7:01 PM
Correct. A prime example of this is the STS-114 "stack swap". Discovery had to wait in the transfer aisle on the OTS for a couple of days while technicians readied the STS-121 stack for orbiter mating in HB3.
Bear in mind that the tank must go through a few weeks (I believe) of final checkouts in the vertical checkout cell in the VAB before being mated to the SRBs. They'll have plenty of time to make the decision while that checkout work is completed.
If a tank swap is decided, I would guess that Atlantis would go back to OPF-1 and wait there as the OPF AC environment is much better than the humid environment of the VAB.
The reason is that the PLBDs and OMS pods doesn't like moisture too much. Another month on top of the already month-and-a-half wouldn't be too go for them. Better to wait in the OPF and then rollover again and perform standard ET/Orbiter mating procedures than risking the PLBDs and OMS pods not working.
Agreed. Let's just hope they can fix ET-124. -
#251 by Lee Jay on 22 Mar, 2007 19:16
-
Quote
nathan.moeller - 22/3/2007 12:01 PM
QuoteLee Jay - 22/3/2007 12:46 PM
QuoteChris Bergin - 22/3/2007 11:09 AM
Let's keep this on Atlantis. The incident on the media call is pretty transparent.
Okay, I have a question. If the new tank arrives 4/10/07, wouldn't it be prudent to make a decision as to whether or not to swap tanks well before that date, so that if the decision is made to swap, destacking operations can begin and be completed before the tank arrives?
Lee Jay
Bear in mind that the tank must go through a few weeks (I believe) of final checkouts in the vertical checkout cell in the VAB before being mated to the SRBs. They'll have plenty of time to make the decision while that checkout work is completed.
I did not realize that it took that long to check out the tank and prepare it for mating to the SRBs.
Lee Jay -
#252 by Gekko0481 on 22 Mar, 2007 20:23
-
PLBDs...Payload Bay Doors? Please please PLEASE tell me I've got this right!
-
#253 by DaveS on 22 Mar, 2007 20:31
-
Quote
Gekko0481 - 22/3/2007 10:23 PM
You do.
PLBDs...Payload Bay Doors? Please please PLEASE tell me I've got this right! -
#254 by nathan.moeller on 23 Mar, 2007 01:47
-
Dave, if you don't see it as being too far OT, could you elaborate a bit on the problems moisture can cause for the PLBDs and OMS pods?
-
#255 by vda on 23 Mar, 2007 07:55
-
Quote
DaveS - 21/3/2007 8:13 PM
If a tank swap is decided, I would guess that Atlantis would go back to OPF-1 and wait there as the OPF AC environment is much better than the humid environment of the VAB.
I was told on this forum that Canaveral is a good place for spaceport. However, reading the above I think climate there is definitely is not ideal - too wet. -
#256 by Jim on 23 Mar, 2007 10:05
-
Quote
vda - 23/3/2007 4:55 AM
QuoteDaveS - 21/3/2007 8:13 PM
If a tank swap is decided, I would guess that Atlantis would go back to OPF-1 and wait there as the OPF AC environment is much better than the humid environment of the VAB.
I was told on this forum that Canaveral is a good place for spaceport. However, reading the above I think climate there is definitely is not ideal - too wet.
It is. Just that vehicles have to have an AC purge in their open spaces. -
#257 by jacqmans on 23 Mar, 2007 20:29
-
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
In high bay No. 1 of the Vehicle Assembly Building, work is under way
to repair hail damage to the STS-117 external fuel tank, ET-124.
Special scaffolding and access platforms have been erected to allow
access to the tank and orbiter for inspections and repairs. Foam
repairs on the liquid hydrogen tank, which is located on the bottom
of the ET, are complete.
Repairs to the orbiter thermal protection system tiles are complete,
and technicians completed non-destructive evaluations of the
vehicle's reinforced carbon carbon panels on the left wing leading
edge, using thermography equipment. No damage was detected.
Shuttle Program managers met on Wednesday to assess the damage and
repair status, and decided to continue work on repairing ET-124.
Managers will meet again in early April to decide whether to use
ET-124 or substitute a new tank, ET-117, which is scheduled to arrive
at KSC on April 10.
-
#258 by Michael22090 on 23 Mar, 2007 23:02
-
Quote
Jim - 23/3/2007 6:05 AM
Quotevda - 23/3/2007 4:55 AM
QuoteDaveS - 21/3/2007 8:13 PM
If a tank swap is decided, I would guess that Atlantis would go back to OPF-1 and wait there as the OPF AC environment is much better than the humid environment of the VAB.
I was told on this forum that Canaveral is a good place for spaceport. However, reading the above I think climate there is definitely is not ideal - too wet.
It is. Just that vehicles have to have an AC purge in their open spaces.
Hmm, interesting. My dad and I tried to ask our tour guide at KSC about how the location of KSC effects the Orbiters. Needless to say, he really didn't know all that much about it. He was busier trying to keep people from walking closer to the VAB to take pictures. It is nice to have someone that knows what they are talking about. Thanks Jim and Dave.
On topic: Is all of the scaffolding in place for the repairs or are there still some unreachable areas? Also, is the payload still at the pad, and is it safe there for the duration of the repairs?
Thanks! -
#259 by punkboi on 23 Mar, 2007 23:17
-
Quote
Michael22090 - 23/3/2007 5:02 PM Also, is the payload still at the pad, and is it safe there for the duration of the repairs? Thanks!
The S3/S4 truss is still at the pad
