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#300
by
Do Shuttles Dream
on 30 Mar, 2007 02:47
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How long can an orbiter be left vertical like this? Any detrimental effects?
What has been the longest in history?
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#301
by
nathan.moeller
on 30 Mar, 2007 04:02
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Do Shuttles Dream - 29/3/2007 9:47 PM
How long can an orbiter be left vertical like this? Any detrimental effects?
What has been the longest in history?
As Dave mentioned earlier, the humidity of the VAB/pad isn't good for some of the on board systems if the vehicle is exposed for a long time. I'm not sure what the effects are but I'm sure one of our experienced guys here can tell ya
But Columbia set on pad 39A for about four and a half months or so before it flew on STS-1 in 1981.
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#302
by
Avron
on 30 Mar, 2007 04:10
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Well the weather is not going to get any kinder to a LV sitting on a pad without protection from the elements. Soon we will be watching out for changes in the mid Atlantic.. that season is approaching, while NASA spends the fourth year .. playing with Foam as a structural component on hypersonic Manned vehicle.
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#303
by
Jim
on 30 Mar, 2007 11:33
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nathan.moeller - 29/3/2007 12:02 AM
Do Shuttles Dream - 29/3/2007 9:47 PM
How long can an orbiter be left vertical like this? Any detrimental effects?
What has been the longest in history?
As Dave mentioned earlier, the humidity of the VAB/pad isn't good for some of the on board systems if the vehicle is exposed for a long time. I'm not sure what the effects are but I'm sure one of our experienced guys here can tell ya But Columbia set on pad 39A for about four and a half months or so before it flew on STS-1 in 1981.
There is AC blowing through the Orbiter at the pad. Limited amounts in the VAB
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#304
by
wannamoonbase
on 30 Mar, 2007 12:21
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Environmental Control Systems (ECS) systems for STS and ELVs provide air that is conditioned for temperature and humidity. the air pressurizes the inside compartments of the vehicles and payload. Being positively pressurized means that dust and moisture and salt spray can't get in. These ECS ducts are some of the larger hose like connections you see fall away from a vehicle on launch.
The ECS systems are designed to be fully redundant and more than capable of providing the required service.
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#305
by
Thorny
on 30 Mar, 2007 12:40
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nathan.moeller - 29/3/2007 11:02 PM
But Columbia set on pad 39A for about four and a half months or so before it flew on STS-1 in 1981.
3 1/2
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#306
by
nathan.moeller
on 30 Mar, 2007 14:11
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Thorny - 30/3/2007 7:40 AM
nathan.moeller - 29/3/2007 11:02 PM
But Columbia set on pad 39A for about four and a half months or so before it flew on STS-1 in 1981.
3 1/2
You're right. My bad.
Jim - thanks for that info on the pad AC. I didn't know that
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#307
by
Chris Bergin
on 30 Mar, 2007 14:15
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Chris Bergin - 30/3/2007 12:57 AM
Decision on the tank, launch date, moved to April 16, as per L2.
The 16th is the launch date decision. They will still decide on the tank situation on the 10th.
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#308
by
shuttlefan
on 30 Mar, 2007 14:59
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nathan.moeller - 30/3/2007 9:11 AM
Thorny - 30/3/2007 7:40 AM
nathan.moeller - 29/3/2007 11:02 PM
But Columbia set on pad 39A for about four and a half months or so before it flew on STS-1 in 1981.
3 1/2
You're right. My bad.
Jim - thanks for that info on the pad AC. I didn't know that
Would Challenger/STS-6 be the longest the orbiter has ever been mated to the ET being it was gounded for so long with the SSME hydrogen leaks? I know I could research this myself but I'm just wondering if anybody on hear has an immediate answer. :cool:
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#309
by
jacqmans
on 30 Mar, 2007 21:00
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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 assess and 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 external tank, are complete. The focus is currently on
repairs to the liquid oxygen tank.
Shuttle program managers will meet on or about April 10 to decide
whether to use ET-124 or substitute it with a new tank, ET-117, which
is scheduled to arrive at KSC in early April.
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#310
by
Thorny
on 30 Mar, 2007 23:04
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shuttlefan - 30/3/2007 9:59 AM
Would Challenger/STS-6 be the longest the orbiter has ever been mated to the ET being it was gounded for so long with the SSME hydrogen leaks? I know I could research this myself but I'm just wondering if anybody on hear has an immediate answer. :cool:
About November 24, 1982 to April 4, 1983. 131 days. That should be the longest continuous stack.
The second longest is STS-35 Columbia. About August 3, 1990 to December 2, 1990. 121 days. Add to this the 58 days STS-35 spent stacked for the first launch attempt (this was the key ingredient in the hydrogen leak debacle of 1990), and you get a whopping 179 days (almost 6 months) the Columbia and LWT-28 spent mated. Ouch.
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#311
by
Chris Bergin
on 31 Mar, 2007 04:11
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#312
by
Andy USA
on 31 Mar, 2007 23:09
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#313
by
jacqmans
on 03 Apr, 2007 09:36
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Rollout of External Tank 117 on April 01, 2007
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#314
by
ShuttleDiscovery
on 03 Apr, 2007 10:00
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Thanks for the pictures Jacques. Lets just hope they won't have to use this tank for Atlantis.
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#315
by
Gekko0481
on 03 Apr, 2007 10:55
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Is this the tank that would be used by Endeavour to support Atlantis on a Launch On Need mission? If this is the case, what will happen if they swap the tanks and the need arises to fly? I seem to recall reading something about the fact that a spare, slightly heavier (lightweight as opposed to Superlightweight) is kept at KSC, but the last LW tank that was used was used on STS-107.
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#316
by
DaveS
on 03 Apr, 2007 11:42
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Gekko0481 - 3/4/2007 12:55 PM
Is this the tank that would be used by Endeavour to support Atlantis on a Launch On Need mission?
Yes.
Gekko0481 - 3/4/2007 12:55 PM
If this is the case, what will happen if they swap the tanks and the need arises to fly? I seem to recall reading something about the fact that a spare, slightly heavier (lightweight as opposed to Superlightweight) is kept at KSC, but the last LW tank that was used was used on STS-107.
Actually, the last LWT is at Michoud it was used in the Columbia accident investigation. Endeavour would fly with the next ET, ET-120.
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#317
by
Chris Bergin
on 04 Apr, 2007 00:52
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#318
by
Gekko0481
on 04 Apr, 2007 13:07
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Urm...whats the solar beta cut out?
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#319
by
DaveS
on 04 Apr, 2007 13:32
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Gekko0481 - 4/4/2007 3:07 PM
Urm...whats the solar beta cut out?
It's period when the solar beta angle either becomes too low or high to support a docked mission for power generation and thermal reasons.
But Columbia set on pad 39A for about four and a half months or so before it flew on STS-1 in 1981.