How's Atlantis' processing going?

#160 by DaveS on 10 Mar, 2006 20:50
Atlantis (OV-104)

Mission: STS-115 - 19th International Space Station Flight (12A)
Payload: P3/P4 Solar Arrays
Location: Orbiter Processing Facility Bay 1
Launch Date: No earlier than Aug. 28, 2006
Launch Pad: 39B
Crew: Jett, Ferguson, Tanner, Burbank, MacLean and Stefanyshyn-Piper
Inclination/Orbit Altitude: 51.6 degrees/122 nautical miles

Technicians continue processing Atlantis for its mission to the
International Space Station. The vehicle remains in a scheduled
powered-down period, with the next power-up to occur as early as
today. Power up will follow the servicing of the water coolant loop.
On Thursday, liquid oxygen leak checks began on the space shuttle
main engines.
#161 by mainengine on 11 Mar, 2006 18:37
It sounds like the main engines are already installed.
When did it happen ?
Does anybody know ?
#162 by Launch Fan on 11 Mar, 2006 19:16
I don't think they are installed. I think they are ready to be installed, but are having leak checks prior to that because of the tests that were done on Discovery relating to the O2 leak.
#163 by Rob in KC on 16 Mar, 2006 18:36
How's the gap filler change-out proceeding?
#164 by Davie OPF on 16 Mar, 2006 22:37
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Rob in KC - 16/3/2006 1:36 PM

How's the gap filler change-out proceeding?

On schedule. Not so with Endeavour, but a long time before she flies.
#165 by Flightstar on 17 Mar, 2006 01:25
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Davie OPF - 16/3/2006 5:37 PM

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Rob in KC - 16/3/2006 1:36 PM

How's the gap filler change-out proceeding?

On schedule. Not so with Endeavour, but a long time before she flies.

And people need to remember the way the workforce was all concentrating mainly on Discovery. This is now not so much of a squeeze of resources. Endeavour will still have to wait for her sisters, regardless.
#166 by Chris Bergin on 17 Mar, 2006 21:28
Mission: STS-115 - 19th International Space Station Flight (12A) -
P3/P4 Solar Arrays
Vehicle: Atlantis (OV-104)
Location: Orbiter Processing Facility Bay 1
Launch Date: No earlier than Aug. 28, 2006
Launch Pad: 39B
Crew: Jett, Ferguson, Tanner, Burbank, MacLean and Stefanyshyn-Piper
Inclination/Orbit Altitude: 51.6 degrees/122 nautical miles

The vehicle was powered up March 10. Work continues with powered up
system testing. Main propulsion system leak and functional checks
were completed on Tuesday, with final space shuttle main engine
operations continuing once engine No. 3 is installed.
#167 by mainengine on 18 Mar, 2006 15:54
This should be a confirmation of engines 1 and 2 already installed. Engine No. 3 (S/N 2045) was installed for the STS-300 LON for STS-114 but is now placed in Discovery.
#168 by Davie OPF on 19 Mar, 2006 00:34
Very observent! Where did you manage to find that information?
#169 by Avron on 19 Mar, 2006 14:41
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Davie OPF - 18/3/2006 8:34 PM

Very observent! Where did you manage to find that information?

Davie, can you guys identify an engine by sight, I.e. they are all different is some way, or do you have to look at the serial number?
#170 by mainengine on 19 Mar, 2006 19:28
Thanks for your reply.
All I do is supposing.
I took the information out of the FRR documents of 114.
But since you are "Davie OPF" maybe you could confirm it .?!
#171 by Davie OPF on 20 Mar, 2006 00:49
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Avron - 19/3/2006 9:41 AM

Quote
Davie OPF - 18/3/2006 8:34 PM

Very observent! Where did you manage to find that information?

Davie, can you guys identify an engine by sight, I.e. they are all different is some way, or do you have to look at the serial number?

The SSME guys know them inside out, but they all have the same appearance.
#172 by Davie OPF on 20 Mar, 2006 00:50
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mainengine - 19/3/2006 2:28 PM

Thanks for your reply.
All I do is supposing.
I took the information out of the FRR documents of 114.
But since you are "Davie OPF" maybe you could confirm it .?!

I asked an aft propulsion guy and he said you are right. I see on your profile you have .de, so I assume you are German. He said "The Germans know too much"

I work on Orbiter flight control systems, which is why I asked, rather than know.
#173 by anik on 24 Mar, 2006 13:46
Pump package swapped out on Atlantis
http://www.floridatoday.com/floridatoday/blogs/spaceteam/2006/03/pump-package-swapped-out-on-atlantis.html

"NASA contractor technicians are testing a new cooling system pump package on shuttle Atlantis after replacing a unit that was damaged during routine launch processing in early February.

Part of the shuttle's Environmental Control and Life Support System, the cooling system essentially provides air conditioning within the shuttle's crew cabin.

The pump package that was replaced was damaged when workers inadvertently overpressurized a coolant loop during leak checks. A second pump package also was damaged but it was repaired rather than replaced."
#174 by mkirk on 24 Mar, 2006 22:00
Here is PAO's Space Shuttle Status Report for this week:

Mission: STS-115 - 19th International Space Station Flight (12A) -
P3/P4 Solar Arrays
Vehicle: Atlantis (OV-104)
Location: Orbiter Processing Facility Bay 1
Launch Date: No earlier than Aug. 28, 2006
Launch Pad: 39B
Crew: Jett, Ferguson, Tanner, Burbank, MacLean and Stefanyshyn-Piper
Inclination/Orbit Altitude: 51.6 degrees/122 nautical miles

Technicians continue to perform powered-up system testing on Atlantis
for its mission to the International Space Station. The final space
shuttle main engine is scheduled to be installed in early April, and
then final main propulsion leak checks will be performed. Global
positioning system functional checks are scheduled to resume today.
Removal and replacement of the water coolant loop No. 2 pump package
was completed Wednesday. Following the installation of the pump
package, the system was retested, and leak checks were completed.
#175 by UK Shuttle Clan on 27 Mar, 2006 08:32
Does it always take longer to install the third engine? This one seems to be taking its time to join the other two. Is it always the centre engine also?
#176 by DaveS on 27 Mar, 2006 12:23
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Is it always the centre engine also?
No.

This is the order:
1:Center
2:Lower left
3:Lower right
#177 by Launch Fan on 28 Mar, 2006 05:35
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DaveS - 27/3/2006 6:23 AM

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Is it always the centre engine also?
No.

This is the order:
1:Center
2:Lower left
3:Lower right

Any particular reason it's that way around?
#178 by STS Tony on 29 Mar, 2006 01:38
How many SSMEs are stored at KSC at any one time?
#179 by DaveS on 31 Mar, 2006 09:06
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STS Tony - 29/3/2006 3:38 AM

How many SSMEs are stored at KSC at any one time?
I believe its 15, 5 complete sets(3 SSMEs for each orbiter). Anyone that can cofirm or deny this?