STS-117: Atlantis Rollout and Pre-Launch Updates (take two)

#180 by psloss on 22 May, 2007 22:39
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Justin Wheat - 22/5/2007 6:28 PM

yes they are. I was just giving the date of the late stow
It's not really a date, though, it's more like whenever they get to L-25 hours.
#181 by Austin on 23 May, 2007 00:56
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Justin Wheat - 22/5/2007 3:09 PM

Crew equipment late stow Thursday 06/07/07
24...40...00...06:49:12 PM...Flight crew equipment late stow
http://www.cbsnews.com/network/news/space/currentglance.html#COUNT major countdown timeline

Thanks for the update, Justin!
#182 by Ford Mustang on 23 May, 2007 21:10
Why do they call them 'late stows'? I mean, why not put everything in there at the same time?
#183 by on 23 May, 2007 21:19
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Ford Mustang - 23/5/2007 4:10 PM Why do they call them 'late stows'? I mean, why not put everything in there at the same time?

Because things like food cannot stay on the orbiter long before flight. Food gets put into its containers the day before launch so it doesn't go bad before to long
#184 by Rocket Guy on 23 May, 2007 21:31
Incorrect, regardless of when it is stowed most shuttle food and drink is prepackaged long before flight and is good for years. Few exceptions include items such as fresh fruit or candy.
#185 by on 23 May, 2007 21:41
the containers in which the food is stored is placed in the shuttle the day before launch. I didn't mean to say that the food can't last long.
#186 by Skinny on 24 May, 2007 08:20
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MarkD - 23/5/2007 7:13 PM What happens in the crew module between pad arrival and launch? I mean besides bringing the crew belongings and supplies?
"General" questions can be discussed in the Shuttle Q&A thread
http://forum.nasaspaceflight.com/forums/thread-view.asp?tid=6156&posts=269&start=1
Let's stick to STS-117 updates in this thread.
#187 by Chandonn on 24 May, 2007 13:14
Getting back on topic... I believe we are at T-15 days for the first launch opportunity.
Per the previous posts, there are no issues being worked at present. ISS has just been reboosted to prepare for docking with Atlantis (article: http://www.nasaspaceflight.com/content/?cid=5109), then Expedition 15 is turning their attention to installing the orbital debris shields on Zvezda which were brought up on STS-116 (same article).

Here is a morning shot of Atlantis on the pad.
#188 by Chris Bergin on 24 May, 2007 15:48
NASA Announces News Conference on Next Shuttle Launch

NASA managers have scheduled a news conference at Kennedy Space Center, Fla., no earlier than 2 p.m. EDT, Thursday, May 31, to discuss the status of the upcoming space shuttle mission. The news conference will begin after the conclusion of a Flight Readiness Review, a two-day meeting to assess preparations for shuttle Atlantis' mission, designated STS-117.

The May 30-31 review may produce a number of key decisions about the flight, including selection of an official launch date for Atlantis' voyage to the International Space Station. The current target launch date is June 8 at 7:38 p.m. The briefing participants are:

-- Bill Gerstenmaier, associate administrator for Space Operations
-- Wayne Hale, Space Shuttle Program manager
-- Mike Leinbach, NASA launch director

Also on May 31 at 9 a.m., the 13th and final edition of "NASA's Implementation Plan for Space Shuttle Return to Flight and Beyond" will be released. The implementation plan demonstrated NASA's progress in safely returning shuttles to flight. This edition includes information on changes and modifications tested during the two Return to Flight missions, STS-114 in 2005 and STS-121 in 2006. This completes the Return to Flight effort that concluded with STS-121.
#189 by ShuttleDiscovery on 24 May, 2007 16:19
New crew photo with Anderson. Notice the updated patches on everybody.

http://www.spacefacts.de/mission/photo2/sts-117.jpg

Hope the link works!
#190 by on 24 May, 2007 16:28
Nice photo. They placed the updated patches on everyone by computer. Along with Anderson.
#191 by ShuttleDiscovery on 24 May, 2007 16:43
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Justin Wheat - 24/5/2007 5:28 PM

Nice photo. They placed the updated patches on everyone by computer. Along with Anderson.

Yeah. Can't find an updated one of STS-118 yet but i'll post it as soon as I do!
#192 by Chris Bergin on 24 May, 2007 17:06
STS 117 / OV104 / Pad A
Power is up
Next power up scheduled for Tuesday May 29th at 08:00
S00024 propellant servicing in work
#193 by on 24 May, 2007 17:24
has hyper-loading been complete?
#194 by Chris Bergin on 24 May, 2007 17:36
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Justin Wheat - 24/5/2007 6:24 PM

has hyper-loading been complete?

Already mentioned in the latest STS-117 article I wrote:

"Will be in a position to begin hyper loading on 001 Wednesday; expect to complete this by Friday,'"

http://www.nasaspaceflight.com/content/?cid=5108
#195 by MKremer on 24 May, 2007 17:56
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Justin Wheat - 24/5/2007 12:24 PM

has hyper-loading been complete?

One of the cameras here:
http://webcams.ksc.nasa.gov/ImgCap/default.htm
was showing a hyper loading/monitoring area in the service structure the past few days - yesterday/last night every now and then you could see people moving about in their SCAPE suits.
#196 by on 24 May, 2007 18:13
Are the people in the cameras just watching over the systems
#197 by MKremer on 24 May, 2007 18:17
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Justin Wheat - 24/5/2007 1:13 PM

Are the people in the cameras just watching over the systems
All the cameras are remote controlled/selected, and I still have no earthly idea who or why they select any particular camera or view for display. (Other than something like crane operations in the SSPF or VAB.)
#198 by psloss on 24 May, 2007 18:43
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MKremer - 24/5/2007 2:17 PM

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Justin Wheat - 24/5/2007 1:13 PM

Are the people in the cameras just watching over the systems
All the cameras are remote controlled/selected, and I still have no earthly idea who or why they select any particular camera or view for display. (Other than something like crane operations in the SSPF or VAB.)
I would presume that given some level of knowledge of the ops/test schedules and the locations of the OTV cameras there's something approaching a consensus choice. PAO had a photographer in OPF-2 the other day when they closed Endeavour's payload bay doors ahead of rollover. It would have been possible to switch the web page(s) to OTV 085 or 086 or whichever of the cameras is in the OPF-2 high bay to monitor that.

(And for what it's worth, I've heard, second-hand, that having the public watching "over-the-shoulder" for a lot of the time can get a little, uh, unnerving to some people who work in front of all those cameras.)
#199 by rdale on 24 May, 2007 18:50
I think his question was are the people being shown in the cameras' views actually "doing" something or "watching" the systems.