STS-120 Rollover and VAB Processing Latest

[ChrisGebhardt]

Chandonn - 29/9/2007  12:35 AM

I presume the payload will be put in the payload bay Sunday evening or Monday?

Though I haven't seen documentation on this, mid-week (Tuesday-Thursday) is probably when the payload transfer will happen. If they rollout Saturday night/Sunday morning then there's an APU hotfire test scheduled for Sunday afternoon (weather permitting). After the hotfire test they'll roll the RSS around Discovery Sunday night and probably open her Payload Bay doors Monday. So Tuesday would probably be the earliest day payload transfer would happen.

[jacqmans]

Mission: STS-120 - 23rd International Space Station Flight - U.S. Node
2 (Harmony)
Vehicle: Discovery (OV-103)
Location: Vehicle Assembly Building
Launch Date: Targeted for Oct. 23, 2007
Launch Pad: 39A
Crew: Melroy, Zamka, Parazynski, Wheelock, Wilson, Nespoli and Tani
Inclination/Orbit Altitude: 51.6 degrees/122 nautical miles

On Sunday, Discovery rolled from Orbiter Processing Facility bay No. 3
to the Vehicle Assembly Building. The orbiter was transferred on
Monday to high bay No. 1, where it was attached to the external fuel
tank on the mobile launch platform. Engineers and technicians spent
the week performing attachment operations, closing out electrical and
mechanical connections on the shuttle stack. The shuttle interface
test is nearing completion. Rollout to Pad 39A is targeted for
Saturday evening, with arrival at the pad early Sunday, Sept. 30.

On Thursday, the STS-120 payload was transported to Launch Pad 39A and
transferred to the payload changeout room on the rotating service
structure.

[DaveS]

The latest wx forecast from the 45th Weather Squadron is out.

At the time of first motion(8 pm) the forecast calls for a 40% chance of showers and a 20% chance of lightning. Winds are going to be from the NE at 25 gusting to 35 knots.

The forecast for the entire roll period calls for a 30% chance of showers, lightning chances remain the same at 20%. Also the winds are the same, from the NE at 25 gusting to 35 knots.

[DaveS]

Chandonn - 29/9/2007  6:35 AM

I presume the payload will be put in the payload bay Sunday evening or Monday?

Thursday actually. Takes some time to ready everything for installation. RSS mate is scheduled for some time late morning/midday Monday.

[shuttlefan]

DaveS - 29/9/2007  7:00 AM

The latest wx forecast from the 45th Weather Squadron is out.

At the time of first motion(8 pm) the forecast calls for a 40% chance of showers and a 20% chance of lightning. Winds are going to be from the NE at 25 gusting to 35 knots.

The forecast for the entire roll period calls for a 30% chance of showers, lightning chances remain the same at 20%. Also the winds are the same, from the NE at 25 gusting to 35 knots.

So is that within the limits for rollout?

[Chandonn]

Thanks guys!  I know it always impresses me how early they integrate the payload at the pad.  I guess I was just expecting it to be even sooner: everything else has gone faster than expected in processing, what with the strut replacement and all.

[Chris Bergin]

We'll be moving to the new thread in a few hours. Will open it with the latest article on site (at that time).

[Real Madrid]

is the orbiter Disovery at this moment  underway to L39-A

[psloss]

Real Madrid - 29/9/2007  10:36 AM

is the orbiter Disovery at this moment  underway to L39-A

No; overnight tonight U.S. time.  I believe first motion is planned for about 0000 GMT.

[star2]

where
it can be seen please ?

[Real Madrid]

thanks and the arrive to LC-39A is planned for 6:00 GMT at Sunday

[William Graham]

Will anything of the rollout be shown live on NASA TV, or any other video feed?

[MKremer]

At most we may get some stills through the KSC video camera page from pad cameras as the stack approaches and finally parks at the pad.

[Ford Mustang]

MKremer - 29/9/2007  1:41 PM

At most we may get some stills through the KSC video camera page from pad cameras as the stack approaches and finally parks at the pad.

Should have them through:

http://science.ksc.nasa.gov/shuttle/countdown/video/


How good?  Not sure, it's going to be after dark..

[DaveS]

Ford Mustang - 29/9/2007  8:00 PM

MKremer - 29/9/2007  1:41 PM

At most we may get some stills through the KSC video camera page from pad cameras as the stack approaches and finally parks at the pad.

Should have them through:

http://science.ksc.nasa.gov/shuttle/countdown/video/


How good?  Not sure, it's going to be after dark..

Take a look in the STS-118 rollout coverage link I provided earlier. We're talking about the same time frame here, 8 pm to 2 am Eastern time.

[Ford Mustang]

DaveS - 29/9/2007  2:05 PM

Ford Mustang - 29/9/2007  8:00 PM

MKremer - 29/9/2007  1:41 PM

At most we may get some stills through the KSC video camera page from pad cameras as the stack approaches and finally parks at the pad.

Should have them through:

http://science.ksc.nasa.gov/shuttle/countdown/video/


How good?  Not sure, it's going to be after dark..

Take a look in the STS-118 rollout coverage link I provided earlier. We're talking about the same time frame here, 8 pm to 2 am Eastern time.

Yep, I looked.  But, you're going from summer to fall.. Gets darker earlier.