It's still 19 Shuttle flights to go, new launch dates

[shuttle_rtf]

Thanks for linking up my article, Franson.<br /><br />SG, as Radar says, this appears to be a very tight schedule and I want to ask a question about launch windows (not time of day).<br /><br />While I have no doubt the launch processing can support the 19 flights, the example of the December 7 NET date and others around the times of year where daylight will be less give me a little concern given the shorter number of days the launch will support imaging on ascent.<br /><br />What kind of timeframes can we expect for these December and Febuary launch dates? Around Seven days?<br /><br />Makes it harder if the weather isn't right, or there's a similar problem such as the ECOs.

 

[giofx]

were not the rules about daylight and launch video feed supposed to be no more required after some launches?

 

[bpcooper]

NASA's plan has been and is still to drop the daylight rule after two flights where no foam is shed. So right now, 121 and 115 will be daylight-obliged. <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> <p>-Ben</p> </div>

 

[shuttle_rtf]

Excellent, that answers the question.

 

[erioladastra]

"I like the idea of targeting a mid-2009 shutdown of STS. "<br /><br />That is not the plan. The schedule is ambitous to allo for slips and expected problems. The missions at the end are the least criticl should they have to be cut. But there is no way things will shut down early.

 

[erioladastra]

"Yes, that is the plan, however I do not believe the formal decision has been made or will be made without the data from STS-121. "<br /><br />Correct. Griffin is rely into doing the right thing - i.e., lets wait and see how things go, what analsysi shows etc before we decide.

 

[kdavis007]

There could have been 18 shuttle flights if NASA was wasting its time fixing the Hubble...

 

[nacnud]

I take it you're not an astronomer then.

 

[lampblack]

Says here Barbara Morgan is on STS-118:<br /><br />http://www.jsc.nasa.gov/Bios/htmlbios/morgan.html<br /><br />(edited to add her name) <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> <font color="#0000ff"><strong>Just tell the truth and let the chips fall...</strong></font> </div>

 

[shuttle_rtf]

I keep hearing some people saying they aren't happy with a HSM on the manifest. I think it's time for a poll <img src="/images/icons/wink.gif" />

 

[spaceiscool]

some people? everyone wants the shuttle scrapped before it murders more people.

 

[radarredux]

> <i><font color="yellow">I think it's time for a poll</font>/i><br /><br /><img src="/images/icons/shocked.gif" /> Aaaaahhhhkkkkk!!!<br /><br />And Radar runs from the room.</i>

 

[gpurcell]

Excellent, they're doing the phased retirement we speculated on earlier. This should keep the workforce reasonably in place while binding future Congresses on Shuttle replacement in the 2010/12 timeframe.

 

[mattblack]

FREE SPEECH, MY A$$. SOMEBODY BAN THIS ****!!! <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> <p> </p><p>One Percent of Federal Funding For Space: America <strong><em><u>CAN</u></em></strong> Afford it!!  LEO is a <strong><em>Prison</em></strong> -- It's time for a <em><strong>JAILBREAK</strong></em>!!</p> </div>

 

[bpcooper]

"Yes, that is the plan, however I do not believe the formal decision has been made or will be made without the data from STS-121."<br /><br />Yea, that's correct. I should have added, if 121 sheds foam, I would say that's it, daytime for the rest of the program. If they shed again they will not waste another year fixing it. <br /><br />I doubt they would just go ahead and end it all, but would probably just live with the foam problem for a few more flights and work on the order of having another shuttle ready in a month just in case.<br /><br />For the sake of wanting to see another night Shuttle launch here, I hope 121 and 115 are flawless :- <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> <p>-Ben</p> </div>

 

[radarredux]

> <i><font color="yellow">The schedule is ambitous to allo for slips and expected problems. ... But there is no way things will shut down early.</font>/i><br /><br />While I agree that part of the reason to end 12-18 months earlier than originally planned was in part to provide room for slippage, but if NASA does accomplish all the flights by mid-2009 I doubt they will add more flights. Instead I would expect the savings to be used to accelerate the next phase of ESAS.<br /><br />This leads to an interesting irony for the STS operations crew -- if they perform extremely well and finish all 19 missions by mid-2009, they are rewarded by being laid off earlier.</i>

 

[radarredux]

> <i><font color="yellow">For the sake of wanting to see another night Shuttle launch here, I hope 121 and 115 are flawless</font>/i><br /><br />Everyone will be holding their breaths for two reasons for the next flight: (1) foam shedding that can endanger the crew, and (2) foam shedding that can endanger the schedule.</i>

 

[mattblack]

I'll be holding my breath even more for STS-121 than I did for STS-114. I don't think I could STAND that for much longer. <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> <p> </p><p>One Percent of Federal Funding For Space: America <strong><em><u>CAN</u></em></strong> Afford it!!  LEO is a <strong><em>Prison</em></strong> -- It's time for a <em><strong>JAILBREAK</strong></em>!!</p> </div>

 

[erioladastra]

"I doubt they will add more flights"<br /><br />Probably true but who knows - a lot will depend on CEV, state of ISS etc. But since it is highly unlikely of finishing early I am not going to sweat the details!

 

[erioladastra]

"There could have been 18 shuttle flights if NASA was wasting its time fixing the Hubble... "<br /><br />These sort fo statements always crack me up. It is as if NASA is a group of people sitting in a back room making their own plans to do what they want. A HST SM is very political - congress has made it very clear to Griffin that if there is a safe way to service, he will do it if he wants continued support.

 

[spaceiscool]

why do you attack me personaly and i have never done that to you? you are the one that should be baned for that! just cause i don't agree with you doesnt mean you can call me names.

 

[erioladastra]

My guess is because you make statements like "everyone wants the shuttle scrapped before it murders more people" when clearly judging by the posts on this forum, not everyone agrees. Make an argument based on facts and not just your own passion and wild ideas and people won't get frustrated with you.

 

[mattblack]

Gee, I'm sorry!! See the above response, *edited* to be more politically correct. <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> <p> </p><p>One Percent of Federal Funding For Space: America <strong><em><u>CAN</u></em></strong> Afford it!!  LEO is a <strong><em>Prison</em></strong> -- It's time for a <em><strong>JAILBREAK</strong></em>!!</p> </div>

 

[dobbins]

"The Program board considered approving the manifest for the next 7 flight but decided to wait another 2 weeks to be sure that the MSFC guys are able to maintain their schedule."<br /><br />It's been two weeks, any news on the manifest?<br /><br />

 

[BReif]

<font color="yellow">My guess is because you make statements like "everyone wants the shuttle scrapped before it murders more people" when clearly judging by the posts on this forum, not everyone agrees. Make an argument based on facts and not just your own passion and wild ideas and people won't get frustrated with you. </font><br /><br />Ditto on that. We discussed this "murder issue" in another thread.<br /><br />