Space Shuttle Return to Flight (part 4)

[drwayne]

A couple of days ago I watched the episode covering the Gemini 8 flight. That was a nail biter. And I know what happens. <br /><br />Wayne <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> <p>"1) Give no quarter; 2) Take no prisoners; 3) Sink everything."  Admiral Jackie Fisher</p> </div>

 

[lunatio_gordin]

they are good at dramatizing history, though, aren't they? i like watching history and NG all day...

 

[steve82]

Some of the program was good, nothing new though. The reenactments were a little strained, the cockpit displays were bogus. I met Evelyn Husband at her book signing, though, and when I see her as she was on the show and think of what she and her children went through as recounted in her book it really brings home how devastating it was.

 

[drwayne]

Maybe its morbid, or sick, but I wanted to know a little better what they would have seen and felt before the breakup.<br /><br />Maybe its just my way of finding some - closure about things, and grasping at straws.<br /><br />Wayne <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> <p>"1) Give no quarter; 2) Take no prisoners; 3) Sink everything."  Admiral Jackie Fisher</p> </div>

 

[ozspace]

I still hold my breath when they call "Go at thottle up"...

 

[earth_bound_misfit]

<blockquote><font class="small">In reply to:</font><hr /><p>Maybe its morbid, or sick, but I wanted to know a little better what they would have seen and felt before the breakup.<br /><br />Maybe its just my way of finding some - closure about things, and grasping at straws.<br /> <p><hr /></p></p></blockquote><br /><br />I know what you mean Doc. I've always wondered exactly what took their lives. I could never bring myself round to asking.<br />I guess I watch too much CSI.<br /><br />I salute all the astronaults, as they all put their lives on the line. <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> <p> </p><p> </p><p>----------------------------------------------------------------- </p><p>Wanna see this site looking like the old SDC uplink?</p><p>Go here to see how: <strong>SDC Eye saver </strong>  </p> </div>

 

[lunatic133]

I didn't know that was on ... to be honest I'm not sure I could watch it. It would be too painful, bringing back all those memories about just how deeply I WAS affected by the disaster. I was just a high schooler then, but NASA was, at the time, close to infallible (from my perspective). I took it harder than I perhaps should have but it was like my entire world had ended. It's taken me this long for the memories to stop haunting me every day, stupid as that sounds. It's for that reason that I probably wouldn't enjoy watching something like that. I feel a great deal of empathy for people I've never even met. In senior year economics we watched a video of the 1980's and they showed footage of the challenger disaster. I wasn't even old enough to remember it, and yet watching it made me feel physically ill. Watching a special about a disaster I do remember, very clearly, probably wouldn't be the best idea.

 

[ozspace]

We owe it to victims of any disaster to understand what went wrong and help to prevent future mistakes. Producing and showing these programs is an important part of that and in educating the general public and hopefully they will appreciate the risks and also the magic of spaceflight. The same is true of airline, ship, tunnel and other disasters, we all benefit by knowing what happened.<br />Disasters like Challenger and Columbia really highlight what an incredible achievement (and risk) human spaceflight is and that we should never be complacent when humans enter extreme environments.<br />Apollo 13 bought that home when we all were taking Moon landings for granted...<br />

 

[SpaceKiwi]

Well said, oz. It's vitally important that the public understands the huge risks involved in human spaceflight as I believe it makes it easier to reconcile loss when it does sadly occur.<br /><br />In that respect, in times of tragedy, NASA and RSA become their own 'worst enemies' due to the fact they normally make launching people into space so routine and 'safe'. That said, I reckon these folks are the best of the best and they are trying to mitigate the risks as much as possible.<br /><br />Bring on that 'go at throttle up', oz ... it's time to go fly! I seriously doubt I will be able to sit still during those 9 odd minutes though! <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> <p><em><font size="2" color="#ff0000">Who is this superhero?  Henry, the mild-mannered janitor ... could be!</font></em></p><p><em><font size="2">-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------</font></em></p><p><font size="5">Bring Back The Black!</font></p> </div>

 

[shuttle_rtf]

FRR already over! Took just a few hours. (sources)<br /><br />Everyone positive (that I've spoken too) - have info on the charts presented at the FRR and a few other things. Will write it up asap.<br /><br />Expecting Griffin to now come out with the official (as in he'll state it in his announcement) window of July 13-31.

 

[grooble]

July will be a good month for NASA.

 

[bpcooper]

I'm skeptical that it would be over at 330 on day 1. Even normal launch FRRs take two days. This time they have a 300 page chart summary to go through.<br /><br />We shall see. <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> <p>-Ben</p> </div>

 

[shuttle_rtf]

Couple of points here gained:<br /><br />From http://www.nasaspaceflight.com/content/?id=3069<br /><br /> />One of the main points of the FRR was a chart shown by John Muratore, NASA’s manager for shuttle systems engineering and integration, that pointed out some of the effects on geyser potential from the LOX feedline heater - a new modification aimed to reduce the potential of ice debris, which could potentially strike the Orbiter on assent. The chart showed the chances of increased geysering to be next to nil. <br /><br />Another issue noted was an ice debris concern on the Ground Umbilical Carrier Plate - The part of the ET where all the umbilicals connect - GH2 vent line and the GHe and GN2 purges. The second Tanking Test had shown that ice build-up was in excess of LLC parameters.<<br /><br />As BPC notes above, one day doesn't sit well with how FRRs go, hense I've linked this back to the article for the relevant disclaimer that this is not official.

 

[najab]

The only way it could be over that quickly would be if there was a clear and obvious red flag.

 

[drwayne]

"one day doesn't sit well with how FRRs go"<br /><br />I have worked programs in which you didn't go to FRR unless you knew you would pass, and it became somewhat of a formality.<br /><br />You did all your thrashing, fighting and clawing prior to scheduling an FRR - and that sort of stuff was done more at the worker level - my level.<br /><br />Wayne <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> <p>"1) Give no quarter; 2) Take no prisoners; 3) Sink everything."  Admiral Jackie Fisher</p> </div>

 

[SpaceKiwi]

I'm gonna go with the Doc on this one too. The last two plus years have been one big FRR. I'd say everyone knew the general state-of-play well before now, and had figured out where the red flags might be.<br /><br />Perhaps they have foregone the opportunity to have the umpteenth and one additional hand-wringing discussion about many of the aspects of flight-readiness, where even the NASA janitors are able to give a quick 15 minute dissertation on the state-of-play. <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> <p><em><font size="2" color="#ff0000">Who is this superhero?  Henry, the mild-mannered janitor ... could be!</font></em></p><p><em><font size="2">-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------</font></em></p><p><font size="5">Bring Back The Black!</font></p> </div>

 

[drwayne]

An observation to add to the "formality" nature of the FRR's I was talking about - you would see management types at those meetings that you never saw any other time, certainly never when actual work was taking place.<br /><br /><img src="/images/icons/wink.gif" /><br /><br />Wayne <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> <p>"1) Give no quarter; 2) Take no prisoners; 3) Sink everything."  Admiral Jackie Fisher</p> </div>

 

[shuttle_rtf]

Griffin Press Conference this afternoon

 

[shuttle_rtf]

We're still at FRR complete status and very confident of this now.<br /><br />On the launch date, new information is a rumour (note rumour) of a launch date of noon, July 18th to mitigate afternoon weather effects on launch constraints.<br /><br />Checking into it.

 

[ozspace]

KSC Public Affairs has just received word that the FRR meeting may end as early as Noon today, Thursday, June 30. The press conference following the meeting will take place approximately 30 minutes later whenever it ends. Mike Griffin, NASA Administrator, WILL PARTICIPATE.

 

[rvastro]

According to Spaceflightnow.com, a launch on 18 July would be between 1:46pm and 1:56pm with an "in plane" launch time of 1:51:41 pm (all EDT). I hope it is set for a weekend date--I really don't want to miss a day of work--but will if I really need to <img src="/images/icons/wink.gif" />

 

[shuttle_rtf]

I wonder who's still meeting till noon then (for another three hours), as I know for a fact some departmental managers on the FRR flew back to their various places around the US last night. Certainly doesn't fit that the press conference would be 30 mins after the meeting. Griffin's got to write up what he's going to say etc.etc. make sure everyone's on the same page for the conference etc.etc. He was always going to participate!? <br /><br />Anyway, cool. Not long till we find out.<br /><br />And yes, looked at the times of each day...I'll go with that, although obviously I'm just reporting what I'm being told.

 

[ozspace]

That was from an email alert to media that I received at around 9 am EDT, from Mike Rein, NASA KSC Chief, Media Services <br /> <br />Edit: Maybe spending the time notifying partners, preping for the conference, charts, spin, etc?

 

[shuttle_rtf]

Agreed.<br /><br />Are you as excited as me? <img src="/images/icons/smile.gif" />

 

[ozspace]

)(*&^%$##@##$$% Yeah! Florida calls!