Space Shuttle Return to Flight - Pt. 2

shuttle_rtf · May 16, 2005

How are things progressing SG? Update: Stafford-Covey confirm meeting date: Return To Flight Task Group Update: The next Stafford-Covey Return to Flight Task Group public meeting starts at 9 a.m. EDT, Wednesday, June 8 in the Webster Civic Center, 311 Pennsylvania Avenue, Webster, Texas. The purpose of the meeting is to assess NASA's implementation of several Columbia Accident Investigation Board (CAIB) recommendations. A news conference follows the meeting at 2 p.m. EDT at NASA's Johnson Space Center (JSC), Houston. It will be live on NASA TV, with questions taken from media at participating agency locations.

shuttle_rtf · May 16, 2005

Burst of news coming in from some guys at KSC. The US Flag on the side of the VAB is back to its former glory after a tile and paint job <img src="/images/icons/smile.gif" /> Happy 14th Birthday to Endeavour this month (depends when you classed her as born given the Palmdale or arrival at KSC). Not Shuttle related, but: The Boeing Delta Mariner, a crucial piece of hardware for the Delta IV rocket program, delivered three Common Booster Cores (CBCs) for the Delta IV Heavy at Cape Canaveral, Fla. last week after a 1,400 mile journey from Decatur, Ala. Might do a round up on those stories now... Also, Cloudsat has arrived at VAFB.

scottb50 · May 16, 2005

We always called it Mach2 tape, it works at least that fast. <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> </div>

scottb50 · May 16, 2005

The only thing I remember failing on a Lear 25 was the brow lights, $1200 from Lear, $4.95 from an RV dealer. That's not quite 600 miles-per-hour, but I bet there was some on Concorde in all the years it flew. <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> </div>

SpaceKiwi · May 17, 2005

Duck tape is a brand name, is it not? That's probably why it isn't called 'Duck Tape' too often in high profile locations. Although, you would think they would be glad for the free promotion rather than holding their hands out for copyright infringement. That's probably where the 'duct' tape confusion comes from also. Well, that and Richard Dean Anderson. <img src="/images/icons/wink.gif" /> Edit As distinct from Richard Anderson, AKA Oscar Goldman. Do you suppose people named Richard Anderson are genetically predisposed to become actors in sci-fi TV shows? <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> Who is this superhero? Henry, the mild-mannered janitor ... could be!-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Bring Back The Black! </div>

franson_space · May 17, 2005

I'm glad they got the flag sorted. The VAB looked a mess before this.

henryhallam · May 17, 2005

Any news on the ECO troubleshooting, SG?

shuttle_rtf · May 17, 2005

Thanks SG, missed that thread. Tanking Test still on Thursday?

shuttle_rtf · May 18, 2005

Thanks SG. All the best with that.

shuttle_rtf · May 19, 2005

Houston managers have apparently drawn up a new launch plan that sees STS-114 moving to September....one source only and pinch of salt until SG may be able to shed light on this. Totally unconfirmed.

shuttle_rtf · May 19, 2005

Heard there was a bit of an 'accident' with STS-121's ET (which is going to be STS-114's new ET). Not sure what extent, but they are still pressing ahead with mating today to the SRBs.

SpaceKiwi · May 19, 2005

<blockquote>In reply to:<hr />Houston managers have apparently drawn up a new launch plan that sees STS-114 moving to September....<hr /></blockquote> Yeah, hopefully it's just contingency planning. I guess they have to cover all the angles, particularly when it comes to their ISS obligations. I'm sure the folks running Station would like to keep a close handle on when to expect visits, so they can plug everything into their 'consumables calculator'. <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> Who is this superhero? Henry, the mild-mannered janitor ... could be!-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Bring Back The Black! </div>

henryhallam · May 19, 2005

Sorry to hear that Dave, hope you recover soon. (and also that this accident/incident isn't too serious)

shuttle_rtf · May 19, 2005

That sounds the very plausable, Mr Kiwi and with this being before the Tanking Test (2) it would be very strange for it to be anything else.

rocketwatcher2001 · May 19, 2005

I hope you feel better soon. <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> </div>

shuttle_rtf · May 19, 2005

Duly noted SG! Very sorry to hear your not feeling well <img src="/images/icons/frown.gif" /> Ok, got a bit more info on the incident, it happened prior to "sling hook up" - and caused "a bit of a stink" with the ET people. The incident caused a "small ding" on the ET and the decision was to go ahead with stacking and then have a look at "damage". I'm waiting for more info. Absolutely no idea on what/who caused it, how bad (or minimul) and if it affects anything. Totally unrelated person and info from the aforemention September info.

ozspace · May 19, 2005

I hope you are on the mend SG, don't push it, your health is everything... Bill Harwood at CBS has laid out a timeline for post todays TT: 'The launch team plans to test fire one of Discovery's three auxiliary power units, which generates the ship's hydraulic power, on May 23. The next day - May 24 - the orbiter will be moved back to the Vehicle Assembly Building for attachment to the new tank and boosters on June 7. Discovery's space station cargo is scheduled to be moved to launch pad 39B on June 9 with Discovery following suit on June 14. If all goes well, the shuttle will be ready for launch July 13 as currently planned. But engineers are still debating whether to stage a third tanking test to make sure the new tank operates normally when loaded with a half-million gallons of supercold propellants. If a separate, stand-alone test is required it likely would be staged around June 22, setting the stage for a launch attempt around July 19. But some engineers have suggested extending Discovery's countdown and inserting a tanking test a few days before the July 13 launch target. A decision on whether to stage a third tanking test is expected early next month."

ozspace · May 20, 2005

Not customary for every flight, they have scheduled these because of all the new tank modifications and being so long since all the ground equipment and workers have had a work out. Yes, this would be the first test for the ex STS-121 tank , which has itself is having mods' that are not on the original tank, the one currently at 39B with Discovery.

ozspace · May 20, 2005

If you go to: http://science.ksc.nasa.gov/shuttle/countdown/video/video45lh.html you can see Discovery as they have rolled back the RSS for today's test. Here is the time line according to Bill Harwood of CBS (all times in EDT): May 19 08:00 p.m....Rotating service structure retraction 11:30 p.m....Final loading preps begin May 20 02:30 a.m....Pad cleared of personnel 04:00 a.m....Mission management team meets for go/no-go decision 04:30 a.m....Begin a 1-hour built-in hold 05:30 a.m....Resume countdown 05:30 a.m....Begin propellant line chilldown (fueling begins) 08:30 a.m....Fueling complete; stable replenish mode begins 08:30 a.m....Begin a 1-hour 45-minute built-in hold 10:15 a.m....Resume countdown with bipod heater on 01:35 p.m....Countdown is stopped at T-minus 31-second mark 01:35 p.m....Recycle countdown to T-minus 20-minute mark 01:45 p.m....Resume countdown with bipod heater off 02:45 p.m....Final cutoff at T-minus 31-second mark 02:45 p.m....Begin propellant drain back and boiloff May 21 03:00 p.m....Rotating service structure moved back around shuttle

shuttle_rtf · May 20, 2005

And to add that... ET-120 is getting sent back to Michoud Assembly Facility in New Orleans. ET-121 is a modified ET on site (Michoud people in the VAB) . ET-119 will be Atlantis' on STS-121 (STS-300) now - and is the first ET that has the heater mod installed 'in shop' at Michoud.

shuttle_rtf · May 20, 2005

Isn't she beautiful. Damn, better get a bit of sleep in!

ozspace · May 20, 2005

As Alan Shepard said all those years ago "Why don't you just fix your little problem and light this candle?"

Testing · May 20, 2005

I prefer Shepard's prayer. Oh Lord, please don't let me f up. <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> </div>

vogon13 · May 20, 2005

Always liked that prayer. Recite it frequently myself. And on a more cynical note (must have woke up surly today): After what NASA and the rest of us have been thru with Challenger and Columbia, after two Presidential commissions, after all the return to flight analysis, experiments, redesigns, re-engineering, and after all the increased scrutiny of evertything NASA does from top to bottom, there is an unsafe vehicle sitting on the pad that will have to be rolled back to the VAB, unstacked, and remated with a safe external tank. Am I just touchy, or is this the first inkling of an organization that still doesn't get it? <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> TPTB went to Dallas and all I got was Plucked !!So many people, so few recipes !!Let's clean up this stinkhole !! </div>

shuttle_rtf · May 20, 2005

I hope these guys get hazard pay!

Space Shuttle Return to Flight - Pt. 2

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