Space Shuttle Return to Flight - Pt. 3

[franson_space]

What does OMS stand for?

 

[shuttle_rtf]

Orbital Maneuvering System -<br /><br />http://static.howstuffworks.com/gif/space-shuttle-oms-enginea.jpg<br /><br />One either side. Sometimes used to push up a little bit more after the three Space Shuttle Main Engines shut down after launch. <br /><br />Also used to de-orbit burn (Orbiter turns around, fires, slows down, drops out of orbit).

 

[mrmorris]

OMS -- Orbital Maneuvering System<br />RCS -- Reaction Control System<br /><br />You'll sometimes see is called the OMS/RCS system. The OMS 'pods' house the engines the shuttle uses after ET separation for forward motion.

 

[najab]

><i>The OMS 'pods' house the engines the shuttle uses after ET separation for forward motion.</i><p>Unless the Orbiter is facing backwards....</p>

 

[haywood]

Thanks for the link Shuttle_RTF but there is no legend for A, B, C & D.<br />Always glad to welcome new space enthusiasts though.<br />

 

[shuttle_rtf]

Been one for nearly 20 years mate <img src="/images/icons/smile.gif" /><br /><br />Please post what you're requiring on that thread in question - then we'd be better able to serve that request.

 

[shuttle_rtf]

Ah ha! Sorry, thought it was a LOX Feedline question <img src="/images/icons/blush.gif" />

 

[shuttle_rtf]

June 30 - Griffin will give the go, no go for the July launch.<br /> <br />I'm informed by two seperate sources, one with USA, one with NASA that it is bang on 50/50 right now....due to the Ice Debris concerns. They both, ironically, used the 50/50 term.

 

[ozspace]

Gee, they make it hard for people like us who have to travel half the damn world to be there..............which I am hoping to do! <br />I am surprised ice build up was not noticed in these areas on TT1 or 2 or is this mod only on the 121 tank? They should give the go ahead on the 30th and call off on the day if the ice is obviously a problem...

 

[shuttle_rtf]

>That doesn't imply a single source. "50/50" is the most common reply about any equal chance in the US. It is used constantly in weather reports and such.<<br /><br />Thanks, was trying to see if both had heard one of those water cooler rumours that was mentioned in the Shuttle Standup report SG posted last week...and were passing it on. (Thus two become one source - less accurate).

 

[shuttle_rtf]

>The heater mod was certified at a standalone afcility.<<br /><br />MSFC Hot Gas Facility, if OzSpace wants the name.

 

[mrmorris]

<font color="yellow">" "50/50" is the most common reply about any equal chance in the US. "</font><br /><br />50/50 is synonymous with "I don't know" when referring to a binary solution set.<br /><br />It just sounds a bit less bad than: "I haven't the foggiest idea what's going to happen."

 

[drwayne]

To add an additional layer of completely unneccesary detail - you can not know what's going to happen because of insufficient data or because the data is conflicting / ambiguous.<br /><br />I hope that clarified everything for everybody.<br /><br />lol at me....<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]

Another final meeting, again.....<br /><br />The Stafford-Covey Return to Flight Task Group is scheduled to conduct its final public meeting at 1 p.m. EDT Monday, June 27, at the Residence Inn Capitol, 333 E Street SW, Washington. The meeting will be followed by a 4 p.m. EDT news conference, across the street at NASA Headquarters. The news conference will be carried live on NASA Television. For additional information visit the Task Group website at http://returntoflight.org

 

[ozspace]

"The heater mod was certified at a standalone afcility"<br /><br />I have missed something....these brackets are not heated right? They only added heaters to the LOX feedline bellows? So, these brackets are a design mod from earlier versions and have not flown before or where they also previously foam covered? <br /><br />50/50....I am a "glass is half full" person

 

[drwayne]

"I am a "glass is half full" person"<br /><br />I'm a "Its not fat, its muscle dear!" kind of guy.<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]

The brackets are not 'covered' by the heater mods to the belllows...hense they are looking at bags, inflatable surrounds or even heat lamps (a version of) to reduce the ice build up on the brackets.

 

[ozspace]

Are these brackets different in any way to what has flown 100+ times before? Or have they just recently been identified as a potential problem?

 

[shuttle_rtf]

Same brackets - Ice Debris threat only recently identified.

 

[ozspace]

Amazing, after 100+ launches, in all kinds of humidity and with ice inspections before every launch (at least post Challenger) that this has come up. Yes, I know they now have greater respect for 'slush' and well as ice, but surely experience points to better than 50/50, especially if they are going to add more protection in those areas. Or is the caution more to do with the mechanical implimentation of this protection and their removal before launch?<br /><br />What about hosing down with Glycol like they do on airliners? I guess that opens up a whole new lot of questions in relation to chemical on foam, insulation properties, etc, etc

 

[shuttle_rtf]

Have to get this "50/50" comment in context.<br /><br />I'm from the school of accessible and transparent reporting - where anything and everything - which doesn't breach confidentiality - can be pre-empted and followed-up by readers. Hense, I bring stand-alone info to the forums here and on NSF.<br /><br />The 50/50 comment is part of an article I'm just finishing off right now. This came back in relation to DVR or Departmental possibilities of a showstopper.<br /><br />A showstopper on Debris is relevant to a launch that has a window that opens in three weeks.<br /><br />Question: "Does this growing concern (their words, not mine) in relation to Ice, Slush, Frost - also in relation to an MSFC mod testing on the no-purge bags etc. - have the potential to end an opportunity to launch in July?"<br /><br />Both sources came back saying it's 50/50.

 

[shuttle_rtf]

To update, testing is still on-going and a number of days over the timeline that has a 'clean run to verfication and certification'.<br /><br />Cert plan was on the timeline as the 13th of June.<br /><br />Baseline Schedule 14th<br />ICB 15th<br />PRCB Info Presentation Requirements for BIN 16th.<br /><br />My info may not be totally up to date, so I'm shooting to find out if we get to "90% FEC Engineering Review" by the 21st.<br /><br />Big one is Delta DVR Review Presentation on the 24th.<br /><br />Stafford-Covey again, 27th.<br /><br />Then the FRR on the 29th.<br /><br />D-Day is the 30th, where Griffin decides if to proceed or not with the July window.

 

[SpaceKiwi]

<blockquote><font class="small">In reply to:</font><hr /><p>D-Day is the 30th, where Griffin decides if to proceed or not with the July window.<p><hr /></p></p></blockquote><br /><br />Griffin strikes me as a 'can-do' pragmatist. If the data is anywhere near, I'd wager NASA will be launching a honkin' big rocket mid-July.<br /><br />(Actually, he strikes me as the kind of guy that would launch without Stafford-Covey's blessing.) <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]

He's already said Stafford-Covey don't hold the ball on this. He'll launch without their approval.<br /><br />I think his answer to a question from the media on TPS repair techniques spoke volumes for the guy. The answer he gave back had me searching Aerospace Engineering terminology on Google for most of the day! <img src="/images/icons/smile.gif" />

 

[SpaceKiwi]

<blockquote><font class="small">In reply to:</font><hr /><p>He's already said Stafford-Covey don't hold the ball on this. He'll launch without their approval.<p><hr /></p></p></blockquote><br /><br />Oh, well, there you go then! Thanks SRTF. I hadn't caught up with that comment from Blinky, but I have been out of the loop for the past few weeks. <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>