STS-114 Mission Update Thread (Part 6)

[spacefire]

if the 2000s are a repeat of the 90s, the requirements are going to change daily, programs are going to be cancelled, budgets changed...maybe in a perfect world it will happen just how you described it. <br /><br />edit<br />you're right, that's another thread dedicated to this subject. <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> <p>http://asteroid-invasion.blogspot.com</p><p>http://www.solvengineer.com/asteroid-invasion.html </p><p> </p> </div>

 

[mrmorris]

<font color="yellow">"However, I still ask you... would you be able to go and tell all of those employees and their families that they are no longer going to get a paycheck after...hmmm... after Discover lands. Could you do that?"</font><br /><br />If Griffin dropped by my house tomorrow, and showed me a plan for the VSE, CEV development/etc. that:<br /><br />- I believed was technically feasible.<br />- Would have a manned spacecraft flying by 2008.<br />- Would answer the question of completing the ISS (i.e. perhaps an unmanned, autonomous SDLV)<br />- would provide for a program that reduced manpower costs by 50% (hopefully more) over the shuttle program.<br /><br />...and all that was required to get it started was to make that particular trip. I'd do it. I volunteer. Pick me.<br /><br />Am I that cold and unfeeling of a person? Nope. That would be one of the hardest things I've ever had to do in my life, and would probably haunt me. Nevertheless I sincerely hope that I'd have the courage to do it in a heartbeat. It should be done because a functional space program is <b>hugely</b> more important than those workers or their families. If I knew for positive that every one of these workers would be unable to get a job (pretty unlikely) and would be on welfare for the remainder of their lives, I'd still do it. They'd still be on the government's books, but the bill wouldn't come out of NASA's budget anymore.<br /><br />If you truly think that employing those people is more important than advances in spaceflight, then I have to wonder about your priorities. If you don't think they are more important, but couldn't imagine making that call yourself -- it's certainly understandable. Nevertheless, astronauts are risking their lives to go into space. For myself, I believe that I would risk my ability to sleep soundly if that means we have a sustainable and safe method of putting them there. <br /><br />Mind you (and everyone please pay attention to this... before

 

[drwayne]

" It should be done because a functional space program is hugely more important than those workers or their families."<br /><br />There actually is another factor here. It is called maintaining your worker base. I went through the cycle after Apollo, in which many people were laid off. That was tough personally for those familes but the price also got paid up front some years later as the shuttle program came towards being. Personnel with experience in important areas were scattered to the winds. I attribute many early problems in the shuttle program to this assumption that the skills of the laid off personnel would be easily replacable.<br /><br />Wayne <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> <p>"1) Give no quarter; 2) Take no prisoners; 3) Sink everything."  Admiral Jackie Fisher</p> </div>

 

[redgryphon]

A journalist just asked Griffin about the ET PAL ramp repair that Chris has been writing about since FD-2. Gerstenmeier is in charge of the Tiger team, which will report to him on Tuesday. So, top level management STILL says it doesn't know about the repair, (which the journo says was undocumented).

 

[redgryphon]

NASA now aiming for the end of the September window, for planning purposes, independent of dealing with the ET. Griffin says if they use up all the time for September, then they'll go to November.

 

[viper101]

"since he lacks the capacity to understand scientific and generally anything that is too complex to be taught in kindergarden-seems more like an attempt to gain popularity with a certain segment of the population and VSE will most likely not survive even his administration"<br /><br />- You said it. <br />Bush is too simplistic in so many ways. As much as i want to see a return to the moon and on to mars - this is the second Prez Bush to announce it, and I doubt it will ever happen as a result of his initiative. <br /><br />I'd be willing to wager the next person on the moon will have their homecoming parade in Bejeing.

 

[mrmorris]

<font color="yellow">"Just destacking the STS-121 stack now and getting a modified ET "</font><br /><br />Does it really need to be destacked though? Have you seen any plans floating around for reinforcing the PAL ramp with bubble gum and baling wire? <img src="/images/icons/smile.gif" />

 

[shuttle_rtf]

>I am now being told that the foam that came off being a repair was a bad rumor started by a SRB person.<<br /><br />Whoever told you that is not correct. I'll PM you.

 

[viper101]

"which does not exist even in concept"<br /><br />So true....<br /><br />Thanks for the update SG!

 

[georgeniebling]

SG ...." The planned End of Mission (EOM) is Monday, August 8th. The first KSC opportunity is at 0446 EDT, followed by a second opportunity at 0621 EDT. "<br /><br />What time is sunrise???? Or is this a night landing?

 

[shuttle_rtf]

Can you let me know where this Journalist asked Griffin, as in who was he with (media/newspaper etc.) and was it on NASA TV? (cause I missed it if so, and I have it on 24/7) <img src="/images/icons/frown.gif" /><br /><br />More seem to getting their teeth into this. Florida Today went with the repair issue a few days ago.

 

[Leovinus]

That may be de-orbit burn time, not landing time. <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> </div>

 

[najab]

Yes, it is a pre-dawn landing.

 

[redgryphon]

Chris,<br /><br />It was on the media roundtable carried on NASA news audio at 2 pm EDT. SG posted the announcement of it on this thread this morning. It was the first or second question. PAO have released a transcript of similar events in the past. I kicked myself when I heard the question because I hadn't listened to him introduce himself. It wasn't Mark Carreau or Bill Harwood. Sorry I can't give you a name. <img src="/images/icons/frown.gif" />

 

[viper101]

Hey - VERY simple question. <br />Why has the 114 Clock been so far ahead? Are they in a Russian time zone for coordination with ISS?

 

[shuttle_rtf]

It's ok mate. If it's Bill Harwood, then wow. Cause he's a God as far as Shuttle media coverage <img src="/images/icons/cool.gif" />

 

[redgryphon]

I'm pretty sure it wasn't Bill. But I agree, he's the best reporter covering the shuttle.

 

[shuttle_rtf]

Ah, misread "wasn't" - ah well.

 

[emerrill]

">I am now being told that the foam that came off being a repair was a bad rumor started by a SRB person.< <br /><br />Whoever told you that is not correct. I'll PM you. "<br /><br />Im a little confused here (mainly by SG's grammer/lack of ,'s <img src="/images/icons/smile.gif" /> ). So does it look like it was or was not a repair (of course nothing is official yet) ? Ive seen the pics that we all have, and it seems to me that it was a repair (or some other deviation in manufacture), but of course, I have nothing close to all the info, or even more then a smidge of all the info.<br /><br />Also, if it was determined to be a repair, is it possible that they would consider flying w/o modifying the PAL, as long as they know there were no similar repairs done to that ET?<br /><br />Once again, I know it is all conjecture, but so is most/all of the descusions on this topic <img src="/images/icons/smile.gif" /><br /><br />Thanks<br />-Eric <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> </div>

 

[dougbaker]

I don't have the numbes at my fingertips, but if you look at what we have spent and will spend on Irag, and then look budgets for NASA as well as other areas, NIH (national Instutie of Health) comes to mind, you would be shocked.<br />It is just not even close the amout of resources the USA is spending on foreign policy i.e wars.<br />

 

[shuttle_rtf]

>Im a little confused here (mainly by SG's grammer/lack of ,'s ). So does it look like it was or was not a repair (of course nothing is official yet) ? Ive seen the pics that we all have, and it seems to me that it was a repair (or some other deviation in manufacture), but of course, I have nothing close to all the info, or even more then a smidge of all the info.<br /><br />Also, if it was determined to be a repair, is it possible that they would consider flying w/o modifying the PAL, as long as they know there were no similar repairs done to that ET?<br /><br />Once again, I know it is all conjecture, but so is most/all of the descusions on this topic<br /><br />Thanks<br />-Eric<<br /><br />Eric -<br /><br /> SG noted that someone has told him that the repair was a bad rumour started by an SRB engineer/tech/person.<br /><br /> I know the name and position of the person who released this information - which I'm not going to publically release for obvious reasons. Fyi, he wasn't my initial source, but I know the person who sent out the info from the source, which then found its way to me, was not an SRB guy.<br /><br /> The argument against this being a repair is due to the following, posted by a former TPS Tech at MAF:<br /><br /> "Repair areas are very noticeable and i see no evidence of repair, due to the fact that there are no conathane lines in the purported repair site. When a repair is neccessary you need to remove all foreign debris and foam from the area. The foam substrate is the machined and vaccumed to remove dust. Conathane is then painted on using acid brushes or plastic spatulas and allowed to cure. At the edge of the repair would be a noticeable dark grey/ light black line on the outer edges of the repair as evidenced in the same picture showing the round plug pull closeout areas."<br /><br /> However, we had other engineers come on and dismiss this due to the area being sanded down (hense the lack of straight lines on the images which show the area in question.

 

[giofx]

what about the weather on KSC for the 8th?

 

[shuttle_rtf]

Sorry if you've already mentioned this, SG.<br /><br />Confirmation sent out for Atlantis to be de-stacked "for the upcoming re-config" - I take it that means for the as-yet-unknown work to be done on the ET - or is it USA lanuage for a different ET?

 

[larper]

He means, why do they go to bed at 11:00 and get up at 8:00pm, or whatever the actual times are. And yes, I would say it is because they want to be on "station time" which is "Moscow time" right? <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> <p><strong><font color="#ff0000">Vote </font><font color="#3366ff">Libertarian</font></strong></p> </div>

 

[shuttle_rtf]

It works out as Moscow time.