STS-116/12A.1 Status

[subzero788]

There's a list of all future missions here, together with ISS configuration graphics.<br /><br />http://spaceflightnow.com/shuttle/sts115/fdf/manifest.html

 

[mah_fl]

Why is Dec 26 a problem ?

 

[mrmorris]

Traditionally that's the day that Santa makes his 'Christmas Returns' trip. He files no flight plan with the FAA, doesn't recognize no-fly zones, and carries no on-board communications equipment. That, along with the public-relations nightmare that would ensue if an orbiter splashed a Christmas icon (not to mention his eight tiny reindeer) make NASA reluctant to fly on that day (as well as the 24th, of course).

 

[mah_fl]

After all these years of delay, ya'll need to be working 24/7.........sheesh, government workers I ask you ! <img src="/images/icons/smile.gif" />

 

[elguapoguano]

Hey man, these guys work very hard. Everyone deserves to be able to spend Christmas with thier families... <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> <font color="#ff0000"><u><em>Don't let your sig line incite a gay thread ;>)</em></u></font> </div>

 

[erioladastra]

"KSC is assessing the potential for performing this magic."<br /><br />Mission operations as well. They have to check software delivers, procedures, training - it is not a simple question and with this being the most complicated flight of the sequence, one that has to be made carefully.

 

[erioladastra]

"KSC and JSC would be working Christmas and New years."<br /><br />Well I think a really big rationale is to try and keep 13A from slipping into increment 15, assuming magic can be performed on the external tank. Also to try and avoid the year end rollover problem.<br /><br />

 

[ysl007]

Wow , seems like the schedulle is pretty hectic for the guys involved in prepartions in the launch of STS 116 and the launch happens to have only 4 days avaliable for launching Is there by any chance the Mission for 116 will be a night or pre-dawn launch ? And Kudos to the guys working both and KSC and JSC for Working so Hard to keep the orbiters Well mantained !

 

[bushuser]

I know the extra time was needed this week, but in general, it seems like some time is wasted between the undocking from ISS and the deorbit burn, which is usually about 36 hours later. How much trouble is it to save a day by landing sooner?

 

[erioladastra]

"That is not possible with the new inspections they must do just before entry. "<br /><br />But as of right now not every flight has late inspection requirements. It might change in the future. This is still being assessed.

 

[MeteorWayne]

Any time frame for the meeting, SG? <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> <p><font color="#000080"><em><font color="#000000">But the Krell forgot one thing John. Monsters. Monsters from the Id.</font></em> </font></p><p><font color="#000080">I really, really, really, really miss the "first unread post" function</font><font color="#000080"> </font></p> </div>

 

[scottb50]

A week quite a bit of change. Wouldn't that eat up all the contigency time already in place and then some? <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> </div>

 

[SpaceKiwi]

Have you heard what they would be light on? I would have expected so close to the listed launch window, that they would only be doing additional 'top-up' reps of mission tasks by now. <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>

 

[erioladastra]

<br />Well first of the crew is scheduled to train pretty much up to launch so cutting a week does remove a chunk of training. There is also lots of changes that occur so timelines change and need to be retrained. In fact the training starts in earnest about a year out but there is never enough time to train as much as you would like. There is also a lot of contingency training (e.g., you want to cover the case of what if there are delays and we don't get off for a month and then some of the tasks slide into the next increment and so on). The biggest issue is with Suni Williams who is the rotating astronaut. She has to train with the increment 14 crew (well no more since they are now on orbit), the 15 crew, the 12A.1 and 13A crew. Which makes training very tight. So you move it up a week that is a week fo trainign with the Inc 15 crew gone perhaps, or several EVA runs in (she is doing 1 on the flight and then 3 really, really difficult ones in the stage). But I think this can be worked out - it a trade off, what do you like less flying during year end roll over or cutting some training?

 

[MeteorWayne]

I'll bet Santa feels better.<br />Thanx for the info. <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> <p><font color="#000080"><em><font color="#000000">But the Krell forgot one thing John. Monsters. Monsters from the Id.</font></em> </font></p><p><font color="#000080">I really, really, really, really miss the "first unread post" function</font><font color="#000080"> </font></p> </div>

 

[erioladastra]

"The new launch date has been approved for Dec. 7th at 2138 hrs ET (0238 Dec. 8th GMT) for an approx. 5 min window. "<br /><br />Just to be clear this is a No Earlier Than (NET) date. Also I guess there is some concern with some new damage to the ET door on Discovery.

 

[erioladastra]

<br />Clarifying for others, not you, I think the average person assumes that mean 12/7 is now written in stone.

 

[earth_bound_misfit]

CNNN is reporting that NASA has lifted the daylight restriction.<br />http://edition.cnn.com/2006/TECH/space/09/29/space.shuttle.ap/index.html<br /><br />"CAPE CANAVERAL, Florida (AP) -- For the first time in four years, the next space shuttle launch attempt most likely will be at night, NASA said Thursday.<br /><br />The first launch possibility for Discovery will be December 7 at 9:38 p.m. EDT, the first try at night since Endeavour lifted off November 23, 2002 at 7:49 p.m. Discovery's launch window extends to December 26.<br /><br />After last week's successful finish of Atlantis' 12-day mission, NASA officials indicated they were willing to relax the daylight rule since there are now new methods for inspecting the shuttle for holes or cracks while in orbit. They said a night launch is needed to stay on schedule to finish construction of the international space station in 14 more flights by 2010.<br /><br />"It is very important to us," Leroy Cain, launch integration manager, said last week.<br /><br />Discovery's launch on December 7 would interfere with a scheduled launch of an Atlas 5 rocket carrying satellites to space, so NASA officials must consult with Air Force officials about that date."<br /><br /><br />Thats great news! <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>

 

[SpaceKiwi]

Reading the article e_b_m posted, it sounds as though the window extends from the 7th right through to the 26th. <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>

 

[earth_bound_misfit]

Pretty much the same article here on SDC. <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>

 

[earth_bound_misfit]

"It is very good to have you, knowledgeable about JSC operations, posting here. We all apptreciate it."<br /><br />We all appreciate both of you! Wonder what happen to Padrat though? <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>

 

[erioladastra]

"none of us noticed that it was a nighter! "<br /><br />I have been saying that repeatedly! <img src="/images/icons/smile.gif" />

 

[halman]

erioladastra,<br /><br />Could you please describe the ET door, its location, function, and the problems that are being experienced with it? Is this on the orbiter, or on the External Tank? <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> The secret to peace of mind is a short attention span. </div>

 

[halman]

shuttle_guy,<br /><br />Thank you! I was getting worried, due to the initials E T being used in the same sentance with 'problem.'<br /><br />Is this actuator hydraulic, or solenoid controlled?<br /><br />Also, I am curious where the stacking process is at this time.<br /><br />And, is there any word on the condition of Atlantis, now that she has been inspected on the ground? <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> The secret to peace of mind is a short attention span. </div>

 

[SpaceKiwi]

As of a couple of days ago:-<br /><br /><i><font color="yellow">Technicians continue processing Discovery in the Orbiter Processing Facility for its launch to the International Space Station. The keel yoke assembly was installed in the payload bay last weekend. The assembly holds the payload in the bay during the mission. Workers completed the payload premate test in preparation of the Spacehab module being installed in the payload bay. Engineers are reviewing potential damage to orbiter Discovery's right-hand external tank door mechanism, which resulted during the process of reassembling the linkage following the change out of the power drive unit. No impact to the processing schedule is expected.<br /><br />The external tank scheduled to fly with Discovery, designated ET-123, arrived by barge at Kennedy Space Center from Michoud Assembly Facility in New Orleans last week. The tank was lifted into the checkout cell in the Vehicle Assembly Building for final work prior to being mated to the solid rocket boosters.</font></i><br /><br /><br />And, Atlantis:-<br /><br /><i><font color="yellow">Following the landing of Atlantis on Sept. 21, technicians towed the vehicle into the Orbiter Processing Facility to begin preparing it for its next mission to the International Space Station. Thermal protection system post-flight inspection is 27 percent complete. Flight crew equipment removal was completed Monday. <br /><br />Technicians installed payload bay door strongbacks on Monday in preparation for the doors to open. On Wednesday, the doors were opened and the Ku-band antenna was deployed. Nose cap and chin panel thermography has begun and preparations are under way to begin thermography on the wing leading edges.</font></i><br /><br /><br />You can keep relatively up-to-date from HERE, though SG will likely always have the 'breaking news' for us first.<br /> <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>