STS-116/12A.1 Status

[halman]

SpaceKiwi,<br /><br />Thank you for the link! I keep forgeting that KSC operations are not always reported on the NASA shuttle page.<br /><br />I used to be very interested in the hardware, spent a lot of time researching it, but my focus has turned more to benefits of space exploration to society, education, economics, and less on types of propellants, Isp values, etcetera. Perhaps, if progress in developing new launch systems, spacecraft were apparent, I might get back into the techy stuff, but so many things have dead ended, I have gotten frustrated. <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> The secret to peace of mind is a short attention span. </div>

 

[ysl007]

It's really glad to see NASA heading back to night time Launching again the 1st time ever since the STS 107 tragedy and it's somethng definitely worth looking foward to . Let's Hope the ET doors problem can get solved soon!

 

[erioladastra]

The program approved the dropping of the self imposed day light launch restriction. We can launch Dec 7 (or anytime up through the end of the window).

 

[earth_bound_misfit]

Sweet! <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>

 

[emerrill]

Any news as to if the hole in the OV-104 radiator is going to effect the launch timeframe (in terms of a LoN flight?) (EDIT: I found the diagram that shows where it missed the tubing, removed question)<br /><br />Also, when is the FRR when they will set the official launch target.<br /><br />Thanks<br />-eric <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> </div>

 

[spacester]

Hey SG, do you have a beer picked out, or is it to be chosen by flynn? <img src="/images/icons/laugh.gif" /> (I want to get my facts straight on the wager) <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> </div>

 

[spacester]

Hold him to it? Wouldn't you rather drink it? <img src="/images/icons/wink.gif" /><br /><br />What kind of beer do you like? <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> </div>

 

[halman]

shuttle_guy,<br /><br />Will Discovery be stocked with the maximum possible consumables, to allow for an extended stay on orbit? Any time something is turned off, there is a possibility it will fail when it is powered up again, especially if it has been in service for a while. It seems to me that there might be a great deal of troubleshooting required to bring all the station systems back on line, and it would be a shame if the orbiter were not prepped for at least 14 days in orbit, so that the time is available to track down as many glitches as possible. <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> The secret to peace of mind is a short attention span. </div>

 

[erioladastra]

"We will have the max consumables that we can carry. For this mission that means a 12 day mission, with 7 or 8 days at the ISS. There will be enough consumables for 2 days of landing wave offs. "<br /><br />Due to problems with the Elektron oxygen generator on ISS, 12A.1 is now going to transfer ~100lbm of Oxygen but should not impact the mission length at this time.<br /><br />One of the 12A.1 stage EVA tasks is to start the SSPTS install so that down the road we should have a little extra margin for staying if problems occur.

 

[erioladastra]

"I was thinking more in terms of next generation vehicles, US or other?"<br /><br />No, because then we would have to change the name!!!<br /><br /><img src="/images/icons/smile.gif" /><br /><br />Seriously, there are no non US vehicles that would dock on the PMAs that could use it any time in the forseeable future. As to CEV, I am not aware of the plan for that. Good question though.

 

[mrmorris]

<font color="yellow">"Seriously, there are no non US vehicles that would dock on the PMAs that could use it any time in the forseeable future. "</font><br /><br />I've postulated (with absolutely <b>no</b> actual official statements to back it up) in my Dragon Sideways-Engineering thread in M&L that the SpaceX Dragon might conceivably make use of the system, or a close cousin thereof to allow it to 'trickle charge' its batteries while berthed. Since the SSPTS electrical feed comes from the Destiny laboratory and the CBM where Dragon will berth is <b>right</b> next door, this seemed like a feasible option. This would allow it to forego the mass penalty of the solar panels on both the ascent and descent stages.

 

[emerrill]

So what is up with the Atlas 5. Are they keeping their their time slot or moving for the shuttle? If they don't give it up, and they don't slip for other reasons, what is the recycle time for the range between atlas 5 launch and STS launch.<br /><br />thanks <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> </div>

 

[subzero788]

Wow, I thought manned launches would automatically take preference.

 

[bpcooper]

Used to be whoever had the range. There were no changes for shuttle. STS-101, for example (the only mission to try 3x in a row) did so because of upcoming ELVs. It then stood down four weeks to allow three ELVs to get off.<br /><br />With the daylight requirement they were more keen on allowing the shuttle to go, but I don't see why they would or should now, however it's up to LM. <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> <p>-Ben</p> </div>

 

[superluminal]

I read today that there are tin whisker concerns on the present shuttles. <br /><br />Is it possible that this technology could be the logical answer, for future spacecraft tin whisker problems in circuit boards and computers aboard satellites and spacecraft?<br /><br />here <br /><br />tin whiskers <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> <p><br /><strong><font size="3" color="#3366ff">Columbia and Challenger </font></strong></p><p><strong><font size="3" color="#3366ff">Starships of Heroes</font></strong></p> </div>

 

[halman]

shuttle_guy,<br /><br />I am somewhat surprised that a couple of External Tanks are not held in reserve at the Cape, as backup against an defects, as well as to insure that the Launch On Need vehicle will always have one available. Of course, the recent modifications to minimize foam shedding would have impacted the delivery schedules, I imagine. <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> The secret to peace of mind is a short attention span. </div>

 

[ozspace]

Hey, I see they have finally moved the MLP from pad 39B to make way for 116.

 

[emerrill]

>Is it possible that this technology could be the logical answer, for future spacecraft tin whisker problems in circuit boards and computers aboard satellites and spacecraft? <br /><br /><br /><br />I dont get what the magnet has to do with tin wiskers... But tin wiskers are a concern on all spacecraft as they get older (aircraft too, but less so). I worked on a satellite while in school with the airforce, and basically, there aren't really any good ways to get around them. Even if you epoxy over the leads, the tin is known to pierce through the epoxy. The best you can do (that the AFRL guys said) is to use curtain alloys that lessen their formation (also note, tin is not the only metal that does this, just the most common). <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> </div>

 

[superluminal]

Hi Thanks for the reply.<br />--------------------------------------------------------------<br />I don't get what the magnet has to do with tin wiskers... <br />---------------------------------------------------------------<br /><br />My thinking was on the possibility of creating future lightweight plastic computers and components that do not require solder and would be able to communicate the binary computer code through blue green light waves. <br /><br /> <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> <p><br /><strong><font size="3" color="#3366ff">Columbia and Challenger </font></strong></p><p><strong><font size="3" color="#3366ff">Starships of Heroes</font></strong></p> </div>

 

[henryhallam]

That is overkill for the tin whisker problem.

 

[llivinglarge]

How many missions can a single shuttle fly consecutively? I know that Columbia holds the record at 5 launches within a relative short period of time, but would anything above that cause fatal stress to a shuttle?

 

[erioladastra]

...and the mission gets a little more interesting. The string 1 of S-band that was recently replaced on 12A is acting up and has been deactivated. It appears that at times it loses lock and can transmit data to the ground but not receive data. THis was to be the prime string. During 12A.1, string 2 is deactivated during the rewiring process so String 1 was required. In addition, one of the CMGs, CMG3 is acting up and may be near failure. If so that also reduces redundancy during the mission when have the systems are shut down should another one have a problem.

 

[emerrill]

sg, <br />Do you know when they are going to make a decision about the atlas 5?<br /><br />thanks <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> </div>

 

[halman]

Just like any house. You start working on the roof and the water heater goes out. Murphy lives here. <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> The secret to peace of mind is a short attention span. </div>

 

[erioladastra]

"If receiving is a requirement during the shutdown period, can they patch the data through the Orbiter?"<br /><br />Yes, that will likely use S-band for uplink and the orbiter for downlink. The downside is much smaller bandwidth and some commands can't be sent that route (due to size).<br /><br /><br />"Also, are there EVA safety constraints on possible thruster firings when the critical gyros are down? "<br /><br />Not that I am aware of. You disable thrusters if they are near them but that should not be a case here.