STS-117 (13A) Mission- Part II

[erioladastra]

"It is a real possibilty I'm afraid that a puctured suit during EVA is possible. "<br /><br />Possible and has happened.<br /><br />"Decompression would be instantaneous. "<br /><br />Not true. A big hole might rip to a bigger one but it would have to be huge to cause an instanaeous decompression.<br /><br />"what procedures are in place for such an event. "<br /><br />First, please read back some posts, not just the last one of a thread since this has already been discussed. Second, other people besides S_G knows <img src="/images/icons/smile.gif" />.<br /><br />The SOP would be activated and the crew member would terminate or abort (slightly different meaning) depending on size. Terminate you go back to the airlock and hook up to the umbilical and wait. Abort means EVA is oever and the folks are coming abck in as quickly as they can.

 

[emerrill]

"Terminate you go back to the airlock and hook up to the umbilical and wait."<br /><br />Can the umbilical supply air at a faster rate then the backpack (ie, could it maintain presser with a larger size hole)? <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> </div>

 

[rybanis]

Thanks all for the answers to the question! I didn't know that actual punctures have happened in the past! Makes me feel a bit more at ease knowing that the suit does have the ability to keep the astronaut alive in the event of a tear. <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> </div>

 

[erioladastra]

"Note that there have NOT been any actual suit punctures. The cut in Curbeam's glove was to the outter layer(s) only "<br /><br />Yes there has been. Years ago. Astronaut trying to use his hand as a hammer. Don't recall the flight. Correct, not in Curbeam's.

 

[MeteorWayne]

I think that might qualify as not too bright <img src="/images/icons/smile.gif" /> <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>

 

[montmein69]

I can't find any video on NASA website related to the attachment of the S3/S4 truss segment (showing the robotic arm that takes it off Atlantis bay..... till the alignement and the final bolting)<br />Does it exist ?<br /><br />Few documents explain in a simple way what is the Segment-to-Segment Attach System. could you send me an URL or some explanations to help me ? <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> </div>

 

[emerrill]

"Yes there has been. Years ago. Astronaut trying to use his hand as a hammer. Don't recall the flight. "<br /><br /><br />I found this:<br />http://www.asi.org/adb/04/03/08/suit-punctures.html<br />"Even after all the hours we've had people working in space suits, there has been only one incident (that I know of) where a suit was punctured in space. That incident was apparently caused by using the glove as a hammer to drive a balky pin. A 1/8" steel bar migrated out of the palm restraint and punctured the glove. In that one case, the steel bar and the astronaut's blood sealed the puncture; he didn't even realize his suit had been damaged until after the flight when the suit techs found blood in the outer fabric of the glove."<br /><br />But I haven't been able to find a reference to a mission or astronaut. <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> </div>

 

[CalliArcale]

"the astronaut's blood sealed the puncture"....<br /><br />Yow! Talk about a nonstandard sealing compound.<br /><br />It must've been one of those things where you cut yourself and don't notice until much later. I know I've gotten ghastly-looking cuts from time to time but had no idea whatsoever how I got them. <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> <p> </p><p><font color="#666699"><em>"People assume that time is a strict progression of cause to effect, but actually from a non-linear, non-subjective viewpoint it's more like a big ball of wibbly wobbly . . . timey wimey . . . stuff."</em>  -- The Tenth Doctor, "Blink"</font></p> </div>

 

[ckikilwai]

Same here CalliArcale.<br /><br />NASA is now broadcasting EVA 2, they are working on the old solar panel that needs to be retracted I think.<br />Man, things begin to look really complicated on the ISS <img src="/images/icons/tongue.gif" />

 

[MeteorWayne]

Really doing well on this retraction.<br /><br />The lessons learned from the last one have been applied well, the tools in hand, and the communication between the arm operator and the man at the "coal face" (thanx Kiwi <img src="/images/icons/smile.gif" /> ) is much smoother and really an exemplory demonstration of how skilled this team is.<br /><br />It's amazing to listen to.<br /><br />Kudos to all. <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>

 

[ckikilwai]

and it's so amazing it is happening while the ISS is almost exactly above my head <img src="/images/icons/tongue.gif" />

 

[MeteorWayne]

ROFLPIMP [laugh}<br /><br />just heard the words on the EVA. Something is stuck...advice was "Don't bang it with your glove!"<br /><br />Cosmic humor is wonderful!!! <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>

 

[turbopause]

Going back to the glove thing for a moment...<br />Didn't Joe Kittenger have a leak in his glove when he did that immense skydive from a weather baloon?<br />ISTR that he later reported that the blood began to pool in his hand because of the pressure differential in that area of the suit. I also remember that he chose not to mention it to the flight surgeon in case thay aborted the jump.<br />

 

[Testing]

I went looking at history.nasa.gov and only found a vague reference to tethers and a lost thermal glove from Gemini as a lessons learned type report. I remember reference to concerns of frostbite at the time but that was 40 odd years ago. <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> </div>

 

[rvastro]

Is that "Space Shuttle: the first 20 years"? I have it in storage...

 

[rybanis]

I would love to see some of that SRB footage. I'm too poor to afford Plus on SFN. <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> </div>

 

[turbopause]

There is an episode of the BBC documentary series "The Planets" that has a nice interview with Capt. Kittenger where he tells the story of the jump. I think I've still got it on PVR somewhere I'll see if I can fish it out over the next few days for those who are interested.

 

[turbopause]

I was watching Nasa TV yesterday evening and the team were dealing with an issue where two of the drive lock assemblies appeared to be cross wired. DLA1 would respond to command intented for DLA2 and vice versa.<br />Would this cross-wiring have been a result of an mis-connection during an EVA, a manufacturing fault (which I suspect is unlikely) or is it more likely a software glitch?<br />

 

[3488]

I do not know what happened, but NASA TV has corrupted my computer!!!!<br /><br />I may not be able to post much, until this is sorted out.<br /><br />Andrew Brown. <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> <p><font color="#000080">"I suddenly noticed an anomaly to the left of Io, just off the rim of that world. It was extremely large with respect to the overall size of Io and crescent shaped. It seemed unbelievable that something that big had not been visible before".</font> <em><strong><font color="#000000">Linda Morabito </font></strong><font color="#800000">on discovering that the Jupiter moon Io was volcanically active. Friday 9th March 1979.</font></em></p><p><font size="1" color="#000080">http://www.launchphotography.com/</font><br /><br /><font size="1" color="#000080">http://anthmartian.googlepages.com/thisislandearth</font></p><p><font size="1" color="#000080">http://web.me.com/meridianijournal</font></p> </div>

 

[MeteorWayne]

I doubt it was NASA TV.<br /><br />Probably it's whatever messing up the computers on the ISS <img src="/images/icons/smile.gif" /> <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>

 

[MeteorWayne]

From the Mission Status briefing last night, they said for the most part now that the mass has stopped being shifted around, most attitude control should be possible with the CMGs. So no little thruster attitude control should be required. <br />That's the plan anyway. They are examining all activities to seek to minimize mass redistribution in a way that would cause the CMG's to saturate. <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>

 

[MeteorWayne]

At 9:30 EDT (about 5 min) NASA TV will rebroadcast this mornings interview with flight director(?) addressing current status of this issue.<br />I will scribblenote if possible. <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>

 

[MeteorWayne]

OK, I actually had heard most of it.<br /><br />From last night, as I understood it, (please excuse any terminology boo-boos)<br /><br />There are two computer systems on the Russian Module.<br />One is command and Control, which runs power distribution, Oxygen Generators, CO2 and humidity scrubbers, etc.<br /><br />The other is the Guidance and Navigation computer, which controls attitude, boosting, debris avoidance, etc.<br /><br />Each consists of 3 computers running in parallel, called Lanes.<br />After a restart all 3 lanes are up and running and sync'd. Over a period of time the syncs drift, so one lane drops out, then eventually another, then finally the third. At that point the system "reboots" and comes back up with all 3 running.<br /><br />What happened yesterday was they failed to reboot properly. Both systems.<br /><br />Cause? Well, this has never occurred before, so it would seem likely that something that has changed in the last few days is the cause. It is unlikely that a hardware failure would occur simultaneously on all 6 pooters, ditto for a software failure.<br />What has changed? As Tim Taylor would say...MORE POWER <img src="/images/icons/smile.gif" /><br />And different power sources and distribution.<br /><br />At this point, they are working the issue during passes over the Russian ground stations, the next starts at 10:15 EDT.<br /><br />They did get one Command and Control computer running this morning....I'm not sure if it is currently in operation.<br /><br />So progress is being made.<br /><br />Soyuz was on it's own battery overnight to conserve power, but as of this morning the connection to supply power from the US to Russian modules was retsrted, so with sufficient power available, Soyuz is back on the system and recharging batteries. Or it was at least, again I am not sure of current status.<br /><br />I'll be listening.... <br /><br />Edited for speeling and correcting terminology <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>

 

[superluminal]

Thanks for the explanation.<br />Bay retraction to begin at sunrise in approx. 30 minutes.<br /><br />Tuned in tight.<br /><br />Not sure, but I think the present bay retraction is approx. 12 retracted and 20 and one half remaining to be retracted?<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>

 

[MeteorWayne]

I thought it was 18 retracted, but that's depending on my memory, not always a wise thing.... <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>