STS-117 (13A) Mission- Part III

[ckikilwai]

"A nice picture modification !" <br /><br />thanks!<br /><br />I find he video on NASA's website is rather poor, they should show the ISS entering sunlight and the shadow of the shuttle on one of it's solar panels!<br />

 

[bobblebob]

Is the new array now fully operatiional and tracking the sun? <br /><br />What will the extra power allow the crew onboard to do?

 

[dreada5]

<blockquote><font class="small">In reply to:</font><hr /><p>Yeah she really looks good. Finally starting to look like the poster that's been on my cube wall since '98! <p><hr /></p></p></blockquote><br /><br />Took the words right out of my mouth... so true!<br /><br />And to celebrate I've just made "planet" status! <img src="/images/icons/cool.gif" />

 

[bobblebob]

Just found this on wikipedia regarding the mission<br /><br />"Aging problem<br />Main article: Space Shuttle Atlantis#Aging<br />NASA has announced that it was possible, albeit unlikely, that one of 24 Composite Overwrap Pressure Vessels onboard Atlantis could have burst before launch, damaged the orbiter and wounded or even killed ground personnel. A burst of a vessel during launch could have resulted in the loss of the orbiter and crew. NASA changed its launch procedure of Atlantis to counter this problem and reduce any risk to personnel and orbiter. "<br /><br />Whats all that about then? Didnt know about this problem

 

[emerrill]

Didn't this come up on the last flight of Atlantis (or at lease a mission since RTF)? I specifically recall them saying they were closing the pad to all non-essential trafic once the Helium systems were charged, since there was a risk of rupture.<br /><br />Has something changed since then?<br /><br />Here is an article:<br />http://www.space.com/news/ft_070604_aging_orbiters.html<br /> <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> </div>

 

[jschaef5]

What was all that FOD/UFOs (<img src="/images/icons/smile.gif" />) that i saw floating around not long after seperation? <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> </div>

 

[emerrill]

Sorry, was that "No" to 'Didn't this come up before', or 'Had anything changed' <img src="/images/icons/smile.gif" /> <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> </div>

 

[emerrill]

"Composit Video STS-117"<br /><br />That's a restricted access page. <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> </div>

 

[3488]

I had heard about something like this before.<br /><br />Is there really a heightened chance of a future launch pad explosion due to<br />ageing components??<br /><br />Scary stuff. <img src="/images/icons/shocked.gif" /><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>

 

[haywood]

This is very disturbing.<br />I do hope this doesn't end up being in the category of SRB Joints and ET foam in hindsight.<br />I know this is classed as a "non-showstopper" but they were too.<br />No "doom and gloom" here but just thinking about it makes me cringe.<br />Do these tanks undergo x-ray or other scanning to determine if stress fractures have formed?<br />

 

[3488]

Hi haywood,<br /><br />One would assume that components go through some form of preassembly or preflight checks <br />of some sort (X Ray & / or ultrasonic, etc).<br /><br />This is disturbing, you are correct.<br /><br />So how old are some of these components?<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>

 

[Testing]

You are still looking at two opportunities Thursday and two Friday, correct? <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> </div>

 

[haywood]

I have to agree with you there SG.<br />Thanks.

 

[Testing]

DFRC forecast<br /><br />Thursday: Sunny and hot, with a high near 103. West wind between 3 and 10 mph. <br /><br />Thursday Night: Clear, with a low around 65. West wind between 6 and 13 mph. <br /><br />Friday: Sunny and hot, with a high near 104. Southwest wind 5 to 8 mph increasing to between 17 and 20 mph. <br /><br />Friday Night: Clear, with a low around 65. <br /> <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> </div>

 

[3488]

Hi Testing & shuttle_guy,<br /><br />Sorry for being a right thicko, but what & /or where is DFRC?<br /><br />Sounds blooming hot there. In the desert I presume?<br /><br />Hi shuttle_guy.<br /><br />Do you think the weather is becoming more unreliable in Florida. <br /><br />We seem to hear more & more of launch & landing delays on the cape due to weather.<br /><br />Or am I just imagining that?<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]

Maybe you're just paying attention more, Andrew.<br /><br />That is just Florida weather in summer.<br />Thunderstorms occur almost every day as the sea breezes from both coasts move inland and provide a focus for lift, unless acted on by a stronger ambient wind flow.<br /><br />IIRC, it is the lightning capital of earth.<br />A peninsula sticking out into tropical waters <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>

 

[3488]

Hi MeteorWayne.<br /><br />We often have a smaller scale version of that called convergence.<br /><br />Usually in Summer & Autumn, obviously when its warmer.<br /><br />Of course, with Florida being tropical, as you say, immense thunderstorms brew up.<br /><br />I had heard that before about Florida being the lightning capital of Earth.<br /><br />I think that is certainly true.<br /><br />It just seems that there are more launch & landing problems relating to the weather<br />than before.<br /><br />I think that you are correct. Perhaps it is just me & I am paying more attention these days.<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>

 

[3488]

Thanks shuttle_guy.<br /><br />Ogf course I have heard of Dryden. A very famous research facility. Just had not <br />made the connection with the DFRC acronym! <br /><br />15 to 20 lightning fatalities a year! Yelp!!!!!<br /><br />Not surprising really.<br /><br />AFAIK, northern Australia coast & southern Indonesia is another major lightning area,<br />but apparently not more so than Florida.<br /><br />I hoped that it was me that was concerned about the weather. <br /><br />It is also good to know that there have been no changes since KSC was located <br />at the Cape.<br /><br />Andrew Brown.<br /> <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]

NASA TV showing ET mounting right now.<br />Maybe for STS-118?<br />Maybe a replay from STS 117? <br /><br />Edit: Too Late: it was in the VideoFile segement <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>

 

[emerrill]

The ET for STS-118 was mated to the SRBs on Sunday. <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> </div>

 

[MeteorWayne]

That's probably what they showed then. <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>

 

[emerrill]

"Yes. KSC only is activated for Thursday. On Friday DFRC is also activated. <br /><br />I expect if we wave off the landing Thursday that the MCC will have them land at KSC or DFRC Friday even though they could wait to land on Saturday."<br /><br />I though (going on memory from from STS-116) was that they had to bring up WSSH (White Sands Space Harbor) if they don't land on Thursday. <br /><br />I thought the conversations from that one, was that they had to bring up all 3 if they only have one day left. Or was that only because of the marginal forecasts from DFRC? Or, am I miss reading your statement, and Saturday is the day they would have to bring all 3 up, and Sunday is the 'Even if it's in Europe, we have to be on the ground today' day? <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> </div>

 

[MeteorWayne]

BTW, the latest forecast is 50% chance of TRW's tomorrow, but no mention of showers at all for Friday (may be a hidden 10 or 20% chance not in the verbal forecast.) <br /><br />Edit: "Friday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 85. Calm wind becoming north northeast between 5 and 10 mph. "<br /><br />Yes there is a hidden 12% chance of pcp, predicted cloud cover for Friday is only 22%.<br /><br />So if it is waved off tomorrow, it looks very good for Friday..<br />If the forecast is correct <img src="/images/icons/crazy.gif" /><br /> <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]

thanx for the weather update MW!<br /><br />now on NASA TV, interview with the STS-117 crew

 

[usn_skwerl]

if anyones interested, i made a <5 minute video of the shuttle fly-around of the ISS, and even managed to get a shot in of the shuttles shadow on the new solar panels. i have to say, watching the RCS popping through the live feed was absolutely stunning. not something you see very often. its just so beautiful to see the little bursts.<br /><br />shuttle video <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> </div>