STS-119 processing

[bobble_bob]

Yeah i know we care and also other Brits on these forums and other forums out there. Not many of us tho to fly the flag for Nasa and the shuttle program.

So far so good it seems for launch tonight

 

[MeteorWayne]

And they never found exactly what was leaking this wednesday?

Hmm, wierd, seem to have lost a post.
No they never found a smoking gun for the problem. Testing at ambient temp showed nothing. So they did the best thing, which was to replace all the seals, tighten everything up, and fill with liquid hydrogen again. The only way to test it was the same as working toward a launch, so that's what they did. So far, everything looks great.

 

[bobble_bob]

And they never found exactly what was leaking this wednesday?

Hmm, wierd, seem to have lost a post.
No they never found a smoking gun for the problem. Testing at ambient temp showed nothing. So they did the best thing, which was to replace all the seals, tighten everything up, and fill with liquid hydrogen again. The only way to test it was the same as working toward a launch, so that's what they did. So far, everything looks great.

In the days and weeks to come, will they do further testing to try and find out what caused it?

 

[MeteorWayne]

I'm 100% sure they will, but they may never find a confirmed answer. It seems a seal leaked. It could not be detected except at cryo temps, which involves liquid hydrogen, so could not be safely tested. Changing all the seals fixed it.

'Nuff said

 

[MeteorWayne]

Skies are exceptionally clear at this time!! I mean clear blue, no cumulus at all!!

 

[3488]

From Spaceflightnow.com.

Justin Ray.


2118 GMT (5:18 p.m. EDT)
T-minus 90 minutes and counting. Countdown clocks continue to tick down to T-minus 20 minutes where the next hold is planned. Activities remain on track for liftoff at 7:43 p.m.

The countdown is proceeding smoothly with no significant technical issues. The weather predictions still call for an 80 percent chance of acceptable conditions. The only concern could be a low-cloud ceiling developing.

At this point in the count, the Ground Launch Sequencer software that will control the final nine minutes of the countdown has been initialized. Also, the solid rocket boosters' gas generator heaters in the hydraulic power units are turned on, the aft skirt gaseous nitrogen purge is starting and the rate gyro assemblies (RGAs) are being activated. The RGAs are used by the orbiter's navigation system to determine rates of motion of the boosters during the first stage of flight.

Andrew Brown.

 

[nimbus]

I'm 100% sure they will, but they may never find a confirmed answer. It seems a seal leaked. It could not be detected except at cryo temps, which involves liquid hydrogen, so could not be safely tested. Changing all the seals fixed it.

'Nuff said

I sure hope so. Two loose ends in a single pre-launch ..

 

[bobble_bob]

100% chance of good weather. Is that a first?

 

[MeteorWayne]

100% chance of good weather. Is that a first?

It sure as heck is the first I've ever heard in my lifetime history of following Florida launches!!!!

 

[Smersh]

I'm currently watching this on NASA tv. I'm wondering though, how come this is STS-119, when we've already had higher numbers than that? (For example, STS-126 was just mentioned.) Cheers!

 

[bobble_bob]

I'm currently watching this on NASA tv. I'm wondering though, how come this is STS-119, when we've already had higher numbers than that? (For example, STS-126 was just mentioned.) Cheers!

This was mentioned at the start of the coverage. The order of the launches is decided a long time in advance, and sometimes the order may have to change for one reason or another

 

[3488]

From Spaceflightnow.com

Justin Ray.

2143 GMT (5:43 p.m. EDT)
Just two hours remain until the planned liftoff time.

Discovery's 13-day flight will connect the final segment of the space station's truss backbone and deploy the last remaining electricity-generating solar wings, boosting the station to full power.

That added electricity is needed to support doubling the station's resident crew size to six people starting in May, as well as powering the international science laboratory modules.

2140 GMT (5:40 p.m. EDT)
The "go" has been given to close Discovery's hatch.

Andrew Brown.

 

[MeteorWayne]

About 1 hour to launch; T-16 minutes. There's a built in hold at T-9:00.

No issues that would delay launch.

Weather still 100% go.

 

[earth_bound_misfit]

We're go for launch down here in Australia. Nasatv warmed up and running. Ready to switch to the 1200Kps feed http://playlist.yahoo.com/makeplaylist.dll?id=1368163

 

[ThereIWas2]

What is in that elevated tank in the background (camera 071)? A while ago a lot of white vapor was coming from it I had not noticed before. I had always thought it held water for the sound suppression system.

 

[SpaceKiwi]

Godspeed Discovery!!


SK

 

[earth_bound_misfit]

Godspeed Discovery!!
SK

Yes sir.
Nice to see you back in the fold SK. You liking the new forum software?

 

[bobble_bob]

Have Nasa installed some new cameras? There are some great shots of the orbitor ive never seen before

 

[Testing]

Clear to launch T-9
and holding for 2 minutes

 

[newsartist]

The "inflight thread" is now unlocked for all mission posts after launch.

 

[moonmadness]

LOOKING GOOD!!!!!


both the shuttle and the forum style!!!

 

[moonmadness]

T-1

 

[moonmadness]

lift-off!!!!!!!

 

[bobw]

YEHAAA!!!

 

[moonmadness]

SRB sep