STS-120/10A Mission thread (post launch)

[holmec]

Here, I made a new post on tools and materials. <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> <p> </p><p><font color="#0000ff"><em>"SCE to AUX" - John Aaron, curiosity pays off</em></font></p> </div>

 

[mi2again]

Locker door is too thick to be cut by the crew with hand tools

 

[MeteorWayne]

Jim, I wasn't being specific. I was making the point that if there's a material on station that they need in an emergency, they'll use it. <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>

 

[rybanis]

hurray for success! I wish I could have watched this live... <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> </div>

 

[MeteorWayne]

Latest official update (yesterday)<br /><br />Nov. 2, 2007<br />George Diller<br />Kennedy Space Center, Fla.<br />321-867-2468<br />george.h.diller@nasa.gov<br />STATUS REPORT: S-110207<br />NASA'S SPACE SHUTTLE PROCESSING STATUS REPORT<br /><br />Mission: STS-120 - 23rd International Space Station Flight - U.S. Node <br />2 (Harmony) <br />Vehicle: Discovery (OV-103) <br />Location: International Space Station <br />Launch Date: Oct. 23, 2007 <br />Expected KSC Landing Date: Nov. 7, 2007 <br />Crew: Melroy, Zamka, Parazynski, Wheelock, Wilson, Nespoli and Tani <br />Inclination/Orbit Altitude: 51.6 degrees/122 nautical miles <br /><br />On orbit, Flight Day 10 for mission STS-120 has been completed. <br />Planned activities for Flight Day 11 on Saturday involve configuring <br />Discovery and the International Space Station for the mission's <br />fourth spacewalk, on which the astronauts will perform solar array <br />repair activities.<br /><br />Landing of Discovery at the Kennedy Space Center is currently planned <br />for Wednesday, Nov. 7. Available landing times are 1:02 p.m. EST on <br />orbit 238 and 2:35 p.m. EST on orbit 239. <br /><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>

 

[holmec]

I'm surprised and impressed that even in Harmony's temporary position, they opened her up and are working on her. That saves time even with the extra EVA. <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> <p> </p><p><font color="#0000ff"><em>"SCE to AUX" - John Aaron, curiosity pays off</em></font></p> </div>

 

[rybanis]

The module itself seems quite roomy, though thats probably going to be taken up with equipment, eventually. <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> </div>

 

[SpaceKiwi]

Beautiful EVA, Longbo and Wheels did an outstanding job in conjunction with the EVA and Robo folks. Regards the "cufflinks" and their manufacture, I heard they sourced the metal from the back of equipment racks, but that may not be correct.<br /><br />Nevertheless, with all the stuff they have up there now across the many modules and spacecraft, I suspect they could just about 'McGyver' anything they needed. They have the resourceful staff in space and on the ground, I think shotage of time would be the only thing holding them back in any given repair situation.<br /><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>

 

[SpaceKiwi]

Just as an afterthought, I wonder if any consideration will be/is being given to modifying the OBSS to either provide for power and data at the mid-boom grapple fixture via the SSRMS. Or, indeed, at the grapple fixture at the end normally used by the SRMS.<br /><br />Perhaps such a situation in which they will need the OBSS's reach will never occur again but it could be worth considering just in case. I suppose cost and time would be the big issues with such a proposal. I wonder if they will use a similar arrangement as with this EVA when they deploy S6. In light of what happened with P6, and the inaccessability issues should something go wrong on deploy, it could be considered very useful to have an Astronaut out on the boom just to observe the unfurl. <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>

 

[Huntster]

>>I heard they sourced the metal from the back of equipment racks...<br /><br />According to the instructions uplinked to the astronauts, the metal is aluminum stock which was retrieved from the Clamp and Bracket Kit aboard ISS. From reading the checklist of materials used, it seems everything was part of various kits previously sent up rather than scavenged from the station itself. <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> </div>

 

[Huntster]

>>I wonder if any consideration will be/is being given to modifying the OBSS...<br /><br />While its probably not effective, or not feasible, to modify existing systems to support both SRMS and SSRMS equipment at a single grapple point, I do wonder why the decision was made to place the SSRMS grapple mid-boom. I also understand the mid-boom fixture to be completely unpowered...merely a way for the station to move it.<br /><br />Given the station arm's inability to stretch very far in the solar array zone, it now seems obvious that having the OBSS around would be very useful for camera inspections and that little extra reach for EVA activities. Why not add a second, SSRMS fixture to the end of the arm, near the SRMS point, to allow the SSRMS to make full use of the arm... and then leave the OBSS (or an OBSS) at the station at the end of shuttle operations? Seems as if it would be a useful tool to have around, especially given that the shuttle won't be needing it anymore. <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> </div>

 

[bobw]

<font color="yellow">rather than scavenged from the station itself.</font><br /><br />I plead guilty to spreading that FUD but I swear I heard "they cut the metal from the back of a rack" either live or on a press conference. Might have been a joke. <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> </div>

 

[Testing]

Are you still headed West? <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> </div>

 

[Huntster]

>>I plead guilty...<br /><br />You are sentenced to being truthful for now on <img src="/images/icons/wink.gif" /><br /><br /> />>Might have been a joke.<br /><br />From the images included in that uplink sent to the station, the pieces of aluminum used don't appear to be anything that would be previously used, and certainly not cut off of anything else. Not to mention, the instructions call for two of those pieces. Does look and sound pre-fab to me. I call shenanigans on this rumour. <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> </div>

 

[Huntster]

>>Because the Orbiter RMS can not grapple the OBSS while docked to the ISS...<br /><br />Okay, so the placement is simply design by necessity. It would be impossible for the SSRMS to grapple the OBSS on the orbiter RMS fixture even if it were compatible. I take it then that the OBSS, since it was used today, will remain in a pre-berth position until the orbiter undocks?<br /><br /> />>...the prior mission is to leave the OBSS on the ISS for the next orbiter to pickup...<br /><br />Not that my thought to leave the OBSS on the station after shuttle ops finish is even remotely feasible (no place to stow it anyhow, I suppose), but this manifest means that precedent would be in place for not having the OBSS for post-undock inspection. Interesting....I suppose they will just have station crew perform detailed photography of shuttle surfaces? <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> </div>

 

[scottb50]

Back on the links subject I haven't seen anything about containing the debris. I would think cutting and especially filing Aluminum would put out a lot of small particles. That could be bad for electronics especially and probably seals and such. <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> </div>

 

[Huntster]

Again on the uplink the astronauts used to construct the cufflinks, it mentions the installation/setup of the maintenance work area (MWA). This area is used to isolate the work environment, allowing the ISS vacuum system to remove any FODs from the air, as mentioned just above Step 2.4. <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> </div>

 

[jschaef5]

sg, have fun out at DFRC and California <img src="/images/icons/smile.gif" /> <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> </div>

 

[scottb50]

Hadn't seen that, thanks. <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> </div>

 

[SpaceKiwi]

Where the heck is George Diller? I've been watching NASA TV the past few hours and the PAO has been repeatedly incorrectly describing views of Quest as the new Harmony Node!<br /><br />Entry-level qualifications can't be high to get the overnight commentator's gig.<br /><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>

 

[usn_skwerl]

im listening too, and the woman speaking's not exactly sure of what shes talking about...anyone got a real hockey stick handy? <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> </div>

 

[erioladastra]

"OK, but why did it grapple the boom in its MID-LENGTH and not at one of its ENDS? Was that to make the whole setup more stable when it reaches over the solar wing? "<br /><br />There are only grapple pins at the middle and one end, the OBSS is at the other end. The SRMS has to hold on at some place so it is at the end (since that is where it can reach).

 

[erioladastra]

"IIRC the "hocky stick" was designed and built on the ground after the first time they had an array problem on deploy. They used it on a later mission and then stowed it onboard for future use. "<br /><br />It was designed ont he ground after 12A.1, but was actually built by the crew on orbit priror to 13A.

 

[erioladastra]

"but this manifest means that precedent would be in place for not having the OBSS for post-undock inspection"<br /><br />Late inspections are high priority, but not an top mission requirement.

 

[erioladastra]

"When will they know if the equipment on the boom got damaged by temperature extremes? I thought I heard something about a camera at ~40 degrees C but don't know what camera it was. "<br /><br />Preliminary data indicate the equipment may be ok.