STS-122 (1E) Updates

[cbased]

<i>Where did you get the info from? </i><br />got it from another forum. Someone posted it there.<br /><br />Thanks for the time. It means GMT -5. Hopefully other people will find it useful too.

 

[MeteorWayne]

Jan. 18, 2008<br />Candrea Thomas<br />Kennedy Space Center, Fla.<br />321-867-2468<br />candrea.k.thomas@nasa.gov<br />STATUS REPORT: S-011808<br />NASA'S SPACE SHUTTLE PROCESSING STATUS REPORT<br /><br />Mission: STS-122 - 24th International Space Station Flight - Columbus <br />laboratory <br />Vehicle: Atlantis (OV-104) <br />Location: Launch Pad 39A <br />Launch Date: Targeting Feb. 7 <br />Crew: Frick, Poindexter, Schlegel, Eyharts, Love, Melvin, Walheim <br />Inclination/Orbit Altitude: 51.6 degrees/122 nautical miles <br /><br />Launch Pad 39A<br />- Engine cutoff (ECO) sensor external feedthrough connector <br />installation is complete<br />- Aft ECO instrumentation wiring removal and retest was completed<br />- All sensors have been tested successfully<br />- ECO sensor feedthrough foaming work on the external J-Box and solid <br />rocket booster PAL ramp continues through the weekend<br />- Annual slidewire basket pad evacuation system maintenance and <br />checkout continues through the weekend<br />- Solid rocket booster hydraulic retesting was completed Monday<br />- Liquid oxygen storage tank pressurization and relief valve testing <br />was successfully completed Tuesday <br /><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>

 

[earth_bound_misfit]

So are we still looking at a 24th Jan lift off? I hope so, it will make for a great birthday present for me <img src="/images/icons/wink.gif" /> <br /><br />Scratch that, I see we're looking around the 7th of Feb <img src="/images/icons/frown.gif" /> <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>

 

[halman]

shuttle_guy,<br /><br />Has there been a decision on a tanking test prior to launch? I know that you said they wanted to avoid it, as it results in damage to the foam insulation.<br /><br />Has this delay impacted the turnaround time for the orbiter for its next mission? I believe it is scheduled to fly again later this year. <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> The secret to peace of mind is a short attention span. </div>

 

[halman]

shuttle_guy,<br /><br />I am still confused as to why Atlantis will probably be retired after the Hubble mission. Does it have to do with the downtime involved in the Periodic Maintenance? Or is there some other factor?<br /> <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> The secret to peace of mind is a short attention span. </div>

 

[3488]

Thanks shuttle_guy. That is very interesting.<br /><br />It does make a lot of sense.<br /><br />It does look as if the Hubble Space Telescope mission will be the last for Space Shuttle Atlantis.<br /><br />Do you know what will happen to Atlantis after she returns from that mission?<br /><br />Will she be 'canibalised' for spare parts for OVs Discovery & Endeavour?<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>

 

[halman]

shuttle_guy,<br /><br />Thank you for the info!<br /><br />It pains me greatly to see the U.S. be so miserly with funding for our off planet endeavors. Keeping the shuttles operational through the development period of the Ares would cost about as much as we ares spending on the war in Iraq every MONTH! <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> The secret to peace of mind is a short attention span. </div>

 

[roocnu]

Forgive me if this question has been asked and answered, or is in the wrong place - first post to this forum - still getting comfortable with the etiquette. Ben (he of launchphotography.com and that great shuttle launch guide) suggested I ask around here.<br /><br />Any-hoo - I am heading down to Florida from Toronto with some astronomy club friends (Royal Astronomical Society of Canada )in just over a week to hopefully watch STS-122 take off - am keeping my fingers crossed! <br /><br />It is our first attempt - and a learning experience. Have tickets <br />for the visitor centre at the KSC for launch day, but not the <br />causeway - they seem rare as hens teeth. Wonder if it is possible to <br />upgrade and get causeway tickets once we get there? A nice lady at <br />the visitor centre said "no", but i am still keeping my fingers <br />crossed, since the tickets are non-refundable, and I am wishing we <br />had never bought them because of the obstructed view......But, in the <br />grand scheme of things, the thought of just being in the area while <br />human beings are launched into space, well, it is just amazing and I <br />totally appreciate all of the work that goes into it.<br /><br />If anyone has causeway tickets, and they are not planning to use them, well, please contact me!<br /><br />Cheers,<br />Katrina<br /> <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> </div>

 

[MeteorWayne]

This is a good place to ask, I don't know the answer, but wanted to welcome you to Space.com! <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 roocnu,<br /><br />Welcome to SDC. Like MeteorWayne, I also do not know the answer, but wish to <br />welcome you here.<br /><br />Have you tried ebay, etc???<br /><br />I do not know if the tickets are named or are like Football tickets, just numbered.<br /><br />I also hope to go at some point myself (I live in the UK, so quite a long way for me & maybe not<br />be made to feel welcome by US immigration, which is putting me off from travelling <br />to the USA right now).<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>

 

[roocnu]

Thank you Meteor-Wayne and 3488! Appreciate the welcome.<br /><br />Yes, I have tried e-Bay, craigslist, etc. Saw 2 tickets, but need 5. I would like it if we could stay together as a group. Just goes to show, shuttle prep takes months! Not sure if the tickets are named or numbered (I think the are not named), but just getting launch tickets at the KSC visitor centre required some personal info from me, and they UPS the tickets to you. No on-line sales.<br /><br />Rainer Gerhards blog also has great info, and he, like myself and you (3488) are not US citizens, and cannot go to their senators to get LTT tickets, but it can be done. What I have learned from my experience to date is that when the LTT tickets go on sale a couple of months before launch, you try to be first in line to order them over the phone. Either that, or just get yourself to Titusville, and enjoy the view from the beach along with thousands of other folks.....Or just spend the moolah and get a ticket from a tour company and do the day trip from Orlando.<br /><br />Katrina<br /> <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> </div>

 

[Testing]

Let me know when you can talk schedule SG. Trying to stay dry and warm here is getting tough. Four times last YEARS rain in one week. May not be able to cross the creek tomorrow morning. <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> </div>

 

[roocnu]

Thank you for keeping an eye out - appreciate your help. Understand it is a long shot.....<br /><br />Katrina <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> </div>

 

[lacuna]

roocnu:<br /><br />I watched a launch last year with the KSC viewing center ticket. Although you won't get to see the pad, you will however.. get a chance to see the shuttle once it clears the tree line. You will be able to hear it and feel it. After the launch we went inside the launch center dome building and watched for separation of the ET and launch replays.<br /><br />I enjoyed it! I think if you get there super early in the morning, you will be able to take the bus tour, which will take you to a viewing tower, past the VAB. We missed the last bus because we got there too late (5 hours before launch)<br /><br />Good luck!

 

[bpcooper]

The viewing tower will not be open on launch day. It is located just one mile from the shuttle ;-) <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> <p>-Ben</p> </div>

 

[bpcooper]

Feb. 6 was possible at the KSC level but it is not doable because of the Progress. Progress docking is 934am on Feb. 7 while they are fueling. They would not launch before it. <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> <p>-Ben</p> </div>

 

[roocnu]

Hi Lacuna,<br /><br />Thank you for sharing your experience watching the launch at the visitor centre. It sounds like there is so much to do there. Keeping my fingers crossed for a safe, uneventful launch.<br /><br />I really think this is a great forum - wish I had joined earlier.<br /><br />Katrina <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> </div>

 

[erioladastra]

"We have found a problem with a flex hose in the Orbiter payload bay. This is a big problem. I expect the launch attempt on the 7th is off."<br /><br />I think we can work it out - I think we will still launch next week.

 

[Testing]

What does the hose carry? Coolant? <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> </div>

 

[strandedonearth]

Just curious as to how a flex hose would develop a problem between launch attempts, while just sitting on the pad? Hope it's not too big a problem...

 

[Testing]

That was my best guess for a flex hose in that location. Q1 Can it be replaced on the pad?<br />Q2 How long to recover the Freon, change the line, evacuate and recharge the system? <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> </div>

 

[Testing]

What are you doing up this late SG? Leak on opening the doors, 2-3 orbits> Too risky. <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> </div>

 

[CalliArcale]

We've hit the post limit, so I'm going to lock this thread and open a new one. <img src="/images/icons/wink.gif" /> <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>