STS-122 (1E) Updates

[scottb50]

Was that in your best Mr. Burns voice? <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> </div>

 

[bobblebob]

haha of course <img src="/images/icons/wink.gif" />

 

[3488]

Hi Ben,<br /><br />Just would like to say hello & hope that you are keeping well. <img src="/images/icons/laugh.gif" /><br /><br />Yes I agree, that is FANTASTIC news. Lets hope Atlantis launches both successfully & safely.<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]

There is an STS-122 Columbus/ATV briefing starting live on NASA TV in a few minutes at the top of the hour. <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>

 

[bobblebob]

Cheers <img src="/images/icons/smile.gif" /><br /><br />Seems ive missed most of this, but hows it going to work with ATV and Progress. Can they both be docked at the same time?

 

[MeteorWayne]

I missed an answer for that point, but I suspect the answer is yes. From what they said the ATV could be docked as long as 6 months, which would lead me to suspect a Progress launch would occur during that time. <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]

Wanted to mention, that while it will be daytime at launchtime for KSC, it will be near or after sunset further up the coast. See the "Observing Spacecraft" thread for details. <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>

 

[halman]

MeteorWayne,<br /><br />Is it just me, or does this launch preparation seem to be going extremely smoothly? This kind of reminds me of the late 1980's, when the flight rate was very high, and turnarounds on the orbiters seemed to go quickly and easily.<br /><br />I think that everyone should be proud of the workers at the Cape, who are dealing with miles of checklists for every launch, scheduling every item so that it doesn't have to be done twice, and gets done in the proper order. Incredible attention to detail, day in and day out, without anyone going nuts and shooting everybody!<br /><br />Thank you, shuttle_guy, and all of you others who are involved in the most important work in the world. (In my opinion.) The better you do your jobs, the less that you are noticed and thanked for your exceptional work.<br /><br /> <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> The secret to peace of mind is a short attention span. </div>

 

[tadpoletriker]

IIRC there three Russian Ports available.<br />If two Soyez are available for re-entry with a six person crew, only the aft port is available for ATV and Progress.<br />One at a time it seems.<br />

 

[elguapoguano]

well, so much for smooth. Looks like the ECO demon is rearing it's ugly head again.... :*(<br /><br />http://www.space.com/spaceshuttle/index.html<br />9:17am 12/6/2007 update... <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> <font color="#ff0000"><u><em>Don't let your sig line incite a gay thread ;>)</em></u></font> </div>

 

[bobblebob]

Those damn sensors. Seems they will have to scrub unless the sensors somehow start working again.<br /><br />Would this require a full detank job to either replace them or hope that tanking again makes them work?

 

[usn_skwerl]

shame they can't have some simple solution like a sight gauge and a camera down there on the ET. In the long run, I think that would have been a cheaper and easier solution versus these sensors! <br /><br />edit: about 3 minutes ago, they had it marked "postponed, press conference TBD".....I watched "press conference TBD" disappear before my eyes..I guess they pulled that, not expecting a conference?<br /> <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> </div>

 

[bobblebob]

From the Nasa site:<br /><br />"Dec. 6, 10 a.m. EST: During tanking, two of four LH2 Engine Cutoff (ECO) sensors failed to respond appropriately, which is a Launch Commit Violation. The requirement to proceed calls for 3 of 4. The launch was scrubbed at 9:56 a.m. EST on the recommendation of Launch Director Doug Lyons. <br /><br />Mission Management Team Chairman LeRoy Cain concurred following a short briefing on the issue. The ice inspection team will proceed with an abbreviated vehicle inspection prior to offloading the LO2 and LH2 and recycle for a launch attempt tomorrow, at 4:09 p.m. <br /><br />A press briefing is tentative scheduled for 3 p.m. An update is forthcoming on NASA TV. "<br /><br />From what i understand, Nasa have to fix and understand the problem before attemping another launch, as per flight rules. What are the chances of launch tomorrow? Im meant to be going to a gig tomorrow night, but would cancel that if it meant i could watch a successful launch<br />

 

[montmein69]

<font color="yellow">Nasa have to fix and understand the problem before attemping another launch</font><br /><br />I'm affraid nobody understands what happen with the ECO sensors since the issue appeared during the first return to launch.<br /><br />Sensor ? wiring ? <br /><br />Maybe the best is : empty the tank ... fill the tank ... and ... pray ....<br /><br /><br />http://spaceflightnow.com/shuttle/sts122/071206ecos/ <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> </div>

 

[usn_skwerl]

(long pause...) hate to say it, but to paraphrase; "the STS is a beta test" <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> </div>

 

[MeteorWayne]

Rats, that blows any chance of seeing the launch from the northease <img src="/images/icons/frown.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>

 

[bobblebob]

3 out of 4 have to be working apparently. From what ive read a 24 hour scrubb will be unlikely

 

[bobblebob]

Problem is if they did suddenly work again, whats changed to make them work? Unless nasa can find out why they suddenly work again, they cant be relied on <br /><br />Conference scheduled for 4pm ET now<br /><br />Edit: They think it maybe an open circuit thats causing it

 

[bobblebob]

http://sscfreedom.ssc.nasa.gov/esd/images_sscptd/ssc_projects/eco/eco_ECO_sensor.gif<br /><br />Are they the little sensors that are causing so much trouble?

 

[bobw]

That is the rack that holds them and the wires show that they are installed. The sensor elements are under the gray covers.<br /><br />They look like this. <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> </div>

 

[bobblebob]

Such small things cause so much trouble <img src="/images/icons/frown.gif" /><br /><br />Conference NET 5pm now

 

[billslugg]

Haven't these sensors been problematic in the past? Why not put more of them in there? Reason, when 1 bad one is reason to scrub, the more you put in there the less you fly. If the failure rate is .1 and you have 4, then you scrub every 2.5 attempts. If you only have one sensor, you scrub only one in ten flights. PLUS - you save money in sensors. <br /><br />On the other hand, if the rule is "3 good ones to fly" then why not put 10 or 15 in there? Maybe it would choke off the flow. Hey - how about a carousel with hundreds. Push a button, those four pass through a seal to the outside, four more take their place. Sort of like sharks teeth. <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> <p> </p><p> </p> </div>

 

[MeteorWayne]

Seems like a good idea on the surface, but then you are talking about another redesign.<br /><br />With less than 3 years left in the shuttle program, such redesign (and extra weight, anaysis of added risks, etc) might not be finished before it could be implemented. <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>

 

[billslugg]

You are right, but you also know the guy paying the bill for the wasted LOX and H2 is camped out in the cubicle of the guy in charge of the sensors, building a tiny fire under his roll around chair saying "Warm enough yet?" <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> <p> </p><p> </p> </div>

 

[MeteorWayne]

As long as his campfire isn't near the LOX and LH2 <img src="/images/icons/smile.gif" /> <img src="/images/icons/smile.gif" /><br /><br />I understand what you are saying, but I just don't think there's enough time left.<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>