STS-133 Pre Launch Discussion ( NET Mid Dec)

[EarthlingX]

Re: STS-133 Pre Launch Discussion (Target Nov 1, 4:40 PM EDT)

http://www.nasa.gov : Weather Forecast Friday: 60 percent "Go"

Thu, 04 Nov 2010 14:03:54 GMT

The shuttle weather team is calling for a 60 percent chance of acceptable conditions for space shuttle Discovery on Friday. They are watching for high winds in the wake of a cold front moving through Central Florida. Discovery is on Launch Pad 39A at NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida. Friday's launch time is 3:04 p.m. EDT. There are no scheduled STS-133 news conferences on NASA Television today and no planned Space Shuttle Program Mission Management Team meetings today. The shuttle team will convene at 5 a.m. Friday to assess the weather before giving a “go" or "no-go” decision to fill Discovery’s external tank. If Discovery launches Friday, it will dock with the International Space Station at 10:55 a.m. EST on Sunday, Nov. 7. The mission’s two spacewalks will occur on Tuesday Nov. 9 and Thursday Nov. 11. Undocking will occur at 4:21 a.m. Sunday, Nov. 14, and landing at Kennedy Space Center will take place at 9:16 a.m. Tuesday, Nov. 16.

 

[EarthlingX]

Re: STS-133 Pre Launch Discussion (Target Nov 1, 4:40 PM EDT)

SDC : Stormy Weather Delays Space Shuttle Discovery's Launch At Least 24 Hours

By Denise Chow
SPACE.com Staff Writer
posted: 04 November 2010
06:07 am ET

This story was updated at 8:46 a.m. EDT.



CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – Stormy weather forced NASA to delay the launch of the space shuttle Discovery for at least one more day, the latest in a string of setbacks for what will be the spacecraft's final mission.

Discovery was slated to blast off from a seaside pad here at the Kennedy Space Center at 3:29 p.m. EDT (1929 GMT), but persistent rain in the area, and a gloomy outlook that called for an 80 percent chance of stormy weather, convinced NASA officials to stand down for the day.

"If it looked like there was any possible chance of giving it a shot, then I think we would have chosen to proceed with tanking," said Pete Nickolenko, NASA's assistant shuttle launch director. "But, it was really very clear today that it wasn't looking to be our day weather-wise."

Even though shuttle technicians can fill the orbiter's external fuel tank in the rain, clearer conditions are required for launch and for safety precautions in the event of an emergency Return To Launch Site (RTLS) abort situation.

"The launch forecast continues to be poor, with solid rain showers forecasted for throughout the day," Nickolenko said. "The team concluded it was not prudent to pick up with tanking today. So, at this point, we're going to be inserting a 24-hour delay in our countdown procedures."

The shuttle is now slated to launch no earlier than Friday, Nov. 5 at 3:04 p.m. EDT (1904 GMT). Discovery's launch time moves up earlier each day to keep the shuttle on target to meet its destination – the International Space Station – two days after liftoff.

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[EarthlingX]

Re: STS-133 Pre Launch Discussion (Target Nov 1, 4:40 PM EDT)

Revised

spaceflightnow.com : STS-133 Countdown Timeline

COMPILED BY WILLIAM HARWOOD
Updated: November 4, 2010

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Thu 11/04/10

15...20...00...11:39 PM......Resume countdown
15...00...00...11:59 PM......Pad clear of non-essential personnel
15...00...00...11:59 PM......APU bite test

Fri 11/05/10

14...10...00...12:49 AM......Fuel cell activation
13...20...00...01:39 AM......Booster joint heater activation
12...50...00...02:09 AM......MEC pre-flight bite test
12...35...00...02:24 AM......Tanking weather update
11...50...00...03:09 AM......Final fueling preps; launch area clear
11...20...00...03:39 AM......Red crew assembled
10...39...00...04:20 AM......Crew wakeup
10...35...00...04:24 AM......Fuel cell integrity checks complete

10...20...00...04:39 AM......Begin 2-hour built-in hold (T-minus 6 hours)
10...10...00...04:49 AM......Safe-and-arm PIC test
09...59...00...05:00 AM......Mission management team tanking meeting

09...29...00...05:30 AM......NASA TV fueling coverage begins

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and


spaceflightnow.com : STS-133 Flight Plan

COMPILED BY WILLIAM HARWOOD
Updated: November 4, 2010

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Flight Day 1

11/05
Fri 03:04 PM...00...00...00...00...Launch
Fri 03:41 PM...00...00...37...21...OMS-2 rocket firing
Fri 03:54 PM...00...00...50...00...Post insertion timeline begins

...

 

[bushwhacker]

Re: STS-133 Pre Launch Discussion (Target Nov 1, 4:40 PM EDT)

Weather scrub for today. Daytona Beach is overcast with a little light rain. Forecast for KSC is 20% no-go with rain in the forecast all day. Weather for tomorrow looks better, but winds may be a problem.

I'll be heading home within the hour.

Man i feel for ya swampcat..After spending the time and money to go there to see the launch and get shot down by the weather...

 

[Swampcat]

Re: STS-133 Pre Launch Discussion (Target Nov 1, 4:40 PM EDT)

Man i feel for ya swampcat..After spending the time and money to go there to see the launch and get shot down by the weather...

Back home now and thanks for the commiseration. It's very disappointing not to have seen a launch, but OTOH the bus tour and Visitors Center was, IMO, better than a trip to Disney World. Being an amateur rocketeer and avowed space cadet I felt like a kid in a very big candy store all day yesterday. I don't think you can really appreciate how big a Saturn V is until you see it from up close...and how small the Mercury-Redstone is in comparison.

Anyway, since I got the causeway tickets for free through some friends at NASA all it cost me was the gas for the drive down and some time. I'm laid off from my job so that wasn't a big deal. Oh, and the VC tickets, but I got the senior discount on those And maybe they won't get off the ground during this window and I can go back in December or at worst get to see STS-134 launch in February.

Overall it was a very interesting experience even without the launch. Highly recommend it to any and all space cadets.

 

[EarthlingX]

Re: STS-133 Pre Launch Discussion ( Nov 5, 3:04 PM EDT)

http://www.nasa.gov : Tanking Under Way for Discovery Launch

Fri, 05 Nov 2010 10:22:39 GMT

Liquid Hydrogen and liquid oxygen will flow into space shuttle Discovery's orange external fuel tank for the next three hours as launch day preparations continue for the STS-133 mission. The process began at 5:58 a.m. EDT. Liftoff is scheduled for 3:04 p.m.

The hydrogen and oxygen will power Discovery's three main engines during liftoff and ascent into orbit. Both propellants are kept extremely cold as they are pumped into the tank. The liquid hydrogen is minus 497 degrees F and the liquid oxygen is minus 297 degrees.

Steve Lindsey commands this mission to the International Space Station and he will be joined on the shuttle's flight deck by Pilot Eric Boe and mission specialists Alvin Drew and Tim Kopra. Mission specialists Michael Baratt and Nicole Stott will sit on the lower level during launch.

The weather forecast improved overnight for today's launch attempt. Forecasters are calling for a 70 percent chance of acceptable conditions at launch time. The prime concern is the possibility of high winds around NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida, the shuttle fleet's launch site.

 

[EarthlingX]

Re: STS-133 Pre Launch Discussion ( Nov 5, 3:04 PM EDT)

www.nasa.gov : Launch Scrubbed Due to Hydrogen Leak at Ground Umbilical Carrier Plate

Fri, 05 Nov 2010 12:29:30 GMT

Space shuttle managers have scrubbed Discovery’s launch attempt for today due to a hydrogen leak a the Ground Umbilical Carrier Plate, or GUCP (pronounced GUP).

During the process of filling the external tank, the hydrogen leak was detected at the GUCP, an attachment point between the external tank and a 17-inch pipe that carries gaseous hydrogen safely away from Discovery to the flare stack, where it is burned off.

Managers will meet to determine the next steps and NASA Television will air a news conference later today.

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Image above: The Ground Umbilial Carrier Plate, or GUCP. Photo Credit: NASA TV

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[EarthlingX]

Re: STS-133 Pre Launch Discussion ( Nov 5, 3:04 PM EDT)

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uM-BqF2TIZo[/youtube]

NASAKennedy | November 05, 2010

Discovery's space shuttle managers have scrubbed Friday's launch attempt due to a hydrogen leak at the Ground Umbilical Carrier Plate, or GUCP.

...

 

[EarthlingX]

Re: STS-133 Pre Launch Discussion ( Nov 5, 3:04 PM EDT)

SDC : Fuel Leak Delays Launch of Space Shuttle Discovery

By Denise Chow,
SPACE.com Staff Writer
posted: 05 November 2010
08:37 am ET

This story has been updated at 9:39 a.m. EDT.



CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – A fuel leak on the space shuttle Discovery thwarted NASA efforts to launch the spacecraft today, delaying the shuttle's final liftoff to no earlier than Monday, Nov. 8.

Discovery was slated to launch at 3:04 p.m. EDT (1904 GMT) today (Nov. 5) but a leak of flammable liquid hydrogen discovered during fueling forced NASA to stand down.

The next attempted launch of Discovery and its six-astronaut crew remains to be determined, but will come no earlier than Monday at 12:53 p.m. EST (1653 GMT). Top mission managers will meet at 11 a.m. EDT (1500 GMT) today to determine the next course of action.

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[EarthlingX]

Re: STS-133 Pre Launch Discussion ( Nov 5, 3:04 PM EDT)

www.spaceflightnow.com : Mission Status Center

By Justin Ray

...

1400 GMT (10:00 a.m. EDT)
Space shuttle launch director Mike Leinbach recaps what happened this morning and the game going forward:

"The day looked OK but the hardware was talking to us and it's a significant leak at the hydrogen vent arm.

"The signature of the leak is similar to what we've seen in the past when we've had leaks there, although the magnitude was higher this time and it occurred earlier in our tanking process. It actually occurred during fast-fill where in the past we'd gotten into a topping regime before the leak occurred. The leak followed the vent valve cycling very closely, every time we cycled the vent we saw the leak, so that's indicative of something going wrong down inside of that quick-disconnect.

"We've gotten into drain of course. We'll be done draining in another hour, maybe an hour-and-a-half, something like that. Then we go into a period of time, probably about 20 hours, 22 hours of inerting the hydrogen tank, then we're going to be able to get our hands on the hardware out at the launch pad tomorrow afternoon, maybe late morning...and take a look at it and see where we go from here.

"It's my hope that given the magnitude of the leak that once we get the GUCP taken apart, we'll see something wrong that's obvious to us, go fix it, put it back together and get a launch attempt before the end of this window. That's my hope. I'm not sure that's how it's going to turn out, but that's the challenge that we've put out to the team."

Monday is the soonest Discovery could get another next shot at launching, Leinbach says.

"The earliest possibility is Monday. We've gone officially into a 72-hour scrub turnaround, knowing that's our last launch attempt in this window. There's certain tricks that we might be able to do when we pull the GUCP apart that says you get to the work quicker. A lot of the engineering contingent are going to want to take very, very detailed measurements as we're taking this thing apart, and that may end up being what we ent do. If we do all that detailed work, that probably extends the timeline because that's what we did in the past to get to that 72 hours.

"So we're not going to push the team, but we have asked them if 'is there anything you can do in a 72 to get to that launch attempt on Monday' because a lot of us believe that given the magnitude of the leak we're going to see something obvious when we get it apart. If that's the case, then we'll change out whatever has gone wrong and put it back together and hopefully that supports Monday.

"And that's the challenge. We're going to get together later this morning with the OPS and engineering teams, review that kinda top-level assessment, top-level plan that we've asked. Then the detailed engineering reviews and troubleshooting plans will kick in later this afternoon. We'll present that to the program tomorrow sometime, what the actual options are. We won't know what's gone wrong with the GUCP until we get our hands on it, which will be tomorrow afternoon sometime.

"So right now it's a lot of speculation, but obviously the hardware was talking to us, it leaked significantly and it was a case where we were violating not only launch commit criteria but also some of our ground safety requirements -- limits on hydrogen in free air. So we elected to scrub obviously and that was the best course of action."

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[MeteorWayne]

Re: STS-133 Pre Launch Discussion ( Nov 5, 3:04 PM EDT)

Feels like a postponment to December to me

Good news in a way for swampcat that he didn't just miss by 24 hours, but a whole lot more :?

 

[EarthlingX]

Re: STS-133 Pre Launch Discussion ( Nov 5, 3:04 PM EDT)

http://www.nasa.gov : Launch Postponed to No Earlier Than Nov. 30

Fri, 05 Nov 2010 16:46:24 GMT

NASA managers have decided to postpone the next launch attempt for space shuttle Discovery to no earlier than Nov. 30 at 4:05 a.m. EST.

Details will be discussed during a 1 p.m. news conference with Mike Moses, Space Shuttle Program launch integration manager and mission management team chairman, and Mike Leinbach, shuttle launch director.

SDC : NASA Postpones Shuttle Discovery Launch to Nov. 30 for Repairs

By Denise Chow
SPACE.com Staff Writer
posted: 05 November 2010
12:39 p.m. ET ET

This story was updated at 12:39 p.m. ET.



CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – A fuel leak and crack on the space shuttle Discovery's huge external tank has forced NASA to call off any attempts to launch before Nov. 30 – the latest in a series of delays for the spacecraft's final voyage.

NASA discovered the crack during an inspection after finding a potentially dangerous liquid hydrogen fuel leak on the 15-story external tank that thwarted the shuttle's launch plans for today (Nov. 5). The crack is located on a different part of the tank.

"The hydrogen leak may have been a lucky break," wrote NASA astronaut Alvin Drew, one of the six astronauts set to launch on Discovery, in a Twitter post. "Found a crack in the [external tank] outer foam with ice underneath. Don't know that we'd have caught it."

NASA must repair the fuel leak and foam crack before Discovery can blast off toward the International Space Station. That means the next possible time the shuttle can try to launch is Nov. 30 at 4:05 a.m. EST (0905 GMT).

...

 

[Swampcat]

Re: STS-133 Pre Launch Discussion ( Nov 5, 3:04 PM EDT)

Feels like a postponment to December to me

Good news in a way for swampcat that he didn't just miss by 24 hours, but a whole lot more :?

Yeah, I just watched the news conference and will be making plans for going back down in 3 weeks or so. Maybe this time there won't be so many people there and my ticket will be good for the viewing stands. I won't know for sure until the schedule gets firmed up.

A night launch would be pretty cool.

 

[bushwhacker]

Re: STS-133 Pre Launch Discussion ( Nov 5, 3:04 PM EDT)

Best of luck swampcat.. I'd have been so disappointed I'd be cryin in my beer LOL

 

[EarthlingX]

Re: STS-133 Pre Launch Discussion ( Nov 5, 3:04 PM EDT)

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SWlSmztuqAs[/youtube]

NASAtelevision| November 05, 2010

NEW DATE SET FOR STS-133
The 35th shuttle mission to the International Space Station has been scrubbed until the end of the month according to Mission Managers. Originally, scheduled to lift off on Nov.1, the STS-133 mission was postponed several times due to a series of problems including a circuit breaker problem in the shuttle's cockpit, improbable weather, and a hydrogen gas leak detected while filling the external tank in preparation for a third attempt to launch Discovery on Friday, November 5.

STS-133's Mission Management Team discussed their decision to select a new window of opportunity -- November 30 through Dec. 5. during a news conference at the Kennedy Space Center.

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3HLtTRsPzSA[/youtube]

NASAKennedy | November 05, 2010

Space Shuttle Era: The Ground Umbilical Carrier Plate

The Ground Umbilical Carrier Plate provides one of the critical connections between the shuttle and the launch pad. The GUCP, pronounced "Gup," helps funnel gaseous hydrogen from the external tank into a system of pipes that safely burns off the excess fuel. Launch controllers track the readings from sensors on the GUCP for signs of a hydrogen leak. When readings are outside the limits, the countdown is halted so technicians can make repairs.

 

[Swampcat]

Re: STS-133 Pre Launch Discussion ( Nov 5, 3:04 PM EDT)

November 05, 2010

NEW DATE SET FOR STS-133
The 35th shuttle mission to the International Space Station has been scrubbed until the end of the month according to Mission Managers.

STS-133's Mission Management Team discussed their decision to select a new window of opportunity -- November 30 through Dec. 5. during a news conference at the Kennedy Space Center.

This report is somewhat misleading. The launch date has not been set. What I remember from the news conference was Mike Moses stating the fact that the next window of opportunity, determined by sun angles, starts November 30. It was also mentioned that the actual launch date would have to be discussed with others, like ISS management and international partners, and await the evaluation of the current technical issues before being set.

 

[earth_bound_misfit]

Re: STS-133 Pre Launch Discussion ( Nov 5, 3:04 PM EDT)

Well the old girl's having a spot of bother getting off the ground. Good thing is it means the STS program will keep going longer

Thanks for posting those youtube vids Earthing X, they're a good watch.

 

[EarthlingX]

Re: STS-133 Pre Launch Discussion ( Nov 5, 3:04 PM EDT)

November 05, 2010

NEW DATE SET FOR STS-133
The 35th shuttle mission to the International Space Station has been scrubbed until the end of the month according to Mission Managers.

STS-133's Mission Management Team discussed their decision to select a new window of opportunity -- November 30 through Dec. 5. during a news conference at the Kennedy Space Center.

This report is somewhat misleading. The launch date has not been set. What I remember from the news conference was Mike Moses stating the fact that the next window of opportunity, determined by sun angles, starts November 30. It was also mentioned that the actual launch date would have to be discussed with others, like ISS management and international partners, and await the evaluation of the current technical issues before being set.

I think Mike Moses was actually talking 'before Dec. 1st', but not sure. It is in the last press conference video.
I think this press release was before the conference, perhaps that's why, but no big deal, that date is still far away, and i doubt it's final.

earth_bound_misfit, you're welcome
NASA is doing a very good job with providing material for posting - it feels almost as a waste if it's not on the forum

 

[trailrider]

Re: STS-133 Pre Launch Discussion ( NET Nov 30, ~4AM EST)

Looks like the crack is more extensive than previously thought...20 inches versus 7 inches long. This doesn't bode well for the December launch window, unless they can determine there isn't a general problem with the foam coating on the entire ET.

But, better safe than sorry!

 

[EarthlingX]

Re: STS-133 Pre Launch Discussion ( NET Nov 30, ~4AM EST)

http://www.nasa.gov : Technicians Disconnect GUCP Ordnance Today

Tue, 09 Nov 2010 13:48:59 GMT


Image above: Workers evaluate the ground umbilical carrier plate on space shuttle Discovery at Launch Pad 39A on Monday. Photo Credit: NASA TV

Technicians will disconnect ordnance today as they take steps to remove the quick disconnect from the ground umbilical carrier plate, or GUCP, on Discovery's external tank. Teams will record measurements during the work so engineering analysis can be performed after the GUCP has been removed. Managers will assess repair options after the GUCP is inspected. The work is taking place as the shuttle stands on Launch Pad 39A at NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida.

Teams will continue analysis and inspection of the approximately 20-inch-long crack in the external tank foam. Teams are planning to use terahertz or backscatter scans to see beneath the foam to look for any other potential issues. Technicians could begin dissecting the cracked section as early as Wednesday so foam experts can make a thorough evaluation in order to help determine the cause of the crack. Teams still are working out plans to reapply foam to the external tank after inspections are complete.‪‪

Shuttle managers continue evaluating the data to determine the best repair methods and next launch opportunity for Discovery’s STS-133 mission to the International Space Station.

The STS-133 crew is involved in administrative work today before Commander Steve Lindsey and Pilot Eric Boe fly back to Kennedy for a training run in shuttle training aircraft.

...

Foam Crack Detail
› Hi-res Detail of Foam

...

 

[3488]

Re: STS-133 Pre Launch Discussion ( NET Nov 30, ~4AM EST)

I assume NASA will utrasound the entire tank. It may just involve either injecting a resin or cuttiting out that section of foam & replacing it with a patch, assuming the rest of it is not compromised.

If it is more serious then certainly Discovery will have to be taken back to the VAB & possibly the ET being swapped over for the one reserved for STS 134 Endeavour. Perhaps this tank could then be reinsulated for use on STS 134 Endeavour or for the proposed extra STS 135 Atlantis??

At the moment we do not know, it is speculation, but I am sure NASA will find out pretty qickly as they will needto assuming persuing an attempt early morning on Tuesday 30th November 2010.

If that turns out OK, it will be an unexpected last night time launch of a Space Shuttle.

Andrew Brown.

 

[3488]

Re: STS-133 Pre Launch Discussion ( NET Nov 30, ~4AM EST)

Thanks EarthlingX,

Great stuff there.

That close up, weird crack. Wonder what caused it??? I would have expected the crack to run down along the furrows, not an arc like that.

By the looks of that photograph, the crack does not extend all the way to the metal of the ET?? Hopefully nothing more than a resin will be required to repair it. That could be done insitu on the pad.

Andrew Brown.

 

[EarthlingX]

Re: STS-133 Pre Launch Discussion ( NET Nov 30, ~4AM EST)

Here is some more info :

www.nasaspaceflight.com : STS-133: Plan under development to repair ET-137 foam cracks at the pad

November 8th, 2010 by Chris Bergin

As access platforms are set up for engineers to begin the removal of the hardware associated with the Ground Umbilical Carrier Plate (GUCP), a large effort to build a repair plan – one which can be conducted at Pad 39A – is being developed for the large crack (and several other smaller cracks) that were found on Discovery’s External Tank (ET-137) intertank flange region.

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Meetings will continue through Tuesday, focusing on access, TerraHertz and BackScatter NDE scans, and refinements to the repair plan ahead of Friday’s decision on if they will be able to proceed with the repair at the pad.

 

[Swampcat]

Re: STS-133 Pre Launch Discussion ( NET Nov 30, ~4AM EST)

External Tank Cracks Identified, Repair Plans Being Evaluated

This morning during removal of external fuel tank foam insulation, which cracked during draining operations following the shuttle Discovery’s launch scrub on Nov. 5., technicians identified two cracks on a section of the tank’s metal exterior. They were found on the stringer, which is the composite aluminum ring located on the top of the tank’s intertank area. The cracks are approximately 9 inches long. Engineers are reviewing images of the cracks to determine the best possible repair method, which would be done at Launch Pad 39A.

 

[EarthlingX]

Re: STS-133 Pre Launch Discussion ( NET Nov 30, ~4AM EST)

http://www.spaceflightnow.com : Underlying metal crack found on shuttle Discovery tank

BY WILLIAM HARWOOD
STORY WRITTEN FOR CBS NEWS "SPACE PLACE" & USED WITH PERMISSION
Posted: November 10, 2010

Cracked foam insulation on the shuttle Discovery's external tank was cut away overnight, revealing a serpentine crack in an underlying structural rib, or stringer. Based on experience repairing similar cracks on other tanks, sources said, engineers believe the damage can be fixed at the pad before the next launch window opens at the end of the month.

Credit: Justin Ray/Spaceflight Now
Special photo gallery

Working in parallel, another team of engineers is continuing work to disassemble a leaking hydrogen vent line quick-disconnect fitting that delayed Discovery's planned launching last Friday. Replacement hardware is expected to be installed by the end of the week, but it's not clear when testing and analysis to pin down the cause of last week's leak will be complete.

In any case, NASA managers are expected to order a tanking test to make sure the new hardware is leak free before moving forward with another countdown, sources said. And that assumes the crack repair work goes well. To minimize the impact of a fueling test on other pad operations, only liquid hydrogen would be loaded into the external tank's lower section to confirm the replacement vent line attachment is working properly.

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