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Author
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Topic: Go for launch on July 4!
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Robert Pearlman
Editor Posts: 42988
From: Houston, TX
Registered: Nov 1999
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posted 07-03-2006 07:38 PM
   
NASA will proceed with its plans to launch space shuttle Discovery on Tuesday, having concluded that the loss of foam from a fuel line bracket earlier today will not pose a threat to the vehicle or crew. Mission managers met on Monday evening to review the issue and found that the missing 3-inch piece of external tank did not create a risk for increased ice formation that could impact the orbiter during launch or for heating of the underlying metal during ascent. Further inspections using a mounted boroscope camera revealed that the remaining foam on the bracket was left undamaged. All that remains now between Discovery and an Independence Day launch is the 40% chance that the weather will not be acceptable. [This message has been edited by Robert Pearlman (edited July 03, 2006).] |
Rob Joyner
Member Posts: 1308
From: GA, USA
Registered: Jan 2004
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posted 07-03-2006 08:32 PM
Robert,
Any word if another launch will be attempted on the 5th if weather forces a third scrub tomorrow?
Rob |
Robert Pearlman
Editor Posts: 42988
From: Houston, TX
Registered: Nov 1999
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posted 07-03-2006 08:49 PM
The current plan is to try on Wednesday and, if necessary, Thursday and then NASA would stand down to refresh all the cryogenics (in both the external tank and orbiter's fuel cells), which would take 3-4 days at minimum. |
spaceuk
Member Posts: 2113
From: Staffs, UK
Registered: Aug 2002
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posted 07-04-2006 03:14 AM
I'm surprised that NASA has given the go-ahead for launch knowing that this foam is 'missing' after all the bally-hoo that surrounds the foam issue. They've just spent 12 months or so investigating this foam issue and now seem to 'dismiss' it within a couple of hours. Surely, a more cautious approach would have been merited by rolling Discovery back to VAB and do a more detailed inspection and carryout a repair ? Another few days inspection seems more reasonable to me and they could probably still meet a 19 July window deadline?Though they say that ice-forming on ET will not affect this bracket site, I wonder what will happen when shuttle passes through max Q or when atmospheric pressure "pushes" on this area during the ascent ? Also, how easy is 'access' to this damaged area at the pad ? Have they not got kit that would allow them to 'repair' in situ this damaged area? Skycrane? Cherry picker like vehicle? Own or rental ? I get the impression that NASA wants to launch this vehicle 'come what may' just so they can squeeze in all the flights to meet the 2010 deadline ? And that concerns me. Of course, I - like many other people - want to see them fly the shuttle ,complete the ISS and go on again to the Moon and then Mars and beyond. And, yes, there is some pressure from foreign nations having access to space . But,space is always going to be there . Its not going to go away. Its a hostile environment and anyone venturing out there needs as much protection as possible. If you spot a problem and have the ability to repair it before you fly - DO SO ! SO, I would urge NASA to take their time, do the job RIGHT , first time , and don't fudge the decisions. They are hard decisions and may not always be popular - either with supporters (like me) or with politicians or whoever. But, safe human occupied space vehicles operating in the hostile space environment have to be as safe to fly as we humans can make them. It may take a few hours,or a few days or even a few years to get them as 'right' as we can make them but however long it takes , space will still be there and waiting for us to explore its wonders. Space is not going to go 'away' but failing space programs will . Phill
spaceuk |
Robert Pearlman
Editor Posts: 42988
From: Houston, TX
Registered: Nov 1999
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posted 07-04-2006 04:30 AM
quote:
Originally posted by spaceuk:
SO, I would urge NASA to take their time, do the job RIGHT , first time , and don't fudge the decisions.
Phill, I think you are making an awfully large assumption that just because they were able to reach consensus on the foam that they aren't also doing the "job right". The MMT clearly set forth three concerns to which the engineers answered all three (including devising a long-pole mounted boroscope camera). The aerothermal heating and ice forming conditions are fairly well understood; the major concern was additional damage to the area which was clearly not the case based on the boroscope photos. |
Robert Pearlman
Editor Posts: 42988
From: Houston, TX
Registered: Nov 1999
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posted 07-04-2006 04:32 AM
Incidentally, the weather forecast for today has greatly improved. We are now expecting an 80% chance of acceptable conditions at launch time... |
Robert Pearlman
Editor Posts: 42988
From: Houston, TX
Registered: Nov 1999
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posted 07-04-2006 08:08 AM
What would be an Independence Day without a July 4th picnic?In addition to their usual breakfast, the STS-121 crew was treated today to a special holiday lunch before departing for the launch pad... - Commander Steve Lindsey - Cheeseburger and watermelon
- Pilot Mark Kelly - Cheeseburger, watermelon and corn on the cob
- Mission Specialist Mike Fossum - Cheeseburger and watermelon
- Mission Specialist Lisa Nowak - Salmon, broccoli, watermelon and spinach salad
- Mission Specialist Stephanie Wilson - BBQ Chicken, salad and watermelon
- Mission Specialist Piers Sellers - Salmon w/ rice and salad
- Mission Specialist Thomas Reiter - Salmon, salad and plain toasted English muffin
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East-Frisian
Member Posts: 586
From: Germany
Registered: Apr 2005
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posted 07-04-2006 10:46 AM
quote:
Originally posted by Robert Pearlman:
Mission Specialist Thomas Reiter - Salmon, salad and plain toasted English muffin
Usually it is said, the Germans eat everytime and everywhere "Kraut and Würstchen" and close their meal with a beer. The East-Frisian [This message has been edited by collectSPACE Admin (edited July 04, 2006).] |
lunarrv15
Member Posts: 1355
From: Cincinnati, Ohio, Hamilton
Registered: Mar 2001
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posted 07-04-2006 11:32 AM
A good day for a launch....I feel it |
OV-105
Member Posts: 816
From: Ridgecrest, CA
Registered: Sep 2000
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posted 07-04-2006 11:55 AM
I belive it is the time of day to be religous and give the Shepard's prayer. Please loard don't let me screw up! We must also add fix your little problems and light this candle! Godspeed Discovery and STS-121! |
michaelSN99
Member Posts: 153
From: heilbronn,germany
Registered: Apr 2005
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posted 07-04-2006 12:02 PM
i believe it will become a great day for us germans ;-)bycicle racer matthias kessler won the today´s tour de france stage
next thomas reiter will enter the orbit with discovery
and finally we will win the semifinal of the soccer world cup ;-)))) go discovery !!! ------------------
michael may
ISS information page + chronology of manned space flight |
East-Frisian
Member Posts: 586
From: Germany
Registered: Apr 2005
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posted 07-04-2006 12:49 PM
quote:
Originally posted by michaelSN99:
i believe it will become a great day for us germans ;-)bycicle racer matthias kessler won the today´s tour de france stage
next thomas reiter will enter the orbit with discovery
and finally we will win the semifinal of the soccer world cup ;-)))) go discovery !!!
But it could also be:
Kessler was doped
Launch of Discovery is delayed
Germany looses as usual in World Championship games against Italy.
I hope really, that you are right.!!!!!!!! So too, go Discovery !! |
mjanovec
Member Posts: 3811
From: Midwest, USA
Registered: Jul 2005
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posted 07-04-2006 01:06 PM
When I see mention of pre-launch meals, I cannot help but think of Mike Mullane's book where he mentions that nobody ate anything...other than perhaps a couple of bites. |
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