STS-124: Discovery rolls toward launch

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Author	Topic: STS-124: Discovery rolls toward launch
Robert Pearlman Editor Posts: 42988 From: Houston, TX Registered: Nov 1999	posted 03-21-2008 10:03 AM External Tank-128 (ET-128) departed the Michoud Processing Facility in Louisiana on Tuesday, sailing by barge to the Kennedy Space Center in preparation for launching Discovery on the STS-124 mission. As NASASpaceflight and CBS News/Spaceflight Now report, ongoing external tank production issues may impact the launch dates for STS-124 and subsequent missions due to the launch-on-need requirement of having two tanks ready for each mission. In an interview on Thursday, space shuttle program manager John Shannon told CBS, "We have margin in the schedule to absorb small delays..." adding that they expect to be able to increase the flow of tanks in the outgoing years. He did not directly address STS-124's launch date or other missions this year, other than to say that they "took extra time" to make sure they got right new safety features added to these new tanks.
Robert Pearlman Editor Posts: 42988 From: Houston, TX Registered: Nov 1999	posted 03-26-2008 09:50 PM External Tank-128 (ET-128) arrived at the Kennedy Space Center on the morning of March 26, in preparation for its use to launch space shuttle Discovery on the STS-124 mission. Discovery was targeted for launch on May 25, within 10 minutes of the landing of NASA's Phoenix spacecraft on Mars, but as NASA Administrator Michael Griffin explained during a press conference later in the day, the shuttle launch is moving. "You can go watch the Phoenix landing," said Griffin in response to a reporter's question. "We're working on the exact date for STS-124, but you can go watch the Phoenix landing." Asked to be more specific, Griffin said, "We know you'll be de-conflicted enough that you can manage [seeing the Phoenix landing] with a round trip ticket. Because I'll tell you this, the landing day on Mars is fixed. It ain't moving."
cspg Member Posts: 6210 From: Geneva, Switzerland Registered: May 2006	posted 03-28-2008 12:59 AM Launch planned for no earlier than May 31 according to NASASpaceflight.com. Chris.
Robert Pearlman Editor Posts: 42988 From: Houston, TX Registered: Nov 1999	posted 03-31-2008 07:17 PM NASA release quote: NASA Updates Target Launch Date for Next Space Shuttle Flight NASA is targeting May 31 as the launch date for shuttle Discovery's STS-124 mission to deliver the large Japanese Kibo Pressurized Module to the International Space Station. The liftoff time is approximately 5:01 p.m. EDT. NASA decided to reschedule Discovery's target launch date from May 25 to May 31 after shipment of the mission's external fuel tank from its assembly plant at the Michoud Assembly Facility in New Orleans to Florida was delayed by weather. The tank arrived at NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida on March 26. Additionally, NASA elected to move the liftoff date in order to avoid having the launch team work through the Memorial Day weekend. The official launch date for Discovery will be determined during the standard Flight Readiness Review held approximately two weeks before launch.
Robert Pearlman Editor Posts: 42988 From: Houston, TX Registered: Nov 1999	posted 04-12-2008 02:03 PM The external tank that will fuel Discovery's main engines was mated Saturday to the solid rocket boosters that will launch the STS-124 crew.
Robert Pearlman Editor Posts: 42988 From: Houston, TX Registered: Nov 1999	posted 04-24-2008 02:09 PM In the Space Station Processing Facility, the Kibo Japanese Experiment Module - Pressurized Module was moved on Tuesday into the payload canister. The canister will deliver the module, part of the payload for STS-124, to Pad 39A.
gliderpilotuk Member Posts: 3398 From: London, UK Registered: Feb 2002	posted 04-25-2008 01:16 PM Any updates so far on the likelihood of a May 31 st launch? I'm still aiming to get over for it. Paul
James Brown Member Posts: 1287 From: Atlanta, Georgia, USA Registered: Jun 2000	posted 04-25-2008 01:17 PM So far so good, last I heard. Rollout to pad is next weekend. James
Robert Pearlman Editor Posts: 42988 From: Houston, TX Registered: Nov 1999	posted 04-25-2008 03:25 PM Revised launch windows were released today. The new launch time for May 31 is 4:02:07 p.m. CDT due to slight phasing changes from this week's dual reboosts of the station by the Jules Verne ATV.
Robert Pearlman Editor Posts: 42988 From: Houston, TX Registered: Nov 1999	posted 04-26-2008 10:16 AM Discovery was rolled into the Vehicle Assembly Building Saturday morning after its move from Orbiter Processing Facility bay 3. Rollover began at 7:17 a.m. EDT and arrived in the transfer aisle at 8:05 a.m.
Robert Pearlman Editor Posts: 42988 From: Houston, TX Registered: Nov 1999	posted 04-28-2008 06:12 PM Discovery came to rest on the mobile launcher platform to be mated to its solid rocket boosters and external tank on April 26.
Robert Pearlman Editor Posts: 42988 From: Houston, TX Registered: Nov 1999	posted 04-29-2008 11:08 AM The May 31 launch time has been updated by two seconds.
Robert Pearlman Editor Posts: 42988 From: Houston, TX Registered: Nov 1999	posted 04-29-2008 03:15 PM Discovery is scheduled to roll out to Pad 39A on Saturday, May 3, as preparations for the STS-124 mission move forward. The first motion of the shuttle out of the Vehicle Assembly Building is scheduled for 12:01 a.m. EDT. The 3.4-mile journey is expected to take approximately six hours. NASA Television will provide live coverage of Discovery's rollout to the launch pad starting at 6:30 a.m. Video highlights of the rollout will air on NASA TV Video File. collectSPACE will be on-hand for the rollout to photograph Discovery's progress to the pad. Update: The 17.5-ton Japanese laboratory, Kibo, was moved to Pad 39A on Tuesday evening, in preparation for its installation in Discovery's payload bay after the shuttle's arrival at the launch pad.
capoetc Member Posts: 2169 From: McKinney TX (USA) Registered: Aug 2005	posted 04-30-2008 07:31 AM Robert - I must be missing something. If the rollout starts at 12:01 am, and takes 6 hours, then it should be over by around 6:00 am. But, live coverage of the rollout doesn't start until 6:30 am, so what will they be showing live at that time? Just curious ... ------------------ John Capobianco Camden DE
Robert Pearlman Editor Posts: 42988 From: Houston, TX Registered: Nov 1999	posted 04-30-2008 08:10 AM quote: Originally posted by capoetc: But, live coverage of the rollout doesn't start until 6:30 am, so what will they be showing live at that time? If the schedule holds and they neither start late or have to pause along the way (neither being unprecedented), then NASA TV will show Discovery at the pad at 6:30 a.m., in the final stages of its rollout. For comparison, STS-123's rollout began at 11:24 p.m., Endeavour arrived at Pad 39A at 4:45 a.m. and was secured in place by 6:22 a.m., eight minutes before NASA TV coverage began.
capoetc Member Posts: 2169 From: McKinney TX (USA) Registered: Aug 2005	posted 04-30-2008 09:55 AM Thanks, Robert. I'm sure NASA must have a reason why they wait until much of the action is over before they begin coverage ... They probably figure it would be too boring for 99.9999% of the people. ------------------ John Capobianco Camden DE
Robert Pearlman Editor Posts: 42988 From: Houston, TX Registered: Nov 1999	posted 04-30-2008 10:20 AM quote: Originally posted by capoetc: They probably figure it would be too boring for 99.9999% of the people. I think it is less an issue of interest as it is an issue of staffing. Public affairs is usually not open overnight and thus it would require additional shifts to staff. That, and for most of the journey, the shuttle will be in the dark.
capoetc Member Posts: 2169 From: McKinney TX (USA) Registered: Aug 2005	posted 04-30-2008 11:17 AM That makes sense ... thanks! ------------------ John Capobianco Camden DE
Robert Pearlman Editor Posts: 42988 From: Houston, TX Registered: Nov 1999	posted 05-03-2008 11:31 AM Discovery arrived at Pad 39A at 4:25 a.m. EDT Saturday after leaving the Vehicle Assembly Building at 11:47 p.m. Friday and was secured at its launch site at 6:06 a.m. Saturday.
Robert Pearlman Editor Posts: 42988 From: Houston, TX Registered: Nov 1999	posted 05-03-2008 11:36 AM
gliderpilotuk Member Posts: 3398 From: London, UK Registered: Feb 2002	posted 05-04-2008 12:53 PM Fab photos Robert. Paul
Mr Meek Member Posts: 353 From: Chattanooga, TN Registered: Dec 2007	posted 05-04-2008 10:05 PM Well...the folks that ride that thing may have the best job in the world, but yours has to be a close second. Great pictures.
Robert Pearlman Editor Posts: 42988 From: Houston, TX Registered: Nov 1999	posted 05-05-2008 12:16 AM Thanks guys. I greatly relish opportunities such as these, but a large part of that enjoyment is in the knowledge that I am there to convey these events to you.
Robert Pearlman Editor Posts: 42988 From: Houston, TX Registered: Nov 1999	posted 05-06-2008 06:54 AM On Monday, May 5, the STS-124 payload components including the Japanese Kibo Pressurized Module were transferred from Pad 39A's changeout room to Discovery's payload bay. The STS-124 crew is scheduled to arrive at Kennedy Space Center today, May 6 for the Terminal Countdown Demonstration Test. The three-day event concludes Friday, May 9 with a full dress rehearsal of the launch countdown.
eilisk Member Posts: 100 From: London Registered: Oct 2004	posted 05-06-2008 07:43 AM Keep these photos coming Robert, they're fantastic to see. I'm just keeping all my fingers crossed that May 31st is go for launch! This will be my third attempt to see a launch and time is running out... All the best Eilis
Robert Pearlman Editor Posts: 42988 From: Houston, TX Registered: Nov 1999	posted 05-06-2008 07:51 AM quote: Originally posted by eilisk: Keep these photos coming Robert, they're fantastic to see. Will do -- my next set of photographs will be from the arrival later today of the STS-124 crew for their launch rehearsal activities. (And just so there is no confusion, unless the collectSPACE logo appears in the corner of the photo, then the credit for the image is NASA.)
Robert Pearlman Editor Posts: 42988 From: Houston, TX Registered: Nov 1999	posted 05-06-2008 10:58 PM The crew of STS-124 arrived at Kennedy Space Center on Tuesday for their mission's terminal countdown demonstration test (TCDT). Flying in on T-38 jets, the astronauts touched down on the Shuttle Landing Facility just after 4:00 p.m. EDT. Listen to the crew's comments upon their arrival in Florida (3.9 mp3)
tegwilym Member Posts: 2331 From: Sturgeon Bay, WI Registered: Jan 2000	posted 05-07-2008 12:14 PM Here is a nice shot of the shuttle on the pad. Anyone know if there is a large version of this photo someplace? I would make a very nice dual monitor wallpaper for my computer. Wow, only 11 flights left! I need to see another one. Tom
Ben Member Posts: 1896 From: Cape Canaveral, FL Registered: May 2000	posted 05-07-2008 12:36 PM quote: Originally posted by tegwilym: Anyone know if there is a large version of this photo someplace? Yep, right here.
tegwilym Member Posts: 2331 From: Sturgeon Bay, WI Registered: Jan 2000	posted 05-07-2008 05:34 PM Nice! I had a feeling you would know where to find that. I was looking for that page on the NASA site, but they have some things deeply hidden now so I couldn't find it.
Robert Pearlman Editor Posts: 42988 From: Houston, TX Registered: Nov 1999	posted 05-08-2008 11:48 AM Gathered at the foot of Pad 39A, the STS-124 crew took a break from their pre-launch training to answer questions from the press on Thursday morning. "Good morning and ohayou gozaimasu for our Japanese media," said commander Mark Kelly. "It's great to be here today. Perfect weather, hopefully its like this on the 31st of May." "We've got Discovery in the background though its difficult to see from this angle but I can assure you it's there behind the RSS and the other launch structure." "This is a big moment in our training to actually go through a real terminal countdown, in this case a test but to do everything as we are going to do on launch day. And we're going to start doing that tomorrow at about 6 a.m. we wake up and go through that countdown. T-0 tomorrow is at 11 o'clock, so that simulates the time we would liftoff and after that we'll do a practice emergency egress from the pad." "So we're excited to be here, we look forward to getting back in about three weeks from now and I'd like to take any questions you have." collectSPACE asked Kelly to describe the differences between suited-simulator training and suiting up for TCDT. "It's actually a lot different," replied Kelly. "The routine of getting suited up for TCDT or launch is very regimented according to the clock in a certain order." "Myself, Ron and Ken will be getting a weather brief while the rest of the crew initially gets suited up. In the suit room there's even marks on the clock of when we have to be in there, when we have to be leaving, it's all very well choreographed." "When we are in the simulator, and we do a suited ascent or reentry or another kind of run in the simulator, you know, you just show up, put your suit on, you climb in kind of in an order but it's not choreographed as on launch day or TCDT day," he said.
Mr Meek Member Posts: 353 From: Chattanooga, TN Registered: Dec 2007	posted 05-08-2008 12:03 PM So, have they often held press conferences at the Slidewire Termination Facility (or World's Biggest Catcher's Mitt)? Perhaps I'm just noticing this for the first time. It does seem a bit of an odd place to talk about the mission. I mean, it's not the rubber room, but it's close. "Well, shucks. We hope this is the last time you see us down here..."
Robert Pearlman Editor Posts: 42988 From: Houston, TX Registered: Nov 1999	posted 05-08-2008 12:12 PM quote: Originally posted by Mr Meek: So, have they often held press conferences at the Slidewire Termination Facility (or World's Biggest Catcher's Mitt)? Yes, that location is common for the TCDT media session (though if the sun angle is particularly bad, or if the area is under use, they have also staged the event facing the flame trench). It's an appropriate setting, as the crew's TCDT activities include their emergency egress training.
OV-105 Member Posts: 816 From: Ridgecrest, CA Registered: Sep 2000	posted 05-08-2008 07:53 PM Robert you made on NASA's Video File tonight. Nice to put a face with the name.
space4u Member Posts: 323 From: Cleveland, OH USA Registered: Aug 2006	posted 05-08-2008 09:23 PM Robert--Great job on your TCDT related question which I saw on NASA-TV. So often the reporters at the TCDT Q & A toss up softball questions. Yours was concise and you even got an excellent answer from Commander Kelly. Kudos to you! --Marcy
Robert Pearlman Editor Posts: 42988 From: Houston, TX Registered: Nov 1999	posted 05-09-2008 08:08 AM Thanks Marcy! There's a story behind my question that I hope to share with readers someday... probably after STS-124 returns from space.
Robert Pearlman Editor Posts: 42988 From: Houston, TX Registered: Nov 1999	posted 05-09-2008 08:12 AM The STS-124 astronauts exited their crew quarters Friday morning at 7:45 a.m. EDT, suited for their launch dress rehearsal, the terminal countdown demonstration test. After pausing to wave to the press, the seven crew members boarded the AstroVan for Pad 39A where they were seated and strapped into space shuttle Discovery. When the countdown reaches T-0 later this morning, instead of lifting off, the crew will practice emergency egress procedures in the case that an accident occurs on May 31, their launch day.
cspg Member Posts: 6210 From: Geneva, Switzerland Registered: May 2006	posted 05-17-2008 09:58 AM NASASpaceflight: Soyuz debate considers removing US presence from the ISS quote: NASA managers have been meeting today to debate the option of removing the US presence from the International Space Station (ISS) when Discovery undocks at the latter part of STS-124.
capoetc Member Posts: 2169 From: McKinney TX (USA) Registered: Aug 2005	posted 05-17-2008 10:00 AM quote: Originally posted by cspg: Soyuz debate considers removing US presence from the ISS But not permanently. It would seem that they are concerned about the safety of using the Soyuz as an emergency return vehicle in the wake of the "down-moded" option on the Soyuz flight computer that commanded the ballistic re-entry on the last Soyuz off-target return. I don't think they are seriously considering permanently abandoning the station, although this story does re-introduce the discussion of the risk involved in complete reliance upon Soyuz for continuing to man the ISS in the interim between the end of shuttle and the beginning of availability of Orion for operational use. ------------------ John Capobianco Camden DE
Robert Pearlman Editor Posts: 42988 From: Houston, TX Registered: Nov 1999	posted 05-17-2008 10:08 AM quote: Originally posted by capoetc: But not permanently. Indeed. This "debate" is part of the Flight Readiness Review process for STS-124 and therefore pertains specifically to this flight. The purpose of the FRR and its precursor meetings is to weigh all factors that could influence the safety and success of the upcoming mission. While a ballistic reentry is still deemed as a safe means of return for the Soyuz, it is not a preferred mode of reentry and therefore it should not be of any surprise that NASA would discuss the situation as it prepares to launch another crew member who may have to rely on the vehicle for an emergency return.