kkeenan 13 #1 February 15, 2007 On a bright and sunny morning at Kennedy Space Center in Florida, Space Shuttle Atlantis left the Vehicle Assembly Building for the 3.4 mile journey to Launch Pad 39A. The shuttle resting atop the crawler transporter will make the approximate 6-hour trip to the pad -- the next major milestone for mission STS-117. First motion was at 8:19 a.m. EST. Once Space Shuttle Atlantis is safely in place on the pad the payloads will be transferred into the orbiter's payload bay. The launch of Mission STS-117 will be the first liftoff from Pad 39A in four years. The flight of Space Shuttle Atlantis to the International Space Station has been targeted for March 15. The Atlantis crew will install a new truss segment, retract a set of solar arrays and unfold a new set on the starboard side of the station. Lessons learned from two previous missions will provide the astronauts with new techniques and tools to perform their duties. Commanding the Atlantis team is Frederick Sturckow, a veteran of two shuttle missions (STS-88, STS-105), while Lee Archambault will be making his first flight as the shuttle's pilot. Mission Specialists James Reilly (STS-89, STS-104) and Patrick Forrester (STS-105) will be returning to the station. Steven Swanson and John Olivas, both mission specialists, join the crew for their first flight into space. The mission astronauts will return to Kennedy a few weeks before liftoff to participate in the Terminal Countdown Demonstration Test. During this time they will practice launch activities, safety exercises, inspect the payload and conclude with a simulated main engine cut-off exercise._____________________________________ Dude, you are so awesome... Can I be on your ash jump ? Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
BillyVance 34 #2 February 15, 2007 No Psycho-astronaughties this time, are there?!? "Mediocre people don't like high achievers, and high achievers don't like mediocre people." - SIX TIME National Champion coach Nick Saban Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
mouth 0 #3 February 15, 2007 GREAT PicThe space race continues -- Hot Mama At least you know where you stand even if it is in a pile of shit. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
NWFlyer 2 #4 February 15, 2007 QuoteNo Psycho-astronaughties this time, are there?!? Beat me to it! Looks like there's no women on this crew ...but maybe a gay love triangle?"There is only one basic human right, the right to do as you damn well please. And with it comes the only basic human duty, the duty to take the consequences." -P.J. O'Rourke Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
BillyVance 34 #5 February 15, 2007 QuoteQuoteNo Psycho-astronaughties this time, are there?!? Beat me to it! Looks like there's no women on this crew ...but maybe a gay love triangle? Then.... "Murder at 230 miles, news at 10:00" "Mediocre people don't like high achievers, and high achievers don't like mediocre people." - SIX TIME National Champion coach Nick Saban Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
IanHarrop 37 #6 February 15, 2007 QuoteNo Psycho-astronaughties this time, are there?!? Well the answer is... They don't really know if there are any on this flight. They do know that all of their testing allowed in one psycho and so it seems reasonable that their testing allowed in more than one. Until their procedures are reviewed, updated and applied to existing personnel they won't know how many more psychos are on staff and what positions they hold. Of course that assumes that their new procedures and tests will actually catch all the psychos. I suggest that we psychos are very good at hiding just how crazy we are. "Where troubles melt like lemon drops, away above the chimney tops, that's where you'll find me" Dorothy Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
cocheese 0 #7 February 16, 2007 Nice thread minus the replies. Thanks again. Would be cool if you could do a weekly space update thread.... with pictures. This brings us all closer..rather than going to NASA.gov/ Space... It's one big freefall. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
jedeimaster0136 0 #8 February 16, 2007 Thats a funny one.......I here she say's she has SPACE MADNESS Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites jonstark 8 #9 February 16, 2007 Worked there processing the orbiter for a year prior to the first shuttle loss. I gotta tell ya there were some spectacular sights. Thanks for the reminder. jon Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites simplyputsi 0 #10 February 16, 2007 Quote......I here she say's she has SPACE MADNESS We're not hitchhiking anymore!!! We're RIDING!!!!!!Skymama's #2 stalker - Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites Guest #11 February 17, 2007 Manned spaceflight is extremely dangerous. That has always been true. But it's great to see my tax dollars put to work in a way that is highly visible and satisfying. Thanks for all the awesome work you (and NASA and JPL and Cornell) do. mh ."The mouse does not know life until it is in the mouth of the cat." Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites Grips 0 #12 February 17, 2007 I wish I had your job. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites Meux 0 #13 February 17, 2007 I sent in applications for two jobs out there this week. Hope to make the cut on at least one of them. What a blast!! My dad worked out there and always had cool things to say about the programs. He was an Apollo, Gemini guy. Wish me luck, maybe I'll get to drive the crawler for the June Launch. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites popsjumper 2 #14 February 17, 2007 QuoteWorked there processing the orbiter for a year prior to the first shuttle loss... Ruh Roh....a connection there, maybe???? My reality and yours are quite different. I think we're all Bozos on this bus. Falcon5232, SCS8170, SCSA353, POPS9398, DS239 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites LyraM45 0 #15 February 17, 2007 I sent out a resume this month too. Right now I intern for a company that is contracted with the 45th weather squadron to do all the forecasting for launches/landings, but I'm hoping to get something a little more permanent after graduation. I love weather and the space program, so I guess I picked a good school to go to just 25 miles down the road from KSC. Hopefully I'll get to be on site and shaddow the forecasters for the next launch! God, I'm such a space nerd. Apologies for the spelling (and grammar).... I got a B.S, not a B.A. :) Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites muff528 3 #16 February 17, 2007 ...I guess I picked a good school to go to just 25 miles down the road from KSC. Where you going to school? Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites LyraM45 0 #17 February 17, 2007 Florida Institute of Technology in Melbourne.Apologies for the spelling (and grammar).... I got a B.S, not a B.A. :) Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites muff528 3 #18 February 17, 2007 QuoteFlorida Institute of Technology in Melbourne. FIT is a great school. Unfortunately, I flunked outta there in 1970 after two years. Some moron built the school too close to the beach. BTW- back then we were the "Engineers", not the "Panthers". My only claim to fame was a school cheer that I wrote as a fraternity pledge assignment. I was very surprised when I heard it on TV during an MIT football game many years later. The announcers even commented on it. The only changes were that they replaced "x" with "u" and someone added an additional "verse." I have no clue how it wound up at MIT. Back then we had many "field trips" to the cape for various launches, etc. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites IanHarrop 37 #19 February 17, 2007 QuoteOn a bright and sunny morning at Kennedy Space Center in Florida, Space Shuttle Atlantis left the Vehicle Assembly Building for the 3.4 mile journey to Launch Pad 39A. The shuttle resting atop the crawler transporter will make the approximate 6-hour trip to the pad -- the next major milestone for mission STS-117. First motion was at 8:19 a.m. EST. Once Space Shuttle Atlantis is safely in place on the pad the payloads will be transferred into the orbiter's payload bay. The launch of Mission STS-117 will be the first liftoff from Pad 39A in four years. The flight of Space Shuttle Atlantis to the International Space Station has been targeted for March 15. The Atlantis crew will install a new truss segment, retract a set of solar arrays and unfold a new set on the starboard side of the station. Lessons learned from two previous missions will provide the astronauts with new techniques and tools to perform their duties. Commanding the Atlantis team is Frederick Sturckow, a veteran of two shuttle missions (STS-88, STS-105), while Lee Archambault will be making his first flight as the shuttle's pilot. Mission Specialists James Reilly (STS-89, STS-104) and Patrick Forrester (STS-105) will be returning to the station. Steven Swanson and John Olivas, both mission specialists, join the crew for their first flight into space. The mission astronauts will return to Kennedy a few weeks before liftoff to participate in the Terminal Countdown Demonstration Test. During this time they will practice launch activities, safety exercises, inspect the payload and conclude with a simulated main engine cut-off exercise. Its made to the pad now... http://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/shuttle/main/index.html"Where troubles melt like lemon drops, away above the chimney tops, that's where you'll find me" Dorothy Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites simplyputsi 0 #20 February 27, 2007 http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=20601087&sid=a7uhKr5WzdCw&refer=home Looks like launch is gonna be delayed. Maybe they can launch it on a sunday morning, yeah that would work best for me. I want to see one take off!!!!!!Skymama's #2 stalker - Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites kkeenan 13 #21 February 27, 2007 Yeah, the damage is pretty severe, and will require that the stack be rolled back to the VAB for repairs. The length of time that this will delay the launch is unknown. However, this year has a lot of launches scheduled, so this will definitely throw a wrench into the schedule. New launch date is no earlier than 4/22. We get some pretty gnarly storms around here this time of year. Kevin_____________________________________ Dude, you are so awesome... Can I be on your ash jump ? Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites MrFreefall383 0 #22 February 27, 2007 What an amazing aircraft. It just astounds me everytime I see that damn thing lift off the pad. I'll be quite disappointed when NASA finally retires the last orbiter for a new vehicle. I just hope the next one is even better, but it's going to be a hard act to follow."If at first you don't succeed... well, so much for skydiving." - aviation cliche Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites simplyputsi 0 #23 February 27, 2007 stupid questions follow. I know it takes alot of prep to get that thing up, but why bring it out in the open so early if it's known storms are a possibility. Maybe I just haven't paid much attention, but is it normally on the pad about a month out?Skymama's #2 stalker - Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites kkeenan 13 #24 February 27, 2007 There are a lot of things that have to be done at the pad between roll-out and launch, such as loading the payload, fuel, etc. The vehicle is pretty well protected against weather when it's out there. The Orbiter is mostly enclosed with only the External Tank and SRBs exposed. Normally, that's no problem, but yesterday's storm contained some bad hail and that's about the only thing that can really physically damage it. The External Tank is covered with insulating foam that is similar to styrofoam. Rain won't bother it, but hail is pretty bad. We had problems years ago, when a bunch of woodpeckers started pecking holes in the insulation. There is a lot of info on Shuttle ops on the KSC website here: http://www.nasa.gov/centers/kennedy/shuttleoperations/index.html_____________________________________ Dude, you are so awesome... Can I be on your ash jump ? Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites kkeenan 13 #25 February 28, 2007 Hi Space Fans. Well, it turns out that Mother Nature is a real Bitch. The STS-117 External Tank (ET) is pretty F-ed up. There are about 4,000 dings in the foam. That used to be a big deal, but since the Columbia accident, it's a super-huge deal. The damage is also in some of the more high-stress areas of the foam that the designers have been worried about. There is a certain amount of repair that is possible at KSC, but I have a feeling that this damage is so extensive that it will have to be fixed at the Michoud LA facility that makes the ET. Those folks are still backed-up from being out of operation due to hurricane Katrina. There's a new tank due at KSC in April. Oy-Vey, what a mess this hailstorm has caused. Anyway, here's the word from NASA: Launch Complex 39 experienced a severe thunderstorm on the evening of February 26, 2007. The thunderstorm included a significant amount of localized hail, which resulted in damage to the STS-117 vehicle on the launch pad. A comprehensive assessment was made on the morning of February 27. The results from that assessment indicated that there are several thousand impacts/damage sites to the External Tank foam and approximately 30 small impacts to the tiles on the left wing of Atlantis. This is the worst damage to a vehicle at the pad due to a hail storm to date. There have been two previous instances of hail damage that resulted in rollback to the Vehicle Assembly Building (VAB): STS-38 in 1990 and STS-96 in 1999. In the case of STS-96, approximately 650 areas of damage to the External Tank foam were repaired in the VAB prior to flight. The consensus is that further evaluation of the damage to the External Tank is necessary. This evaluation cannot be done at the pad, and so the decision was made to roll back to the VAB where there is access to the entire External Tank acreage. Hypergolic propellants that were being loaded in preparation for a mid-March launch must be offloaded prior to rollback. The S3/S4 payload will also be removed from Atlantis and moved into the Payload Changeout Room at the pad. Based on this work, the rollback to the VAB will most likely occur Sunday or Monday. The consensus is that the March window is no longer feasible, and that the next launch opportunity is no earlier than late April. The next launch opportunity will be predicated on the results from the damage assessment. There will be a press conference once today’s session of the Flight Readiness Review is complete, no earlier than 4:00 pm Eastern. The press conference will be carried live on NASA TV._____________________________________ Dude, you are so awesome... Can I be on your ash jump ? Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites Join the conversation You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account. Note: Your post will require moderator approval before it will be visible. Reply to this topic... × Pasted as rich text. Paste as plain text instead Only 75 emoji are allowed. × Your link has been automatically embedded. Display as a link instead × Your previous content has been restored. Clear editor × You cannot paste images directly. Upload or insert images from URL. Insert image from URL × Desktop Tablet Phone Submit Reply 0
jonstark 8 #9 February 16, 2007 Worked there processing the orbiter for a year prior to the first shuttle loss. I gotta tell ya there were some spectacular sights. Thanks for the reminder. jon Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
simplyputsi 0 #10 February 16, 2007 Quote......I here she say's she has SPACE MADNESS We're not hitchhiking anymore!!! We're RIDING!!!!!!Skymama's #2 stalker - Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest #11 February 17, 2007 Manned spaceflight is extremely dangerous. That has always been true. But it's great to see my tax dollars put to work in a way that is highly visible and satisfying. Thanks for all the awesome work you (and NASA and JPL and Cornell) do. mh ."The mouse does not know life until it is in the mouth of the cat." Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Grips 0 #12 February 17, 2007 I wish I had your job. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Meux 0 #13 February 17, 2007 I sent in applications for two jobs out there this week. Hope to make the cut on at least one of them. What a blast!! My dad worked out there and always had cool things to say about the programs. He was an Apollo, Gemini guy. Wish me luck, maybe I'll get to drive the crawler for the June Launch. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
popsjumper 2 #14 February 17, 2007 QuoteWorked there processing the orbiter for a year prior to the first shuttle loss... Ruh Roh....a connection there, maybe???? My reality and yours are quite different. I think we're all Bozos on this bus. Falcon5232, SCS8170, SCSA353, POPS9398, DS239 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
LyraM45 0 #15 February 17, 2007 I sent out a resume this month too. Right now I intern for a company that is contracted with the 45th weather squadron to do all the forecasting for launches/landings, but I'm hoping to get something a little more permanent after graduation. I love weather and the space program, so I guess I picked a good school to go to just 25 miles down the road from KSC. Hopefully I'll get to be on site and shaddow the forecasters for the next launch! God, I'm such a space nerd. Apologies for the spelling (and grammar).... I got a B.S, not a B.A. :) Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
muff528 3 #16 February 17, 2007 ...I guess I picked a good school to go to just 25 miles down the road from KSC. Where you going to school? Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
LyraM45 0 #17 February 17, 2007 Florida Institute of Technology in Melbourne.Apologies for the spelling (and grammar).... I got a B.S, not a B.A. :) Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
muff528 3 #18 February 17, 2007 QuoteFlorida Institute of Technology in Melbourne. FIT is a great school. Unfortunately, I flunked outta there in 1970 after two years. Some moron built the school too close to the beach. BTW- back then we were the "Engineers", not the "Panthers". My only claim to fame was a school cheer that I wrote as a fraternity pledge assignment. I was very surprised when I heard it on TV during an MIT football game many years later. The announcers even commented on it. The only changes were that they replaced "x" with "u" and someone added an additional "verse." I have no clue how it wound up at MIT. Back then we had many "field trips" to the cape for various launches, etc. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
IanHarrop 37 #19 February 17, 2007 QuoteOn a bright and sunny morning at Kennedy Space Center in Florida, Space Shuttle Atlantis left the Vehicle Assembly Building for the 3.4 mile journey to Launch Pad 39A. The shuttle resting atop the crawler transporter will make the approximate 6-hour trip to the pad -- the next major milestone for mission STS-117. First motion was at 8:19 a.m. EST. Once Space Shuttle Atlantis is safely in place on the pad the payloads will be transferred into the orbiter's payload bay. The launch of Mission STS-117 will be the first liftoff from Pad 39A in four years. The flight of Space Shuttle Atlantis to the International Space Station has been targeted for March 15. The Atlantis crew will install a new truss segment, retract a set of solar arrays and unfold a new set on the starboard side of the station. Lessons learned from two previous missions will provide the astronauts with new techniques and tools to perform their duties. Commanding the Atlantis team is Frederick Sturckow, a veteran of two shuttle missions (STS-88, STS-105), while Lee Archambault will be making his first flight as the shuttle's pilot. Mission Specialists James Reilly (STS-89, STS-104) and Patrick Forrester (STS-105) will be returning to the station. Steven Swanson and John Olivas, both mission specialists, join the crew for their first flight into space. The mission astronauts will return to Kennedy a few weeks before liftoff to participate in the Terminal Countdown Demonstration Test. During this time they will practice launch activities, safety exercises, inspect the payload and conclude with a simulated main engine cut-off exercise. Its made to the pad now... http://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/shuttle/main/index.html"Where troubles melt like lemon drops, away above the chimney tops, that's where you'll find me" Dorothy Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
simplyputsi 0 #20 February 27, 2007 http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=20601087&sid=a7uhKr5WzdCw&refer=home Looks like launch is gonna be delayed. Maybe they can launch it on a sunday morning, yeah that would work best for me. I want to see one take off!!!!!!Skymama's #2 stalker - Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
kkeenan 13 #21 February 27, 2007 Yeah, the damage is pretty severe, and will require that the stack be rolled back to the VAB for repairs. The length of time that this will delay the launch is unknown. However, this year has a lot of launches scheduled, so this will definitely throw a wrench into the schedule. New launch date is no earlier than 4/22. We get some pretty gnarly storms around here this time of year. Kevin_____________________________________ Dude, you are so awesome... Can I be on your ash jump ? Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
MrFreefall383 0 #22 February 27, 2007 What an amazing aircraft. It just astounds me everytime I see that damn thing lift off the pad. I'll be quite disappointed when NASA finally retires the last orbiter for a new vehicle. I just hope the next one is even better, but it's going to be a hard act to follow."If at first you don't succeed... well, so much for skydiving." - aviation cliche Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
simplyputsi 0 #23 February 27, 2007 stupid questions follow. I know it takes alot of prep to get that thing up, but why bring it out in the open so early if it's known storms are a possibility. Maybe I just haven't paid much attention, but is it normally on the pad about a month out?Skymama's #2 stalker - Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
kkeenan 13 #24 February 27, 2007 There are a lot of things that have to be done at the pad between roll-out and launch, such as loading the payload, fuel, etc. The vehicle is pretty well protected against weather when it's out there. The Orbiter is mostly enclosed with only the External Tank and SRBs exposed. Normally, that's no problem, but yesterday's storm contained some bad hail and that's about the only thing that can really physically damage it. The External Tank is covered with insulating foam that is similar to styrofoam. Rain won't bother it, but hail is pretty bad. We had problems years ago, when a bunch of woodpeckers started pecking holes in the insulation. There is a lot of info on Shuttle ops on the KSC website here: http://www.nasa.gov/centers/kennedy/shuttleoperations/index.html_____________________________________ Dude, you are so awesome... Can I be on your ash jump ? Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
kkeenan 13 #25 February 28, 2007 Hi Space Fans. Well, it turns out that Mother Nature is a real Bitch. The STS-117 External Tank (ET) is pretty F-ed up. There are about 4,000 dings in the foam. That used to be a big deal, but since the Columbia accident, it's a super-huge deal. The damage is also in some of the more high-stress areas of the foam that the designers have been worried about. There is a certain amount of repair that is possible at KSC, but I have a feeling that this damage is so extensive that it will have to be fixed at the Michoud LA facility that makes the ET. Those folks are still backed-up from being out of operation due to hurricane Katrina. There's a new tank due at KSC in April. Oy-Vey, what a mess this hailstorm has caused. Anyway, here's the word from NASA: Launch Complex 39 experienced a severe thunderstorm on the evening of February 26, 2007. The thunderstorm included a significant amount of localized hail, which resulted in damage to the STS-117 vehicle on the launch pad. A comprehensive assessment was made on the morning of February 27. The results from that assessment indicated that there are several thousand impacts/damage sites to the External Tank foam and approximately 30 small impacts to the tiles on the left wing of Atlantis. This is the worst damage to a vehicle at the pad due to a hail storm to date. There have been two previous instances of hail damage that resulted in rollback to the Vehicle Assembly Building (VAB): STS-38 in 1990 and STS-96 in 1999. In the case of STS-96, approximately 650 areas of damage to the External Tank foam were repaired in the VAB prior to flight. The consensus is that further evaluation of the damage to the External Tank is necessary. This evaluation cannot be done at the pad, and so the decision was made to roll back to the VAB where there is access to the entire External Tank acreage. Hypergolic propellants that were being loaded in preparation for a mid-March launch must be offloaded prior to rollback. The S3/S4 payload will also be removed from Atlantis and moved into the Payload Changeout Room at the pad. Based on this work, the rollback to the VAB will most likely occur Sunday or Monday. The consensus is that the March window is no longer feasible, and that the next launch opportunity is no earlier than late April. The next launch opportunity will be predicated on the results from the damage assessment. There will be a press conference once today’s session of the Flight Readiness Review is complete, no earlier than 4:00 pm Eastern. The press conference will be carried live on NASA TV._____________________________________ Dude, you are so awesome... Can I be on your ash jump ? Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
