Tag: STS-126
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Supporting Endeavour: OPO check previous flights to ensure STS-127 safety
With Endeavour’s June 13 launch to the ISS now counting down, engineers are continuing to work towards the safe flight of the fleet’s youngest orbiter and her crew. To aide in this effort, the Orbiter Project Office (OPO) examined the flight performance of STS-126 (Endeavour) and STS-125 (Atlantis) – the previous vehicle flight and previous program…
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STS-119: Discovery preparing for FCV changeouts and closeouts
Discovery remains on track for her February 12 launch, pending the successful replacement, testing and flight rationale for the spare three Flow Control Valves (FCVs), due to arrive at the Kennedy Space Center on Wednesday. Discovery is ready to accept the valves, as the vehicle continues the process of closeouts for flight. The pad flow…
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Orbiter related Ice liberation threat discussed ahead of STS-119
Following a run of “clean” flights during 2008 – thanks to continued progress in reducing foam liberation from the External Tanks – the Space Shuttle Program (SSP) Flight Readiness Review (FRR) focused on the threat of ice liberation during ascent for 2009’s opening mission, STS-119. This follows a near miss with a large piece of…
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Risk assessment notes holddown post debris threat to shuttle
An assessment into the holddown post failure on STS-126’s launch has found that debris that is not captured by the Debris Containment System (DCS) is capable of impacting the vehicle during launch. A solution to STS-126’s anomaly is currently being certified for STS-119. The Holddown Post (HDP) #3 Debris Containment System (DCS) failure has already…
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MAF close out 2008 with the phenomenal performance of ET-129
Four missions, four clean tanks – that’s what the 2008 report card notes for the Michoud Assembly Facility (MAF), with the last mission of the year – STS-126 with ET-129 – proving to be the best performing tank since Return To Flight (RTF). Ever since the tragedy of STS-107, the main focus on shuttle safety…
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Review notes excellent performance of STS-126’s Reusable Solid Rocket Motors
As NASA’s triumphant 2008 year comes to a close – a year that saw four Space Shuttle construction flights to the International Space Station (ISS) – engineers around the United States are working hard to ensure a safe and successful 2009, starting with the launch of Discovery’s STS-119 mission in February, via lessons learned from STS-126.…
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ISS Spacewalk completed – SARJ results show promise following STS-126 work
Expedition 18 crewmembers Yury Lonchakov and Michael Fincke have performed a Russian spacewalk (ISS RS EVA-21), which has included the installation of a probe to aid the on-going investigation into the off-nominal re-entries of two Soyuz vehicles. Meanwhile, the continued assessments into work conducted during STS-126’s EVAs on the Solar Alpha Rotary Joints (SARJs) are…
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Weather, Range and Radar Issues Identified in STS-126 IFA Review
As KSC engineers prepare for a much deserved break over the Christmas and New Year’s holiday, several ongoing investigations and actions are taking place as a result of the STS-126 In-Flight Anomaly (IFA) review conducted last week. Hearing presentations from the Space Shuttle Program (SSP) Flight Operations and Integration (FO&I) office and the Eastern Range,…
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STS-126 IFA Review Reveals Relatively Clean Launch of Endeavour
With Endeavour now undergoing post-flight processing in Orbiter Processing Facility Bay 2 following her cross-country ferry flight last week, the Program Requirements Control Board (PRCB) has concluded a thorough review of Endeavour’s STS-126 mission to the International Space Station, revealing an extremely clean flight and relatively issue free mission. Among the various reviews conducted, the…
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Endeavour into STS-127 processing – Discovery ready for STS-119 rollover
Endeavour has finally arrived back to the home comforts of her Orbiter Processing Facility (OPF-2), following her highly successful STS-126 mission. Meanwhile, the pace shows no sign in letting up, with Discovery now powered down for the final time, as she prepares to rollover to the Vehicle Assembly Building (VAB) early in January, ahead of…