Tag: STS-134
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Endeavour in eventful flow – OPF and ET-138 investigations continue
The mystery washer that managed to find its way into the LO2/LOX feedline on External Tank ET-138 is being classed as an isolated incident, as the Shuttle fleet work through numerous investigations. Work on Endeavour is back into a full flow, as an investigation board check into how an Air Hoist managed to fall on…
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External Tank ET-138 under investigation after washer is found in feedline
Currently set to fly with Endeavour, External Tank ET-138 is under investigation – after engineers found a washer inside the LO2 Feedline. The investigation will follow a similar route to that undertaken on ET-129 – when a noise was heard inside that tank during processing inside the Vehicle Assembly Building (VAB) – in order to…
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Diligent to the end – Endeavour’s engineers spot 0.005 inch FCV defect
Space Shuttle Program (SSP) manager John Shannon has praised the team responsible for installing the Flow Control Valves (FCVs) on Endeavour, after they spotted a 0.005 inch shim was missing from one of the three valves. Endeavour – processing for next year’s STS-134 – wouldn’t of suffered from any ill effects, had she launched with…
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Endeavour preparing for SSME installation – RCS test article investigation
Engineers are preparing Endeavour for next week’s installation of her three Space Shuttle Main Engines (SSMEs) for what is likely to be the final time, ahead of STS-134’s mission in February of next year. Meanwhile, an investigation is currently taking place into a failure of a Reaction Control System (RCS) test article, although no inspection…
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NASA Reviews COPV Reliability Concerns for Final Program Flights
Since the Return to Flight timeframe, concerns regarding the state of the Composite Overwrapped Pressure Vessels (COPVs) on the orbiter fleet have led to restrictions in terms of ground processing to ensure the protection of the hardware and the workforce. However, recent testing of the COPVs has resulted in a request from the SSP (Space…
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Right OMS Pod set for re-installation as ET-138 arrives at KSC for STS-134
Following a month of repair work inside the Hypergolic Maintenance Facility (HMF), Discovery’s Right Orbital Maneuvering System (ROMS) Pod has returned to Discovery’s Orbiter Processing Facility (OPF-3) for re-installation on Thursday. Meanwhile, STS-134’s External Tank (ET-138) – has arrived at the Kennedy Space Center (KSC). STS-133 Processing Latest: Discovery is in great shape to make…
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NASA managers refine launch dates – deadline approaching for STS-135
As has been expected for many weeks, NASA managers have approved the Change Requests (CR) for the launch dates of the next two shuttle missions. With STS-133 moving to November 1, STS-134 is targeting February 26 – although the threat of the program running out of funding may force Endeavour’s launch up by a week…
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Boundary Layer Transition height increase and addition noted for STS-134
As NASA and Space Shuttle Program Managers continue to narrow down options for the final two missions on the flight manifest, preparations and modifications for/to Orbiters Discovery and Endeavour are continuing in their respective Orbiter Processing Facilities (OPFs) at the Kennedy Space Center – most notably the process to approve a new Boundary Layer Transition…
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Boundary Layer Transition height increase and addition noted for STS-134
As NASA and Space Shuttle Program Managers continue to narrow down options for the final two missions on the flight manifest, preparations and modifications for/to Orbiters Discovery and Endeavour are continuing in their respective Orbiter Processing Facilities (OPFs) at the Kennedy Space Center – most notably the process to approve a new Boundary Layer Transition…
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Shuttle fleet deep in processing for their new launch dates
While the three shuttle orbiters continue to enjoy nominal processing flows, managers are continuing to evaluate the exact launch date targets for the upcoming missions. Those launch dates have slipped at a program level, with STS-133’s mission to the International Space Station (ISS) now baselined for No Earlier Than (NET) late October, slipping STS-134 to February/March, 2011, with the potential for STS-135 to launch…