Tag: TPS
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STS-131 EVA-1 completed – No FI required for Discovery’s clean TPS
Flight Day 5 (FD-5) for STS-131 has seen the completion of the first of three scheduled EVAs (Spacewalks) of the mission. Astronauts Rick Mastracchio and Clay Anderson performed all of the EVA tasks, placing them in a good stance for the remaining two EVAs for this flight. Meanwhile, the Damage Assessment Team (DAT) have cleared Discovery’s…
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STS-131: Discovery closing in on ISS docking – RSB liberation during ascent
Discovery is continuing to close the gap between herself and the International Space Station (ISS) for a Flight Day 3 rendezvous that will result in docking at 02:44am Central time. Bar the Ku band failure, Discovery is in great shape, and enjoyed a nominal ascent on Monday morning, according to opening MMT (Mission Management Team) reviews –…
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STS-131: FD2 inspections completed smoothly despite lack of KU capability
Veteran orbiter Discovery is closing in on the end of Flight Day 2 on orbit, following her launch at the first attempt on Monday morning, kicking off the STS-131 mission. Inspections of Discovery’s Reinforced Carbon Carbon (RCC) and other parts of her Thermal Protection System (TPS) have been completed, although footage of the surveys won’t…
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Endeavour’s post-flight TPS – Protruding window insert remained in place
Endeavour enjoyed an extremely clean flight, following a post-landing TPS (Thermal Protection System) report, which noted only a few dings and a breached thermal barrier on her Nose Landing Gear Doors (NLGD). The protruding ceramic insert on Window 2 also remained in place, which had become the main focus of the Damage Assessment Team (DAT)…
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STS-130 EOM-1: Endeavour carries out FCS checks; TPS Clearance Overview
As Endeavour sails into what is expected to be her final full day on orbit, the STS-130 crew spent the day testing and reconfiguring Endeavour ahead of the mission’s opening Deorbit, Entry, and Landing attempts Sunday evening. Meanwhile, Endeavour’s TPS (Thermal Protection System) has been cleared for reentry – with only three (3) areas of…
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STS-130: Endeavour docks with ISS – Port Wing protrusion evaluated
An upper elevon “sliding seal” on one of Endeavour’s port wing flippers has protruded, although early Damage Assessment Team (DAT) reports claim only a low level of concern. As STS-130 moved through Flight Day 3, Endeavour and her External Tank appear to have enjoyed an extremely clean ascent, as the orbiter and her crew docking…
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Atlantis undocks and conducts Late Inspections – DAT status
Atlantis has undocked from the International Space Station (ISS), as she prepares to target a landing on Friday. Late Inspections took place later on Flight Day 10, although this should only be a formality – following the Damage Assessment Team (DAT) formally clearing the orbiter for entry during her docked phase of STS-129. STS-129: Atlantis’…
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STS-129: Atlantis in clean launch ahead of opening TPS inspections
Only three minor foam liberation events have been noted in initial ascent imagery evaluations, with External Tank ET-133 appearing to perform extremely well during launch. Further checks will take place via Flight Day 2’s opening Thermal Protection System (TPS) inspections which utilize the orbiter’s robotic arms for the first time during STS-129. Countdown review: Atlantis…
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STS-129: Special flight deck Minicam set to film ET ramps during ascent
Last week’s Space Shuttle Program (SSP) Flight Readiness Review (FRR) has approved the installation of a special minicam pointing out of window 4 on Atlantis’ flight deck. The camera will film the forward portion of the External Tank (ET) during flight, in order to capture the behavior of the LO2 Ice Frost Ramps (IFRs) during…
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STS-128: DAT working through RPM imagery – Discovery gains full FI clearance
The Damage Assessment Team (DAT) are working hundreds of images taken during the orbiter’s RPM (Rbar Pitch Maneuver) on Flight Day 3 – with full clearance from a Focused Inspection (FI) now gained. Clearance for re-entry will take around another day. Also, images of the External Tank (ET-132) via the ET Umbilical Well camera show the…