Tag: TPS
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Complex robotics complete S6 removal – TPS cleared from Focused Inspection
A complex ballet of robotics between the Shuttle and Station arms took place on Wednesday, as the S6 is transitioned out of Discovery’s payload bay ahead of installation on Thursday. Engineers on the ground have also cleared Discovery’s Thermal Protection System (TPS) from requiring a Focused Inspection. The performance of Discovery continues to impress, with only…
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Clean Discovery completes RPM and ISS docking
Discovery has docked with the International Space Station (ISS) on Flight Day 3, as the initial TPS (Thermal Protection System) inspection images show a very clean orbiter. Prior to docking, Discovery carried out the RPM (Rbar Pitch Maneuver) for a full check of her TPS and belly. The STS-119 crew head to the Station with…
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Endeavour and her SCA piggyback ride arrive in Louisiana, via JSC flyover
The Shuttle Carrier Aircraft (SCA) and Endeavour departed from Edwards Air Force Base on Wednesday, for a cross country ferry trip that will take in stops in Texas and Louisiana – subject to change due to weather – before arriving back in Florida on Friday. A flyover of the Johnson Space Center was completed around…
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Pristine Endeavour deservicing at Edwards – Window 6 damage failed to spread
Engineers are working through post flight deservicing tasks on Endeavour at Dryden Flight Research Facility (DFRC)/Edwards Air Force Base, with opening engineering images and notes pointing towards an extremely clean vehicle, following Sunday’s landing in California. Images of Endeavour’s Window 6 “thermal pane” – which suffered from a MMOD strike on orbit – show the…
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Marathon EVA-3 builds on SARJ work – NOAX gun option explained
Spacewalkers Heide Stefanyshyn-Piper (EV1) and Steve Bowen (EV2) have completed the third of four EVAs during STS-126, once again focusing on the starboard SARJ (Solar Alpha Rotary Joint). If required, a back-up option of a modified NOAX Gun is available for the remaining EVA tasks on EVA-4 – following the loss of two grease guns during EVA-1.…
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DAT role – Examining every inch of Endeavour’s TPS for safe return
The engineering review of Endeavour’s Thermal Protection System (TPS) – which earlier this week cleared the orbiter for re-entry – has once again shown the amazing level of detail the Damage Assessment Team (DAT) engineers undertake to ensure orbiters can return home safely. Overall, Endeavour’s TPS is very clean, owed in part to the superb job…
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STS-126: MPLM attached to ISS – ET-129 images show extremely clean tank
The “Leonardo” Multi-Purpose Logistics Module (MPLM) has been transferred from Endeavour’s payload bay to Node 2 of the International Space Station (ISS) on Flight Day 4 of STS-126. Meanwhile, images of Endeavour’s External Tank (ET-129) show what may be the cleanest even tank – with only around three small areas of foam loss, with Endeavour…