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\u201cET Mechanical, Launch Site Support, NASA Safety, and MAF (Michoud Assembly Facility) representatives completed a walk-down with no new observations of damage on the ET found.\u201d<\/p>\n
Interestingly, work is still being completed on clearing the vehicle and pad from the initial storm last week, although the Engineering Review Board (ERB) are officially satisfied that ET-122 is safe to fly as-is \u2013 with the very minor damage not requiring any repair work.<\/p>\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.nasaspaceflight.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/04\/A54.jpg\" "\\"A5\\"")
\u201cThe ERB also concluded that the ET foam hail indentations will be ok to fly as-is, and dynamic loading on the SRB (Solid Rocket Booster) hold down posts should not be a concern,\u201d the NTD report noted. \u201cGround Support Equipment (GSE) evaluations still remain to be completed, as well as the GUCP (Ground Umbilical Carrier Plate) alignment guide pin fit check.\u201d<\/p>\nProcessing has continued in a nominal fashion since the four additional \u2013 and since closed \u2013 Interim Problem Reports (IPRs) were generated during the Terminal Countdown Demonstration Test (TCDT).<\/p>\n
S0024 HPU hydrazine loading operations have been completed, while the APU\/HPU (Auxiliary and Hydraulic Power Unit) cart lowering and transport to the fuel farm is in work this week. S5009 Ordnance Installation has been rescheduled to April 18 following the change to the launch date to April 29, caused by an International Space Station (ISS) schedule and Dual Docked Operations (DDO) conflict with a Russian Progress resupply ship.<\/p>\n
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Several tankers of LH2 are expected at the pad complex on Friday, while preparations are continuing to push towards offline testing of STS-134\u2019s primary payload, the Alpha Magnetic Spectrometer-2 (AMS-02), this weekend \u2013 providing work after Friday isn\u2019t impacted by a potential government shutdown.<\/p>\n
STS-134 Specific Articles: http:\/\/www.nasaspaceflight.com\/tag\/sts-134\/<\/p>\n
\u201cS07134 AMS End-to-End Test was completed,\u201d added the NTD report. \u201cThe AMS payload will be powered up to support off-line testing through the weekend.\u201d<\/p>\n
STS-134 SSME FRR:<\/p>\n
Endeavour\u2019s ride into orbit at the end of this month will be aided by her three Space Shuttle Main Engines (SSMEs). The noisy trio are no stranger to the aft of the youngest orbiter in the fleet, after pushing her uphill during STS-130. The engines were installed in the following positions on the orbiter: 2059 is ME-1, 2061 is ME-2, while 2057 is ME-3.<\/p>\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.nasaspaceflight.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/04\/A46.jpg\" "\\"A4\\"")
With the Space Shuttle Program (SSP) Flight Readiness Review (FRR) completed (15 presentations available on L2), documentation shows managers first overviewed the performance of Discovery\u2019s SSMEs during STS-133 via the In Flight Anomaly (IFA) review at the Program Requirements Control Board (PRCB) meeting (14 presentations available on L2).<\/p>\n\u201cEngine operation was nominal. ME-1 2044, ME-2 2048, ME-3 2058 \u2013 No SSME IFA Identified,\u201d noted the STS-133 SSME IFA presentation, outlining the superb performance from the reliable workhorses which have ably supported the Space Shuttle Program since the 1980s. \u201cAll SSME observations are encompassed by previous flight and\/or test experience and identified as no impact.<\/p>\n
\u201cOne (minor) observation (believed to be related to the Oxidizer Preburner Oxidizer Valve (OPOV) \u2013 though full information is restricted) \u2013 was presented to the MMT (Mission Management Team) \u2013 no IFA recommended.\u201d<\/p>\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.nasaspaceflight.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/04\/A36.jpg\" "\\"A3\\"")
Only one item of interest made it into the FRR documentation for the SSMEs, referencing the incident when an ELSA (Life Support) bottle fell from the entrance level near the 50-2 door and hit Main Engine 2 (ME-2) during Vehicle Assembly Building (VAB) processing operations.<\/p>\n\u201cSTS-134 Endeavour ME 2 ELSA Bottle Damage Inspections: Issue: Possible handling damage to ME-2. Background: ELSA Bottle dropped from above ME-2 to heat shield adjacent to controller during VAB processing. Damage observed above and adjacent to engine,\u201d noted the SSME SSP FRR presentation.<\/p>\n
\u201cDent in Orbiter GN2 Line. Dent on edge of Heat Shield near ME-2 controller. Witness statements and damage indicate no engine impact. Assessment conducted around 4.5 Ft assuming possible engine contact.<\/p>\n
\u201cPath limited to E2061 in vicinity of LPO Duct and Controller. No visible evidence of engine contact. Normal electrical pad checkouts conducted. Tactile test of controller harness verified connector integrity.<\/p>\n
\u201cHarness \u201cwiggle checks\u201d confirmed internal wire integrity. Potential controller housing impact analyzed. Calculated shock loads within typical vibration levels.\u201d<\/p>\n
The presentation continued by overviewing the flight rationale which was presented to managers at the SSP FRR.<\/p>\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.nasaspaceflight.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/04\/A95.jpg\" "\\"A95\\"")
\u201cFlight Rationale: Engine hardware inspected and no external or internal damage evident. Electrical Harness Backshells visual and tactile manipulation. Protect sensitive internal wire crimps. Harness \u201cwiggle checks\u201d completed with no anomalies. Effective in finding\/confirming electrical intermittents. Controller receptacle integrity confirmed by controller internal pressure check.<\/p>\n\u201cIntegrity of ducts, lines, etc. confirmed by visual inspections. Pad verified electrical functions and controller pressure. Harness installation precludes adverse loading or pinching of wiring. Conductors protected by at least three layers of insulation. Potential shock loads to controller housing within vibration experience. Critical functions are redundant.\u201d<\/p>\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.nasaspaceflight.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/04\/A510.jpg\" "\\"A510\\"")
Once Endeavour returns home from her STS-134 mission, her engines will be removed and stored, potentially for use with the Space Launch System (SLS), should the ongoing RAC teams at the Marshall Space Flight Center (MSFC) continue to baseline a Shuttle Derived (SD) Heavy Lift Launch Vehicle (HLV) as the Design Reference Vehicle (DRV).<\/p>\nIt was back in October of last year when a Program Requirements Control Board (PRCB) meeting recommended the orbiters should gain Replica Shuttle Main Engines (RSMEs) \u2013 previously scrapped nozzles installed via an adaptor \u2013 for when all three of the vehicles retire to exhibitions, thus protecting the flown SSMEs for potential reuse with the opening SLS flights.<\/p>\n
NASA\u2019s scheduled to announce the location of all three orbiter\u2019s retirement homes next week.<\/p>\n
The FRR presentation also referenced the readiness of six other SSMEs, three of which are installed on Atlantis for her STS-135 mission \u2013 a reference which relates to Atlantis also holding the role of the STS-335 Launch On Need (LON) vehicle, in the event of a highly unlikely need of a rescue scenario for Endeavour\u2019s crew.<\/p>\n
The other three engines are allocated to the spare set, in the event any or all of Endeavour\u2019s SSMEs require changeout prior to launch.<\/p>\n
\u201cSTS-135 Engines: ME-1 2047 ME-2 2060 ME-3 2045. Engines installed on Atlantis 7-9 December 2010. Engines reviewed and ready to support contingency if required,\u201d the SSP FRR SSME presentation added. \u201cSpare Engine set: ME-1 2052 ME-2 2051 ME-3 2054. Post-flight processing and checkouts complete. All current flight and ground test anomalies have been evaluated with respect to impact on Flight Engines.\u201d<\/p>\n
(Numerous articles will follow. L2 members refer to STS-134 coverage sections for internal coverage, presentations, images and and updates from engineers and managers. Images used: Larry Sullivan MaxQ Entertainment\/NASASpaceflight.com and via L2 Presentations).<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Endeavour is happily moving through her pad flow, despite having to endure yet more bad weather over her launch pad \u2013 resulting in additional inspections for hail damage this week. Thankfully, no new observations of damage have been noted on the External Tank (ET-122). Meanwhile, the Flight Readiness Review (FRR) for the Space Shuttle Main […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":29530,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"inline_featured_image":false,"footnotes":"","_links_to":"","_links_to_target":""},"categories":[2],"tags":[3610,8116,3366],"class_list":["post-40486","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-news","tag-frr","tag-ssme","tag-sts-134"],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/starpath.global\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/40486"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/starpath.global\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/starpath.global\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/starpath.global\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/starpath.global\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=40486"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/starpath.global\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/40486\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/starpath.global\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/29530"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/starpath.global\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=40486"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/starpath.global\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=40486"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/starpath.global\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=40486"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}