NASA and Roscosmos managers are understood to be negotiating the schedule of the upcoming Progress M-10M launch, due to a potential conflict with Endeavour\u2019s STS-134 docked mission. Meanwhile, processing at Pad 39A is continuing to focus on the installation of the STS-134\u2019s complex payload into Endeavour\u2019s cargo bay.<\/p>\n
STS-134 Latest:<\/p>\n
Friday\u2019s pad flow is being highlighted by the transfer of the STS-134 payload into Endeavour\u2019s Payload Bay (PLB), following preparations in the Payload Checkout Room (PCR) which is located inside the Rotating Service Structure (RSS) at Pad 39A.<\/p>\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.nasaspaceflight.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/03\/A106.jpg\" "\\"A10\\"")
\u201cThe payload was delivered to the pad on Monday, and installed into the Payload Changeout Room on Tuesday. Opened up the PLBDs and completed optics; evaluation of optic measurements is underway. Will install the payload into the vehicle Friday,\u201d summarized KSC Ground Operations on the latest Shuttle Standup\/Integration report (L2).<\/p>\n
The operation to transport the payload down the crawlerway to the pad and into the PCR all proceeded normally, allowing the RSS to extend back into the mate position on Thursday for the installation operation.<\/p>\n
\u201cOV-105\/SRB BI-145\/RSRM 113\/ET-122 (Pad-A): S0600 Payload Operations: Preps for payload installation into the orbiter continue. After the RSS was extended the PCR main doors and orbiter payload bay doors were opened allowing access for orbiter and payload inspections,\u201d noted the NASA Test Director (NTD) processing update (L2). \u201cPayload installation is scheduled for Friday.\u201d<\/p>\n
While the STS-134 Launch Readiness Review (LRR) took place on Thursday at the Kennedy Space Center (KSC), the final wave of LOX tankers arrived at the pad, completing the replenishment of the storage tank.<\/p>\n
Other scheduled pad flow tasks continuing to be completed on schedule, with only one additional \u2013 and minor \u2013 Interim Problem Report (IPR) being charged against the flow.<\/p>\n
\u201cCrew module PPO2 sensor calibration was completed. Preps for Helium Sig Test and Ball Seal Leak Checks picked up Thursday. Included in these preps will be LH2 and LO2 blank off plate installations,\u201d added the NTD report.<\/p>\n
Company News (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({});<\/p>\n \u201cAPU (Auxiliary Power Unit) will perform the 48-hr decay check per V1329 Friday. OMBUU (Orbiter Mid Body Umbilical Unit) mate is currently scheduled for Monday. S1287 Orbiter aft closeouts will begin Monday. Weekend Work: Post-installation payload operations on Saturday.<\/p>\n \u201cNew IPR-0032: During preps for vehicle power up a resistor bypass indicator for a ground power supply failed to indicate ON when commanded. The problem briefly delayed vehicle power up. The problem was traced to a fuse in the associated system. The system was reset and returned to nominal operation. Vehicle power up proceeded successfully.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cIPR 0026 update: SRB and ET engineers completed their additional, more detailed and closer proximity, walkdowns\/inspections at Pad A, with the OWP (Orbiter Weather Protection) extended. No discrepancies were observed. No other hardware inspections are pending. IPR closure is in work.\u201d<\/p>\n The incident occured during FRCS (Forward Reaction Control System) fuel post QD connection operations, when a 8\u201d crescent wrench fell between a grating gap in the floor on the 207\u2032 level and scruffed two tiles on Endeavour\u2019s belly. It has since been confirmed the Thermal Protection System (TPS) will be able to fly \u201cas-is\u201d following slight repairs which have since been completed.<\/p>\n \u201cA couple of items that were open at the time are now closed. A wrench drop out at the Pad \u2013 were able to show that the two damaged tiles only needed a slurry repair,\u201d noted the Orbiter Project Office (OPO) at the Johnson Space Center (JSC). \u201cThe work has been done.\u201d<\/p>\n STS-134 Specific Articles: http:\/\/www.nasaspaceflight.com\/tag\/sts-134\/<\/p>\n Progress M-10M Negotiations:<\/p>\n Options are being worked between NASA and Roscosmos managers on a possible conflict between Endeavour\u2019s docked mission and the arrival of the Russian Progress M-10M ressuply vehicle.<\/p>\n As previously reported, Endeavour\u2019s available launch window for the STS-134\/ULF6 mission has been determined based on a complex ballet of schedules between Shuttle, Progress, Soyuz, and Solar Beta Angle cutouts.<\/p>\n Currently, the duration of Endeavour\u2019s available launch window runs from April 19 \u2013 May 3. However, contained within that window is an April 23-29 cutout (or elimination of launch opportunities for Endeavour) due to the currently-scheduled rotation of Progress unmanned resupply vehicles at the International Space Station (ISS).<\/p>\n It is understood the Russians may be willing to delay their Progress launch until May, should NASA managers opt against delaying Endeavour\u2019s launch to April 29. However, that requires negotiations between the two agencies.<\/p>\n Other options include launching Progress M-10M on schedule, prior to loitering on orbit until Endeavour departs at the end of her docked mission, although this may be problematic due to the Russian vehicle\u2019s time-sensitive cargo, understood to be a biological experiment which needs to be placed into one of the ISS\u2019 freezers within days of launch.<\/p>\n Another option may allow for both vehicles to remain on their current schedules, with the Program Requirements Control Board (PRCB) discussing potential workarounds to STS-134 DDO constraints.<\/p>\n Also noted on Friday is a potential solution from the time-sensitive biological experiment standpoint, one which would see the payload being carried by Endeavour, releasing Progress from its need to dock with the ISS within a constrained timescale. Updates will follow pending additional information.<\/p>\n Also under discussion of late is the rendezvous altitude for Endeavour\u2019s final trip to the orbital outpost, with considerations in place for the station\u2019s phasing in relation to Soyuz.<\/p>\n \u201cThe rendezvous altitude on STS-134 is at 188 nautical miles (nm) for the first four opportunities,\u201d noted Flight Operations & Integration. \u201cAfter that, there is a scheduled burn to adjust for some Soyuz phasing, and then the rendezvous altitude will go to 191 nm.\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. NASA.gov and L2 Presentations).<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" NASA and Roscosmos managers are understood to be negotiating the schedule of the upcoming Progress M-10M launch, due to a potential conflict with Endeavour\u2019s STS-134 docked mission. Meanwhile, processing at Pad 39A is continuing to focus on the installation of the STS-134\u2019s complex payload into Endeavour\u2019s cargo bay. STS-134 Latest: Friday\u2019s pad flow is being […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":29558,"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":[3366],"class_list":["post-40497","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-news","tag-sts-134"],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/starpath.global\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/40497"}],"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=40497"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/starpath.global\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/40497\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/starpath.global\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/29558"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/starpath.global\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=40497"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/starpath.global\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=40497"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/starpath.global\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=40497"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.nasaspaceflight.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/03\/A861.jpg\" "\\"A86\\"")
The latest report also confirmed IPR-26 \u2013 relating to the checks for any additional damage to the stack after an engineer accidentially dropped a wrench \u2013 is in the process of being closed, following a full check of the External Tank and Solid Rocket Boosters (SRBs) during the retraction of the RSS for payload operations.<\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.nasaspaceflight.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/03\/A651.jpg\" "\\"A65\\"")
Endeavour currently remains on track for the opening launch target of April 19, while the Progress M-10M is set to launch on April 27 from the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan. The problem relates to a need for Endeavour to undock ahead of Progress M-10M\u2019s arrival at the ISS, due to what is known as Dual Docked Operations (DDO) constraints.<\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.nasaspaceflight.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/03\/A98.jpg\" "\\"A9\\"")
While it could be assumed STS-134 would hold priority on the docking schedule, negotiations between partner agencies are not allowed to make such assumptions. However, it is understood that at this time it is unlikely Endeavour\u2019s launch date would be altered.<\/p>\n