Space Shuttle Program (SSP) managers have completed their Delta Flight Readiness Review (FRR) with a decision to press on to the primary Agency FRR next Friday. The expected decision came after managers reviewed the current flight rationale for External Tank (ET-137) following its modifications, although Discovery\u2019s pad rats are having to work through numerous issues out at Pad 39A.<\/p>\n
STS-133 Delta SSP FRR:<\/p>\n
The Delta SSP FRR was mainly an update of the baseline SSP FRR \u2013 which was conducted on October 6 \u2013 whilst focusing on the work carried out on ET-137 via modifications to the stringers, an impressive effort to mitigate the potential of cracks forming on the intertank support beams.<\/p>\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.nasaspaceflight.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/02\/A45211.jpg\" "\\"A4521\\"")
The problems with the stringers were first noticed via a large U-shaped crack on the LO2\/Intertank flange foam via Infra-red cameras at the pad during the draining of ET-137 \u2013 after STS-133\u2019s launch countdown was scrubbed due to a leak from the tank\u2019s Ground Umbilical Carrier Plate (GUCP).<\/p>\n
Departmental reviews mainly noted \u201cno constraints pending the closure of open work,\u201d as is usual for this stage of the preparations for flight, added to other notes from SSP management which conveyed \u201cthere is some good agreement.. should be able to clear it out and get February 24 as the STS-133 launch date.\u201d<\/p>\n
That launch date won\u2019t be officially set until the Agency Delta FRR next week, pending the successful launch of the Ariane 5 ECA carrying ATV-2 on the opening launch attempt.<\/p>\n
From a flight rationale standpoint, the superb multi-center effort into the root cause evaluations \u2013 and resulting modification involving radius block installation on the tank\u2019s stringers \u2013 has resulted in a large amount of confidence the tank won\u2019t suffer from additional cracks, either during the tanking or \u2013 more importantly \u2013 the ascent uphill, avoiding the main concern of foam liberations and the overall integrity of the tank during flight.<\/p>\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.nasaspaceflight.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/02\/A6911.jpg\" "\\"A691\\"")
\u201cThe modifications to ET-137\u2019s LO2 stringer ends and the associated TPS (Thermal Protection System) work is complete. The test matrix to support flight rationale for the ET stringer modifications continues to be executed, with a scheduled completion date of February 11th,\u201d noted pre-FRR notes (L2).<\/p>\n
Only one area of flight rationale remained in work heading into the review, relating to test matrix work on stresses on one area of the stringers \u2013 work which was expected to be completed on Friday.<\/p>\n
Rocket launch schedules (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({});<\/p>\n It is not clear if the test matrix was available in time for the Delta SSP FRR review, or if it will be signed off at the Agency FRR \u2013 given the SSP review was due to take place on Thursday, prior to a one day delay, with review documentation already created earlier this week.<\/p>\n \u201cA brief status of the work being performed in support of flight rationale was provided. One of the key elements of this flight rationale is ensuring the modification does no harm,\u201d added the notes.<\/p>\n \u201cSince the radius block mod stops short of fastener 8, where the stresses are the highest, there is concern that the modification could increase the stress concentration at fastener 8 and result in a more undesirable failure mode. The test matrix includes tests to address this concern and is scheduled to be complete by Friday.\u201d<\/p>\n STS-133 Specific \u2013 Including ET Stringer Issue \u2013 Articles: http:\/\/www.nasaspaceflight.com\/tag\/sts-133\/<\/p>\n Other updates, which will play a role in the considerations of managers at the Agency Delta FRR, includes the status of the International Space Station (ISS), ranging from the failure of the Water Processing Assembly (WPA) on Station \u2013 which would have led to debate over water supplies during STS-133 \u2013 prior to its speedy recovery the next day.<\/p>\n STS-133 Pad Flow Latest:<\/p>\n Despite the return of new Interim Problem Reports (IPRs) into Discovery\u2019s pad flow since her return to Pad 39A, processing remains on track for the February 24 launch date, with several days of contingency remaining in the schedule.<\/p>\n Discovery has been put through S5009 Ordnance Installation tasks, alongside orbiter closeouts on her aft section and the scheduled move towards preparations for S0007 Launch Countdown operations.<\/p>\n \u201cS5009 Ordnance Installation\/Connection: Call to stations was completed Thursday afternoon at 1400 EST. SRSS open loop test, flight code load, and interface test are complete. Ordnance installation and connections are complete,\u201d noted the latest NASA Test Director (NTD) report (L2).<\/p>\n \u201cIn work dropping the BDA (Blast Danger Area) clear and opening the pad for controlled work. S1287 Orbiter aft closeouts continue. S0007 Launch Countdown preps began Friday and continue next week. Weekend work: No weekend work per current schedule.\u201d<\/p>\n Numerous new IPRs have been charged to Discovery\u2019s pad flow over the past two days, most of which have either been cleared as a constraint to the flow or are in the process of being cleared.<\/p>\n On the latter issue with the Engine 3 LO2 temperature transducer, troubleshooting revealed that \u201cdropouts occurred when a wire at the backshell was wiggled. Dropouts also occurred when spot ties and tape was removed,\u201d according to the NTD report, which confirmed the harness segment will be removed and replaced when time in the flow allows.<\/p>\n \u201cEvery effort was made to address the suspect 2-foot section of the wiring harness, however, the time necessary to complete work in the aft was too long to support ordnance operations. Additional time will be scheduled to complete the harness segment R&R.\u201d<\/p>\n On the latest issues reported on Friday, IPR-89 and 90 \u2013 the latter of which was related to a problem during the SRB (Solid Rocket Booster) recovery system test, not unlike the issue during STS-129\u2019s pad flow, will both be closed.<\/p>\n \u201cIPR-0089: During flight code installation, Automatic Gain Control (AGC) levels of the left SRB, right SRB and GSE (Ground Support Equipment) were 7 dB low,\u201d the NTD continued. \u201cThe Signal Generator was suspect and swapped out, resolving the problem and allowed testing to continue. This IPR will be upgraded to a GSE PR (Problem Report) and closed.\u201d<\/p>\n However, once the GUCP was reinstalled to the tank, another problem was noted when the right hand pivot assembly \u2013 a key part of the system, given its relation to the GUCP\u2019s alignment \u2013 showed a small amount of movement.<\/p>\n Because any threat of misalignments in the GUCP system can lead to leaks during tanking, managers are discussing if any further work that may be required to aid confidence in the system.<\/p>\n \u201cThe flight seal was removed and replaced and flight seal torques are complete. 7\u201d QD installation is complete. Ventline raising\/mate, GUCP alignment measurements, draw weight lowering, and GUCP electrical connects were completed,\u201d noted the NTD report.<\/p>\n \u201cEngineering wants to convene the GUCP leak investigation team to discuss the movement and the next possible course of action.\u201d<\/p>\n Good news has been reported since the re-installation, with leak checks on the system passing without issue. This should lead to a nominal tanking later this month, especially after the mitigation approach of \u201cclocking\u201d the carrier plate after the GUCP leaked during the November launch countdown. An update will be published, should the investigation team decide to take action on the pivot assembly.<\/p>\n \u201cAn anomaly (loose fasteners) discovered on OV-104\u2019s (Atlantis) SSME dome heat shield (DHS) splice lines generated the need to inspect OV-103\u2019s (Discovery) splice lines via borescope,\u201d the NTD noted. \u201cDiscrepancies were discovered on flap seal installation for engines 2 and 3 and an unexpected gap on the engine 2, lower splice. Engineering is reviewing the data and borescope images, and developing rationale.\u201d<\/p>\n Other issues in Discovery\u2019s eventful pad flow of late are being closed, as the NTD updated the status of several items of interest, ranging from the Feeler Gauge \u2013 which fell apart as an engineer was working on the GUCP work, sending numerous blades down the stack, one of which caught the External Tank \u2013 to the loud noise heard by engineers during the hyperloading tasks on Discovery\u2019s SRBs.<\/p>\n \u201cFeeler Gauge Fall Update: All 13 of the gauge blades have been recovered. Corrective Action Engineering (CAE) has impounded all the pieces\/parts for final resolution and accountability. Minor damage in an unaccessible area of the hydrogen acreage foam of the ET was discovered and has been evaluated with high magnification photos. ET Project has deemed the missing foam nodules to be acceptable as is.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cPad A loud noise: Thursday\u2019s ERB (Engineering Review Board) concluded that the noise was a \u2018transient event\u2019 with no detrimental effects. Data suggests no load was transferred to the vehicle. Walk-downs and data review indicate no discrepancies with hardware or facilities.\u201d<\/p>\n IPRs and items of interest during this stage of the pad flow are common and are usually cleared without any impact to the schedule, thanks to the highly experienced engineers who care for the shuttles. None of the issues reported above have even impacted the contingency days in the STS-133 schedule towards launch.<\/p>\n (Further updates and articles will follow. Refer to live coverage threads linked above. L2 members refer to STS-133 live 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 acquired PRCB presentations).<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Space Shuttle Program (SSP) managers have completed their Delta Flight Readiness Review (FRR) with a decision to press on to the primary Agency FRR next Friday. The expected decision came after managers reviewed the current flight rationale for External Tank (ET-137) following its modifications, although Discovery\u2019s pad rats are having to work through numerous issues […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":29660,"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":[9021,3610,9051],"class_list":["post-40530","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-news","tag-et","tag-frr","tag-sts-133"],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/starpath.global\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/40530"}],"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=40530"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/starpath.global\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/40530\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/starpath.global\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/29660"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/starpath.global\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=40530"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/starpath.global\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=40530"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/starpath.global\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=40530"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}See Also<\/h4>\n
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![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.nasaspaceflight.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/02\/A81.jpg\" "\\"A8\\"")
The IPRs range from an Inadvertent Switch Throw on a circuit breaker, to a LO2 temperature transducer showing off-scale low, when should be off-scale high, on the orbiter\u2019s Main Propulsion System (MPS).<\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.nasaspaceflight.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/02\/A75.jpg\" "\\"A75\\"")
The main item of interest continues to be with the GUCP, which produced at least one small leak during testing once it was connected to the tank. This resulted in managers calling for the system to be disassembled to allow for the changeout of its two part flight seal on the Quick Disconnect (QD).<\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.nasaspaceflight.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/02\/A1111.jpg\" "\\"A111\\"")
\u201cHowever, a small movement in the right hand pivot assembly was measured after vent line connect and prior to withdrawal weight and the pivot pin became loose. After some discussion it was decided to proceed with withdrawal weight operations.<\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.nasaspaceflight.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/02\/A3191.jpg\" "\\"A3191\\"")
Another new item of interest was also noted on Friday, relating to loose fasteners being observed on Atlantis\u2019 Space Shuttle Main Engine (SSME) dome heat shields, leading to borescope inspections being carried out on sister Discovery out at the pad. Engineers did find some minor discrepancies with Discovery\u2019s hardware during the inspection, which is currently under review.<\/p>\n