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Following S0009 Pad Validation operations, the vehicle entered into S0024 Hydraulic Power Unit (HPU) hypergolic fuel loading and pressurization procedures on the twin Solid Rocket Boosters (SRBs), which has since been completed with only one minor Interim Problem Report (IPR) reported, which is set to be closed.<\/p>\n
\u201cS0024 SRB HPU hyper load: Call-to-Stations was completed Monday morning and the pad cleared for HPU hydrazine operations,\u201d noted the NASA Test Director (NTD) report (L2). \u201cRock and Tilt Fuel Service Modules (FSM) have been loaded and pressurized for flight. The pad was opened for controlled work at 1815 EST Wednesday.<\/p>\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.nasaspaceflight.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/02\/A3101.jpg\" "\\"A310\\"")
\u201cIPR 0085 update: During SCAPE operations leak checks were performed on the Air Half Coupler (AHC) with no leakage observed nor detected. Since the HPUs were de-serviced prior to rollback, this IPR will likely close as an Explained Condition due to cold weather cycles on the AHC over time. The constraint to be moved to an appropriate location.\u201d<\/p>\nNext on the pad flow schedule are S5009 Ordnance Installation tasks, which are planned to start Thursday evening and continue through into Friday.<\/p>\n
As reported by this site on Monday, managers decided to disassemble the GUCP after it was deemed to have failed a leak test. A small leak was noted during leak checks on Friday \u2013 although this was later understood to be noise being picked up by the detection system. However, Monday\u2019s helium leak checks also registered a small leak.<\/p>\n
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![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.nasaspaceflight.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/02\/A84.jpg\" "\\"A84\\"")
While the leak was small enough to be classed as \u201cin spec\u201d \u2013 or acceptable \u2013 the decision was taken to replace the two-part flight seal on the hardware, in order to return full confidence in the system which caused the initial scrub to STS-133 back in November.<\/p>\nExplaining the issue \u2013 which is being classed as a Problem Report (PR-34) \u2013 the NTD report noted that the de-mate of the GH2 vent line was reported to be off-nominal during the preparation for rollback to the Vehicle Assembly Building (VAB) back in December \u2013 a possible contributor to the leak once the stack was back out at the pad \u2013 before confirming the forward path to replace the flight seal.<\/p>\n
\u201cIn addition (to the off nominal vent line), during helium leak checks performed on the GUCP; a small, but in-spec leak was observed. As a result, the GUCP 7\u201d QD (Quick Disconnect) seal will be removed and replaced. GUCP R&R (Removal and Replacement) work begins with GH2 vent line de-mate. This work will be done in-parallel with the pad integrated flow and no additional impacts are expected.<\/p>\n
STS-133 Specific \u2013 Including ET Stringer Issue \u2013 Articles: http:\/\/www.nasaspaceflight.com\/tag\/sts-133\/<\/p>\n
\u201cThe vent line was de-mated and several different measurements were taken. The old flight seal will be removed and replaced.\u201d<\/p>\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.nasaspaceflight.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/02\/A511.jpg\" "\\"A5\\"")
On Tuesday night, an incident involving a feeler gauge resulted in an inspection of the vehicle for damage, as nine blades from the measuring tool came loose and fell down the pad.<\/p>\nOne of the small blades from the tool embedded itself in the side of the tank \u2013 resulting in minor foam damage which won\u2019t require any rework \u2013 while the rest missed and are all accounted for.<\/p>\n
As is standard for all work at the pad, all tools are tethered to avoid such incidents. However, the failure of the tool itself \u2013 in this case a retainer screw \u2013 caused the liberation of its parts.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhile performing measurements on GUCP Pivot Assembly last night using a tethered Feeler Gauge, the gauge came apart and nine of the thirteen blades fell from the 215\u2032 level to various levels of the FSS\/RSS (Fixed and Rotating Service Structures). Recovery efforts (were) in work. Potential flight hardware damage (was) under assessment,\u201d noted the NTD report on Wednesday morning.<\/p>\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.nasaspaceflight.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/02\/A62.jpg\" "\\"A6\\"")
\u201cWitness statements and photos were taken and walkdowns have been performed. Pieces of the gauge were found on the 155\u2032 level, OWP (Orbiter Weather Protection), Flame Trench, and the ET\/IT platform. It was also reported that a piece of the gauge was stuck in the tank, but it blew out (wind) and landed in the OMBUU (Orbiter Mid Body Umbilical Unit) area.<\/p>\n\u201cTechs were given a go to continue work using a different type of feeler gauge. More walkdowns (were) performed in the daylight.\u201d<\/p>\n
The only other item of interest noted in the recent flow is an investigation into a loud noise that was heard at the pad during Monday\u2019s hyper loading on the SRB Thrust Vector Control (TVC) system.<\/p>\n
\u201cDuring S0024 SRB thrust vector control hydrazine system loading operations on Monday afternoon, technicians reported hearing a loud noise. The exact location of the noise was undetermined and witness statements were taken,\u201d added the NTD report.<\/p>\n
\u201cA thorough OTV (Pad TV Cameras) scan and visual inspection found nothing anomalous to report. Data analysis and detailed system walkdowns continue but nothing anomalous has been determined thus far.\u201d<\/p>\n
Meanwhile, over at the Johnson Space Center (JSC), managers were set to conduct their Space Shuttle Program (SSP) Delta Flight Readiness Review (FRR) on Thursday. However, this has been delayed by one day due to poor weather near the Marshall Space Flight Center (MSFC) \u2013 which is home to a large number of the managers who\u2019ll be involved in the FRR. <\/p>\n
The review will largely mirror the previous SSP FRR back in October of last year, along with updating the change to the launch date and the work that has been conducted on ET-137\u2019s stringers.<\/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, all via L2).<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
The STS-133 stack has been checked for damage after a feeler gauge came apart during work to remove ET-137\u2019s Ground Umbilical Carrier Plate (GUCP). The incident resulted in nine blades from the tool falling down the pad, with one becoming embedded in the tank \u2013 resulting in minor foam damage \u2013 before high winds dislodged it. […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"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":[9051],"class_list":["post-40532","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-news","tag-sts-133"],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/starpath.global\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/40532"}],"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=40532"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/starpath.global\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/40532\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/starpath.global\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=40532"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/starpath.global\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=40532"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/starpath.global\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=40532"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}