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Discussions are still taking place on adding one or two shuttle missions to the manifest, with the boosters for STS-335 (Launch On Need support for STS-134) already on site at KSC, potentially changing call signs to STS-135. However, as it stands, STS-134 will mark the final scheduled flight of the shuttle SRBs, when they will be tasked with aiding Endeavour\u2019s two minute first stage ascent early next year.<\/p>\n
Post flight IFA reviews are a key milestone for both the concluded mission, and the next scheduled flight \u2013 as their data provides the baseline for the Flight Readiness Reviews (FRRs). STS-133\u2019s FRRs will enjoy smooth sailing from the standpoint of the SRBs, which performed admirably during Atlantis\u2019 launch.<\/p>\n
Only one IFA was recorded via the SRB IFA review \u2013 all 16 STS-132 IFA presentations available on L2 \u2013 relating to missing insulation from Forward Booster Separation Motor (BSM) Closeout \u2013 which is classed as an unacceptable debris hazard.<\/p>\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.nasaspaceflight.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2010\/07\/A34.jpg\" "\\"A3\\"")
\u201cRTV-133 Missing and Partially Debonded from Forward Booster Separation Motor (BSM) Closeout: Located on perimeter of upper right BSM \u2013 Size ~ 5 in long x ~ 1\/4 in fillet bead. Unexpected debris source (not allowable),\u201d noted the presentation, which added the loss of the insulation during ascent held no issue for the booster\u2019s performance.<\/p>\nSpace Shuttle models
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\u201cFunctions as environmental seal only. Not intended for thermal protection evaluation found heat effects and sooting not as severe as full flight but greater than adjacent area with intact RTV-133.\u201d<\/p>\n
Although its location is an unacceptable debris hazard, it is not clear if the material had enough mass to be a threat to the orbiter\u2019s Thermal Protection System (TPS). However, no impact with the orbiter was noted, although an investigation is still ongoing as to the root cause of the liberation.<\/p>\n
\u201cLate ascent time of occurrence not ruled out \u2013 and also observed RTV-133 debonds associated with BSM closeout,\u201d the presentation added. \u201cIFA declared and Anomaly Resolution Team (ART-279) formed to investigate anomaly. Fault tree baselined and investigation ongoing.\u201d<\/p>\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.nasaspaceflight.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2010\/07\/A43.jpg\" "\\"A4\\"")
Squawks are minor issues which fail to be upgraded into a full IFA, with STS-132\u2019s boosters listing nine \u2013 a low number \u2013 such items of interest in the review.<\/p>\n\u201c132-002: System Tunnel Cover with Unknown Blue Material \u2013 No effect to hardware performance. 132-003: ET Attach Ring Forward Face Froth-Pak Foam Multiple Ascent Impact \u2013 No effect to system performance. 132-006: Range Safety System (RSS) Linear Shaped Charge (LSC) Connector Grease Intrusion \u2013 No effect to system performance,\u201d listed the presentation.<\/p>\n
\u201c132-007 (x2): Corroded Coupling Nut on Aft Tunnel Cable Connectors \u2013 No effect to system performance. 132-008: Cracked Aft Beam on Frustum Aft Ring at -Y Isogrid Connection Point Splashdown time of occurrence. 132-009: Tape on Thrust Vector Control (TVC) Lower Frame \u2013 No effect to system performance.<\/p>\n
\u201c132-010: LH Rock and Tilt Auxiliary Power Unit (APU) Gearbox Quick Disconnect (QD) Cap O-rings Damaged Descent time of occurrence. 132-011: Shim Material Blistering on Hold Down Post (HDP) 1 No effect to system performance, Below Risk Assessment Mass.\u201d<\/p>\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.nasaspaceflight.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2010\/07\/A5.jpg\" "\\"A5\\"")
Squawk 132-002 provided a good example as to just how extensive the boosters are evaluated, even \u2013 in this case \u2013 before they launch, whist also showing how minor a squawk can be, with the blue material found to be nothing more than printer ink.<\/p>\n\u201cObserved during L-1 day walkdown. Integrated SRB General Assembly Drawing Flag Note 0031 allows unavoidable processing material,\u201d the presentation noted.<\/p>\n
\u201cSquawk generated to sample area, found material textured with multi-colored pattern. Compared to multiple sources Ball point pen, roller pen, laser printer ink and processing tap. Concluded most likely printer ink potentially transferred from Ground Operations processing tag. No effect to hardware performance.\u201d<\/p>\n
STS-132\u2019s RSRMs:<\/p>\n
The performance of STS-132\u2019s RSRM set 111 was classed as within specifications and overall \u2018excellent\u2019, although their inspection process takes slightly longer, and involves evaluations once the motors have returned to ATK\u2019s base in Utah. So far, no IFAs have been declared, as engineers push forward towards their +180 days report.<\/p>\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.nasaspaceflight.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2010\/07\/A61.jpg\" "\\"A6\\"")
\u201cAll RSRM countdown parameters were within LCC (Launch Commit Criteria\/OMRS limits and within family,\u201d opened the ATK presentation to the STS-132 IFA review (L2). \u201cOverall performance of both RSRM motors and all ATK BSMs excellent and well within requirements.<\/p>\n\u201cRSRM postflight hardware evaluation is ongoing: KSC \u2013 in work. Aft BSM and RH field joint assessments still to be performed. Utah \u2013 in work. Nozzle joint disassembly complete. No IFAs declared at this time.\u201d<\/p>\n
Only four squawks \u2013 two related to the same issue \u2013 were written, all of which have been reviewed and classed as no impact to the performance of the hardware.<\/p>\n
\u201cOverall performance of both STS-132 (RSRM-111) motors and ATK BSMs were excellent. Postflight evaluation is still in work. Four squawks have been written at this time. No IFAs declared at this time but additional postflight disassembly and evaluations are still in work,\u201d added the introduction.<\/p>\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.nasaspaceflight.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2010\/07\/A7.jpg\" "\\"A7\\"")
Two of the squawks were charged against the Left Hand (LH) Booster Separation Motor (BSM), relating to insulator-to-closure edge unbonds on serial numbers 232 and 233. Due to the lack of debris or motor performance concerns, this issue was not elevated to become an IFA.<\/p>\nThe issue is also classed as likely to have occurred during splashdown in the Atlantic ocean, as opposed to during any phase of the powered ascent of first stage flight.<\/p>\n
\u201cCreation and growth of unbonds during post-operation heat soak and splashdown is expected,\u201d noted the presentation. \u201cNo mechanism exists for creation of unbonds prior to post-operation heat soak.\u201d<\/p>\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.nasaspaceflight.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2010\/07\/A8.jpg\" "\\"A8\\"")
The third issue related to the Right Hand (RH) Nozzle Leak Check Barrier O-ring Groove on the Aft Edge Corner \u2013 which suffered from phenolic damage. No compromise to joint performance was noted.<\/p>\n\u201cA small area of damage to the RH nozzle-to-case leak check barrier O-ring groove aft corner was observed at 308 degrees,\u201d noted the presentation, which added the cause is still being investigated.<\/p>\n
\u201cCause determination is still in work but loss is not expected to compromise thermal barrier capability of the leak check barrier O-ring or decrease the expected joint performance in the event of pressure reaching the leak check barrier O-ring.\u201d<\/p>\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.nasaspaceflight.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2010\/07\/A9.jpg\" "\\"A9\\"")
The final note on the IFA presentation referenced a blister on the insulation associated with the Right Hand Igniter Chamber. The blister was noted as a manufacturing defect with no impact to igniter performance.<\/p>\n\u201cUnusually shaped feature (roughly 0.5\u201d by 2\u201d) was noted on the ID of the RH igniter chamber. Squawk was written to permit evaluation,\u201d the presentation continued.<\/p>\n
\u201cA portion was excised which verified the observation was a blister and had no signs of thermal effects or sooting. Engineering allows blisters of this size in this region of the igniter.\u201d<\/p>\n
As with the orbiter and External Tank (ET) IFA reviews, the performance of the shuttle hardware has been highly impressive over recent years, at the very least ensuring the Space Shuttle Program (SSP) goes out on a high, or potentially vindicating the faith of lawmakers \u2013 should they approve funding to allow the program to continue through as far as 2012.<\/p>\n
Proof the shuttle\u2019s recent performance has been recognized by the engineering and political communities can also be seen via such extension debates, which now focus mainly on cost, as opposed to safety concerns.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
As the era of large Solid Rocket Boosters (SRBs) for NASA launch vehicles appears to be drawing to a close, the performance of STS-132\u2019s booster set was recorded as excellent at the In Flight Anomaly Review (IFA). In total, zero IFAs were recorded on the Reusable Solid Rocket Motors (RSRMs) \u2013 with only four minor […]<\/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":[8925,7806,3485],"class_list":["post-40724","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-news","tag-ifa","tag-srb","tag-sts-132"],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/starpath.global\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/40724"}],"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=40724"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/starpath.global\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/40724\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/starpath.global\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=40724"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/starpath.global\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=40724"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/starpath.global\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=40724"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}