- \n
- STS-133 UPDATES<\/li>\n
- L2 STS-133 Special Section<\/li>\n
- Click here to Join L2<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
Work is being conducted throughout Discovery, including testing of her Orbiter Boom Sensor System (OBSS), which began on Wednesday.<\/p>\n
\u201cPRSD (Power Reactant Storage and Distributation) system testing was completed. Main landing gear seal R&R was completed. OBSS testing has begun.<\/p>\n
\u201cAdditional WSB 3 (Water Spray Boiler) decay checks and WSB 1, 2, & 3 core fill is scheduled. WCS installation was completed Wednesday morning; functionality testing is scheduled for Thursday.\u201d<\/p>\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.nasaspaceflight.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2010\/06\/A3191.jpg\" "\\"A319\\"")
Discovery\u2019s three SSMEs were uninstalled last week \u2013 in order to allow ME-1 to be removed after its Low Pressure Oxidizer Turbo Pump (LPOTP) failed torque checks.<\/p>\nSpace Technology
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While work was ongoing to install a replacement LPOTP on ME-1, the Program Requirements Control Board (PRCB) approved a Change Request (CR) to swap the positions of two engines, allowing for their reinstallation without being delayed by the work on ME-1.<\/p>\n
\u201cEngine relief valve checks were completed Tuesday; post-ops are scheduled to complete Wednesday,\u201d added the NTD. \u201cLH\/RH (Left Hand\/Right Hand) translators were opened Tuesday in support of SSME installation which began on Wednesday.\u201d<\/p>\n
UPDATE: However, on Thursday \u2013 according to the NTD \u2013 the last of the three SSMEs was already being installed. Due to the new positions, only ME-1 would need to be removed, if the same issue repeats itself during testing. Previously, all three engines had to be uninstalled to allow for ME-1\u2019s removal from its center position, due to interferences.<\/p>\n
Meanwhile, in the Vehicle Assembly Building (VAB) High Bay 3 (HB-3), final torque and leak checks between the mated External Tank (ET-137) and the twin Solid Rocket Boosters (SRBs) are in the process of being completed this week.<\/p>\n
\u201cSRB BI-144 \/ RSRM 112 \/ ET-137 (VAB HB-3): Installations; complete less final torque. Perform final torque after leak checks are completed Thursday,\u201d added the NTD report. \u201cL\/R SRB NSI Ordnance Installations are complete, closeouts are in work. L\/R Heater Cable closeouts; L\/R Heater Cables complete less RT-455 pull test results. Camera cable RT-455 in cure.\u201d<\/p>\n
STS-133 Specific Articles: http:\/\/www.nasaspaceflight.com\/tag\/sts-133\/<\/p>\n
STS-132 SSME Streaks:<\/p>\n
Streaks in the engine plumes are not uncommon. However, the number of observations seen during Atlantis\u2019 first stage ascent earned a mention in three presentations at the STS-132 IFA review \u2013 primarily on the Pratt and Whitney SSME presentation to PRCB-level managers.<\/p>\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.nasaspaceflight.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2010\/06\/A322.jpg\" "\\"A3\\"")
\u201cNumerous plume streaks between 23 \u2013 54 seconds MET (Mission Elapsed Time). Do not correspond to any anomalous engine events,\u201d noted the SSME IFA presentation for STS-132 \u2013 all 15 presentations available on L2.<\/p>\nThe observations are not a safety issue, nor was there any loss of performance \u2013 backed up by the Mission Management Team (MMT) review of Atlantis\u2019 ascent performance, which was deemed to be excellent. However, a root cause for the events are still being investigated.<\/p>\n
\u201cPhoto Analysis of SSME Plume Streaks: Engine performance as predicted. No indication of event that would cause engine debris,\u201d added the SSME IFA presentation. \u201cMSFC (Marshall Space Flight Center) photographic analysis group reviewed video to determine most likely source of debris.<\/p>\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.nasaspaceflight.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2010\/06\/A419.jpg\" "\\"A4\\"")
\u201c11 of 217 events identified as possibly engine related (streaks appear to initiate at the nozzle rim). No streaks believed to be internal to the plume boundary.\u201d<\/p>\nThe source of the streaks \u2013 a number classed as twice as much as the previous record\u2019 \u2013 may be found once Atlantis\u2019 SSMEs undergo a detailed inspection later this month (July).<\/p>\n
\u201cMultiple Streaks Observed in SSME Plume Description: 217 streaks were observed in the SSME plumes. Normally get 20-40 streaks per flight, have seen up to 94 streaks,\u201d added the Integration IFA review presentation (L2). \u201cEngine detailed visual inspections will begin in July.\u201d<\/p>\n
Atlantis\u2019 SSMEs are due to be removed shortly, with engineers currently working on uninstalling the SSME dome heat shields.<\/p>\n
Atlantis continues to be processed as the STS-335 vehicle \u2013 Launch On Need (LON) support for STS-134. With the possibility STS-135 may be approved in the next 4-8 weeks, Atlantis \u2013 providing managers approve OV-104 for the mission \u2013 may still receive one more flight.<\/p>\n
STS-132 Specific Articles: http:\/\/www.nasaspaceflight.com\/tag\/sts-132\/<\/p>\n
The performance of Atlantis\u2019 engines \u2013 E2052, E2051 and E2047 \u2013 during what is currently her final mission was classed as nominal at the SSME IFA Review, with only a frayed Flow Recirculation Inhibitor (FRI) note added to the aforementioned observation of streaks in the SSME plumes.<\/p>\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.nasaspaceflight.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2010\/06\/A513.jpg\" "\\"A5\\"")
\u201cIssue: Degraded FRI found on Nozzle 5007 \/ E2051 post STS-132. Approximate 6\u201d (25 degree) section frayed and extending into the flow path.\u201d<\/p>\nFRI is filled ceramic fiber tube installed in the space between nozzle tubes and MCC wall at the G15 joint. The fact such a small observation was even listed in the IFA review is a testament to the inspection process, and historical performance of the engines.<\/p>\n
\u201cFRI protects G15 Bellows Seal from overheating by reducing recirculation of hot gas into G15 cavity. FRI degradation is a normal wear issue with hot fire exposure. Function is maintained with fraying,\u201d added the presentation, before noting hot fire experience for added confidence the issue held no safety concerns.<\/p>\n
\u201cNozzle 2027 E0423 showed FRI damage after 1023 sec hot fire. FRI continued to provide protection and engine tested successfully to 4367 sec without damage to seal.\u201d<\/p>\n
FRI was only added to the SSMEs after STS-34, and a bellow seal will not fail during one flight \u2013 thus the issue was closed as no concern for safety of flight or performance.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
An In Flight Anomaly (IFA) Review into STS-132\u2019s ascent has noted an observation of over 200 streaks from Atlantis\u2019 Space Shuttle Main Engine (SSME) plumes during ascent. While the number of streaks is twice the amount of the previous \u201crecord\u201d no loss of performance or safety margins were breached. Meanwhile, Discovery has received all of […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":29631,"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":[9195,3485,9051],"class_list":["post-40729","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-news","tag-ssmes","tag-sts-132","tag-sts-133"],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/starpath.global\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/40729"}],"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=40729"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/starpath.global\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/40729\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/starpath.global\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/29631"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/starpath.global\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=40729"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/starpath.global\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=40729"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/starpath.global\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=40729"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}