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\u201cSpace Shuttle Main Engine (SSME) removal: Engine 2 and 3 removals are complete; engine 1 removal completed on Friday,\u201d noted the NASA Test Director (NTD) in processing information on L2. \u201cSSME Thrust Vector Control (TVC) DPF test performed.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cMass Memory Unit (MMU) R&R was completed. Forward Reaction Control System (FRCS) functional and checkout.\u201d<\/p>\n
Engineers have finally brought Discovery\u2019s Ku-Band capability back on line, following issues during STS-131. The root cause was deemed to be a problem with the Ku-band\u2019s Deployed Assembly (DA), which has now been replaced, with electrical connection mates completed.<\/p>\n
The Ku-band system has been checked on Atlantis, although plans are in place for the crew, should a similar issue occur during STS-132.<\/p>\n
Rocket launch schedules
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STS-133 Specific Articles: http:\/\/www.nasaspaceflight.com\/tag\/sts-133\/<\/p>\n
Engineers are continuing to work on Discovery throughout the weekend, finishing any outstanding work on her FRCS, while the ceramic inserts on her Payload Bay Door hinge line are being inspected, ensuring they have all remained in place \u2013 following the Flight Readiness Review (FRR) interest in the inserts, via their potential to liberate.<\/p>\n
\u201cWeekend Work: Forward Reaction Control System (FRCS) functional checkout (contingency),\u201d added the NTD report. \u201cPreparations for Aft Propulsion System (APS) functional checkout. Payload Bay Door (PLBD) inserts inspection\/rework. Thermal Protection System Waterproofing Sunday (Bay Clear).\u201d<\/p>\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.nasaspaceflight.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2010\/05\/A33.jpg\" "\\"A3\\"")
While the liberation threat from the inserts have focused on the handful of loose and missing plugs around the windows of the orbiter on a couple of recent flights, the problem with accessing the inserts on the PLBD hinge line has resulted in the aforementioned checks being conducted in the OPF.<\/p>\nEngineers are only double checking none of the inserts are showing signs of coming loose, as program confidence has already been earned via flight history showing no liberations from this area \u2013 which in turn has allowed for flight rationale to be in place for STS-131 and STS-132.<\/p>\n
The biggest challenge facing STS-133 remains the modification of the Multi-Purpose Logistics Module (MPLM) Leonardo, as engineers convert it into a PMM (Permanent Multi-purpose Module), ahead of being left on the International Space Station (ISS) at the conclusion to the docked phase of the mission.<\/p>\n
The timeline \u2013 to be ready to support the launch date of September 16 \u2013 is deemed to be extremely tight, and remains at risk of slipping by a few weeks.<\/p>\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.nasaspaceflight.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2010\/05\/A42.jpg\" "\\"A4\\"")
Other payload considerations are also being discussed, mainly based around the problems suffered by the STS-131 delivered NTA (Nitrogen Tank Assembly).<\/p>\nAlthough the tank is now working as planned, meetings had already taken place to include a LMC (Lightweight Multi-Purpose Experiment Support Structure Carrier) into Discovery\u2019s already \u201cbusy\u201d payload bay.<\/p>\n
\u201cA CR (Change Request) will go into the system to put the LMC on STS-133 and to increase the mission duration from 8+1 to 10+1. Trades are being discussed,\u201d noted Flight Operations & Integration via the Shuttle Standup Integration report (L2).<\/p>\n
However, once the NTA had undergone successful troubleshooting, the decision may now be reversed \u2013 confirming the NTA was central to the original call for the inclusion of a LMC.<\/p>\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.nasaspaceflight.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2010\/05\/A3151.jpg\" "\\"A315\\"")
\u201cHad a CR submitted (which has been pulled back) to add an LMC to STS-133\/ULF5 to return the nitrogen tank,\u201d added Flight Operations & Integration on a later Standup report. \u201cThis is on hold until ISS can figure out if they want to leave the NTA on board or not.\u201d<\/p>\nA final decision on adding the LMC to Discovery\u2019s payload bay will be taken at the Space Station Program Control Board (SSPCB) meeting on May 18.<\/p>\n
\u201cI asked a question about the ULF5 Payload Bay config and whether adding an LMC was still under consideration,\u201d noted one manager on the FPWG notes (L2). \u201cThe response was that the NTA problems appear to be resolved and the likelihood to fly and LMC was now reduced since NTA is back operational.<\/p>\n
\u201cThis topic will be added to the next SSPCB agenda, probably on 5\/18. If the LMC were added, two key tasks would be the R&R (Removal and Replacement) of the NTA Tank, and the LWAP (Light Weight Adapter Plate) task.\u201d<\/p>\n
Meanwhile, Discovery\u2019s ET has arrived in Florida, ahead of being offloaded on Monday, and transported into the Vehicle Assembly Building\u2019s High Bay 4E for checkouts.<\/p>\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.nasaspaceflight.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2010\/05\/A52.jpg\" "\\"A5\\"")
The tank enjoyed a smooth processing flow at the Michoud Assembly Facility (MAF) in New Orleans, who only have ET-138 for STS-134, and ET-122 for STS-335 to ship, if the current manifest remains unchanged.<\/p>\n\u201cET-137 is now expected on Dock Saturday, May 8th at the VAB Turn Basin around 1630,\u201d pre-empted the NTD on Friday. \u201cOffload to the VAB transfer aisle Monday, May 10th, lift into HB-4E on Tuesday, May 11th.\u201d<\/p>\n
The tank will eventually be moved to High Bay 3 for mating with the twin Solid Rocket Boosters (SRBs), which are currently undergoing stacking operations.<\/p>\n
\u201cSRB BI-144 \/ RSRM 112 (VAB HB-3): LH (Left Hand) HDP (Hold Down Post) Stud Tensioning; Tensioners installed, tensioning is ready to work. RH HDP Stud Tensioning; Tensioning complete, tensioners moved to LH, ground check next,\u201d added the NTD report.<\/p>\n
\u201cRight Aft Center segment mate is complete. Beam is disconnected and on the dolly. Primer is in cure. Leak check is in work. Left Aft Center segment stacking is scheduled for next Wednesday\/Thursday.\u201d<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Discovery\u2019s speedy turnaround from STS-131 to STS-133 is continuing on the timeline, as engineers completed the removal of her three Space Shuttle Main Engines (SSMEs) and welcome External Tank (ET-137) to the Kennedy Space Center (KSC). STS-133\u2019s September launch target remains under threat of slipping, due to required modification work on Discovery\u2019s payload. STS-133 Processing […]<\/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-40785","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\/40785"}],"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=40785"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/starpath.global\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/40785\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/starpath.global\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=40785"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/starpath.global\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=40785"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/starpath.global\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=40785"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}