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\u201cPayload Bay Door closure for flight. Launch Countdown preps continue. Launch Countdown Call-to-Stations (CTS) is scheduled at 0230 EDT.\u201d<\/p>\n
The L-2 MMT will be held at 10am on Saturday, a final major overview of the orbiter\u2019s status, ahead of Sunday\u2019s tanking and weather briefing \u2013 which is scheduled for 8:15pm Eastern. Initial forecasts show no weather concerns are being predicted for Monday\u2019s launch, either locally or at the TAL (TransAtlantic Abort Landing Sites).<\/p>\n
Discovery\u2019s seven member crew have arrived at the Kennedy Space Center (KSC), with STS-131 commander Alan Poindexter, pilot Jim Dutton and mission specialists Rick Mastracchio, Dottie Metcalf-Lindenburger, Stephanie Wilson, Naoko Yamazaki and Clay Anderson flying in from Ellington Field in a Gulfstream jet.<\/p>\n
Items of Interest, STS-128 Reminders, and IFA Carryovers:<\/p>\n
NASA educational resources
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The bulk of information contained within the FO&I (Flight Operations & Integration) presentation focused on one item of interest for STS-131, general reminders from the STS-128 flight last August\/September, and two IFAs (In-Flight Anomalies) from STS-130.<\/p>\n
STS-131 Specific Articles: http:\/\/www.nasaspaceflight.com\/tag\/sts-131\/<\/p>\n
In terms of the sole Item of Interest for STS-131, \u201cFirst flight of certified 1-jet ALT PRCS (Primary Reaction Control System) with variable delay as shuttle-active mated control backup for loss of VRCS (Vernier Reaction Control System),\u201d notes the FO&I presentation to that SSP FRR (Space Shuttle Program Flight Readiness Review).<\/p>\n
The presentation notes that the 1-jet variable ALT PRCS control mode was assessed with a five-second delay that \u201creduces fatigue on ISS and increases likelihood of acceptable loads on ISS for remaining flights.\u201d<\/p>\n
Following that Item of Interest in the FO&I presentation is a list of three reminders from Discovery\u2019s previous flight \u2013 the STS-128 mission last year.<\/p>\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.nasaspaceflight.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2010\/04\/A31.jpg\" "\\"A3\\"")
The first reminder pertains to the removal of aft bulkhead hardware: aft winch, WVS antenna, and handrails. Removal of this hardware for STS-128 was necessary to provide adequate clearances for the LMC with ATA (Ammonia Tank Assembly).<\/p>\nThose components were not reinstalled onto Discovery after STS-128 since the LMC\/ATA combo are again flying on STS-131 and require the same clearance margins. Moreover, the second reminder from STS-128 relates to ATA contingency venting procedures.<\/p>\n
\u201cATA Venting Contingency: ATA nominally returns with ~200 lbs in a two fault tolerant configuration against NH3 leakage per NSTS (National Space Transportation System) 1700.7B.\u201d<\/p>\n
Furthermore, there are time periods where flammable conditions are predicted to occur, though this is acceptable because of numerous controls in the ATA venting process.<\/p>\n
The third and final reminder from STS-128 pertains to a MPLM Sneak Circuit.<\/p>\n
The FO&I presentation notes that \u201cWhen the MPLM is attached to Node 2 (Nadir), a sneak circuit is created by the MPLM Jumper which backfeeds 120 Vdc to the ISS Remote Power Control Module 17 when the MPLM Power Distribution Box (PDB) Remote Power Controller (RPC) 23 is loose.\u201d<\/p>\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.nasaspaceflight.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2010\/04\/A4.jpg\" "\\"A4\\"")
This issue is not a concern for MPLM operations in Discovery\u2019s Payload Bay and is thus not a concern for flight.<\/p>\nIn addition to the above items, FO&I has also thoroughly reviewed all outstanding IFAs, with two IFAs from STS-130 gaining note in the department\u2019s presentation to the SSP FRR \u2013 both of which are not a constraint to STS-131.<\/p>\n
The first IFA in question pertains to Orbiter Interface Unit (OIU) Bus Interface Errors. \u201cFO&I currently tracking ISS IFI-7483 OIU troubleshooting plan, and OPO (Orbiter Project Office) MER-09 (Mission Evaluation Room -09) post flight inspection and testing of X3\/X4 connectors at the ODS\u201d on Endeavour.<\/p>\n
Currently, there is \u201cadequate OIU functionality\u201d to prevent this issue from being a concern for the STS-131\/19A flight as a total of four channels are available for use during STS-131 \u2013 a number that could be lowered to three should the problem present itself during Discovery\u2019s mission.<\/p>\n
The second and last IFA to gain mention from FO&I relates to the MAUI Department of Defense (DoD) payload of opportunity.<\/p>\n
\u201cFO&I is coordinating with DoD regarding the payload IFA associated with MAUI on STS-130 (20A),\u201d notes the FO&I presentation.<\/p>\n
\u201cInitial assessments do not implicate NASA\/Shuttle issues, but likely DoD-AMOS data exchange and potential system-to-system data interpretation miscues.\u201d<\/p>\n
The presentation further notes that DoD is \u201cresponsible for resolving the anomaly prior to requesting additional MAUI burns on subsequent Shuttle flights.\u201d<\/p>\n
Launch On Need and Contingency Shuttle Crew Support Timelines for STS-131:<\/p>\n
In the extremely unlikely case that orbiter Discovery were to become disabled during STS-131, orbiter Atlantis and the STS-132 stack would be tasked with carrying out the Launch On Need (LON) rescue flight for Discovery\u2019s seven astronauts.<\/p>\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.nasaspaceflight.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2010\/04\/A51.jpg\" "\\"A5\\"")
Should LON be required, orbiter Atlantis, ET-136, and RSRM set 111 would be prepared for launch in the full-up STS-132 configuration, with MRM-1 (Mini-Russian Research Module 1) and ICC-VLD (Integrated Cargo Carrier \u2013 Vertical Lightweight Deployable) payloads installed into her payload bay.<\/p>\nFor the rescue flight, Atlantis would be crewed by STS-132 Commander Ken Ham, Pilot Tony Antonelli, Mission Specialist Garret Riesman, and Mission Specialist Steve Bowen. The mission would target a launch date of May 14, 2010 \u2013 the current No Earlier Than launch date of the STS-132 nominal mission.<\/p>\n
Should the LON mission become a requirement, a LON launch on May 14 would translate to a 40-day rescue period \u2013 well within the International Space Station\u2019s CSCS (Contingency Shuttle Crew Support) timeframe of 102-days.<\/p>\n
\u201cWith standard assumptions, duration for all consumables is greater than Shuttle LON capability\u201d of 40 days, notes the FO&I presentation to the SSP FRR, available for download on L2.<\/p>\n
In all, the CSCS timeframe for STS-131\u2019s crew is constrained by the food stuffs currently aboard the ISS. \u201cISS CSCS consumables support 102 days food,\u201d notes the FO&I presentation.<\/p>\n
Aside from food, the ISS is able to the support the STS-131\/Discovery crew for 328 days based on Oxygen supplies, 247 days based on water reserves, 216 days based on waste containment, and an indefinite timeframe in terms of CO2 removal capability.<\/p>\n
For this LON scenario, none of Discovery\u2019s astronauts would return to Earth on a Soyuz craft and all crew members would maintain a nominal exercise routine.<\/p>\n
Discovery herself would remain docked to the ISS for 24-days before being remotely undocked from the ISS and either destructively reentered over of the Pacific Ocean or remotely guided through reentry with the hope of landing her at Edwards Air Force Base, California.<\/p>\n
Engineering Status:<\/p>\n
From an engineering standpoint, no significant issues with Discovery, the SSV (Space Shuttle Vehicle) stack, or the payload are being worked at this time. There are currently no non-conformances, no crew squawks, no Launch Commit Criteria concerns or changes, and no Support Requirement issues.<\/p>\n
In terms of technical requirements, there are currently no open waivers or exceptions for final vehicle launch processing and all open requirements are scheduled for completion (or have already been completed).<\/p>\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.nasaspaceflight.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2010\/04\/A6.jpg\" "\\"A6\\"")
All Orbiter \u201clost & found Problem Reports\u201d have been evaluated by the Mission Engineering Review Board and have been \u201cdispositioned as no constraint and are closed,\u201d notes the Engineering Status presentation to the SSP FRR, available for download on L2.<\/p>\nThere are no Payload \u201clost & found Problem Reports\u201d for STS-131. Nonetheless, according the Risk Assessment and Mitigation division, there are three identified risk areas for \u201cKSC programmatic and Flight 19A.\u201d<\/p>\n
The first risk pertains to the Composite Overwrapped Pressure Vessel (COPV). \u201cRisk #6011: Composite Overwrapped Pressure Vessel (COPV) May cause catastrophic damage and loss of life it they rupture,\u201d notes the Engineering Status presentation.<\/p>\n
This known condition has translated into a two-step COPV pressurization procedure to decrease the likelihood of a COPV rupture during pre-flight preparations.<\/p>\n
The second identified risk was the turnaround time for the MPLM Leonardo from its last flight on the STS-128 mission in August\/September 2009. This risk and all associated work have been closed and are no longer issues or concerns.<\/p>\n
The third and final risk pertains to the retention of the skilled contractor workforce at KSC. \u201cRisk # 6136: Contractor Workforce Through 2010. Critical skills are required to successfully complete processing ISS flights through 2010.\u201d<\/p>\n
As with the COPV risk, this contractor workforce risk has been known and understood for many months and steps\/procedures are in place to curtail this risk.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Following a series of highly elaborative and successful Flight Readiness Reviews (FRRs), launch of the Space Shuttle Discovery on the STS-131 mission is just three days away \u2013 as Launch Countdown (S0007) operations kicked off early on Friday morning. With the pad flow proceeding to plan, managers are finalizing their preparations for the L-2 Mission […]<\/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":[9184],"class_list":["post-40827","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-news","tag-sts-131"],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/starpath.global\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/40827"}],"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=40827"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/starpath.global\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/40827\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/starpath.global\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=40827"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/starpath.global\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=40827"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/starpath.global\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=40827"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}