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Engineers were given permission to enter the pad and work on resolving the issue with the regulator, which was successful. However, tanking was delayed 30 minutes while the engineers cleared the launch pad, as is required ahead of ET loading.<\/p>\n
A minor IPR was recorded against a Solid Rocket Booster (SRB), but was soon cleared from a technical standpoint, although both the Cabin Pressure and Booster IPRs remained in the Launch Control Center\u2019s Firing Room log due to a small computer issue. This would not have prevented launch.<\/p>\n
Attempt 2:<\/p>\n
No problems were recorded since the count picked up for the second attempt, with the weather at both the Kennedy Space Center (KSC) and the overseas TAL (Transatlantic Abort Sites) once again becoming the main focus of evaluations. However, all sites and the range improved, allowing a go for launch.<\/p>\n
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Earlier, a go for tanking given by the Mission Management Team (MMT), and completed three hours later. The crew ingressed the orbiter and completed communication checks, before the crew cabin was closed out. An issue-free countdown followed, with Endeavour and her crew now into Flight Day 1.<\/p>\n
STS-130 Specific Articles: http:\/\/www.nasaspaceflight.com\/tag\/sts-130\/<\/p>\n
Endeavour\u2019s SSMEs:<\/p>\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.nasaspaceflight.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2010\/02\/A35.jpg\" "\\"A3\\"")
Endeavour will be flying with Main Engines 2059 and 2057 \u2013 which have flown three and four times respectively \u2013 and also ME 2061 \u2013 which is debuting on its first flight. This flight history gained via previously flown engines is priceless for engineers, who also used the performance of previous flight\u2019s engines as part of their FRR-level review.<\/p>\n\u201cTwo IFA (In Flight Anomaly) conditions affecting SSME identified on STS-128,\u201d noted the Agency FRR SSME presentation \u2013 one of 50+ available to download on L2. \u201c1) Hotwall Leaks on Nozzle 4027. 2) KSC, Foreign Material Deposit Recovered from Space Shuttle Main Engine (SSME) #3 during Post-flight Inspections. Debris Observed on SSME Nozzle Hatband. No SSME IFAs identified for STS-129.\u201d<\/p>\n
The nozzle leaks \u2013 though not a flight safety issue \u2013 have been the recent focus of engineering reviews, following small leaks on both Endeavour\u2019s and Discovery\u2019s engine nozzles during their previous two launches.<\/p>\n
\u201cBackground: Nozzle leaks have been observed throughout program history. Forward end leaks tend to be microscopic corrosion pinhole leaks. Standard repair, no effects on engine operation,\u201d added the presentation. \u201cIncrease in number of forward end corrosion leaks observed on recent flights (STS-127, 128, 129). Leak rate remains small with no observable effect on engine operation.\u201d<\/p>\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.nasaspaceflight.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2010\/02\/A45.jpg\" "\\"A4\\"")
Endeavour\u2019s engines will be the first to fly without the use of an inhibitor that has been applied by a sponge \u2013 which is understood to be the root cause of the leak issue.<\/p>\n\u201cCause Identified: STS-127, STS-128 & STS-129 Nozzles contaminated with chlorides during corrosion inhibitor application (Sponges). Chlorides accelerated corrosion in braze shrinkage cracks leading to damage to tube and leakage.<\/p>\n
\u201cCorrective action implemented: Nozzles cleaned to remove contamination. Extended application of corrosion inhibitor on all affected nozzles (Nozzle 2033 on STS-130). Corrosion inhibitor applied to reduce further corrosion and additional leaks.<\/p>\n
\u201cAll materials used during application have been tested for compatibility. Dry air purge implemented for VAB, roll to Pad and on the Pad. Portable unit at VAB and Environmental Control System purges at Pad tested for proper temperature, humidity and flow.\u201d<\/p>\n
Despite the lack of performance from microscopic leaks, and more importantly no concern for flight safety, rationale for both the engines and the changes to procedures used to mitigate the nozzle leaks was presented to the final \u201cLevel I\u201d FRR at the Kennedy Space Center (KSC).<\/p>\n
\u201cFlight Rationale: STS-130 units meet flight leakage criteria and are in-family. Current corrosion inhibitor application on all nozzles performed with tested materials. Leakage rate on corrosion nozzles is low with large margins to engine performance effects. Leakage rate well within limits safely demonstrated in ground test,\u201d noted flight rationale.<\/p>\n
\u201cSTS-127, STS-128 and STS-129 performance reviews showed no impact on measurable data. Experience and analysis demonstrate large changes in leakage rate due to corrosion are not credible.\u201d<\/p>\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.nasaspaceflight.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2010\/02\/A25.jpg\" "\\"A2\\"")
Endeavour\u2019s flight will also sport two other changes, as engineers continue their drive to improve the engines. The first change relates to a first flight of a \u201cJoint F2 Liquid Air Insulation Boot Redesign and Helium Purge.\u201d<\/p>\n\u201cReason for Change: Joint F2 (LPFTP-to-LPFTP Discharge Duct) Liquid Air Insulation Boot, did not adequately prevent formation of LN2 above Engine Controller.<\/p>\n
\u201cResolution: Redesigned boot with helium purge prevents GN2 from contacting cryogenic surfaces within boot and liquefying. Uses 10 percent of Helium Barrier Bag flow. Certification Status \u2013 Complete.<\/p>\n
\u201cCertification Results: No LN2 generation observed during chill or hot-fire in bagged nitrogen environment, lowest measured temperatures ~130 degrees R above LN2 temp. Redesigned boot in excellent condition after test series. No adverse effect on Helium Barrier Bag function.\u201d<\/p>\n
The second first flight item relates to the \u201cHPFTP Roller Bearing Roller Element Manufactor Process Change\u201d.<\/p>\n
\u201cReason for Change: Bearing roller element material vendor changed facilities and some manufacturing processes. Toshiba raw material facility relocated in 2000. Equipment, process, and personnel moved within same city. Toshiba roller blank sintering process changed in 2000 to increase production yield,\u201d noted the presentation.<\/p>\n
\u201cFurnace holding times, temperatures and atmospheres changed based on Taguchi design of experiments.<\/p>\n
\u201cResolution: All material properties (chemical, physical & mechanical, flexural strength, fracture toughness, and microstructure) verified to be within material properties of previously certified material. Certification \u2013 complete.\u201d<\/p>\n
Despite the recent positive evaluations by the Program Requirements Control Board (PRCB) for using existing SSME engine sets \u2013 and also the one to two year timeline to supply new engines \u2013 for use in a \u201cfuture launch vehicle\u201d, the FY2011 budget proposal all-but ends this historically reliable engine\u2019s life when the last shuttle flies later this year.<\/p>\n
L2 members<\/em><\/em>: Documentation \u2013 from which the above article has quoted snippets \u2013 is available in full in the related L2 sections, now over 4500 gbs in size<\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Shuttle Endeavour has launched on the second launch to start STS-130, following a 24 hour scrub due to unacceptable cloud cover on Sunday morning. The youngest orbiter in the fleet behaved well on the pad with no issues ahead of her 4:14 Eastern liftoff. Meanwhile, another key element of the Flight Readiness Review (FRR) covered […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":29523,"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":[8116,9183],"class_list":["post-40874","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-news","tag-ssme","tag-sts-130"],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/starpath.global\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/40874"}],"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=40874"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/starpath.global\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/40874\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/starpath.global\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/29523"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/starpath.global\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=40874"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/starpath.global\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=40874"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/starpath.global\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=40874"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}