- \n
- LIVE STS-129 UPDATES<\/li>\n
- L2 STS-129 Special Section<\/li>\n
- Click here to Join L2<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
The final overview of Atlantis\u2019 engineering status was presented to the crew at the weekend, a meeting that updates work that has been carried out on Atlantis since the crew were last at the Kennedy Space Center for the Terminal Countdown Demonstration Test (TCDT) in October.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe purpose of this briefing is to provide the Atlantis Flight Crew with a summary of significant vehicle and payload issues that have occurred since the STS-129 TCDT L-1 Day briefing that was presented on 10\/20\/09,\u201d opened the STS-129 Launch Countdown L-1 Engineering Briefing presentation, acquired by L2.<\/p>\n
\u201cThis briefing package has been developed in coordination with applicable STS-129\/Atlantis system lead engineers as well as the ASP (Astronaut Support Personnel) representatives for this mission.\u201d<\/p>\n
Space Shuttle
<\/path>Spaceflight <\/path>Space Technology <\/path>\n (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({});<\/p>\n
STS-129 Specific Articles: http:\/\/www.nasaspaceflight.com\/tag\/sts-129\/<\/p>\n
While the presentation is 18 pages long \u2013 and associated with a 36 page Delta FRR (Flight Readiness Review) update presentation that concentrates on modified flight rules and procedures \u2013 the reoccurring theme is that Atlantis has enjoyed a very smooth pad flow.<\/p>\n
\u201cSignificant system problems since the TDCT briefing: None. System modifications implemented since the TDCT: None,\u201d listed the presentation, with only a replaced Multifunction Display Unit (MDU CRT 2) opening the list of changes as a miscellaneous system item \u2013 along with instructions to the crew in the event of a related on-orbit issue.<\/p>\n
\u201cAs was mentioned during the TCDT briefing, MDU CRT 2 was removed and replaced due to some scratches on the LCD surface. The new unit has successfully passed all retest requirements, but has exhibited some sensitivity to a known power-up race condition documented in MEDS user note HW-0002.<\/p>\n
\u201cThis condition may result in the MDU not successfully powering up when turned on, MDU operation can be restored by turning the bezel knob off for 3 seconds, then back to on. CRT2 has exhibited this condition on two out of 10 power ups since installation, and was successfully recovered following power cycle.\u201d<\/p>\n
![\"A4\"](\"https:\/\/www.nasaspaceflight.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2009\/11\/A48.jpg\" "\\"A4\\"")
Engineers also outlined the lightning strike at the pad in the middle of October, which resulted in the need to retest numerous electrical systems on the orbiter. The final set of retests will be carried out shortly \u2013 in time for the tanking briefing at the MMT on Monday morning.<\/p>\n\u201cProblem: A lightning strike at PAD A on 10\/14\/09 exceeded maximum allowable field strength limits. The lightning strike hit the PAD SS (Sound Suppression) water tower and lightning mast only, no direct attachment to vehicle. Cause: Florida weather + vehicle on the PAD during May through October timeframe = lightning in the area,\u201d added the presentation, listing this as a significant integration issue since the TCDT.<\/p>\n
\u201cResolution: Performed retest as required by lightning analysis committee on flight and GSE (Ground Support Equipment) systems. Had typical post-lightning damage to PAD GSE cameras and leak detectors- all repaired. No damage found to flight systems to date \u2013 flight system retest 95 percent complete less a few items that will be verified during LCD. Remaining retest will be completed prior to start of ET tanking for launch. Impact to this flight: None.\u201d<\/p>\n
Of course, the largest item of interest has been the addition of sensors to the stinger area between the Reaction Control System and OMS Pod on Atlantis, relating to the Main Engine Ignition (MEI) Acoustic and SSME (Space Shuttle Main Engine) Ignition Overpressure (IOP) Environments and stresses on that particular structure \u2013 which officially gained flight rationale over the past few days.<\/p>\n
\u201cIn order to gather additional aft environment data to better understand the effects caused by Main Engine Ignition (MEI), KSC was directed to install additional instrumentation to the LH OMS POD (one tri-axial accelerometer) and to the LH2 TSM (a suite of acoustic sensors),\u201d added the system modifications since the TCDT note.<\/p>\n
![\"A2\"](\"https:\/\/www.nasaspaceflight.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2009\/11\/A215.jpg\" "\\"A2\\"")
\u201cThe instrumentation added to the OMS stinger area is self contained, independent of Orbiter power and data systems and has no crew interface. The data recorded will be retrieved and analyzed post landing.\u201d<\/p>\nAs outlined in previous articles on the expansive planning for additional data on the MEI and IOP environments, the sensor that was added to Atlantis is based on the WLEIDS (Wing Leading Edge Impact Detection System accelerometer, which has performed extremely well on the RCC panels since Return To Flight.<\/p>\n
Their primary goal has been to feel for impacts on the WLE during ascent, and also an ability to register trigger indications of impacts from MMOD (Micro-Meteoroid Orbital Debris) during on orbit operations.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe accel sensors and data recording unit that have been installed in the LH (Left Hand) stinger are the same type of hardware used for the WLEIDS system,\u201d added the overview presentation to the crew. \u201cAn Enhanced Wide Band (EWB) Micro-TAU sensor recorder unit and three coax cables connect the accelerometer cluster to the sensor unit.\u201d<\/p>\n
Information was also passed on to the crew with regards to missing items that may reveal themselves once the orbiter is in the micro-G environment on orbit. While some of the items are only deemed as lost \u2013 and thus may not of become unwelcome stowaways on Atlantis \u2013 it was prudent to make the crew aware.<\/p>\n
\u201cCotton tip of swab was not extracted when the swab was used during window 8 cleaning. The swab tip is in an inaccessible location between the forward fuselage and the crew module. Borescope inspection verified it was not in an accessible area,\u201d noted one of several examples on the list.<\/p>\n
\u201cA threaded nut-element from a nutplate was lost during star tracker door installation. Nutplate is captive between crew module and Fwd fuselage. Cable was not found in the orbiter after STS-125 landing or during FCS destow operations. Cable was not located in flight crew processing area at DFRC or in any other flight crew equipment in Houston. Flashlight was lost from the CM (Crew Module) whiteroom area, have to assume worst case carried into CM.\u201d<\/p>\n
![\"A3\"](\"https:\/\/www.nasaspaceflight.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2009\/11\/A311.jpg\" "\\"A3\\"")
Such items may become of added interest if found wandering around the Crew Cabin ahead of entry, following the incident with a work light knob that managed to float around the flight deck of Atlantis during her STS-125 mission, before embedding itself between the dashboard panel and Window 5.<\/p>\nOnce Atlantis returned back to Earth \u2013 and was depressurized \u2013 the knob couldn\u2019t be freed by hand.<\/p>\n
With concerns the pressure pane may have been damaged by the knob\u2019s edges, or additional damage may be inflicted on the pane during its removal, engineers knew they\u2019d be facing a six month impact to the STS-129 flow if the pane had to be replaced \u2013 a procedure never before conducted at the Kennedy Space Center.<\/p>\n
Thankfully, the engineers were once again up for the challenge, as the application of dry ice \u2013 to shrink the metal knob \u2013 and a slight increase of crew module pressure worked. The pressure pane was deemed to be in an acceptable condition, following inspections after the knob\u2019s removal.<\/p>\n
![\"A6\"](\"https:\/\/www.nasaspaceflight.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2009\/11\/A63.jpg\" "\\"A6\\"")
It has since become a flight rule for the crew to check for any objects that may have found their way into the areas between the dashboard and the windows, as noted in the L-1 materials.<\/p>\n\u201cWindow Area FOD (Foreign Object Debris) Inspection: A Flight Data File Change to the Orbit Ops was approved to have the commander and pilot survey the forward windows to ensure that no FOD is present prior to entry.<\/p>\n
\u201cNominal deflection of the cabin caused by the increase in ambient pressure from space to sea level caused a camera bracket knob to become trapped beneath the pressure pane on window 5 during the STS-125 entry. Analysis showed that the window was safe to fly for subsequent missions.\u201d<\/p>\n
This article will be updated during the Sunday part of S0007 operations, with a launch day article to follow for tanking on Monday morning.<\/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 4000 gbs in size.<\/em><\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Atlantis continues to behave herself on Pad 39A, with no notable issues reported in the launch countdown. With the Mission Management Team (MMT) now meeting daily, the build-up to a \u201cgo\u201d for tanking at 5am local time on Monday currently has no obstructions in its path. Meanwhile, engineering leads from the United Space Alliance and […]<\/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":[9064,9199],"class_list":["post-40938","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-news","tag-mei","tag-sts-129"],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/starpath.global\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/40938"}],"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=40938"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/starpath.global\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/40938\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/starpath.global\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=40938"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/starpath.global\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=40938"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/starpath.global\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=40938"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}