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Evaluations have also begun on targeting the Edwards Air Force Base \u2013 home of the Dryden Flight Research Center \u2013 as the primary landing site, allowing for a cross-country farewell tour of the NASA centers on top of the Shuttle Carrier Aircraft (SCA).<\/p>\n
Only a couple of subsequent Spacelab missions have previously utilized Edwards\/Dryden as the primary landing site, namely STS-50 \u2013 which eventually landed at KSC \u2013 and STS-58.<\/p>\n
The now confirmed switch of STS-133 to the final mission places STS-134\u2019s mission with Alpha Magnetic Spectrometer (AMS) on a July 29 launch date with Endeavour \u2013 although this remains subject to change based on the critical path of delivery AMS to the Kennedy Space Center on time, due a problem experienced by the payload earlier in the year.<\/p>\n
![\"A3\"](\"https:\/\/www.nasaspaceflight.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2009\/10\/A36.jpg\" "\\"A3\\"")
\u201cThe AMS magnet system experienced a problem in May. The fix to this has been implemented and the magnet will be welded closed on September 17, 2009. This means that the magnet will not be ready to test again until early November,\u201d added the AMS manager on a recent Program Requirements Control Board presentation on L2.<\/p>\nSpaceX
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\u201cIt is hard to predict an exact date due to uncertainty in the cryogenic operations that have only been performed one time. Engineering is concur on an STS-134 launch date of July 29, 2010 as long as this magnet testing is successful.<\/p>\n
\u201cEvery effort has been made to ensure that the fix that the AMS collaboration implemented is sound, but there is a possibility that this test will have some issues that will require additional schedule to fix. AMS must be delivered to KSC by March 28 to make a July 29, 2010 launch date.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe KSC schedule has 2 weeks of slack. The AMS schedule to get to KSC has 2 weeks of slack. It would be better if the Shuttle Program could wait to make a final decision until after the AMS magnet testing is complete.<\/p>\n
\u201cKey Milestones: 1) AMS Magnet Test \u2013 November 5, 2009. 2) AMS delivered to ESTEC for Thermal Vacuum Testing \u2013 Dec 9, 2009. 3) AMS delivered to KSC \u2013 March 28, 2010. 4) AMS Launch Date \u2013 July 29, 2010. KSC payloads has 1-2 weeks of margin with a March 29 delivery.\u201d<\/p>\n
STS-335 (STS-135 LON):<\/p>\n
With Discovery providing the LON role for STS-134, managers evaluated as to how they could support the final mission via the rescue requirement, given the lack of a \u201cnext flight\u201d on the concluding shuttle manifest. Their decision was to add STS-335 (STS-135 LON).<\/p>\n
![\"A2\"](\"https:\/\/www.nasaspaceflight.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2009\/10\/A29.jpg\" "\\"A2\\"")
This flight would be carried out by Atlantis, on a schedule that would support the rescue of the STS-133 crew by targeting a launch for December 15, 2010.<\/p>\nDuring the planning phase, and approved at the PRCB, managers decided that Atlantis would launch with the refurbished ET-122 \u2013 a tank that was damaged when Hurricane Katrina at the Michoud Assembly Facility (MAF), and is currently under repair at the New Orleans facility.<\/p>\n
\u201cET-122: This tank is in Building 420. The mechanical doubler repair to the intertank is complete. Some minor gouges are being worked on the stringers,\u201d noted the latest status report for ET-122.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe aft ball fittings and key inserts have been removed and preparations are underway to replace these items. A TIM (Technical Interchange Meeting) is scheduled for early December to discuss the ET-122 issue.\u201d<\/p>\n
MAF have two spare tanks, though the other (ET-94) is not a \u201cSuper\u201d Light Weight Tank and would require modifications, along with two completed aft domes and one intertank (ET-139 and ET-140 \u2013 renamed from ET-140 and ET-141) in reserve \u2013 parts that were built to the point they could be completed with the new friction weld machinery set up for Ares.<\/p>\n
These tanks would be completed in the event of a shuttle extension, providing for STS-136 and STS-137. SMRT presentations acquired by L2 document the spare tank stock at MAF, which would provide a buffer zone for a 2015 extension that would require several new tanks to be built.<\/p>\n
Interestingly, the spare tank stock was not communicated to the Augustine Commission, who are under the impression there is no spare tank hardware at MAF past ET-122 \u2013 following a request for information made to MAF\u2019s \u201cNASA Center\u201d MSFC (Marshall Space Flight Center) who are heavily opposed to shuttle extension via a protective attitude towards Ares.<\/p>\n
Click here for all NASASpaceflight.com Extension related articles:
\nhttp:\/\/www.nasaspaceflight.com\/tag\/extension\/<\/p>\nThe availability for \u201cextra flight\u201d hardware would actually be available as soon as November 29 if required, with the boosters available as soon as May, 2010.<\/p>\n
\u201cSTS-335 hardware: All projects will have hardware in flow to support a Nov 29th rescue of STS-133. ET will be at MAF until (Decision Date) on 9\/30\/2009,\u201d added a PRCB presentation on L2 specific to STS-335.<\/p>\n
![\"P3\"](\"https:\/\/www.nasaspaceflight.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2009\/10\/P3.jpg\" "\\"P3\\"")
\u201cIf STS-133 launch slips past Sep 30, ET-122 should be delivered to KSC. SRBs will be shipped in May 2010. Orbiter will have 154 day OPF (Orbiter Processing Facility) flow. ET processing at KSC will be 60 days (including shipping).\u201d<\/p>\nWith a smaller crew than usual flying on STS-133, and a plan to return some of crew members via a Russian Soyuz, the remainder of the crew would be able to stay on the ISS for at least 120 days, meaning STS-335 would not actually need to launch until February 23, 2011.<\/p>\n
This timeline is based on what is called the Contingency Shuttle Crew Support (CSCS) timeline, which is continually refined based on consumables on Station. CSCS also covers the procedures the crew would need to carry out with the damaged orbiter, which includes the unmanned undocking and tail first disposal during a destructive re-entry.<\/p>\n
\u201cCSCS capability will be higher than recent flights (STS-133 crew helps even more). Projected CSCS with a immediate return of one Soyuz is at least 120 days. On orbit crew size would be nine. STS-335 LON Launch \u2018Need Date\u2019 = 2\/23\/2011 (STS-133 launch date + 120 days). Analysis and specific LON OPS will be completed by L-1 month of STS-133 launch STS-335 OPS,\u201d added the PRCB presentation.<\/p>\n
One recent addition to the STS-335 plans is to include a MPLM to the flight, which would be the first time a rescue mission would carry an actual payload. The reason behind this is to allow for the rescue mission to \u201crestock\u201d the ISS, following a drain on its consumables via hosting the increased crew size.<\/p>\n
\u201cFlight Production will begin in January. Analyzing alternate 335 LON scenarios with MPLM,\u201d the presentation continues. \u201cCost and Schedule effective (engineering and Int. H\/W (Hardware) built for MPLM already. More recent that the \u2018STS-300\u2019 series engineering. More effective rescue scenario with MPLM (replenish depleted CSCS supplies).\u201d<\/p>\n
However, this also allows for an opening cycle of evaluations aimed at turning STS-335 into STS-135. Adding another mission would only come via additional funding \u2013 most likely through approval to extend the shuttle manifest \u2013 though sources note at least one meeting has taken place, relating to STS-135 as an actual mission, within the past few weeks.<\/p>\n
That September 21 meeting evaluated a crew of four or five launching on a heavy logistics mission \u2013 again with a MPLM \u2013 aiding the Station\u2019s desperate need for supplies, which once again emphasizes the problems with extending the ISS to 2020, without the support of the shuttle\u2019s unrivalled upmass \u2013 and indeed downmass \u2013 abilities.<\/p>\n
![\"A4\"](\"https:\/\/www.nasaspaceflight.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2009\/10\/A45.jpg\" "\\"A4\\"")
While a one flight extension to the current manifest is possible \u2013 and was even discussed as an option during the opening round of extension talks \u2013 the Augustine Commission\u2019s main option is to extend the manifest to FY 2015 (2014) \u2013 as classed as Sally Ride Option 3 on Augustine Commission documentation on L2.<\/p>\nHowever, a decision needs to come soon, with shuttle related layoffs occurring at an increased pace of late, with the remainder of the workforce suffering continued impacts to their morale via badly timed and poorly worded addresses via management, one such example coming on Monday when it was intimated \u2013 but not confirmed \u2013 that United Space Alliance workers that are set to be released at some point next year will be on a pay freeze until that time.<\/p>\n
While that may not be a reality, the continued attitude of some managers, who may wish for extension but dare not harm their careers by going against the party line of \u201cshuttle retiring in 2010 come what may\u201d, is often cited by large numbers of shuttle workers as the most demoralizing element of what remains a superb program.<\/p>\n
Thanks to the high levels of dedication and professionalism by the shuttle workforce, the remaining six missions on the current manifest will have all the support they need, even if a large number of workers have no idea if they should be spending time searching for new careers in order to pay their mortgages past next year, due to the continued uncertainty surrounding the end date for the Shuttle Program.<\/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":"
Shuttle managers have begun evaluations into STS-335, the LON (Launch On Need) mission in support of STS-133 \u2013 currently the final flight on the shuttle manifest. The rescue flight would carry a MPLM (Multi-Purpose Logistics Module) to replenish the Station for hosting the STS-133 crew for up to several months. Meanwhile, managers are also favoring […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":29524,"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":[9181,9051,9207],"class_list":["post-40966","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-news","tag-et-122","tag-sts-133","tag-sts-134-sts-135"],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/starpath.global\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/40966"}],"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=40966"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/starpath.global\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/40966\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/starpath.global\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/29524"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/starpath.global\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=40966"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/starpath.global\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=40966"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/starpath.global\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=40966"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}