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\u201cOrbiter: OV-105 \/ ET-131 \/ BI-138 \/ RSRM-106 (Pad-A): Launch countdown is in progress. PRSD (Power Reactant Storage and Distributation) Cryo Load complete,\u201d noted S0007 processing information on L2.<\/p>\n
\u201cOMBUU (Orbiter Mid Body Umbilical Unit) de-mate complete, SSME (Space Shuttle Main Engines) final preps and TSM (Tail Servicing Mast) securing in work. Comm Activation was completed on Friday.<\/p>\n
NASA mission updates
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Only two minor items made the IPR (Interim Problem Report) list, one relating to the TAL (Transatlantic Abort) site \u2013 which will be resolved by Saturday morning.<\/p>\n
\u201cDuring S0027 preps in Istres, France: Istres Backup MSBLS (Microwave Scan Beam Landing System) indicating Azimuth and Elevation Alarms,\u201d added processing notes. \u201cTransmitter is being replaced and will be complete Saturday (6 hour time difference). Constraint is S0007.200 15-3.\u201d<\/p>\n
![\"A2\"](\"https:\/\/www.nasaspaceflight.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2009\/07\/A2.jpg\" "\\"A2\\"")
The other issue related to an engineer accidentally catching a switch in Endeavour\u2019s crew cabin \u2013 which is usual, due to the tight workspace technicians have to negotiate on the flight deck.<\/p>\n\u201cDuring Surveillance, inadvertent switch throw following completion of ECLSS (Environmental Control and Life Support System) switch config per S0007.400.<\/p>\n
\u201cPanel L4 Row J AC3, HUM SEP and IMU (Inertial Measurement Unit) signal conditioners were inadvertently closed when engineer was egressing the commander seat.<\/p>\n
\u201cThese breakers are OPEN for flight and are located next to each other. Will have them repositioned OPEN per the IPR.\u201d<\/p>\n
Upcoming processing milestones included the activation of the Fuel Cells at 4:34 am local time (complete), prior to the countdown entering the 2-hr hold at T-6 hour mark at 8:14 am (complete).<\/p>\n
![\"A77\"](\"https:\/\/www.nasaspaceflight.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2009\/07\/A77.jpg\" "\\"A77\\"")
The MMT had to wait until 10 am local time for a weather update to aid their evaluations into up to 11 lightning strikes on the pad overnight, in order to give a go for tanking.<\/p>\nHowever, with more data required on Endeavour\u2019s electrical systems, managers decided to hold for 24 hours, with another attempt to take place on Sunday.<\/p>\n
\u201cTook eleven strikes within the 0.3 miles of the pad,\u201d noted MMT chair Mike Moses. \u201d If a strike comes into the .3 NM radius, kicks off a formal review of the strike, determine if the strike was big enough to declare a lightning event, then we go from there. <\/p>\n
\u201cJust because we had strikes in the .3 NM, doesn\u2019t mean it was a formal event.\u201d<\/p>\n
The Space Shuttle Main Engines (SSMEs) and External Tank have had their systems cleared. However, the orbiter and the Solid Rocket Boosters (SRBs) are still being evaluated.<\/p>\n
ET-131 Foam Crack Status:<\/p>\n
Managers have decided against the removal of an area of cracked foam from ET-131\u2019s LO2 Feedline, after it was deemed such a procedure could actually increase the debris potential during Endeavour\u2019s ascent.<\/p>\n
\u201cDiscussion Item: During STS-127\/ET-131 post tanking test walkdown, crack observed on aft face of XT1377 feedline strut. Potential debris risk (estimated mass 0.0033 lbm, foam only),\u201d noted a presentation on the crack, available on L2.<\/p>\n
\u201cBackground: Similar condition previously observed and accepted on STS-51 \/ ET-59 (09\/1993) and STS-121 \/ ET-119 (07\/2006). STS-121 cracked TPS observed during scrub turnaround, foam fell off prior to launch. Foam mass was below specified requirement (.0057 vs .013 lbm).\u201d<\/p>\n
![\"A3\"](\"https:\/\/www.nasaspaceflight.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2009\/07\/A3.jpg\" "\\"A3\\"")
The cause of TPS crack is understood to be related to the third detanking of ET-131 \u2013 which occurred after the successful tanking test at the start of the month.<\/p>\n\u201cIce formed during tanking creates an interference at the strut to monoball interface,\u201d explained the presentation. \u201cLoads induced during detanking cause cracks. Inherent to the design.\u201d<\/p>\n
The initial plan was to trim the area of TPS, thus removing the foam that has the potential to liberate during ascent. However, the decision to fly \u201cas is\u201d was made easier by confirmation such a foam liberation would hold no threat to Endeavour, due to its small mass.<\/p>\n
\u201cRecommendation: Use as is. Supporting Rationale: Explained condition, Ice \/ Debris. Inspection Criteria and is acceptable during launch count. Minimal debris potential assuming TPS liberates with attached ice (~0.006 lbm),\u201d added the presentation.<\/p>\n
\u201cCombined mass below documented risk assessment mass for TPS only (0.013 lbm). Debris risk is low per SE&I (Systems Engineering and Integration) assessment (tile risk only \/ no risk to RCC \u2013 Reinforced Carbon Carbon).<\/p>\n
\u201cTPS liberation does not impact structural requirements. TPS only required to preclude ice formation. Procedure for TPS removal not defined, vetted, or practiced by technicians. Risk of collateral damage during removal process<\/p>\n
\u201cRemoval of TPS would increase ice mass and ice debris potential. Thermal analysis predicts ~0.017 lbm increase (0.019 lbm already assumed). Cracked TPS material likely to liberate and could impact Orbiter tile (On-orbit MMT item). Same risk for strut TPS at XT 1129 and XT 1624.\u201d<\/p>\n
Weather Situation:<\/p>\n
Endeavour has a four day launch window, prior to a standdown to allow for the launch of the next Russian Progress resupply ship. The opening attempt for Endeavour on Saturday only has a slim chance of finding acceptable weather conditions, with a 60 percent likelihood of thunderstorms in the 20 mile radius.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe surface front will be in the Central Florida area on Saturday. The upper-level trough will begin to migrate northeast, but early afternoon showers and thunderstorms will develop along the sea breeze, and the front in the area will act as an added trigger for these storms,\u201d noted the USAF weather forecast for the area.<\/p>\n
\u201cMost of the activity will occur before the launch window, but weather may still be in the area by launch time. Our primary concerns for launch are showers and thunderstorms within 20NM of the Shuttle Landing Facility (SLF) and anvils.\u201d<\/p>\n
Such has been the poor weather in the KSC area, a lightning strike has hit the ground within five miles of Pad 39A on every evening since July 3rd. A direct strike was suffered by the pad on Friday, hitting the Fixed Service Structure (FSS) mast \u2013 which resulted in no ill effects to Endeavour.<\/p>\n
The weather forecasts show a slight improvement for a Sunday launch attempt.<\/p>\n
This article will be updated during the countdown. Refer to live update pages \u2013 linked above \u2013 for up to the second updates.<\/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":"
The Mission Management Team (MMT) have declared they require more time to evaluate data from overnight lightning strikes on the pad. STS-127 was tracking a Saturday evening launch attempt (7:39:35 pm local) to the International Space Station (ISS). The next launch attempt will take place on Sunday, pending engineering data on the strikes. STS-127 Mission: STS-127 […]<\/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":[9212,9038],"class_list":["post-41053","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-news","tag-et-131","tag-sts-127"],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/starpath.global\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/41053"}],"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=41053"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/starpath.global\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/41053\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/starpath.global\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=41053"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/starpath.global\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=41053"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/starpath.global\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=41053"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}