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As reported by this site on Tuesday, managers are attempting to move the launch date to May 11 in order to allow for three launch attempts, prior to handing over the range to the next Delta IV launch. The latest status noted the possibility of moving up the launch date is promising, with only a few \u201cboxes to tick\u201d until it could become official.<\/p>\n
Launching earlier is also desirable, due to the short turnaround time ahead of Endeavour\u2019s STS-127\u2019s planned launch the following month.<\/p>\n
However, a smooth pad flow between now and launch is required, with tTwo issues currently being worked by engineering teams, relating to the Camera\/Flash system located in Atlantis\u2019 ET Umbilical Well and damage to her left radiator panel \u2013 as noted on Thursday morning processing information on L2, along with hi res images.<\/p>\n
\u201cA 1 1\/8\u201d socket from a torque wrench fell from the PCR (Payload Checkout Room) level 4, impacting the Orbiter Port Aft Radiator,\u201d noted the processing update.<\/p>\n
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\u201cThe impact point is approximately 5.5 inches forward of the trailing edge of the aft port radiator and approximately two inches out from the inboard edge of the radiator.\u201d<\/p>\n
![\"a217\"](\"https:\/\/www.nasaspaceflight.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2009\/04\/a217.jpg\" "\\"a217\\"")
An investigation into both the incident and the damage is taking place. Such accidents are possible when the tether \u2013 which stops the socket from falling any great distance \u2013 fails<\/p>\nImportantly, the impact managed to avoid one of the Freon loop lines which run through the radiator panels and allow for heat to be dispersed from the orbiter whilst on orbit. It also managed to miss the newly installed HST payload.<\/p>\n
\u201cInspections have revealed the impact point was in between two Freon lines striking honeycomb material and causing no damage to the Freon lines,\u201d added engineering notes on Thursday. \u201d The payload was not impacted in this incident. Engineering inspections and evaluation continue. Constraint is to vehicle power up.\u201d<\/p>\n
It is possible that no repair will be called for until Atlantis returns home to her Orbiter Processing Facility (OPF) after the completion of STS-125. Had the impact occurred on one of the Freon loop lines, repairs would have been required \u2013 likely leading to a delay in the launch date.<\/p>\n
See also: Endeavour: MMOD hit to radiator
\nSee also: Atlantis: MMOD hit originated from another vehicle<\/p>\nFCV Latest:<\/p>\n
One of the other milestones in STS-125\u2019s pad flow relates to the installation of Atlantis FCVs, which have been \u201ccherry picked\u201d for this flight as part of the short term mitigation plan for avoiding pieces of the valve\u2019s poppet lips from liberating \u2013 as observed during STS-126.<\/p>\n
Click here for NASASpaceflight.com articles on the FCV issue since STS-126.<\/p>\n
![\"a314\"](\"https:\/\/www.nasaspaceflight.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2009\/04\/a314.jpg\" "\\"a314\\"")
Because one of the threats to a liberating piece of FCV is the potential puncturing of line at the 90 degree elbow bend \u2013 which is located immediately downstream of the valves \u2013 engineers have been working on a doubler plate, which would be installed to add protection to the line.<\/p>\nThat plan is now likely to be initiated for future flights, but not for STS-125 or STS-127 \u2013 which some engineers favored \u2013 after it was decided to defer the installation until at least STS-128 with Discovery.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe FCV manifold elbow doubler discussion was discussed and the decision was made to not pursue that for STS-125 and STS-127,\u201d noted engineering logs on Thursday morning.<\/p>\n
The installation of the FCVs is set for completion by the end of the month, which is well within the requirement for advancing the launch date to May 11.<\/p>\n
STS-400\/127 Pad Flow Latest:<\/p>\n
Over on Pad 39B, Endeavour continues to be processed without issue, as she is prepared for her STS-400 Launch On Need (LON) support role for Atlantis\u2019 STS-125 mission. Following the standdown, Endeavour will be moved to Pad 39A for her primary STS-127 mission.<\/p>\n
\u201cEngine and aero surface flight readiness testing (V1046), Ball Seal leak checks, and helium signature tests continue through tomorrow,\u201d noted Thursday morning processing information on L2.<\/p>\n
\u201cPreparations for Prelaunch Propellant Servicing (S0024) began yesterday and continue into Saturday. Propellant load picks up on Monday with Call to Stations at 2200 EDT. OMBUU mate is scheduled for tomorrow. Crew compartment hatch functional was completed yesterday.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cLaunch Countdown Simulation (S0044) was successfully completed yesterday.\u201d<\/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":"
Managers are close to approving a switch to an advanced May 11 launch date for STS-125, as engineers evaluate damage to Atlantis\u2019 left radiator panel, following an impact from a torque wrench socket. Meanwhile, it has been decided to defer the modification of a doubler plate to the downstream Flow Control Valve (FCV) lines, until after […]<\/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":[9191,8290],"class_list":["post-41123","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-news","tag-fcv","tag-sts-125"],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/starpath.global\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/41123"}],"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=41123"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/starpath.global\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/41123\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/starpath.global\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=41123"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/starpath.global\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=41123"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/starpath.global\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=41123"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}