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\u201cAPU re-pressurization is complete to date with 24 and 48 hour leak checks in progress. LH2 storage tank replenishment is scheduled for today. Two waves of tankers are expected.\u201d<\/p>\n
Atlantis\u2019 pad flow remains on target, allowing managers to consider an advancement of the launch date to May 11. Evaluations are in the early stage of planning, with engineers being consulted on their confidence on achieving the advancement.<\/p>\n
The plan is related to the Delta IV\/GOES launch \u2013 which is also scheduled for STS-125\u2019s current launch date of May 12 following recent delays. Due to range requirements, it is understood the plan would be to delay the Delta IV launch enough to allow Atlantis three launch attempts \u2013 starting May 11.<\/p>\n
Opening requests for flow status were sent to the KSC teams during the SSP FRR, which has completed its two day review of the mission. 32 presentations from the SSP FRR are available on L2, multiple articles will follow ahead of launch.<\/p>\n
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ET Camera\/Flash System Troubleshooting:<\/p>\n
![\"a49\"](\"https:\/\/www.nasaspaceflight.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2009\/04\/a49.jpg\" "\\"a49\\"")
The main issue being worked at the pad relates to the ET umbilical well camera and flash system on the belly of the orbiter \u2013 which is used to take photography of the separated External Tank after MECO (Main Engine Cut Off).<\/p>\nThis allows for imagery to be downloaded on the ground, and used to pinpoint foam loss \u2013 some of which may have impacted the orbiter during the ride uphill \u2013 in order to cross reference any debris relates issues during the DAT (Damage Assessment Team) process.<\/p>\n
The problem with the camera\/flash system has occurred on a few recent flights, including STS-119, when the flash only worked the one time, while the resulting imagery could not be downloaded as planned.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe digital umbilical camera used on STS-119\/15A was x-rayed and it showed a blown five-amp fuse. An electrical overload caused the failure,\u201d added processing information on the issue, which appears to be fleet-wide, given smaller issues with also noted on system during Endeavour\u2019s processing for STS-127\/400.<\/p>\n
\u201cSpecial topic discussion at FRR \u2013 for reasons why it is safe to fly this camera \u2013 will be brought forward. Issues with the camera already on STS-125 are being studied for common causes.\u201d<\/p>\n
The issue with Atlantis\u2019 system relates to a communication issue \u2013 as seen with one of STS-119\u2019s problems with the downloading of imagery \u2013 which was initially put through a troubleshooting process by changing the software, which failed.<\/p>\n
\u201cET camera communication problem. Update: A new laptop software load did not make a difference during troubleshooting,\u201d added processing information. \u201cThe original communication issue remains unresolved. More troubleshooting to follow. JSC engineering is consulting.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe camera \u2018manual bracket\u2019 setting could not be confirmed. Engineering is looking at a possible internal failure of the camera.\u201d<\/p>\n
By late on Tuesday, engineers decided that the camera system will have to be removed from the orbiter for a closer inspection. However, that process is reasonably complicated.<\/p>\n
![\"a216\"](\"https:\/\/www.nasaspaceflight.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2009\/04\/a216.jpg\" "\\"a216\\"")
The system has to be removed through ET door cavity, so engineers will have to pull the ET umbilical baggie back by removing the retainer brackets, or slit the baggie and tape it up afterwards.<\/p>\n\u201cSuch a procedure has been carried out in the past, but there are concerns about the baggie kapton plastic being thicker where the tape is applied and if that would damage tiles as the baggie rips away,\u201d noted one engineer explaining the process. \u201cThis issue is being worked, but the forward plan is to replace the camera.\u201d<\/p>\n
The Orbiter Project Office (OPO) at JSC also provided an update on the status of troubleshooting late on Tuesday, which confirmed that the flash on the system is working as required, which means it is not suffering from a full system failure.<\/p>\n
\u201cPerformed operation to verify function\/non-function of the camera by stationing an observer to watch for flashes during the picture acquisition period. A total of 23 flashes were observed. This proves the camera is capable of taking pictures,\u201d noted information acquired by L2.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe camera team will review the results of this test, as well as a functional test of the GSE (Ground Support Equipment) on the other (Endeavour\u2019s) camera and make a determination as to the next course of troubleshooting at ET sep telecon on Wednesday.\u201d<\/p>\n
It is not currently known if this issue is a constraint to launch, especially with elements of the camera system \u2013 such as being able to take images \u2013 working as required.<\/p>\n
Meanwhile, good news has been reported on processing information in relation to the shipping of Atlantis\u2019 Flow Control Valves (FCVs), which are on a deadline of the end of the month for installation into the orbiter.<\/p>\n
Click here for NASASpaceflight.com articles on the FCV issue since STS-126.<\/p>\n
\u201cStatus of GH2 Flow Control Valves for STS-125. All three FCVs are scheduled to be on site 4\/28. Installation is planned for 4\/29, and retest on 4\/30.\u201d<\/p>\n
Discussions are still taking place on whether a modification \u2013 which involves the installation of a protective bracket on the outside of the 90 degree bend, immediately downstream of the valves \u2013 will be requested for STS-125. More will follow on this story in an upcoming FCV forward plan article later this week.<\/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 dual processing flows for Atlantis and Endeavour are proceeding to plan, with the main engineering focus on the ET camera flash system, which is undergoing troubleshooting on Atlantis. Managers have also completed the review of the SSP (Space Shuttle Program) Flight Readiness Review (FRR), with evaluations taking place on advancing the launch date by […]<\/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":[9021,9191,8290],"class_list":["post-41125","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-news","tag-et","tag-fcv","tag-sts-125"],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/starpath.global\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/41125"}],"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=41125"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/starpath.global\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/41125\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/starpath.global\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=41125"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/starpath.global\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=41125"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/starpath.global\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=41125"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}