As Space Shuttle Endeavour continues to enjoy a smooth processing flow at pad 39A, Space Shuttle Program (SSP) managers have completed a series of Flight Readiness Reviews (FRRs) ahead of the STS-126 launch in two weeks time.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n
Among the various departments presenting their reviews of Endeavour\u2019s systems during the SSP FRR last week was the Systems Engineering and Integration (SE&I) board \u2013 bringing forth a wide range of presentations from Return To Launch Site (RTLS) abort safety upgrades to the introduction of a new Launch on Need (LON) mission configuration.<\/p>\n
Launch Issues:<\/p>\n
The first item presented to the SSP FRR by the SE&I related to the Space Shuttle Main Engines (SSMEs) \u2013 specifically, a trending decrease in the Over Board Mixture Ratio (OBMR).<\/p>\n
\u201cSTS-123 Post Flight Reconstruction showed lowest OBMR since RTF (Return to Flight). All available Fuel Bias was consumed (around 1200 lbs),\u201d notes the Shuttle Program FRR document available for download on L2.<\/p>\n
Despite this critical situation, the presentation notes that Endeavour\/STS-123 was not in any danger of a Low Level Cutoff \u2013 via the Engine CutOff (ECO) sensors \u2013 because the mission had a positive Ascent Performance Margin.<\/p>\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.nasaspaceflight.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2008\/10\/a221.jpg\")
Furthermore, the presentation notes that a \u201creview of previous flight data (indicates) a decreasing trend in OBMR beginning about STS-114.\u201d
\n(CLICK HERE image for a video example of a Low Level Cutoff taken from the full L2-based MCC video.)<\/p>\n
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A Technical Interchange Meeting (TIM) \u2013 which took place in July 2008 \u2013 not only confirmed the low OBMR readings, but also put forth a plan to mitigate this critical situation on future flights.<\/p>\n
\u201cMPS inventory is being updated per normal reconstruction processes \u2013 in work for STS-119 and subsequent flights.\u201d<\/p>\n
Since STS-126 will fly before this mitigation plan can be implemented fleet-wide, the SSP has designed a work-around option relating to the SSME (Space Shuttle Main Engine) Control Mixture Ratio (CMR). As such, Endeavour will be the first vehicle to fly with a new SSME CMR of 6.049 mru.<\/p>\n
With over 10,000 seconds of testing at this higher CMR already documented, the numerical data has given engineers and SSP managers confidence that the new CMR will mitigate the OBMR issue \u2013 which, since RTF, has been the most severe on Endeavour\u2019s flights.<\/p>\n
The second major topic of discussion in the SE&I presentation related to the new OI-33 software debuting on STS-126, as first noted in the MOD FRR presentations.<\/p>\n
With this software upgrade, several noteworthy safety improvements to the RTLS flight profile will be achieved, the most significant being a 60 percent reduction in a Loss of Crew scenario.<\/p>\n
\u201cA RTLS abort has the most risk of any intact abort, with the External Tank (ET) Separation phase being the biggest threat,\u201d notes the associated SSP FRR presentation.<\/p>\n
Implementation of the OI-33 software provides several RTLS specific safety modifications including: Improved Reaction Control System jet selection logic, Rudder Speed Brake operations, improved steering commands during powered and mated coast phases of flight, and \u201ctrajectory design changes in the Alpha profile during the Powered Pitch Down phase (last 20 seconds of powered flight) to improve the initial separation condition\u201d between the Orbiter and the ET.<\/p>\n
In addition to these enhancements, the OI-33 software will increase the overall success rate for a RTLS abort without a GPC failure to 99.67 percent from 96 percent. The software will also increase the overall success rate for a RTLS abort with a GPC failure to 97 percent from 84 percent..<\/p>\n
Another enhancement offered by the OI-33 software is Enhanced Crew Situational Awareness during ascent and entry.<\/p>\n
The SE&I presentation notes that \u201ctwo new graphical displays that enhance on-board situational awareness and no-comm abort selection capabilities\u201d have been added to the bearing displays.<\/p>\n
Also, the new software will \u201cintegrate data to provide on-board information on current vehicle location and performance\u201d to the Commander and Pilot.<\/p>\n
Debris Assessments and Imagery:<\/p>\n
Another issue \u2013 or rather an update to an ongoing issue \u2013 is the debris assessment calculations for STS-126.<\/p>\n
\u201cThree debris risks remain at the 3\/5 level for STS-126,\u201d notes the FRR presentation. \u201cET redesigns and process-oriented debris mitigations since RTF have significantly reduced the risk to the vehicle\u201d and crew.<\/p>\n
With improved debris risk categorization techniques and continued improvements to the ET, a significant reduction in the \u201cInfrequent\/Catastrophic\u201d risk category has been observed since shuttle launches resumed in 2005.<\/p>\n
Nevertheless, debris is still a risk for Endeavour, with Lift-off Debris, Umbilical Ice, and Orbiter Putty Repair listed as the three remaining \u201cInfrequent\/Catastrophic\u201d debris risks for the mission.<\/p>\n
Furthermore, as with all missions, a complete review of the imagery hardware was reviewed to ensure that all necessary photographs can be obtained during Endeavour\u2019s ascent.<\/p>\n
The presentation notes that the ET camera and flash system in one of Endeavour\u2019s umbilical wells is ready to support the mission, whether it launches in darkness or daylight; also, four new thermal imaging cameras and six visual-range cameras around Pad A are ready to support flame trench monitoring efforts when Endeavour launches.<\/p>\n
For the visual-range cameras, \u201ctwo high powered flood lights placed near each camera site (will) help illuminate the exit of the SRB flame trench,\u201d notes the FRR presentation.<\/p>\n
Also, two new HD cameras have been mounted on the Fixed Service Structure.<\/p>\n
Information late this week also confirmed the installation of special sensors into the flame trench, which will monitor the condition of the repaired fondu frye concrete \u2013 following the serious damage suffered during STS-124\u2019s launch.<\/p>\n
During that launch, thousands of bricks were blown out of the flame trench, with infrared video showing multiple objects rising as high as the top of the Fixed Service Structure (FSS).<\/p>\n
While shuttle manager John Shannon recently noted that the objects weren\u2019t bricks \u2013 some were found on the MLP (Mobile Launch Platform) Zero Level. The debris include throat plugs from the SRBs and debris created by the SRB water baggies that are destroyed at T-0.<\/p>\n
However, video evidence proved to be mainly inconclusive, due to the white out suffered by the brightness of the SRBs during the opening seconds of ascent.<\/p>\n
The new imaging cameras will be better able to cope with this issue, providing additional video data in the event of a debris incident.<\/p>\n
Launch on Need:<\/p>\n
Also debuting with STS-126 is a change to the Launch on Need (LON) orbiter configuration.<\/p>\n
\u201cIn the event of call-up, the STS-119 Base Mass Memory would be flown on OV-103 using STS-119 Base Load and associated products and flight specific I-load patches,\u201d notes the presentation.<\/p>\n
As such, should a LON situation develop during STS-126 (which is highly unlikely), NASA would use the \u201cfly the next flight\u201d approach. Essentially, Discovery would fly the full-up STS-119 mission profile, complete with the S6 Truss, to rescue the Endeavour crew.<\/p>\n
Moreover, Discovery\u2019s rescue mission would still conduct the Boundary Layer Transition Detailed Test Objective, a test that Discovery is currently undergoing modifications for in OPF-3.<\/p>\n
As always, dissenting opinions within the SE&I were sought, but none were identified.<\/p>\n
L2 members<\/em><\/em>: All 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":" As Space Shuttle Endeavour continues to enjoy a smooth processing flow at pad 39A, Space Shuttle Program (SSP) managers have completed a series of Flight Readiness Reviews (FRRs) ahead of the STS-126 launch in two weeks time. Among the various departments presenting their reviews of Endeavour\u2019s systems during the SSP FRR last week was the […]<\/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":[1445,3610,9219],"class_list":["post-41275","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-news","tag-endeavour","tag-frr","tag-sts-126"],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/starpath.global\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/41275"}],"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=41275"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/starpath.global\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/41275\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/starpath.global\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=41275"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/starpath.global\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=41275"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/starpath.global\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=41275"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}