\n
\u00c2 <\/p>\n
\n \u00c2 <\/p>\n \u00c2 <\/p>\n \u00c2 <\/p>\n \u00c2 <\/p>\n NASA educational resources (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({});<\/p>\n \u00c2 <\/p>\n STS-125\/LON-400 L2 Sub Section Special already over 2000mb in size \u2013 special section Now Live, with over\u00c2 50 superb mission presentations. STS-125 Flight Plan and Flight Data Files now uploaded. Mission Overview in CGI\u00c2 videos building up. STS-400 mission overview Presentations (14). STS-125\/400 daily and extensive processing latest. Flight Rules, EVA, Pad and Launch Radar Presentations \u2013 huge section already, heading into FRR season.<\/em>**STS-119 Processing Latest**<\/em> \u2014 **STS-119 News Articles**<\/em><\/p>\n **LIVE updates: Endeavour\u00c2 Dual LON and STS-126 Processing**<\/em><\/p>\n **LIVE updates on Atlantis\u00c2 STS-125 Processing Flow**<\/em> \u2014 **STS-125 News Articles**<\/em><\/p>\n \u00c2 <\/p>\n \u00c2 <\/p>\n \u00c2 <\/p>\n \u00c2 <\/p>\n \u00c2 <\/p>\n \u00c2 <\/p>\n<\/p>\n \nThe 2010 to 2015 Gap:<\/p>\n The current deal to purchase Soyuz flights to transport US astronauts to the ISS expires in 2011. However, given the three year lead time required for the additional production of Soyuz vehicles after 2011, D-Day is fast approaching.<\/p>\n A decision needs to be reached on the forward plan relating to the INKSA wavier by next month, otherwise NASA will be racing head first into the possibility that the US presence on the ISS will come to an end shortly after the shuttle\u2019s retirement.<\/p>\n \u2018NASA needs Congress to provide legislative extension allowing purchase of Russian Soyuz crew vehicles to support astronauts on the International Space Station by October 2008 or else NASA will have no choice but to de-crew all US astronauts from the ISS in 2012,\u2019 notes a blunt presentation titled: NASA\u2019s urgent need for INKSA waiver.<\/p>\n This was always the forward plan for the past few years. However, US political disagreement with Russia over military action taken in Georgia raised serious questions into the US\u2019 future relationship with Moscow.<\/p>\n The change to the waiver itself would simply strike out the current January 1, 2012 end date, replacing it with July 1, 2016. The decision to approve such a change rests with US lawmakers in Congress.<\/p>\n \u2018The legislative authority would allow for contract payments to be made beyond 2012,\u2019 stated the presentation. \u2018NASA is not allowed to execute a contract without legislative authority to make payments.\u2019<\/p>\n Importantly, the wording of the waiver extension \u2018request\u2019 to Congress points out that should lawmakers decide to veto such an authorization, it wouldn\u2019t work out to be a viable \u2018bloody nose\u2019 against the Russians \u2013 as per Moscow\u2019s comment about their need to take action in Georgia.<\/p>\n Instead, the pro-waiver extension document counters, it would be an own goal against the US space program and its other ISS partners.<\/p>\n \u2018If Congress does not extend NASA\u2019s legislative exemption to allow the purchase of Russian Soyuz crew services, the result will be to damage the United States\u2019 collaboration with our international partners on the ISS, effectively ceding control of this $50 Billion investment (cost through 2010) to Russia.<\/p>\n \u2018Denying extension of this legislative authority only hurts the United States space program and our partnership with Canada, Europe, and Japan \u2013 not the Russians.\u2019<\/p>\n The document also praises the Russians for their reliance when the US has needed their ISS-related support during the aftermath of the Columbia disaster.<\/p>\n \u2018While there is significant concern regarding US reliance upon and relationship with Russia because of its incursion into Georgia, Russia has been a good and valuable partner on the ISS, especially in the aftermath of the Columbia accident in February 2003, during which they provided services to continue US operations onboard the Station.\u2019<\/p>\n However, the Russia of 2008 and beyond is becoming increasingly detached, politically, from the Russia of 2003 \u2013 pro shuttle extension sources insist.<\/p>\n Extending the shuttle back-up plan:<\/em><\/p>\n While the extension of the waiver is \u2018priority one\u2019 in the eyes of the current NASA administration, the Georgian conflict has caused a number of politicians to think again about the prospect of giving up the US\u2019 ability to launch its own astronauts, and handing it \u2013 at a cost of billions \u2013 to Russia.<\/p>\n Several other elements have also been highlighted by the looming retirement date for the shuttle fleet, not least the decimation of the current skill set of engineers that\u2019s embedded into the shuttle program, but also concerns relating to the shaky (pun intended) progress in designing the \u2018replacement\u2019 launch system, Ares I.<\/p>\n Surrounding the bigger question of what to do if Congress decides not to approve the waiver extension, the Space Shuttle Program (SSP) was asked to create an assessment\/study into the viability of flying two orbiters through the gap, in tandem with continued development of Ares I and Orion, as revealed exclusively by this site and the Orlando Sentinel<\/em>.<\/p>\n This assessment is still taking place \u2013 interrupted by the closedown of the Johnson Space Center (JSC) during hurricane Ike and the subsequent recovery this week \u2013 although several baseline \u2018assumptions and ground rules\u2019 have already been created to show what would be required to allow the shuttle program to continue from a hardware standpoint.<\/p>\n \u00c2 <\/em><\/p>\n \u00c2 <\/p>\n As pre-empted, the central issue to an orbiter\u2019s lifetime surrounds the OMRSD (Operations Maintenance Requirements Specifications Document), which determines when an orbiter is due for her Orbiter Maintenance Down Period (OMDP) \u2013 classed at present for every 5.5 years of flight, or after every 8 flights.<\/p>\n Recent variations to the OMRSD have been approved for the specific requirement of allowing Atlantis to gain two additional flights after STS-125. Originally Atlantis was due to retire this year, as she closed in on the due \u2018date\u2019 for her OMDP \u2013 a pointless one year stand-down given the fleet would be retiring around the time she\u2019d be back in service.<\/p>\n The alternation to the OMRSD allowed Atlantis to continue flying, via extended processing flows inside her OPF (Orbiter Processing Facility), so as to allow for \u2018mini-OMDPs\u2019 in-between flights based on priority work that would normally be completed in one full OMDP.<\/p>\n Based around the three orbiters and their OMDP requirements, this becomes more complex \u2013 with one orbiter retiring, and two orbiters taking responsibility for the manifest. Deciding which orbiter would be retired \u2013 and subsequently become a donor of spares to her sisters \u2013 is centralized around the OMDP timelines.<\/p>\n \u2018OV-103 (Discovery) Requirements Summary: OV-103 has flown 5 flights since OMDP (STS-114, STS-121, STS-120, STS-116, STS-124),\u2019 noted an expansive assessment presentation on extending to 2015, available on L2.<\/p>\n \u2018OMDP required after eight flights or 5.5 years \u2013 three flights remain. OMDP 5.5 Year Time Limit Interval is due by September 2010.\u2019<\/p>\n \u2018OV-104 (Atlantis) Requirements Summary: OV-104 has flown 3 flights since OMDP (STS-115, STS-117, STS-122),\u2019 added the presentation on Atlantis\u2019 status. \u2018OMDP required after eight flights or 5.5 years. Five flights remain (with constraints). OMDP 5.5 Year Time Limit Interval is due NET January 21, 2011.\u2019<\/p>\n While Atlantis gains the additional lifespan help from her \u2018mini OMDPs\u2019 post STS-125, she is now likely to be the orbiter that finds herself grounded, should an extension to the shuttle\u2019s flying days be approved.<\/p>\n Several notes relating to the state of her Rudder Speed Brake (RSB) actuators and Wing Leading Edge RCC panels are listed as constraints to potentially allowing her to fly into the next decade.<\/p>\n The youngest orbiter in the fleet, Endeavour, appears to be in a favorable state for being flown past 2010, and would gain 11 flights in total \u2013 from STS-126, through to 2015, separated by an OMDP in 2013.<\/p>\n \u2018OV-105 (Endeavour) Requirements Summary: OV-105 has flown two flights since OMDP (STS-118, STS-123). OMDP required after eight flights or 5.5 years. Six flights remain. OMDP 5.5 Year Time Limit Interval is due by January 2013.\u2019<\/p>\n Thus from a hardware standpoint, the vehicles could technically keep flying through the gap, likely resulting in Atlantis retiring \u2013 but remaining in a near flight-ready state as a LON (Launch On Need) requirement, while Discovery and Endeavour carry out a tag team effort on flying to the ISS, with up to three flights per year.<\/p>\n It should be stressed that this is based on the what is understood to be the absolute top end of the options being assessed, with alternatives of fewer flights, and through to 2013 also being reviewed.<\/p>\n Extension Problems \u2013 Hardware:<\/em><\/p>\n Several major issues would need to be resolved if such an extension became reality, and not just the obvious problem of additional funding.<\/p>\n The majority of the assessment presentation is dedicated to hardware requirements (spares\/skill sets) solely for the orbiters, citing examples such as \u2018Zero spares projected: APU (Auxiliary Power Unit) Gas Generators: FES\/FES (Flash Evaporator System) Cores. Hydraulic Actuators. N2\/O2 Flow Sensors. Hyd\/Water Sep.\u2019<\/p>\n Funding would need to be added to the SSP budget to buy in additional spares, along with the protection of key assets required for the orbiters \u2013 ranging from RCC panels to floodlights used in the payload bays.<\/p>\n \u2018Contract or Capability needs to be extended: DMES (Dimethylethoxysilane). TPS (Thermal Protection System) Waterproofing Agent. RCC Panels. Coldplate Production. OMS\/RCS Refurbishment, OMS Tank Bubble Test,\u2019 cited the presentation as examples.<\/p>\n \u2018Limited Life or Lifetime Buy is Not Enough: Pyros. Fuel Cells. MLG (Main Landing Gear) Tires. Radiator Retract Hoses. Windows. Payload Bay Floodlights.\u2019<\/p>\n On skill set workers alone, one example can be found with the RCC panel production at the vendor, Lockheed Martin: \u2018Key personnel retiring before 2010. Decision needed (this year) to hire and train new hires.\u2019<\/p>\n In total, up to 300 parts require attention, either from a supply standpoint, or via certification past 2010.<\/p>\n \u2018All of these parts should have a re-review to evaluate their goodness for extension to 2015. There are an additional 66 parts the were given expiration dates between 2011 and 2015.\u2019<\/p>\n Impacts to Constellation relate mainly to Ares V\u2019s need for a High Bay inside the Vehicle Assembly Building, along with additional ground support elements at the Kennedy Space Center (KSC), while Ares I could ably live alongside an active shuttle program at KSC.<\/p>\n Refinements to ground ops requirements would need to be made regardless.<\/p>\n Lockheed Martin\/MAF are also contributing to the assessment, which is concentrating on floor space requirements for Constellation, alongside continued ET production. One source working on MAF\u2019s assessment claims a plan could be \u2018doable\u2019, whilst stressing the need for workforce\/skill sets and material vendors to be immediately protected. The largest hurdle to overcome relates to the capability of an orbiter once on orbit, and the requirement of not only transporting astronauts to and from the ISS, but the ability to evacuate them in the eventuality of an emergency on the orbital outpost.<\/p>\n \u2018Continuing to fly the Space Shuttle past 2010 is not the answer to this situation. Even if the Shuttle continued to fly beyond 2010 the US would still be reliant on Soyuz <\/em>until NASA\u2019s new Orion <\/em>crew vehicle comes on-line,\u2019 added the pro-INKSA waiver document.<\/p>\n \u2018Due to its design limitations, the Space Shuttle can visit the ISS for no more than about two weeks at a time, two to five times per year. The Soyuz <\/em>can both transport crew and serve as a rescue vehicle attached to the ISS for six-month increments.<\/p>\n \u2018Under NASA\u2019s present operational safety rules, crew rescue capabilities for astronauts onboard the Space Station are a necessity. Today, only the Russian Soyuz <\/em>provides this capability.\u2019<\/p>\n However, while that statement doesn\u2019t take into account the recent doubts relating to the health of the Soyuz during extended stays on orbit, the issue of a US-controlled \u2018lifeboat\u2019 is also being evaluated on several fronts, especially in relation to opening discussions with COTS (Commercial Orbital Transportation Services) partners on providing such a vehicle.<\/p>\n Known as \u2018Capability D-minus\u2019, several companies have noted the ability to make available a lifeboat vehicle from 2012 (names and details currently embargoed due to ongoing discussions).<\/p>\n Another possibility that has been noted relates to the refunding of the X-38 crew return vehicle (CRV), which would also serve the evac requirement in-between shuttle missions. However, the initiation of this extension element would wholly depend on the status of the INKSA waiver by the end of this year.<\/p>\n Extension \u2013 The Previous \u2018Unmanned Orbiters\u2019 Assessment:<\/em><\/p>\n This is not the first time the shuttle program has taken a look at flying the orbiters past 2010 \u2013 even though the current evaluations are by far the most concerted effort.<\/p>\n A memo (on L2) from Mission Operations Directorate (MOD) head Paul Hill spoke of an assessment into flying \u2018unmanned\u2019 orbiters via an increased RCO (Remote Control Orbiter) capability \u2013 though it is not known if the assessment was ever completed.<\/p>\n \u2018There has been some e-mail traffic in the last week on extending the Remote Control Orbiter (RCO) capability,\u2019 noted Hill in 2006. \u2018RCO as currently implemented is a contingency capability to undock and deorbit a damaged orbiter from ISS with no crew on board.\u2019<\/p>\n Mr Hill was referencing the current availability of flying home an unmanned orbiter in the event of a LON (Launch On Need) scenario, which would involve the damaged vehicle undocking \u2013 ahead of the rescue orbiter arriving at the Station \u2013 before being guided home by remote control.<\/p>\n A special cable (currently stowed on the ISS) would be installed ahead of undocking, which would allow for the landing tasks \u2013 which currently require manual operation \u2013 to be carried out.<\/p>\n Such an unmanned landing during a LON scenario would depend on numerous safety factors, with a destructive \u2018tail first\u2019 re-entry still the most likely option for a damaged orbiter.<\/p>\n \u2018There is some interest now in developing this (RCO) into a full mission capability, thus enabling unmanned shuttles to launch, dock to ISS, undock and land in 2011 and beyond.<\/p>\n \u2018While that\u2019s an interesting idea and would be a fun development project, we are working to understand the level of effort the program desires for this study.\u2019<\/p>\n Such an effort would not be looked into via the current assessment, given the obvious requirement of crew transportation being key to finding solutions during the gap.<\/p>\n L2 Members: Refer to TAG keywords \u20182015\u2019, \u2018Extension\u2019, and\u00c2 \u2018Soyuz\u2019 for an extensive selection of related presentations.<\/em><\/p>\n L2 members<\/em>: All documentation\u00c2 \u2013 from which the above article has quoted snippets \u2013 is available in full in the related L2 sections, updated live.<\/em> From a hardware standpoint, the space shuttle fleet could technically fly until 2015, involving up to 13 extra flights \u2013 that\u2019s the result of the opening findings from the on-going extension assessment. Several options \u2013 all based around flying two orbiters past 2010, with the support of an ISS \u201clifeboat\u201d \u2013 have been created, although […]<\/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":[],"class_list":["post-41309","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-news"],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/starpath.global\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/41309"}],"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=41309"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/starpath.global\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/41309\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/starpath.global\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=41309"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/starpath.global\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=41309"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/starpath.global\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=41309"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}<\/em><\/em>**Click\u00c2 here for sample of L2 menu and content**<\/em>**<\/em><\/p>\n
A gap of at least five years between shuttle and Ares\/Orion \u2013 six years when based on Orion crew rotations on the International Space Station (ISS) \u2013 is just around the corner, though the focus on extending shuttle has always been in relation to removing the need for reliance on a foreign launch system during that period.<\/p>\n
**L2 Trailer Video, with examples of L2 content\u00c2 \u2013 TRAILER NOW AVAILABLE \u2013 CLICK IMAGE**Alternatively **CLICK HERE** For the free trailer for the 1,900mb L2 video of an exclusive tour of the VAB, OPF and Pad.<\/em><\/em><\/p>\n
An associated 2015 manifest option document, which has been created for the assessment, shows Discovery flying STS-119 and STS-129 before being placed into an OMDP for one year, before returning for seven flights, including \u2013 pending approval \u2013 the AMS (Alpha Magnetic Spectrometer) mission in 2012.<\/p>\n
The Space Shuttle Program is already in shutdown, as seen with the SSME (Space Shuttle Main Engine) contractors over the last year, and notably with the External Tanks (ET) at the Michoud Assembly Facility (MAF) \u2013 who have already started a twice yearly round of layoffs in New Orleans.<\/p>\n
\nExtension Problems \u2013 ISS:<\/em><\/p>\n
\n<\/em>
\nClick here for a range of superb\u00c2 STS mission specific music videos created by Max Q videos<\/em> <\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"