**The most comprehensive collection of Shuttle, Ares, Orion and ISS related presentations and mission documentation, plus expansive daily processing documentation and updates are <\/em>available to download on L2<\/em><\/font> **<\/em><\/font><\/p>\n STS-120 L2 Special now includes 20 Full FRR presentations (Oct 9-10) \u2013 the most expansive overview of the mission. **Click here for sample**<\/font><\/em><\/p>\n Now includes the STS-120: Joint SSP\/ISS FRR Chart Presentations (over 25mbs worth).<\/font><\/em><\/p>\n **LIVE news updates on Discovery STS-120 PAD Processing**<\/em><\/font><\/p>\n **LIVE news updates on Endeavour STS-123 Processing**<\/em><\/font><\/p>\n Rocket launch schedules (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({});<\/p>\n **LIVE news updates on Atlantis STS-122 Processing**<\/em><\/font><\/p>\n Article:<\/u><\/em><\/p>\n Due diligence on the issue is paramount for the program, with cross agency and contractor discussions taking place over the past week and through the weekend, ranging from NASA HQ to the United Space Alliance (USA). <\/p>\n NESC\u2019s concern \u2013 as exclusively revealed by this site early last week<\/font> \u2013 relates to three panels on Discovery, which they recommend should be replaced, after they were found to have \u2018weakened SiC to carbon substrate adherence,\u2019 or \u2018debonding\u2019 of the top layer. The issue appears to be limited to areas around the edges of the panels which are protected by the T-seals.<\/p>\n The RCC panels in question are on both leading edges of Discovery\u2019s wings, namely panels 9R, 12L, and 13R. Replacing these panels cannot be conducted at the pad, and would lead to the rollback of Discovery and a major launch delay. <\/p>\n It is understood that NESC took pre-flight data of RCC panels and compared them with the current health of Discovery\u2019s panels. However, it appears NESC compared Discovery\u2019s RCC with thermography data from Endeavour\u2019s RCC \u2013 which in turn rules out commonality and flight history with Discovery.<\/p>\n More importantly, it is assumed that this also removes the fear that the heat of re-entry is causing the problem, which downplays the concern that burn-through \u2013 as raised by NESC \u2013 is the driving force behind the call to replace the panels \u2013 panels which may have always been as the data shows, and not \u2018worsened\u2019 by her recent re-entries, in turn removing NESC\u2019s concern. <\/p>\n \u2018In relation to pre-STS-114 RCC panels and three panels in question on STS-120 (OV-103\/Discovery), found out that NESC pulled OV-105 (Endeavour) thermography data as the pre-flight thermography data,\u2019 noted OPO information acquired by this site. <\/p>\n \u2018Accounting for this, there is not such a significant difference between what was seen pre-STS-114 and on the three panels on STS-120,\u2019 which adds confidence that Discovery\u2019s RCC panels have not worsened during a number of her previous flights.<\/p>\n NASA HQ asked to be fully briefed on the RCC information, which was handed over by OPO (Orbiter Project Office) over the weekend. <\/p>\n \u2018Asked how many OV-103 panels have 0.15 or greater reading. Three panels >0.21 (9R, 13R, 12L), one at 0.19 (9L), and one at 0.15 (11L). Remaining 27 panels are 0.13 or less. Of the 27, 17 are <0.1,\u2019 which aligns with NESC\u2019s note on the three panels in question. <\/p>\n It is also understood that a NESC panel member spoke to the STS-120 crew on their findings before further clarification was forthcoming. This may be related to a note that spoke of a crew request. <\/p>\n \u2018Asked if we can make quantitative inspection criteria as crew requested,\u2019 noted information. \u2018Can be done, but not until we get to root cause.\u2019 <\/p>\n That root cause still remains a mystery. Engineers are looking at the manufacturing process to see if that may be the reason for the results of the thermography data. The initial thought process on the root cause was understood to be related to oxidization within the panels that causes the decrease in the adhesive bond that holds the SiC layer in place. <\/p>\n \u2018Thermography on spare RCC panels: Have no indications yet on the 3 or 4 panels inspected (as expected for these new panels),\u2019 noted information on the latest Stand-up\/Integration report this week. <\/p>\n \u2018(Deputy Shuttle Manager) Mr. (John) Shannon said when crack showing in the microscopy was buffed down further, it was not a connected crack across all the crazed cracks. <\/p>\n \u2018Steve Poulos (OPO) spoke about this on Friday, but this does not change situation, because the crazed crack does bi-sect the interface between the substrate and the coating for about one inch, and could liberate.\u2019<\/p>\n Poulos also presented flight rationale for STS-120 at the FRR, as the mission moves towards final approval for October 23.<\/p>\n \u2018Low likelihood of coating spallation occurrence at a flight critical time period. Abort cases combined with probability of occurrence is ~ 1\/8000. On-orbit inspections mitigate risk of re-entry with undetected spallation. LDRI \u2013 FD2\/Late Mission Inspection.<\/p>\n \u2018Microscopy data since FRR indicates the separation on Panel 8R apex region is not continuous. Initial concern was that the separation was continuous along the apex length. Flight history indicates minimal heat damage at two previous spallation sites indicating late timeframe of event. Also consistent with CTE mismatch stresses which occur during cool down following peak heating.<\/p>\n \u2018No spallation events have occurred during flight since IR. Thermography introduced as a process control pre-STS-114. 6 flights total \u2013 1 panel removed <\/b>(8R OV-103<\/b>) due to IR indication. Panels with IR readings of ~ 0.2 have been stable the past several missions.\u2019<\/p>\n Further articles will follow this week.<\/p>\n L2 members<\/font>: All documentation and quotes \u2013 from which the above article has quoted snippets \u2013 is available in full in the related L2 sections, updated live.<\/em><\/p>\n **STARLIGHT: NEW STS-117 MISSION REVIEW MUSIC VIDEO** \u2013 STS-118 Mission review video also available.<\/font><\/em><\/font> <\/em><\/font><\/p>\n **ROCK YOU LIKE A HURRICANE: STS-117 MISSION REVIEW MUSIC VIDEO \u2013 AS SEEN BY THE STS-117 CREW!!**<\/font> -. The final Flight Readiness Review (FRR) has approved October 23 as the launch date for STS-120, with the only one major outstanding issue receiving flight rationale. Concerns over the coating on three of Discovery\u2019s RCC (reinforced carbon-carbon) panels \u2013 noted by two engineers at NASA Engineering and Safety Center (NESC) who dissented through the Chief […]<\/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-41575","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-news"],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/starpath.global\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/41575"}],"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=41575"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/starpath.global\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/41575\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/starpath.global\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=41575"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/starpath.global\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=41575"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/starpath.global\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=41575"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}<\/em><\/font>Extensive STS-120 Special Section on L2 now live, including Flight Plans, Handbooks, Manuals, documentation and presentations. STS-122 to STS-127 documentation already available.<\/em><\/font><\/p>\n
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**(NOW INCLUDES STS-118 Re-Entry Video) Ride home through the fire, sparks and plasma of re-entry with Atlantis, Discovery and Endeavour. FIVE Stunning high quality 2hr, 355-400mb Camcorder and HUD videos \u2013 from payload bay closure \u2013 through re-entry with a astronaut held camcorder video \u2013 to post landing \u2013 several more videos showing landing from 90,000 ft also available \u2013 Now includes HALO II Re-entry video**<\/em><\/font><\/p>\n
(Video section is FREE, but you need to sign up as a member of the forum to enter the video section of the site. We only use your e-mail to send you your password. It will not be used for spam etc.)<\/em><\/font><\/em>
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