**The most comprehensive collection of STS-117 onwards related presentions and mission documentation, plus expansive daily processing documentation and updates are <\/em>available to download on L2<\/em><\/font> ** Including documentation and presentations surrounding the LPOTP issue.<\/font><\/em><\/font><\/p>\n **LIVE news updates on Atlantis STS-117 PAD FLOW \u2013 LIVE**<\/font><\/em><\/p>\n **LIVE news updates on Endeavour STS-118 (LON-318) Processing**<\/font><\/em><\/p>\n **LIVE news updates on Discovery STS-120 (LON-320) Processing**<\/font><\/em> <\/font><\/p>\n At present, the main threats to the June 8 launch remain the weather, possible complications arises from the two EVAs being undertaken by Expedition 15 on the International Space Station<\/font> (ISS), or a future problem ahead of lift-off. <\/font><\/p>\n All concerns with ET-124 were addressed ahead of rollout from the Vehicle Assembly Building (VAB) and no further issues have been noted since. The same can also be said about evaluations surrounding Atlantis\u2019 Composite Overwrap Pressure Vessels<\/font> (COPVs). <\/font><\/p>\n One issue that is being discussed at the FRR relates to the LPOTP. This gained attention at last week\u2019s Program Control Requirements Board (PRCB) meeting, which ultimately approved a waiver, allowing STS-117 to proceed, with future waivers expected for the next two flights. <\/font><\/p>\n \u2018The aluminum housing of the Low Pressure Oxidizer Turbo Pump (LPOTP) utilizes silver plated A-286 inserts for the flange-bolt female threads,\u2019 noted NASA information. \u2018One of the O5 joint inserts on LPOTP 4606 pulled out during joint installation stretch (preload) operations at SSC (Stennis Space Center). <\/font><\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u2018Since this was the third occurrence of insert pullout in five years (and the eighth overall), folks began thinking this was more than just a random failure type happening. There has been however, no evidence of joint leakage in program history.\u2019<\/p>\n <\/font><\/p>\n The cause is believed to be related to corrosion, and the observed issue poses no issue to flight safety. However, evaluations proceeded to work on the instance of two adjacent blots show the same problem. <\/font><\/p>\n \u2018Analysis shows that one bolt out poses no problems and 1.2 Factor of Safety is maintained even with 10 of 14 uniformly spaced bolts remaining. What is not known is the capability remaining if two or more adjacent bolts lose preload. <\/font><\/p>\n \u2018In the problem history, most \u2018seem\u2019 to be associated with age life of >16 yrs, although there have also been occurrences at 5-10 yrs. Corrosion was noted on only one of the problem inserts, and that was on a 28-yr LPOTP housing.\u2019 <\/font><\/p>\n Most importantly, the PRCB meeting emphasized that Atlantis doesn\u2019t even have one of the raised inserts. Endeavour was also checked, and found to have no raised inserts either. <\/font><\/p>\n \u2018Based on the Acceptance Rationale, the PRCB accepted the waiver for STS-117 only and will entertain a waiver for STS-118 and STS-120 when those inserts have been inspected and preload verified. Oversized inserts have been ordered and will replace the standard insert as they become available.\u2019 <\/font><\/p>\n Given the above, the FRR wouldn\u2019t normally have this subject discussed further. However, due to a dissenting opinion from a MSFC (Marshall Space Flight Center) manager \u2013 which is very much encouraged in the new openness of NASA evaluations \u2013 NASA managers have decided to give his opinion an airing. <\/font><\/p>\n \u2018A dissenting opinion was presented by MSFC\/(name removed),\u2019 added PRCB information, which summarized his opinion, which appears to be based on the \u2018possibility\u2019 of corrosion being present. <\/font><\/p>\n \u2018Since the capability and margin are unknown for two or more adjacent bolts losing preload, the consequence of occurrence is catastrophic, and we know how to fix the problem (oversized inserts, use corrosion inhibiting primer), the Program should not risk a catastrophe when the \u2018fix\u2019 is merely a fairly short schedule delay.\u2019 <\/font><\/p>\n If NASA decided to remove the waiver and take the above action \u2013 which is deemed very unlikely due to the lack of evidence of raised inserts \u2013 repairs would push STS-117 into August at the earliest. <\/font><\/p>\n \u2018The PRCB accepted the flight rationale and waiver, but will further discuss at FRR and Mr. (removed) was invited to present his concerns there also,\u2019 noted NASA information.<\/font><\/p>\n The latest news from sources claims that NASA will proceed with the waiver and STS-117 remains on target for an opening launch attempt on June 8. **INFINITY: 10 minute STS MUSIC VIDEO**<\/font><\/em><\/font> \u2013 COMING SOON: Atlantis\/Starlight. **NASASpaceflight.com Job Opportunities**<\/em><\/font><\/em> <\/font><\/em><\/p>\n <\/font><\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" NASA managers are midway through their two day Flight Readiness Review (FRR), with all elements of flight rationale being evaluated for Atlantis\u2019 launch. NASA is working towards announcing June 8 as the official launch date for STS-117. The only issue that is gaining some level of discussion relates to the aluminum housing\/inserts for flange bolts […]<\/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-41708","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-news"],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/starpath.global\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/41708"}],"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=41708"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/starpath.global\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/41708\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/starpath.global\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=41708"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/starpath.global\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=41708"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/starpath.global\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=41708"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}
\n<\/font><\/p>\n<\/font>**Ride home through the fire and plasma of re-entry with Atlantis on STS-115 \u2013 And now also with Discovery on STS-116 \u2013 TWO Stunning high quality 2hr, 355mb videos \u2013 from deorbit burn to post landing**<\/font><\/font><\/p>\n
\n<\/font><\/p>\n\u2018On OV-104 (STS-117) visual inspections have confirmed no raised inserts, and the preload has been reconfirmed on all. The LPOTP housings are also \u2018low time\u2019 relative to fleet experience. Also, haz gas monitoring is in place in the aft compartment during launch count. <\/font><\/p>\n
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