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<\/em><\/font>L2, for expanded documents and insider information covering the space programs at work. To join L2, click the advert. Join soon, due to a pre-determined membership level.<\/p>\nDocument information from last week\u2019s PRCB. Yesterday\u2019s PRCB documents (selected) now available on L2.
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ET-119 \u2013 which will fly with Shuttle Discovery on STS-121 \u2013 has a number of sensors on board the tank along the cable tray, to assess how the ET performs without its PAL ramp and modified ice\/frost ramps. ET-118 \u2013 which will fly with Shuttle Atlantis on STS-115 (STS-300) in August with have a larger array of instruments for the same purpose. <\/p>\n
However, the full DFI suite will not fly until STS-118 \u2013 flight number five of the current manifest, it is proposed. <\/font> <\/p>\n
\u2018Assess which DFI, currently on ET-118 and ET-119 should be made a part of the baseline ET configuration,\u2019 noted the document, titled \u2018Funding Request for ET Cable Tray Instrumentation on STS-118 & -120.\u2019<\/p>\n \u2018A standard, extensive ET DFI configuration would allow the SSP (Space Shuttle Program) to obtain a comprehensive understanding of the flight environments in the shortest number of flights.\u2019 <\/font><\/p>\n \u2018The amount of instrumentation on the ET is limited by the interface to the existing data acquisition system (EDAS on the SRB). The original (STS-1) ET\/Orbiter MADS DFI interface has been removed. ET does not have a certified data acquisition system. Qualifying a new data acquisition system for ET or SRB has been estimated to require ~2 years,\u2019 the document added.<\/p>\n \u2018The RSS interface between the ET and SRB elements has a limited number of available interface pins which can be used for DFI instrumentation. Using the MSFC-developed Excitation Power Box maximizes the number of sensors that can be installed on the ET.\u2019<\/p>\n With the process likely to continue throughout the history of the space shuttle program \u2013 set for a 2010 retirement \u2013 NASA will evaluate the best options for a standard DFI suite on the tanks. <\/font><\/p>\n \u2018Increases from 14 sensors\/FLT (installed on STS-114, -121, -115) to ~20 sensors\/FLT (proposed for STS-118 & -120). SE&I, JSC & MSFC engineering, and ET project continue to pursue the highest priority locations that can be effectively instrumented.\u2019 <\/p>\n <\/font> NASASPACEFLIGHT.COM RSS FEED \u2014> <\/p>\n However, the United Space Alliance is against the elaboration of the DFI on the tank, noting: \u2018The first three RTF flights (STS-114, 121, and 115) will provide data for the LH2 and LOX cable tray environments. The continued instrumentation provides limited additional data without clear value added rationale. <\/p>\n \u2018Adding additional requirements for this data poses a significant threat to the ability to meet the shuttle manifest.\u2019<\/p>\n \u2018While the scope of processing work for STS-118\/120 EDAS\/ET DFI is minimal, and equivalent to current ops, this instrumentation will not be installed until the 5th flight of this vehicle configuration. <\/font><\/p>\n SpaceX (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({});<\/p>\n \u2018Whatever flight rationale and level of risk acceptance deemed acceptable for the first 4 flights, should be applicable to future flights. This instrumentation is described as potentially providing additional insight without demonstrating knowledge of what successful results would be.\u2019 <\/font><\/p>\n <\/p>\n A final decision is likely to come after STS-121\u2019s data has been analysed.<\/font><\/p>\n **NASASpaceflight.com Job Opportunities**<\/font> New site design coming soon.<\/font><\/em><\/font><\/p>\n <\/u><\/p>\n <\/font><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" NASA managers have requested funding \u2013 up to around $7m \u2013 to be put in place for the continuation and expansion of special monitoring equipment on the External Tanks. Known as DFI (Developmental Flight Instrumentation), Shuttle managers and engineers will evaluate data gained from the equipment to decide on further modifications to the tanks \u2013 […]<\/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-42041","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-news"],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/starpath.global\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/42041"}],"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=42041"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/starpath.global\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/42041\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/starpath.global\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=42041"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/starpath.global\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=42041"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/starpath.global\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=42041"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}![\"\"](\"http:\/\/logo.cafepress.com\/3\/4811501.1268853.jpg\"){kind=logo}
<\/font>However, increasing to a full suite of sensors isn\u2019t as easy as hoped, with potential interface with other Shuttle systems and a limit on available interface slots along the tank. <\/font><\/p>\n<\/font>STS-121 Mission T-Shirt. Use discount code \u2018nasaspaceflight\u2019 when ordering from Countdown Creations & receive 5% off!<\/p>\n
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<\/font><\/font><\/em><\/font><\/p>\n<\/font>Kennedy Space Center managers also noted the lack of the full DFI not being available until the fifth flight of the current manifest, with their rationale based around the question of what benefit the full DFI will have on the data received from the previous four flights.<\/font><\/p>\n
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