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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>\n<\/font><\/em><\/font><\/font>The \u2018Closure of INEV-01 (Natural Environments) Integrated Hazard Report\u2019 was initiated due to the bird strike on the External Tank during STS-114, just seconds into lift-off. Due to that event, managers have noted that the likelihood of similar event has increased from \u2018remote to infrequent,\u2019 as part of their IFA (In Flight Anomaly) report. <\/p>\n
STS-114\u2019s bird strike \u2013 now identified as a Vulture \u2013 was caught on video, which showed one bird of a small flock crashing into the top of the External Tank, before falling down the Shuttle to its unpleasant death. **VIDEO OF THE BIRD STRIKE**<\/font><\/p>\n
\u2018STS-114 sustained a low-speed bird strike at lift-off. Before it had cleared the Pad 39B umbilical tower, the SSV (Space Shuttle Vehicle) struck what was later identified as a Vulture, which impacted the external tank ogive and fell on the -Z side of the ET,\u2019 noted the document. \u2018It was vaporized by the SRB plumes. <\/font><\/p>\n \u2018Two other large birds were seen flying over the SSV and are presumed to have also been vaporized. As a result of this bird strike, an In-Flight Anomaly (IFA), IFA-114-I-13 Bird Strike During Ascent, was initiated.\u2019<\/p>\n <\/font> NASASPACEFLIGHT.COM RSS FEED \u2014> While the document claims the Launch Director will make the \u2018decision to hold or continue countdown at T-1 min. based on bird activity near pad,\u2019 sources note that this will be a new hold point in the countdown, as opposed to running to T-31 seconds and then holding, ahead of Auto Sequence Start.<\/font><\/p>\n The ability to hold at T-1 minute is very limited after the start of LOX drainback which occurs at T- 4:55. This hold time is typically three to four minutes long before a scrub has to be called.<\/p>\n The raising of the likelihood of a problem with bird activity interfering with the launch is \u2013 according to the document \u2013 \u2018based on limited effectiveness of tools to detect birds near launch pad. Limited experience with detection tools.\u2019<\/font><\/p>\n Measures have already been put in place to mitigate the potential issue, with sound deterrents and vulture traps planned for STS-121, plus the recent Carrion removal program implemented at KSC. Bird radar and cameras are also planned to be used to monitor birds. <\/p>\n Other measures include \u2018Terror Eyes\u2019 scary balloons on the pad, visual monitoring, Vulture traps water hoses, predatory bird calls, loud noises and bird cannons. <\/font><\/p>\n Rocket launch schedules (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({});<\/p>\n \u2018The Launch Director makes a decision within the last minute of the countdown whether to continue the count based on an assessment of the bird activity near the vehicle to mitigate the risk of invasive fauna. This new procedure serves to reduce the risk of striking a bird during launch,\u2019 noted an adjoined report from Boeing and the United Space Alliance.<\/p>\n \u2018U.S Fish and Wildlife Service at Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge believes that such a reduction in the available food source will result in a reduction in the resident vulture population.\u2019<\/p>\n STS-121 is due to launch next month in a window that may possibly be pushed back slightly to a NET (No Earlier Than) July 2 or 3 due to lighting constraints on ET debris imaging *article to follow based on a large outline document now published on L2*<\/p>\n <\/u><\/em><\/font><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" A NASA executive decision has officially added the option of an additional hold being called \u2013 with one minute remaining in the countdown \u2013 to avoid the bird strike risk observed just seconds into the launch of Shuttle Discovery on STS-114 last year. Implemented into STS-121\u2019s Terminal Countdown, the Launch Director at KSC now has […]<\/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-42043","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-news"],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/starpath.global\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/42043"}],"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=42043"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/starpath.global\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/42043\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/starpath.global\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=42043"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/starpath.global\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=42043"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/starpath.global\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=42043"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}<\/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>While a re-evaluation will take place prior to STS-115 with Atlantis, the \u2018consequence remains CATASTROPHIC,\u2019 yet also \u2018remains (an) ACCEPTED RISK. Overall Hazard Report classification remains ACCEPTED RISK.\u2019 <\/font><\/p>\n<\/font>\u2018Several mitigation techniques, including sound deterrents and vulture traps are planned for implementation for STS-121. Additionally, a carrion (road kill) removal program has been implemented to reduce the vulture population at KSC. The goal of this program is to remove any animal carcasses from the roads within one day. <\/font><\/p>\n
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