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<\/em><\/font>The resulting information was collated from information presented to the Shuttle PRCB meeting today, all of which is available in full document form on L2. To join L2, click the advert \u2014><\/em><\/font><\/p>\n
ET-118 is currently manifested to be completed at the end of this month, although that is in danger of slipping for a variety of reasons, most notably the requirement to replace its ECO (Engine Cut Off) sensors.<\/p>\n
\u2018ET-118 production continuing for planned 5\/30 completion,\u2019 noted today\u2019s PRCB document. \u2018Additional up-shifting and staffing required to maintain date.\u2019 <\/font><\/p>\n
Lockheed Martin had already noted they were moving all available workers to the 118 task, in order help mitigate the delay on the tank, much to the detriment of ET-123 \u2013 the next tank due to leave the Michoud Assembly Facility (MAF) after ET-118. <\/font><\/p>\n While the issue is being given a lot of attention by Shuttle managers, sources note that it is highly unlikely the tank will slip to the extent of affecting STS-121\u2019s July launch window. <\/p>\n NASASPACEFLIGHT.COM RSS FEED \u2014> A new issue that has come to light from the meeting on Thursday is the \u2018ET propulsion line hardware safe life\u2019 analysis. Space Technology (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({});<\/p>\n The problem has been spotted during tests on the modified External Tank \u2013 following the removal of the PAL ramp from all future ETs. Two areas of the GO2 pressline are in question.<\/p>\n \u2018Analysis of preliminary PAL ramp elimination environments indicated potential violations for subsequent environment increases. Subsequent analysis using final PAL ramp elimination steady\/unsteady airload environments (May delivery)resulted in violations at 2 locations on the mid flex segment of the GO2 pressline.<\/font><\/p>\n No info has been made available on how this could affect STS-121, given more work is needed to look into the initial data, as the \u2018resolution\u2019 noted: \u2018Refined analysis technique to eliminate mach consistent max\/max resultant moment calculations.\u2019<\/p>\n Marshall Space Flight Center (MSFC) have been brought in to look at the information \u2013 through their Fracture Control Board \u2013 with a test article being fabricated via a contingency plan to perform simulated service tests.<\/p>\n More will follow on this story in the coming days <\/u><\/font><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Thursday\u2019s PRCB meeting revealed continuing concerns on ensuring ET-118 is delivered to the Kennedy Space Center within its required timelines. The External Tank (ET) is required for Atlantis and her supporting STS-300 mission. The meeting also raised concerns over the ET\u2019s propulsion line hardware (specifically two areas of the GO2 pressline) \u201cmission life requirement\u201d \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-42064","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-news"],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/starpath.global\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/42064"}],"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=42064"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/starpath.global\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/42064\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/starpath.global\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=42064"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/starpath.global\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=42064"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/starpath.global\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=42064"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}ET-123 is now under a complete review of its timelines as a result, although the concentration on ET-118 is understandable, given it has to make it to KSC to allow STS-121 to fly by a certain processing date, with the support of STS-300 a mission requirement.<\/font><\/p>\n
<\/em><\/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><\/p>\nThe issue was noted as the \u2018ability of propulsion line hardware to meet mission life requirement (>4x),\u2019 following \u2018(an) assessment of propulsion line hardware (for penetrant inspection issues) resulted in concern of 90\/95 probability of detection (POD) flaw size screened by radiographic inspection.\u2019<\/p>\n
<\/font>\u2018Review of ET-119 radiographs at MAF indicated potential issue at one location. Disposition was no defect (weld solidification). Further review of radiograph by independent source identified indication as suspect defect.\u2019<\/p>\n
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