{"id":42369,"date":"2005-06-15T00:45:43","date_gmt":"2005-06-14T16:45:43","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/wp-productionenv-bjg9h2g2bgg5b8aa.southeastasia-01.azurewebsites.net\/news\/griffin-considering-launch-delay-lox-feedline-bracket-mitigation-in-works\/"},"modified":"2005-06-15T00:45:43","modified_gmt":"2005-06-14T16:45:43","slug":"griffin-considering-launch-delay-lox-feedline-bracket-mitigation-in-works","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/starpath.global\/news\/griffin-considering-launch-delay-lox-feedline-bracket-mitigation-in-works\/","title":{"rendered":"Griffin considering launch delay \u2014 LOX Feedline Bracket Mitigation in-works"},"content":{"rendered":"

NASA Administrator Mike Griffin is soon to make an \u201cinformed decision\u201d on whether Shuttle Discovery will launch in July \u2013 amid a major implementation task currently underway regarding ice debris concerns \u2013 relevant to the External Tank\u2019s LOX Feedline Brackets.
\nGriffin noted \u2013 in reaction to the Stafford-Covey findings on NASA progress in implementing the recommendations of the Columbia Accident Investigation Board (CAIB) findings \u2013 that the agency \u201cwill not be rushed\u201d to launch, while admitting the Shuttle will never be risk free. <\/font> <\/p>\n

While sources noted that Iron Contamination \u2013 found in a spare Space Shuttle Main Engine (SSME) and noted in the last Shuttle Standup Summary \u2013 proved not to be a concern with other SSMEs, following a bore scope inspection of in-use engines on Discovery and Atlantis, a Program Management Council (PMC) report dated June 10 has thrown the spotlight back onto Ice Debris concerns.<\/font> <\/font><\/p>\n

The report, titled Lox Feedline Bracket Ice Mitigation \u2013 Tiger Team \u2013 opened with the seriousness in which NASA and its departments are taking the issue of Ice.<\/font> <\/font><\/p>\n

\u201cLOX Feedline Bracket Ice is likely to constrain launch of STS-114,\u201d before noting the risk mitigation that is in-works is \u201cpromising.\u201d The absolute aim of the modification is \u201creduce the risk of bracket ice damage to the Orbiter RCC and Tiles \u2013 (Thermal Protection System).\u201d It was foam debris from the External Tank that caused a breach in Columbia\u2019s left wing during the launch of the ill-fated STS-107.<\/font> <\/font><\/p>\n

The report focuses on a self-proclaimed \u201csimple\u201d approach, based on a proof of concept of testing a \u201cNo-Purge Bag\u201d and \u201cInflatable Surrounds\u201d \u2013 which requires no significant new structure for implementation, with removal of the modification being carried out by \u201cSpecial Red Team\u201d activity prior to launch, using lanyards.<\/font> <\/font><\/p>\n

The Mitigation Tiger Team consists of people from both the Kennedy Space Centre (KSC) and Marshall Space Flight Center (MSFC) with liaisons from both the External Tank and Solid Rocket Boosters departments. The objectives note the development, certification and implementation of an existing bag concept that had previously been developed by the Ice Storming Team.<\/font> <\/font><\/p>\n

With a launch window still being set for July 13-31, the time allowed for verification and qualification may be the main concern \u2013 with an on-pad test noted as a requirement for the modification. The Inventions and Contributions Board (ICB) and the Program Requirements Control Board (PRCB) will join the PMC for approval of the modification, with coordination on hand with NASA\u2019s Engineering and Safety Center at the Langley Research Center in Virginia.<\/font> <\/font><\/p>\n

The No-Purge bags will go onto the External Tank in six locations \u2013 as high as the intertank area, all the way down the feedline. The purpose of the bags \u2013 as an inflatable enclosure \u2013 is to inhibit airflow to the bracket, eliminating moisture, which in turn eliminates condensation which could turn to frost and\/or ice. With the modification coming off the External Tank prior to launch, a small amount of frost growth has been classed as acceptable.<\/font> <\/font><\/p>\n

Aerospace & Defense<\/path>Space Shuttle<\/path>NASA mission updates<\/path>\n

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\n <\/p>\n

A test article was put under the spotlight at the MSFC Hot Gas Facility in Alabama \u2013 which will also serve as the testing facility during the verification process. However, the test article lacked the ability for condensation simulations, the cold box was filled with LN2 \u2013 rather than LH2 and there was no articulation during the testing. The No Purge Bag was tested at the MSFC on May 16.<\/font><\/p>\n

An update, recieved today, noted that very recent testing has shown that low density ice poses a more serious risk to the Shuttle wing RCC than previously thought.<\/font><\/p>\n

Such concerns regarding ice debris is now classed as the largest potential \u201cshow-stopper\u201d to STS-114 launching in the July window.<\/p>\n

Further updates and follow-ups are pending.<\/em><\/font><\/p>\n

<\/font><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

NASA Administrator Mike Griffin is soon to make an \u201cinformed decision\u201d on whether Shuttle Discovery will launch in July \u2013 amid a major implementation task currently underway regarding ice debris concerns \u2013 relevant to the External Tank\u2019s LOX Feedline Brackets. Griffin noted \u2013 in reaction to the Stafford-Covey findings on NASA progress in implementing the […]<\/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-42369","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-news"],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/starpath.global\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/42369"}],"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=42369"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/starpath.global\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/42369\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/starpath.global\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=42369"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/starpath.global\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=42369"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/starpath.global\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=42369"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}