Tag: Ares I-X
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Ares I-X slips to September 18 as processing edges towards stacking
The Ares I-X test vehicle is scheduled to begin stacking in the Vehicle Assembly Building (VAB) at the end of the month, despite continued slips to the launch date – the latest of which places Ares I-X as lifting off from Pad 39B NET (No Earlier Than) September 18. Ares I-X Latest: The launch of…
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STS-125 stack set for VAB rollaround – waiting on May launch opportunity
With the Hubble mission still tracking a May launch date, the STS-125 stack – consisting of External Tank ET-130 and the twin Solid Rocket Boosters (SRBs) – will exit High Bay 1 (HB-1) Vehicle Assembly Building (VAB) on Tuesday morning, before heading back into HB-3. Atlantis herself is undergoing final preparations for rollover, on a…
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STS-125/400 Single Pad option progress – aim to protect Ares I-X
Managers are closing in on facilitating a July launch date for Ares I-X, via a Single Pad option for STS-125’s mission to service Hubble and the supporting STS-400 LON (Launch On Need) shuttle. The plan would free up Pad 39B for transition to Constellation, but likely delay STS-125 by a few weeks as a result.…
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STS-119: Interfacing the stack – Discovery preparing for S0008
Shuttle Discovery as the STS-119 stack will undergo the Shuttle Interface Test (S0008) on Sunday, although engineers had to work through issues with the mating of the orbiter/ET umbilicals – which have since been resolved. The STS-119 stack is being worked through Orbiter/ET mate (S0004 operations) since Discovery was transitioned over to High Bay 3…
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Fleet processing involves holiday work – Giant crane dominates KSC skyline
Processing will continue on two orbiters through the Christmas holidays, with work required on both Discovery and Endeavour. Meanwhile, a huge crane has been built up to support the final construction of the 600ft Ares I lightning protection towers at Pad 39B. The bulk of the workforce at the Kennedy Space Center (KSC) belong to…
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Milestone meeting in January to discuss STS-125’s Hubble launch date
Atlantis’ trip to service the Hubble Space Telescope remains on track for May, although another key milestone meeting is due in early January to discuss the status of the replacement Hubble hardware – which is still undergoing testing. An alternative launch date in November remains an option. STS-125 has been delayed several times from its…
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Endeavour into STS-127 processing – Discovery ready for STS-119 rollover
Endeavour has finally arrived back to the home comforts of her Orbiter Processing Facility (OPF-2), following her highly successful STS-126 mission. Meanwhile, the pace shows no sign in letting up, with Discovery now powered down for the final time, as she prepares to rollover to the Vehicle Assembly Building (VAB) early in January, ahead of…
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STS-125’s tank arrives – manifest meeting evaluates Ares I-X and ISS supplies
The replacement tank for Atlantis’ mission to service the Hubble Space Telescope has arrived at the Kennedy Space Center (KSC). ET-130 replaces ET-127 – now flying with Discovery in February – following the delay to STS-125. A manifest meeting has already taken place, which has been tasked with finding solutions to Ares I-X’s place in…
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NASA realign five 2009 missions – Ares I-X likely heading to Oct, 09
The Space Shuttle Program (SSP) have concluded their manifest meeting by realigning the 2009 shuttle schedule. The preliminary schedule changes – which calls for five shuttle missions – were called for after the delay to STS-125’s mission to Hubble. As a result of the meeting, Ares I-X is likely to be delayed until October, 09.…