Tag: ET
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STS-133: More cracks found on ET-137 as managers debate forward plan
Two more cracks has been found on a stringer adjacent to the two original cracks on Discovery’s External Tank (ET-137). The latest crack was found on the far left of removed Thermal Protection System (TPS) foam on the flange area between the Intertank and the LOX tank, but appears to have suffered less stress than…
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STS-133: Closing in on GUCP root cause – ET repair at pad still positive
Concentricity measurements on the removed flight seal on the Ground Umbilical Carrier Plate (GUCP) have found at least one of the potential root causes for last Friday’s leak, with a forward plan to install a replacement carrier plate and seal ahead of a potential Tanking Test. Plans are also being worked to install a doubler…
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STS-133: Structural defect/cracks found under foam damage on ET-137
While troubleshooting on the Ground Umbilical Carrier Plate (GUCP) saw the flight seal removed on Wednesday, engineers have been removing the cracked foam from Discovery’s damaged Thermal Protection System (TPS) area on the flange between the intertank and LOX tank. Two cracks has been found on the structural stringer, which is undergoing an immediate investigation. STS-133 Latest:…
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STS-133: Plan under development to repair ET-137 foam cracks at the pad
As access platforms are set up for engineers to begin the removal of the hardware associated with the Ground Umbilical Carrier Plate (GUCP), a large effort to build a repair plan – one which can be conducted at Pad 39A – is being developed for the large crack (and several other smaller cracks) that were found on Discovery’s…
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STS-133 GUCP root cause to benefit from STS-119/127 investigation
As engineers prepare to take a close look at the Ground Umbilical Carrier Plate (GUCP) at the center of STS-133’s scrub on Friday, a pool of knowledge will be fully utilized in the drive towards finding a root cause. That knowledge comes via a large amount of documentation gained through testing and troubleshooting, after the…
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ET-122 arrival marks upcoming Michoud workforce cull, hope for HLV role
Following the arrival of the last External Tank (ET-122) at the Kennedy Space Center (KSC), the Michoud Assembly Facility (MAF) now heads into an uncertain future. Hundreds of Lockheed Martin workers now face imminent layoffs, as the facility winds down operations, with the hope of new life being breathed into the facility firmly focused on…
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STS-133: Engineers complete repair on Discovery following ET mate issue
Discovery suffered a setback during mating operations between the orbiter and her External Tank (ET-137) on Friday, when an internal nut – prepositioned inside the aft compartment of the orbiter – became loose and moved out of position, negating the possibility of installing a flight structural bolt. Engineers successfully accessed the area to conduct a…
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Managers delay STS-134 ET/SRB mate ahead of tank allocation options
With STS-135 heading into mission planning for a June 28, 2011 flight – pending the required funding being passed by lawmakers – managers have opted to delay the mating of STS-134’s External Tank (ET) and Solid Rocket Boosters (SRBs) to December, in order to allow a potential tank swap between ET-138 and ET-122. Meanwhile, a…
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Endeavour in eventful flow – OPF and ET-138 investigations continue
The mystery washer that managed to find its way into the LO2/LOX feedline on External Tank ET-138 is being classed as an isolated incident, as the Shuttle fleet work through numerous investigations. Work on Endeavour is back into a full flow, as an investigation board check into how an Air Hoist managed to fall on…
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External Tank ET-138 under investigation after washer is found in feedline
Currently set to fly with Endeavour, External Tank ET-138 is under investigation – after engineers found a washer inside the LO2 Feedline. The investigation will follow a similar route to that undertaken on ET-129 – when a noise was heard inside that tank during processing inside the Vehicle Assembly Building (VAB) – in order to…