Tag: SSME
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Discovery’s SSMEs to be removed on Thursday due to LPOTP issue
Engineers are preparing to remove Discovery’s three Space Shuttle Main Engines (SSMEs) on Thursday, after SSME 1’s Low Pressure Oxidizer Turbo Pump (LPOTP) failed torque checks. No schedule impact will be suffered as a result of back-stepping in the flow, due to the six week slip to STS-133’s launch date caused by payload requirements. STS-133…
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Discovery’s SSMEs to be removed on Thursday due to LPOTP issue
Engineers are preparing to remove Discovery’s three Space Shuttle Main Engines (SSMEs) on Thursday, after SSME 1’s Low Pressure Oxidizer Turbo Pump (LPOTP) failed torque checks. No schedule impact will be suffered as a result of back-stepping in the flow, due to the six week slip to STS-133’s launch date caused by payload requirements. STS-133…
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Atlantis into pressurization tasks – numerous SSME items discussed at FRR
Engineers are heading into a weekend of critical operations for STS-132, as Atlantis undergoes flight pressurization operations on the systems that will aid her journey to the International Space Station (ISS) in a week’s time. Wednesday’s Agency Flight Readiness Review (FRR) focused on one of those systems – the Space Shuttle Main Engines (SSMEs) –…
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STS-130 Endeavour beats the weather and launches, SSME improvements
Shuttle Endeavour has launched on the second launch to start STS-130, following a 24 hour scrub due to unacceptable cloud cover on Sunday morning. The youngest orbiter in the fleet behaved well on the pad with no issues ahead of her 4:14 Eastern liftoff. Meanwhile, another key element of the Flight Readiness Review (FRR) covered…
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IFA Review reveals solid performance of STS-129 SRBs and Main Engines
Capping off a highly successful year for the Space Shuttle Program, the STS-129 flight of Atlantis last month has undergone its final, official post-flight assessment: the all-important In-Flight Anomaly (IFA) review. In all, STS-129 was a clean flight, particularly for the vehicle’s Solid Rocket Boosters (SRBs) and Space Shuttle Main Engines (SSMEs). Solid Rocket Booster…
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Extension decision no closer after “one heck of a year” for shuttle
The Space Shuttle Program (SSP) will have “no idea” where it stands from a budget standpoint until February, as the viability of extending the shuttle manifest continues to be eroded by the lack of a clear direction at the political level. The irony of running head first into shuttle retirement comes as the Space Shuttle…
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STS-129: Atlantis in preps for TCDT – SSME nozzle flight rationale
Atlantis is enjoying a relatively smooth pad flow, with only three issues being worked, as engineers prepare the shuttle for the Terminal Countdown Demonstration Test (TCDT) next week. Flight rationale has also been produced for Atlantis’ SSMEs (Space Shuttle Main Engines), following small leaks on both Endeavour and Discovery engine nozzles during the previous two…
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STS-129: Atlantis arrives in VAB for mating – SSME mystery
Atlantis is preparing to mate with her External Tank (ET-133) and twin Solid Rocket Boosters (SRBs), following rollover to the Vehicle Assembly Building (VAB) on Tuesday morning. Meanwhile, engineers are finaling plans to protect the Space Shuttle Main Engine (SSME) nozzles at the pad, following leaks on the last two missions, and an observation of…
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Atlantis tracking Tuesday rollover – Two more ETs due at KSC this year
STS-129 is pressing ahead with the next processing milestone, with Atlantis preparing to roll over from her Orbiter Processing Facility (OPF-1) for the short journey to the Vehicle Assembly Building (VAB) on Tuesday. Meanwhile, the shipping dates have been set for the next two External Tanks (ETs) – both scheduled to arrive at the Kennedy Space…
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Adhesive tape caused STS-127 SSME nozzle leaks – STS-130 SSME milestone
Pratt & Whitney Rocketdyne engineers have found the application of “tacky tape” – used to seal the throat plugs on the Space Shuttle Main Engines (SSME) since the 1990s – was the initial root cause of 340 leaks on Endeavour’s number one engine during STS-127’s ascent. Meanwhile, three SSMEs are scheduled to be installed on…