Tag: STS-125
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STS-119 FCV performance boosts flight rationale for STS-125
Aiding the requirement of flight rationale for STS-125, engineers have found that the three replacement Flow Control Valves (FCVs) that flew on STS-119 suffered from no cracking, following inspections on the valves after they had been removed from Discovery. The news comes as managers prepare to conduct both the post flight review of STS-119 and…
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Processing on track for STS-125 as mission heads to FRR season and Sims
No issues are being worked on Atlantis at Pad 39A, as STS-125 continues to proceed towards launch in just over a month’s time. One crucial element for the May 12 launch is the replacement hardware that Atlantis will carry to the Hubble Space Telescope, with several days of mission content simulations taking place next week, …
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Pre-empting Hubble: MOD reviews STS-125/400 requirements
With Space Shuttle Atlantis undergoing her second round of pad processing for the much anticipated flagship mission to the Hubble Space Telescope in May, NASA managers continue to refine the complex ballet of procedures for STS-125 and its associated Launch On Need (LON) mission, STS-400 – with Endeavour on track for rollover to the VAB…
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Atlantis rollout to Pad 39A – FCV plan set up for STS-125/400
Atlantis has rolled back out to Pad 39A for her re-aligned STS-125 mission to the Hubble Space Telescope. First motion for the stack was registered at 3:54am local time, for a 11am arrival at the pad, after which the vehicle will undergo a hotfire of all three of her Auxiliary Power Units (APUs) tonight. Meanwhile…
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STS-125 Atlantis suffers tile damage during ET mating
Another major milestone in the flow towards the final Hubble Servicing Mission has taken place, after Atlantis completed mating operations with External Tank (ET-130) inside the Vehicle Assembly Building (VAB). However, an incident during mating has resulted in tile damage on the belly of the orbiter, which was repaired on Friday morning. Atlantis rolled over…
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Atlantis and Endeavour deep in processing for their May get-together
While the majority of engineering concentration on the Flow Control Valve (FCV) flight rationale for Discovery and her STS-119 flight, Atlantis – and Endeavour as her rescue support – currently remain on track for their May date surrounding STS-125. Atlantis STS-125 Latest: With STS-119’s NET (No Earlier Than) only slipping my a matter of a…
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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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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…