Tag: STS-128
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Discovery handed special heatshield coating DTO on behalf of Orion
Shuttle Discovery has been tasked with a special DTO (Detailed Test Objective) – on behalf of the Orion Project Office – to be carried out during STS-128’s re-entry. A “Catalytic Coating” has been applied to two of Discovery’s Thermal Protection System (TPS) tiles, providing Orion – and shuttle – engineers with refined aeroheating data. STS-128…
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Atlantis returns to OPF for STS-129 processing – Endeavour SSME contamination
Atlantis has returned to Orbiter Processing Facility (OPF-1) in preparation for her flow towards the STS-129 mission to the International Space Station (ISS). Marking a busy period for the fleet, Discovery is receiving her SSMEs (Space Shuttle Main Engines) for STS-128, while Endeavour’s SSMEs are being evaluated – after corrosion/contamination was seen on tubing associated…
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Atlantis lands safely in California – Fleet status update
Atlantis has landed at Edwards Air Force Base on EOM+2 (End Of Mission plus two days), after Entry Flight Director Norm Knight decided the weather at the Kennedy Space Center had failed to improve to acceptable levels. Atlantis will return to KSC on top of a Shuttle Carrier Aircraft (SCA) just a few weeks ahead of…
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Downstream processing and planning – preparing the fleet through to STS-135
Even though shuttle managers are preparing for two missions in the space of a month, efforts on the downstream flights are at various stages of processing and planning, all the way through to STS-135 – which is currently the LON (Launch On Need) placeholder for what is currently the last shuttle mission – STS-134 –…
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ISS concern over S1 Radiator – may require replacement via shuttle mission
Imagery taken of the delaminated panel on the International Space Station’s S1 Radiator has revealed a “structural risk” on the array, which has the potential to create an ammonia leak in the External Thermal Control System (ETCS). NASA managers are considering options that include flying a replacement radiator array on a downstream shuttle mission, along…
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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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Discovery deservicing in OPF-3 – TPS assessment positive
Following her 13 day mission in space on STS-119, Discovery is being deserviced inside her Orbiter Processing Facility (OPF-3), ahead of her next mission, STS-128. Close inspections of her Thermal Protection System (TPS) created a list of work that will be carried during her 101 day processing flow. Discovery touched down on KSC runway 15…
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Switching STS-128 to Discovery – PRCB updates mission baseline
As Discovery prepares for Wednesday’s rollover ahead of her mid-February flight (STS-119) to deliver the final set of solar arrays and batteries – the S6 truss – to the International Space Station (ISS), the Program Requirements Control Board (PRCB) has completed the all-important Integrated Launch Site Requirements Review (ILSRR), as well as the Delta Launch…
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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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STS-119/Discovery rollover date changed as 2009 shuttle schedule realigns
Only around five weeks will separate Endeavour’s return home from her STS-126 mission, and when Discovery is due to rollover to the Vehicle Assembly Building (VAB) ahead of STS-119. Discovery’s upcoming milestones are part of a realigned plan for the 2009 missions. However, STS-119’s launch date advancement has been disapproved by shuttle managers. The S6…