Tag: STS-134
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STS-134: Endeavour ready for her big day as L-1 resolves minor issues
Endeavour is all set for her final S0007 launch countdown events, opening with the retraction of the Rotating Service Structure (RSS), delayed to 11:45pm local time on Thursday. Only a handful of minor Interim Problem Reports (IPRs) have been charged against Endeavour, all of which have been resolved heading into what may be her final day…
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Final Launch Reviews Reveal Modifications to Endeavour for STS-134
With Endeavour zipping through S0007 (launch countdown) ops, teams at Launch Complex 39A have completed PRSD load for Endeavour’s three electricity-producing Fuel Cells. Meanwhile, with no outstanding issues for the baby orbiter’s launch Friday at ~15:47.52 EDT on the STS-134/ULF6 mission to the International Space Station, final launch reviews have been completed – reviews that…
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STS-134: Endeavour begins S0007 Launch Countdown
Endeavour has entered the three day countdown for what is likely to be her final ever launch. No issues are in work ahead of the next key status review – the L-2 Mission Management Team (MMT) meeting – as engineers dive into the complex ballet of S0007 operations, hopefully ending with the successful launch of…
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STS-134 Agency FRR approves April 29 launch – Storm damage evaluations
Managers at the Agency Flight Readiness Review (FRR) have – as expected – approved April 29 as the launch date for STS-134. The meeting also discussed the health of Endeavour’s External Tank (ET-122), following a bout of severe storm weather at Pad 39A at the end of March – resulting in high wind loads on…
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STS-134: Endeavour ordnance installation on tap – Mission still being tweaked
Following a relatively relaxed week at Pad 39A, Endeavour is preparing to enter Ordnance installation tasks on Monday and Tuesday, as the youngest orbiter in the fleet heads into her final week prior to the launch countdown. With the Flight Readiness Review (FRR) also set to take place on Tuesday, managers are making their final…
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STS-134: Endeavour heading towards S0007 preparations – mission extended
With a large amount of contingency in her pad flow, Endeavour’s processing pace has slowed down this week. The flow is expected to ramp up on Friday as preparations begin for S0007 (Launch Countdown) operations. While the feared government shutdown was averted, memos pre-empting the possibility revealed some insight into the latest launch window planning…
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STS-134 Soyuz Flyabout Cancelled – Planning switched to STS-135
Following a meeting between NASA and Russian Space Agency (Roscosmos) managers on Friday, a decision was made to call off the planned Soyuz documentary flyabout of the International Space Station (ISS) and Endeavour during the STS-134/ULF-6 mission, due to concerns with crew impacts in the event that the Soyuz should fail to re-dock with the…
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STS-134: SSMEs ready to fly – Stack cleared following more bad weather
Endeavour is happily moving through her pad flow, despite having to endure yet more bad weather over her launch pad – resulting in additional inspections for hail damage this week. Thankfully, no new observations of damage have been noted on the External Tank (ET-122). Meanwhile, the Flight Readiness Review (FRR) for the Space Shuttle Main…
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NASA reviews STS-133 SRB/RSRM Performance ahead of STS-134
Following the highly successful launch of the STS-133 mission, NASA and its contractors have reviewed the vehicle’s performance for any In-Flight Anomalies, or IFAs, on the systems of the Solid Rocket Boosters (SRBs) and Reusable Solid Rocket Motors (RSRMs). In all, the standard investigations have revealed a very clean performance in both categories, with only one…
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STS-134: Launch date slips to April 29 due to Russian Progress conflict
NASA managers – following negotiations with their Russian partners – have decided to slip STS-134 to April 29. The slip of STS-134 – Endeavour’s final mission to the International Space Station (ISS) – allows for the Russian Progress M-10M cargo ship to remain on its April 27 launch date. The vehicle will now dock with the ISS…