Atlantis is continuing to enjoy a green processing flow, as she closes in on rollover to the Vehicle Assembly Building (VAB) in around three weeks time.
Final closeouts and tests are ongoing inside her Orbiter Processing Facility (OPF), while managers start to build up their documentation for the series of Flight Readiness Reviews (FRR) [...]
Shuttle and Station managers are looking into the possibility of adding an extra 1,750 lbs of stowage inside Endeavour’s “Leonardo” Multi-Purpose Logistics Module (MPLM).
November’s STS-126 was already set to be the heaviest logistics flight to the International Space Station (ISS), with Endeavour carrying key equipment for what will be a six man outpost [...]
While STS-125’s External Tank (ET-127) continues to be processed inside the Vehicle Assembly Building (VAB), ahead of mating with its Solid Rocket Boosters on August 3, Endeavour’s stack is also starting to take shape.
Endeavour - tasked with STS-400 Launch On Need (LON) support - is awaiting delivery of her tank (ET-129) from the [...]
A report from Ares I-X’s Chief Engineer has called for the strengthening of the vehicle’s hardware, due to the red risks associated with Thrust Oscillation near the end of first stage burn - which is also threatening the vehicle’s Flight Termination System (FTS) components.
The vehicle is also requiring mitigation of other multiple issues [...]
The Tiger Team set up to investigate the root cause of a potential issue with the shuttle’s Reinforced Carbon-Carbon (RCC) leading-edge panel has released some of their preliminary findings.The concern - which was originally highlighted at STS-120’s Flight Readiness Review (FRR) - is with the joggle surface spalling, where small pieces flake off and possibly [...]
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Engineers repairing damage to the flame trench at Pad 39A have started to spray Fondue Fyre into the damaged areas of the concrete wall - and remain on track to have the pad ready to accept Atlantis in time for the October launch of STS-125.
Meanwhile, the schedule date for Atlantis’ External Tank (ET-127) [...]
Engineers tackling one of the biggest issues with Ares I, namely Thrust Oscillation, are understood to be currently favoring either adding the “Parasorber” concept, or a set of pulsing thrusters - firing in either direction during first stage flight - to the aft skirt, along with Crew Seat Isolators.
With the July status of [...]
Engineers are working on a problem observed with Atlantis’ External Tank (ET-127), which will likely require the removal and replacement of a valve.
Mold impressions of the damaged GH2 two inch disconnect valve were taken overnight, with meetings taking place on Friday to discuss a forward plan. However, should R&R be required, work is [...]
A CR (Change Request) has been issued to attempt to push forward the launch dates of STS-125 and STS-126. If approved, Atlantis’ trip to Hubble will take place NET (No Earlier Than) October 2, allowing Endeavour’s mission to the ISS to move up to November 4.
Meanwhile, Atlantis’ External Tank (ET-127) is now being [...]
Sea Launch have returned to action tonight with the launch of the EchoStar 11 telecommunications satellite via their Zenit-3SL launch vehicle from their Odyssey Launch Platform. The launch was on time at 10:21pm PDT.
Meanwhile, one of the EchoStar’s older birds failed earlier this week, with an official announcement confirming the loss of EchoStar [...]
An expansive investigation has been carried out on imagery footage that showed numerous debris events near shuttle Discovery during her launch on STS-124.
Thousands of bricks were blown out of the flame trench, with some of the debris confirmed as rising above the zero level of the Mobile Launch Platform - which has resulted [...]
Atlantis’ Solid Rocket Boosters (SRBs) are now ready to accept External Tank (ET-127), following the completion of stacking and integration operations inside the Vehicle Assembly Building (VAB).
For the first time, Atlantis’ boosters have a new Frangible Nut Crossover System on the holddown bolts/posts, to help prevent aft skirt “stud hang-ups” when the vehicle [...]
The External Tank that will fly with Atlantis during her STS-125 launch - ET-127 - has finally been completed at the Michoud Assembly Facility (MAF) and began its journey to Florida late on Thursday.
However, the ET production battle in New Orleans is by no means over, with ET-129 - required for the STS-400 [...]
The design work on the Ares I Emergency Escape System (EES) Rollercoaster is starting to pick up the pace, as the huge project undergoes further refinements on the giant structure that will reside at Pad 39B.
Redesigned as a fixed structure that will rise several hundred feet into the Space Coast panorama, a Design [...]
Shuttle Discovery’s right Solid Rocket Booster (SRB) “tailed off” sooner than the left during the final part of first stage ascent - the IFA (In Flight Anomaly) review of the STS-124 mission has noted - causing Discovery to counter via “greater than typical steering commands”.
The review, discussed at the all-powerful Program Requirements Control [...]
Arianespace was action again this evening, with the launch of their Ariane 5 ECA vehicle, carrying a dual payload of the ProtoStar-1 and BADR-6 satellites. Launch too place at the opening of the launch window that opens at 5:47pm, from Launch Complex No. 3 (ELA 3) in Kourou, French Guiana.
NASASpaceflight.com is covered the [...]
A summit between NASA and United Space Alliance’s (USA) Orbiter departments has concluded with a review of the current - albeit few and far between - issues with the fleet, highlighted by the APU leaks that have been observed on recent flights.
Meanwhile, the opportunity to advance the STS-125 launch date ahead of October [...]
Processing remains green for both Atlantis and Endeavour inside their respective Orbiter Processing Facilities (OPFs), though two issues - one with each orbiter - have arisen.
Atlantis has been having problems with a Reinforced Carbon Carbon (RCC) panel on her right wing, with donations from both her sisters having caused issues, while Endeavour may [...]
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