Two more cracks has been found on a stringer adjacent to the two original cracks on Discovery’s External Tank (ET-137). The latest crack was found on the far left of removed Thermal Protection System (TPS) foam on the flange area between the Intertank and the LOX tank, but appears to have suffered less stress than [...]
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Concentricity measurements on the removed flight seal on the Ground Umbilical Carrier Plate (GUCP) have found at least one of the potential root causes for last Friday’s leak, with a forward plan to install a replacement carrier plate and seal ahead of a potential Tanking Test. Plans are also being worked to install a doubler [...]
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While troubleshooting on the Ground Umbilical Carrier Plate (GUCP) saw the flight seal removed on Wednesday, engineers have been removing the cracked foam from Discovery’s damaged Thermal Protection System (TPS) area on the flange between the intertank and LOX tank. Two cracks has been found on the structural stringer, which is undergoing an immediate investigation.
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As access platforms are set up for engineers to begin the removal of the hardware associated with the Ground Umbilical Carrier Plate (GUCP), a large effort to build a repair plan – one which can be conducted at Pad 39A – is being developed for the large crack (and several other smaller cracks) that were found on Discovery’s [...]
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As engineers prepare to take a close look at the Ground Umbilical Carrier Plate (GUCP) at the center of STS-133′s scrub on Friday, a pool of knowledge will be fully utilized in the drive towards finding a root cause. That knowledge comes via a large amount of documentation gained through testing and troubleshooting, after the [...]
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Following the arrival of the last External Tank (ET-122) at the Kennedy Space Center (KSC), the Michoud Assembly Facility (MAF) now heads into an uncertain future. Hundreds of Lockheed Martin workers now face imminent layoffs, as the facility winds down operations, with the hope of new life being breathed into the facility firmly focused on [...]
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Following an engineering solution to the left External Tank separation bolt nut and nut retaining fixture issue, Discovery is moving at a pace through her Vehicle Assembly Building (VAB) milestones. The stack is currently being put through its Shuttle Interface Test (S0008), ahead of next week’s rollout to Pad 39A.
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Discovery suffered a setback during mating operations between the orbiter and her External Tank (ET-137) on Friday, when an internal nut – prepositioned inside the aft compartment of the orbiter – became loose and moved out of position, negating the possibility of installing a flight structural bolt. Engineers successfully accessed the area to conduct a [...]
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With STS-135 heading into mission planning for a June 28, 2011 flight – pending the required funding being passed by lawmakers – managers have opted to delay the mating of STS-134′s External Tank (ET) and Solid Rocket Boosters (SRBs) to December, in order to allow a potential tank swap between ET-138 and ET-122. Meanwhile, a [...]
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Discovery’s External Tank (ET-137), along with ET-138 and the yet-to-be-shipped ET-122 – currently set to fly with STS-335/135) – are to undergo X-ray inspections, following an investigation into a washer that was found inside ET-138′s LO2/LOX Feedline. The inspections a ‘due diligence’ contingency procedure that will refine the ability to detect out of place washers.
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The mystery washer that managed to find its way into the LO2/LOX feedline on External Tank ET-138 is being classed as an isolated incident, as the Shuttle fleet work through numerous investigations. Work on Endeavour is back into a full flow, as an investigation board check into how an Air Hoist managed to fall on [...]
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Currently set to fly with Endeavour, External Tank ET-138 is under investigation – after engineers found a washer inside the LO2 Feedline. The investigation will follow a similar route to that undertaken on ET-129 – when a noise was heard inside that tank during processing inside the Vehicle Assembly Building (VAB) – in order to [...]
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Following a month of repair work inside the Hypergolic Maintenance Facility (HMF), Discovery’s Right Orbital Maneuvering System (ROMS) Pod has returned to Discovery’s Orbiter Processing Facility (OPF-3) for re-installation on Thursday. Meanwhile, STS-134′s External Tank (ET-138) – has arrived at the Kennedy Space Center (KSC).
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A multi-stage approach to the mitigation of foam liberations from the intertank region of the External Tanks (ETs) continues to pay dividends, as STS-132′s In Flight Anomaly (IFA) review pointed to yet another clean tank – with only one area of notable foam loss from Atlantis’ tank. The results have removed the requirement for additional [...]
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NASA’s trusted mitigation approach to problems with their complex hardware has again paid dividends, with efforts to reduce foam liberation from their External Tanks (ETs) rewarded by photography of Atlantis’ ET-136 showing a near-pristine tank. An ongoing FD3 has seen Atlantis dock with the ISS at 9:28am Central, following a somewhat interrupted opening inspection of her TPS [...]
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Wednesday’s Agency Flight Readiness Review (FRR) has approved a May 14 launch date for STS-132, following a very smooth meeting at the Kennedy Space Center (KSC). Among the topics discussed was the mitigation efforts on the problem of foam liberation from the External Tank (ET) intertank region, which has been classed as a resounding success, [...]
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Shuttle Discovery has launched at the first attempt, as STS-131 moves into Flight Day 1. Discovery enjoyed a smooth countdown – bar a slight issue with Fuel Cell 2 – prior to launching at 6:21am local time from the Kennedy Space Center (KSC). Meanwhile, ET-135 is the first tank to fly with new proceedures in [...]
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An upper elevon “sliding seal” on one of Endeavour’s port wing flippers has protruded, although early Damage Assessment Team (DAT) reports claim only a low level of concern. As STS-130 moved through Flight Day 3, Endeavour and her External Tank appear to have enjoyed an extremely clean ascent, as the orbiter and her crew docking [...]
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Clouds over the Kennedy Space Center (KSC) have scrubbed Endeavour’s launch by 24 hours. Earlier, tanking was delayed tanking by 30 minutes to allow engineers to clear the pad after working on a cabin pressure issue, prior to a smooth countdown. Meanwhile, External Tank (ET-134) – which will be flying with Endeavour on STS-130 – is sporting [...]
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With Endeavour enjoying a smooth flow on Pad 39A, preparations for Discovery’s STS-131 mission in March are picking up the pace – with the milestone of External Tank (ET-135) mating with the twin Solid Rocket Boosters (SRBs) set to take place next Monday. Meanwhile, the Michoud Assembly Facility (MAF) in New Orleans has been handed [...]
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