A one-year long investigation into the liberation of part of a Flow Control Valve (FCV) poppet during Endeavour’s STS-126 launch in November 2008 has concluded with a recommendation to close the official investigation after findings revealed the most probable cause of the STS-126 liberation and subsequent eddy current reading increases following some of the Shuttle [...]
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As engineers create their repair plan for what is now observed to be two cracks in Atlantis’ left radiator panel, borescope inspections have been called (see update in article) on both Atlantis and Endeavour, after a broken stud was found on Discovery’s Forward Reaction Control System (FRCS) F5R thruster. Meanwhile shuttle managers have created a contingency [...]
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Managers are close to approving a switch to an advanced May 11 launch date for STS-125, as engineers evaluate damage to Atlantis’ left radiator panel, following an impact from a torque wrench socket. Meanwhile, it has been decided to defer the modification of a doubler plate to the downstream Flow Control Valve (FCV) lines, until after [...]
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The dual processing flows for Atlantis and Endeavour are proceeding to plan, with the main engineering focus on the ET camera flash system, which is undergoing troubleshooting on Atlantis. Managers have also completed the review of the SSP (Space Shuttle Program) Flight Readiness Review (FRR), with evaluations taking place on advancing the launch date by [...]
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With Atlantis and Endeavour now in their dual processing flows for the STS-125 mission to the Hubble Space Telescope, NASA managers have updated plans for shuttle Atlantis’ next mission – STS-129 – via the Launch Site Flow Review (LSFR).
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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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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 is completed her opening Thermal Protection System (TPS) inspections on Flight Day 2 of STS-119, as engineers on the ground evaluate ascent imagery and the opening ‘funnies’ reported to the Mission Evaluation Room (MER). In total, engineers have reported eight issues – all of which are minor and have no mission impact.
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As expected, the Flight Readiness Review (FRR) has cleared Discovery to target a launch at 9:20pm on March 11, following a final review of the Flow Control Valve (FCV) flight rationale. One constraint – relating to the left SRB (Solid Rocket Booster) Range Safety System – will be worked over the weekend.
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Members of a Special PRCB (Program Requirements Control Board) meeting on Wednesday have once again worked through a vast set of documentation, which concluded with positive results for STS-119’s Flow Control Valve (FCV) flight rationale, ahead of the ultimate launch date decision at Friday’s Flight Readiness Review (FRR).
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Engineers are scheduled to begin the installation of the three replacement Flow Control Valves (FCVs) into Discovery on Tuesday, following their arrival from Vacco. Meanwhile, managers are preparing to meet at Wednesday’s Special Program Requirements Control Board (PRCB) meeting, buoyed by encouraging data on the path towards flight rationale that may even allow for a [...]
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Several options, including a reduced mission duration with only one EVA, are being considered as a contingency to ensuring STS-119 launches in March – prior to the Soyuz cut out. Dependant on gaining flight rationale for Discovery’s Flow Control Valves (FCVs), the effort would add options to avoiding a downstream delay to STS-125’s mission to [...]
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The major effort to facilitate a March launch for shuttle Discovery is continuing on a seven day week, as vendor Vacco prepare to ship the three replacement Flow Control Valves (FCVs) to the Kennedy Space Center (KSC) by Monday. Flight rationale is also being built ahead of next week’s crucial meetings.
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The latest target for STS-119 is a short launch window, opening March 12, following a meeting between shuttle managers that confirmed the forward plan of replacing Discovery’s three Flow Control Valves (FCVs). A Program Requirements Control Board (PRCB) meeting, followed by a Flight Readiness Review (FRR), will take place early in March to confirm the [...]
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A launch of STS-119 prior to the Soyuz cut out in mid March remains on the cards, as managers prepare to meet on Wednesday for a launch date discussion. The meeting will also outline a plan to “beef up” the most vulnerable area of the MPS (Main Propulsion System) plumbing, which would reduce risk associating [...]
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Shuttle managers have concluded the Delta Flight Readiness Review (FRR) – one of the longest in shuttle history – by failing to approve flight rationale due to concerns with the Flow Control Valves (FCVs). No launch date has been set, but February 27 is no longer the target. Teams will meet again on Wednesday to [...]
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Another delay to STS-119’s NET (No Earlier Than) launch date is deemed a possible outcome of Friday’s Flight Readiness Review (FRR), with test results – some negative – still arriving on manager’s desks on Thursday.
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Shuttle Discovery is back into full launch processing, with the pad flow working to the latest NET (No Earlier Than) launch date target of February 27. The processing – which can be backed out of in the event of another Flow Control Valve (FCV) related delay – will also include work on one of Discovery’s windows.
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Shuttle managers have concluded a special PRCB (Program Requirements Control Board) meeting on the Flow Control Valve (FCV) issue, and decided additional time is required – moving the NET (No Earlier Than) launch date to February 27.
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STS-119’s latest NET (No Earlier Than) launch target of February 22 remains the target, as engineers work through the Flow Control Valve (FCV) issue with the goal of approving flight rationale. Testing and documentation are being ramped up ahead of Friday’s special PRCB (Program Requirements Control Board) meeting.
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