Pending the successful outcome of STS-133′s External Tank (ET-137) clearance for flight, managers have created a preliminary schedule for Endeavour’s realigned milestones. Currently, STS-134′s April 1 launch date is only a placeholder, but remains a target that can be achieved – providing Discovery doesn’t slip from her early February launch window.
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The STS-130 crew are undertaking the Terminal Countdown Demonstration Test (TCDT) this week, which will be used as the dress rehearsal launch countdown for the real thing on February 7. Endeavour will be the second orbiter to fly with a suite of sensors relating to Main Engine Ignition (MEI) Acoustic and SSME (Space Shuttle Main Engine) [...]
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STS-130 is set to achieve its latest milestone, as Endeavour prepares to rollover to the Vehicle Assembly Building (VAB) on Friday. The youngest orbiter in the fleet will be sporting a full set of instrumentation, which will gain additional data on Main Engine Ignition (MEI) Acoustic and SSME (Space Shuttle Main Engine) Ignition Overpressure (IOP) [...]
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Atlantis continues to behave herself on Pad 39A, with no notable issues reported in the launch countdown. With the Mission Management Team (MMT) now meeting daily, the build-up to a “go” for tanking at 5am local time on Monday currently has no obstructions in its path. Meanwhile, engineering leads from the United Space Alliance and [...]
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T-43 hours and counting for the launch of Atlantis on her STS-129 mission to the International Space Station (ISS), as engineers begin a highly complex ballet of S0007 (Launch Countdown) operations. No issues are being worked at Pad 39A, while the clearance for launch is expected to receive a green light at next milestone of [...]
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As preparations at LC-39A continue for the start of the STS-129 Countdown at 1pm local time on Friday, engineers have successfully earned Flight Rationale acceptance for the Main Engine Ignition (MEI) acoustic over pressurization issue. Also, Atlantis has gained additional launch opportunities thanks to a weather delay incurred by the Delta IV rocket team earlier this week.
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Atlantis is continuing to push towards her November 16 launch date, with the pad flow milestone of ordinance installation taking place this weekend. Meanwhile, the main focus of flight rationale clearance – the Main Engine Ignition (MEI) Acoustic and SSME (Space Shuttle Main Engine) Ignition Overpressure (IOP) Environments, relating to a stinger on the aft [...]
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An Engineering Review Board (ERB) meeting has created an aggressive forward plan to add instrumentation to Atlantis, with the aim of gaining a further understanding into the stresses endured by a Reaction Control System (RCS) stinger attach point during Main Engine Ignition (MEI). In tandem with the engineering discussions, borescope inspections have taken place on [...]
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Engineers are closing in on a plan to install instrumentation on Atlantis – in time for her November 16 launch date – in order to understand a potential issue with a stinger structure on the aft of the vehicle, which may be susceptible to the stresses of Main Engine Ignition (MEI). Meanwhile, a crewmember avoided [...]
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Managers at the STS-129 Agency Flight Readiness Review (FRR) have been discussing an issue relating to an attach point between the aft Reaction Control System and OMS Pod, which may be around 20 flights beyond their predicted fatigue lifespan. Due to potential structural integrity problems via localized acoustics during Main Engine Ignition a forward plan [...]
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