NASA’s 15 Space Shuttle Main Engines (SSMEs) are being transported to the Stennis Space Center (SSC), as they transition towards their future role with the Space Launch System (SLS). The highly reliable RS-25Ds – nine of which flew with the last three Space Shuttle missions – will eventually be succeeded by the expendable RS-25E, early [...]
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The flagship of the shuttle orbiter fleet has received her three replica main engines, as Discovery prepares for next year’s ferry trip to her final resting place. The three Replica Shuttle Main Engines (RSMEs) are substitutes for the three Space Shuttle Main Engines (SSMEs) she last flew with, as they prepare to live on with [...]
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The Space Launch System (SLS) is undergoing final refinements – known as trades – on a preferred baseline for the opening flights, with documentation showing a preference to debut the Heavy Lift Launch Vehicle (HLV) with four RS-25s on the core stage, instead of three. Should this become an approved configuration, it would allow for [...]
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NASA’s three retired Space Shuttle orbiters are set to donate their entire Main Propulsion Systems (MPS) to the opening salvo of Space Launch System (SLS) Heavy Lift Launch Vehicles (HLV). The work to remove the MPS’ array of plumbing, tanks and valves from the aft of the orbiters would result in a delay of six [...]
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A new schedule, created by NASA, has provided a “preliminary, budget restricted” manifest which places the first flight of the fully evolved Space Launch System (SLS) in the year 2032. The information includes details on the chosen configuration and hardware, but provides a depressing schedule, with a flight rate of just one mission per year, [...]
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Following its replacement on Atlantis’ SSME-3 (Space Shuttle Main Engine), the new Main Fuel Valve (MFV) underwent testing at Pad 39A - with a slight delay to its completion due to a hydraulic leak - aimed at providing confidence the hardware will perform as required during the launch countdown. Meanwhile, inspections on ET-138′s stringers have been completed [...]
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Multiple efforts are under way for Atlantis’ STS-135 launch preparations, as her four member crew arrived at the Kennedy Space Center (KSC) for the Terminal Countdown Demonstration Test (TCDT). As engineers check the health of External Tank ET-138′s stringers, following last week’s Tanking Test, the replacement of a Main Fuel Valve (MFV) on Space Shuttle [...]
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Following an intense week of executive level reviews, a decision has been made on the configuration for NASA’s new launch vehicle. With NASA administrator Charlie Bolden agreeing to a configuration which is heavily derived from the retiring Space Shuttle, an official announcement is likely to be made on July 8, coinciding with the Shuttle’s final [...]
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A decision on the configuration of the Space Launch System (SLS) Heavy Lift Launch Vehicle (HLV) is just weeks away, as final evaluations take place into a “staged evolution of a single heavy launcher”, after NASA’s leadership rejected the two-phase approach, which would have resulted in an open competition for the Beyond Earth Orbit (BEO) [...]
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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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Engineers have successfully cleared all of Discovery’s minor issues, allowing the veteran shuttle to head towards the upcoming key countdown milestones. While all eyes will be on her External Tank (ET-137) on Thursday, previous issues during November’s countdown – such as the Main Engine Controller (MEC) problem – have not reoccurred.
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The Mission Management Team (MMT) evaluations into the anomalies on the redundant Main Engine Controller (MEC) on SSME-3 have concluded with the approval for the required flight rationale, clearing Discovery to press ahead with Thursday’s launch attempt. Discovery’s next challenge is out of her control, with an 80 percent chance of unacceptable weather at T-0.
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Discovery has been given another hurdle to negotiate ahead of her opening launch attempt, after an electrical issue was noted on the redundant Main Engine Controller (MEC) on SSME-3. The original problem had been classed as cleared, following cycling and troubleshooting. However, a Mission Management Team (MMT) meeting later on Tuesday decided to scrub for [...]
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Discovery is enjoying an issue-free S0007 (Launch Countdown), as engineers complete the loading of the orbiter’s Power Reactant Storage and Distribution (PRSD) system. The veteran orbiter remains on track for an opening launch attempt on Wednesday, ahead of the ride uphill – to be aided by her three Space Shuttle Main Engines (SSMEs), which received [...]
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All three orbiters are set to donate their Space Shuttle Main Engines (SSMEs) to the Heavy Lift Launch Vehicle (HLV) program, following their final flights. A Program Requirements Control Board (PRCB) meeting recommended the orbiters should instead gain Replica Shuttle Main Engines (RSMEs) – previously scrapped nozzles installed via an adaptor – for when the [...]
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With Discovery’s three Space Shuttle Main Engines (SSMEs) now reinstalled on the orbiter, engineers should know by Friday if they have solved the torquing issue with ME-1. The engine – along with ME-2 and ME-3 due to access issues – was removed to allow for the replacement of the Low Pressure Oxidizer Turbo Pump (LPOTP) [...]
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Two of Discovery’s Space Shuttle Main Engines (SSMEs) will be re-installed in opposite positions, following their removal to allow for work to take place on Main Engine #1 (ME-1). The change to the engine order will allow for two SSMEs to return to Discovery’s aft next week, after the troublesome ME-1 turbo pump is sent [...]
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Engineers are preparing to remove Discovery’s three Space Shuttle Main Engines (SSMEs) on Thursday, after SSME 1′s Low Pressure Oxidizer Turbo Pump (LPOTP) failed torque checks. No schedule impact will be suffered as a result of back-stepping in the flow, due to the six week slip to STS-133′s launch date caused by payload requirements.
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Engineers are heading into a weekend of critical operations for STS-132, as Atlantis undergoes flight pressurization operations on the systems that will aid her journey to the International Space Station (ISS) in a week’s time. Wednesday’s Agency Flight Readiness Review (FRR) focused on one of those systems – the Space Shuttle Main Engines (SSMEs) – [...]
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Shuttle Endeavour has launched on the second launch to start STS-130, following a 24 hour scrub due to unacceptable cloud cover on Sunday morning. The youngest orbiter in the fleet behaved well on the pad with no issues ahead of her 4:14 Eastern liftoff. Meanwhile, another key element of the Flight Readiness Review (FRR) covered [...]
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