STS-119’s Boundary Layer Transition (BLT) Detailed Test Objective (DTO) has been deemed a huge success, following the presentation of the test results. The tests will continue on at least two more flights, as engineers gain vital data on the conditions a spacecraft endures during reentry.
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With launch of STS-125 now less than a week away, NASA managers have thoroughly reviewed the performance of the Solid Rocket Boosters (SRBs) from the previous missions, approving several safety and performance upgrades to aid Shuttles Atlantis and Endeavour on their STS-125 and STS-400 missions respectively.
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Shuttle Endeavour has completed her rollout to 39B, where she will be put through a part flow as the STS-400 LON (Launch On Need) support for Atlantis’ STS-125 mission. During this flow, engineers will test the alignment procedures with the Ground Umbilical Carrier Plate (GUCP) – following the leak during STS-119’s opening launch attempt.
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The usual ballet of reviews to ensure safe flight has moved through another key stage, following the full review of STS-119’s IFAs (In Flight Anomalies). With the next two missions heading to different orbital destinations, part of the IFA review will go towards STS-125’s upcoming Flight Readiness Review (FRR), and the ISS related section forwarded [...]
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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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Imagery taken of the delaminated panel on the International Space Station’s S1 Radiator has revealed a “structural risk” on the array, which has the potential to create an ammonia leak in the External Thermal Control System (ETCS). NASA managers are considering options that include flying a replacement radiator array on a downstream shuttle mission, along [...]
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Following her 13 day mission in space on STS-119, Discovery is being deserviced inside her Orbiter Processing Facility (OPF-3), ahead of her next mission, STS-128. Close inspections of her Thermal Protection System (TPS) created a list of work that will be carried during her 101 day processing flow.
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Discovery has completed her highly successful mission to the International Space Station (ISS) with a return to the Kennedy Space Center (KSC) on Saturday. The crew of STS-119 had two opportunities to land in Florida – with the first waved off due to unpredictable weather. A GO for the deorbit burn on Orbit 202 was given, [...]
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Shuttle manager John Shannon has described Discovery’s performance as “amazing”, ahead of Wednesday’s undocking from the International Space Station (ISS). Discovery is now heading to Late Inspections of her Thermal Protection System (TPS) on Flight Day 12 of STS-119.
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Spacewalkers Richard Arnold and Joseph Acaba have completed the final EVA of STS-119, tasked with several replanned elements, including troubleshooting on the Unpressurized Cargo Carrier Attach System (UCCAS), which proved to be problematic. Meanwhile, no issues of note are being worked on Discovery, although engineers are monitoring the amount of propellant Discovery has been using [...]
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Due to the deletion of EVA-4 from the docked phase of STS-119, spacewalkers Joseph Acaba (EV3) and Steven Swanson (EV1) were tasked with a packed EVA-2 on Flight Day 7. Meanwhile, Discovery continues to perform like a champ, with no issues of note being worked.
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Discovery continues to perform without any issues of note as her crew completed the task of remotely deploying the 1B and 3B solar arrays from the newly installed S6 integrated truss structure on the International Space Station (ISS). The operation was a huge success for both arrays, which are now fully deployed on the Station.
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Following the successful handover of the S6 truss element to the Space Station Remote Manipulator System (SSRMS) on Wednesday, astronauts Steven Swanson and Rick Arnold have completed STS-119’s first Extravehicular Activity (EVA) on Flight Day 5. The first of three planned EVAs for STS-119 saw Swanson and Arnold install the final integrated truss element – [...]
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A complex ballet of robotics between the Shuttle and Station arms took place on Wednesday, as the S6 is transitioned out of Discovery’s payload bay ahead of installation on Thursday. Engineers on the ground have also cleared Discovery’s Thermal Protection System (TPS) from requiring a Focused Inspection.
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Discovery has docked with the International Space Station (ISS) on Flight Day 3, as the initial TPS (Thermal Protection System) inspection images show a very clean orbiter. Prior to docking, Discovery carried out the RPM (Rbar Pitch Maneuver) for a full check of her TPS and belly.
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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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STS-119 has launched after an issue-free tanking and countdown, following engineering work to troubleshoot a LH2 (GH2) leak from the Ground Umbilical Carrier Plate (GUCP) attached to the External Tank. Discovery launched at 19:43pm local time launch, with added focus on the T-0 umbilicals on the TSM (Tail Service Masts) - following an incident on STS-126.
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The second launch attempt for STS-119 will take place on Sunday at 19:43pm local time, pending the expected resolution of the leak related to the Ground Umbilical Carrier Plate (GUCP) – which caused the scrub of Wednesday’s attempt. Engineers are currently in S007.300 scrub turnaround procedures, but are eight hours down on the timeline – [...]
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STS-119’s opening launch attempt has been scrubbed until Sunday, March 15,, following a LH2 leak during tanking. The leak related to a carrier plate that is attached to the intertank area of the ET, with attempts to cycle the associated valve to reduce the leak to acceptable proving to be unsuccessful.
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STS-119 is one day away from the opening launch attempt, with only a few issues of note are being worked on by engineers out at Pad 39A. One ealier issue that has been resolved related to the Seat Detailed Test Objective (DTO), which will gather information on Thrust Oscillation (TO) for Ares I. Meanwhile, two members [...]
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